By Edith Ike-Eboh/Emmanuel Afonne

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its activities for the new week with a meeting with major marketers of petroleum products in the nations downstream sector.

The aim of the meeting was to grow a strong determination to sustain energy security for the country and avoid diversion of petroleum products.

The meeting which held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, had in attendance the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and Independent Marketers, on the need to curb products diversion.

The Group Executive Director, Downstream who was represented by the Managing Director (MD), Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr Isiyaku Abdullahi, said that NNPC as the sole importer of petroleum products was in a critical situation that required the solid cooperation of the marketers to sustain product availability to Nigerians and reduce burden of high evacuation costs on government in terms of under-recovery.

Abdullahi said that the company was concerned that in spite of the high truck-out of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from depots across the country, the market was still experiencing shortfalls, noting that diversion of products had been identified as a likely reason for the gap.

He appealed to the marketers to activate the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) component of their businesses to support both the Federal Government and the NNPC in sustaining energy security for Nigeria.

Abdullahi stressed that such gesture would help in cushioning the effect of the current global energy crisis.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr Clement Isong, said that NNPC was playing a key role in keeping the country well supplied in terms of petroleum products, especially at a critical time when the world faced inflationary problems.

Speaking in a similar vein, the Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, Mr Olufemi Adewole, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, assuring that DAPPMAN as a responsible organisation is committed to ensuring efficient supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

Meanwhile, the NNPC Ltd. cautioned that the current price volatility in the global energy was likely to worsen if banks and other financial institutions continue to avoid funding gas projects.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari, gave the warning at the 28th World Gas Conference 2022 which held at Daegu, South Korea.

Kyari who spoke against the backdrop of stifling funding for new oil and gas projects due to environmental concerns said: In many jurisdictions, gas is nearly always associated.

So, you have to turn the table to see if you can get non-associated gas so that banks and financial institutions can put their money into it.

If that doesnt happen, then you sure have the constraints of financing and the opportunity will now turn into a crisis.

I think that is what we are trying to solve to see how we can turn this so that the facility that we are building or the facilities we are going to build will have enough gas to process and deliver into the market.

Honestly, it is a huge opportunity for the financing sector, I know for sure in our own perspective we have seen a number of projects that can come up very quickly.

Mostly, the LNG facilities where you can convert gas to chemicals and these are really coming up in their numbers across many National Oil Companies (NOCs) that I am aware of.

The immediate future is getting the right financing, the right mix, and also for the finance institutions to recognise that except they invest today, what we are seeing today in terms of pricing can be something much more to manage in the next two three years to come.

Kyari said the NNPC Ltd. was not averse to the push for carbon neutrality, adding that funding gas projects was a vital decision to be made to avert future crises.

At the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) which held in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021, African countries advocated for energy justice in the drive for transition to cleaner fuels.

In another development, the NNPC Ltd. set record as the first exploration and production company to acquire environmental audit certification in the Federal Capital territory, Abuja, since the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) law was establishment about 30 years ago.

The attainment of this feat by the Company was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Hassan Musa, during the presentation of a certificate of Environmental Audit to the NNPC at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director, Environmental Assessment, Dr Abbas Suleman, commended the NNPC for its consistency and commitment to environmental global best practices.

Hassan stated that though environmental audit was a legal requirement by federal law, the bold step taken by the current NNPC Management to carry out an environmental impact assessment of the NNPC Towers reinforces the companys reputation as a law abiding and responsible corporate citizen.

Narrating his experience with the company during the audit exercise, the Permanent Secretary said that he saw firsthand the Managements commitment to performance excellence, adding: NNPC does its things gently, quietly and steadily with the whole idea of achieving positive results.

Speaking at the event, the Group Executive Director (GED) Corporate Services, Mrs Aisha Katagum, who was represented by the Group General Manager, Human Resources, Mr Yinusa Yahaya, appreciated the Federal Ministry of Environment for the honor of implementing the audit process.

She also appreciated the award of the certification to NNPC, especially at this crucial stage of the Companys transition from a corporation to a limited liability company.

Still in the week under review, the NNPC Ltd. and its partner, Sahara Group, took delivery of two 23,000cubic meters Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels for their joint venture company, WAGL Energy Ltd.

