Nigerian News Roundup: 10 Key Developments You Need to Know This Monday
Good morning, Nigeria. Here are the top national stories making headlines this Monday:
INEC: No New Political Party Applications Received
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that no political group has formally applied for registration as a party in recent times. The Commission reiterated its stance that any aspiring association must strictly adhere to the constitutional and administrative protocols laid down for registration approval.
Plateau Wedding Massacre Death Toll Rises to 13
The tragic attack on wedding guests in Mangun community, Mangu LGA of Plateau State has now claimed 13 lives. Authorities confirmed on Sunday that four individuals previously declared missing were found dead, while another injured victim succumbed to wounds. Eight corpses had earlier been recovered from the scene of the ambush.
PDP Insists NEC Meeting Will Hold Despite INEC’s Warning
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to proceed with its planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting despite opposition from the electoral body. National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, addressed the press on Sunday in Abuja, asserting that preparations are in full swing and the party would not be intimidated by what it described as undue interference.
Sierra Leone’s Maada Bio Succeeds Tinubu as ECOWAS Chair
President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has been elected the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. Bio takes over from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was re-elected for a second term in July 2024. The transition was confirmed during a summit held on Sunday.
Bayelsa High Court Judge Kidnapped in Yenagoa
Justice E.G. Umukoro, a presiding judge of the High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was abducted on Saturday evening. Eyewitnesses reported that the judge was forcefully taken by armed men around 7:30pm in front of a popular restaurant in the Ekeki area of the state capital. Security operatives have launched a manhunt.
Rivers LG Boss Assaulted, Forced to Resign at Gunpoint
Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the brutal assault and forced resignation of Hon. Goodluck Iheanachor, administrator of Ahoada-East LGA. The incident, allegedly led by his Chief Security Officer and Chief of Staff, involved over 30 attackers who held Iheanachor hostage and coerced him into signing a resignation letter, which later went viral online. Investigations are ongoing.
Court Rebukes EFCC for Disregard of Judicial Order
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Musa Liman, has condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for failing to comply with a court order. The judge accused the agency of misleading the court with false information to secure an ex-parte order and ordered its operatives to vacate a contested property.
Fatal Road Crash Claims Life in Lagos
One person has been confirmed dead and three others injured in a tragic accident involving a commercial minibus (Korope) and a truck along Old Ipaja Road in the Alimosho area of Lagos. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday near Agbotikuyo, with eyewitnesses attributing the crash to brake failure and reckless driving.
Tensions in Middle East Push Oil Prices Toward $80 Per Barrel
Global oil markets are bracing for turbulence as crude prices edge closer to $80 per barrel. The spike is attributed to growing instability in the Middle East following joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, with market analysts warning of potential supply disruptions if hostilities escalate further.
Ortom Slams Alia Over Benue Killings, Falana Demands Prosecutions
As violence intensifies in Benue State, former governor Samuel Ortom has accused his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, of politicizing security and neglecting President Tinubu’s peace framework. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has also criticized both federal and state authorities for failing to prosecute suspects arrested in connection to the ongoing wave of deadly attacks.
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Nigerian News Roundup: 10 Key Developments You Need to Know This Monday