Appeal court declares Ozigbo as PDP candidate for Anambra governorship election - Newstrends
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Appeal court declares Ozigbo as PDP candidate for Anambra governorship election

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The court of appeal in Abuja has declared Valentine Ozigbo as the validly nominated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming Anambra state governorship election.

A three-member panel, led by Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the court of appeal, unanimously upheld the two appeals filed by Ozigbo and the PDP (CA/AW/223/2021 and CA/AW/234/2021).

INEC had excluded the PDP from the list of cleared candidates, which was released on July 16.

The electoral body said its decision not to list the name of any PDP candidate was in recognition of court orders served in relation to the primary election of the party.

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Ozigbo and Ugochukwu Uba had emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidates from parallel primary elections.

Uba had approached the Anambra state high court in suit number A/230/2021 to determine if the primary election conducted by the national executive of the PDP at Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre on June 26 was done according to the law.

He asked the court to determine whether an Abuja high court order on a suit by one Samuel Anyakorah against the PDP, bordering on the validity of the process that produced Ndubuisi Nwobu, the party’s factional state chairman, had been set aside or stayed.

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He also prayed the court to determine if the process of the primary, which produced Ozigbo through ”super delegates”, was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, which states that primary elections will be done through delegates’ congress.

In his ruling, Obiora Nwabunike said the court order, which restrained the PDP from conducting the primary election, had neither been stayed nor set aside.

He said the PDP erred by not clearing every legal huddle before the primary election, hence the process was in defiance of the law.

The court, therefore, resolved that the primary election, which produced Uba at Paul University’s complex on June 26 was lawful and in accordance with the electoral guidelines. The judge also awarded N10 million in Uba’s favour as cost of litigation.

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However, delivering judgment in Ozigbo’s appeal, the appellate court, set aside the July 19, 2021 judgment by Nwabunike and recognised the governorship primary election which produced Ozigbo.

The court awarded N10 million as cost against Uba.

The court also ordered INEC to immediately publish Ozigbo’s name as the candidate of the PDP.

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VIDEO: Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki

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Lekki

VIDEO: Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki

A resident of Lekki has expressed concern after spotting a group of suspected street boys moving around with machetes in the area, raising fresh fears over public safety in Lagos.

The incident, which was shared online, showed the individuals allegedly carrying cutlasses while walking through parts of the Lekki axis, a development that has sparked anxiety among residents and commuters.

According to the resident, the sighting occurred in broad daylight, prompting worries about the increasing presence of armed street gangs in Lagos communities. The individual called on authorities to urgently intervene and ensure the safety of lives and property in the area.

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The development has triggered reactions on social media, with many users expressing concern over the rising cases of youth violence, street gang activity, and insecurity in Lagos State. Some residents said such sightings have become more frequent, especially in rapidly developing urban areas.

As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from the Lagos State Police Command regarding the incident. However, security experts say visible patrols and rapid response measures are critical to preventing escalation.

Residents have been advised to remain vigilant, avoid confrontations, and report suspicious movements to security agencies.

The incident adds to ongoing concerns about urban safety and the need for stronger enforcement against illegal weapons possession and street violence in Lagos.

 

VIDEO: Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki

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Boko Haram Ultimatum Expires as 404 Abducted Residents Remain Missing

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Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd)
Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd)

Boko Haram Ultimatum Expires as 404 Abducted Residents Remain Missing 

The 72-hour ultimatum reportedly issued by Boko Haram-linked insurgents to the Nigerian government over the abduction of 416 residents in Borno State has expired without any official response, heightening fears over the fate of hundreds still in captivity.

The incident is linked to the March attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area, where armed fighters stormed villages and a nearby military position, abducting civilians and displacing several others in one of the latest mass kidnapping incidents in the North-East.

Security sources and local community representatives confirmed that 12 abducted residents have escaped captivity, with reports indicating that the breakthrough occurred during a military operation in the area. According to accounts from one of the freed victims, Nigerian troops launched an offensive that forced the insurgents to flee, creating confusion that allowed some captives to escape while others were moved deeper into the forest.

404 Abducted Residents

404 Abducted Residents

Community groups, including the Borno South Youth Alliance, confirmed that the escapees consist of 10 women and two men, who are now receiving support in a safer location. Despite this development, at least 404 abducted persons remain missing, with growing concern among families over their safety and condition.

