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Edo PDP Clears Candidates Ahead of July 21 Senate and House By‑Elections

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Edo PDP Clears Candidates Ahead of July 21 Senate and House By‑Elections

In advance of the August 16, 2025, National Assembly by-elections for the Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency, the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vetted and approved candidates for its July 21st, 2025 party primary.

Joe Okojie, Friday Itulah, and John Yakubu have all been cleared for the Edo Central senatorial ticket.

Only Johnny Ikponmwosa Aikpitanyi was vetted and approved as the party’s lone candidate for the Ovia Federal Constituency seat.

However, the party did not approve Festus Edogun to run for the Edo Central Senatorial District ticket.

A five-member panel constituted by the PDP National Working Committee screened the candidates on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in the state party secretariat, which is situated at No. 20 Aiguobasimwin Street, GRA, Benin City.

Read Also: Senior Lecturer at Kogi University Dies During Sex Romp in Hotel Room With 200-Level Student

Professor Okumoko Tubo Pearce serves as the committee’s chair, and Arc. Chinomso Odoemelan serves as its secretary. Evelyn Promise, David Omare, and Inemo Dede are among the other participants.

On Friday, July 18, 2025, in the Edo PDP Secretariat, committee members gave the candidates their certificates of clearance.

Following his clearing certificate, Johnny Ikponmwosa Aikpitanyi spoke on behalf of other candidates and praised committee members for their professionalism, effort, and fairness in carrying out their responsibilities.

“I want to sincerely thank members of the Screening Committee for their professionalism, fairness, and diligence in carrying out their duties,” he said. We are prepared for the upcoming work with this clearance. With the resounding support of our people, we will win and guarantee that our residents receive high-caliber, meaningful representation. I am more than ready to fly the PDP flag in Ovia.

“I am confident to win,” he reiterated. With my people’s help, we will work together to restore Ovia’s glory and make it even more radiant. We’ll prioritize community development and making Ovia the envy of everyone.

Senior Lecturer at Kogi University Dies During Sex Romp in Hotel Room With 200-Level Student

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Senior Lecturer at Kogi University Dies During Sex Romp in Hotel Room With 200-Level Student

After fainting during sexual relations with a female student, age 22, in a hotel room, Dr. Olabode Abimbola Ibikunle, a senior lecturer at Kogi State University, Anyigba, has been officially declared dead.
The crime occurred on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, according to the information gathered, and the Anyigba Police Division was notified the next day.
According to reports, the student, Gloria Samuel, a 200-level Social Studies Education student, and the instructor, who was employed by the university’s Faculty of Education, checked into a hotel together.

He reportedly took numerous energy drinks before collapsing during their time together in the room, according to accounts gathered.

After the incident, the student hurried to the reception for assistance, and the hotel manager sounded an alert.

A doctor on duty later confirmed the lecturer’s death after the police, who had been alerted promptly, arrived at the hotel to take him to a hospital.

The case is now under the jurisdiction of the Kogi State Police Command.

Following the student’s detention, they were sent to the State Criminal Investigation Department to be questioned further.

Read Also: Tinubu Holds Closed‑Door Meeting with Senate President Akpabio and Akwa Ibom Governor

Although the results of the autopsy have not been made public, police stated it has been conducted.

Therefore, the girl in question has been moved to the State CID for additional investigation and prosecution from the Anyigba Police Division. The Command’s spokeswoman, SP William Ovye Aya, told Sahara Reporters, “An autopsy has been conducted, but I haven’t spoken with the SCID, so I don’t know whether the results are out right now.”

On campus, Dr. Ibikunle was very stern and had a wife and kids.

Tinubu Holds Closed‑Door Meeting with Senate President Akpabio and Akwa Ibom Governor

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Tinubu Holds Closed‑Door Meeting with Senate President Akpabio and Akwa Ibom Governor

At the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met behind closed doors on Friday with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
According to reports, the meeting is thought to be a component of larger consultations meant to improve federal-state relations and highlights the President’s ongoing interaction with important political figures and state executives.

Akpabio, a former state governor, and two other prominent local politicians accompanied Governor Eno, the head of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom, to the meeting.

Read Also: President Tinubu Expected at Ogun Eighth-Day Memorial Prayer

Punch claims that although specifics of the meetings were not yet available, they may have focused on strengthening ties between Akwa Ibom State and the Federal Government as well as tackling matters of national importance.

Following the meeting, the three of them posed for pictures at the Villa, indicating a friendly and cooperative atmosphere.

The visit was confirmed by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga in a tweet on 𝕏, formerly known as Twitter.

“Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno and Senate President Godswill Akpabio visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday,” Onanuga tweeted, referring to Governor Eno as the APC leader in his state. The APC leader in his state is Governor Eno.