The event which held at the Hyundai MIPO Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, also witnessed the official naming of the vessels as Mt Sapet and Mt BaruMK.

Speaking at the occasion, the GMD/CEO of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari, said the investment in the LPG carriers was part of efforts to deepen domestic gas utilisation in keeping with the Federal Governments aspiration to use gas as the linchpin to drive the nations economic and industrial growth.

He disclosed that an order for three additional new vessels was at an advanced stage, adding that we have a target of delivering 10 vessels over the next 10 years.

On his part, the Executive Director of Sahara Group, Mr Temitope Shonubi said WAGL successfully operated two mid-sized LPG Carriers MT Africa Gas and MT Sahara Gas in the region and had delivered over six million CBM of LPG across West Africa, while keeping to global standards.

With the new vessels, we are set to promote and lead Africas march towards energy transition, he said.

The two new vessels, Mt Sapet and Mt BaruMK, were expected to sail out in June and September 2022 and would increase WAGLs total fleet to four.

All four vessels were built by Hyundai MIPO Dockyard, a foremost global manufacturer of mid-sized carriers.

WAGL Energy Limited is a joint venture company between NNPC and Oceanbed (a Sahara Group Company) which is driving NNPCs five-year billion investment plan announced in 2021 to accelerate the decade of gas and energy transition agenda.

Also, at the event were the Ambassador of Nigeria to South Korea, HE Aliyu Magashi; NNPC Group Executive Director, Gas

By Emmanuel Antswen

Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, a Catholic priest, has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue.

Rev. Fr. Alia, Catholic priest of Gboko Diocese, scored 526,807 votes to emerge as the partys candidate at the primary election held on Saturday in Makurdi.

Chairman of the election committee, Dr Peter Ojie, said 13 aspirants participated at the election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. Williams Avanya had before Saturday suspended the priest for his involvement in partisan politics.

Ojie said APC had 868,010 registered members in Benue, 817,472 of whom were accredited for the election, adding that 815,452 casted votes at the primary election.

He said Dr Mathias Ibyuan came a distance second with 113,816 votes, while Dr Sam Ode scored 79,369 to berth at the third position.

He said also that Chief Stephen Lawani scored 46,882 votes, while Mr Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) scored 24,596 with Pastor Terwase Orbunde scoring 12,446 votes.

Prof. Terhemba Shija scored 1,048 votes; Sen. Barnabas Gemade scored 2,365 votes, Mr Godwin Tyoachimin scored 1,228 votes, while Barrister Hemen Hembe scored 2473 votes.

Architect Benard Yisa scored 714 votes; Mr Terlumun Ikya scored 3,680 votes while Mr Anyom Mlamga scored no vote.

Rev. Fr. Alia won in 13 Local Government Areas which included Kwande, Buruku, Gwer-East, Gwer-West and Tarka.

He also won majority votes in Vandeikya, Makurdi, Ukum, Guma, Ushongo, Logo, Katsina-Ala, and Gboko Local Government Areas.

Chief Steve Lawani won in five Local Government Areas Ado, Ogbadibo, Okpokwu, Agatu and Oju.

Dr Sam Ode won in Otukpo, Apa, Obi and Ohimini Local Government Areas while Dr Mathias Ibyuan won at Konshisha Local Government Area.

NAN reports that the Catholic priest is following in the footsteps of late Fr. Moses Adasu who won Benues governorship election in 1991.

NAN further reports that APC plans to hold a special congress to affirm the result. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

The Primate of All Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, has cautioned politicians against sharp practice during the 2023 elections.

Ndukuba gave the advice on Sunday in his address during the 11th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Abuja.

The Primate called for sustained policing of the countrys borders to prevent non Nigerians from infiltrating the country and influencing the 2023 elections.

The foreigner who has no affinity or stake in this country can do any havoc for the financial rewards he stands to gain thereafter.

There is a need, therefore, to guard our national borders against marauders and raiders, he added.

Ndukuba also urged eligible Nigerians to be involved in the political process of the nation, saying politics is a God-given process aimed at providing order to the world and society.

Though some people have hijacked the political processes for their personal agenda, politics is not dirty as it was perceived by some people in the past.