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Sources say the insurgents had demanded a ₦5 billion ransom, warning that failure to comply would lead to the permanent disappearance of the captives. The group also reportedly threatened to scatter victims across multiple hideouts if any military rescue attempt was launched, complicating ongoing security operations.

While efforts continue to trace the missing persons, insecurity in the region has worsened. At least 18 farmers and firewood collectors were killed in a separate ambush on the outskirts of Gwoza, with attackers targeting civilians working on their farms ahead of the rainy season. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume confirmed the killings, describing the attack as deeply disturbing and calling for stronger protection of rural communities. Local officials warned that additional victims may still be unaccounted for.

Troops under Operation Hadin Kai have intensified counter-terrorism operations across the North-East, killing 24 insurgents in Kukareta during a separate encounter. Military authorities said the latest operations bring the total number of insurgents killed in recent days to 54, following earlier engagements around the Lake Chad region. Recovered weapons include rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled launchers, and ammunition, while two soldiers were injured and an armoured vehicle sustained damage.

The worsening security situation has drawn political reactions from lawmakers and public officials. Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi blamed the ongoing insecurity on governance failures, calling for urgent national measures focused solely on restoring peace. He warned that Nigeria risks deeper instability if security is not prioritised above political activities.

In Adamawa State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited communities affected by a separate attack in Hong Local Government Area, where at least nine people were killed. He pledged continued government support and security reinforcement for affected communities.

At the federal level, the House of Representatives has called for the deployment of additional security personnel to Borno and Kaduna States, warning that continued attacks could escalate into a wider humanitarian crisis in the North-East.

Humanitarian organisations say repeated attacks, mass abductions, and ongoing military operations are worsening displacement and food insecurity across the region. They warn that rural communities remain highly vulnerable as farming activities are disrupted and access to affected areas remains limited due to insecurity.

Boko Haram Ultimatum Expires as 404 Abducted Residents Remain Missing

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BREAKING : President Tinubu Seeks Fresh $516m Loan

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

BREAKING : President Tinubu Seeks Fresh $516m Loan

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested Senate approval for a $516,333,007 external loan to finance key sections of the ambitious Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway project, a flagship infrastructure initiative aimed at boosting national connectivity.

The request was conveyed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Thursday’s plenary session.

According to the President, the proposed funding will support the execution of Section 1, Phase 1a and 1b, covering about 120 kilometres of the planned 1,000km highway corridor linking Nigeria’s Northwest to the Southwest.

Tinubu explained that the highway will originate from Illela in Sokoto State and pass through Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun states before terminating in Badagry, Lagos State—creating a strategic economic route connecting inland production zones to coastal trade hubs.

The financing arrangement, the President noted, is structured as a syndicated loan from Deutsche Bank, backed by a partial risk guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, an arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group.

He added that the Federal Government will provide counterpart funding of ₦265.54 billion to cover land acquisition, compensation, and other ancillary infrastructure tied to the project.

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Details of the loan show a nine-year tenor, including a grace period of up to three years, with an interest rate capped at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) SOFR plus 5.3 percent annually.

Tinubu informed lawmakers that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has already approved the financing structure and urged the Senate to incorporate the loan into Nigeria’s rolling borrowing plan.

The President emphasized that the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway is expected to significantly enhance North-South connectivity, improve road safety, and reduce logistics and transportation costs across the country. He added that the project would strengthen trade, boost food security, and promote national cohesion by linking agricultural production zones to markets and ports.

The design also includes provisions for future development, with the central median reserved for rail integration and utility corridors, positioning the route as a multi-modal transport backbone.

Following the presentation, Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts for further legislative scrutiny, with a report expected within one week.

Speaking in support of the project, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) described the highway as a long-awaited development, noting that it had been under consideration for over five decades.

Aliero said he had personally inspected ongoing work and expressed satisfaction with the progress, revealing that sections of the road are being constructed using both concrete and asphalt, alongside modern features such as solar-powered streetlights.

He projected that upon completion, travel time between Sokoto and Lagos could be reduced by more than 70 percent, cutting a typical 13-hour journey to about six hours.

The proposed loan forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to leverage external financing for large-scale infrastructure projects considered critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and regional integration.

BREAKING : President Tinubu Seeks Fresh $516m Loan

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