President Tinubu Expected at Ogun Eighth-Day Memorial Prayer

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President Tinubu Expected at Ogun Eighth-Day Memorial Prayer

In order to attend the eighth-day prayer service for the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave Abuja on Sunday.
This was reportedly conveyed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a succinct statement on X on Friday.
The celebration will take place at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, and the President will attend alongside Governor Dapo Abiodun and other dignitaries, he wrote.

“Oba Adetona, who died on July 13 at the age of 91, was buried in Ijebu-Ode the next day.”

Read Also: Adesina Reveals Kyari’s Claim: Buhari Took Nothing from NNPCL

To offer his condolences to the family of the late elder statesman and well-known businessman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, President Tinubu traveled to Kano on Friday.

In a statement, presidential spokeswoman Bayo Onanuga affirmed this.

He recounted that President Tinubu ordered some of his ministers, including the Defense Minister, to attend the late nonagenarian’s funeral in Saudi Arabia as a sign of respect for him even though he was abroad when Dantata passed away.

As you may remember, the philanthropist and millionaire died on Saturday, June 28 at the age of 94.

In addition to personally expressing his condolences to Dantata’s family, Tinubu is anticipated to visit Kano State and convey his sympathies to the state’s citizens.

Adesina Reveals Kyari’s Claim: Buhari Took Nothing from NNPCL

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Adesina Reveals Kyari’s Claim: Buhari Took Nothing from NNPCL

The dead never asked for a “dime” from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), according to Femi Adesina, the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He claimed the former president had never been corrupt in his lifetime.
Mele Kyari, the former managing director of the NNPCL Group, told him this, according to the former presidential spokesperson.

Adesina said in a long piece written in memory of Buhari that the late president’s friends covered his children’s tuition.

Read Also: Abia Vows to Prioritize Education and Health Development

Even though there are hundreds of stories still to tell, Adesina says, “I have to stop.”

“How he turned down a contractor’s offer of an SUV; how he instructed Minister Babatunde Fashola to construct the Lagos/Ibadan, Enugu/Port Harcourt, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, and Second Niger Bridge expressways; how NNPCL GMD Mele Kyari informed me that Buhari never requested a dime from the corporation, which was a gravy train for many former leaders; what the President told me following his son Yusuf’s bike accident; how his friends covered his children’s tuition; his phone conversations with Rev. Chris Okotie, Duro Onabule, and Tunji Braithwaite, in addition to others.

“President Buhari was a man of distinction and an icon.” Perfect? Not a single dude is. His bones have been buried with his inadequacies, however little they may be. He left behind excellent deeds that endure.

Abia Vows to Prioritize Education and Health Development

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Abia Vows to Prioritize Education and Health Development

The governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed the will of his administration to give the state’s health and education systems top priority.
Speaking to the Lux Mundi University Board of Trustees in Umuahia, Otti highlighted that his government chose to address the issues it inherited in the health and education sectors from the ground up as soon as it took office.

The group was led by Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the Board of Trustees’ alternate chair.

A collaboration with the United States of America (USA) Home Health Aid Training Institute was shared with the governor by the board.

In addition to inviting the governor to the school’s second matriculation program, which will take place on July 18, 2025, the board said that 50 of its students will undergo an exchange program with the institute in the United States next month.
“Health and education are very important to the state,” added Otti, who was thrilled to hear the positive news.

“Health and education are the two main issues you brought up, and they have been on our agenda since we arrived in the state in 2023. We have spent 15% of our budget on health and 20% on education over the past 24 months,” he continued.
Governor Otti clarified that he made the decision to address the difficulties his government inherited in the fields of health and education from the ground up.

Read Also: Kingibe Accuses Wike of Reducing ₦200m Bill to ₦2m for His Son

As to his statement, “We discovered that the quantity of children who were not in school was actually rising.” We examined everything. On Mondays and Tuesdays, school-age youngsters are seen selling items like groundnuts and akara.

Once we looked into it, we discovered that many of them were unable to pay for their education.
“Therefore, we eliminated school fees from the beginning of this year and education became free and mandatory at the basic level,” the governor said to cheers.
He said that his government’s free education program increased school enrollment, creating a significant labor shortage in addition to the necessity to renovate the deteriorating schools because the study environment is crucial.
He believed that the first step was to increase the appeal of teaching by raising salaries and making the entire remuneration package more alluring than the Civil Service.

The governor went on to say that hiring 5,364 new teachers was insufficient to stop the ongoing increase in public school enrollment. Abia is currently hiring an extra 4,000 teachers to make sure that every school has enough motivated, well-trained staff.
“You should have the opportunity to attend school regardless of your parents’ financial situation,” he said.
Regarding health, Otti disclosed that his administration took over a broken primary healthcare system that was in poor condition and understaffed, claiming that none of the 948 primary healthcare centers (PHCs) were operational.

