Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room has released a report on the governorship polls in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi, suggesting that the election in Imo is marred by low voter turnout. In a statement released on the heels of the ongoing governorship election, the CSO detailed that the opening of polls was delayed in many polling units across Imo State. The report further revealed that observers revealed that while voters turned out en masse and early to polling both in Kogi and Bayelsa, there was low voter turnout in Imo at the commencement of the election. “Situation Room observers reported that…

Security operatives on Saturday halted an attempt by alleged political thugs to abduct officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and cart away election materials in Imo State. The attempt to abduct the commission officials occurred at a Registration Area Center in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area. Security personnel deployed in the centre quickly repelled the attempt by the thugs to whisk away the INEC officials into their waiting vehicle. An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria that the armed security operatives fired into the air from a distance, when voters in the area raised an alarm over the…

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, has cast his ballot. There was a delay in the commencement of the election at Sylva’s polling unit in the Okpoama community, Brass LGA, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials are said to have arrived late with election materials. Sylva, a former governor of the state and a former Minister of State for Petroleum, was re-enlisted for the off-cycle election after surviving a lawsuit recently.

Subscribers who had taken airtime or data loans from MTN may have to pay back the debt on their accounts as the initial debt cancellation was due to an error on MTN system, according to leadership. This is even as subscribers, who believed the telecom operator deliberately cancelled their debts, have gone to social media to jubilate and appreciate the telecom company. For instance, a subscriber named Ada, wrote on her WhatsApp status, saying, “Debt has been paid. MTN debtors Check your account, MTN don clear una gbese.” Meanwhile, a response from,an official of MTN, revealed that subscribers will still…

After casting his vote today in Bayelsa State, former President, Goodluck Jonathan, declared that off-cycle elections must stop in Nigeria. The former leader, who arrived at his Polling Unit 39, Ward 13, Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, on Saturday morning alongside his wife, Patience, urged the National Assembly to work towards stopping the off-season poll. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts the ongoing off-cycle election in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States. “I’m worried about this issue of off-season election because it does not conform with global best practices,” Jonathan said. The former President expressed concerns that with the…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, today discovered filled results sheet in Kogi State. This was communicated via a statement on the official X handle of the electoral umpire. It said that the result sheets were seen in some polling unit in the state and that it is currently investigating the incident. “Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State. The Commission views this situation seriously. Our senior officials deployed to the State are currently investigating the incident(s). The Commission will communicate its decision earnestly”, the commission…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday debunked reports that the commission has withdrawn the password for the uploaded election results from the Local Government Supervisors in Imo. The electoral umpire described the report as fake news and untrue. The report was signed by Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi. “For the avoidance of doubt, Presiding Officers (POs), and not APO1s, are responsible for result upload to the IReV. “All the passwords have been securely released for use by designated officials in line with the Commission’s procedure. “The public should expect more of such insinuations before,…

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Kogi governorship candidate, Usman Ododo, on Saturday said the ongoing election in the State was peaceful and orderly. He made the remark after casting his ballot at his polling unit. He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the ongoing election. According to Ododo: “I commend INEC management for how far it’s going and as you can see the election is peaceful and orderly.”

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an investigation into circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated this at a press conference on Friday in Owerri, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Imo. “Consequently, he has directed the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, to take over the matter with the primary objective of ascertaining the true facts surrounding the incident. “The DIG is to address any ambiguities that may exist as the Police have been inundated…

The Government of Saudi Arabia has pledged to invest in the revamp of Nigeria’s refineries, as well as provide financial support to sustain the government’s foreign exchange reforms. Saudi Crown Prince, HRH Mohammed bin Salman made these pledges at a bilateral meeting with President Tinubu on the sidelines of the Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh. To support the Central Bank’s ongoing reforms of Nigeria’s foreign exchange regime, the Saudi Government will make available a substantial deposit of foreign exchange to boost Nigeria’s forex liquidity. Prince bin Salman commended the economic reforms being implemented by President Tinubu, and expressed the commitment of…

The Independent National Electoral Comission, INEC, Bayelsa State Office has confirmed a boat accident and an abduction of its SPO while trying to board a boat. A boat conveying election materials and personnel to Registration Area-17 in Koluama, Southern Ijaw LGA on Friday capsized. No life was said to have been lost in the mishap according to a press release by INEC however all materials including result sheets, power banks and luggage containing staff belongings were all lost. The commission has however stated that it has began processes to make sure election hold in the areas set to be affected…

Following the announcement of the nominees for the 66th edition of the Grammy Awards, Nigerian singers, Burna Boy, Olamide and Ayra Starr have made history in the Recording Academy and Nigeria. Burna Boy, who earned four nominations in the 2024 Grammy list, has officially become the first Nigerian artist with the most nominations in the award’s history. He also became the first Nigerian artist to earn a Grammy nomination in 5 consecutive years (2019-2023). Burna Boy’s ‘Sittin’ On Top of The World’ becomes the first African song to earn a nomination in the Rap category. It was nominated in the Best…