Concerned stakeholders in the Igala nation have raised the alarm over growing ethnic profiling and divisive rhetoric following
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The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has intensified efforts to implement the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) framework under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, with the introduction of a digital portal aimed at improving transparency and accountability. The Authority disclosed this on Wednesday during a Stakeholder Sensitisation Workshop on the implementation […]
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The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to turn out in large numbers to vote for President Bola Tinubu as the party’s presidential flag bearer in the forthcoming 2027 presidential election.
The governor made the call on Thursday after he was accredited during the gubernatorial direct primaries at RCM Primary School, Ihugh, the headquarters of Mbadede Council Ward.
He said President Tinubu deserves re-election to consolidate on his developmental strides, including expanded infrastructure projects, renewed focus on economic reforms and investment attraction, efforts to boost job creation and improve security, and a commitment to strengthening governance.
Governor Alia also promised to engage aggrieved APC members and aspirants who lost contests for the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly to ensure they remain in the party and work together toward delivering victory for the APC in all elections.
He expressed satisfaction with the turnout for the gubernatorial primary, describing it as a clear mandate from the people.
“I can assure you that by the time I am through with my eight years in office, Benue will become a state everyone would want to visit.
“What you have seen is not even a quarter of what I have in store for the state. I started from ground zero and had to lay some very solid foundations,” he pledged.
APC primaries: Governor Alia urges massive turn up for Tinubu
In a decisive move to protect consumers and enforce regulatory compliance, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) today sealed the business premises of two prominent real estate developers in the Federal Capital Territory, Ochacho Real Estate and TI’Bilon Construction and Facility Management Company.
The enforcement action follows the persistent refusal of both companies to comply with official compliance notices previously issued by the Commission.
The notices required the developers to hand over housing units to consumers who had fully paid for their properties but were left stranded without their homes.
The sealed offices will remain shut indefinitely until both organisations fully fulfill their outstanding obligations to the affected consumers.
The Commission’s action was taken pursuant to Section 150(4) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018, which empowers the FCCPC to take strict regulatory action against non-compliant entities.
Alex Otti has advised youths in Abia State not to depend solely on certificates obtained from higher institutions for job security, but to acquire advanced digital skills and knowledge to survive in the 21st-century economy.
Governor Otti gave the advice on Wednesday while addressing 850 Abia youths participating in the three-month Techrise Cohort 3 programme.
He made it clear that certificates alone are no longer sufficient for employment and survival in highly competitive environments if the youths lack digital skills for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Governor Otti, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, said the three-month training programme was designed to help the youths become entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators, and ultimately escape unemployment.
“So do not just look for certificates. Seek deep competence and hands-on problem-solving skills,” Otti charged them.
In her address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oge Maduka, said the youths would be trained in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Maduka added that the participants would also receive training in cybersecurity, product design, software development, data engineering, digital innovation, and other emerging technologies.
School certificates without digital skills could stop your jobs – Otti tells Abia youths
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has voiced his concerns regarding the apparent tension between the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and their counterparts, the National Association of Road Transport Owners. He indicated that such discord could potentially undermine the integrity of the elections in Ekiti State.
He urged the unions to collaborate for the sake of the elections, emphasizing that transport logistics is a crucial element for the success of any election, stating, “your elections can only be as good as your transport logistics.”
Amupitan highlighted that although the commission lacks its own vehicles to fulfill the demands of the elections, it chooses to partner with the transport unions due to their extensive reach, rather than ignoring the issue.
He cautioned them against accepting payment for vehicles they are unable to provide, stressing that the logistics for the elections must be meticulously planned to prevent last-minute complications, referencing the challenges faced during the Anambra elections.
He emphasized that experience has demonstrated that the union frequently does not possess sufficient vehicles, often opting to rent, which results in delivering fewer vehicles than necessary.
He reminded them that both international and local observers accredited to oversee the elections typically monitor fewer than 100 polling units and base their evaluations on those units, while actively seeking negative aspects of the elections.
