News In Bits

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, formally launched his 2027 re-election quest by purchasing the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential nomination and expression of interest forms, in Abuja. A combined fee of N100 million was paid on his behalf by loyalists and support groups drawn from across the country.

 The David Mark-led African Democratic Congress, on Tuesday, wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urging the Supreme Court to deliver quick judgment in its pending leadership tussle case. The party explained that its appeal to the CJN and the apex court became imperative because it didn’t want to suffer irreparable harm that would deter it from fielding candidates for the 2027 general elections.

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 The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Olanipekun Olukoyede, has raised alarm that about six out of every 10 students in Nigerian universities are involved in cybercrime. Describing the trend as “a sad development,” the EFCC boss, who spoke in Kano, said findings from investigations by the commission revealed widespread involvement of undergraduates in internet fraud and related crimes.

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Residents have raised concerns over a suspected outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis that has been claiming many lives in Kurawa village, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Sources from the village’s health facility said the situation has worsened in recent days, with an estimated two to three deaths recorded daily.

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 Former senator representing Zamfara Central in the 7th and 8th National Assembly, Senator Kabir Marafa, has defected from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, saying he wishes his former party well. Marafa’s defection comes barely three weeks after he urged his supporters in Zamfara State to commence a registration drive in the ADC.

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 The Naira on Tuesday appreciated to N1,390 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,392 per dollar on Monday. But the naira depreciated to N1,383 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM.

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 The Governance Advisory Council, GAC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos has endorsed the deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as the consensus candidate in the forthcoming governorship primaries for the 2027 poll. The council, however, clarified that despite the consensus, the party will still conduct primaries for all positions in line with the party’s guidelines.

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 Former 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and a key figure in the coalition movement within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Peter Obi had a closed-door meeting with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan on Tuesday. The meeting was part of his consultation ahead of the ADC primary election.

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 The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to secure a $516.33m loan from Deutsche Bank to finance Section I of the ambitious Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway project, a key infrastructure initiative under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The approval followed the consideration of the President’s request by the Committee of Supply during plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

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The 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has announced his resignation from the Labour Party and his intention to join the Peoples Redemption Party. He made the disclosure on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today.

From dailypost