The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has announced that all tickets for the 2027 general election are open to all qualified Nigerians.

The fraction made the statement after a national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.

The faction said the party’s presidential and governorship tickets are not reserved for any individuals, contrary to earlier reports.

This development comes after some Labour Party leaders, including Obi and Otti, as well as some elected Senators and House of Representatives members, met in Umuahia, Abia State, last week to form a 29-man caretaker committee to lead the party in the interim.

The Committee, which is to be chaired by former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, will midwife an election of new leadership in 90 days.

However, in a communiqué signed by Abure, and National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, the NEC nullified the decision taken at the stakeholders meeting convened by Otti in Umuahia.

The Julius Abure-led faction also claimed Otti lacked the authority to call such a meeting, citing Article 14 (4) (B) of the party’s constitution.

The communiqué read, “NEC in session also reviewed the decision of the National Convention to reserve its Presidential and Governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti respectively,

“Consequently, all tickets of the party from Presidency to the House of assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.

“The NEC in session noted that the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Alex Otti, who convened the meeting, did not have the power within the Party’s Constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman,” it reads.

“NEC in session further reiterates that the Governor of Abia State does not even have the power to call his Ward Executive meeting without the approval and the consent of his Ward Chairman.

“The meeting contravenes the provisions of Section 82 (1) (2) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022 which provides as follows; 82 (1) Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this act.”

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun has insisted that the Value-Added Tax (VAT) remains 7.5 percent.

Edun said this on Monday with the minister clarifying an earlier report which claimed that the VAT rate has been upwardly adjusted to 10% from 7.5%.

He did not only fault the reports making the rounds but Edun said VAT remains 7.5% and that is what will be charged on all the goods and services that are VAT-able.

“The current VAT rate is 7.5% and this is what government is charging on a spectrum of goods and services to which the tax is applicable. Therefore, neither the Federal Government nor any of its agencies will act contrary to what our laws stipulate,” he said.

“The tax system stands on a tripod, namely tax policy, tax laws and tax administration. All the three must combine well to give us a sound system that gives vitality to the fiscal position of government.

“Our focus as a government is to use fiscal policy in a manner that promotes and enhances strong and sustainable economic growth, reduces poverty as well as makes businesses to flourish.

“The imputation in some media reports on the issue of VAT and the opinion articles that have sprouted from them seem to wrongly convey the impression that government is out to make life difficult for Nigerians.

“That is not correct. If anything, the Federal Government has, through its policies, demonstrated that it is committed to creating a congenial environment for businesses to thrive.

“In fact, it is on record that the Federal Government, as part of efforts to bring relief to Nigerians and businesses, recently ordered the stoppage of import duties, tariffs and taxes on rice, wheat, beans and other food items.

“For emphasis, as of today, VAT remains 7.5% and that is what will be charged on all the goods and services that are VAT-able,” Edun concluded.

A total of 61 foreign nationals were deported by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) from the country in August 2024.

The figure of the deportees is contained in a report released by the service detailing its achievements for August 2024.

In the report, the reason for deporting the foreign nationals is to address and curtail the issue of irregular migration in the country.

The report partly read, “The NIS eased out 61 foreign nationals to address irregular migration. The new Visa Policy facilitated 8,352 Visas on Arrival.”

This is, however, not the first time immigration is deporting foreign nationals from the country.

Between 2020 and 2022, seventy foreign nationals were deported from the country.

The Edo government has announced an indefinite postponement of the resumption of all schools in the state over the hike in fuel prices.

The government announced this, in a memo by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Ojo Akin-Longe, in Benin on Saturday.

The permanent secretary said the, scheduled for Sept. 9, was postponed until further notice.

“The Edo State Government hereby announces the postponement of the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, originally scheduled for Monday, 9th September 2024, until further notice.

“An official statement from the government has directed that schools remain closed due to the tension arising from the recent increase in fuel prices and the challenges faced by parents and guardians.

