The Presidential Election Petitions Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday reserved rulings in separate motions filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, All Progressives Congress, and president-elect Bola Tinubu, challenging the Allied Peoples Movement, APM’s petition against Tinubu’s Victory.

APM is calling for Tinubu’s disqualification over his choice of vice-president presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, in the February 25 election.

The political party named INEC, APC, Tinubu, Shettima and Kabiru Masari as co-respondents in the suit.

Aside from the Labour party and Peoples Democratic party, the APM is the third political party challenging the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

The APM wants the tribunal to declare that Tinubu’s substitution of APC’s initial placeholder VP candidate, Kabir Masari, with Shettima, is illegal and contradicts electoral procedures.

At the pre-hearing session on Thursday, INEC’s lawyer, A.B. Mahmoud, through his motion, asked the court to strike out APM’s entire petition for being incompetent.

Lawyers representing the APC, Tinubu, Shettima and Masari, filed separate applications calling for dismissal of the petition for lacking in merit and want of jurisdiction.

But Abubakar, the petitioner’s lawyer, countered all the respondents and urged the court to dismiss all their applications against his petition.

Responding to parties, the five-man panel of court chaired by Justice Haruna Tsammani said rulings on all the motions is “reserved”.

Lamidi Apapa, factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), says he did not write a letter calling for the withdrawal of Peter Obi’s petition against the victory of President-elect Bola Tinubu.

Apapa said he is not a mole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that he has been in the LP for 21 years — and that he “desires for Obi to win at the tribunal”.

The LP factional chairman was rushed out of the court’s premises by security officials on Wednesday after supporters of the party mobbed him.

Speaking after the incident, Akin Osuntokun, director-general of the LP presidential campaign, said Apapa is obsessed with recognition and may be a “tool in the hands of the APC”.

 

Chieftains of the LP had also accused the court-adjudged acting chairman of indulging in anti-party activities by “approaching the tribunals to withdraw all the cases lodged by LP candidates across the board”.

Reacting in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, Apapa said he didn’t write the purported letter, claiming that he is being blackmailed.

“I didn’t write any letters. During the last court hearing, after the sitting at FCT, I only spoke that now that I’m in charge of the party as the acting chairman, I’m entitled to be briefed on all the [things] going on in the party. I didn’t write any letters,” he said.

 

“Let them confront me and show evidence of that letter. It is not true. I didn’t collect money also from anyone and I didn’t write any letters.

“If I want to write a letter to any lawyer, don’t I have my own signature? I’m telling you it’s a lie and no letter emanated from me calling to withdraw all cases. They are just doing that to blackmail me. I have my name and my signature.”

[TheCable]

One person was killed and three others injured in a lone fatal accident in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The accident which occurred on Tuesday at Wariko along Lafiagi road before Gbugbu village, claimed the life of the commercial vehicle driver identified as Mohammed Idris.

Three other injured passengers in the accident were identified as Usman, Bkatachi and Fati, a female.

 

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Kwara State command, said the accident which occurred at about 10.30 hours, was due to overspeeding.

 

The deceased victim was burnt to ashes, the FRSC added.

The road safety corps disclosed that the three injured victims were taken to the Lafiagi General Hospital for treatment by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

Infinix announces its new collaboration with HARMAN’s legendary audio and technology brand, JBL, to bring Sound by JBL audio excellence to the next generation of their highly-regarded NOTE Series.

At Infinix, the user experience is a top priority, and sound quality plays a fundamental role in that experience. Together with the 75-year legacy of acoustic quality and expertise that the brand is renowned for, the upcoming release of the NOTE Series will be enhanced by the Sound by JBL tuning along with the latest innovations from Infinix.

Users can look forward to an upgraded audio experience in the next generation of Infinix’s NOTE Series, thanks to this exciting new collaboration with JBL. Stay tuned for more information on the release date and features of the new series.

Liang Zhang, Deputy General Manager at Infinix, said Liang Zhang, Deputy General Manager at InfinixWe’re incredibly excited about our collaboration with the JBL brand here at Infinix. Our hardware expertise combined with JBL’s acoustic technology means we can provide an enhanced audio experience to customers worldwide. With a device that delivers upgraded sound quality, we’re confident we’re exceeding users’ expectations.

Integrated with JBL Tech

When building the NOTE Series, Infinix collaborated closely with JBL engineers to optimize the software system of their new generation NOTE Series. The software processing within the Note series was tuned to deliver JBL’s signature sound that ensures well-balanced mid-tones as well as rich bass, along with high-quality and faithful sound reproduction.

