Author: Olukayode Oke

The All Progressives Congress (APC) may have concluded arrangements with the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to hold its expanded National Executive Committee (NEC) in the second week of April. The jostle for the Senate presidency and other principal offices of the 10th National Assembly intensifies, with aspirants stepping up campaigns. The APC National Working Committee (NWC) is reportedly set to convene NEC to deliberate and settle the zoning issue ahead of the June inauguration of the National Assembly. Speaking to Leadership, a member of the APC NWC disclosed that the “hard push” by some influential South West lawmakers might rob the zone…

The International Labour Organisation (ILO), on Sunday commended Nigeria for its unprecedented commitment to tripartism, social dialogue and decent work. The ILO Director General, Mr Gilbert Houngbo, made the commendation when he received the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, at the weekend in Geneva, Switzerland. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Olajide Oshundun, the Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Labour and Employment. The minister was in Geneva to attend his last Governing Body meeting of the ILO. Ngige however presented to the ILO boss, two instruments comprising conventions 1975 (143) on…

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said he won’t run away from Nigeria due to the fear of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after May 29, when his tenure expires. Wike said he would gladly honour the EFCC if invited at the end of his tenure on May 29. The governor was reacting to recent revelations by the Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, that the agency would arrest corrupt governors whose tenures end on May 29. However, Wike said he’s not bothered by the threat to arrest governors at the end of their tenure on May 29.…

The Labour Party, LP, is set to challenge the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 Lagos gubernatorial election. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on March 20, declared Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner and Governor-elect. The incumbent polled 762,134 votes, defeating Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the LP who scored 312,329. Olajide Adediran of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, got 62,449 votes. The results announced by the Returning Officer, Prof Adenike Temifayo-Oladiji, VC, Federal University of Technology Akure, show 1,182,620 accredited voters, 1,173,631 votes cast, and 17,953 rejected. The tension ahead of the poll culminated when, on election…

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyorchia Ayu has been suspended by the party. The suspension of Ayu was effected by the Ward Executive of the party in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state. Addressing the media Sunday, on behalf of Kashi Philip, the Ward Chairman, the Ward Secretary Mr. Vangeryina Dooyum explained that Dr. Ayu was suspended by the Executive for alleged anti party activities. The Secretary stated that the decision to suspend the National Chairman was reached after the leadership reviewed his conduct at the end of the just concluded…

Femi Fani-Kayode, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has chided the British deputy high commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones over a comment against him. The UK Envoy had on Sunday, tackled Fani-Kayode over his alleged inciting comments on social media. In an interview with Nigeria Info FM on Sunday, Llewellyn-Jones expressed worries over the possible repercussions of derogatory comments being made by the former Minister of Aviation against opposition parties. Reacting, FFK, in a tweet on his official handle, urged the UK representative to steer clear of Nigeria’s affairs, saying the country is no longer their colony. According to the…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday recalled his relationship with Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and current Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as his appointees. He said they about the best appointments he made while he was President. The former Nigerian leader also condemned the “persistent” discrimination against people of southeastern extraction, which he describes as Igbophobia. Obasanjo spoke at an event to commemorate Governor Soludo’s one year in office. In Obasanjo’s administration which spanned 1999 to 2007, Soludo served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), while Okonjo-Iweala was the…

The University of Benin has won the Africa Outstanding University Award of the Year for 2023 in Rwanda. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Lilian Salami, was also honoured as Africa Pillar of Education for her impact in education development on the continent. According to a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire on Saturday in Benin, the awards were presented at the 1st Africa Education Summit, held at the University of Rwanda in Kigali. Ehanire said besides her leadership role in the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities, Prof. Salami was also the Vice…

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, has described the incident of topless protest by women in Nasarawa state over the outcome of polls as heartbreaking. Obi reacted to the development in a tweet via his verified Twitter handle on Friday night. He stated, “I just came across a sad, heartbreaking video where Nasarawa women staged a topless protest as a means of registering their displeasure with the election results.” Recall that women in Akwanga Local government Area of Nasarawa State had yesterday stripped themselves half-naked to protest the outcome of the governorship election in the state. The…

Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis has conceded that the Partenopei could sell their talismanic forward, Victor Osimhen, this summer. Osimhen has been linked with a big money move from the Serie A leaders. European giants, Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly interested in the Nigeria international. The 24-year-old has been in fantastic form for Napoli this season leading the club’s charge for a first league title in three decades and first UEFA Champions League title. The forward has scored 21 goals in 23 league appearances. Osimhen has further registered four goals in five outings in the Champions League.…

President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has raised the alarm over plots by some aggrieved partisans to truncate the transition process, particularly his expected swearing-in on May 29. Tinubu in a statement by his Director, Public Affairs and Minister of State Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo SAN also warned the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and that of the Labour Party LP, Mr Peter Obi against taking to the streets while also pursuing their cases in court. In the statement issued Saturday in Abuja, the President-elect noted that those who have taken to the streets…

Kylian Mbappe scored his first goals as France captain as the World Cup finalists began their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a comfortable win against the Netherlands. The hosts were ahead after just two minutes when Antoine Griezmann curled in from Mbappe’s pass. Defender Dayot Upamecano made it 2-0 six minutes later as he bundled in. Mbappe then got his 37th goal for France when he drove in, before powering home his second late on. Griezmann had reportedly been unhappy at being overlooked for the captaincy role given to Mbappe, but there were no signs of friction between the pair as they…