Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Fresh controversy has erupted in Obilonu Autonomous Community in Isuochi, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State following the alleged conferment of chieftaincy titles on some individuals by the traditional ruler of the community, Eze L.O. Uche, despite a restraining order issued by an Abia State High Court.

An Abia State High Court presided over by Justice Enyinnaya Okezie had, on December 17, 2025, in Okpuala Ngwa, restrained Eze L.O. Uche and two other respondents from bestowing chieftaincy titles on individuals pending the determination of a substantive application before the court.

However, the applicant in the suit and a member of the council, Emeka Chukwunenye, has expressed concern that the traditional ruler went ahead to confer chieftaincy titles in alleged disobedience of the court order.

Chukwunenye, who filed the suit on behalf of the Council/Obilonu Town Development Union, Umunneochi LGA, said the traditional ruler did not consult the Obilonu Town Development Union before taking critical decisions affecting the community.

He claimed that the alleged disobedience of the court order in Suit No. HIN/FR276/2025 is currently causing tension in the community, adding that it violated Article 18 of the Obilonu Community Constitution.

“The court specifically ordered that no chieftaincy titles or similar honours should be conferred on members of the community without consultation with the Council and the Obilonu Town Development Union, as provided under the community constitution,” Chukwunenye said.

Reacting to the allegations on Tuesday, the traditional ruler of Obilonu Autonomous Community, Eze L.O. Uche, said only verbal information was brought to him after the five-day period stipulated for the service of the court order had already elapsed.

Eze Uche, who explained that the applicant in the matter refused to provide him with proof of service, said there was no way a planned community event could have been stopped abruptly without a duly served court order.

“The judge said that I should be served proof of service within five days from the date of the court order, but he only came after the five days had already elapsed. I never received or signed any document containing proof of service,” Eze L.O. Uche said.

He also denied allegations that he sidelined members of his cabinet in decision-making.

Controversy in Abia community over conferment of chieftaincy titles 

Real Madrid have had a 150m euro (£130m) offer for striker Julian Alvarez rejected by city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Real president Florentino Perez last week pledged to make a 150m euro offer for an unnamed “galactico” player if re-elected to his position.

Having successfully retained control on Sunday, Perez made good on his promise.

However, the move for the 26-year-old Argentina international was turned down by his club, who cited Alvarez’s release clause of 500m euros (£430m).

In a statement, Real said: “Following the meeting of the board of directors held today, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atletico de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julian Alvarez.

“After reviewing and evaluating the offer, Club Atletico de Madrid has expressed its gratitude for the proposal, made within the framework of the good relations between both clubs, and has rejected it, referring to the player’s release clause.”

Atletico quoted the Real Madrid statement on X alongside a series of laughing emojis., external

In a subsequent post, external they stated: “You must have confused education with gratitude, but to leave no doubt: we don’t thank you for anything.

“We neither study nor consider any offer for Julian. How could we not get along, when you make us laugh even more than Barcelona does.”

In a final post, Atletico added, external: “P.S. Taking advantage of the good relationship with your new president, let’s see if you stop ‘stealing’ players from our Academy. Thanks a lot, @realmadrid!”

Former Manchester City player Alvarez, who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, joined the La Liga club in an £81.5m deal in 2024.

He scored 20 goals in 49 appearances for Atletico last season as they finished fourth in the table and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Real Madrid’s £130m Alvarez Bid Rejected is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Former Shooting Stars goalkeeper Mustapha Lawal is attracting interest from top clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
According to reports, Angolan side Atlético de Luanda and Sierra Leone’s FC Kallon are also among the foreign clubs pursuing the goalkeeper.

Reigning NPFL champions Rangers, Plateau United and Kwara United are reportedly in the race for the shot-stopper.

Lawal, who represents Nigeria’s Super Eagles B team, is known for his cat-like reflexes, commanding presence and composure.

