Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Ondo State Governorship Election commenced at 8:30 am on Saturday, 16 November, 2024 in Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West LGAs of the state with large turnout of voters. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) were seen at some of the polling units visited by NAN, attending to the electorate. At Iyometa Ward 1, Unit 1; Iyometa Ward 2, Unit 007 and Ikado Ward 2, Unit 5 in Ikare-Akoko and also at Ugbe Akoko, Ward 3, Unit 2, election commenced at 8:30 a Speaking with the NAN, Vincent Ugboma, the Presiding Officer (PO) at Ikado Ward 1, Unit 001,…

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has called for a balanced regulatory framework for digital content produced by Nigerian creatives.Deputy General Secretary of the Guild, Olumide Iyanda made the call on Thursday, 16 November, 2024 while delivering a goodwill message at the opening ceremony of the 4th Peace Anyiam-Osigwe Nigeria Digital Content Regulation Conference (NDCRC) organised by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) in Lagos.The theme of the two-day conference is “Film and Video Regulation in the Digital Age, Balancing Creativity and Responsibility.”Iyanda conveyed GOCOP’s commendation to the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu…

Accugas Limited, a subsidiary of Savannah Energy, wishes to strongly deny the misinformation concerning its alleged involvement in the current power outage in Akwa Ibom State. The power cut in Akwa Ibom State is entirely due to the reported fault in the 132-KV Aba-Itu transmission line, which, unfortunately, is preventing power being transmitted from the National Grid into the State. It is imperative that the restoration of the Aba-Itu line is completed as soon as possible. Ibom Power Company (“IPC”) is one of 23 thermal power generation companies which channel power to the National Grid, which in turn disseminates all…

The ongoing local government polls in Ogun State got off to a good start on Saturday. This newspaper can exclusively report. Election into chairmanship and councillorship positions are currently ongoing in the 20 local government councils of the state, with the major political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) saying that they will have a good showing. In the polling units surveyed in major cities such as Abeokuta, the state capital; Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Ota and Ilaro, election materials arrived on schedule even as…

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has inaugurated a 3.1km runway at the Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke, Ebonyi State. She performed the ceremony during her visit to the state where she attended the 2024 Ebonyi Women’s Day celebration. She was joined at the inauguration ceremony by Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima; the state Governor, Francis Nwifuru; and former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; among others. While applauding the state Governor for seeing the project through, the First Lady said commercial activities at the airport will usher in more socio-economic development for the state. The…

By Muhammad Hamisu As Nigeria awaits the Supreme Court’s verdict on the landmark case of SC 1/2008, the nation holds its breath. At stake is the future of lottery regulation and revenue collection, with far-reaching implications for national development. The case pits the Attorney General of Lagos State and 21 other states against the Federal Government, sparking intense debate. Proponents of state autonomy argue that lottery regulation should rest with individual states, while federal authorities insist on their constitutional mandate. The case is a contentious issue that has been argued and awaits judgment from the Supreme Court. At its core,…

Former Ondo State First Lady, Betty Akeredolu, has come under fire for calling Nigeria “a zoo country that is beyond redemption”. Mrs. Akeredolu, whose husband, Rotimi Akeredolu died in office on December 27, 2023, got herself into trouble while making comparisons between Nigeria’s presidential election and that of the United States via her X account. Posting on the social media platform, Mrs Akeredolu, a PhD holder, wrote: “Just thinking. 2023 Nigerian Presidential Election Total Votes Cast: 25 million Counting Duration: 5 days. “2024 U.S Presidential Election Total Votes Cast: 155 million Counting Duration: Approximately 10 hours “Moral: When dishonesty is…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has removed Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State. In a unanimous judgment prepared by Justice Hamma Barka but read by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, the appellate court held that LP’s appeal against Ebiseni is allowed. Similarly, Justice Abba Mohammed ruled that the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 brought by the LP against Ebiseni and two others had merit. A Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Emeka Nwite had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and recognize Ebiseni and Ezekiel Awude as…

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has warned that it would be difficult for anybody to fix Nigeria with the present constitution. Anyaoku stated this during the launch of the book: “The Noble Academic and Patriot: A Biography of Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun,” held in Lagos State. According to the elder statesman Nigeria as a pluralistic country needs to address its diversity with true federal constitutions. Anyaoku said as long as the status quo remains, not even angels can tackle the country’s problem under the present system. “To those who think that the trouble with Nigeria today is the political…

 Nazarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has commended the tax reforms embarked upon by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but insisted that Northern governors are only against the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) from the federation allocation. Sule stated this on Thursday, 14 November, 2024 while formally launching an innovative tax digital codes initiated by the Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue Services (NSBIRS), at the Government House, Lafia, the state capital. Sule stated this while formally launching an innovative tax digital codes initiated by the Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue Services (NSBIRS), at the Government House, Lafia, the state…

Ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distributed sensitive materials to all 18 local government areas of The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, monitored the exercise held at the facility of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Akure, on Thursday, 14 November, 2024. Babalola explained that the early distribution of sensitive materials to the LGAs had shown the readiness of the electoral body in ensuring a free and fair exercise in the state. “You can see that the distribution exercise is going on very smoothly. The farthest…

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Thursday, 14 November, 2024 presented a N936 billion 2025 budget proposal to the State House of Assembly for consideration. Oborevwori arrived the Assembly complex at about 10:00 am amidst cheers from Assembly staff. The Assembly staff ,who were excited to see Oborevwori, sang and danced to welcome him to the complex. Presenting the appropriation bill christened ‘Budget of Fiscal Consolidation’ to the Assembly, Oborevwori laid emphasis on human capital development and infrastructure. Road infrastructure got the highest allocation of N230 billion while education was allocated N67.42 billion. Other sectoral allocations include health, N30.55 billion,…

Atalanta FC of Italy mercurial winger, Ademola Lookman, has been nominated for the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards, thegazellenews.com reports. The organisers of the award announced the name of the nominees on X on Thursday, 14 November, 2024 Lookman is nominated along top stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. The 27-year-old finished 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’or ranking and is also in the running for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year. The former Leicester City striker has been in fantastic form this year for both club and country. Lookman scored three goals in seven…

The Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the involvement of some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), in Saturday’s governorship election. Thegazellenews recalls that the PDP had protested severally, calling for the removal of Mrs Babalola Oluwatoyin as Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state before the poll. Speaking at a press briefing in Akure, the state capital, Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, said INEC staff who are notorious for manipulating election should not be allowed to participate in the Ondo election. He also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress,…

A court in Yola, Adamawa State, has remanded three persons in prison custody for allegedly breaking into a house and stealing a motorcycle worth N1 million. The Chief Magistrate, Court II Yola, remanded the three young men identified as Sikiru Habu, Ahmadu Tanko Kugama and Sani Abubakar, all of Mayo Belwa LGA, for allegedly forcing their way into a house located at Anguwan Fada, in the area, and stealing the said motorcycle belonging to one Umaru Bello Daburam. The Police First Information Report on the case accused the defendants of conspiring, on the 30th October, 2024, and breaking into the…

A Ugandan court has convicted a 21-year-old Tiktoker Emmanuel Nabugodi, for calling for the public flogging of President Yoweri Museveni on TikTok. Nabugodi, who created a video depicting a mock Museveni trial, faces up to seven years in prison for allegedly spreading hate speech against the President. The defendant pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody at the notorious Kigo maximum security prison near Kampala until 18 November, 2024 when he will be sentenced. The State Attorney, Paul Aheebwa Byamukama, said prosecutors have asked the Entebbe court to impose a seven-year sentence. Thegazellenews.com recallsthat Nabugodi is the fourth Ugandan to appear…

At least three persons reportedly died and 14 more were injured in a ghastly motor accident in Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State. It was gathered that the incident happened when a moving J5 vehicle hit a parked Dangote trailer along old Gwaram Road. Jigawa Police Command Public relations Officer, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam also confirmed the incident in a statement issued to newsmen. According to the statement: “Police on Tuesday at about 6:30 pm received a report that a J5 bus with registration No. KTG 196 XC, driven by one Wada Shuaibu of Laya village, Gwaram LGA, conveying…

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has approved the implementation of the N70,000 Minimum Wage for workers in the state. The Head of Service (HoS) of the state, Stephen Pam,who made this disclosure in a statement issued on Thursday, 14 November, 2024, said that the approval followed the agreement reached by the Committee on Consequential Adjustment on Salaries signed on November 13. He said that the move demonstrates the government’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of workers in the state. The HoS called on all workers in the state to be more committed and dedicated in the discharge of…

Nigerian singer, Jaywon has said he isn’t on good terms with his colleague, Ayra Starr. Jaywon fell out with Ayra Starr after trolls began using their viral picture together to mock him. In the controversial picture, Ayra Starr could be seen holding Jaywon’s hand, seemingly Speaking in a recent interview with News Central, Jaywon blamed Ayra Starr and her management for not calling the trolls to order. “The Ayra Starr situation is unfortunate. We are not cool. People don’t get it. What would make me, Jaywon want to take a picture with Ayra Starr? “Of course, she’s an amazing artist…

Singer, Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, has declared ace rapper, Olamide as the king of Nigerian street music. Speaking in a recent interview with Naija FM, Shallipopi explained that he featured Olamide in his song ‘Order’ because of his popularity on the street. “Baddo [Olamide] is the father and king of Nigerian street music. So I had to feature him on ‘Order’ because it is a street song and Olamide owns the street,” he said. “Baddo [Olamide] is the father and king of Nigerian street music. So I had to feature him on ‘Order’ because it is a street…