We encourage all citizens to be involved in the political process of our states and nation.

Christians should register with any party of their choice and be involved in the activities of the party from the ward level to the national.

Those who contest for political offices are chosen from the grassroots and ward levels. The Anglican Church must be fully mobilized in the political process throughout this country, he added.

Ndukuba canvassed for constitutional reform to address the myriads of problems in the country.

He listed the challenges facing the country as insecurity, weak economy, and political impunity.

As a panacea to these fundamental issues, the Anglican Primate said the urgency for constitutional reform in Nigeria cannot be overstated.

The history of this country shows that in the different stages of our development and nationhood, several Constitutions were evolved to guide the country.

While we commend the National Assembly for the efforts at reviewing the present constitution, we are convinced that what we need is a totally new civilian constitution made by a Sovereign Representation of the Nationalities of this country.

This will address the fundamental issues necessary for growing, a united and prosperous nation.

We need a new citizen-made national constitution and not the amendment of a military formulated constitution, he added.

Ndukuba urged political leaders to exercise the necessary will power to return the country to the path of prosperity and peace.

He said Nigerians, irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliations, must join hands in the collective action to tackle these issues.

Our people have lost their homes, livelihood, lives and property. Parts of this country are in the hands of different warlords, and State Governors are incapacitated and unable to secure their states from the insurgents and the Federal Government also seems to be overwhelmed, he said.

The Anglican Primate also expressed concern about Nigerias debt profile, saying that servicing the loans was unsustainable.

The current trend of increased borrowing from other countries and international bodies to fund our National Budget is becoming worrisome.

The countrys rising public debt profile remains of great concern as about 95 per cent of our revenue goes to debt-servicing. This is unsustainable.

In addition, it greatly limits expenditures for other critical sectors of the economy, thus hampering growth and development.

He cautioned against further borrowing and said the funds borrowed must not be allowed end up in individual or party purses for campaigns.

We strongly caution against further borrowing and urge the government to hearken to advice to seek for alternative, more viable and efficient infrastructure-financing sources to ease our expenditure burden.

He challenged government to show greater political will toward rehabilitating the countrys moribund refineries, to reduce the local cost of petrol, diesel and kerosene.

According to him, the intervention will stop the importation of the products and the drain on Nigerias foreign reserve.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the synod which began on Thursday, ends on Sunday.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Iyiola Pedro

Two members of staff of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) have been recognised for their roles in impacting their society positively.

The awardees are Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Head, External Affairs, NAN, Lagos Office, and Millicent Ifeanyichukwu, a Principal Correspondent,.

They got the Most Outstanding Women Right Activist and Selfless Contribution Award.

The Impact Makers Awards, a brainchild of a not-for-profit organisation, Women of Inestimable Value Foundation, was organised to mark its five-year anniversary at a dinner in Lagos on Saturday.

Other awardees are, the matriarch of the Ransome-Kuti family, Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Most Outstanding Intellectual; Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, Most Impactful Woman; Oluwatosin Adebukola, Most Outstanding Television Presenter and Funmi Omoboriowo, Outstanding Radio Presenter.

Recently, Mrs Taiye Adeyemi, a Senior Correspondent of NAN was awarded the Best Tourism Journalist at the Nigeria Tourism Awards.

According to Mrs Blessing Eze, Founder of the NGO, the awards were instituted to further encourage people making positive contributions and impact in the society.

She said: We are celebrating our 5th anniversary and decided to use it to also celebrate men and women who are creating positive change in the society.

So, impact awards are for us to celebrate change-makers people who are making an impact in the society, relating to change in the society.

So, a survey was shared online and we got more than 1,000 names; a committee then reviewed the profile of all the nominees and selected the best of the best.

To everyone who has been making an impact, we understand the fact that you are doing a great job.

We appreciate all positive change-makers and urge them to keep making an impact so we can make Nigeria a better society for all.

The founder further said that the government needed to do more in enforcement of legal provisions that protect the rights of women and children.

They would need to work more on fighting corruption in enforcement agencies and ensure that the fight against domestic violence can give us justice to all victims, she said.

Some of the awardees, who spoke to NAN, expressed their delight for the recognition, adding that the awards would spur them to keep making meaningful contributions to society.

Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, and Head, External Affairs, Lagos Office of NAN, attributed the award to Gods grace.

This is one of the awards that you realise that you didnt know the people (organisers).

They did their selection and the processing and I was not involved in any way. I didnt have to post it on any group chat or platform for people to vote for me.

I have been using my money doing what I felt was right, and taking responsibility for my environment and I thank God.

Its grace actually, because sometimes when you are doing these things people think that youre rich, but its not. Its just grace.

So I thank God for this recognition. This shows that when youre doing things good or bad people take note and at the end of the day you get your reward positive or negative., she said.

On her part, Mrs Millicent Ifeanyichukwu, Principal Correspondent, NAN, said, this unique NGO has really opened my eyes to the things we usually overlook and take for granted.

I consider it a great privilege to be a part of this movement because I believe we are all created and called by God for a greater cause to serve humanity in the little ways we can and make an impact.

So, I know that this is a divine responsibility.

NAN reports that two books Rape: Causes and Solutions by Janet Adeyemi and Sandra Benjamin, and Curbing Domestic Violence by Blessing Okojie Eze and Sandra Benjamin were launched at the dinner.

In her remark, Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti told NAN that there was need to focus on the prevention of sexual abuse and domestic violence, especially through mindset training and change of habit.

Women and men need to see themselves as partners. How can a man whos born of a woman feel comfortable raping another woman, who will be mother to another man or woman.

So, we have to look at all the areas around it; the community, poverty and depression level and other psyco-social levels which we are not looking at properly, she said.

She added that there was no justifiable reason to rape and urged victims to speak up and seek help.

Lets all support the victims, dont victimise them saying to them its their fault.

We should give them the needed physical and psychological support to develop and overcome nightmares about it because it is an invasion, she said.

Women of Inestimable Values Foundation is a human rights group formed in 2017 to fight for the rights of the abused in society.

The group provides free legal services and organise empowerment programmes. (NAN)(www.nannnews.ng)

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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 governorship election in Delta State, has felicitated with those that emerged victorious in the partys primaries.

In a statement by Ima Niboro, Director, Communications and Media Strategy, Ovie Omo-Agege Campaign Organisation, he expressed confidence that the winners would defeat the PDP in Delta in the various elections next year.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC had adopted Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi unopposed as its Delta North Senatorial District candidate for the 2023 senatorial elections.

Other senatorial aspirants returned unopposed by the party are Chief Ede Dafinone and Chief Joel-Onowakpo Thomas for Delta Central and Delta South senatorial districts respectively.

Mr Francis Waive was also elected the partys candidate for Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency.

Omo-Agege congratulated other APC candidates in other federal constituencies and state assembly seats in the state.

He described the APC primaries as a sign of good things to come in the state.

According to him, the outcome of the elections is a victory for the Delta APC family, as it has demonstrated the capacity to work together for the good of the party and the state as a whole.

Their mandates, he noted, should be seen as a collective effort, adding that they should unite APC members in the overall interest of the party in the 2023 general elections.

The outcome of the primaries will best be described as no victor no vanquished, as all the aspirants gave a good account of themselves and congratulated each other for a good contest, he said.

He lauded the leadership of the party for ensuring the success of the primary election and for effectively mobilizing its members to participate fully in the electoral process.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

A music promoter, Peter Omotosho, popularly known as Pedrotech has urged managers of Nigerian artistes to go beyond booking events and flights for them and source other ways of expanding the musicians finance base.

Omotosho, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pedrotech World Ltd., an entertainment and management company based in the UK, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

He said it had become necessary to draw the attention of some of these managers to their perceived roles as they were already missing the track.

Talent management goes beyond booking events for artistes. A manager must be a peoples person, having the necessary knowledge of the various income streams available for exploitation by the talent, he said.

According to Omotosho, many artistes engage management without doing the much needed background checks and so they end up having managers who only receive phone calls from clients who are interested in engaging the artistes services.

He said the managers were most times interested in receiving 20 per cent of revenue for answering phone calls.

The artistes can as well employ the services of booking agents and leave it at that.

It is important for artistes to know what to expect from their managers and I will start by saying, your manager should be your number one fan and critic, he said.