He stated, “we must not give them any negative incidents to report about the elections. Let them search and not find. Inform us of what you can accomplish and what you cannot. Do not deceive us.”
The National Union of Road Transport Workers will be relied upon to transport electoral materials to various locations during the governorship election scheduled for June 20 in the state.
Earlier, the National Commissioners of INEC, led by Prof. Sani Adams, cautioned the road transport workers against undermining the Commission’s efforts to conduct a credible, free, and fair governorship election.
Ekiti 2026: INEC warns NURTW against sabotaging guber election
Political parties preparing for the 2027 general election have secured a major legal reprieve after the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified key timelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries and candidate nominations.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a judgment delivered in Abuja, held that portions of INEC’s revised timetable for the 2027 polls were inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The court also set aside INEC’s May 10 deadline directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases as a condition for participation in the elections.
The decision followed a suit filed by the Youth Party (YP), which challenged the electoral body’s authority to prescribe timelines for party primaries and reduce deadlines already guaranteed by law.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016, with INEC listed as the sole defendant, the Youth Party argued that the Commission exceeded its powers under the Electoral Act. Although the judgment was delivered on Wednesday, the Certified True Copy was released on Thursday.
Ruling in favour of the plaintiff, Justice Umar held that Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 gives political parties up to 120 days before an election to submit the personal particulars of their candidates, stressing that INEC cannot lawfully shorten that period through its election timetable.
The judge further ruled that Section 31 of the Electoral Act permits political parties to withdraw or substitute candidates not later than 90 days before an election, adding that INEC lacks the statutory authority to impose an earlier deadline.
The court also faulted the Commission’s timetable on the publication of candidates’ final list, maintaining that Section 32 of the Electoral Act prescribes a minimum 60-day period which INEC cannot abridge.
Justice Umar granted additional reliefs sought by the Youth Party, declaring that INEC does not possess the legal authority under Section 98 of the Electoral Act to fix campaign closure two days before an election.
The court equally ruled that the timeframe prescribed by INEC for submitting membership registers does not apply to primary elections conducted for the replacement of withdrawn candidates.
Consequently, the court nullified aspects of INEC’s revised timetable relating to party primaries, submission of candidates’ particulars, withdrawal and replacement of candidates, publication of final candidate lists and campaign timelines that conflict with the Electoral Act 2026.
The judgment is expected to have significant implications for preparations ahead of the 2027 elections, as political parties and the electoral commission weigh their next steps.
NAN
Rivers United technical adviser, Finidi George has shifted focus to his team’s final game of the campaign against Katsina United.
The Pride of Rivers beat non-league side G12 FC 2-0 in the Round of 64 in Benin City on Tuesday.
Rivers United will now look to consolidate on the win when they take on Katsina United in Port-Harcourt on Sunday.
“I’m quite happy with the performance of my players against academy side G12,” Finidi told the club’s media.
“The game is gone and my focus is on the league match against Katsina United.”
Rivers United must beat Katsina United, and hope that Rangers drop points in their away fixture against Ikorodu City in Lagos to be crowned champions for the second time in their history.
The Pride of Rivers trail the Rangers by one point on the league table.
NPFL: Rivers United ready for final battle against Katsina United
Sheriff Oborevwori has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election after 345,375 party members across all wards in the state affirmed his candidacy.
Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, Victor Abba, announced the result at the party secretariat in Asaba, the venue of the collation centre, where he declared Governor Oborevwori as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Delta State.
Governor Oborevwori was the sole aspirant in the party’s direct primary election.
“I, Engineer Sir Victor Abba, Chairman of the Delta Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer for the Delta State Governorship Primary Election held on the 21st day of May, 2026, hereby certify that the aspirant, Rt Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, scored 345,375 votes,” he declared.
Abba said Oborevwori, having satisfied the party’s constitutional requirements and secured the highest number of valid votes cast, was duly returned elected as the APC governorship candidate for Delta State.