“The first thing we did was create a basic template for primary healthcare centers,” he said.
The governor stated, “At the last count, 138 have been completely retrofitted with the remaining 62, making it 200 to be completed soon.” The 200 PHCs are currently undergoing refurbishment, remodeling, and retrofitting.

“We have put those that we have correctly fitted into service. The final one took place in Bende. The primary health centers are equipped with solar electricity, a renewable energy source.

In addition to thanking the governor for receiving them, Audi said during the forum that his performance in Abia State is unmatched.

Kingibe Accuses Wike of Reducing ₦200m Bill to ₦2m for His Son

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Kingibe Accuses Wike of Reducing ₦200m Bill to ₦2m for His Son

Ireti Kingibe, a senator from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has made grave accusations against Nyesom Wike, the minister of the FCT, alleging that he has engaged in significant land misconduct in Abuja, abused his position of authority, and acted with impunity.
During a recent interview, Kingibe said that Wike allegedly canceled large amounts of institutional land without legal support and cut his son’s ₦200 million land payment to ₦2 million in 48 hours.
The senator cited records that demonstrated Wike’s son was given substantial land allocations, and the minister allegedly approved a sharp cut in fees. The lawmaker called the action “unfair, unethical, and clearly illegal.”

During an Arise TV broadcast, Kingibe claimed, “I have documents to show that Minister Wike allocated lands to his son… they wrote asking him to give a waiver on the bill and reduce it.”

The legislator allegedly accused Wike of ruling the FCT with impunity, breaking the law, and re-establishing agencies without consulting the National Assembly.

“The minister disregards the law. He’s autocratic, and he doesn’t accept it when you try to call his attention to it,” she said.

She cited his decision to revoke 7,000 hectares of land from the University of Abuja, leaving it with only 4,000 hectares, which she described as being “against the Land Use Act.”

She also cited Bwari, where she said land that had been designated for a general hospital had been used for commercial construction.

Kingibe wrote, “He revoked it and he’s having some sort of market or mall put on it.”

Kingibe also criticized Wike for firing poor street sweepers without providing them with equipment, which left the city noticeably messy once more.

“He arrives, and he fires them all. He then doesn’t use mechanical street sweepers in their place. Abuja appears filthy, she complained.

Regarding ground rent enforcement, Kingibe claimed the minister was persecuting locals and embassies.

She continued by saying, “Minister Wike has been harassing all of FCT over ground rent, including embassies.”

Wike’s spokesperson allegedly denied these allegations later on, claiming the senator was unaware of the Land Use Act.

Documented reduction of ₦200 million and revocation of institutional land
These allegations are in line with recent investigative investigations by The Gazette that showed Wike gave his son Joaquin an estimated 2,082 hectares (₦3.6 billion) while evading laws and omitting payments.

Read Also: Lightning Strikes Kill 33 During Monsoon Storms in India

Jordan, his other son, allegedly won 1,740 hectares ($2.85 billion) in Abuja in a different case.

Kingibe will escalate using the National Assembly and documents.
However, Kingibe has promised to provide evidence for examination to the proper authorities, such as the National Assembly.

She said, “I will take those documents and go to the body and insist that the National Assembly approve everything.”

She said that Wike’s administration has not responded to her correspondence.

“I never receive a response, even when I write letters. “Democracy is not supposed to work like this,” she said.

In addition, Kingibe disclosed security concerns, describing how she felt intimidated by a dark SUV that followed her out of the airport following an oversight visit.

Lightning Strikes Kill 33 During Monsoon Storms in India

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Lightning Strikes Kill 33 During Monsoon Storms in India

At least 33 people have been killed by severe monsoon rains in eastern India, and scores more have been injured by lightning strikes, officials said Friday.

According to the state’s disaster management department, the fatal incidents that took place in Bihar state between Wednesday and Thursday primarily affected farmers and daily wage workers who were working outside during the storms.

According to State Disaster Management Minister Vijay Kumar Mandal, officials have been directed to encourage citizens to take safety precautions during lightning alerts and to increase public awareness in districts that are at risk.

Read Also: Opuama Residents Appeal to Government Over Collapsing Education System

The relatives of the deceased will receive 4 million rupees, or about $4,600, in compensation, according to the Bihar government.

In Bihar, lightning is still a major seasonal hazard. According to government data, lightning strikes claimed the lives of 243 people in 2024, up from 275 the year before.

Intense monsoon rains frequently cause floods, relocation, and weather-related fatalities during the peak season in Eastern India, which includes Bihar. More lightning and more intense rain are expected in the coming days, according to weather officials.

