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Breaking: INEC Withdraws Acknowledgment of Julius Abure as LP National Chairman

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revoked its accreditation of Julius Abure as the Labour Party’s national chairman, citing the Supreme Court’s legally binding ruling from April 4, 2025, and the expiration of his term.
After months of turmoil, the party’s leadership crisis seems to have been resolved by the Commission’s sworn counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the Supreme Court’s decision in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025, which rejected Abure’s allegations for lack of jurisdiction and overturned all previous decisions that upheld his leadership, INEC stated in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025 that Abure’s term ended in June 2024.

Read Also: IGP Orders Movement Restriction, Prohibits VIP Escorts During By-Election in 13 States

The defendant (INEC) cannot accept and issue access codes for the upload of candidates’ nomination forms (EC9, EC9F, and EC9G) for the by-election scheduled for 16/8/2025 to the plaintiff (Abure-led LP), according to Ayuba Mohammed, INEC’s Executive Officer (Litigation and Prosecution), who deposed to the affidavit. This is because, as stated in Exhibit INEC 2, the defendant does not have a legitimate National Chairman and National Secretary to deal with.

When Abure claimed re-election at the contentious National Convention in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, INEC insisted that it neither observed nor recognized the event, claiming it violated the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and its regulations, and the constitution of the Labour Party.

IGP Orders Movement Restriction, Prohibits VIP Escorts During By-Election in 13 States

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Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has ordered the restriction of movement in impacted regions ahead of the next by-election that is set for Saturday, August 16, 2025, in 13 states within the Federation.
The IGP reaffirmed his previous orders to deploy operational logistics to the impacted States and Local Government Areas where the elections would take place in order to create an environment conducive to a free and fair election, according to a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi.
Anambra, Kano, Ogun, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kano, Ogun, Zamfara, and Niger States are among the states that are impacted.
According to the statement, “The IGP has ordered the deployment of senior officers with the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to help State Commissioners of Police ensure proper supervision over the electoral process for a smooth and hitch-free election. Other tactical units have also been deployed, including officers and men from the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, and Force Intelligence Department.”

Read Also: 2027: Peter Obi Will Be a Big Advantage, Jonathan Has Nothing to Offer – PDP’s Dan Ulasi

With the exception of those on essential services like INEC officials, accredited media, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters, the IGP has also ordered that all vehicle movement on roads, waterways, and other modes of transportation be restricted from 12 am to 6 pm on election day within the affected Local Government Areas.

In a similar vein, the IGP restates the prohibition against any security personnel serving as VIPs or escorts going to voting places and collation centers with their principals or politicians during the election. Participation in electoral security management is also prohibited for quasi-security units, privately owned security personnel, and state-established and owned security organizations.

In addition to urging all citizens to observe the law both during and after the elections, the Inspector General of Police hereby charges all officers assigned to this special duty with ensuring compliance with NPF standard operational protocols for elections and guarantees that all necessary security measures have been put in place to ensure that their right to vote is unhindered.

2027: Peter Obi Will Be a Big Advantage, Jonathan Has Nothing to Offer – PDP’s Dan Ulasi

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According to Dan Ulasi, a PDP chieftain, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential nominee, will give the party a big edge in the 2027 election.
According to reports, Ulasi stated on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday that the civil war will formally end if the Southeast produces the president.
He also emphasized that former President Goodluck Jonathan has nothing to contribute to the party and cautioned against his possible 2027 run for office.
Ulasi asserts that if Jonathan chooses to run for president on the PDP platform, President Bola Tinubu should have an easy victory.

“PDP must select a candidate from the South, which must be decided internally,” he stated. Additionally, I believe the Southeast is poised to deliver the next president.

Read Also: CEO of Aero Contractors Warns Against Increasing Passenger Misconduct, Urges Comprehensive Measures

Without attempting to point out that the PDP assigns the presidency to the Southeast and a Southeasterner wins the presidency, I think we would have accomplished one goal: the formal end of the civil war.

For the first time, the residents of that area would feel like they belong. We fought a conflict in which both sides lost thousands of lives.

We are attempting to reintegrate Peter Obi into the party, and his return would be very beneficial.

“If a vast majority of people are looking to Peter Obi, there must be certain traits that the majority of people think will make this country far better than it is now if they are put to good use.

“Jonathan has completed six years, and I wish him luck.” Since he has nothing else to offer, Tinubu will easily win if he want to rejoin the party.

