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Articles by Obiora Ifoh
No room for political opportunists in Labour Party
No room for political opportunists in Labour Party 3 MIN READ Politics By Obiora Ifoh THE leadership of the Labour Party like most Nigerians read in the social media the purported resignation of the former Director General of our Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Doyin Okupe from the Labour Party. Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have responded but because of media attraction it has been generating since yesterday.
2023: As PDP Presidential Ticket Dangles Between Northeast And Southeast – The Whistler Nigeria
The expectation in the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is that its candidate for the 2023 presidential election may come from the north, however the reality will be clearer after the national convention of the party which is expected to hold in October.
Nigeria: 10 Million Additional Girls At Risk of Child Marriage Due to Covid-19 - UNICEF
Abuja — Ten million additional child marriages may occur before the end of the decade, threatening years of progress in reducing the practice, according to a new analysis released by UNICEF. A release by UNICEF titled 'COVID-19: A threat to progress against child marriage', on International Women's Day, warns that school closures, economic stress, service disruptions, pregnancy, and parental deaths due to the pandemic are putting the most vulnerable girls at increased risk of child marriage.
Nigeria: Political Parties, Others Want All Elections Held in 1 Day
Abuja — As the National Assembly resumes plenary to debate amendment to the Electoral Act, political parties and other stakeholders have called for the conduct of all elections in one day on grounds that it would save cost for the country. The Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) said conducting elections in one day was feasible and doable the way it is done in other developing.
Nigeria: Crossover Night - Govt Reads Riot Act to Violators of Covid-19 Protocols
As most Christian faithful prepare for their annual crossover ritual today, the federal government has warned against activities that would undermine ongoing efforts to prevent the escalation of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. Predicting a significant increase in coronavirus infections in Nigeria by January, 2021, the federal government threatened that any church, group or persons that compromise government efforts in checking the deadly disease will not be spared.
#EndSARS protest turns bloody in Lagos: 1 police inspector, 1 passerby feared killed
.Sanwo-Olu to meet Buhari tomorrow .SARS operatives almost killed my daughter- Ooni •Campaigners block Lekki, Ikeja toll plaza .Makinde condemns killing of protesters in Ogbomoso .PDP demands complete overhaul, restructuring of Police .We’ll sanction officers indicted–Buhari By Patience Ogbo -Lagos and Obiora Ifoh, Abuja #Endsars protesters have allegedly attacked the Surulere police station in Lagos.
FG seeks more foreign loan -Adeosun
Federal Government yesterday said in order to stimulate the economy in the face of dwindling revenue from oil, it would adopt a strategy in the next three years whereby focus would be on obtaining loans through external borrowing.
CBN introduces flexible forex policy, stakeholders react
Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday released the highlights of the muchawaited flexible foreign exchange policy guidelines, saying that to ensure effective implementation of the new policy, a forex interbank trading window that will be purely marketdriven will be launched.
PDP accuses APC of sponsoring Sheriff
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday accused All Progressives Congress, APC, of sponsoring Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to destroy and prevent it from reorganising itself. The party also indicted the police for protecting Sheriff, who took over its national secretariat on Monday and proclaimed himself acting national chairman. The accusation was made in Abuja by a member of the National Care 1taker Committee in charge of Publicity, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, while addressing newsmen.
FG’s jobs portal records 403,000 entries in 36 hrs
The newly launched jobs portal of the Federal Government, “n-power.gov.ng”, has recorded 403,528 successful registrations since it opened for submissions on Sunday, according to the Job Creation Unit in the Presidency. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Mr. Afolabi Imoukhede, stated this in a statement in Abuja yesterday. He said: “We have been very impressed by the enhrsthusiastic response to the call for applications.
Sheriff takes over PDP secretariat
Embattled Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday took over the party’s national secretariat. Sheriff gained access into the secretariat after the withdrawal of policemen stationed within and outside the building, allegedly on the order of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase. Before finally succeeding, the embattled chairman had made three previous attempts at gaining access to the secretariat which were rebuffed by police.
