Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, has explained why the people of the state will vote for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Okpebholo said Edo people would vote for Tinubu because of the money he’s releasing to state governors.

He disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today where he explained how the state would give Tinubu 2.5 million votes in 2027.

The governor assured that the people of the state would come out en-masse to vote for Tinubu to make up for the figure.

He said: “I will get the 2.5 million votes from Edo State, it’s already on the streets, everybody is coming to vote for Asiwaju on that day.”

The governor also disclosed that former presidential candidate, Peter Obi defeated Tinubu during the 2023 election in the state due to former governor Godwin Obaseki’s failure.

“Peter Obi defeated Tinubu last time because the then governor (Obaseki) was not working, he was in the PDP and people want to voice out that this governor is not working and anybody coming we are going to do it the other way around,” he said.

Asked if the people of Edo State will vote for Tinubu because of Okpebholo, the governor responded: “Because of the work we are doing, because of the money Tinubu is releasing to us to work for him and that is what you are seeing on the street.

“It has never happened in Edo State like this before.”

2027: ‘Money Tinubu gives govs will make Edo people vote him’ – Okpebholo

The United States on Thursday announced the imposition of sanctions on Joseph Kabila, a former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in self-imposed exile since 2023.

The U.S. government indicated that 54-year-old Kabila assists armed groups destabilizing the eastern DRC. He was linked to the designated Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23).

The Treasury Department said M23 and its political-military arm, the Congo River Alliance (AFC), have been wreaking havoc, causing the deaths of thousands of civilians and mass displacement.

Kabila, who backs a candidate opposed to the current leader, is accused of funding the AFC to regain influence over the government and encouraging DRC troops to defect and join the AFC forces.

According to a State Department readout, financial and political support from individuals, including Kabila, enabled militant organizations to be the “principal drivers of violence and instability in the region.”

Washington expressed its solidarity with the Congolese people and urged regional leaders to reject those who perpetuate violence, vowing to hold accountable anyone who obstructs peace efforts.

The Trump Administration reiterated its resolve to ensure all parties uphold their commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity and the Doha Framework.

Kabila, DRC’s fourth president from 2001 to 2019, took office after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. In 2025, a Kinshasa military court convicted him of treason and war crimes.

Reacting to the sanction, DRC Deputy Prime Minister Jacquemain Shabani called Kabila “the instigator, the initiator, the architect of the destabilization of Congo,” and among those making peace elusive.

Last week, representatives from the DR Congo, Rwanda, the U.S., Qatar, and Togo (African Union mediator), and the African Union Commission met to assess implementation of the Peace Agreement.

The fifth meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee, held in Washington, DC., saw a presentation by DRC and Rwanda on ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and advance progress on the ground.

Qatar also gave an update on the mediation between the DRC and AFC/M23. The parties affirmed a shared dedication to sustain the momentum in the peace process and build on the headway achieved so far.

US sanctions DR Congo ex-President Joseph Kabila for aiding rebels

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a travel restriction prohibiting its citizens from visiting Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, citing heightened tensions across the Middle East.

The directive, disclosed on Thursday and reported by the state news agency Emirates News Agency, comes amid ongoing instability linked to the regional conflict triggered by a US-Israeli military action and subsequent retaliatory developments.

According to the ministry, the decision was taken in response to prevailing security concerns in the affected countries.

“In light of current regional developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MoFA, announces a travel ban on UAE nationals travelling to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Lebanese Republic, and the Republic of Iraq,” the statement read.

The ministry also urged Emirati citizens currently in the listed countries to leave without delay.

It called on “all UAE nationals currently in these countries to expedite their immediate return” to the UAE.

The advisory follows a series of escalations in the region, including missile attacks targeting civilians and energy infrastructure in the Gulf area, before a fragile ceasefire was declared.

UAE imposes travel ban on citizens to Iran, Lebanon, Iraq

Abia State government has faulted the threat by forum of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chairmen in the State to mobilize lawyers for a demonstration if the ongoing strike by judiciary workers in the State is not resolved.

NBA Chairmen had alleged that their plans to meet with Governor Alex Otti and the State’s Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, about resolving the judiciary workers’ strike were snubbed by the State government, among other claims.

But reacting to the development, Abia State Government said it had made substantial progress in resolving the JUSUN strike, noting that most of the disputed issues with the judiciary union’s leadership in the State had been settled.

The Director General, Strategic Communication Bureau, of the Abia state government, Onyebuchi Ememanka and the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, stated this on Thursday in Umuahia.

The government said that the NBA was not working with the current information about the progress of negotiations.

“One of the cardinal issues that led to this strike was the issue of Leave Allowance.

