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Oyebanji: ‘Why I Am Withholding My Congratulations, Despite INEC Declaration’ – Oni, SDP Candidate

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the Ekiti State election, Segun Oni has revealed why he’s yet to congratulate the winner and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Biodun Oyebanji.
In an interview with Punch, Oni disagreed with the outcome of the election stating that investigations are ongoing to ascertain if Oyebanji won the election.

According to the SDP candidate, if the investigations show that Oyebanji won fair and square, he will not need any persuasion before he congratulates him.

He said: “If I agreed, I would have congratulated the winner. That is why I am withholding my congratulations. If investigations show that it was won fair and square, I will not need any persuasions before I will congratulate everybody that needs to be congratulated.”

Oni added that he has no regrets about contesting the election and nobody will be in his position and have any regrets because he did not do anything to diminish his integrity.

He said: “No, I did not have any regrets; rather, I was very happy. Nobody will be in my position and have any regrets. First, I have not done anything to diminish my integrity. That should make me very happy; that should make my friends and associates very happy. That should make those who believe in me very happy. I have not done anything that will tarnish my image.”

RCCG’s Adeboye Rains Curses On Terrorists, Kidnappers, Sponsors

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has rained curses on kidnappers, terrorists and their sponsors.

Speaking during his sermon at the ongoing July Holy Communion Service, Adeboye said criminal groups terrorising churches and Nigeria will know no peace.

According to the popular clergyman, he was surprised when he heard the news that some people ordered churches to be shut down for three months adding that they have all overstepped their boundaries.

Pastor Adeboye said: “As the Lord lives, every evil plot against the church of the Lord will be consumed by fire in the name of Jesus. From now every kidnapper, terrorists including their sponsors will never experience rest again.

“From now on in the name that is above every other name, every kidnapper, every terrorist, all their supporters will never be able to rest again.

“The blood running in their vein will turn to fire, the air they breathe will turn to fire, the ground they step will turn to fire, the bed they sleep upon will turn to fire, when they wake up, they will be waking in fire, when they sleep, they will be dreaming fire.

”As long as Jesus lives, as long as the name of God I serve is the consuming fire, every evil plot against the church of God, the fire of God will consume them.”

Court Directs NIMC To Release Biodata Of Ekweremadu’s ‘Kidney Donor’

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service has been ordered by a Federal High Court Abuja to provide the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the biodata information of David Nwamini Ukpo who was moved to the United Kingdom to serve as a kidney donor to one of Ike Ekweremadu’s children.

Ekweremadu, Nigeria’s former deputy Senate President, was arrested in UK for alleged organ harvesting of a “child”.

UK prosecutors allege that the child is 15 years but the Ekweremadus insisted he is 21.

Following the development, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, had on July 27 urged Justice Inyang Ekwo to order the release of certain official documents of Ukpo domiciled with NIMC, Nigeria Immigration Service and Stanbic-IBTC Bank for the purpose of effectively defending his client the UK.
The reliefs sought includes:

“An order directing the NIS C-G to supply the applicants with the documents and application form of David Nwamini Ukpo in the possession of the second respondent presented for the issuance of International passport No. BO0569974 for the purpose of assisting criminal investigation and tendering same before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court, UK until July 7 in the alleged criminal charge brought against the applicants.

“An order of court directing the Stanbic-IBTC Bank to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 0032551834 maintained by its customer, Ukpo, with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants with respect to his age in the criminal charges filed against the applicants.

“An order of court directing UBA to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 2195739574 maintained by Ukpo with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants.”

The judge granted the prayers sought by the counsel.

Ikorodu Residents Cry Out Over Difficulty In Accessing PVC

Residents of Ikorodu, Lagos State have lamented over the difficulties in processing and collecting their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

During a constituency stakeholder meeting on Thursday themed: “2023 General Election: The Imperative of Permanent Voters Cards”, the residents appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate its Ikorodu office.

