Author: Olamide Obayemi

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, has postponed all official engagements in his office to mourn Mrs Aisha Ahmed Rufai who passed on early Monday, 20 March, 2023, after a brief illness. The deceased was the Secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB). Aregbesola while announcing the postponement in a release he signed personally, described the deceased as loyal, hardworking and committed officer. Below is the full statement by the Minister Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun. With a heavy heart but in total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, I join…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A musician, Collins Etaredafe, aka Top Boy, is now on the run after allegedly killing two-yet-to-be-identified Bureau-De-Change operators at his residence in the Lekki area of Lagos State. Punch reports that Etaredafe, who was with a yet-to-be-identified friend, invited the BDC operators into his apartment under the guise of changing some dollars. Following their entry into the building on Saturday, March 18, 2023, it was learnt that the BDC operators were allegedly killed and their corpses dumped in a drainage located at the front of Etaredafe’s residence. A facility manager in the area, Paul Omotosho, while speaking with…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Chairman of the Edo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sheikh Ibrahim Oyarekhua, has announced that 335 intending pilgrims have made payment to perform this year’s pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. Sheikh Oyarekhua, who announced this during an interview with a national newspaper on the Board’s preparedness for the exercise, said total of “274 slots have been allocated to Edo State by the National Haji Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) but at the moment 335 have already made payment for this year’s hajj”. According to him, the number of intending pilgrims that have made payment exceeded the slots…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the governor-elect of Zamfara State. Lawal polled a total of 377,726 votes to defeat Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who scored 311,976. Lawal was announced as the winner in Gusau, the state capital in the early hours of Tuesday, 21 March, 2023.

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Similanayi Fubara ,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Rivers State has been declared winner of the state governorship election. Announcing the result in Port Harcourt on Monday night, the Returning Officer said Fubara secured 302,614 votes. The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Pastor Tonye Cole, came second with 95,274 votes. Fubara is the anointed candidate of the incumbent Governor, Nyesom Wike. Below are the details of the election: Total Registered Voters: 353,7190 Accredited voters: 496,852 A- 7,155 AA – 1,693 AAC – 386 ADC – 940 ADP – 925 APC – 95,274 APGA –…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kaduna State Senator Uba Sani, has been declared winner of the state governorship election. Declaring the result, the State Collation Officer for Gubernatorial Election (SCOGE), Prof. Lawal Suleiman Bilbis, put the number of registered voters at 4,335,208, accredited voters, 1,581,662, valid votes cast, 1,546,747 and invalid votes, 19,114. He said a total of 1,565,861 votes were cast in the election. Professor Bilbis said Sani polled 730,002 votes, while Hon. Mohammed Isa Ashiru of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) scored a total of 719,196 votes. “Senator Uba Sani having scored the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has won 28 out of 32 seats in the State House of Assembly. The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured four seats. The incoming Oyo Assembly will be made up of 30 males and two females. Fifteen lawmakers were re-elected while 13 are first timers in the Assembly.

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State maintains its dominance as it cleared 22 out of the 25 seats in the State House of Assembly. According to the results announced by Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC’s) collation officers at the headquarters of each of the state 21 LGAs, APC won in: Ankpa I and II, Dekina I and II, Omalla, Ofu, Idah, Igalamela/Odolu, Ibaji, Olamaboro, Adavi, Okene I and II, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, MopaMuro, Lokoja I and II and Kogi/Kotonkarfi state constituencies. The PDP got Bassa and Ogori Magongo while the African Democratic…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike One Abdulkarim Isyaku has been sentenced to three months in prison by a Kano State Shari’a Court sitting in Shahuci, Fagge Local Government Area(LGA) of the state for stealing a mobile phone in a mosque while prayer was on. Isyaku, who pleaded guilty to stealing the phone from one Salmanu Abdullahi at the Isyaku Rabiu Juma’at Mosque in Kano metropolis was arrested and arraigned before the court by Kano State police command. When the charge was read to him, Isyaku pleaded guilty and the judge, Salihu Jaafar Muhammad, sentenced him to three months in a correctional centre with…

