Connect with us

News

INEC boss dedicates ThisNigeria award to INEC staff, Youth Corps members

Published

on

The ThisNigeria newspaper has conferred its inaugural Gold Award in Public Service on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in recognition of his efforts to reposition the country’s electoral system for free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections, despite daunting challenges.

Advertisements

The conferment took place on Thursday at the newspaper’s well-attended Inaugural Lecture and Gold Prize ceremony, held at the Yar Adua Centre in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Advertisements

Two other individuals who also received Gold Awards were Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for good governance, and the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, for his contribution to the education sector.

The Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mattew Hassan Kukah, delivered a lecture on “National Cohesion for Sustainable growth and Progress,” with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), and former governorship candidate of the Labour Party for Kwara State, Mr Issa Aremu as discussants. A former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTRA), Dr Tonnie Iredia, moderated the discussion.

In his acceptance speech, Prof Yakubu dedicated the award to the Commission’s staff members, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and other critical stakeholders involved in elections.

He said: “We have just successfully concluded the Anambra Governorship Election. Next, we have to prepare for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election. We are preparing for two more governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States. In between, we have seven bye-elections to conduct. So, it’s a hectic period for us.

“In INEC, we are used to more of condemnation than commendation. So, when commendation comes, especially from a friend like Eric Osagie, we genuinely appreciate it.

“This recognition is dedicated to all the hardworking staff of INEC. But I would also like to dedicate this to all those who have constructively criticized the Commission. We cherish constructive criticisms. As a teacher all my life, I know that there can’t be new knowledge; there can’t be progress without constructive criticisms.

“I would like to recognize the role of the National Peace Committee (NPC), chaired by our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. But let me also recognize a category of Nigerians that are hardly recognized. Yet, they play a very, very critical role in conducting elections in the country. I am not referring to the security agencies that also play a very good role.

“I am not referring to other stakeholders – political parties, the media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), but I am referring to election duty staff: those young Nigerians on national service.

“I have said it over and over again that you (National Youth Service Corps members) are among the most educated, the most hardworking, the most readily available election duty staff in Nigeria. We cannot do without you.”

He added: “I recognized the critical role of the NYSC when we travelled to the Republic of Liberia for their election. The Liberian Electoral Commission was battling with where to get election duty staff. They were looking for teachers and other categories of staff. And the Chairman (Liberia Electoral Commission), who is my very good friend, turned around and said to me, ‘we know that in Nigeria, you have no issues at all. The number of young Nigerian serving the nation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is probably half of the population of the Republic of Liberia’. And so, in that respect, we have no issues with capacity.”

Governor Wike, in his speech, commended the Commission for conducting what he described as a “free and fair governorship election” in Anambra State.

Advertisements

News

Police invites Emir Sanusi for investigation for violating Sallah Durbar ban [See copy]

Published

on

The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been summoned to the Nigerian Po,ice Force headquarters to face criminal investigation.

Advertisements

In a letter dated 4th April and signed by Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations, Olajide Rufus Ibitoye, said he was directed by the Inspector General of Police to invite the Emir for questioning for violating Durbar ban.

Advertisements

A copy of the letter sighted by CAPITAL POST indicated that Sanusi led a Durbar processing to the Government House to pay homage despite the ban which the Police expressed security concerns.

The urged Emir Sanusi Lamido to appear on Tuesday,b8th April, 2025.

Sanusi reportedly led a procession in car as against the usual horses in which a 20-year old in the entourage was arrested and detained.

Advertisements
Continue Reading

News

Senators Natasha, Abbo unite in peddling dangerous falsehood against me – Akpabio

Published

on

Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio has accused Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Elisha Abbo of being united I coordinated attacks against him lately.

Advertisements

He stated this following Natasha’s claims during a rally in her Kogi Central Senatorial District that he recruited the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to assassinate her outside Abuja.

Advertisements

At the rally on Tuesday 1st April, 2025 which was monitored by CAPITAL POST in Lokoja, Natasha accused the former Governor Yahaya Bello, having been contacted late in the night of March 12, 2025 to orchestrated ‘recall and assassination’ of her outside Abuja.