According to him, this is quite important to the artistes business because you can only represent effectively something you believe in.

A lot of people have asked what talent managers do and my response has been that talent managers help hire and manage any staff for a client.

Talent managers handle public relations and media exposure such as appearances on TV shows, interviews with journalists, and social media presence.

A talent manager can advise career and contracts but cannot negotiate job contracts on the talents behalf, Omotosho said.

He likened the attitude of some music mangers to that of shark, a predator in the ocean that prey on anything they are bigger than.

Often times they prey on aquatic animals bigger than them and in the entertainment industry, we have sharks as well.

Entertainment sharks are those who prey on up and coming artistes and sometimes unsuspecting established talents.

Anybody may fall prey to them especially when such persons are desperate for the big break.

These predators pose as industry experts, consultants, promoters, managers and so on without the necessary knowledge or connections to deliver their promises.

At the end, the talent in question ends up having the short end of the stick, they miss out on opportunities and their time wasted, he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

Executive Director, Centre for Adolescent Health and Social Development, Dr Fatimah Odusote has called on the Federal Government to put measures in place to make menstrual hygiene materials readily accessible.

Odusote said this in an interview on Saturday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja to commemorate the Menstrual Hygiene Day.

The theme of Menstrual Hygiene Day is Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030.

The Day is commemorated on May 28 of every year, to highlight the importance of menstruation and proper menstrual hygiene management for every girl and woman irrespective of their location.

The day also highlights the need to address the common myths surrounding menstruation and break the silence and shame on menstruation.

She said government also needed to provide sustainable access to water and sanitation for proper menstrual management for girls and women.

She noted that this could be done through direct implementation, both in schools using the school health programme framework and communities.

Government needs to partner with private sector entities, NGOs and communities where applicable.

There is a need for continuous sensitisation, awareness and provision of age and culturally appropriate information regarding menstruation and proper menstrual hygiene management for girls and women not just during menstrual hygiene day celebration

Such awareness should also involve and meaningfully engage boys and men in other to offer a sustainable support system for every girl and woman, Odusote said.

She said proper awareness can also help break the silence, shame, stigmatisation and the myths and taboos in our society on menstruation and menstrual hygiene.

Odusote said there was need for total commitment by the government to implement the school health programmes across the country through intersectoral and multisectoral collaboration to achieve improved well-being.

She said many girls in the rural and urban areas still did not have the needed knowledge and information regarding proper menstrual hygiene management.

In a particular instance in a hard-to-reach community where we carried out intervention, about 63 per cent of the girls did not have the needed information regarding menstruation.

Such knowledge gap also includes that of adequate information on menstruation.

It is also interesting that the knowledge deficiency has also been observed in some mothers, female guardians, and teachers during our interventions, Odusote said.

She said there was need for more girls and women to have access to the correct information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene management.

Odusote said government needed to put in place policy frameworks, facilities, and an enabling environment for every girl and woman.

NAN reports that Centre for Adolescent Health and Social Development is an NGO in Nigeria with a specific focus on adolescent health through programmatic interventions to help improve their overall wellbeing.

On menstrual health, the organization has implemented 13 interventions (schools and communities) in the Southwest, North Central and South-South regions of Nigeria using a deliberately curated menstrual hygiene pamphlet as a guide.(NAN)

Edited by Ehigimetor Igbaugba/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele.

By Idowu Gabriel

Sen. opeyemi Bamidele on Saturday expressed appreciation to the 285 delegates who voted him unopposed during Ekiti Central Senatorial Primary election of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters was unanimously elected by the delegates at Aramoko Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bamidele, a former member of the House of Representatives in the 6th Assembly between 2011 and 2015, has sponsored several bills and motions in the current 9th Assembly.

In his acceptance speech, the lawmaker also thanked the leaders of the party on the state, especially Gov. Kayode Fayemi.

In particular, he mentioned the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, State APC Chairman, Mr Paul Omotoso and former State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe for their support.

I appreciate you all for re-entrusting your mandate in me, I thank you all for renewing our social contract, for re-inspiring our shared vision and for stimulating our common interests once again.

