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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described the plan by the state government to reopen the Offa robbery court case as an attempt to politicise and frame Dr. Bukola Saraki. Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Friday, the PDP leadership in Kwara State said the party was shocked by recent media reports […]

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has rescued a 15-year-old girl said to be a victim of trafficking and arrested the suspect at the Kwali Area Council of Abuja. Command Public Relations Officer, Monica Ojobi, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, disclosed that the Corps’ investigation revealed […]

The Management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited has clarified that the driver of the ill-fated bus conveying the 14 kidnapped students heading to write their, UTME exams Benue State, was not authorized to carry out the job.

DAILY POST reports that the admission seekers alongside other travelers were abducted on Thursday while traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo via an 18-seater bus belonging to the Benue Links Motors.

Reacting to the sad incident, the management, in a statement issued by Information Officer, Johnson Ehi Daniel said that the “trip was unauthorized”.

The statement explained that the organization has a standing directive, which prohibits “all company vehicles from undertaking journeys beyond 6:00pm due to prevailing security challenges”.

However, Mr Johnson said the driver, “acting without the knowledge or approval of the Management, removed the vehicle from the company’s premises, picked up passengers and embarked on the journey without due documentation or clearance”.

The statement also confirmed that the driver, who managed to escape from the kidnappers is currently in the custody of the Benue State Police Command.

Driver of bus carrying 14 abducted JAMB candidates was on illegal job – Benue Links

Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA) has threatened to shut down, henceforth, all hotels that fail to register with the body for

American singer and TikTok star D4vd has been arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department over his alleged involvement in

Residents of Rigasa community in Igabi Local Government Area have regained electricity after years of blackout, with

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has concluded the second phase of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise today, Friday, 17th April 2026, recording a total of 3,748,704 completed registrations across the country.

The figure contained in the commission’s weekly update for week 14 of the second phase of the exercise comprised both online pre-registrations and in-person completions at designated centres nationwide, reflecting sustained public participation in the voter registration process ahead of the 2027 General Election.

A breakdown of the registrations shows that 2,259,288 Nigerians completed their registration through the online pre-registration portal, while 1,489,416 finalized their registration physically.

The Commission noted that the figures are preliminary and subject to further verification.

With the conclusion of the registration phase, INEC has now shifted focus to the display of the Register of Voters for Claims and Objections, a critical stage in ensuring the accuracy and credibility of the voter register.

The display exercise will take place at designated centres nationwide from 20th to 26th April 2026, providing an opportunity for citizens to verify their details and raise objections where necessary.

The Commission urges all Nigerians who registered during the second phase to take advantage of this window to confirm the accuracy of their information and assist in identifying ineligible entries, including duplicate registrations, deceased persons and non-citizens.

The CVR exercise is being conducted in phases. The first phase commenced on 18th August 2025 and ended on 10th December 2025, while the second phase ran from 5th January 2026 to 17th April 2026.

Based on the Commission’s timeline for the CVR exercise, earlier made public, the third phase of the CVR will resume on 4th May 2026 and continue until 17th August 2026, providing another opportunity for eligible Nigerians who are yet to register.

This will be followed by a third round of the display of the register for claims and objections from 24th to 30th August 2026.

The Commission reaffirmed that maintaining a clean and credible voter register remains central to the conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections.

INEC concludes CVR phase II, shifts to claims, objectives nationwide

United Kingdom (UK) police on Friday said they are investigating a reported security incident near the Israeli embassy in

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has unveiled new conditions of service for its staff in line with global best practices. While launching the newly approved Staff Conditions of Service (CoS) for NSIB on Friday in Abuja, the Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said the unveiling marks a significant step toward strengthening […]

A leading figure in the Labour Party in Abia State and Stakeholders Chairman of Labour Party/Abia Arise in Obingwa LGA, Hon. Peter Azubuike, popularly known as “The Rock,” has unleashed a sharp criticism against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, asking him to declare or step aside, describing his recent statements as “reckless and empty political rhetoric.”

Azubuike’s strong reaction comes after Kalu made a controversial comment implying that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State would “sweep monies from Signature Bank,” a remark that has triggered widespread political condemnation across the state.

In a passionate and direct response during an exclusive interview, Hon. Azubuike challenged Kalu, popularly called “Big Ben,” to end what he called “political grandstanding” and publicly declare his intention to run for governor if he is serious about contesting or step aside.

“Why the delay? What exactly is holding him back? Abians are waiting,” Azubuike said, dismissing Kalu’s comments as distractions lacking substance.

He maintained that although democracy permits anyone to seek political office, the people of Abia have already made their preference clear in Governor Alex Otti, whom he described as the overwhelming mandate of the people.

“Over 95 percent of Abians can’t wait to re-elect Governor Alex Otti. That’s the reality. All this noise about coming to Obingwa to pick a running mate is baseless and irrelevant,” he declared.

Azubuike also firmly rejected what he saw as subtle political intimidation directed at Obingwa, cautioning that such strategies would not succeed in the current political environment.

“The Obingwa of yesterday is not the Obingwa of today. Nobody can come here to threaten us with promises of positions. Those days are gone,” he said.

While acknowledging the area’s rich political history, he pointed out that Obingwa has produced several high-profile public office holders, including three deputy governors, a governor, and a senator over twenty years, stressing that the people are now more politically aware and cannot be easily manipulated.

Taking a direct jab at Kalu’s grasp of governance issues, Azubuike wondered whether such statements represent the type of leadership Abians should anticipate.

“Is this how he intends to run a state? With baseless claims and empty talk?” he asked pointedly.

He also brushed aside any attempts to compare Governor Otti’s administration with that of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, insisting that Ikpeazu is no longer part of the present conversation.

“Okezie Ikpeazu has moved on and should be left alone. He is not the issue. Governor Otti has set a benchmark that is difficult to match. Arguably the best in Nigeria today,” Azubuike asserted.

Drawing examples from outside Abia, he cited the tenure of David Umahi, explaining how purposeful leadership can turn even scarce resources into visible development, an indirect criticism of previous governance shortcomings in Abia.

In one of his sharpest attacks, Azubuike mocked Kalu’s “Signature Bank” remark, questioning both its logic and purpose.

“He said he would sweep money from Signature Bank with a broom? To where? Into a Ghana-Must-Go bag? Is there even money there?” he mocked, describing the comment as “politics of deceit and calumny.”

He further reminded his audience that Governor Otti’s qualifications go well beyond politics, highlighting his impressive achievements in banking and business before entering public office.

“Before politics, Alex Otti built institutions. Let them go and study his trajectory not just in banking, but across sectors. That’s what competence looks like,” he said.

Azubuike ended with a strong warning that the political terrain in Abia has changed significantly, emphasizing that the time of manipulation, propaganda, and unquestioned loyalty has passed.

“The people are now awake. 2027 will not be business as usual. It will be Abians versus any perceived opposition, if there is any,” he declared.

He stressed that the backing for Governor Otti stems not from blind loyalty but from tangible performance and achievements, calling his leadership “a prayer answered” and a valuable opportunity that Abians are committed to safeguarding.

“The mandate of Alex Otti is not negotiable. It is one Abians will guard jealously,” he concluded.

You Can’t Run Abia With Lies, LP Chieftain Tells Kalu is first published on The Whistler Newspaper