Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned its proceedings to Monday, 10 February, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to present its witnesses as scheduled. The adjournment came on Thursday, following the announcement by INEC’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, who informed the three-member tribunal panel, headed by Justice Wilfred Okpochi, that the commission would not be calling any witnesses. Agabi explained that after considering the matter at the conclusion of Wednesday’s proceedings, INEC had decided not to proceed with presenting witnesses. This unexpected development has delayed the proceedings, with Governor Monday Okphebholo now set to…

Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia has joined PSV Eindhoven on loan for the rest of the season, the Premier League club have announced. The Netherlands international, 25, has been rebuilding his fitness after returning to action in November following a 17-month lay-off with injury troubles. Malacia, a left-back, joined United in a £13 million ($16 million) switch from Feyenoord in 2022 and is contracted at Old Trafford until the end of next season. “Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia will spend the rest of the 2024/25 season on loan with Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven,” United said in a statement. “After working…

The Senate has officially terminated the appointment of three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) following a request from President Bola Tinubu, invoking Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The affected officials as read by the Senate Majority leader are Dr. Nura Ali (Sokoto State REC), Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari (Adamawa State REC), and Professor Ikemefuna Chijioke Uzochukwu (Abia State REC). They had been suspended in 2023 over allegations of electoral misconduct, including violations of the Electoral Act, election compromise and fraud and abandonment of duty. Security reports from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State…

The New Nigeria Peoples Party has elected Dr Agbo Major as its new National Chairman at a convention held on Wednesday. However, notable party figures, including Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and former presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso, were absent from the event. Efforts to reach Kwankwaso and Yusuf for comments on their absence were unsuccessful, as their phone lines were not reachable. The convention, which lasted from 9 pm on Tuesday until 4 am on Wednesday, saw the election of several other party officials. Mr Oginni Olaposi was named National Secretary, Chief Felix Chukwurah became Deputy National Chairman (South), and…

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is spearheading the construction of the Lagos State Mental Health Institute, Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Centre in Ketu Ejirin, Epe Local Government Area. The facility, spanning approximately 25 hectares, will feature 1,000 beds and serve as a dedicated rehabilitation centre for individuals with mental health conditions. It is designed to provide comprehensive care, including recreational and vocational programmes to support full recovery and reintegration into society. This development was announced by the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor, Jubril Gawat, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. The post read, ”…

Tragedy struck in the Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, as a fire outbreak at an Islamiya school claimed the lives of at least 17 Almajiri students. Eyewitnesses say the fire started late on Tuesday night and raged for about three hours, leaving 17 students dead and 16 others injured. A resident of the area, Abdulrasaq Bello Kaura, told Channels Television that the cause of the fire was reported to be some stored sticks locally called kara. “It happened at Makaranta Mallam Ghali, inside their study hall. There are about 100 of them in the house, after they evacuated…

President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Paris, France. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. He said the President’s trip to the European country is for private purpose, adding that the visit is en route to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. “In Addis Ababa, President Tinubu will join African leaders at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State, scheduled from February 12th to 16th, 2025,” Onanuga said. “While in France, President Tinubu…

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Saleh Usman, has announced an extension of the deadline for registration for the 2025 Hajj to February 10, 2025. The decision, according to a statement signed by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Usara, followed appeals on behalf of intending pilgrims who were unable to complete their registration before the earlier given January 31, 2025 deadline. While announcing the extension during a Zoom meeting between NAHCON and key Hajj stakeholders on Tuesday night, the chairman urged Executive Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to cooperate with the Commission…

The Premier League is actively addressing the challenges posed by Video Assistant Referee errors, having recorded 13 mistakes in the first 23 match rounds of the current season—a notable decrease from 20 errors at the same point last term. These errors comprise four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions, as identified by the Key Match Incidents panel, BBC reports late Tuesday. In response, the league has unveiled a six-point plan aimed at enhancing the accuracy, speed, and transparency of VAR decisions. A central component of this initiative is the potential introduction of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) before the season…

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has unveiled the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, forecasting early rainfall in many southern states. The minister made this announcement on Tuesday in Abuja during the official presentation of the 2025 SCP. The document predicts that most parts of the country will experience significant rainfall at the beginning of 2025, with some rains likely arriving before the expected onset. Keyamo said, “The onset of rain is predicted to be delayed over the northern and central states, including Plateau, as well as parts of Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa,…