Author: Chronicle Editor

The party primaries in Ekiti and Osun states will hold in January and February 2022 respectively, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced. The governorship election in Ekiti is scheduled for June while that of Osun will hold in August 2022. INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, who spoke Monday in Abuja said the Ekiti East State Constituency bye-election would hold the same period as the governorship poll. “Ekiti governorship election is holding in June. But, in about two weeks, party primaries for the state will commence beginning from January 1 to 29 next year. The primaries for Osun State will…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday declined assent to the Electoral Act bill, citing financial, moral and constitutional factors as his reasons for doing so. In his letter to the National Assembly, the President explained that he reject the bill, following consultations and advice from relevant ministries, department and agencies. The letter will be read to senators and House of Representatives members on Tuesday at plenary session where the reasons adduced by the President will be debated. The reasons President Buhari induced high cost of conducting direct primaries, the security challenge of monitoring the shadow polls, violation of citizens’ rights, marginalization…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday stated that it has received N100 billion out of the N305 billion it proposed for the conduct of the 2023 general elections. INEC said President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill would not hamper its activities as an electoral umpire. It also said it “will never reward bad behaviour” by conducting a by-election in Ekiti East State Constituency before the June 2023 governorship election in the state. INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu defended the agency’s proposed N305 billion budget for the general elections before the Senate Committee on Appropriation…

Assures discreet and transparent investigations The Nigeria Police Force on Monday began investigations into alleged professional misconduct, abuse of office and extortion of N22 million worth of Bitcoin from some citizens in Lagos State, levelled against a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nwawe Cordelia and others, serving at the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos. This follows the setting up of a Special Investigation Panel by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba to carryout a discreet and transparent investigation into the allegation, police spokesperson, Frank Mba said in a statement. This development has become imperative following the…

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of engaging in duplicity and shifty politics in his criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari over the delay in signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law. The observation was made by the State Chairman-elect of APC, Chief Emeka Bekee, while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt Sunday night. Bekee noted that shortly after the Electoral Bill was passed by the NASS, Wike had threatened to challenge it in court, if President Buhari went ahead to sign it into law. He pointed out that…

Ambassador Tukur Buratai says ignorance, weak justice system and poor leadership among others are factors responsible for insecurity and other social challenges in the country. Buratai, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, said this at the groundbreaking and fundraiser for Tukur Buratai Research Centre (TBRC) at Gora in Nasarawa State. The former Chief of Army Staff said the Centre would collaborate with the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in the fields of strategic studies, peace and conflict studies and leadership for development. He said: “One may want to know why a retired general cum diplomat will decide to collaborate with…

The ongoing trial of Abubakar Ali Peters and his company, Nadabo Energy Limited, for an alleged N1.4billion fraud, before Justice C.A. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos continued on Monday, December 20, 2021, with the fifth prosecution witness and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, concluding his examination-in-chief. Abubakar and his company are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 27-count charge for allegedly using forged documents to obtain N1,464,961,978.24 from the Federal Government as oil subsidy, after allegedly inflating the quantity of Premium Motor…

The Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Tanimu Shehu today, December 20, 2021, convicted and sentenced three ATM card smugglers to six months imprisonment each on separate three count charges. The defendants, Abdullahi Usman, Musa Abubakar and Abdulwahid Auwalu were arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) between November 24 and December 1, 2021. Upon their arrest, it was discovered that Musa Abubakar who was on his way to Dubai, UAE had concealed 714 ATM cards while Abdullahi Usman who was Saudi Arabia bound had 298 ATM cards in his possession. Abdulwahid on…

Nigeria’s leading scorer in Europe this season, Paul Onuachu, is a major doubt for January’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon. The 27-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during during Genk’s 1-1 draw with Royal Antwerp in Belgium on Sunday. Genk have not put an exact timeframe on his return but Paul Onuachu has been ruled out for up to four weeks, with the Nations Cup set to kick off in 20 days’ time. “He suffered a muscle tear. I already had the feeling that I had to replace him, but he said he could continue.” Genk manager Bernd Storck…

Gunmen on Monday attacked Nigeria’s premier polytechnic, The Polytechnic Ibadan in Oyo state, shooting a lecturer and looting school property. According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen believed to be armed robbers invaded the north campus of The Polytechnic Ibadan in the early hours of the day. The armed robbers, during the invasion, reportedly stormed the lecturers quarters of the institution. According to reports, one of the lecturers in the institution, identified as Emmanuel Okedara, was shot. The lecturer is said to be currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital. It was gathered that property worth millions of naira were also carted…