**Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Labour Party on Tuesday alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is systematically disenfranchising supporters of Peter Obi, presidential flag-bearer of the party. The opposition party said the two major political parties: the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are “dictating” the collection of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) and INEC officials are “complicit”. It called on Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, to wade into the situation to salvage the integrity of the commission. The statement reads: “It has come to our attention that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is complicit in allowing ruling political parties in different parts of Nigeria to dictate Permanent Voter’s Card collection, as they did with Voters registration. This action will mar the integrity of the 2023 Nigerian General election, with the potential to destroy the Commission’s hard-earned independence. “From various sources across the nation, we have witnessed and received widespread systematic disenfranchisement of voters, particularly in areas considered by some bad intentioned persons as unfavourable to their antics, leading to delay in issuance of voters card or deliberate denial to issue PVC’s to persons considered to be of specific identity. “We wish to reiterate that these systematic disenfranchisement have been reported to @inecnigeria, and they have largely turned a blind eye, allowing their personnel to treat Nigerians with disdain.
“We call on the Commission and its Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu to uphold the integrity of the Commission by identifying these compromised officials. “We urge all citizens, labour Party members, #Obidients and all lovers of Democracy to tag/forward video recordings from all polling units showing the process of collection of Permanent Voters Cards to us. “We shall continue to ensure that your civic rights are not truncated.”
**The comment made by Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, who represents the Ondo South Senatorial District, that Peter Obi of the Labour Party could not win the upcoming presidential election because his party had no structure, was denounced by Mr. Sola Ebiseni, the Secretary-General of the Afenifere organization. Ebiseni, who is the South West Coordinator for Labour Party, said Tofowomo’s comment showed him as somebody who is suffering from power-exit phobia syndrome. He said, “If you were not from Ondo State, would you have known anyone is in the Senate called Tofowomo? How can any serious politician describe the overwhelming support of Nigerian youths for the Labour Party and its presidential ticket as non-existent or regard the youths as inconsistent saying they are so flexible that their convictions would change between 8 and 9 0’clock. “Tofowomo has suddenly forgotten that Labour Party did not have even a councillor when it won the governorship of Ondo State in 2009 in which government he was invited from abroad to be a two term commissioner.”
**As the 2023 election keeps approaching, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and other members of the G5 governors donated N100 billion to support the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and promised to make their support for him publicly known before the end of this week. Following this advancement, the APC candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, has been exposed for allegedly promising the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, to make him the Minister for Petroleum if he supported his aspiration to become the next president of the country. According to the source, at the meeting held in London a fortnight ago, “Wike was promised by the petroleum minister no prosecution for all monies looted from Rivers State as well as an offer to nominate the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s chairman.” Meanwhile, part of the agreement is for the support of the Oyo State governor, Makinde, in his second term ambitions.
**Amid the ongoing public uproar trailing the campaign speech delivered by President Muhammadu Buhari at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally in Adamawa State, a chieftain of the ruling party, Alhaji Danladi Bako has come out to clear the air on why Buhari failed to ask people at the venue to vote for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Recall that while addressing a mammoth crowd of supporters in Yola, the Adamawa State capital on Monday, Buhari urged the people to vote for the APC governorship candidate in the state, Hajia Aisha Binani. But when it came to the other electoral offices such as the presidency, however, he told supporters to go back to their localities and constituencies and “vote for credible and trustworthy candidates”. As expected, the speech has opened a floodgate of speculations from several quarters that the President’s statement was a clear indication that he may not be in support of Tinubu’s candidacy after all. However, while speaking during an interview on Africa Independent Television’s ‘Focus Nigeria’, Danladi Bako, who is the Director of Strategic Communication in the APC Presidential Campaign Council, dismissed the speculations by stating that Buhari needed to focus on Hajia Aisha Binani and not Tinubu due to the peculiar nature of her candidacy in a northern Fulani environment. He said; “Buhari didn’t go there to have a cup of coffee, neither did he go there on a picnic. His presence there alone says a lot. Just being there, he came to sell the party and its candidates. And of particular importance, there was a small nexus between what to do about a female candidate in a predominantly, traditional, rural Fulani society like Adamawa. She needed more attention, that the lady is the governorship candidate, Aisha Binani. The attention was on her because, for the first time, you had a president of the country pushing the candidature of a northern Fulani woman to become governor of an ethnically conservative and predominantly rural state. So, the attention was on her.”
