Author: Sani Nura

THE Governorship, National and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal, sitting in Bauchi, on Saturday, granted leave to Garba Dahiru of the PDP, to access sensitive materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Feb. 25 NASS election in the state. Dahiru contested and lost the Bauchi South Senatorial District election to Shehu Umar of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as declared by INEC. A three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, gave the order in Bauchi, following an ex-parte application filed by the candidate and his party. Those involved in the matter are Shehu Umar and…

TWO chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauch State, Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya have been found guilty of attempting to sway the 2015 election and were each given a two-year prison sentence. The pair were found guilty and sentenced to prison by Judge Hassan Dikko of a Federal High Court in Bauchi on two counts of conspiracy and money laundering totaling N142,460,000 brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Judge Dikko found the two guilty on March 2, according to a statement released on Saturday by the head of media and publicity, Wilson…

THE APC governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (rtd.) has restated that three security details attached to him were shot during the recent violent incident in Duguri, Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA). Speaking to journalists on Friday, Sadique said his men succeeded in retrieving two guns from the thugs who carried out the attack. He also raised concerns about the possibility of thugs being used on the day of the election, asserting that the APC would not be intimidated. The former Chief of Air Staff challenged Governor Bala Mohammed to focus on the issues of governance in…

A FORMER governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Niger State, Umar Nasko, defected to the All Progressives Congress, on Thursday. Nasko who contested under the PDP in 2015 and 2019 governorship elections lost to the incumbent governor, Abubakar Bello. Nasko joined the APC in Minna. He revealed he decided to join the APC after he was contacted by the governorship candidate, Umar Bago. He said Bago called on him to join hands in working towards the growth and development of the state. “My decamping to the APC is out of conviction after I was approached by the progressives…

ONE person was reportedly killed while about 15 others sustained injuries from gunshots and machetes attacks at a campaign rally of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Sadique Abubakar, at Duguri town on Wednesday. News Point Nigeria reports that, Duguri, a village in Alkaleri Local Government Area, is the hometown of the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. The incident, which happened a few minutes before 6pm, came barely five hours after seven out of nine governorship candidates met at the Bauchi State Police Headquarters and signed a peace accord ahead of the governorship and state Assembly elections. The…

JUSTICE Bala Usman of the Federal High Court in Jalingo has reaffirmed Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as the duly elected candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the March 18 governorship poll. The court reaffirmed the candidature of Bwacha while ruling on the case filed by the APC asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to remove its candidate from its portal or ballot paper ahead of the governorship election. Justice Usman stressed that it is imperative to uphold the judgment of Supreme Court which has a consequential order instructing the APC to conduct a fresh primary where Emmanuel…

NO fewer than 26 persons suspected to be fishermen were shot dead in an attack by suspected Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) militants in Gamborun Ngala local government area of Borno, security sources said last Wednesday night. Gamboru Ngala is about 180km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital and shares international border with Cameroun Republic. The farmers according to sources were killed while fishing and fetching firewood in Mukdolo village, located at the north of Dikwa Town. Sources further revealed that when dozens of the terrorists riding on motorcycles stormed the fishing field, they began shooting sporadically.…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday returned to Nigeria after a four-day trip to Doha, Qatar, where he participated in the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, LCDs. According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu, the Nigerian leader arrived in Katsina at 4.50 pm. On the ground to receive the President at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport were the State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, and his cabinet members. Thereafter, he proceeded to his hometown, Daura, by chopper. The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Faruk, and the Emirate Council were at the…

SIX persons have been reportedly killed and fifty others abducted by gunmen in Rafi and Wishishi Local Government Areas of Niger State. Sources say the deaths occurred after an exchange of fire between military operatives and gunmen, a gun-battle that left several others injured. An indigene of a village in Rafi local government council who spoke under anonymity, told News Point Nigeria that among the six persons killed is a 6 months pregnant mother. Villagers in their separate conversations expressed shock on why the attack is coming barely some few days to the governorship and House of Assembly elections in…

BARELY four days to governorship and state assembly elections, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State has dragged the governorship candidate of the party, Yakubu Lado Danmarke, and 10 others before a Katsina High Court over alleged N1.05bn election logistics funds. Others joined as respondents include the state deputy gubernatorial candidate, Aminu Ahmed Yar’dua, state chairman of the Lado faction, Lawal Danbaci, and the state Director General of the Atiku/Lado Campaign, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, among others. In the application suit no. KTH/337/23 obtained by Daily Trust, the state (acting) chairman of the faction, Lawal Uli…