Incorporating advanced audio processing engineered and perfected by JBL, the new Note Series with Sound by JBL will deliver enhanced audio with distortion-free volume, deeper bass and JBL’s signature sound that users will enjoy, especially when listening to music or watching videos. This technological breakthrough demonstrates Infinix and JBL’s commitment to providing innovative products with superior sound quality.

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The Council Chairman of Ivo local government area of Ebonyi State, Emmanuel Ajah has inaugurated a committee to investigate the remote causes of the Ishiagu women riot and wanton destruction of valuables belonging to stakeholders of the area by suspected thugs.

Ishiagu is the hometown of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and former President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim.

A riot in Ishiagu community, where over one hundred women and girls protested alleged incessant kidnapping and rape in the area by herdsmen.

 

Ajah who inaugurated the 9-man committee on Wednesday, at the Ivo council headquarters, charged them to uncover the causes of the riot and the attendant destruction of valuable properties belonging to prominent people in the community.

He also tasked the committee to look into the power tussle that has rocked the Ishiagu community development union, ICDU, which according to him, has affected the political and economic existence of the community.

Ajah also charged the committee to exert every possible strategy tenable in combating the security challenges confronting Ishiagu community ranging from kidnapping, stealing, instability, rioting, consumption of hard drugs and restiveness.

The committee includes; Mazi Iwuchukwu Onu as Chairman and Okochi Louis -Secretary while Chibuike Onu, Jude Ajah, Churchill Ukason, Christian Ngele, Silas Chukwu, Ajah Christopher and Paul Chukwu are members.

 
 

Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, has said the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, is the most vibrant and best youth programme in Africa in the last 50 years.

According to Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, despite the challenges faced in the last 50 years, the NYSC programme has outlived every other youth scheme initiated in Nigeria and the continent of Africa.

Ekeuwei, who is also the Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board, described the NYSC as a key factor for national development and integration.

 

Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, made this known on Thursday during the NYSC @ 50 Anniversary lecture at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Secretariat, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He noted that the corps members who are the major elements in the youths scheme have become an indispensable factor in the areas of education, health care, agriculture and infrastructure as they carry out their primary and secondary assignments.

Ekeuwei, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary General Services, Mr. Anthony Ichobo congratulated the Service Corps for its 50th Anniversary celebration and said he looked forward to the next 50 years of the scheme as the champion of national unity, cultural integration and religious tolerance.

 

In her welcome remarks, the State Coordinator, Mrs Okpalifo Obiageli Charity, on behalf of the Director General, Brig Gen YD Ahmed, said the event was one of the programmes scheduled nationwide to mark the 50th anniversary of the Service Corps as the scheme was established on 22 May 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon.

She said this year’s theme which also doubles as the topic for the lecture tagged: NYSC @ 50: Five Decades of Fostering National Unity and Development, was relevant as a result of the immense contribution to the nation.

The guest lecturer, Dr Anderson Nikade, a former staff of the service, who is currently a lecturer with the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, commended the management of the scheme for consistently initiating policies to enhance the attainment of the core objectives of promoting self-reliance, patriotism, brotherhood and a shared sense of corporate existence among Nigerians.

 
 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed that there are many fraudulent ways traders and other members of the public can be defrauded online.

The commission advised traders to beware of various online tactics aimed at defrauding them.

The commission made these disclosures during its telecom consumers sensitization program themed “ “Shine Your Eyes- No Fall Mugu,

 

The event which was held at Araromi spare parts market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, had market leaders, NCC officials and representatives of telecoms providers, security agencies and journalists in attendance.

 

Head of Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Mr. Banji Ojo, while addressing the traders said that there are many ways people can be defrauded online or through telephone conversations.

He advised the traders to be wary of applications they downland and people they communicate with online.

He said the sensitisation became necessary given the various cases of fraudulent activities aimed at defrauding members of the public online by hackers and fraudsters.

There are many ways to defraud you online. Do not open applications you don’t know. Do not give your password to anyone, even your children.

It is dangerous to share your information with someone you don’t trust online.

That is why we are saying that open your eyes and shine your face. No bank will call you to ask you to reveal your bank details on the phone.

President of the Ibadan Motor Parts Dealers Association, Olanrewaju Maruf Ishola in his remarks, thanked the commission for bringing such an educative program to the market.

This program is very important. As you can see, our people came out in their numbers to attend. They have listened and have learnt a lot.

We love the program. It is very helpful. We want to thank the NCC for bringing it to our doorstep. We look forward to having more programs of this kind.

Call for appointment of qualified Technocrats as economy managers

 

A cross section of Returning and Governors-elect on Wednesday revealed plans toward reducing the debt burden at Subnational level on resumption of duty on 29th May, 2023.