**The Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, released a statement during his presidential campaign rally in Yobe State, where he suffered another Gaffe during his campaign rally in Yobe. Tinubu said, “We are going to leave this country, and hand it over to our children, build it and give it a stain”. The supporters of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Bola Ahmed, came out in numbers to show their support for the APC presidential candidate in Yobe, during his campaign rally. Meanwhile, his opponent, Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential of the Labour Party, also held his presidential campaign rally in Awka, Anambra State same day, where he met both the students and the traditional rulers council in Anambra state.
**Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been touring the Nigerian states since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave the go-ahead to political parties to commence their campaign rallies and related activities ahead of the 2023 general election. However, while it is a norm for party members to support their candidates at all levels to ensure smooth victory for him or her at the polls, it has been observed that some top All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains have not been attending campaign events with Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate. Recall that in June 2022, Tinubu won APC’s presidential primary ticket with 1,271 votes. He defeated the likes of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Minister of Transportation – Rotimi Amaechi, and Senate president Ahmad Lawan. Other APC presidential aspirants who lost to the two-term governor include Ogbonnaya Onu, Rochas Okorocha, Dave Umahi, Yahaya Bello, Tein Jack-Rich, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Emeka Nwajiuba, Ahmed Sani Yarima, Prof. Ben Ayade and Ikeobasi Mokhelu. Are APC Presidential Ticket Losers Aggrieved? While party stakeholders have been giving different excuses and explainers for their ‘reduced’ public engagement recently, it couldn’t go down without notice that some top party chieftains who contested the APC presidential ticket with Tinubu but lost are still aggrieved over the development or maybe still have further explanations to the Nigerian public ahead of February 25 polls
**Coalition of Northern Groups, Students’ Wing (CNG-SW), has threatened to shut down the region over the recent hike in tuition fees by tertiary institutions across the Northern states. The group also demanded the Northern elite and other stakeholders to speak up against the passage of the Education Loan Bill as the sustainability of the loan is not guaranteed. National Coordinator of CNG-SW, Emuseh Gimba, at a press briefing in Abuja, yesterday, noted that the group would take drastic actions, if government fails to reverse the policy. Gimba said: “We find it regrettable that as a result of these poorly designed policies, hunger is stalking millions of homes, inflation is making life difficult by the day, people are losing jobs, businesses are closing down and infrastructure is decaying, young Nigerians are losing hope of being employed, hospitals are full of patients that cannot afford the fees. “Some insensitive and indifferent authorities of Northern Nigeria universities have already announced incredible increments in their tuition. Those in this category are the University of Maiduguri in the North East, Federal University, Dutse, in the North West and Federal University Lafia in the North Central. “As is the tradition of CNG, we took time to understudy the situation and assess the inherent dangers the hike in tuition would pose to Nigerians, especially to the Northern region, which has been abandoned to the mercy of rampaging banditry and insurgency.” He noted that region is being held to ransom by bandits that operate with ease and at will in the seven states of the North West, taking total control of land borders, highways, forests and, in some cases, railways and airports. “Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists continue to wreak havoc in the North East, while farmers/herdsmen clashes escalate in the North Central. We are convinced, therefore, that this hike and other potentially damaging policies are part of a calculated design to continuously weaken the North educationally and pauperise it economically.” “It follows that the North would feel the pain of the hike in tuition more than other parts of the country because of the current challenges and limitations faced by the region around security and unforgettable poverty,” Gimba stated. Highlighting consequences of the hike on students and parents, CNG said, if not reversed, the action would lead to massive dropouts and return millions of youth in the region to the streets. “New students will have to give up their dreams of acquiring higher education. Returning students, yet to overcome the trauma of an eight-month Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike and struggling to bear the frustration of a wasted academic year, resource, and energy would find themselves at the receiving end.
**The London Metropolitan Police, United Kingdom, has said it is probing a 71-year-old man who was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Sunday on suspicion of forcing woman. Legit.ng is celebrating business personalities of 2022. See top entrepreneurs of Fintech, Startup, Transportation, Banking and other sectors! This is as controversy surrounded the arrest of the founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who was delayed by the Met Police at Heathrow Airport on Sunday for a few hours. Confirming the development in a statement on Monday, the DAAR Communications management explained that Dokpesi was in the UK in connection with the invitation extended to the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by the British government to speak on the 2023 presidential elections. It stated, ‘’Dokpesi arrived via Frankfurt from Abuja on a Lufthansa airlines flight and was invited off the plane before other passengers disembarked.