Natasha said she has intelligence reports that when she is killed in her Constituency, “it will look as if it’s her people that killed her.”

Though Bello was yet to issue a statement debunking the allgations or otherwise, Senate President on his part denied the allegation and described it as falsehood and inflammatory.

Reacting in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publici, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh on Friday, Akpabio accused former Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial, Elisha Abbo of toeing the similar part of blackmail, saying barely 24 hours later, on April 2, 2025, Elisha Abbo appeared on Arise Television to revive a previously withdrawn claim that Senator Akpabio “manipulated the judiciary” to secure his removal from the Senate.

The statement said: “Nigerians will recall that Mr. Abbo, in 2023, publicly retracted this same accusation and tendered an apology after acknowledging that his claims were founded on incorrect assumptions.

“His removal from office was the outcome of a constitutionally grounded judicial decision by the Court of Appeal, which independently determined that he was not duly elected to represent Adamawa North.

“In a further twist, Mr. Abbo also alleged that he was denied his entitlements by the Senate President. This, too, is categorically false. Entitlements such as salaries and allowances are processed strictly through administrative and legal procedures.

“The Senate President does not and cannot unilaterally approve or deny such requests. Any delays or rejections would have been based solely on due diligence and compliance with established protocols.

“The timing, tone, and striking similarity of these coordinated attacks point clearly to a politically motivated smear campaign. These individuals—backed by undisclosed interests—appear united in a desperate effort to undermine the credibility of the Senate and its leadership and intended to distract from their own personal and political shortcomings and failings.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio remains undeterred. As a statesman devoted to national unity, institutional integrity, and the rule of law, he will not be distracted by malicious falsehoods or inflammatory rhetoric.

“Regardless of the necessity for legal redress, formal letters of demand, seeking immediate public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational harm, are underway to be served on both Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Mr Elisha Abbo.

“We call on the Nigerian public in particular and the International Community to reject these baseless and provocative narratives. The Senate, under Senator Akpabio’s leadership, remains focused on its constitutional mandate: to promote legislative excellence, safeguard democratic values, and deliver meaningful progress for the Nigerian people”, the statement concluded.

Advertisements
Continue Reading

News

Governor Ododo mourns death of Kogi East APC Chairman

Published

on

Late Suleiman Muhammed

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has expressed heartfelt sympathy over the demise of Hon. Suleiman Muhammed, the Kogi East Zonal Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Advertisements

In a condolence message to the family of the deceased and members of the APC in Kogi state, described the sudden passing of the APC Zonal chairman as a loss not only for the party in Kogi East but the entire APC family in the state.

Advertisements

According to the Governor “The late Hon. Suleiman Muhammed was a man of peace, humility, and one who demonstrated commitment to the service of the state and the APC as a party. He carried the aspirations of his people with dignity; his leadership was widely respected and his contributions deeply valued within and beyond the APC in Kogi East”.

“He was instrumental in strengthening party cohesion and promoting inclusive dialogue. His presence in every party engagement brought stability and thoughtful leadership to our consultations in the zone.”

Governor Ododo further noted that Hon. Suleiman’s calm temperament, sense of fairness, and ability to listen distinguished him as a unifying figure in the party.

The Governor also extends condolences to the family of the deceased, the leadership and members of the APC in the state, the people of Dekina local government area and the entire Kogi East Senatorial District.

He prayed that Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanatul Firdaus.

The late APC zonal chairman who served as the APC coordinator in Odu Ward 2 before becoming the zonal chairman of the party in Kogi East died at the age of 45 and has been laid to rest according to Islamic rites.

Advertisements
Continue Reading

Trending


Address: 1st Floor, Nwakpabi Plaza, Suite 110, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Apo, Abuja
Tel: +234 7036084449; +234 7012711701
Email: capitalpost20@gmail.com | info@capitalpost.ng
Copyright © 2025 Capital Post