Author: Gloria Lamar Johnson

GUNSHOTS were heard on Monday when members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State clashed in Port Harcourt, the state capital over the inspection of electoral materials. Trouble started when the APC Governorship Candidate in the March 18 poll, Tonye Cole and members of his party arrived the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state capital to inspection of materials used in the last election in the state. However, Cole was forced to turn back by members of PDP who were already on ground at the INEC office…

UNKNOWN gunmen in the early hours of Sunday reportedly invaded the Christians Pentecostal Church located at Akenawe, Tswarev in Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of Logo Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State where they killed a worshipper and abducted the pastor of the church and other worshippers. The attackers also injured several of the victims among them the traditional ruler of the community, Zaki Tyokase Ingyutu. It was gathered that the invaders stormed the church during a night vigil when a healing service was being conducted by the Resident Pastor, Rev. Gwadue Kwaghtyo A community leader and President, Gaambe-Tiev Youth Association,…

THE Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has condemned in strong terms, the alleged plot to install an interim government, other than the recently elected executives waiting to be sworn in on May 29th this year. A statement signed by the Chairmen of the forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal notes that the governors will do all they can to defend the country’s democracy, as the forum will not support any unconstitutional regime change. The governors also condemned the continued delay in refunding the backlog of monies from stamp duties to states, as it promises to explore every available means of getting the refunds…

THE camp of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has disclosed that they were officially served on Tuesday with copies of the petitions filed at the election tribunal by Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar. The development is coming one week after Obi and Atiku formally filed their petitions to the elections tribunal to protest the outcome of the February 25 poll. Their petitions came four weeks after the contentious presidential and National Assembly elections that produced the President-elect. Both the PDP and LP candidates had accused Tinubu of deliberately avoiding…

THE Federal Government has blamed the ongoing deforestation in the country on powerful interests at the subnational who protect loggers in the business of charcoal production. News Point Nigeria reports that, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, apportioned the blame today during the 69th weekly Ministerial weekly briefing at the state house. Mr Abdullahi said the task force set up to apprehend the protracted menace of tree feeling for charcoal have faced difficulties in enforcement, disclosing that they constantly experience a push back at the subnational level on the grounds that the trees belong to the states. The UK Government…

FOLLOWING the keenly contested general elections that many, there are concerns that some “misguided political actors” are planning to bring an Interim Government to power. Spokesman for the Department of State Services (DSS), Peter Afunanya, confirmed the plot on Wednesday. Here are six things we know so far from the communique and other things we know from history. 1. Some key players identified The Service in its broadcast stated that it has identified some key players in the plot for this proposed Interim Government in Nigeria. Most of the planners are politicians and they have had several meetings to this…

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State says he won’t leave office on May 29, 2023 to “run away” from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s strongman said he has nothing to fear if the anti-graft agency comes to probe his administration. Wike, whose eight-year two-term will end on May 29, 2023, directed his successor and Rivers State Governor-Elect, Siminlalayi Fubara to show EFCC his many accomplished projects in Rivers if the anti-corruption commission comes for investigation. He spoke on Wednesday at the commissioning of Rumuigbo Internal Road Network in the Obio/Akpor Local…

THE Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has expressed satisfaction over the ouster of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu. Umar Damagum was announced on Tuesday as Ayu’s replacement in an acting capacity. This comes barely two days after the Executive Committee of the PDP in Igyorov Ward, Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State suspended the former chairman with immediate effect. Ayu had been embroiled in a bitter feud with some high-ranking PDP members led by five governors identified as the G5: Wike, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and…

A FORMER Information and National Orientation Minister Labaran Maku has admitted many saw the ‘Obidient’ movement and the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi as a joke. Obi, a former Anambra State governor, took the nation by storm when he emerged as a third-force candidate. Despite being dismissed as lacking a political structure, the LP candidate who enjoys a huge youth following scored over six million votes and won in 11 states to finish third in the just-concluded exercise. But while fielding questions on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily monitored by News Point Nigeria, about the outcome of the 2023 elections,…

