News Roundup

There is no three-month tenure extension for the ambassadors recently recalled by the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified on Wednesday. Also, the Federal Government has placed embargo on foreign missions’ accounts to check frivolous spending by envoys.

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, resolved to investigate legal and other service providers involved in the case between Nigeria and foreign firm, Process and Industrial Development Limited. This followed a motion presented at the plenary by the lawmaker representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State, Kama Nkemkanma.

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 The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the two opposition parties – the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, on Wednesday, expressed confidence that they will secure victory as the Supreme Court delivers judgment on the February 25 presidential election today. Supreme Court’s Director of Information, Dr Festus Akande, said on Wednesday that “Thursday has been fixed for judgment on the appeals brought by Atiku and Peter Obi.”

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. Some members of the Oyetubo Jokotade family in the Sangotedo area of Ajah and their allottees on Wednesday protested against what they alleged as a disregard to a court ruling by the Lagos State Government. The family members and the allottees, who were seen with placards, protested over the alleged continued occupation of their land by heavily armed policemen.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that the November 11 governorship polls in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states are very crucial. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this at the quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations on Wednesday. He also urged accredited observers to strictly adhere to the code of conduct for election observation.

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 The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Sokoto has affirmed the election of a former governor of the state, Aminu Tambuwal, as a duly elected senator representing Sokoto South. The three-man panel of the tribunal led by Justice Denis Echesi dismissed the petition of the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Senator Ibrahim Danbaba, challenging the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate.

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 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of 10 new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a term of five years each, subject to the confirmation of the Nigerian Senate. Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Wednesday, said the appointment was done based on powers vested in him by Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, Amended) and Section 6 of the Electoral Act (2022).

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. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday released amended lists of governorship candidates in Bayelsa State for November 11 election, excluding Timipre Sylva, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his running mate, Joshua Maciver. The list signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, had the column for the name of the APC candidate and his running mate left blank with remarks, “Court order”.

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. President Bola Tinubu has appointed Alhaji Munirudeen Oyebamiji as Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). Also, the President has approved the appointment of Mr Akutah Ukeyima as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).