Lamidi Apapa, the factional leader of the Labour Party has said that considering rank and age, he should become the next National Chairman of the Labour Party.


Speaking on News Night Programme on Arise Television on Thursday, April 10, Apapa said in the situation where the National Chairman is unable to perform his duties, he (Apapa) ought to be the next in line.

Citing Article 14 of the Labour Party’s constitution, Apapa said out of all the leaders withing the party, he is the only one with the authority to serve as the National Chairman of LP.

“If the National Chairman of the party for any reason is unable to person his duties, the deputy chairman of the party takes over. It’s automatic, I don’t have to derive authority from anybody because the constitution has allowed me to do that.


“That is the function of the deputy national chairman, unfortunately, among all the deputy national chairmen, I happen to be the oldest among them; on the hierarchy, I am the next person to Abure,” the LP leaders stated.


He added that “On the list of officers, I am the next person to Abure which means I am the closest person to him in rank and everything.

“When I took over, what I told those who called themselves stakeholders today is that nobody can be a judge in his own case. Allow Abure to step aside, let us investigate Abure; that time, the NEC, the Obi who is our principal and the so-called stakeholders were backing him and I was being blackmailed of being sponsored,” Apapa said.


He also alleged that key leaders of the party had earlier left substance to pursue shadows by first accusing him of being sponsored by the ruling party.

The LP’s factional leader said he now feels vindicated with the current happenings within the Labour Party.

Life expectancy is the average lifespan of a population and can often be attributed to factors such as high infant and maternal mortality rates, prevalence of infectious diseases, limited access to quality healthcare, malnutrition, socio-economic challenges and unsafe living conditions. 

 
 

1. Chad (52.5 years)

Chad has the shortest life expectancy among African countries and this tragic reality can be attributed to health issues and diseases.

In Chad, communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions have been leading causes of death, contributing to the low life expectancy in the nation.

According to WHO, in Chad, life expectancy at birth improved by 7.92 years from 51.2 [50.3 – 52.2] years in 2000 to 59.1 [57.9 – 60.4] years in 2021.

2. Nigeria (53.63 years)

Nigerian life expectancy stands second on the list of shortest life expectancy in Africa with several communicable diseases and health issues. The leading cause of death in Nigeria is malaria followed by ischemic heart disease and stroke.

3. Central African Republic (53.9 years)

The average lifespan in the Central African Republic (CAR) is around 57 years, highlighting the severe effects of decades of poverty, armed conflict and political instability on the nation’s healthcare system. The leading causes of death in the Central African Republic are tuberculosis, malaria and violence.

4. South Sudan (55.0 years)

Although South Sudan holds the distinction of being the world’s youngest nation, Since its inception, South Sudan has faced significant challenges, including political instability and economic hardships. This young country has a low life expectancy and there are many reasons for this, such as inadequate healthcare services, insufficient food, displacement and continuous civil violence.

5. Somalia (56 years)

The Federal Republic of Somalia is a country in East Africa with more than half of its population living below the poverty line. Famine in Somalia has put millions of people at risk of severe malnutrition and outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and measles. The leading cause of death in Somalia, according to WHO, is lower respiratory infections, putting Somalia at number five on the list of countries with the lowest life expectancy.

Nigerian environmentalist and human rights activist, Annkio Briggs has accused Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retired) of bias in handling the political affairs of the state.Nigerian cultural tours


Briggs while speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Times Show said there are serious concerns brewing among indigenes and residents of Rivers State following that actions taken by Ibas.

Briggs allegations against the state’s sole administrator comes shortly after he (Ibas) appointed administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

According to the activist, the recent appointments announced by Ibas could lead to a political turmoil among the people of Rivers State and stakeholders in the state.

She said, “There’s serious concern, I can take the responsibility for that and say it to you, as a Rivers daughter, that there’s serious concern because this is the sort of thing that will explode. You will not be able to control it.”

 

Annikio-Briggs said she was in a meeting in Abuja when her phone kept ringing and she also received series of messages following the recent appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State by Ibas.

While expressing her shock over the recent appointments she said, “He has no such right constitutionally, the constitution does not give him those rights.