A HIGH Court in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, has restrained embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as chairman of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit which has been adjourned to April 17, 2023 for hearing. News Point Nigeria reports that, a member of the PDP from Benue, Terhide Utaan, who is the plaintiff before Justice W. I Kpochi, obtained the order restraining Ayu from parading himself as national chairman of the party. Ayu was suspended late last week for anti-party activities in the wake of the party’s loss…

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said he is in support of the suspension of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu. The Executive Committee of the PDP in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, suspended Ayu on Sunday, after passing a vote of no confidence on him for anti-party activities. News Point Nigeria reports that, speaking on the issue, Wike who was a guest on Sunrise Daily on TV, stated that he supports the move because Ayu played a major role in the colossal failure of the PDP in the…

THE ongoing dramatic crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues as the Executive Committee of the PDP in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State has suspended the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, with immediate effect. News Point Nigeria reports that they suspended Ayu for anti-party activities after passing a vote of no confidence on him. While reading a resolution, the secretary of the party in Igyorov ward, Banger Dooyum, said Ayu’s anti-party activities – alongside his allies – contributed to PDP’s loss in his ward and local government in the governorship election. Ayu…

A FORMER Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; his wife, Beatrice; and their doctor, Obinna Obeta will be sentenced on May 5. News Point Nigeria reports that, this followed their conviction for organ trafficking on Thursday in the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act. Ekweremadu, 60; his wife, Beatrice, 56; and Dr Obinna Obeta, 51, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey. However, the lawmaker’s daughter, Sonia, was cleared by the court. The jury said Ekweremadu, his…

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has faulted the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the suspension of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, over allegations of anti-party activities. Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Wike argued that the party’s NWC does not have the power to suspend Mr Fayose, nor refer Mr Ortom to a disciplinary committee. The governor also faulted the decision of the NWC to summon the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, to appear before a disciplinary committee for a similar allegation of anti-party activities. According to him,…

A FORMER Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; his wife Beatrice and their doctor have been convicted of organ trafficking, in the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act. Ekweremadu, 60; his wife, Beatrice, 56; and Dr Obinna Obeta, 51, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey. They criminally conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney, the jury found, according to UK Guardian. The prosecutor Hugh Davies KC told the…

RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike has berated the Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu for failing to deliver his polling unit and  his state, Benue for the PDP. Wike and Ayu have been at loggerheads following the former’s demand that the latter relinquish his position. In the build-up to the February 25 presidential election, Wike’s G-5 failed to back the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Besides Wike, other members of the aggrieved PDP governors include Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). Their argument is that both the party’s Chairman and flagbearer cannot…

THE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has rejected the results of the just concluded election in the state, saying the mandate of electorate in Rivers State have been stolen. Cole made his position known on Monday night at a joint press conference with the candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Sobomabo Jackrich; and African Democratic Congress (ADC), Tonye Ibraye. Earlier, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Siminalayi Fubara, the winner of last Saturday’s governorship election. Fubara, the “anointed” candidate of Governor…

SIMINIALAYI Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared the winner of the Rivers State governorship election.  State Returning Officer, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh announced the result late Monday night at the end of the two days collation at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Head Office in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The PDP candidate polled 302,614 votes to defeat his closet rival Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 95,274 votes while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Senator Magnus Abe, and Labour Party (LP)’s, Beatrice Itubo came a distant third and fourth…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Cross River, Bassey Otu as the winner of the March 18 poll in the South-South geopolitical zone. Otu, a former federal lawmaker, scored 258,619 votes to defeat his closest contender and a serving senator, Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 179,636. With his declaration as governor-elect by the electoral umpire, Otu will succeed the incumbent governor and APC party man, Ben Ayade whose eight-year two-term will end on May 29, 2023. So far, the results of 18 governorship polls have…

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Caleb Mutfwang has been declared the Governor-Elect of Plateau State. The Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Prof Idris Amali declared Mutfwang as the winner having scored 525,299 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nantawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 481,370 votes while Patrick Dakum of the Labour Party (LP) came a distant third with 60,310 votes. The PDP candidate secured 43,929 votes higher than the APC candidate who was anointed by the incumbent, Simon Lalong. The PDP scored the highest votes in 10 local…