News In Bits...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has held a security meeting with Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting follows the airstrike at Jilli Market on the border of Borno and Yobe states.

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, told a UK court that she neither solicited nor received bribes during her time in office. Testifying on Monday at Southwark Crown Court, Alison-Madueke maintained that expenses incurred on her behalf in London were official and reimbursed by the Nigerian government.

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 The African Democratic Congress has alleged that the owner of its planned convention venue is under pressure to deny the party access despite a valid agreement and full payment for the facility. In a statement issued on the eve of its convention, the party said the management of Rainbow Event Centre informed it that it had come under intense pressure from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to cancel the booking.

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 Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC for the 2027 governorship election in the state. Abiodun made the declaration on Monday during a strategic caucus meeting attended by party leaders and stakeholders, where discussions focused on succession planning and preparations ahead of the next election cycle.

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 The African Democratic Congress (ADC) caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the prosecution and removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship and compromised neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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 Former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has formally declared his intention to vie for the Delta North senatorial ticket. Okowa said his bid to return to the National Assembly followed the requests of his constituents to represent them again in the Red Chamber.

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 The Katsina State Police Command says it arrested no fewer than 188 suspects linked to various criminal activities and rescued 12 kidnapped victims within the month of March. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen, on Monday in Katsina, said the success was part of the command’s ongoing efforts to combat crime.

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 Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response The team has arrested 33 suspected members of a criminal network linked to terrorism, kidnapping, and armed robbery, recovering an anti-aircraft launcher and several high-grade weapons. The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the FID-IRT headquarters in Abuja.

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 Peter Obi has declared that no other 2027 presidential contender can offer the North what he plans to deliver. He said the region holds Nigeria’s greatest economic potential and that he intends to transform it through agriculture, security and grassroots investment. The former Anambra governor spoke on Arise TV on Monday.
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The House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on Security in Plateau, has expressed deep concern about the spate of insecurity in the state. Dr Adewale Ahmed, the Chairman of the committee, said this during a visit to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Monday in Jos.

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