**If elected president in the February 25 election, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has promised to retire the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu. Speaking at a campaign rally in Asaba, Delta State, on Monday, Obi pledged to revitalise the Warri refinery, which had been in disrepair, as well as to complete the East-West road, which had been unfinished for over two decades. Obi urged Nigerians not to elect persons who were known to have looted the treasury of the nation in the past. He said, “We will make Warri Port work again. We will complete the East-West road. They have been building the road for 24 years but we will complete it. “If you put my age and Datti’s age and divide it into two, we are in our fifties. The other people if you put their own they are in their seventies. You know that there is a retirement age. The PDP chairman is 70 years, APC chairman is 70 years. The Labour Party chairman is 52 years old. So it is our turn. We will retire them, we will pay them compensation. “Our government will be one for youth and women. That is why I told you our average age, not these other people we don’t know their age, we don’t know where they were born, we don’t know which school they attended. “I know you heard when they said Peter is stingy. I agree, Nigeria doesn’t want people who will steal their money again. We want to use our money for our people. “This election is about character and people we can trust. Everybody knows the schools I attended. When I was the governor in Anambra everybody knows what I did, all the work I did. When I left government, everybody knows where I live, go and verify.”
**The electoral body noted that insecurity across the country might be a threat to the forthcoming election. The chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu also noted that the security situation in the country will not only hinder the declaration of election results but also precipitate a constitutional crisis in affected areas. Yakubu who was represented by the Chairman of the Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Abdullahi Abdu Zuru revealed this at the validation of election security training resources held in Abuja on Monday. He said, “We all appreciate the fact that Election Security is vital to democratic consolidation through the provision of enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthening the electoral process. “Consequently, in preparations for the 2023 general elections, the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security are provided for election personnel, materials and processes. “This is particularly significant to the commission given the current insecurity challenges in various parts of the country and the fact that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members constitute the core of the Polling Unit Election officials. “Moreover, if the insecurity is not monitored and dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder the declaration of elections results and precipitate a constitutional crisis. This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen. “Therefore, security personnel in particular and all election officials in general must be security conscious and alert to unusual activities in their environment and must be fully equipped to deal with any challenge at all times. “To this end, the National Security Adviser, Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno, and the Chairman, INEC have jointly assured the nation that a conducive environment will be provided for the successful conduct of the 2023 general Election. Those With Pain In The Joints Of The Knees And Hips, Read This!
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“Similarly, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has conducted Election Security Management Workshops across the Six Geopolitical Zones. On its part, the commission, through The Electoral Institute, has institutionalised the development and implementation of a cascaded training mechanism for security personnel as a critical component of its training plan. “We are also aware that there is a new Electoral Legal Framework that will guide 2023 as a result of the enactment of the Electoral Act 2022 which prompted the review of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Conduct of Elections 2022. “In particular, Sections 47(2), 60(1, 2 & 5), 62(1), 64(4a & 4b) and 64(5) of the Electoral Act 2022, which confers INEC with the power to use any technological device to transmit or transfer election results electronically are instructive in this regard. “Emboldened by these legal protections, the commission introduced new innovative technologies and procedures and made commitments to the Nigeria People that (a) Continuous Verification, Accreditation and Voting will be conducted at the Polling Units using the Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS) and (b) Real-Time Polling Unit-level results will be uploaded on to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) Portal using the same BVAS. “These commitments require innovative security strategies and deployments for protection of voters, election personnel, materials, equipment, the electoral processes as well as the general public and infrastructure.” The commission speaking further ahead of the 2023 election said that; “these innovative systems and processes minimize human errors and delays in results collation and improves the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of the results collation process thereby ensuring the credibility of the process. “They were tested during the Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections, held on June 18, 2022, and July 16, 2022, respectively. The Hon. Chairman INEC has severally assured the nation that the BVAS and IReV will be deployed during the 2023 General Elections “Reports on the conduct of security operatives during the elections conducted by the Commission specifically stand-alone Governorship Elections in Ekiti and Osun States have shown progressive and commendable improvement in their disposition to electoral training and professionalism on election duties.”
