Author: Akintayo Adams

Prof. Rhoda Gumus, the INEC National Commissioner overseeing the Edo State governorship election, has vowed not to accept bribes during the poll. In an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Gumus confidently stated that her reputation would deter anyone from attempting to offer her a bribe. She assured the public that the election would be conducted transparently, with voter accreditation starting at 8:00 am and voting expected to conclude by 2:00 pm, although all accredited individuals would be allowed to vote regardless of time. Gumus also promised that the election would be one of the best organized by INEC, reiterating…

The Nigerian Police Force has urged voters in the ongoing Edo State gubernatorial election to return home immediately after casting their ballots. This directive was issued by Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Frank Mba, during a special edition of Channels Television’s Politics show for the election. While some political leaders, including former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, encouraged voters to stay and protect their votes to prevent electoral malpractice, Mba insisted that citizens should cast their votes and then leave the polling stations. Atiku, speaking in Benin, had urged the Edo electorate to defend their votes, saying, “You can’t come and…

The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI) and other stakeholders, will observe the annual ‘Car-Free Day’ on Sunday, 22nd September 2024. This initiative encourages road users and motorists to forego their cars for a day and embrace Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) options such as walking and cycling, according to a statement from the Ministry of Transportation. Coinciding with a period of higher fuel prices, which has already reduced road traffic, the event aims to raise awareness about the benefits of NMT. Around the world, Car-Free Day is marked every September 22, with countries promoting alternatives…

President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria selflessly, stating that his administration is dedicated to addressing the nation’s key challenges, including infrastructure development, food and energy security, education, and economic stability. Speaking during a meeting with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly at the Aso Rock Villa on Friday, Tinubu emphasized that he was not in office for personal gain but to work for the country’s progress. “I didn’t come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work,” Tinubu stated, acknowledging the support of the 16 former presiding officers in…

The Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants has confirmed that the new national minimum wage will be implemented starting July 29, 2024. This was detailed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) issued after the committee’s meeting in Abuja on Friday, September 20. The MoU specifies that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) will generate the necessary salary templates for other consolidated salary structures to ensure smooth implementation. The committee, established to enforce the National Minimum Wage Act 2024, raised the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. Comprising 16 members, the committee’s tasks include negotiating…

A fuel station, Pinnacle Oil, owned by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, was reportedly set ablaze by unknown arsonists early Friday morning. Witnesses say the attackers arrived in a Toyota Corolla and carried out the operation, causing significant damage. At least four cars in the vicinity were affected by the fire. In response, firefighters and security personnel swiftly arrived at the scene, barricading the Agbani Road axis leading to the station. The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the incident but suggested that a fuel leak from one of the vehicles in line to purchase fuel may have caused…

A last-minute attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disqualify Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from the Edo State governorship election has been dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the APC’s suit, agreeing with Ighodalo’s lawyer, Chief Akinlolu Kehinde, who argued that the suit was baseless and unwarranted. The APC had sought to disqualify Ighodalo based on a prior judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo, which questioned the exclusion of 378 delegates from the PDP primary that produced Ighodalo. However, the court did not declare the primary invalid.…

The University of Ibadan has confirmed that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved loan applications for 3,283 students. However, the funds have not yet been received by the institution. In an internal memo signed by the Registrar, G. O. Salisu, the university instructed department heads to allow these students to sit for the 2023/2024 first-semester examinations. The approval of these loans follows protests by students over the recent tuition fee hike endorsed by the university’s governing council. Demonstrations began after a circular announced the approval of revised levies for the current academic session, urging students to complete their registration…

Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, a federal lawmaker representing Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency in Edo State, reportedly survived an assassination attempt on Friday morning. Okojie, who is married to Nollywood star Mercy Johnson, was attacked by armed men suspected to be political thugs at his residence in Uromi. Okojie’s media aide, Michael Ihaza, confirmed the incident, revealing that the attackers arrived in a Lexus GX 470 with a Rivers State registration number (PHC 253 FF). The thugs, disguised as police officers, attempted to carry out the attack but were thwarted by the lawmaker’s security team. Two of the attackers fled,…

British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who narrowly escaped death following his rescue from solitary confinement in a Siberian penal colony, has declared that Vladimir Putin’s downfall is “inevitable.” After serving two years of a 25-year sentence for opposing the war in Ukraine, Kara-Murza was freed in a historic U.S.-brokered prisoner swap in August. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Kara-Murza emphasized that even if opposition leaders like himself or Alexei Navalny are killed, new leaders will rise to challenge Putin’s regime. He spoke passionately about the resilience of younger generations who continue to defy the Kremlin, insisting that they will…