CEO of Aero Contractors Warns Against Increasing Passenger Misconduct, Urges Comprehensive Measures

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The Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi, has stated that the current rise in disruptive behaviors among airline passengers is cause for concern and should not be taken lightly.

According to Sanusi, who spoke with our correspondent, the current threats are signs of a far larger problem in the industry rather than being separate from the difficulties facing it.

He emphasized that the nation’s airlines run on extremely narrow profit margins and that the agencies, particularly the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), were also impacted by this financial vulnerability.

He stated that the government should now begin addressing the growing issues facing the sector, beginning with a comprehensive examination of the regulatory environment and its implementation, among other things.

Read Also: Centre LSD Calls on Tinubu and Governors to Boost Funding for GBV Prevention

“Recent incidents—from a passenger being violently restrained for allegedly refusing to turn off her phone to cases where people use their “celebrity status” to avoid accountability—have become distressingly evident that they are not isolated incidents, but rather signs of a much larger problem in our aviation industry,” he said.

Fundamentally, the issue arises from the fact that airlines have extremely narrow profit margins. Because of the regulator’s and the carriers’ financial fragility, the system is brittle, reactive, and frequently unfair.

“Rather than a superficial solution, a comprehensive, systemic change is required: begin with a thorough examination of the enforcement culture and regulatory framework, examine the ways in which airlines and service providers are tracked and held responsible, and establish procedures that fairly safeguard passengers’ rights.”

He cautioned that the annoyances may worsen and put the system’s safety at even greater risk if the government did not take the required steps to examine the current system.

He suggested, “It’s time we stop patching up cracks and address the underlying cause.”

Centre LSD Calls on Tinubu and Governors to Boost Funding for GBV Prevention

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According to the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), President Bola Tinubu and all levels of government need to give financing and legislative changes for gender-based violence prevention a priority.

According to the Center, financing and changes that promote gender equality in Nigeria must be given top priority by the federal, state, and local governments.

Speaking at a gathering in Abuja on Friday, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, the Executive Director of Center LSD, stated that funding reforms has become essential as part of a larger effort to eradicate gender-based violence, or GBV.

Women have been socially, economically, and politically marginalized in almost every nation, he claims.

In comparison to men, women are less likely to have access to social assistance, and one in ten of them live in poverty. Women experience more food insecurity and more water and sanitation shortages than men do.

Read Also: Abia Community Imposes Ban on Cooking Gas Sales

The situation in Nigeria is more unstable. There was a 57-year gap between the Clifford Constitution, which granted voting rights to men in 1922, and the 1979 Constitution, which granted voting rights to women throughout Nigeria. Nigeria’s early constitutions (1922 Clifford, 1946 Richards, 1951 Macpherson) limited voting rights to adult males.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics and the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), over 35% of Nigerian women have been physically abused, and millions more are subjected to emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. These statistics are concerning.

These injustices are also known to be fueled by patriarchal ideals that are ingrained in our social, cultural, and even legal systems. Men all too frequently participate in destructive behaviors as passive bystanders or as direct perpetrators of violence.

Abia Community Imposes Ban on Cooking Gas Sales

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Cooking gas (LPG) sales are prohibited in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State’s Ebem Ohafia community’s market in order to save any fatalities and disasters.
According to what was understood, the Council of Chiefs and Elders held an emergency meeting before making the decision, which was then formalized in a statement released by Ebem Ujurueze Palace, Ekeleugo Ebem
Ezie Ukoha Kalu Ukoha, the paramount monarch of Ebem Ohafia, and other community leaders signed a statement stating that the ban was an unequivocal action intended to address mounting safety issues.
Apart from the prohibition of cooking gas, the community leaders denounced a number of social vices, such as drug misuse, gangsterism, and cultism.

The leaders of the community decided that these acts were inappropriate and have made them illegal with immediate effect.

Read Also: Ojulari Praises NLNG for Driving Energy Transition During Bonny Visit

Parents and guardians were asked by the leaders to closely monitor their children and wards. Landlords whose properties were being exploited for these illegal activities were also instructed to either evict the offenders or face disciplinary action.

According to the statement, “Anyone found in unlawful possession of arms will be handed over to law enforcement agencies.”

To further increase security, the authorities gave all junk dealers in the area a two-week notice to cease operations. If you don’t comply, you will face severe disciplinary action.

The leaders attributed the prohibition to an increase in property theft and vandalism claims, which security investigations have linked to the operations of scrap dealers and their suppliers.