Speaking with one voice in returning me as your senatorial candidate on Saturday, May 28, you have indeed reinforced by determination to raise the bar in quality legislative representation and the delivery of developmental deliverables in Ekiti Central Senatorial District and Ekiti by extension.

It is with profound gratitude and deep sense of indebtedness that I express my unreserved appreciation to Almighty God for the gift of life, the gift of purpose as well as the gift of the opportunity to serve humanity, especially the good and honourable people of Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Ekiti State and our dear nation, Nigeria as a whole.

For the past sacrifices and victories, for the renewed hope and abounding strength and for making today a huge success; to Him alone be all glory, honour and adoration.

I laud the supportive role of the leaders of APC in Ekiti, who include Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the first elected Governor of Ekiti and current Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Governor of Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi and his wife Bisi Fayemi, the Ekiti APC Chairman, Mr Paul Omotoso and former State Chairman of APC, Chief Jide Awe, he said.

He also mentioned Chairman of his Campaign Committee, Chief J.F Alake; Chairmen of the five Local Governments party Chairmen in Ekiti Central Senatorial District, the 57 Ward Chairmen in Ekiti Central Senatorial District and other highly revered party leaders, stakeholders as well stalwarts.

He thanked them all for giving him another opportunity to fly the ticket of APC and represent the people of the district in the 10th Senate.

He added that, Without mincing words, I reiterate here that it is with a heart of gratitude to Almighty God, a deep sense of indebtedness to our teeming leaders and stalwarts as well as a greater commitment to the tasks ahead that I accept this ticket.

He said that the tasks ahead were enormous, he, however, promised a brighter and more rewarding future in his second tenure, if elected in 2023.

He reassured that in the years to come, he would bring to the doorstep of the people he represents more bills of far-reaching developmental impacts, more motions relating to issues of national and international pedigree, more Empowerment and Skill Acquisition Programmes as well a Plethora of Life-Transforming Constituency Projects across Ekiti Central Senatorial District.

We have done it before, we are doing it now, and we pledge to do much more, if I get elected for another term in 2023.

He, therefore, called for the continued support, prayers and concerted efforts towards ensuring the victory of APC, most especially at the Ekiti governorship polls on June 18 and also in the subsequent State Assembly, National Assembly and Presidential elections in February and March 2023. NAN(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Aspirant, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze, on Saturday withdrew the partys presidential race.

Anakwenze made the announcement of his withdrawal during his remarks at the PDP National Convention going on In Abuja on Saturday.

He said that he joined the race to fix Nigeria and make it work, planned to make the mineral resources of the country work for the citizens while also tackling poverty.

He, however said that because of the development in party and issues on the convention he was withdrawing from the race.

He said that it was just two days ago he got the list of the delegates which was one of the reasons that made him to withdraw from the race.

Anakwenze however, urged the delegates to vote for aspirant that has the capacity to develop the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday in Abuja emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for 2023 presidential election.

Abubakar scored 371 votes to emerge as the party flagbearer defeating his close contender, Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, who polled 237 votes.

Sen. David Mark, the Chairman and Chief Retuning Officer of the PDP Special Convention, announcing the results, said total number of accredited delegates was 767, the total number of votes cast was 763, while 13 were invalid votes.

Mark said that Abubakar having scored the highest votes in the election is hereby declared the winner.

He also announced the votes scored by other aspirants as Former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki 70 votes and Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom 38 votes,

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim 14 votes and Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State 20 votes.

The only female Aspirant, Mrs Tari Oliver, and the former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mazi Samuel Ohuabunwa scored one vote each.

Other aspirants without vote included former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose; the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu; former Speaker of Abia State, Chikwendu Kalu; and former Deputy Speaker of Abia State, Cosmos Ndekwe.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that former governor Peter Obi of Anambra had earlier withdrawn from the race and resigned from the party.

Others that withdrew from the race were financial expert, Mohammed Hayatudeen, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze.

Abubakar born on Nov. 25, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa, ran for governor of the state three times in 1990, 1997 and 1998, when he was elected before becoming the running mate to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, of which he remained the vice president till 2003.

Abubakar contested for the office of the president several times, including 2014, when he ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and lost at the primaries to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also ran as the PDP presidential candidate in 2019, but lost Buhari of APC. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News