Speaking at the programme, Chairman, Ikorodu Community Development Committee(CDC) Lukman Shonibare, said the office was located at the edge of a corner, inside the Government Residential Area(GRA) with heavy security officials that restricted movement, making access to the office difficult.

According to Shonibare, the location of INEC office has discouraged some of the residents from processing their PVC.

He said: “We want to call on our lawmaker to help see to our plight because the distance of INEC office has discouraged lots of people.”

“Most times, you will spend all your energy walking before getting to their office. We need the office relocated to a place that will be easily accessible to all.”

Similarly, a resident Azeez Olushugbo, urged INEC to increase their staff strength as more residents were interested in participating in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Olushugbo added that the officials should bring the registration closer to the people by moving around all the communities of the constituency, instead of staying in their offices.

Responding to the outcry, Ikorodu resident INEC officer Olutoyin Aiyeleso said their demands could only be possible if the community provided space to construct another office.

She added that members of staff do not have the capacity to move their office to another place.

“What you are requesting for can only be done if you provide space and construct another INEC office.”

“The office was built by INEC and we are just members of staff, so we don’t have the capacity to move our office to another place.”

The Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly and lawmaker representing Ikorodu constituency 1, Sanai Agunbiade in his response, assured them that all the challenges highlighted would be adequately addressed to ensure seamless processing and collection.

Joe Igbokwe Hints On Wike Meeting Tinubu In France

The Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sewage and Drainage, Joe Igbokwe, on Thursday hinted that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.

The APC chieftain in Lagos State in a post on his Facebook account said the presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party met with Tinubu while some people are abusing themselves on social media.

Naija News had earlier reported that the former Governor of Lagos State travelled to France.

A statement released by his media office revealed that Tinubu would hold some important political meetings while in Paris.

Governor Wike on Tuesday also stated that he is currently on vacation in Turkey.

Wike has remained silent over the runnings of the PDP after losing the vice-presidential ticket of the main opposition party to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

Igbokwe who hinted at a possible meeting further stated that people have transferred their aggression to Tinubu.

The APC chieftain in a post on his Facebook account wrote, “while they are on Social Media abusing everybody Gov Wike goes to France to meet Asiwaju. Abuse, calling names, hate and bigotry are no strategies. They hated and abused PMB since 2015 and now they have transferred the aggression to Asiwaju. We wait and see.”

UK May Transfer Ekweremadu’s ‘Organ Harvesting’ Case To Nigeria

Suella Braverman, the UK Attorney-General, will on July 7 determine whether the organ harvesting case filed against Ike Ekweremadu and his wife will be tried in the country or transferred to Nigeria.

The case was adjourned to July 7 after Ekweremadu, Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, appeared before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court alongside his wife, Beatrice, on Thursday.

The prosecutor, according to Channels TV, insisted that Ukpo Nwamini David, the male alleged to have been trafficked for organ harvesting by Ekweremadu and Beatrice, is a 15-year-old.

The duo’s next appearance would be at the Westminster Magistrate Court after which a decision to try them in the UK or Nigeria would be taken.

The London Metropolitan Police had last Thursday announced the arrest and detention of the lawmaker and his wife for “conspiring to arrange the travel of a child into the UK in order to harvest organs.”

Following their arrest, Ekweremadu and his wife sued the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and two commercial banks at Federal High Court in Abuja.

They asked the court to compel the institutions to provide the Certified True Copy of the biodata of David with a view to establishing their innocence in the case.

Funke Akindele’s Ex-boss, Babatunde Gbadamosi Throws Shade

Nigerian politician Babatunde Gbadamosi and Funke Akindele’s ex-boss has made a statement which comes after the revelation that the actress has suffered a failed marriage.

In a post shared on Instagram, the real estate developer said without mentioning any name that the masquerades have finally been unmasked.