“The government urges parents, guardians, and caregivers to monitor the activities of their children and wards closely, given the current situation and the rising tension caused by the fuel price hike,” Akin-Longe said.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has appointed 28 Senior Special Assistants and 316 Special Assistants.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

He said the appointments were spread across the 18 Local Government Areas, 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and 203 Wards in the state.

“In continuation of efforts to enhance governance and service delivery to the people of the State, the Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the appointment of new Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs),” the statement read.

“While congratulating the new appointees, the Governor urged them to bring to bear their wealth of experience and dedicate themselves to serving the people of the State.”

The appointment comes two months to the Ondo State governorship election where Aiyedatiwa is seeking a fresh term in office.

Aiyedatiwa became governor following the death of Rotimi Akeredolu in Germany on December 27, 2023.

The new appointees are:
SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANTS (SSAs)

1 HON. OMOTAYO ABIDAKUN

2 HON AKINTOYE ALBERT

3 AKINDELE ADENIYI

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4 HON FOLAWE SIPASI

5 MICHEAL BOLODEOKU

6 HON ISIAKA ELEGBERUNIBON

7 CHIEF LADI TENABE

8 BARR FOLAJIMI OLASEHINDE VICENTE

9 BAR CLEMENT KOLAPO OJO

10 HON SOLA OLUYEDE

11 SOLOMON ELEFOLA

12 BARR. AJIMOTOKIN OLUSEGUN

13 EWATOMILOLA EMIOLA

14 AKINROTOYE OLAFUSI KEHINDE

15 HON OLAMIGOKE BUSAYO FRANCIS

16 ADESEMOYE ADEDAPO OLASEINDE

17 MRS MORENIKEJI ALAGA

18 ALEX OLADIMEJI

19 OLOWUJUNI SHEDRACK

20 NICHOLAS AKINBIOLA

21 HON. SOLOMON ADEJARE ADEYEFA

22 OLUYEMI FASIPE

23 BAYO OLATUNJI SEGEDE

24 PHILEMON EBIESUWA

25 ABIDEMI IWAJOMO

26 GBAMILA TAIWO

27 AKIN OMOJUWA

28 HON DARIJIMI LOGO

SPECIAL ASSISTANTS (SAs)