PDP govs, BoT, Sheriff, Makarfi factions meet over crisis
Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are to meet with concerned and aggrieved members today to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis that has torn the party apart. Expected to meet at the Ondo Governor’s Lodge in Abuja are, the PDP Governors’ Forum, National Assembly Caucus, Board of Trustees, BoT, as well as the Makarfi and the Sheriff groups.
EFCC: Petition to interrogate Jonathan a hoax
Former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, yesterday described as a hoax, the petition asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to invite and interrogate ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on issues relating to his on-going trial. A statement by Metuh’s lawyer, Barr. Ben Nwosu, stated that the former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Ikenna Ejezie, who filed the petition through Barrister Osuagwu Ugochukwu, is non-existent.
PDP slips into further crisis
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is far from over as two separate courts in Lagos and Port Harcourt, yesterday, gave conflicting judgment on the outcome of last Saturday’s National Convention of the party. In Lagos, Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court nullified the Ahmed Markafi-led Caretaker Committee consti1tuted by the Port Harcourt convention to take over the affairs of the party from acting National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff.
INEC phases out manual conduct of election in 2019
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday hinted that the commission was planning to phase out manual conduct of elections in the country by 2019. The INEC boss dropped the hint while receiving in audience, executives of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commission, who paid him a courtesy call at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
PDP bigwigs sack Modu Sheriff as party chair
The crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, appeared far from over yesterday as the party held parallel conventions in Port Harcourt and Abuja, even after the Acting National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, had declared the convention cancelled in compliance with court orders.
Nation’s economy to flourish again, says Atiku
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has expressed optimism that the economy would soon begin to flourish, despite the various negative forecasts about Nigeria’s economy. Abubakar spoke on Saturday in Abuja at the groundbreaking of an animal feeds factory, Rico Gado Nutrition, Nigeria. “Despite the doubts about our economy because of current challenges, we are confident about Nigeria’s future and about our future.
Local industries critical to national development
The Federal Government said yesterday that it was prepared to review any policy not favourable to the operation of local industries in the country, saying unless development was taken to the rural areas, every effort aimed at improving and developing the country will come to nothing.
Court stops planned strike, Labour adamant
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National Industrial Court, NIC, yesterday ordered the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, not to embark on its planned nationwide strike today over the removal of fuel subsidy pending the determination of a suit filed by the Federal Government against the move. President of NIC, Justice Babatunde Adejumo 1granted the exparte application, which was moved by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
By Obiora Ifoh, George Oji, Olusegun Koiki Verified, Olufemi Adeosun, Kemi Olaitan, George Opara, Ubong Ukpong, Doo suur Iwambe
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National Mirror
Verified
Threat of parallel convention looms in PDP
The Prof. Jerry Gana led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has vowed to go ahead with its planned separate National Convention. The faction, led by National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff will also hold its convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Saturday. The splinter group, which met at the premises of Daar Communication, in Abuja as Concerned PDP Stakeholders, openly disagreed with the leadership of Modu Sheriff in the party.
Reps in rowdy session over Kachikwu
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Ibe Kachukwu, was yesterday, quizzed by the House of Representatives over the recent increase in the price of fuel from N86.50 to N145.
Sheriff to lead PDP till 2018, gets BoT’s endorsement
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday, received the nod of the Board of Trustees (BoT) to lead the party till 2018. Sheriff also enjoyed the support of the BoT, majority of whose members opposed the planned convention of the party, slated for this Saturday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but had finally agreed that the convention be held.
FG moves to avert economy shut down
Federal Government yesterday reached out to the leadership of labour unions and allies with a view to averting nationwide strike over the new pump price of fuel. A meeting with the unions has been scheduled today, even as pressure is mounting on lead 1ers of the various labour movements to shelve the strike and join hands with government in deregulation the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
Crisis: PDP lawmakers meet, to decide Sheriff’s fate
Lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Senate and House of Representatives will meet today to deliberate on the crisis rocking the party, including the fate of its National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff. The crisis is already threatening the forthcoming national convention of the party. A statement, jointly signed by Minority Leader of the Senate, Sen.