His performances for Shooting Stars last season have made him a target for both domestic and foreign clubs.

Lawal left Shooting Stars following the expiration of his contract.

The 26-year-old shot-stopper made 16 league appearances for Shooting Stars last season, recording four clean sheets.

Lawal joined Shooting Stars from Nigeria National League (NNL) side Sunshine Stars two years ago.

NPFL: Lawal attracts interest from Rangers, Plateau United, foreign clubs

The Bar Manager and Sales Girl who were abducted from Aluta Bar Relaxation, located in Oke-Ijumu, Ikoyi, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, have been rescued by a joint security team in Yagba West.

The victims were kidnapped by armed bandits during an attack on the relaxation centre on Saturday night, June 6, 2026.

According to sources, the rescue operation was carried out this afternoon, June 9, 2026, by operatives of the Ogbe Vigilantes, Irele-Ekiti Vigilantes, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Police Force.

A source familiar with the operation disclosed that the bandits were transporting the victims to their hideout when the security team intercepted them.

During the operation, several of the bandits were neutralized, while others escaped with gunsh°t wounds.

The kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed.

Residents have commended the bravery and swift response of the local vigilantes and security agencies whose collaborative efforts led to the successful rescue of the victims.

Security operatives have reportedly intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further criminal activities in the area.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday called for a thorough investigation into the recent farmers–herders clash in Lanzai and Dosho communities of Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State, which reportedly left nine persons dead.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, Rep. Mansur Manu Soro.

Moving the motion, Soro said the violence, which occurred last Wednesday, led to the death of nine persons, injuries to several residents, destruction of property, and the burning of about 50 residential huts.

He said the incident had displaced many families and exposed women, children and the elderly to severe humanitarian conditions.

The lawmaker expressed concern over the recurring nature of farmers–herders conflicts across the country, noting that such clashes continued to threaten national security, agricultural productivity and economic development.

He said, “The incident has displaced numerous families, exposed vulnerable persons including women, children and the elderly to severe humanitarian conditions and heightened tension among affected communities.”

Soro stressed the need for swift intervention by security agencies and humanitarian organisations to prevent further escalation of the crisis and restore confidence among residents.

He also warned that failure to investigate the violence and bring perpetrators to justice could encourage reprisals and further attacks.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the Inspector-General of Police to deploy adequate investigative and intelligence resources to the affected communities to identify, apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the violence.

The lawmakers also called on the Director-General of the Department of State Services to intensify intelligence gathering, threat assessment and early warning operations in the affected areas and neighbouring communities.

The House further urged the National Emergency Management Agency and the North-East Development Commission to provide emergency relief materials, temporary shelter, food supplies, medical assistance and psychosocial support to victims of the crisis.

It also called on the Federal Government, through the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), to support the reconstruction of residential structures, community facilities and livelihoods destroyed during the violence.

The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to accelerate the implementation of sustainable livestock management, grazing control, ranching development and farmer–herder dispute resolution frameworks in the area.

The House mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, and the NEDC to ensure compliance with the resolutions and report back within six weeks.

The lawmakers thereafter observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims and extended condolences to the people of Lanzai and Dosho communities through the Bauchi State Government.

Reps demand probe into Bauchi farmers–herders clash that killed nine

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has called on the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to liaise with relevant authorities to redesign Tertiary Education curriculum to graduate productive students.

The Governor lamented that Tertiary institutions offer courses that do not produce students who are self reliant.

Emphasizing the need to move away from rhetoric and engage in a campaign of excellence in education across various universities in the country, the Governor maintained that it will instill in the students the consciousness and reality of life outside the classroom.

The Governor made the call when he received, in his office on a courtesy call, the new leadership of the Nigerian Students, NANS.

“No statistical data to guide admissions processes is made available, especially from the industry.

“The labour market is very toxic depending on how you make it as students. NANS should therefore join the call for strict compliance to industry-relevant courses, because the idea of graduating students without industry relevant courses has expired”.