**The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is sick and has been flown to London, United Kingdom for treatment. SaharaReporters exclusively learnt on Sunday that Atiku was flown from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to the UK. This comes less than two months before the presidential election which is scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023. “Atiku is not feeling fine; he is in the hospital receiving treatment,” a PDP Presidential Campaign Council source told SaharaReporters on Sunday.“That’s why he is not back in Nigeria for the presidential campaign. He was in Dubai but has now left Dubai for London for treatment. He has been flown to the UK for treatment. That is why he is still abroad.” However, SaharaReporters could not confirm the nature of Atiku’s ailment. Last year, Atiku also visited Europe and at the conclusion of his European trip, the PDP presidential candidate visited Dubai. The trip came about three weeks after Atiku met with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in London. A statement issued by Paul Ibe, his media adviser said the trip was a continuation of an earlier business trip made three weeks earlier “He will be travelling immediately after his meeting on Friday in Lagos, with the leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) alongside the PDP vice presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta,” the statement reads. “Today’s trip is in continuation of an earlier business trip of three weeks ago. “At the conclusion of his European trip, the former Vice President will also use the opportunity to visit his family in Dubai. “His trip is for business and family purposes and has nothing to do with medicals as being insinuated in some quarters.” Atiku is known for spending most of his time in Dubai. For instance, he left for Dubai after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Muhammadu Buhari the winner of the 2019 presidential election. The PDP presidential candidate was absent at the pre-Atiku Freedom March press conference held for him at the state Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Iyaganku, Ibadan, last Tuesday. The press briefing was jointly addressed by a former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (State), Jumoke Akinjide; former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Wole Oyelese; former Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, and another PDP chieftain, Engineer Femi Babalola. The Freedom March was held last Wednesday in Ibadan, the state capital. In July 2022, Atiku reacted to a viral social media video suggesting he was ill, saying that he was in good health. A viral video showed Atiku limping during his return to Nigeria ahead of the Osun State governorship election. But his media aide, Ibe, dismissed claims, saying nothing was further from the truth. A statement issued by Ibe read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a report and a video in a section of the media purporting to be of an “ailing” Atiku Abubakar being helped strapped to his car seatbelt by an aide.” “Thanks Nothing can be further from the truth. For the records, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in robust good health.” “We would not ordinarily have responded to this mischief, but for the impression that it will create in the minds of Nigerians, which is exactly the objective of the purveyors of this fake news. “We wish to state that Atiku is not averse to scrutiny because of the consequential nature of the 2023 elections. However, it is our position that such scrutiny must not be predicated on a slash and burn rogue journalism as is the case with this contrived report.” Also in October 2022, the spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Management Committee, Dino Melaye, released a video showing Atiku dining in Europe to dispel reports that his principal was ill. Atiku had flown out of Nigeria amid the campaign for the 2023 presidential election. In a tweet, a former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, earlier alleged that Atiku collapsed after arriving in Abuja from his rally in Kaduna State. He said Atiku was flown to Paris, France for medical care after complaining of pain all over his body.
**In a Saturday campaign speech, Tinubu made the accusation that the former governor of Anambra watched his people suffer while choosing to save the state’s money over helping the citizens. But Obi rejected them, claiming that no one could criticize him for robbing the government of money. “It’s helpful when my opponents speak. Talk to each other about corruption. The Corruption Perception Index, which takes into account everything from nepotism to how people share land and resources to how they handle their finances, is one of the things that is currently destroying our nation. The people, not government equipment, should come first in governance. Leaders who are “looser” with frugality and unsound economic policies are less effective than those who are more receptive to social welfare, human capital development, and public plenty. Nigerians also require greater welfare involvement now than their authorities are willing to provide since 1999. Better still is good management. The nation needs citizens who can save money in an honest manner and not give it to their friends and relatives. A problem exist. Instead of holding public funds in your bank to boost the bank’s capital base, they should be used for infrastructure development.
**The Permanent Voters Card (PVC) is very important in the fast approaching general elections as Nigerians can only vote for their preferred candidates with the use of PVCs. With less than three weeks to the deadline placed by INEC which is the 23rd of January 2023, eligible and registered voters in different parts of the country are making efforts to ensure the collection of their PVC before the deadline. According to reports, some residents in Edo State took to the streets to protest after they were unable to collect their PVC. The people who seems displeased after failing to get their PVC and they mounted blockades in the street as they demand the release of their PVCs. A video currently making rounds on social media shows the protesters in their numbers demanding for their PVC as they block the street with tyres, cars and other objects.
