Author: Vincent Osuwo

Catholic priests in Benue State have expressed concern over the recent devastation and desecration of St Paul’s Parish, Aye-Twar (Agu Centre) in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA), as well as the occupation of 26 other outstations by armed herders. The Catholic priests observed that the act did not only constitute an attack against the Church, especially the Diocese of Katsina-Ala, “but a direct assault on government at all levels, the security operatives, the traditional institutions and indeed all stakeholders.” The Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association (NCDPA), Katsina-Ala Diocese, Rev. Fr Samuel Fila, explained in a statement to…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the bye-election for the Shanono/Bagwai Constituency and the rerun election for the Ghari Constituency in Kano State over what it called widespread violence and disruption. In a statement issued on Saturday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC stated that the elections were marred by “extreme violence and disruption by armed thugs across several polling units” in the affected areas. According to Morka, “Verifiable reports from Shanono and Bagwai Local Government Areas and Ghari constituency have voters fleeing polling areas, with deployed…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the rerun elections for the Ghari/Takai and Bagwai/Shanono federal constituencies. The state Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the elections were not free and fair, citing voter intimidation as a major concern. “Our supporters were being chased from their homes to enable the opposition to thumbprint ballot papers,” Abbas said, adding that thugs were present in most polling units, intimidating remaining APC voters. He also stated that by around 11 a.m., election materials had…

No fewer than 288 thugs with dangerous weapons have been arrested by the Kano Police Command at the four local government areas where the bye-election is currently going on. SP Abdullahi Haruna, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest of the suspects in a telephone interview with The Punch on Saturday. “As at 1pm today (Saturday), 288 thugs were apprehended with dangerous weapons in the local government areas where the bye-election is going,” Haruna said. He stated that the suspects were arrested for allegedly attempting to disrupt the bye-election. He disclosed that the hoodlums were arrested alongside their sponsors…

Security agents apprehended officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state branch and two INEC staff members at an unidentified hotel in Ogun State’s Iperu-Remo area, allegedly with a large sum of money in their possession. The politicians and INEC officials, who were shown being questioned in a video clip released on social media on Saturday, were allegedly apprehended at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State. In the viral video, INEC officials (a male and a female) and PDP officers are seen squatting and being quizzed by an unidentified male security personnel. According to the interrogator,…

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has sympathised with Fresh FM’s Chairman, Chief Olayinka Ayefele, and the station’s management following the Friday night fire that destroyed part of its offices in Ibadan. Dr Suleimon Olanrewaju, the governor’s chief press secretary, termed the occurrence as sad in a statement released to journalists in Ibadan. However, Makinde thanked God that no life was lost to the inferno. He called on Ayefele, whom he described as a brother and friend, to stay strong like he always has. “This too shall pass, and Fresh FM will bounce back better and stronger,” the governor stated.…

The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) has accepted the apology of the Global Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, after his recent remarks about the CAC’s late founder, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, stirred outrage. Speaking on behalf of the church, CAC’s Director of Publicity, Pastor Aderinsoye Alawode, stated that the apology was received in good faith and represented contrition and a desire to make apologies. During a preaching, Fatoyinbo stated that Apostle Babalola was anointed but had no money. He also claimed Babalola died impoverished and questioned the location of his children. “I was studying recently…

Hussaini Mohammed Jalo, a member of the House of Representatives for Chikun Federal Constituency, expressed pleasure with the bye-election in his constituency in Kaduna state on Saturday, adding that voter turnout, while initially low, was progressively increasing. Speaking with journalists after overseeing the exercise at LEA Primary School, Narayi in Chikun LGA, Kaduna state, Jalo expressed optimism that more citizens would exercise their franchise before the polls closed. “Voters are coming out, but not as expected.” However, we expect the turnout will improve during the next one or two hours. “So far, so good,” he stated. Regarding security, Jalo praised…

Operatives of the Nigerian police force in collaboration with personnel of the Department of State Service (DSS) in Kaduna have arrested a suspected vote buyer in possession of N25,963,000. This arrest was carried out barely hours before the conduct of Saturday’s bye-elections in parts of the state. The suspect, identified as Shehu Aliyu Patangi, was apprehended around 3:30 a.m. at a popular hotel along Turunku Road in the Kaduna metropolis. According to the Kaduna State Police Command, preliminary investigations found that the large sum of money was intended to entice voters and undermine the integrity of the electoral process. DSP…

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin made no breakthrough on Ukraine at their high-stakes summit on Friday, pointing to areas of agreement and rekindling a friendship but offering no news on a ceasefire. After an abrupt ending to three hours of talks with aides, Trump and Putin offered warm words but answered no questions from reporters regarding an end to the war. “We’re not there yet, but we’ve made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump stated. He called the meeting “extremely productive” with “many points” agreed, although he did not speak on specifics. “There are just a…