He praised party members for their unity, maturity, and peaceful conduct during the exercise, saying: “We have seen what has happened in Delta State and we are satisfied. The maturity of politics in this state is second to none.”
He also commended Governor Oborevwori for infrastructural development, people-oriented programmes, and governance initiatives, saying the administration had strengthened the APC’s acceptance across Delta State.
Speaking after voting in his ward in Okpe Local Government Area, Oborevwori commended the APC leadership for conducting what he described as a transparent, peaceful, and exemplary primary election, adding that the party remained united ahead of the polls.
The governor said the large turnout across the state’s 270 wards demonstrated grassroots participation and reflected the confidence party members had in his leadership.
“I must sincerely appreciate our great party, the APC, for the transparent and exemplary model adopted for this primary election. It is a model worthy of emulation by other political parties,” he said.
Oborevwori said the peaceful conduct of the exercise marked a departure from previous political traditions, stressing that adherence to due process eliminated tensions often associated with party contests.
“For the first time in Delta State, our primaries were conducted peacefully without violence, crisis, or loss of lives. Nobody imposed candidates on the people. The people freely chose those they wanted,” he stated.
Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the turnout reflected support for Governor Oborevwori’s administration, while Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the governor’s emergence reflected confidence in his leadership.
Other party leaders, including Hilary Ibegbulem, Ndudi Elumelu, Jonathan Ukodhiko, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, Francis Waive, and Solomon Areyenka, also commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise and expressed confidence in the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.
The declaration of Oborevwori as APC governorship candidate was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, and other party leaders.
Delta 2027: Oborevwori gets affirmation, emerges APC governorship candidate
The Nigerian Navy has highlighted some its major challenges in its 70 years journey to include technology and research development.
Rear Admiral Akinola Olatunde, Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, stated this at an international press briefing to mark the Nigerian Navy 70th anniversary celebration in Abuja on Thursday.
Fielding questions from journalists, Olatunde noted that over the years the Navy has changed from the focus on just policing duties, to diplomatic and also to military duties.
He noted that over years, the Nigerian Navy has transformed from a modest coastal policing navy into a formidable instrument of national power, regional stability and blue-water prestige through resilience and strategic adaptability.
DAILY POST reports that the Nigerian Navy was established on 1 June 1956 and as the then, it was known as Naval Defence Force with 250 officers and men as well as 11 ships inherited from the erstwhile Colonial Marine Department of the Royal Navy.
In 1958, it was designated as the Royal Nigerian Navy in 1958 and the prefix Royal was dropped when Nigeria became a republic in 1963.
The modern-day Nigerian Navy was legally established through the Act of Parliament No 21 of 1964 as a statutory branch of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Instructively, the first Nigerian to head the Nigerian Navy in 1964 was then Commodore JEA Wey.
He said the Navy needs to improve in the areas of cyber and in terms of evolving nature of crime for instance people trying to move drugs across from other neighboring countries into Nigeria.
He further stated, “We also have drones that also work on autonomous systems, but on the aspect of the submarine, linking it up to how threats evolve. Countries assess what is their threat over a long period of time. It is based on that threat assessment that they acquire vessels to meet a long term threat or what they consider as a immediate or medium term threat.
“Within Africa, when we assess our threats and we have our own strategic plan down to 2030, underwater threat is not one of the priorities for now, but again, these matters are what you consider under net assessment, where you have to monitor and see how things are evolving over a period of time.
“We would have loved to be further ahead in terms of technology, we would have loved to be further ahead in terms of research and development. One of the lessons we learned during the Civil War is that every service, armed forces as a whole, should try as much as possible to be independent when it comes to military production.
“So when it comes to research and development we’re yet to be there. That is an area that we would like to improve upon. Remember, we had a time when the country was denied the opportunity to procure armaments, and we have to rely on other part of the world, so it’s an aspect that the Nigeria military is looking at to see how we can be self-sufficient, not just in ship production, but also in record system and other areas that are more technology inclined.”
Nigerian Navy highlights major challenges as it marks 70 years in existence