GOVERNORS, who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are currently meeting with the party’s national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, ahead of this Saturday’s governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections. The closed-door meeting is taking place at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja. Apart from Adamu, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are in attendance. Many APC governors are seeking reelection on Saturday. Opposition parties gained momentum in some APC-controlled states during the February 25 Presidential and parliamentary elections. States such as Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarawa, Plateau went to the opposition in the election, though they…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Sokoto State, Dr Nura Ali, with immediate effect. The suspension was announced in a letter signed by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Orlaran-Anthony, on Monday addressed to both the Resident Electoral Commissioner and the Administrative Secretary in the state. According to the letter, Dr Nura Ali has been directed to stay away from the Commission’s office in Sokoto State until further notice. While the reason for the suspension was not explicitly stated, it was gathered that the decision may be connected to the recent allegations of irregularities in…

THE Gombe State governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has directed the immediate dismantling of all security check points within the state. According to a press statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Meshack Lauco, the decision is sequel to a due consultation with heads of security agencies in the state. He urged citizens to co-operate with the directive in the interest of peace and security in the state even with the latest development. The statement disclosed that the check points at the border with the neighbouring states, “shall remain in place and shall only be closed for vehicular movement from 12 midnight…

THE Supreme Court has affirmed Dauda Lawal as the authentic governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State. The affirmation is coming four days to the March 11 governorship election scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state. The Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division had on January 6, 2023, set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court that nullified the primary election of Dauda Lawal-Dare as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State. The primary election was challenged at the Federal High Court in Gusau, the Zamfara State…

THE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday led a ‘black uniform’ protest to the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to protest the outcome of the February 25 poll. News Point Nigeria reports that, the PDP flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar; the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; the Vice Presidential Candidate of the party and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, amongst other leaders of the party led the protest. News Point Nigeria had yesterday, Sunday, exclusively reported that, the Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), PDP Govs, Senators and…

A YET-TO-IDENTIFIED police officer with Mopol 8 Jos, Plateau State is reported to have allegedly shot a young man on Sunday, The PUNCH gathered. The victim, identified as Nyommena Badapba, a resident at the Tudun Wada community was shot in his shoulder shortly after an argument with the policeman. A resident of Tudun Wada community who witnessed the shooting confirmed the incident to News Point Nigeria in Jos on Sunday. According to him, the police officer and the young man were engaged in a political argument on who will win the governorship election in the state. The witness said, “The…

THE Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), PDP Govs, Senators and party elders planned a mass protest to INEC office tomorrow Monday, News Point Nigeria gathered. According to an invitation letter, signed by the PDP PCO’s director admin, Ibrahim Bashir, exclusively obtained by News Point Nigeria, the protest is scheduled to take off from Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja. The letter states that, the dress code for the protest march is all black and the National Chairman, Dr Iyrochia Ayu, the Vice Presidential Candidate and Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Okowa, Governors of; Akwa Ibom and Chairman of PCC,…

PRESIDENT-ELECT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has thanked world leaders, groups, and individuals for the flurry of congratulatory messages since his victory at the February 25th polls.  The All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer defeated Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP)’s Peter Obi, and others in the keenly-contested election which have triggered a wave of congratulatory messages from far and wide.  In an appreciation post, the former Lagos State governor said the torrent of congratulatory messages since his declaration has been “overwhelming”. “I deeply appreciate the congratulatory messages that have come in from friends and well-wishers from home…

ARMED bandits attacked the headquarters of Maru Local Government of Zamfara State on Saturday night, killing a divisional police officer and two others.  News Point Nigeria reports that, the gunmen who in their numbers stormed Maru, shot sporadically, forcing residents to scamper for safety. Upon getting the information of the attack, the Divisional Police Officer of the Local Government, Kazeem Raheem, mobilized his men and some local vigilantes to repel the bandits. However, the DPO, a sergeant named Rabiu Bagobiri and one vigilante official identified as Shehu Chuka, were killed in the process in the counter offensive. Zamfara State Police Command…

THE All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger State has suspended the state Chairman, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro over alleged anti-party activities during the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly elections. The Kashini ward executive of the party in the Agwara Local Government Area of the state suspended Jikantoro, accusing him of violating the party’s constitution, and causing crisis in the party ahead of governorship and state assembly polls. The party ward executive in a letter of suspension dated March 2nd, 2023, signed by the 21 member executives which was addressed to Agwara local government chairman of the party and made available to…