By Shina Abubakar THE Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osun State will, on Friday, deliver judgement on the petition filed before it by former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola. Oyetola and All Progressives Congress, APC, are challenging the outcome of the July 16 poll, alleging irregularities in 749 polling units across 10 local government areas of the state.  Parties in the matter on January 13 adopted the final written addresses after calling witnesses and tendering evidence before the panel. The Justice Tertse Kume-led panel, in a notice issued by the tribunal Secretary, David Umaru, stated that the tribunal will commence its proceeding on Friday by 9 am.

By Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka, The leader of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MCBAN), in the Southeast, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, has reported that one person has been declared missing while fifteen cows were killed following the attack on Haruna Sale cattle ranch settlement in Awba-Ofemili, Awka North Council Area of Anambra State, by suspected gunmen. Siddiki, who disclosed this yesterday, while fielding questions from newsmen in Awka, said hoodlums also kidnapped one Mr. Usman Haruna in the process, creating fear and confusion in the settlement. He explained that the gunmen stormed the cattle ranch hub on Sunday night, and shot sporadically into the air to scare residents away before carrying out their nefarious act. Siddiki said he got the hint from the owner of the hub, Haruna Sale on Monday afternoon that some suspected gunmen invaded his cattle ranch, killed his fifteen cows and kidnapped one of his subjects, Usman Haruna, in the process. He said, as at now, his peopl

By Abdullateef Salau, State Houses of Assembly have voted against a bill seeking to grant financial and administrative autonomy to local governments. The proposal was part of the 44 constitutional amendment bills transmitted by the National Assembly to the state assemblies for concurrence. A simple majority of votes is required in at least two-thirds of state assemblies (24 out of 36) and the amendments that sail through would be sent to the president for assent. The Senate, in a motion by Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta) during plenary yesterday, said 27 out of the 36 state assemblies have forwarded their resolutions on the constitution amendment bills to the National Assembly. Omo-Agege, whose motion was presented by Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti), said 35 bills have satisfied constitutional provision, having been approved by not less than 24 state assemblies. He, however, said nine bills could not scale through. Prominent among them are the abrogation of state-local government joint accou

By EgbemaVoice, The Police Service Commission (PSC), has stated that all the retiring officers of the Nigeria Police, including inspector-general of police, IGP Alkali Baba, due for retirement must go on retirement. According to the PSC, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, no officer is staying more than required and those due for retirement must exit the Force. Last Wednesday, the federal government said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, will not be retiring midway into the general elections, as earlier expected. The minister of police affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, had disclosed this to State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. He said the Police Act 2020 has changed the rules for an IGP’s retirement. His clarification followed media reports that the IGP would be clocking 60 years on March 1, 2023, and would be expected to honour the rule that mandates public servants to go on retirement at 60 years. Respondi

.... ..... Says Delta is historically stronghold for the PDP, .........Welcomed Atiku to Delta Mega Rally, By EgbemaVoice, A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and immediate past chairman, of Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF), Amb. (Comr.) Jude Ebitimi Ukori (JP), has said the Atiku/Okowa Presidency is one good thing that is about to happen to our nation, Nigeria. Comr. (Amb) Jude Ebitimi Ukori (JP),  He made this assertion while talking with our reporter on the visit of the PDP mega campaign train to Asaba Delta State, 24th Jan,  Amb Ukori said, “Delta state has historically been a stronghold for the PDP, and what will further increase Deltans’ votes is the lone fact that our well-performing governor, the man we have all grown to love and see as our leader, a man with a heart for the well-being of his people, a man we now know as a road master, H.E. Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, was chosen as the vice presidential candidate. The Egbema kingdom born critica

By EgbemaVoice, According to the officers, the protest will hold at the headquarters of Zone 15 in Maiduguri, SaharaReporters gathered. The Nigeria Police Force has admitted that some aggrieved senior officers in Borno and Yobe States are planning a mega protest over their unpaid six months arrears by the police authorities, according to a police signal obtained by SaharaReporters. According to the officers, the protest will hold at the headquarters of Zone 15 in Maiduguri, SaharaReporters gathered. The policemen, who said their six-month allowance increment had not been paid, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue them from the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba. President Buhari in 2021 approved a new salary structure for the Force. The approved police salary structure whose implementation was supposed to have commenced in January 2022 only started in July 2022 with only one month arrears of payment, with six months outstanding. Sources however told SaharaReporters th

By EgbemaVoice, Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday said if voted into office, his administration would change the security architecture in the country and grow the economy.  He gave the assurance at the party’s Presidential Campaign in Delta held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.  Abubakar said that between 1999 and 2015, PDP grew Nigeria’s economy and made it the largest in Africa, but that the All Progressives Congress (APC) destroyed it with its inept leadership.  He said that with adequate security and right economic policies, a PDP administration led by him would attract Foreign Direct Investment that would grow the nation's economy, adding security of the country was paramount because no nation could develop without security.  He told Deltans that the team was not in the state to campaign, saying "we are here to show our gratitude and appreciation to say that we are with you in all respects because of the suppor