**A High Court in Yola, Adamawa State capital, has nullified the nomination of Senator Elisha Abbo, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Northern Senatorial District of Adamawa state. The Mubi North LG Exco of the party, on October 7, 2022, approved the expulsion of the Senator as recommended by the party’s Disciplinary Committee. Following his expulsion, two APC members, Abdullahi Suleiman and Yusha’u Usman of Kolere and Sabon Layi Wards, Mubi North LGAs respectively, sued the Senator and sought for an interpretation regarding his status in APC. In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Danladi Mohammed of High Court 3, ruled that Senator Abbo was not entitled to seek re-election, having been expelled by his ward chapter of the APC. While Justice Danladi declared that the court is satisfied with the procedure followed in the expulsion of Senator Abbo, he held that the action of the plaintiffs in suing the Senator is not an internal affair of the party as claimed and that they have locus standi to institute the action against him since they are registered members of the party. The court held that the embattled Senator and APC are bound by the resolution of Mubi North LG Exco dated 7th October, 2022, which expelled him. APC And Recent Defections
Justice Danladi further restrained APC under which the Senator is seeking re-election from recognising him as its candidate, adding that he is not entitled to any rights or privileges accorded to APC members. The Court further restrained Sen. Abbo from parading himself as the candidate of the party in the Northern Senatorial District in the forthcoming general election.
**President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Yola, the Adamawa State capital to lead the campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the ruling party flags off its governorship and presidential campaigns in the state. Yola, the Adamawa state capital has been under lockdown since early morning, hours before Buhari’s arrival, with fierce-looking security operatives taking over major streets, as the state awaits President Muhammadu Buhari’s arrival. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani is the governorship candidate of the APC in the state. She and others waited for hours to receive the President and the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu in the state. As things stand, the Airport Road leading to Buhari Square, the venue of the rally, along with Bank Road, Yola Road and several other strategic routes within the city have been declared ‘no-go areas’. Also, all roads adjoining the airport have also been blocked to prevent vehicles from accessing Airport Road, to get to the city centre. Commuters around the Bachure, Kofare and Wuro-Jabbe areas were forced to trek to Demsawo, about five kilometres to access commercial transport to reach their destinations. With the resumption of schools today, many families experienced untold hardship in taking their children to school. Many parents could not take their children to school, especially the ones that are far from home. Many pupils whose schools are within a short distance were seen trekking to school. Mohammed Sani, a parent told SaharaReporters, “I got to the Fire Service Roundabout around 7:00 am to find the place blocked and there was no other way to get my kids to school. “This has never happened in this city, that the road is blocked as early as 7:00 am for a President that would arrive 11:00am; this is not fair. At least they should have given us prior notice,” he lamented. The president’s plane touched ground at the Yola International Airport at 11:02 am. President Buhari who was received by Adamawa state governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, headed to the palace of the Lamido Adamawa with his entourage.
**Peter Obi will become Nigeria’s next president in 2023, a former governor of Anambra state Chukwuemeka Ezeife has said Ezeife believes that it is only rigging done by other presidential candidates that can prevent Obi from emerging victorious at the 2023 election The Igbo leader noted that, unlike Peter Obi, some other candidates have so much money at their disposal.
**Youths in Adamawa State on Monday took to the streets to wash off what they considered as President Muhammadu Buhari and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “stains” during their visit to the state. Buhari had led the APC campaign train to Adamawa, the home state of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to canvass support for the APC candidate. However, shortly thereafter, youths trooped to the street with buckets of water, washing off what they considered as stain of the APC leaders and also set brooms (APC symbols) on fire. Earlier at the palace of the Lamido of Adamawa, when President Buhari visisted, the APC candidate, Tinubu, was conspicuously absent, prompting the president to explain that Tinubu’s aircraft had developed a fault as reported by SaharaReporters. SaharaReporters, had earlier reported that “The aircraft that was meant to convey the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Adamawa state on Monday has developed a fault. “Tinubu was scheduled to arrive at the Yola International Airport by 10 am on Monday to flag off his presidential campaign in the state.” Therefore, shortly after President Buhari’s departure, youths took to the streets, especially at the strategic “Jippu Jam” roundabout, chanting “Nigeria, sai daddy (Atiku)” washing off the “stains” of APC and setting brooms to fire. The videos of the incident were obtained by SaharaReporters showing how the youths “washed” their streets, saying they were cleaning off the stains of the APC campaign train led by Buhari.
