Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

U.S. President Joe Biden called on Thursday for Nigeria’s presidential election on Saturday to be peaceful and transparent. The U.S. president also urged candidates and parties to accept the results as announced by the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Nigerians are set on Saturday to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections that are seen as the most wide-open since Africa’s most populous nation switched from military rule to democracy in 1999. Of the 18 candidates vying to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, three stand a chance. Former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu, 70, the ruling party (All Progressives Congress) candidate; former…

All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate Bola Tinubu has given a hint of how he will fight corruption if elected. Tinubu is vying for the presidency against Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP; Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Rabiu Kwankwaso, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, among others. In a letter to Nigerians on Thursday, he said his government would implement policies that would make people shun different forms of graft. Tinubu promised a robust and credit system to enable people to acquire the basics of life, such as housing, cars and household equipment and pay gradually. The former…

Former Nigerian lawmaker and social critic, Shehu Sani, has urged the residents of the South East zone to resist and disobey the sit-at-home order by Simon Ekpa’s faction of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB. Senator Sani’s statement is contained in a post via his verified Twitter handle on Thursday. Recall that the outlawed separatist group had threatened to issue a sit-at-home order in the South East during the general elections. However, the former lawmaker has insisted that the sit-at-home order has a negative and retrogressive action against the democratic rights of the people in the South Eastern part of…

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Oyo State, on Thursday, commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to all the 33 local government areas in the state. The distribution was done at the Central Bank of Nigeria in the presence of the representatives of political parties amidst tight security in Ibadan, the state capital. This exercise confirms the readiness of the commission to conduct the 2023 general election starting Saturday, February 25 and also on March 11. Adeniran Tella, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state told newsmen that the exercise commenced around two o’clock in the morning. Tella, who announced…

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu, has been invited by the International Federation of Association Football to the annual celebration of football’s greatest stars, the Best FIFA Football Awards. Shuaibu, who is a sports lover, got the international recognition and invitation due to his contributions towards sports development in Edo State. The awards will take place at Salle Pleyel in Paris, February 27. A letter of invitation sent to Shaibu by FIFA Guest Operations read, Dear Mr Shaibu, It is our pleasure to invite you to the annual celebration of football’s greatest stars, the Best FIFA Football AwardsTM,…

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has advised corps members who would be on election duty to carry out their tasks with due diligence. Mrs Blessing Iruma, Coordinator of NYSC in Anambra, gave the admonition during a one-day pre-election sensitisation programme for corps members and staff of the scheme in Amawbia, Awka South LGA, on Wednesday. Iruma said they should execute their duty in accordance with the rules as stated in the Electoral Act and in line with the training they received on the general polls, adding that they must ensure they do not stand in the way of a…

Two days to the presidential election in Nigeria, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, has addressed Nigerians. In a lengthy statement on Wednesday night, the Anambra-born politician shared his thoughts on the state of the nation and what Nigerians stand to gain from his government if elected as president. Here is the full text of Peter Obi address to Nigerians: Fellow Nigerians, it’s 3 days to go and in my quiet moments I know that Nigerians are wondering what Peter Obi is thinking. I will share my thoughts here because I have Nigeria on my mind! We are currently…

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, fixed March 3 to deliver its judgement on the consolidated suit that states filed to set aside the decision of the Federal Government to ban the use of old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes as valid legal tenders. A seven-man panel of the apex court okayed the matter for judgement after all the parties adopted their briefs of arguments. It will be recalled that though only three northern states- Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara- initially approached the Supreme Court to challenge FG’s decision, other states subsequently persuaded the Justice Inyang Okoro led panel to join them…

Christians across the world on Wednesday entered the 2023 lenten season which runs From February 22 through April 6. During the period, the faithful fast and pray for 36 days with the exception of Sundays, the day God rested from the work of creation that He had accomplished. Christians attended church service this morning in commemoration of the start of lent. Some posted photos of their obeisance on social media. During his sermon Rev. Fr. Godfrey Gopep, Parish Priest of St Finberrs’ Catholic Church in Rayfield, Jos, advised Nigerians to shun evil. The religious leader, who decried the spate of…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has deployed its officers to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, to monitor the polls on Saturday. The anti-graft agency said the deployment is part of efforts to ensure the integrity of the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections. EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, charged the operatives to be conscious of the interest of the nation and to exhibit a high sense of professionalism in the discharge of duties. Bawa said being on a national assignment, he expects them to act accordingly in line with the commission’s values of professionalism,…

Goals from Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Di Lorenzo gave dominant Napoli a comfortable 2-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt in their UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg tie on Tuesday. Napoli, bidding to reach their first quarter-final in the competition, went ahead when Osimhen, tapped in at the far post after 40 minutes. The Super Eagles striker has now scored 10 goals in his last nine games across all competitions. Eintracht Frankfurt were reduced to 10 men just before the hour and Napoli captain Di Lorenzo soon doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 65th. He scored from a superb back-heel assist…

The Osun State Police Command has banned policemen attached to governors, ministers and other government functionaries from escorting their principals to polling units in the 2023 elections. This is contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson for the command, SP Yemisi Opalola, in Osogbo on Wednesday. Any officer found to have flouted  this directive will be subjected to disciplinary actions. Also, the use of siren, revolving lights and tinted car windows by unauthorised citizens during the elections period will not be allowed. The command also warns other  security outfits/organisations that are not constitutionally empowered to participate in the  election…