They gave the assurance during the panel discussion held at the ongoing induction programme organised by Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

In his address, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who spoke on rising debt profile, observed that Nigeria cannot continue to embark on a borrowing spree considering the rising national debt profile.

He said: “I wonder what the World Bank is doing. Apart from giving us grants, assistance in SFTAS and of course loans they should be able to raise a red flag, they should be able to tell the managers of our economy that we cannot continue to borrow endlessly.

“Our debt servicing requirement is about 95% of the revenue. And so the states are affected by this macro-economic reality. The oil proceeds are not being shared. And we’re here celebrating success, what success? we are going to go under unless we do something inward to really correct our own perception, our own notions and our own approaches to the management of the economy of the country. It is a monolithic economy.

“And yet even where we are getting money, we have taken so much up front, the Federation has to be looked at as a structure because states have to have a say in the management of the economy,” he said.

On his part, Plateau Governor-elect, Reverend Father Caleb Nutfwang who gave insight into plans to tackle the issue of rising debt in the state, stressed the need for both Federal and Subnational Governments to adopt the right economic policy as well as diversify the state economy.

He said: “This is both a national and sub national issue. We at the national issue will be collaborating with the Federal Government, as members of the National Economic Council, to come up with the right policies that we’ll be able to reverse our debt situation.


“And of course, reversing debt is not rocket science, you have to create wealth, you have to add more money to be able to pay your deaths. So we must look at ways and means of creating wealth as a nation. For us back on the plateau of course, we’ll be looking at how to be able to boost our economy, diversify our economy, and ensure that there is effectiveness in all the productive sectors of our lives.

“And at the end of the day, the bottom line, again, is that our people must come out of poverty and begin to create wealth, so that we can be able to pay more taxes, improve our IGR. And then from there, we can be able to reduce our debts.”

He also noted that World Bank as a responsible international financial organization, should “have been able to put across to the managers of our economy, that things are getting beyond the thresholds.

“I would want to believe that such warnings have not been given. But again, whatever they do, whether they did or didn’t do, we owe ourselves the responsibility to know. We don’t need the World Bank really to tell us that there is a red flag. We ourselves, if we appoint the right people, we should be able to come to a point where we know that all is not well. And I think as a people, even the ordinary man on the street most today know that we need to do something quickly to address this.”

On his part, Katsina Governor-elect, Mr. Dikko Radda who reeled out plans to reduce the State debt profile, said:

“I will go and study the debt profile of our state and try to see how we can restructure the loans so that it will allow us some leverage to be able to do some developmental programs in my state, especially at the situation in which we are today. We have a very serious security issue, which we need a lot of resources to confront.

“And then I think the most important thing that we need to do we look at the whole financial situation of the state. We look at the debt profile of the state and we try to See how we can restructure it to allow us to meet all some of our obligations on the people.”

He also warned that Nigeria should “be careful on the debt for the country or our states, because it may have some negative negative impact on the economy and when you look forward, and because it’s just a matter of analysis. there is nothing wrong to borrow to the develop but it’s wrong to borrow to spend uselessly.”


In his remarks, Benue Governor elect, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia urged all the incoming Governors to create “new way for us to know where to follow, what to avoid and try to see how you can manage people’s expectations. You know, like myself, it’s quiet tall.

“So when you hear colleagues, out going, what they expressed. then it’s a sort of an incentive for you to reposition yourself and create a new balance so that you don’t disappoint yourself or you don’t disappoint the people or you don’t disappoint your nation. So it is very, very impactful. security infraction in Benue State, How are you going to go able it?

“At this stage i will no want to be propagandist on issues of security. i take issues of security very deeply but i know a number of things have not been put in place. the traditional role to this was never … the youth were neglected, the boarders were left so porous, so we need to get back to the drawing table, all the stakeholders on this thing and then we can this. And then we can chart a way forward.

“When you’re dealing with people known transparently, and then the number of results that you have are erroneous enough. So, when you have a vision when you have a goal. I will know that we will take an oath to protect lives and in the practice of the citizenry, so you do not keep closer to the tenets of the oath and then when we saw counted will be very transparent and you know, wearing a human heart what’s going to be done to another person can be means, if it is evil just imagine it might be yourself in the position, so the evil comes back to you.

“Some when you put all these together I mean, you put in your best and the best and never be wrong at all even before me,” he noted.

Facts emerged on Wednesday that the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, might have commenced the constitution of his cabinet and economic management team.

Tinubu will be inaugurated on May 29, 2023 as the nation’s 16th president.

According to a source who confided in the Nigerian Tribune, Tinubu is particular about hitting the ground running and is determined to put strong hands together to help him actualize his renewed hope agenda.