Opuama Residents Appeal to Government Over Collapsing Education System

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Opuama Residents Appeal to Government Over Collapsing Education System

The Opuama community in Delta State’s Warri North Local Government Area has expressed concern over the deterioration of its schools and the growing teacher shortage.

A recent visit to the area found horrific conditions at the three local schools. Many classrooms have shattered ceilings and roofs, and students are forced to sit on broken furniture or on the floor due to a lack of desks and chairs.

Despite the status of public education, Dr. Macaulay Owen, Chairman of the community’s Education Committee, noted that the community has been sponsoring 15 volunteer instructors, paying out over ₦100,000 monthly. He claims the cost is getting onerous.

Read Also: Lizzy Anjorin to Iyabo Ojo: “You’ll Never Know Happiness Again” During Anniversary Post

“Oloduwa and Azama Primary Schools each have three government teachers. Dr. Owen said the secondary school has five teachers who teach all classes from JSS1 to SS3.

He stated that multiple pleas have been made to both the local government and the Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, but no tangible response has been obtained.

According to him, some government-deployed teachers are refusing to return to work owing to the area’s riverine character. He urged the administration to consider hiring qualified people from the community who are familiar with the area and willing to work.

Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, the Commissioner for Primary Education, verified that renovations were beginning at Azama Primary School and pledged that the concerns will be addressed.

Lizzy Anjorin to Iyabo Ojo: “You’ll Never Know Happiness Again” During Anniversary Post

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Lizzy Anjorin to Iyabo Ojo: “You’ll Never Know Happiness Again” During Anniversary Post

Nollywood star Lizzy Anjorin attacked fellow actress Iyabo Ojo on social media to commemorate her fifth wedding anniversary.
Anjorin reportedly accused Ojo of undermining her marital and personal life since she got married five years ago in a long Instagram post posted on Thursday.
She said the mother of two made up a story about receiving a diamond ring from Senator Dino Melaye soon after getting married.

She said that the story was meant to cause confusion in her household, but it turned out to be untrue.

The actress continued by accusing Ojo of stalking her family, including a baby, and upsetting her tranquility by relocating to her estate soon after receiving her marriage.

She further stated that Ojo and her associate once attempted to kidnap her by showing up at her house at two in the morning with armed men.

“DEAR IYABO OJO, MARIAGE IS ABOUT KINDNESS AND LOYALTY,” she wrote. It’s more about building together than it is about destruction. Giving your partner a second chance to become a better version of themselves is what marriage is all about, not forcing them to comply with worldly demands. A healthy marriage is about loving and creating a family together, not about tearing one another down.

Read Also: Cincinnati Shuts Out Inter Miami in Statement 3-0 Win

1. IYABO OJO, I still remember how you called me out of the blue and said that Senator Melaye gave you a diamond wedding ring shortly after my wedding. I had no idea that you were lying to me. WHY DID YOU WRITE STORIES ABOUT THAT DIAMOND RING? HOW DO YOU DO IT? GANGAN? SE KI FI OKO TEMI SILE NI?
YEN ABI KILOMUN IRO BURUKU? 2. I can boldly declare that you have made life intolerable for both you and your children ever since I formally married my husband. To document my husband’s private moments, you hired Fola. In order to use it for donations and Facebook marketing scams, you and Fola forged a death certificate. You tried to destroy my marriage and my business by switching between bloggers. 3. IYABO OJO: YOU HAVE MADE YOUR KIDS’ LIFE SAD AND RESTLESS, NOT MINE. You used lies to deceive Sariu in order to win sympathy and charitable donations. Why did you immediately move into my house after I got married and start stalking my family and me? You went so far as to stalk a baby in my family, IYABO.

4. You and your boss, for whom you ran advertisements, arrived at my compound around two in the morning with heavily armed men and tried to kidnap me. I am grateful for my security team. WHY DID YOU GO INTO MY MATRIMONIAL HOME TO CAPTURE MY COMPOUND AND PUBLISH IT ONLINE?
WHY DID YOU GIVE MY HOME MY SECURITY CODE AND PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER? 5. GISTLOVER SAID YOU HAVE BEEN SENT TO PEOPLE’S HOMES. IYABO OJO, WHY DO YOU TARGET MY HOME? FAMILY AND MY LIFE? WHY DO MY TORMENTORS, BETRAYERS, AND SO ON END UP WITH YOU? “IYABO ALICE OJO OMO BIBI INU FETUGA OMO BIBI INU OGUNRO, MOFI OJO ENI YI GEGUN FUN E TOMONTOMON E NITORI INU IRAN ABIMO KU KAN. KINDU, INU È KONIDUN TOMOTOMO E NI GBOGBO OJO AIYE E. ADABI TOBA JE PE EMI NI MO KOKO WA FUN E LOKU.”

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