A million Jerry Ganas can’t stop National Convention
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has responded to the threat by the founding fathers to stop next Saturday’s planned national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State as it insists that a million Jerry Ganas cannot stop the convention. The party’s National Secretary, Professor Adewale Oladipo, who spoke on Friday, said nothing can stop the convention. Professor Oladipo said the delegates to the the national convention have been elected at ward congress.
PDP crisis: Gana faction sacks Sheriff
The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deepened yesterday, with a faction led by Prof. Jerry Gana sacking the Ali Modu Sheriffled National Working Committee. The faction, which called itself Concerned PDP Stakeholders held a meeting in Abuja and immediately announced the setting up of a 21-member steering committee to manage the affairs of party.
Direct your grievances to Jonathan, APC tells Niger Delta Avengers
South East caucus of All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, to direct their grievances to former President Goodluck Jonathan, if there is anything to avenge for allegedly neglecting the zone and by extension Nigeria, during his five years in office. The party also called on NDA to immediately sheathe their swords and give President Muhammadu Buhari more time to look into their demands.
APC’ll emerge stronger after convention
Following various crisis rocking the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, its pioneer National Secretary, Alhaji Tijani Tumsa, has said that the party is currently going through what he termed “synthesis” and that whatever comes out of it after the next convention will be known as “new APC.” Tumsa, who was the interim national secretary after APC was formed, recalled that the party was a product of merger of different political parties; hence, “in terms of governance and political ideas,...
Railway projects among Buhari’s top concerns
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, has said the execution of national railway projects contained in the recently assented N6.06 trillion 2016 National Budget is one of the priorities of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. While recalling that 30 per cent of 2016 budgetary provision has been committed to capital projects, the APC National Chairman identified the railway projects as among the critical infrastructural focus of the administration.
APC treating PDP defectors unfairly -Timi Frank
Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, at the weekend accused the leadership of his party of treating those that decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, unfairly.
Trial: Saraki asks CCT chairman to disqualify self
•application attempts to frustrate trial –Prosecution •political parties say judge can’t be fair Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday told the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal trying him on false declaration of assets that the chairman lacked moral justification to preside over his trial.
Group decries NASS occupation, calls for independence of legislature
A group under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Society and Pressure Groups known as #SAVENASS, has decried the occupation of the National Assembly by a group of Nigerians known as #OccupyNASS, alleging political motive behind the protest. The group also alleged that the #OccupyNASS group was under the sponsorship of politicians and government bodies in order to force the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to resign.
APC to drag National Assembly to court
The last has not been heard about the controversy over the removal of the Calabar-Lagos rail track by the National Assembly from the 2016 appropriation as All Progressives Congress, APC, has vowed to sue the lawmakers for tinkering with the budget proposal.
Saraki’s trial: APC ready to lose Senate Presidency - Odigie-Oyegun
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie-Oyegun has said that the party has no problems with the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki in the Code of Conduct Tribunal and that the party would be ready to make the sacrifice of losing the exalted office in the interest of the ‘change’ agenda of the present government.
Rivers rerun: Ogoni group calls for release of Tai LGA result
Several days after a rerun election was conducted in some parts of Rivers State, a nongovernmental group, the Sustainable Ogoni, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to release without delay the results of the poll held in Tai local council area.
2019: PDP scraps National Convention, adopts Option A4 for aspirants
In a bid to reposition the party to ensure a popular presidential candidate emerges in the 2019, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP will amend its constitution to favour Option A4 where candidates to all political offices will emerge through the ward system in an open ballot primaries.
