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Saturday’s Local Government elections in Cross River State has been described as a sham and blatant mockery of democracy by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, PDP Cross River North. In a statement issued on Monday, Jarigbe labeled the polls as a facade, further calling for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIEC. Based on what played out during and after the elections Jarigbe posited that LGA polls conducted by SIEC's will never be credible as long as the body remains under the firm control of State Governors. Giving an account of what transpired on the November 2nd election in which…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, over alleged diversion of N1.3trillion state funds.   Okowa was arrested on Monday for the alleged diversion of the funds, said to be part of the 13 percent derivation fund earmarked for oil-producing states.   Officials said that the former Delta governor and former Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was taken into custody at the Port-Harcourt division of the anti-graft office. The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, also confirmed the detention also to The Gazette by telephone.   Okowa…

  Aisha Suleiman, Dutse A small group of young All Progressives Congress (APC) members, allegedly loyal to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, have reportedly been observed vandalising billboards displaying images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Umar Namadi, and Jigawa State APC Chairman Aminu Gumel in Dutse, Jigawa State. Concerns are growing, particularly as speculation mounts that Defence Minister Badaru may be preparing to shift his political allegiance by defecting to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 elections. Billboards in prominent areas of the city were seen slashed, defaced, and, in…

President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in the seven newly appointed ministers in a ceremony that held at the council chamber of Aso Rock Villa on Monday, November 4. The New ministers were appointed two week ago after President Tinubu dismissed five of his ministers from his cabinet. The newly appointed Ministers were then screened by the Senate and confirmed last Friday, November 2. The newly appointed ministers and their portfolios are: Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda – Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi – Minister of Labour & Employment Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu – Minister of State, Foreign…

GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI INAUGURATES THE ELECTED 17 LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN (MAYORS) AND THEIR DEPUTIES. The Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti inaugurated the Newly Elected Executive Chairmen (Mayor) of the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State and their Deputies at the Banquet Hall of Abia State Government House. Governor Otti was joined by his Wife and the First Lady of the State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Priscilla Otti. The Oath of Office and Allegiance was administered by the State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Paul Ogubunka Esq. The inauguration ceremony was witnessed by…

Bishop Silas Eke, an Abia-born cleric, says the last time Abia State witnessed credible local government elections was during the administration of Orji Uzor Kalu. A cross-section of the Abia electorate berated the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission for its alleged poor performance in Saturday’s chairmanship and councillorship elections. The people blamed the low voter turnout on the late arrival of election officials and electoral materials at the polling units, which delayed the commencement of the exercise across the state. A correspondent from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the election in Aba South, reported that many prospective…

The Senator representing Abia North senatorial zone, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has expressed sympathy for the owners and staff of three radio stations in Abia State that were recently destroyed by fire. The tragic incident, which took place late on Saturday, led to extensive property damage, including vehicles and buildings. In a statement issued from Kalu’s media office on Sunday, Senator Kalu described the inferno as unfortunate and extended his condolences to those affected. He stated: “My heart goes out to those impacted by the fire. We stand with you in this difficult time. “It is unfortunate that property worth…

Hon. Arua Goodluck Egwu, Legislative Aide to Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, Member Representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Eleanya, the newly elected Chairman of Ohafia Local Government, and his deputy, Hon. Eme Iro, on their victory in the November 2 election in Abia State. “This achievement is a testament to your dedication and hard work,” Egwu stated, recognizing the commitment of the newly elected leaders. Egwu also congratulated Hon. Ukariwe Inyima, Councillor-Elect of Ebem Oha Ward, as well as Hon. Daniel Urum and other successful candidates who emerged under the platforms of the Zenith Labour…

Abia State Governor Alex Otti, his Deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, have all lost their various local government areas at Saturday’s council elections in the state. Unknown Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) emerged victorious in the Abia State local government elections, winning in 15 out of the 17 local government areas in Abia State, with the Young Progressives Party (YPP) claiming the remaining two local government areas, Osisioma Ngwa and Ugwunagbo. The Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, Professor Chima George, who announced the results on Saturday, congratulated both the winners…

Renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Etigwe Uwa, has raised strong concerns over alleged voter intimidation, unlawful arrests, and the kidnapping of political opponents during the ongoing Local Government Area (LGA) elections in Abia State. Uwa in a statement on Saturday expressed dismay following reports that the member representing Ohafia South in the State House of Assembly, Kalu Mba Nwoke (Etiokwe) was “assaulted, had his phone destroyed, and was taken to an unknown location”. Uwa stated that he had reached out to Governor Alex Otti, who responded, explaining that the arrests were due to attempts to disrupt the…