“I do not believe that President asked him that when you get to Rivers State, dismantle what you find there and agitate the people of Rivers State.


“He is not neutral, he is working a script, he is playing out a script and we all know what script he is playing out – the script of Nyesom Wike. Because the people that are being removed right now as I speak to you are the people that Fubara put there; the people that he Ibas is bringing in are majorly Wike’s people. It is a disaster,” Briggs noted.

Last modified on Friday, 11 April 2025 12:35

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and top party stalwarts have resolved not to join any coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, opting instead to focus on rebuilding and strengthening the PDP.

 

This decision was reached at a crucial overnight meeting held from Wednesday night into Thursday morning in Abuja, where party leaders unanimously agreed that resources and energy should be channeled into revitalizing the PDP rather than exploring new political alliances.

 

The meeting comes days after former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, hinted at a possible coalition of opposition forces to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Attending the meeting were influential party figures, including former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki; former governors Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri; and former Defence Minister, Lawal Batagarawa.

 

Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State represented the PDP Governors’ Forum.

 

A source privy to the meeting said the gathering was held in a frank and purposeful atmosphere, with a shared determination to strengthen the party from within.

“They resolved that there’s no need to abandon the PDP or work on any coalition,” the source told Daily Sun.

“Instead, they believe the same resources, energy, time, and strategies intended for building a coalition should be deployed toward revamping the PDP.”

 

The leaders also noted that all political parties, including the ruling APC, are grappling with internal crises and should not be seen as ideal alternatives.

The PDP, they emphasized, must focus on reconciliation, party unity, and grassroots mobilization as the 2027 elections approach.

The Labour Party (LP) faction led by Julius Abure has accused its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, of orchestrating a plot to seize control of the party’s leadership structure for personal political gain.

 

In a statement on Thursday, LP National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, described a recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting convened by Obi and Otti in Abuja as “illegal” and a violation of the party’s constitution.

 

He claimed the duo is working to destabilize the party’s leadership and undermine its internal democratic processes.

 

“At the end of their illegal meeting in Abuja, Obi led other party outlaws to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in an attempt to pressure the Commission to take unlawful action against the party leadership,” Ibrahim said.

He questioned the urgency of their visit to INEC, saying, “If the Supreme Court ruling truly supports them, why the rush to INEC to exert undue influence?”

Ibrahim also alleged that Obi and Otti offered a “soft landing” to National Chairman Julius Abure, proposing to elevate him to Chairman of the Board of Trustees—an offer that was rejected.

 

“Abure did not appoint himself chairman. It’s not about personalities; it’s about the supremacy of party organs and adherence to due process,” he stated.

He further warned that attempts to offer political patronage in exchange for structural control undermined the essence of internal democracy and good governance.

 

He said: “This sort of arbitrary behaviour is partly responsible for the poor state of governance in Nigeria.”

Nigerian cultural tours

The LP Secretary alleged that the Abuja meeting included threats and plans to forcefully reclaim the party’s leadership—a move he described as “desperate” and unlawful.

 

Referencing a similar position from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who has threatened to picket LP offices across the country, Ibrahim added, “Our response to Obi, Otti, and other renegades is clear: their plans amount to self-help. If they believe the law is on their side, they should follow due process.”

He maintained that only the National Secretary, in consultation with the National Chairman, is authorized to convene NEC meetings, a position upheld by a recent Supreme Court ruling.

“Obi and Otti lack the constitutional authority to convene such a meeting. Therefore, both the meeting and its resolutions are null and void,” he said.

 

The statement also dismissed the list of attendees circulated ahead of the meeting—which reportedly included the 2023 vice-presidential candidate, members of a so-called “National Caretaker Committee,” lawmakers, and representatives of the NLC and TUC—as illegitimate.

“There is no provision for a ‘National Caretaker Committee’ in our constitution. Nor can a governor or a former presidential candidate unilaterally summon a NEC meeting,” Ibrahim insisted

Gunmen in South Africa have abducted a US missionary from his church as he was delivering a sermon, police and a colleague said Friday.