By EgbemaVoice, The Presidential Campaign Council PCC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC on Monday made a U-turn on its decision to not respond to the resignation of one of its directors, Hajia Naja’atu Mohammed, saying she was sacked for incompetence and being a mole in its cold. It said it received with amusement Mohammed’s hasty “resignation” from her position as Director of Civil Society Organizations “just before she was sacked for incompetence, quarrelsomeness and after being uncovered to be a mole planted in our winning campaign in order to leak sensitive information to our desperate opponents”. Hajia Mohammed resigned last Saturday, saying her conscience would not allow her to continue in the APC PCC. She had also said the party’s standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was too sick and possibly suffering from Alzheimer’s disease as he could not hold a teacup when she visited him in London some time ago. Special Adviser on Public Affairs at the Tinubu Media Office, Mahmud

By EgbemaVoice, The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on Monday, disclosed that it collected a total of N10.1 trillion in tax revenue in 2022, declaring it was the highest tax collection ever recorded in its history. The Service made this known in its “FIRS 2022 Performance Update,” report signed by its Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, and released to the public on Monday, after his briefing with President Muhammadu Buhari. “The FIRS, in the year 2022 collected a total of N10.1 trillion in both oil (N4.09 trillion) and non-oil (N5.96 trillion) revenues as against a target of N10.44 trillion. “Companies Income Tax contributed N2.83 trillion; Value Added Tax N2.51 trillion; Electronic Money Transfer Levy N125.67 billion and Earmarked Taxes N353.69 billion. “Non-oil taxes contributed 59 per cent of the total collection in the year, while oil tax collection stood at 41 per cent of total collection. “This collection was possible through collaboration with our stakeholders, from o

The 18 registered political parties have submitted a total of 1,575,689 polling agents (PAs) to represent them at the 176,846 polling units across the country. By Abbas Jimoh, The 18 registered political parties have submitted a total of 1,575,689 polling agents (PAs) to represent them at the 176,846 polling units across the country. A senior official of the commission, who pleaded not to be named, told the Daily Trust in Abuja that all 18 political parties had uploaded their lists of PU agents before the expiration of the deadline. The official said, “18 parties uploaded a total of 1,575,689 polling agents, for PUs only.” The commission had said that it would have the full complement of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the 2023 elections; both in the 176,846 polling units and in the 8,809 registration areas.

by our reporter, EgbemaVoice, Director-general of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council and governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has told a mammoth crowd at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Bauchi State that all northern governors are behind the party’s presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He said President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy of transferring Bauchi to the Jagaban of Borgu (Tinubu) would be jealously guided by Bauchi APC governorship candidate, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (rtd). He said, “Mr. President, you said that is your legacy and your legacy would be the transfer today from Bauchi to the Jagaban of Borgu and his running mate. And that is going to be jealously guided, as I heard, by no other person than Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar himself”. Lalong said, “My duty is to thank the people of Bauchi State for the tumultuous reception being given to Mr President and his entourage.” The governor said the

IMO STATE POLICE COMMAND  PRESS RELEASE 23/01/2023 The Imo State Police Command is aware of the iniquitous and obscene video that has gone viral on social media where, a man, suspected to be the abducted Ideato North LGA Sole Administrator, was seen kneeling down, his hands tied undergoing inhuman act and subsequently killed by supected members of the Proscribed Indegeneous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) The command wish to inform the good people of the State that, we are already on top of the situation following a high powered investigation team, inaugurated by the Commissioner of Police , CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc (+) and have since commenced technical investigation on the date of the abduction and have been on the trail of the hoodlums where tremendous progress was being made before the surfacing of the obscene video .  However, the Command’s Tactical Teams are not relenting in their efforts to arrest and unravel the identity of

By EgbemaVoice, The crisis of confidence between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, which has been simmering for quite some time now, has been exacerbated by the recent redeployment of Commissioners of Police (CPs), with the commission warning that the IGP lacks power to do such posting. THISDAY exclusively gathered that the commission expressed concern about a likely collusion between the IGP and state governors to post preferred CPs to their states ahead of the general election. It feared the situation might promote violence or jeopardize the poll. In a letter to the IGP, which was exclusively obtained by THISDAY, PSC also frowned on the recent posting of the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory to the command without notification of the commission, as was the practice. The letter, dated January 19, 2023, was signed by Director, Recruitment/Postings, for the Board of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Ferdina

By EgbemaVoice, Spokesperson of Delta State Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has assured that some members of Delta United Group, DUG, which on Sunday defected to opposition party as a result of self inflicted frustration over the emergence of Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, as the party's governorship candidate, will surely return to PDP after the forthcoming general elections. Oghenesivbe gave the assurance on Monday, while speaking as a guest of Delta Rainbow Television public affairs programme, "Morning Ride," saying that what the defectors did was to shamelessly lick their vomit, the All Progressives Congress, APC and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. He disclosed that the infamous defection was foreseeable, not a surprise to Deltans judging from the unguarded anti-democratic statements and negative body language of the defectors after the party's governorship primary wherein Oborevwori emerged winner in a free, fair and tra

By EgbemaVoice, An Abuja-based Lawyer, Maxwell Opara, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN, and the Nigerian Police Council before the Court of Appeal, Abuja, over the recent extension of the tenure of the IGP by President Muhammadu Buhari.  In the court process made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, Mr. Maxwell is seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st, 3rd and 4th Respondents (being the President, IGP, AGF and Police Council respectively), whether by themselves, their agents, servants, privies and/or otherwise howsoever called from empowering, allowing or backing the current occupant of the office of Inspector – General of Police or any other person by which ever name called who is not a serving Police officer from occupying the office of the Inspector – General of Police as from the 1st day of March, 2023, pending the hearing and determination of the motio