Author: Olukayode Oke

The United Arab Emirates has disregarded the appeal made by President Muhammadu Buhari to lift a visa ban imposed on Nigerian nationals since October 2022. The visa ban, however, does not affect persons holding diplomatic passports. Buhari, last month, had appealed to his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayad Al Nahyan, to remove the visa ban on Nigerians in a telephone conversation whose content was relayed by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu. The Nigerian president, via the phone, disclosed that he had given instructions to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to increase the amount of foreign exchange allocated to the…

Communities, where members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been reported to be harassed, have been warned to desist from such. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, added that security agencies had been briefed, saying such harassment would be branded as hate speech. Agboke issued the warning during a monitored radio programme in Osogbo, the state capital, on Wednesday. He was responding to alleged attacks on INEC ad-hoc staff, and members of the NYSC deployed during the February 25, 2023, presidential and National Assembly elections. He said, “In Osun…

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday issued Certificates of Return to winners of the February 25, 2023 House of Representatives election in Nigeria. The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, presented the certificates to the members-elect at the National Collation Centre in Abuja. Yakubu had on Saturday said winners were declared for 423 legislative seats, indicating that supplementary elections would be conducted in 46 other constituencies. He said in the House of Representatives, 325 out of 360 seats have been won by eight political parties. In terms of party representation, the INEC boss said African Democratic Party, won two; APC, 162;…

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has congratulated the newly elected chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Hammed Benco Ademola and his executives. Ademola, from the Nigeria Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees (NUAAE), had on Tuesday emerged the new chairman unopposed at the election of the Ogun NLC held at its secretariat in Abeokuta. Governor Abiodun in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Wednesday, hailed the peaceful conduct of the election and felicitated the new executives of the workers union. The governor, who expressed his optimism that the new…

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, inaugurated the legal team to challenge the controversial presidential election of February 25. The team include 17 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN. Atiku had, while inaugurating the legal team at his campaign headquarters in Abuja, charged members to establish the claim of illegality in the February 25 presidential election and reclaim the mandate of the Nigerian people. The PDP candidate instructed the legal team that apart from reclaiming the mandate from those who “undertook the electoral heist”, they should also use the opportunity of the trial to strengthen…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to exclude its staff engaged in malpractices during the Feb. 25 elections from participating in the March 11 governorship and State assemblies elections. The NBA made the call on Wednesday in Abuja in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb-Lawal. The association also advised INEC to fix all bugs or glitches that affected the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines during the presidential and national assembly elections. “The NBA urges INEC to ensure that all bugs or glitches in the BVAS machines and other…

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant leader, has revealed what he wants from the next Governor of Rivers State that will take over from Gov. Nyesom Wike. Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, Dokubo said he wants the next Governor of Rivers State to divert the wealth of the state to investment. According to him, he doesn’t want the next governor to be building flyovers without investing in the people and investing to make them stronger. Dokubo said, What I want the next governor to do is to divert the wealth…

President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent his hearty congratulations to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), on his 66th birthday. The Vice President turns 66 today, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Asiwaju Tinubu lauded the leadership and administrative skills of Professor Osinbajo and his professional accomplishments as an academic and erudite lawyer, which have seen him serve successfully as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice during his administration as Governor of Lagos and now as the Vice President of Nigeria. I rejoice and celebrate with our Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on the attainment of 66 today. Professor Osinbajo…

Victor Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda has established contact with Ligue 1 champions, Paris Saint-Germain over a summer transfer. Osimhen has been in the news all season following his spectacular displays for Serie A leaders, Napoli. The Nigeria international is currently the leading marksman in the Italian top-flight with 19 goals from 21 appearances. According to Italian website, TMW, Calenda met with PSG’s technical director, Luis Campos last week to discuss the possibility of a move this summer. It is claimed the meeting was carried out without Napoli’s prior knowledge. PSG face stiff competition from Premier League duo, Manchester United and…

Graham Potter enjoyed his finest night as Chelsea manager as they overcame a first-leg deficit against Borussia Dortmund to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Potter was under huge pressure after a dismal run of results following Chelsea’s huge outlay in the transfer market, but he will hope the manner of this performance and the advance into the latter stages of Europe’s elite competition will deliver a measure of calm and stability to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea fully deserved their win, although they squandered several big opportunities before Raheem Sterling made the breakthrough after 43 minutes, firing past Dortmund keeper Alexander Meyer…

The Central Bank of Nigeria said that both old and new notes are now legal tender. The Acting Director of Corporate Communications CBN, Dr Isa Abdulmumin disclosed this on Tuesday. He affirmed that commercial banks have started issuing both the old and new notes to their customers. But insisted that the apex bank is yet to issue an official statement. He said, “Banks are paying old notes as well as new notes. They are all legal tender. “Yes, the CBN has not issued an official statement on the issue. Anyone banks give to you, you can collect. We just want…

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday presented Certificates of Return to senators-elect. The Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, presented the certificates to the winners of the just concluded senatorial elections held on February 25 at the National Collation Centre, also referred to as the International Conference Centre, Abuja. The electoral body had last Wednesday presented the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima their certificates. Below is a list of senatorial seats won by political parties for the 10th Assembly: APC – 57 PDP – 29 LP – 6 SDP – 2 NNPP – 2 YPP – 1 APGA – 1