Pastor Josh Sullivan was abducted late Thursday at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell outside the coastal city of Gqeberha in what appeared to be a kidnapping for ransom, a colleague told AFP.

 
 

“It is alleged that while a sermon was conducted at the church, four armed and masked male suspects entered the church,” police said in a statement.

“They robbed two cell phones and then took the 45-year-old male pastor with them and fled the scene.”

Reverend Jeremy Hall, a pastor also based in the southeastern city, told AFP the abduction was probably “financially related”.

Sullivan was holding a prayer meeting with about 30 people, including his wife and six children, when four kidnappers entered, Hall said.

“They knew him by name,” he said. They took him at gunpoint and forced him into his car and drove off. The abandoned car was recovered about 1.5 kilometres (under a mile) from the church.

Sullivan arrived in South Africa with his family from Tennessee in November 2018, according to his personal website.

The police anti-gang unit said a Chinese national was kidnapped Tuesday in the city, which is on the Indian Ocean and about 920 kilometres (570 miles) southeast of Johannesburg.

 

There were more than 17,000 kidnappings in South Africa in the 2023/2024 financial year, an 11-percent increase over the previous year, according to police statistics.

AFP

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has confirmed that his tenure as the head of Nigeria’s electoral body will come to an end later this year.



Yakubu made the announcement while addressing his colleagues at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) in Banjul, The Gambia, on Thursday.

He stated that this would be his final appearance at an ECONEC meeting as Nigeria’s electoral body chairman, signalling the end of his second and final term.

Prof. Yakubu, who has served as INEC chairman since November 9, 2015, was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari for an initial five-year term, which was later renewed for another five years. He oversaw the controversial 2019 and 2023 general elections.

In his address at the event, Yakubu expressed his gratitude for the support and collaboration of his ECOWAS counterparts, emphasizing the importance of maintaining electoral integrity and fostering regional unity. He also called for continued cooperation among election management bodies (EMBs) in West Africa to strengthen democracy across the region.

Yakubu’s confirmation comes just days after rumours circulated online suggesting his removal from office by President Bola Tinubu. These rumours were quickly denied by the presidency.

The speculation grew stronger after INEC shared a post on social media, announcing that Sam Olumekun, referred to as the acting chairman, had hosted a high-level delegation from the Labour Party, led by Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti. This prompted speculation that Yakubu had indeed been replaced. However, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, clarified that Olumekun was merely standing in for Yakubu, who was attending the ECONEC meeting in The Gambia.

During his time in Banjul, Yakubu reflected on the achievements and challenges of his tenure with ECONEC. He praised the contributions of past members of the network, which has worked to strengthen democratic institutions in West Africa. He also expressed concerns about the current state of democracy in the region, noting that four countries have recently fallen from democratic rule. Nevertheless, Yakubu remained hopeful that these nations would soon return to democratic governance.

Yakubu’s address was met with support from fellow EMB heads, who recognized ECONEC’s vital role in sustaining democratic practices across the region. The assembly brought together chairpersons and vice-chairpersons from countries including Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has sanctioned eight power distribution companies (DisCos) for noncompliance with the capping of estimated bills for unmetered customers.

 

A statement yesterday, NERC indicated that the affected DisCos are Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola.

 
 

NERC said the companies overbilled customers in violation of energy caps set by the regulator for the third quarter of 2024 (July to September).

The commission said the sanctions were issued pursuant to Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act of 2023.

NERC stated: “The public may recall that in 2020, the Commission issued the Order on Capping of Estimated Bills (Order No: NERC/197/2020) and subsequently issued monthly energy caps which aimed to align the estimated bills for unmetered customers with the measured consumption of metered customers on the same supply feeder.

“A review of DisCos’ billing of unmetered customers for July – September 2024 (2024/Q3) revealed non-compliance with the monthly energy caps issued by the Commission.”

Due to the noncompliance, the Commission said the companies were fined a total of N628.03 million – an amount representing 5 percent of “the naira value of the gross overbilling during the period under review”.

The regulator said the DisCos have also been directed to issue “commensurate credit adjustments” to the affected customers by than May 15, 2025- the end of the April 2025 billing cycle.