Ojulari Praises NLNG for Driving Energy Transition During Bonny Visit

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The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari, visited the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Plant in Bonny on Wednesday.

Ojulari noted during the tour how crucial NLNG management is to Nigeria’s energy transition, industrial development, and economic stability.

He also emphasized how NNPCL, a significant shareholder, is dedicated to supporting NLNG’s long-term growth.

He presented bold plans to improve gas infrastructure and investigate fresh avenues for clean energy innovation, setting up Nigeria’s energy sector for a future that is competitive, low-carbon, and net-zero.

Read Also: nflation Slows to 21.88% in July as New CPI Base Year Takes Effect

Ojulari emphasized the strategic importance of NLNG’s Train 7 project, calling it a key component for increasing Nigeria’s export potential, creating thousands of employment, and strengthening the country’s independence in the international energy market.

The project is anticipated to greatly increase NLNG’s capacity for production, hence enhancing Nigeria’s standing as a major LNG exporter.

NLNG’s strong governance structure, steadfast dedication to sustainability, and excellent asset integrity were also praised by the CEO of NNPC Ltd., who described them as examples of operational excellence and a source of pride for the country.

“NLNG has made enormous contributions to Nigeria’s energy landscape and economic development,” Ojulari stated.

As we strive for a sustainable and competitive future, NNPC Ltd. is committed to NLNG’s expansion and its crucial role in forming Nigeria’s energy industry.

As both organizations coordinate their efforts to further Nigeria’s energy aspirations while fulfilling international sustainability targets, the visit demonstrates the solid collaboration between NNPC Ltd. and NLNG.

nflation Slows to 21.88% in July as New CPI Base Year Takes Effect

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As the headline inflation rate for July 2025 dropped to 21.88% from the June 2025 rate of 22.22%, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to 125.9 in July 2025, indicating a 0.34% decrease from June 2025, according to the most recent data released Friday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The study is focused on a new CPI base year of 2024 and a weight reference period of 2023 once the recent rebasing exercise is finished, according to a statement signed by Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, the Statistician-General of the Federation.

The headline inflation rate for July 2025 dropped to 21.88% from 22.22% in June 2025, it added. This indicates a 0.34% decrease from June 2025.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 8.75% of the headline inflation at the divisional level, followed by restaurants and lodging services (2.83%) and transportation (2.33%). Recreation, sport, and culture (0.07%), alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics (0.08%), and insurance and financial services (0.10%) were the least significant contributors.

In July 2025, the headline inflation rate was 1.99% month over month, 0.31% higher than the rate of 1.68% in June 2025.

“On an annual basis, the food inflation rate in July 2025 was 22.74%. The food inflation rate in July 2025 was 3.12% month over month, 0.14% lower than the rate in June 2025 (3.25%).

The decline can be ascribed to the rate at which the average prices of goods like beans (white), rice, millet whole grain, maize flour, guinea corn (sorghum), vegetable oil, and wheat flour are declining.

When compared year over year, core inflation, which does not include the price of energy and volatile agricultural products, was 21.33% in July 2025. Month-over-month, the core inflation rate decreased 1.49 percentage points from 2.46 in June 2025 to 0.97% in July 2025.

Farm Produce (3.96%), Energy (2.71%), and Goods (2.72%) all had notable increases in inflation, according to the July 2025 sub-indices, which had respective indices of 128.5, 121.2, and 124.6 basis points. In contrast, Services experienced a decrease of 0.47% throughout the course of the month.

Read Also: Petrol Price Drops in Lagos and Abuja as NNPC Announces Reduction

The urban inflation rate in July 2025 was 22.01% on an annual basis. The July 2025 urban inflation rate was 1.86% on a month-over-month basis, which was 0.25% lower than the June 2025 figure of 2.11%.

As compared to the previous year, the rural inflation rate in July 2025 was 21.08%. Rural inflation in July 2025 was 2.30% on a month-over-month basis, up 1.67% from June 2025 (0.63%).

Borno (34.52%), Niger (27.18%), and Benue (25.73%) had the greatest year-over-year inflation rates for the July 2025 all-item index, while Yobe (11.43%), Zamfara (12.75%), and Katsina (15.64%) had the lowest year-over-year increases in headline inflation.

However, borno (6.11%), Zamfara (5.72%), and Kano (4.31%) saw the largest rises in month-over-month inflation in July 2025, while Bauchi (0.26%), Katsina (0.30%), and Anambra (0.37%) saw the lowest increases.