He wrote: Breakfast is served. The launch is coming, dinner will be sumptuous. Eventually, all masquerades will finally be unmasked and served their own breakfast, launch and dinner too, at great cost to them, blogger or not.

Naija News earlier reported that JJC Skillz in the lengthy post shared on Instagram said the last two years of their marriage have been extremely difficult for them.

Skillz said he tried to fix things but he believes it’s beyond repair at the moment because Funke Akindele insisted he move out of their house.

He wrote: “Dear Friends and family I need to let you know that Funke and I have separated. While it lasted we shared a lot of things together and have created 2 beautiful children. The last two years have been extremely difficult for us. I know I have tried my best to fix things but I believe it is beyond repair now. 3 months ago and at Funkes insistence I moved out of the house and apart from AMVCA have not been able to get Funke to sit down in an amicable manner to discuss the future of our relationship.

“I’m making this announcement so that the public is clear that we both are pursuing separate lives. We still have issues that need to be addressed such as the custody and wellbeing of our children which is paramount as well as business interests which need to be disentangled but I have no doubt that these will be resolved one way or the other.”

Nollywood Actress, Funke Akindele Break Up With Husband, JJC Skillz

Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele popularly known as Jenifa has separated from her husband, JJC Skillz.

The husband confirmed this in a post via his Instagram handle on Thursday morning, Naija News reports.

There have been rumours that things are not going well with Funke Akindele and her husband, including their other family members over time, a development the duo have repeatedly debunked.

JJC skillz however ended the rumour this morning as he announced their separation on social media.

According to him, he tried to ensure things didn’t get to this stage but it eventually did.

‘Why I’m Standing With Bola Tinubu’ – Veteran Actor Jide Kosoko

Amidst the backslash online, veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has revealed why he is supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate Bola Tinubu.

In a post shared on his Instagram, Prince Kosoko said he has witnessed the achievement of Tinubu as a genuine leader over the years, and his support for humanity and the creative industry.

The actor said he’s convinced that Tinubu is a lover of old and new especially the youths, considering the number of people he has raised politically.

He urged his fans and followers to give Tinubu the opportunity to complete transferring the technical know-how on his God-given assignment.

He wrote: “I stand with Tinubu. I have witnessed his achievement as a Genuine Leader over the years, his support for humanity and the creative industry in particular. I am convinced he is a lover of old and new, especially the youth, considering the number he has raised politically, the Majority of who is doing well as leaders today.”

“Meaning he believes so much in youth as leaders of tomorrow as in today. Please give him the opportunity to complete transferring the technical know-how on his God-choosing assignment. ignore hate speeches by opponents and enemies. HONESTLY, WE NEED HIM. Let it not be another best president we would not have. Arise larika, arika baba iregun.”

‘South Or Nothing’: Fayose hints Nigerians on his Preferred Presidential candidate

A former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayodele Fayose, may not back his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The former Ekiti State governor gave a hint in the post on his verified Twitter page on Wednesday.

According to Fayose, it was the turn of the South to produce Nigeria’s next president after Muhammadu Buhari’s two-term as president.

Using a Yoruba slang now attached to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, Fayose said it is the turn of the south or nothing.

The PDP chieftain promised to give Nigerians more details on his tweet soon.

Fayose wrote: “The PDP Constitution provides for a rotational Presidency. Section 3(c) provides that the Party shall pursue its aims & objectives by “adhering to the policy of the rotation & zoning of Party & Public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.

“The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or NOTHING.

“Awa ‘South’ lo kan.’ Nigerians should await details soon.”

Naija News reports that Fayose is a close ally of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who is reportedly plotting to dump the party following his failure to grab the presidential and vice-presidential ticket of the main opposition party.

This newspaper reports that Fayose is also a friend of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu had, during an outburst in Ogun State just before the APC presidential primary, disclosed that he was instrumental to the emergence of Buhari as president, insisting it was his turn to become the next leader of the country. “Emi lokan,” he had said.