NERC reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing regulatory compliance and protecting electricity consumers within the Nigerian electricity supply industry (NESI).

Acting National Chairperson of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman, has promised to work for the unity and victory of the party.

Naija News reported that the former Chairperson of the Caretaker Committee of LP was appointed Acting National Chairman, during the party’s Wednesday’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.


In a statement on Thursday, Senator Usman said the appointment was a call to responsibility.

The former Minister of Finance thanked the party’s stakeholders, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for finding her worthy for the new position.

She added that the time for distraction had gone and promised to lead the party with openness and transparency.

It read: “Yesterday (Wednesday) marked a significant moment in the life of our great party, the Labour Party, as the National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting and Stakeholders’ Interactive Townhall convened in Abuja. It was a gathering filled with purpose and clarity, and I was truly honoured to be present among eminent leaders and committed stakeholders — including my dear elder brother and grand leader, Mr Peter Obi and his running mate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed; the leader of NEC, Governor Dr. Alex Otti; the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu; elected National and State Assembly members, as well as representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), leaders of Obidient Movement and other patriotic Nigerians.

“The meeting was both timely and necessary, as we work collectively to fortify the foundations of our party, build unity among our ranks, and refocus on our enduring mission — building a New Nigeria that works for all.

“It is with deep humility and a profound sense of responsibility that I accept the resolution passed at the NEC meeting, appointing me as the Acting National Chairperson of the Labour Party. I am grateful for the unanimous vote of confidence and for the trust you have placed in me to lead during this transitional period.

“We followed up this important milestone with a formal visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where we presented the Supreme Court judgment affirming the legitimacy of our party’s leadership transition and communicated the outcome of our NEC proceedings.

“This is more than a procedural step — it is a demonstration of our collective commitment to due process, internal democracy, and the transparent governance that the Nigerian people rightfully expect from us.

“I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to all members of the Labour Party, the leadership of the NLC and TUC, the Obidient Movement and every Nigerian who continues to believe in this movement. To our leader and presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, your steadfastness and integrity continue to inspire millions.

“I reaffirm my commitment to the values and vision that define the Labour Party — a party of the people, for the people. Now is not the time for distraction or division. Now is the time to build, with unity, courage, and a deep love for our country.

“Together, we will continue this journey of hope, and I pledge to serve with diligence, openness, and unwavering focus on our shared goals.

“Let us remain steadfast, engaged, and hopeful. The New Nigeria is not a dream deferred — it is a vision in progress.”

The abductors of Pastor Samson Ndah Ali of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Mararaba Aboro, located in the Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have freed him.

However, the kidnappers have reportedly retained the church’s financial secretary, Yusuf Shehu Ambi, who delivered the ransom to them.

Naija News understands that Pastor Ali, aged 30, was whisked away from his residence in the early morning hours of April 8, just two weeks after his church assignment.

The abductors had initially requested a ransom of ₦100 million.

An anonymous source, citing safety reasons, informed Daily Trust that the elderly church official had gone to deliver an undisclosed amount of money to facilitate Pastor Ali’s release but was subsequently detained by the kidnappers.

“The pastor was freed, but the kidnappers decided to detain the man who brought the ransom. We don’t know why, and the community is in shock,” the source said.

However, security authorities have yet to issue any response on the development as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Government has reported the successful rescue of a 400-level student at the Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Augustine Madubiya, who was kidnapped from an off-campus hostel.

Naija News understands that police operatives located and rescued the student in the Dakingari forest within the Suru Local Government Area after tracking the kidnappers.

Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Tafida, along with Police Commissioner Sani Bello and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Zaiyan Muhammad, visited the site of the abduction at the off-campus hostel.

In announcing the rescue, the Deputy Governor emphasized the state’s dedication to ensuring the safety of students in all higher education institutions throughout Kebbi.

Tafida mentioned that the rescued student had been taken to a hospital for a medical assessment.

The State Commissioner of Police provided additional information, stating that the kidnappers abandoned the student due to ongoing pressure from law enforcement. He also confirmed that no ransom was paid for the student’s release