**Following, President Buhari flagged off the All Progressive Congress presidential and governorship campaigns in Adamawa State in the presence of the party’s presidential candidate, Ahmed Tinubu, other party candidates, chieftains, and party supporters. However, the president took to his social media page to acknowledge the flag-off ceremony and indicate that he embraced the message of “renewed hope” of the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Ahmed Tinubu, and made it known that Nigeria should trust the party candidate and his running mate, Kashim Shettima. However, in responding to the president’s message, some of his followers took their time to share the photo of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, by indicating that he was a better candidate who could help the country. It will be of note that Peter Obi is the candidate enjoying the support of the majority of Nigerian youths on social media, who have chosen him as their preferred candidate.
**The Lagos state chapter of Labour Party has announced Mrs Dayo Ekong as the new leader of the party in the state This is coming after Mr Kayode Salako tendered his resignation to vacant his position as chairman of the party Salako, after his resignation, was made the new special adviser on Lagos Affairs and Liaison operations to the national chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure.
**A video currently circulating online has revealed a case of a serious fight at an INEC office between an alleged APC member and members of the public who went to collect their PVC. The alleged APC member, who later confirmed that he is not an INEC official, was seen inside the office engaging the people in an altercation after they accused him of withholding PVCs that have Igbo names. After the altercation was serious, he went back inside and shut the door at them. A woman who recorded the moment and was speaking in a native Yoruba language said “You have been shouting at every one since. Stop that! You can’t be shouting at us! You are not an INEC official! What are you doing inside? Whenever you see Igbo names, you put them aside! Why? She continues shouting ” All Igbo names, they are putting it aside, He is not an INEC official, Come outside!” After she had shouted, the man came out and when he observed the camera was on, he tried to pull it from her hand. The man speaking in Pidgin English said “You are using the camera on me, Did I tell you I am an INEC official? Am I an INEC official? Am I working there? Are they paying me? Another woman from the venue said ” You are not an INEC official, so what are you doing inside? The dispute was serious, that they had to push him aside from the crowd
**The Spokesperson of the Atiku/Okowa campaign, Senator Dino Melaye has reacted to the warnings of a former media aide of Atiku Abubakar, Michael Achimugu. The ex-aide in a trending video online warned Nigerians from voting for the former Vice President as he claimed to have various pieces of evidence on grand corruption. He identified that he has thought a lot about the future of his children and grandchildren before he decided to reveal this secret. Senator Dino Melaye in a video in which he posted on his official Facebook handle challenged Michael Achimugu to bring out his appointment letter as Atiku’s aide. Dino stated that there is no publication ever made by Michael as Atiku’s aide. Dino argued that this is the work of the opposition to distort their party. He said, ”Which media aide is he? When did he work for Atiku? He doesn’t have an appointment letter, he should show us the publication that he had ever made on behalf of Atiku Abubakar. He’s looking for attention after collecting money from Bourdilion.’
**Ahead of the forthcoming presidential election, NNPP spokesman Abdulmumin Jibrin, has stated that it will take a miracle before the candidates of the ruling All Progressive Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, would win the 2023 election. He also revealed that the APC has lost a significant amount of its support base because when Kwankwaso left the PDP for NNPP, his supporters in the APC including himself joined him.
**Lagos lawyer and Human rights Activist, Malcolm Omirhobo has reacted to Tinubu’s promise that he is going to transform youths to manufacturing experts, if elected in 2023. Speaking on a post he shared via his verified Facebook handle, Omirhobo sent a message to Nigerian youths. He told them not to be deceived by the promises of the former Governor of Lagos state, Tinubu. He stated that the “Perfect Lagos state” which Bola Tinubu claimed to build during his administration has been an unhealthy place for youths of the nation to thrive on. Lawyer Malcolm said that when it comes to persons in charge of the affairs of Lagos state, the youths are almost nowhere to be found. He claimed that the youths in Lagos state have not been given the enabling environment to become job creators. Malcolm also claimed that there are millions of youth in the ” Perfect Lagos state created by Tinubu” that are unemployed because the required infrastructures are not there for them to explore other sectors of the state’s economy. He alleged that the youths in Lagos are oppressed and frustrated. He claimed that the only youths that have been empowered by Tinubu are the Touts, thugs and Miscreants.