“Our position as a government was that all workers who earn consolidated salaries have a component of leave built into their salaries and in the course of these negotiations, it was discovered by JUSUN themselves that our position had been correct all along”, he said.

On the issue of financial autonomy being demanded by JUSUN members, Ememanka said that there is substantial compliance to financial autonomy in the State, as according to him, the Chief Judge who is the head of that arm of government, determines how funds will be apportioned.

The State government explained that employment, promotion, payment and retirement of judiciary workers are not carried out by the executive arm of Abia State as there is Abia State Judiciary Service Commission.

Ememanka also denied the NBA Chairmen’s allegation that Governor Otti and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwanna, snubbed a courtesy visit they had requested.

JUSUN strike: Abia govt faults NBA threat to embark on demonstration

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinstated Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reversing its earlier decision to delist the party’s leadership.

The electoral body updated its official portals on Thursday to reflect the restoration shortly after the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the protracted leadership dispute.

The apex court had nullified the Court of Appeal’s directive maintaining the status quo ante bellum in the ADC crisis, describing the order as “unnecessary in the first place.”

INEC had relied on the appellate court ruling to delist the Mark-led leadership on April 1, a move that sparked widespread reactions within the party and intensified calls for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.

However, it remained unclear as of press time whether the commission had formally recognised the ADC’s April 14 national convention and state congresses conducted during the period when the party leadership was delisted.

INEC Reverses Position, Restores Mark, Aregbesola As ADC Leaders is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Confusion has enveloped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following a Supreme Court judgment that nullified the party’s two rival leadership factions, triggering fresh claims and counterclaims over who is in charge.

The apex court, in a landmark ruling on Thursday, invalidated both the Kabiru Turaki-led and Abdulrahman Mohammed-led factions, citing breaches of subsisting court orders in the conduct of their respective conventions.

The judgment has left the opposition party without a clearly defined national leadership, with key figures advancing divergent interpretations of the verdict.

On one hand, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a central figure in the Abdulrahman Mohammed faction, insisted that the ruling effectively validated his group’s position.

“The Supreme Court has validated our convention and set aside all claims to any parallel structure. What this means is that the PDP has come to stay as one united party,” Wike said.

However, the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, offered a sharply different interpretation, declaring that the BoT had assumed interim leadership of the party to avert a vacuum.

“It is with the utmost sense of duty and responsibility that the BoT of the PDP assumes leadership of our great party today… pursuant to the empowering provisions of the Constitution of the PDP,” Wabara said.

He explained that the court’s decision invalidated the November 2025 national convention held in Ibadan, which produced the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, as well as subsequent actions taken by the rival faction.

“The implication of today’s judgment, is that all actions taken, including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman and the conduct and outcome of the March 29, 2026 Convention in Abuja are illegal, null and void,” he added.

Wabara further argued that, with both factions dissolved, the responsibility for stabilising the party now rests with the BoT as the second highest organ under the party’s constitution.

“Against this backdrop, the BoT hereby immediately assumes responsibility… to foster genuine reconciliation, salvage, stabilise and return the party to good political health,” he stated.

He disclosed that an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) would be convened soon to establish an interim National Working Committee.

The crisis stems from prolonged internal disputes that saw parallel conventions and competing leadership structures emerge within the PDP, deepening divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While Wike maintained that the Supreme Court did not pronounce the suspension of key officials in his faction, Wabara insisted that the verdict upheld earlier decisions removing them from office, thereby nullifying their actions.

The conflicting interpretations underscore the uncertainty now facing the PDP, as stakeholders await further clarity on the party’s leadership and direction in the aftermath of the apex court’s ruling.

Conflicting Signals As Wike, Wabara Lay Claim To PDP Leadership is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has approved the recall of engineers previously redeployed across its business units, following what management described as a conditional pardon after internal disciplinary actions linked to operational disruptions.

In an internal communication to staff, the company said the decision followed an extensive review process and numerous appeals from respected individuals, stakeholders, and the engineers. The refinery noted that while earlier actions were taken to protect operations and uphold organisational standards, it has now opted to offer a second opportunity to the staff.

Under the directive, according to a memo signed by the Group Vice President, Oil & Gas, Devakumar Edwin, all affected personnel will be invited for a meeting and subsequently reassigned to resume duties at the refinery. The recall also covers those who did not take up earlier redeployment options offered by the company.

Management emphasised that the move reflects both a commitment to fairness and a belief in second chances, while reiterating that discipline, professionalism and adherence to corporate values remain non-negotiable.

“This decision was not an easy one. It reflects not only our belief in second chances but also serves as a clear reminder that loyalty, professionalism and adherence to organisational standards are non‑negotiable,” it said. “Effective immediately, all engineers previously redeployed to other business units, will be invited for a meeting and, subsequently, will be provided with an opportunity to render their services at our Petroleum Refinery. This would include those who did not avail the opportunity provided earlier for redeployment”.

