Author: Vincent Osuwo

No fewer than 288 thugs with dangerous weapons have been arrested by the Kano Police Command at the four local government areas where the bye-election is currently going on. SP Abdullahi Haruna, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest of the suspects in a telephone interview with The Punch on Saturday. “As at 1pm today (Saturday), 288 thugs were apprehended with dangerous weapons in the local government areas where the bye-election is going,” Haruna said. He stated that the suspects were arrested for allegedly attempting to disrupt the bye-election. He disclosed that the hoodlums were arrested alongside their sponsors…

Security agents apprehended officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state branch and two INEC staff members at an unidentified hotel in Ogun State’s Iperu-Remo area, allegedly with a large sum of money in their possession. The politicians and INEC officials, who were shown being questioned in a video clip released on social media on Saturday, were allegedly apprehended at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State. In the viral video, INEC officials (a male and a female) and PDP officers are seen squatting and being quizzed by an unidentified male security personnel. According to the interrogator,…

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has sympathised with Fresh FM’s Chairman, Chief Olayinka Ayefele, and the station’s management following the Friday night fire that destroyed part of its offices in Ibadan. Dr Suleimon Olanrewaju, the governor’s chief press secretary, termed the occurrence as sad in a statement released to journalists in Ibadan. However, Makinde thanked God that no life was lost to the inferno. He called on Ayefele, whom he described as a brother and friend, to stay strong like he always has. “This too shall pass, and Fresh FM will bounce back better and stronger,” the governor stated.…

The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) has accepted the apology of the Global Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, after his recent remarks about the CAC’s late founder, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, stirred outrage. Speaking on behalf of the church, CAC’s Director of Publicity, Pastor Aderinsoye Alawode, stated that the apology was received in good faith and represented contrition and a desire to make apologies. During a preaching, Fatoyinbo stated that Apostle Babalola was anointed but had no money. He also claimed Babalola died impoverished and questioned the location of his children. “I was studying recently…

Hussaini Mohammed Jalo, a member of the House of Representatives for Chikun Federal Constituency, expressed pleasure with the bye-election in his constituency in Kaduna state on Saturday, adding that voter turnout, while initially low, was progressively increasing. Speaking with journalists after overseeing the exercise at LEA Primary School, Narayi in Chikun LGA, Kaduna state, Jalo expressed optimism that more citizens would exercise their franchise before the polls closed. “Voters are coming out, but not as expected.” However, we expect the turnout will improve during the next one or two hours. “So far, so good,” he stated. Regarding security, Jalo praised…

Operatives of the Nigerian police force in collaboration with personnel of the Department of State Service (DSS) in Kaduna have arrested a suspected vote buyer in possession of N25,963,000. This arrest was carried out barely hours before the conduct of Saturday’s bye-elections in parts of the state. The suspect, identified as Shehu Aliyu Patangi, was apprehended around 3:30 a.m. at a popular hotel along Turunku Road in the Kaduna metropolis. According to the Kaduna State Police Command, preliminary investigations found that the large sum of money was intended to entice voters and undermine the integrity of the electoral process. DSP…

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin made no breakthrough on Ukraine at their high-stakes summit on Friday, pointing to areas of agreement and rekindling a friendship but offering no news on a ceasefire. After an abrupt ending to three hours of talks with aides, Trump and Putin offered warm words but answered no questions from reporters regarding an end to the war. “We’re not there yet, but we’ve made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump stated. He called the meeting “extremely productive” with “many points” agreed, although he did not speak on specifics. “There are just a…

The Jigawa State Judiciary has denied rumours on social media that the court has barred the All Progressives  Congress, APC candidate Rabiu Mukhtar from running in the Babura/Garki Federal Constituency by-election, which is slated for Saturday. Hon. Isa Dogon Yaro, the former member of the Babura/Garki federal constituency, died, prompting the by-election. In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online on Friday night, Abbas Wangara, Director of Publicity and Protocol for the Jigawa State Judiciary, strongly condemned the false reports. Wangara stated, “There has been no suit whatsoever filed before any honourable court in Jigawa concerning Rabiu Mukhtar Garki’s participation in…

The Kaduna State Police Command has urged politicians and their followers not to disrupt Saturday’s bye-elections in portions of the state. Sabon Gari, Zaria, Chikun, and Kajuru councils have all been affected. The command emphasised that anyone caught inciting disturbance, regardless of status, would be arrested and prosecuted. In a statement released in Kaduna on Saturday, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the police had received “credible intelligence” that some political stakeholders and their loyalists were planning to cause crises during the polls. According to him, the police would not hesitate to deal decisively with troublemakers. “Let it be…

The Anambra State Police Command stated that it has shut off flashpoint locations to provide adequate security coverage before, during, and after Saturday’s byelections in the state. Bye-elections are being held in Anambra South Senatorial District to elect a senator and in the Onitsha North 1 constituency for the state House of Assembly. The command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, stated in a press release on Saturday that the reinforcement aims to enhance the existing security architecture in the affected areas and ensure a smooth, peaceful, and credible voting process. He said, “As part of the build-up to the forthcoming bye-election in…