Food inflation on a year-over-year basis increased most in Borno (55.56%), Osun (29.10%), and Ebonyi (29.06%), while Katsina (6.61%), Adamawa (9.90%), and Zamfara (14.72%) saw the slowest increases, according to state-level studies of the food index in July 2025.

On a month-to-month basis, however, food inflation decreased in Zamfara (-6.00%), Bauchi (-2.18%), and Abia (-1.06%) in July 2025, while it was highest in Borno (10.89%), Kano (10.86%), and Sokoto (7.43%).

Petrol Price Drops in Lagos and Abuja as NNPC Announces Reduction

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reduced fuel pump prices to ₦865 per litre in Lagos and ₦890 in Abuja.
This is a ₦10 decrease from the previous pricing of ₦875 and ₦900 per litre in both locations. The Cable checked numerous NNPC filling stations on Friday and discovered the increased rates.
Petrol was sold at ₦865 per litre at the company’s Abule Ado outlet in Lagos, and ₦890 per litre at the NNPC station in Abuja, located at the Federal Housing Authority, Kubwa.
On August 6, the NNPC reduced petrol prices to ₦875 in Lagos and ₦900 in Abuja, just two days after boosting them to ₦915 and ₦955, respectively.

On August 12, Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced a price reduction to ₦820 per liter, from ₦850.

The refinery reaffirmed its support for Nigeria’s economic progress, assuring the people of a consistent supply of petroleum products.

“As part of our unwavering commitment to national development, Dangote Petroleum Refinery assures the public of a consistent and uninterrupted supply of petroleum products,” according to the statement.

As part of its environmental efforts, the business announced plans to deploy 4,000 CNG-powered trucks for nationwide gasoline distribution.

Dangote continued: “We will commence the phased deployment of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks for fuel distribution across Nigeria, effective August 15, 2025.”

English Premier League 2025/26: Who Will Win, Top Four Contenders, and Award Predictions

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Tonight’s match between Liverpool and Bournemouth will usher in the English Premier League (EPL) 2025/2026 season amid glitzy visuals, record transfers, and an abundance of statistics. It served as a preview of the upcoming season, which is anticipated to bring back the old order among the anticipated razzmatazz.

The defending champions, Liverpool, have a formidable task ahead of them. Despite weak opposition, Arne Slot won the Reds’ 20th championship in his debut season. Despite losing Trent Alexander-Arnold and having Virgil van Dijk and Mohammed Salah approaching their twilight years, four important additions have been made, including Florian Wirtz at a record-breaking price. With the likely capture of Alexander Isak and two defenders, Liverpool becomes the clear favorite to win the title, ending Manchester City’s hegemony.

After winning four straight Premier League titles, Pep Guardiola’s Man City lost their spark, and even though Erling Haaland scored goals, their performance suffered without Rodri. The Cityzens are anticipated to fight for the title, more money has been spent, and they will be hoping that things don’t fall apart as easily as they did the previous season.

However, after a busy summer in which Victor Gyokores joined other wise additions, Arsenal is likely primed for another title challenge. Mikel Arteta’s striker problem was solved by the Swede’s acquisition, but it is still unclear if the Spanish coach will win the Premier League to establish himself as a top coach rather than Guardiola’s student.

Read Also: Lagos Police Probe Tactical Squad Officers Over Alleged N3M Extortion

But after their unexpected success in the Club World Cup, Chelsea, led by another protégé of Guardiola, Enzo Maresca, is ready to fight for the Premier League crown. The squad now boasts a top-tier midfield and attack after more than 50 acquisitions, supported by the dynamic combo of Estevao and Joao Pedro. Despite their defensive inconsistencies, the Blues are ready to close the gap between City and Liverpool in the race for the championship.

In other news, despite having their worst Premier League finish the previous season, Manchester United stuck with Ruben Amorim. To strengthen their goals-shy assault, they bought Benjamin Sesko, the top-scoring under-23 player in Europe, and two proven Premier League scorers, Mathias Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. However, the Red Devils’ transition process may be impacted by midfield and defense issues.

The Magpies’ growing popularity may stop if Isak leaves, and after Tottenham’s successful European run last season, all eyes will be on Thomas Frank to boost the team’s league performance. Newcastle United has had a terrible summer.

In the last two seasons, promoted teams have been demoted back to the Championship, and this trend is likely to continue.