**Ahead of the 2023 Presidential election, A Member of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Ibrahim Abdulkarim has vowed that no one will use religion to win their votes in the North, adding that they (Northerners) have already suffered enough from Boko Haram and Banditry. He also lament that there is nothing Jihad in this Muslim-Muslim ticket, stressing that Politicians can buy Imams to vote for them in the 2023 election but they can’t buy them all. Taking to his Twitter handle, Ibrahim Abdulkarim said “Nobody, I mean nobody, will use religion to get our votes in the North. He is not one who cannot recite Surah Fatiha. There is no jihad in this MM ticket. Some imams you can buy, but not all of us. I have suffered enough from Boko Haram and bandits.”
**The Gwagwalada Division of the FCT High Court has ordered court processes to be served on Olori Halimat Tejuosho and her company, Haleems Nigeria Limited, for allegedly defrauding her financier of N436,325,000 earmarked for the execution of a building contract awarded by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Peoples Gazette reports. Upon securing a contract for the construction of 500 units of houses at Karshi FCT, Abuja, in May 2021, Ms Tejuosho approached Emmanuel Suku to partner with her as a financier and asked him for an initial advance fee of N300,000,000 and another N136,325,000 paid in tranches to her personal and company accounts. According to Suku, he was entitled to 30 per cent of the contract deal valued at N4.47 billion per the agreement of his partnership contained in a police investigation report. The financier suspected foul play when Ms Tejuosho began to avoid him, leading him to send his brothers to the construction site, to check the project’s progress. He was aghast when he eventually discovered the project had been at a standstill through a WhatsApp video call he had with his brothers at the site. “That no work has been done on the project site since the groundbreaking ceremony. An uncompleted gatehouse structure and two (2) shipping containers were seen on the site. There were, however, no workers, equipment and building supplies seen on the site,” a police investigation report signed by a police commissioner, Mohammed Yakubu, said. He later learnt the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry had withdrawn the project from Ms Tejuosho and her company for breaching the terms of the contract. When confronted with the findings, Ms Tejuosho “could not give a satisfactory account of how she spent the money” and began making moves to flee the country to evade accountability to her financier. A further investigation into her financial accounts showed how the businesswoman had lavished the project’s funds on four exotic cars worth N150,000,000, luxury shoes and bags, designer watches, a soundproof generator for her house and other electronic items worth millions purchased from Cash ‘N’ Carry store. From the project funds, Ms Tejuosho also doled out scholarships to 30 students attending Espam Formation University in Cotonou, Benin Republic, where she serves as a chancellor. Her statements of account also showed that she wired several millions of naira to one Ifeoma Vivienne Obilor, an interior decorator to pimp her residence in Peace Garden Estate, Sangotedo, Lagos with tasteful furniture worth a fortune. A chunk of Ms Tejuosho financier’s funds was traced to one Royal Apparel, said to be her staff, with Heritage Bank account number 5100351905 which had received N200 million in tranches. The police commissioner recommended Ms Tejuosho’s prosecution after establishing a case of advance fee fraud, criminal diversion of funds, criminal breach of trust and cheating against her. The matter with suit no FCT/HC/CV/589/2022 has been adjourned till January 25 for further hearing.
**There are indications that the Nigeria Customs Service has carried out a major shake-up in it’s top management hierarchy, even as some of it’s best brains in the service have now been promoted as Assistance Controller General (ACG) of customs in acting capacity. Some of the Customs Area Controller that have now been promoted are; Apapa Customs Comptroller, Yusuf Malanta, PTML Command Controller, Suleiman Bomai, Seme Customs Command Controller, Mohammed Jibo as well as Musa MBA.
Reliable sources within the service confirmed some of the new appointment as; DCG GUMI T&T.
DCG EDORE ..FATS,.
Ag.DCG Abba kura ..E.I&I.
Ag.DCG Saidu G,..HRD.
Ag.ACG Musa MBA…T&T.
Ag.ACG Yusuf Malanta..ICT
Ag.ACG Jibo .ACG HQ..