Insisting that the new leadership of NANS should leave a legacy, the Governor stressed on courses that will decongest the labour market, achieve academic excellence as well as violence and cult free university campuses in the country.

He applauded the Students body for closing ranks, working in pursuit of a common goal.

“I am happy that there is unity among you. No factions, because since factionalisation began, nobody has had the capacity to speak for NANS. This position needs capacity to deliver and I am happy you are delivering”.

The Governor urged the students to lend their support to President Tinubu’s re-election because his reforms have benefitted the Nigerian Students.

The National President of NANS Comrade Akintoye Babatunde Afeez, who led the delegation alongside the Senate President, Comrade Ibeabuchi Onyia explained that they are impressed by the Governor’s sterling performance especially in human capital development and infrastructure blended governance.

“In May this year, we were elected as the executive of NANS. We are here to show solidarity, because we have heard what you are doing for us as students.

“We have heard your stories of empowerment, empowering our students with huge sums to support their education”.

Afeez stated that Governor Nwifuru has broken the jinx in education, visible in his establishment of new specialized universities.

“We have also seen and noted your huge interests and investments in the new ICT University Oferekpe, how you are building a world-class university.We thank you very much for what you are doing for the students.

“We are very proud of how you have been securing our schools.

“We are supporting this government because of the policies of the Federal Government. Policies like NELFUND and ASUU not going strike”.

Assuring of sustained collaboration, the NANS President said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Nwifuru have done well and will be re-elected for a second term in office come 2027.

Nwifuru Urges Curriculum Reform, Demands Industry-Relevant Courses In Schools is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for deciding to appeal court rulings that struck out parts of its timetable for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking after a meeting between INEC and leaders of registered political parties in Abuja on Tuesday, SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, said the commission should not challenge the judgments because they would give political parties and candidates more time to prepare for elections.

Gombe said, “INEC has no right to appeal the ruling because of the timing of the election and so on.”

He added that the judgments would create more opportunities for campaigns and allow candidates who lost party primaries to still exercise their political rights.

While insisting that INEC was free to pursue the appeal, he said, “We don’t feel there is any need for INEC to appeal that. But it also has the right to.”

On the party’s leadership crisis, Gombe said the SDP remained open to reconciliation with members of the rival faction led by former National Chairman Shehu Musa Gabam.

According to him, the party’s constitution provides room for discipline and reconciliation.

Gombe also maintained that leadership disputes are internal matters for political parties and not for INEC to decide. He said, “INEC doesn’t determine who should be the chairman of a political party. It is the party itself.”

His comments came after INEC announced it had appealed two Federal High Court judgments that questioned aspects of its 2027 election timetable.

The electoral body said it was seeking clarification on important legal issues, warning that changes to the timetable could affect the smooth planning and conduct of elections.

SDP faults INEC’s move to challenge court judgments on election timetable

Derecognized factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has said he will continue to criticise former presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti over their alleged roles in the party’s lingering leadership crisis.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Abure accused Obi and Otti of disrupting the peace that previously existed within the party.

According to him, the crisis began when both leaders allegedly established what he described as an illegal caretaker committee in Umuahia, which he said had become a major challenge to the party’s leadership.

Abure maintained that discussions about the Labour Party crisis would inevitably involve Obi and Otti because of what he described as their central role in the dispute.

He further alleged that the Labour Party was stable before Obi joined the party, adding that the former Anambra State governor contributed to the internal crisis before leaving for the National Democratic Coalition, NDC.

The Labour Party chieftain also claimed that Obi and his allies were creating similar challenges within the NDC, advising the coalition’s leadership to remain vigilant.

Abure said: “Now, let me, let me put it very clearly. Governor Alex Otti and Peter Obi destabilised the tranquillity of the party.

“You will recall that the party was running smoothly without major disagreement in the party. It was Peter Obi and Alex Otti who went to Umuahia to set up this illegal caretaker committee that have become an albatross to the leadership of the party.