The immediate past Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), Mobolaji Sanusi has congratulated Lagos state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his electoral victory at the just-concluded governorship and state house of assembly polls. Sanusi described Sanwo-Olu’s re-election victory as a vote of confidence the people of the state has in his leadership and administrative acumen. This according to the former LASAA helmsman is responsible for the state’s continued growth in the face of daunting socio-economic challenges. Recall Sanwo-Olu won in 19 of the 20 LGAs in the state to be declared winner…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike There is tension in Jalingo, Taraba state capital on Monday, 20 March, 2023 as sporadic shootings were heard around the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office and police headquarters in Jalingo Shops and markets, thegazellenews.com learnt, were abruptly shut down and streets deserted while parents rushed to schools to take their children home. As at the time of filling this report, what lead to this development are not clear but it was gathered that there was a misunderstanding between some security agents guarding the INEC office. The state police command is yet to comment on the shooting as at…

Firstly, I give all the glory to almighty God for making what seems unrealistic to come to a fruition, alhamdulilah. I also appreciate the leadership of my party (APC) and all the members for considering me worthy to represent you in the Lagos state House of Assembly (Alimosho Constituency’01). Ese gan modupe! To the APC Party Chairmen, Council Chairmen , Party Exco at all levels and all APC Family. God will reward your labour of love and grant you divine peace. To my family, I can’t thank you enough, especially Her Excellency Chief Mrs. Adejoke Orelope -Adefulire, epe fun wa…

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Pan-Atlantic University have announced a call for applications for the Media Innovation Programme (MIP). This is the second edition of the programme, launched in 2022, to support media practitioners and promote understanding of the rapidly changing media landscape. The six-month, fully funded certificate fellowship includes a study visit to the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa and an innovation hub to incubate ideas. It is open to media practitioners across print, electronic, online platforms and social media content creators. Commenting on the impact of the Media Innovation Programme, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said, “the media…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Despite the fact that Kano State Government imposed dusk to dawn curfew to prevent the breakdown of law and order after the declaration of the winner of the state governorship election, some unidentified thugs have invaded and set the residence of a popular political singer, Dauda Kahutu Rarara on fire. Rara was a singer for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during campaign in the state, performing at various rallies while the electioneering lasted. The thugs were said to have invaded the house and started destroying valuables before setting the house on fire. It was gathered few minutes after…

By Funmi Branco THE gang-up was massive. At the eleventh hour, and when it mattered most, friends turned foes and associates turned persecutors. Criticism underlined by pure mischief took over the airwaves and naysayers shouted themselves hoarse, railing against the people’s governor. Their conscience captured by the rustle of naira notes, they called him every ugly name under the sun, from fraudster to ex-convict. The desperation was dramatic: they dug up old photographs and superimposed letters on them to create a false narrative. Social media influencers suborned to subvert democracy swore with every fibre of their being that their fake…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike At least nine Chinese mine workers were killed in an attack at about 5:00 am near Bambari, the central town’s of mayor Abel Matchipata in the Central African Republic. Matchipata told AFP that “nine bodies and two wounded” had been counted, adding that the victims were Chinese workers at a site run by the Gold Coast Group, 25 kilometres (15 miles) from his town. China’s President Xi Jinping on Monday, 20 March, 2023,call on the country to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book and be “severely” punished. China’s foreign ministry confirmed the toll, and Xi called…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike One of the notorious bandits terrorising residents of North West, Ummaru Nagona, has been killed during an encounter with the military in Zamfara State. Speaking on the killing of the bandit, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, a former Daily Trust Editor, who covered insecurity extensively in the zone, wrote, “I just received confirmation of the killing of the notorious bandit, Ummaru Nagona in an encounter with Nigerian Army. He was crushed along with his rider by an artillery vehicle while being conveyed on a motorcycle on their way to respond to a military attacks on the gunmen’s camps around Kagara,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday, 20 March, 2023, declared the governorship election in Kebbi State as “inconclusive”. The election was a battle between the two political parties- the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The INEC Collation and Returning Officer of the election, Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, made the announcement at the collation centre situated at INEC headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital. According to him, there were cancellations in 20 of the 21 local government areas of Kebbi State cutting across a number…

Residents of Lagos have been commended for coming out enmasse to renew the mandate of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to continue with the giant strides he is taking in the Infrastructure renewal across the state. They are also assured of unprecedented collaboration between the Federal and Lagos State Governments to fast track socio-economic development and improved well-being of the people. Former Lagos lawmaker and Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Hon Wahab Alawiye-King stated this in a message to congratulate Governor Sanwoolu; his running mate, Dr Kadir Obafemi Hamzat; party leaders and other elected members of the…

The Ogun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the reported call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a rerun of the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ogun state as an indication that the PDP and one of its major promoters, former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, are “bunch of sore losers”. The APC through its State Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, in a statement released on Sunday, 19 March, 2023, in Abeokuta, said such a vile call, coming barely few minutes after the declaration of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and…