Panama papers: CISLAC urges Buhari to investigate Saraki, Mark, others
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, a national contact for Transparency International in Nigeria yesterday called on the Federal Government to adopt a more robust, comprehensive and proactive response to revelations coming from the leaks of documents belonging to Mossack Fonseca, now simply referred to as the Panama Papers.
INEC expresses readiness for FCT poll
Ahead of Saturday’s election in Federal Capital Territory, FCT Area Councils, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mamood Yakubu, has said the commission is set to conduct free, fair and credible election as adequate arrangements had been made in that direction.
Crisis tears APC leadership apart -Spokesperson
National leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is currently embroiled in crisis, it has been confirmed. The party’s leadership has been divided into two camps with different interests, according to Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank. Frank, in an interview yesterday in Abuja, said anybody saying that there Buhari’s no crisis in the party was not telling the truth.
Group storms NASS, protests Buhari’s anti-corruption war
Protesters yesterday stormed the National Assembly over the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress, APC, government. The protesters, under the aegis of Nigerians United for Progressive Change, NUPC, in a protest letter to President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, appealed to the National Assembly to rise up to correct the executive arm of government from further progressing in error on the shoddy and ill-motivated anticorruption fight.
Electoral violence in Nigeria shameful -Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, described as shameful the recent political killings in Rivers State as a result of the re-run elections ordered by the Court of Appeal. He added that more Nigerians had been killed in 5Rivers than any other state in the country.
Rivers rerun: PDP blasts INEC, security, APC
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security operatives in Saturday’s National and State Assembly re-run elections in Rivers State fell short of the expected standard, given the level of mobilisation and preparedness. The party expressed disappointment that INEC, under Prof.
Oyegun’s planned removal tears APC apart
Ahead of the National Executive Commit tee, NEC, meeting of All Progressives Congress, APC, slated for tomorrow, Forum of Former Governors and Forum of Progressive Governors have taken different stance as regards the fate of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. While the former governors have thrown their weight behind Oyegun, a large number of serving governors can’t wait for the national chairman to be removed.
EFCC slams 10-count charge against Badeh
Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions EFCC, has filed a 10-count charge against former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and his company, Iyalikam Nig. Ltd., before a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja. EFCC Deputy Director, Legal, Aliyu Yusuf, endorsed the charges, dated February 26, 2016, and bordered on criminal breach of trust and corruption.
I won’t stay a day longer than necessary, says Sheriff
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has assured members of the party that he would not stay a day in office beyond the period prescribed by the constitution. The chairman, who played host to Forum of Former PDP House of Representatives members, said his tenure in office has been prescribed by the PDP constitution.
FCT elections: INEC fixes March 4-10 for PVCs distribution
Ahead of the Saturday, March, 19 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has scheduled Friday 4th to Thursday 10th March 2016 for the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to eligible FCT registrants. The seven-day exercise has been scheduled by the Commission to enable all who had registered in the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to collect their PVCs and to participate in the Area Council elections.
Why we changed our position on Sheriff -PDP BoT
Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday explained why it made a U-turn on its decision not to support Ali Modu Sheriff as national chairman of the party. The BoT, however, emphasised that Sheriff and all current members of the National Working Committee, NWC, must vacate their positions to give way to new leadership within the three months time frame.
EFCC arrests Secondus, ex-PDP chairman
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arrested former acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus. Sources at the commission said Secondus, who is deputy national chairman of the party, was brought into the commission’s office around 2pm for questioning. Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed his arrest to journalists in Abuja.
Confusion in PDP as Sheriff gets 3 months as chairman
National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday mandated the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee, NWC, to organise a national convention within three months. This was the outcome of a meeting, involving governors, National Assembly Caucus, NWC and BoT, which held at the residence of Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who doubles as chairman of the PDP governors.
Modu Sheriff dares PDP leaders, says I won’t quit
Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday said he could not have been a member of the dreaded Boko Haram, who killed his family members, including his younger brother even as he declared that he would not resign as chairman of the party.
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