“Therefore, because the crisis is still lingering, we cannot stop talking about it because each time you talk about the crisis in the Labour Party, the names that feature prominently is Peter Obi and Alex Otti.

“They are the cause of the crisis in the party, and that’s why we have continued to talk about it, not until the crisis in the party is finally resolved and dusted. We cannot stop talking about it.

“After refusing to allow us have peace and tranquillity in the Labour Party, before he joined the Labour Party, the Labour Party was peaceful. There was no crisis in the party. He created crisis in the party and left for NDC.

“And now let me put it this way, the same way they created crisis in the Labour Party is the same way they are creating crisis in the NDC. That’s why I have only just said that the NDC leadership should be aware. I’m happy that they are gradually taming them and gradually controlling them, so that they will have peace in that party.

“There is nothing wrong in giving advice to other leaders of other political party. After all, we are looking forward to having a Nigeria that works. We are working towards having good governance in the country, and therefore it is our responsibility as a participator in this process to continue to give advice even to government, to other political parties, and to even government agencies. There is nothing wrong.”

Why I’ll never stop attacking Peter Obi – Abure

Embattled factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure had accused the interim chairman of the party, Nenadi Usman as an intruder in the party.

Abure said this on Tuesday when he featured in an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television.

He was speaking on the Labour Party divisions and 2027 politics.

“I need to make it very clear that I am not an interloper in Labour Party. If there is any intruder in Labour Party, I think it is Senator Nenadi Usman that is the interloper.

“In any event, the final court has not taken a decision on the matters of Labor Party. You recall that after the convention that was held in 2024 in Nnewi, Anambra state, the Federal High Court made a pronouncement that the convention was valid.

“The court also asked INEC recognize Labor Party under my leadership. The matter went to the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Appeal affirmed same.

“And then Nenadi Usman appealed to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court said it was an internal affair of the party, and we have been working very closely with INEC after that decision,” he said.

Nenadi Usman intruder in Labour Party – Abure

The Benue State House of Assembly has extended the suspension of ex-Speaker Aondona Dajoh and former Majority Leader Saater Tiseer by an additional three months pending the determination of separate court cases instituted by the duo against the legislature or the withdrawal of the suits.

The resolution was reached during plenary on Tuesday, presided over by the Speaker, Berger Alfred, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Majority Leader of the House and member representing Kwande West State Constituency, Thomas Dugeri, and seconded by the Deputy Chief Whip, Simon Gabo, representing Mata State Constituency.

The House subsequently adopted the motion and resolved that the suspension of the two lawmakers should remain in force for another three months pending the outcome of the judicial process or the withdrawal of their respective cases against the Assembly in line with the law governing the institution.

Also during Tuesday’s plenary, the Benue State Sports Marketing, Gaming and Lotteries Bill, 2026, scaled through second reading on the floor of the House.

Following its consideration, the Speaker, Alfred Emberga, referred the bill to the Joint House Committees on Finance, Youth and Sports for further legislative scrutiny.

Earlier, in his opening remarks marking the commencement of the First Sitting of the Fourth Legislative Session, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Emberga, welcomed members back from recess and urged them to remain committed to their legislative responsibilities.

He noted that the recess afforded lawmakers the opportunity to engage with their constituents and participate in political activities, including party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Speaker described the Fourth Legislative Session as a defining phase in the assembly’s tenure and charged members to focus on issues that directly impact the welfare of the people.

He identified security and peacebuilding, economic resilience, infrastructure development, enhanced revenue generation, effective oversight of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and greater citizen participation in the legislative process as key priorities for the session.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Zape Upaa, Emberga urged members to sustain harmonious collaboration with other arms of government while remaining steadfast in making laws that reflect the aspirations and yearnings of the people of Benue State.

Benue Assembly extends suspension of ex-speaker, former majority leader