The company, however, issued a firm warning that any recurrence of misconduct would attract immediate and decisive sanctions, underscoring its zero-tolerance stance on actions capable of undermining operations.

Dangote Refinery added that it expects the returning engineers to demonstrate renewed dedication as it continues efforts to strengthen operational efficiency and maintain its position as a key player in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

“We welcome our colleagues back, with the expectation of renewed dedication, and we look forward to working together to strengthen our operations and deliver excellence in the oil and gas sector,” it added.

Recall that the Dangote Group, in October 2025, redeployed some refinery engineers to other companies within the Group as part of measures to stabilise operations at the time.

Dangote Refinery Recalls Redeployed Engineers is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Federal Executive Council under President Bola Tinubu also broke the record for the most road contract approvals in a single sitting today with a total of ten major road projects approved by the council.

– N1.79tn for the 5th section of the Sokoto-Badagry Expressway which is a 360km dual carriageway.

– ⁠N1.86tn extension of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway through Akwa Ibom State

– ⁠N548.98bn contract for the full rebuild of the Carter Bridge in Lagos

– ⁠N178bn for reconstruction of the 128km Mando-Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State

– ⁠Two sections of the Trans-Sahara Highway totaling 296km

– ⁠N295bn for dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road in Oyo and Ogun states, which runs 56Km by two

– ⁠The Oshogbo-Akoda-Bunga Road in Osun State (59.2 kilometres, N101bn)

– ⁠Oshogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road in Osun State (90.9 kilometres, N114bn).

– ⁠The Yobe-to-Gombe section which runs 125 kilometres, a dual carriageway and also received approval at a contract sum of N1.25 trillion.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has approved the recall of about 800 engineers previously redeployed across its business units, following what management described as a conditional pardon after internal disciplinary actions linked to operational disruptions.

In an internal communication to staff, the company said the decision followed an extensive review process and numerous appeals from respected individuals, stakeholders, and the engineers. The refinery noted that while earlier actions were taken to protect operations and uphold organisational standards, it has now opted to offer a second opportunity to the staff.

Under the directive, according to a memo signed by the Group Vice President, Oil & Gas, Devakumar Edwin, all affected personnel will be invited for a meeting and subsequently reassigned to resume duties at the refinery. The recall also covers those who did not take up earlier redeployment options offered by the company.

Management emphasised that the move reflects both a commitment to fairness and a belief in second chances, while reiterating that discipline, professionalism and adherence to corporate values remain non-negotiable.

“This decision was not an easy one. It reflects not only our belief in second chances but also serves as a clear reminder that loyalty, professionalism and adherence to organisational standards are non‑negotiable,” it said. “Effective immediately, all engineers previously redeployed to other business units, will be invited for a meeting and, subsequently, will be provided with an opportunity to render their services at our Petroleum Refinery. This would include those who did not avail the opportunity provided earlier for redeployment”.

The company, however, issued a firm warning that any recurrence of misconduct would attract immediate and decisive sanctions, underscoring its zero-tolerance stance on actions capable of undermining operations.

Dangote Refinery added that it expects the returning engineers to demonstrate renewed dedication as it continues efforts to strengthen operational efficiency and maintain its position as a key player in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

“We welcome our colleagues back, with the expectation of renewed dedication, and we look forward to working together to strengthen our operations and deliver excellence in the oil and gas sector,” it added.

Recall that the Dangote Group, in October 2025, redeployed some refinery engineers to other companies within the Group as part of measures to stabilise operations at the time.

Ben Murray Bruce Statement  

Long before Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu became Ambassador, Minister, and now Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, I had the privilege of accompanying her around the world as she represented our country on the global beauty stage. 

In those years, she was without exaggeration one of the most beautiful women on earth. 

Also the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Miss Intercontinental—a face that carried Nigeria’s elegance into every room she entered.

But what I saw then was not just beauty. It was poise. Intelligence. Grace under pressure. The unmistakable presence of a woman destined to serve.

The years have only confirmed it. From her distinguished service as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain and to Italy, to her tenure as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca has carried herself with the same dignity that defined her on the world stage decades ago; except now, the stage is diplomacy, and the audience is the entire international community.

Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has elevated her to Minister of Foreign Affairs. Congratulations, Mr. President, on a truly excellent appointment. Nigeria’s foreign policy is in safe, capable, and elegant hands.

And I will say this without hesitation: I believe Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu will, in time, become the first elected female governor in Nigeria’s history. The trajectory is unmistakable. The country will be the better for it.

To my dear sister Bianca, the world has always looked up to you. Now it must listen to you.