Ag. ACG BOMAI. However, when he was contacted, National Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Timi Bomodi could not confirm the development as at press time. He however promised to get back to our correspondent. Recall that last week, the Board of the Nigeria Customs Service had announced appointment of three Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGs) as well as the promotion of 1, 490 senior officers of General Duty and Support Staff to various ranks with effect from 1st January 2022. The Assistant Comptrollers General whose appointments approved are ACG Greg Itotoh, ACG Festus Okun and ACG Shuaibu Ibrahim. In a statement by the Service, the newly promoted Comptrollers include the Customs National PRO Timi Bomodi, Musa Omale, Zanna Chiroma, Stanley Nwankwo, Ajibola Odusanya, Paul Ekpenyong, Abubakar Umar, Maureen Ajuzieogu and MO Bewaji. 64 Deputy Comptrollers (DCs) promoted to Comptrollers of Customs (CCs), 128 Assistant Comptrollers (ACs) to Deputy Comptrollers (DCs), 89 Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSCs) to Assistant Comptrollers (ACs) and 220 Superintendents of Customs (SCs) to Chief Superintendent Customs (CSCs). Others are 107 Deputy Superintendents of Customs (DSCs) promoted to Superintendents of Customs (SCs), 302 Assistant Superintendents of Customs I (ASC I) to Deputy Superintendents of Customs (DSCs), 223 Assistant Superintendents of Customs II (ASC II) to Assistant Superintendents of Customs I (ASC I) and 357 Inspectors of Customs (ICs) promoted to Assistant Superintendents of Customs II (ASC II). The statement added that the management of Nigeria Customs earlier approved the promotion of 1, 252 men within the ranks of Inspectors and Customs Assistant cadres.
**Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has won the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) playmaker of the year award for the fifth time. According to Marca, Messi won the IFFHS award after accumulating 170 points in the ranking process. The Paris Saint-Germain scored 35 goals and registered 30 assists in the period under review. The former Barcelona captain is ahead of the second position, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, who is second with 115 points. The likes of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezman round off the top six. Messi has won the award more than any other footballer – five times, with Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez next to him with four wins. The 35-year-old recently won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with the Argentina national team. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has netted 12 goals and provided 14 assists in 19 matches across all competitions for PSG so far this season.
**Legendary Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, will finally return to management for the first time since leaving the Gunners in January 2018. Wenger is participating in the 2022 Riyadh Season Cup, coaching a combined team consisting of players from two of the Kingdom’s biggest clubs. It’s Wenger’s first professional coaching role since ending his 22-year stint at Arsenal. The Riyadh Season begins this month, with global entertainment festivals running until March next year. The events will be spread across 14 different zones in the Saudi Arabian capital. One of those will be the Riyadh Season Cup, where a team of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr players will take on European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain that boast the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Wenger will take charge of the home team as Saudi Arabia welcomes PSG for the first time in the third week of 2022.
**Former Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane has turned down an offer to coach the USA men’s national team. According to L’Equipe, Zidane is not interested in managing a national team other than France. The report added that the Frenchman also turned down the Brazil and Portugal jobs. The USA job is presently vacant after head coach Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of last year. Zidane has not taken charge of any team since he left Real Madrid in 2021.
**Some famous players who have contributed to the success of their national teams over the years have decided to call it a quit, as they have announced their retirement form international football. However, in this content I will be sharing with you some of the active footballers who retired from international football After 2022 World Cup; Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) Talented Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema and one of the all time goal scorer didn’t feature in the FIFA 2022 World Cup because of an injury. However the French man announced his retirement form international football few days after the World Cup finals. According to reports, he announced his retirement from international football on his 35th birthday. Eden Hazard ( Real Madrid) Eden Hazard is another Real Madrid Player that announced he has retired from international football after the FIFA World Cup. His retirement came a few days after Belgium’s premature exit from the World Cup in Qatar. The Champion League winner confirmed his retirement in a post he shared on Instagram, which reads: “A page turns today. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your unparalleled support. Thank you for all this happiness shared since 2008. I have decided to put an end to my international career. The succession is ready. I will miss you.” Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) Barcelona midfielder, Sergio Busquets announced his retirement from Spain duty at the age of 34. The news of his retirement came 10 days after his country was eliminated from the World Cup’s round of 16. Busquets who have captained the Spain team now plays as a midfielder for club side alone. Wahbi Khazri (Montpellier) Wahbi Khazri who plays as an attacking midfielder or as a forward for Ligue 1 club Montpellier. The player who is known to be one of Tunisian football’s greatest legends also chose to call it a day for his country after the conclusion of the World Cup. According to reports, He announced his international retirement on the following day of the last World Cup match. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) The Tottenham number one goalstopper, Hugo Lloris played as the first choice goalkeeper for France in the 2022 World Cup. On 9 January 2023, Lloris, being the most capped player in the history of the national team, announced his retirement from international football at the age of 36.
May your day be blessed