“The president-elect knows that the expectations are high and is also aware of how impatient Nigerians can be. He does not want to fritter his goodwill, so he wants to have his team ready by May 29. He wants to have the names of those who will form his cabinet as well as members of his economic management team ready ahead of the inauguration,” the source, who is close to the president-elect, said.

According to the source, some of those being considered for appointment include Kano State governor, Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje; Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; former Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; a former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian University Commission (NUC), Professor Peter Okebukola; and a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Others are 2023 APC gubernatorial candidate in Adamawa State, Senator Aisha Benani; a Professor of Energy/Electricity Law, Yemi Oke; a lawyer and former member Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Babatunde Ogala; a former Lagos State commissioner for finance, Mr Wale Edun; a director at Oando Plc, Mr Mofe Boyo; a financial expert and management consultant, Mr Ayo Abina; co-founder of Flutterwave, Mr Iyin Aboyeji; APC National Youth Leader, Mr Dayo Israel; a former presidential aspirant, Mrs Uju Ohanenye; and a former Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Ms Yewande Sadiku.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, is said to be the choice of the president-elect for the position of Chief of Staff.

According to the source, while Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje is being considered for the position of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Wike is likely going to emerge as Interior Minister, Dr Fayemi as Foreign Affairs minister, Professor Okebukola as education minister, and Ribadu as Police Affairs minister.


Mr Ogala is being considered for Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Edun is being considered as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, while Mr Ayo Abina is being tipped to be the Minister of State for National Planning. Ms Yewande Sadiku is likely to emerge as Minister of Industry, while Senator Aisha Benani is being considered for the Minister of Power and Mr Mofe Boyo may likely be named as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The source said some among the mentioned people who may not get cabinet appointments would be constituted into the Economic Management Team, while others would be considered for headship of some critical revenue-generating agencies.

The source stated that while the president-elect would prefer to pick members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for cabinet and other critical positions, he is not averse to looking beyond the party to get capable people to help him in the actualization of his plan to revamp the economy.

Last modified on Thursday, 18 May 2023 10:47

The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, and five other aspirants have stepped down from the speaker and deputy speakership race.

The aspirants stopped down at a meeting of members-elect under the auspices of the ‘10th Joint Task’ on Wednesday night in Abuja.

The speakership aspirants, Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano), Abdulraheem Olaoye (APC-Ogun), Makki Yalleman (APC-Jigawa state), stepped down for Tajudeen Abbas (APC-Kaduna state)

Also, the deputy speakership aspirants, Abiola Makinde (APC-Ondo), Francis Waive (APC-Delta) and Julius Ihonberev (APC-Edo) stepped down for Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia)

Doguwa was among seven lawmakers-elect known as the G7 who were protesting against APC’s endorsement of candidates for the position of Senate President, Deputy Senate, Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions.

It could be recalled that the All Progressive Congress (APC) has earlier endorsed Abbas and Kalu for the office of the speaker and deputy respectively.

The endorsement was further strengthened by the Minority Party Forum, a group of about 70 members-elect who announced their support for the duo.

Speaking on behalf of the speakership aspirant, Doguwa said that they had come to join the Abbas/Kalu campaign.

He said they all wanted to be speaker but they can only one speaker at every given moment saying that they will support the party’s choice.

“I want to say on behalf of these great men around me here, that we have individually and collectively decided to surrender our bid to become Speaker this time around.

“We have resolved to support our great party and the man they have chosen to be Speaker Rep. Tajudeen Abbas,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the deputy speaker aspirants, Rep. Julius Ihonberev said that there is a time when strategies and tactics needed to be adjusted to support a democratic process that would work.

He said that all three of them wanted to deputy speaker, believing that it will be zoned in their favour but it turned out differently.

“As loyal party persons, we decided to align with those that have been identified by the party

The integrate, capacity and ability to carry people along, transparency and the anergy to mobilise ideas that would change Nigeria for the better.

“We want to say we are absolutely, undilutedly in support of the ticket as announced by the party that Rep.Tajudeen Abbas will be our next speaker and Rep. Benjamin Kalu will be the next deputy speaker.

“We want to assure you that we are prepared to do all it takes to ensure the success of this project,” he said.

However, the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, Chairman Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Muktar Betara, Chairman Committee on Water Resources, Rep. Sada Soli, Rep. Mariam Onouha and Rep. Yusuf Gagdi are still in the race.

On May 9, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC, zoned the Senate Presidency of the forthcoming 10th National Assembly to the South-South and the Speakership of the House of Representatives to the North-West.

The party also zoned the Deputy Senate Presidency to the North-West; and Deputy Speakership to the South-East.

Specifically, the party settled for Senators Godswill Akpabio/ Barau Jubrin for Senate leadership and Abass/Kalu for House of Representatives leadership.