Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned the judiciary against actions capable of weakening opposition parties and undermining multi-party democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections. This was in reaction to the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President David Mark. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC said the judgment risked creating the impression that the courts were being used to frustrate opposition parties and weaken democratic competition. It expressed concern over what it described as the manner in which some judgments,…

A 15-year-old Ghanaian boy, Javits Frimpong, has died after being shot while on his way to school in the Bronx, New York, with his father suspecting a possible link to bullying he had experienced. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, near Crotona Park, where the teenager was reportedly shot in the stomach. According to police, Frimpong managed to run about a block after being shot before collapsing. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Investigators are searching for three teenage boys who reportedly fled the scene dressed in black clothing and blue surgical…

*Inducts 42 new beneficiaries The Otemu Educational Foundation (OEF), founded by former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has announced plans to expand its scholarship programme to cover all nine states of the Niger Delta. The scheme which started in Delta State will now empower brilliant young minds in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa,Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers. The announcement was made on Friday during the foundation’s second Beneficiary Induction Programme (BIP 2.0), held at the Auditorium of Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State, where 42 newly selected beneficiaries under Cohort Beta were formally inducted into the…

Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori has mourned prominent Niger Delta leader, Patrick Dele Cole, praising his unwavering commitment to the struggle for true federalism and resource control. Cole, who was born on August 4, 1940, in Abonnema, in the Kalabari Kingdom of present-day Rivers State, died in London at the age of 86. In a statement issued on Sunday, titled “PDC: So Long My Leader,” Ibori described the late Cole as a steadfast advocate of the Niger Delta cause who remained loyal to his roots despite the political implications of his position. He said Cole played a…

FIFA is seeking to tighten its disciplinary rules to prevent a repeat of the controversy surrounding United States striker Folarin Balogun, whose automatic one-match suspension was controversially lifted during the World Cup. The proposed amendment will be presented to the FIFA Council at its meeting in Zurich on Thursday, the first gathering of the governing body’s decision-making arm since the tournament. A document reviewed by The Athletic showed that the proposal seeks to prevent the suspension of automatic one-match bans in future competitions, arguing that the change would protect the integrity of tournaments and provide greater certainty over player eligibility.…

Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the latest writer to receive the world’s most prestigious literary award. The 76-year-old was recognised by the Swedish Academy for her “bold and inventive oeuvre” and her ability to create new forms for contemporary literature through a playful engagement with classical traditions. Carson is known for work that moves between poetry, prose, translation and classical scholarship. Her writing frequently draws on ancient Greek literature while exploring modern themes and forms. Among her notable works is Norma Jeane Baker of Troy, a 2019 performance piece…

Donald Trump has praised Andy Burnham as a “natural businessperson” and said the UK was “more up” than under Keir Starmer. He however berated the UK for its decision to give up the Chagos Islands. In their first face-to-face meeting, Trump gave a warm assessment of the relationship, saying he thought Burnham had a “lot of assets on his side” and would be a “great prime minister”, adding: “We talked about everything from Rolls-Royce to energy to immigration – we covered a lot.” At a joint press conference after their talks at the UN general assembly in New York, Burnham…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed sadness over the passing of veteran Nollywood actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, who passed away at age 84 on Wednesday. After his training at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Olu Jacobs built a career in British television and international film before returning home to Nigeria, where he became a major force in the film industry. He won major industry honours and awards for his pioneering roles and was also conferred with the national award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). In a…

Popular comedienne Anita Asuoha, popularly known as Real Warri Pikin, has apologised following backlash over a viral video featuring her and singer Timaya. The controversy began over the weekend after a clip surfaced showing the comedienne dancing on stage with Timaya in a manner many described as inappropriate for a married woman. In a video addressing the issue, Warri Pikin accepted full responsibility for her actions and expressed remorse. She explained that she was backstage enjoying the performance when Timaya invited a woman on stage during his Ukwu song, and, out of excitement, she rushed out. She said she initially…

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said his campaign team would deploy an independent system to transmit election results from every polling unit to its situation room during the 2027 presidential election. Obi disclosed this in an exclusive interview on ARISE News, where he explained measures his team intends to adopt to ensure that votes are properly counted, recorded and transmitted during the election. According to him, the proposed system would operate alongside the official transmission process of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), allowing his team to independently receive and verify results generated at…