1 SOLA NERI

2 HON OLANIYI ENI-OLOTU

3 ADEOLU IWAKUN

4 HON MAKINDE OLANREWAJU

5 OMOTAYO VINCENT OLIBAMOYO

6 HON BUNMI OLAWOYE

7 MRS RONKE TASHILANI

8 HON IDEBI MICHAEL

9 ALHAJA RAFAT AHMED

10 HON IDEBI MICHAEL

11 HON NAJEEM ADEGBOYE

12 MR FADOJU SUNDAY OLANIYI

13 DR ADEMOLA ADEGBOYE

14 ALIU OLALEKAN

15 ROBERT AKINKUNMI

16 FELIX ESAN

17 SOLA ADEGBOLA

18 TOYIN BENSON

19 OLORUNTOBA MICHAEL SUNKANMI

20 BOSEDE SAMA

21 HON SHOLA ALAJO

22 RABIU OLUWASEGUN KAYODE

23 ABEGUNDE TAYO

24 OMOLAYO TOPE

25 OLASUNKANMI AKINROGBE

26 OLADIMEJI OLANREWAJU

27 OLABODE ANIMASAHUN

28 MRS OLAYINKA O. ANUNOBI

29 MRS FAMUSIWA ODUNAYO

30 MR WALE THOMAS

31 MR JIMOH YINUS

32 MRS FUNKE ARUNA

33 TOLU ILORI OGUNBADEJO

34 OLALEYE OLADIMEJI AJEGUNMA

35 MAXWELL OMOSUWA

36 AZEEZ OLATUNDE OLAYINKA

37 OLADIMEJI OKEYEMI OLUWAKEMI

38 IJASAN WILLSON OLARINDE

39 OMOLARA AKINROGBE

40 OLABISI BALOGUN

41 OROFIN OGOOLUWA

42 SIJU OMONOJO

43 RT. HON DAISI ODOGUN

44 DR. OMOTOSHO SALIU ADEWOLE

45 MRS. ADEJORE LYDIA

46 ELIJAH AKINLOYE BALOGUN

47 DAVID GODSPOWER ILAYE

48 HON CENSUS OGBARO

49 TOPE GLORY MESHACK

50 HON BUNMI OSABIYA

51 TUNDE OWANIKI

52 JUSTINA MAFOLABOMI

53 JOHN IFEOLUWA AWODEYI

54 SALIU MUMUNI

55 OSENI MUYIDEEN

56 AIDI FATAI

57 ROTIMI EKUNDAYO

58 AGUDA SUNDAY

59 LATEEF BALOGUN

60 UARUDEEN ABDULASIS

61 FOLASHADE BALOGUN

62 OGUNMODEDE MAGARET ATINUKE

63 SALIU ADEYEMI

64 RAZAK TAIWO IBILOYE

65 LATEEF AHMED

66 OLUGBENGA AJAYI

67 MRS YINKA OGUNLEYE

68 FAUSATBALOGUN

69 HON ADE PELEMO

70 ROTIMI KAREEM

71 OGUNGBEMI FASANSI KEHINDE

72 ENAS MOHAMMED

73 ADEOLA R. FYNCH

74 OLATUNBOSUN OGUNLEYE

75 OLAGUNJU OLASEHINDE

76 ALHAJA F. I. GIDADO

77 ABIODUN KIKIOWO

78 HON JULIUS MESHE

79 PRINCESS OREOLUWA AGBAYEWA

80 LAWRENCE OWOLANKE

81 ANTHONY MAYOWA OGUNMODEDE

82 ALADE MARGRET ABIOLA

83 AKOSILE OYENIYI OYEYINKA

84 MR AMIMI JULIUS FOLUSO

85 DAPO ADEPOJU

86 AKINTOYE OLATUNJI

87 OLAJIDE OLABISI-OJO

88 MR FALEYE SUNDAY

89 EWAJANE SAMSON KAYODE

90 TITI OPARINDE

91 MR JIMOH TOSIN

92 MR LATEEF BALOGUN

93 MUYIWA ADEBAYO

94 REV TAYO ABISOLA

95 OJO AJAYI

96 OLAWALE EDDO

97 PAUL ADENIYI

98 OLAYINKA JOHNSON MODUPE

99 HON DELE FAGORIOLA

100 YEMISI ALADESAYE

101 SODIQ WILLIAMS

102 HON IDOWU AKINSOLA

103 TUYI FATUKASI

104 AYODELE ADEWOLE

105 AJULO OLAWALE

106 MR OMOSEKE OLAWALE

107 OMOTUNMISE TOKUNBO

108 MICHEAL AFOLABI

109 MRS OBAYA

110 TOPE ALUKO

111 DAMILOLA ABBEY

112 ADEFISOYE HAMMED

113 MR ADEUTI OLUMIDE

114 MR OLAWOLE SUNDAY

115 HON HENRY OLATUJA

116 OLONIMOYO OLUBUNMI

117 MR ADEGUNLOYE FIOYE

118 AKINYO TOBI

119 HON BIYI AYANNOLA

120 AKINIOYE LANRE

121 JOSIAH ADEWOLE

122 HON OMOKINSUN SUNDAY

123 AKINDE ABIMBOLA SILAS

124 ENIOLA ISAAC

125 OLANEGAN OLADIMEJI

126 ADEREMI OYEWOLE

127 ENGR AKIN AKINBAMIDO

128 PASTOR MARCUS ADEOTI

129 MR ANDREW ADENODI

130 JIMOH IBRAHIM

131 DR ANTHONY ENIOLA

132 COMRADE OMOTAYO

133 HON FATAI OLUGUNA

134 OMOLERE AKINRINMADE

135 MRS MOPELOLA DINYO

136 MRS RALIAT ADENIKE OLAWOYE

137 JOHNSON OLAWOLE AKINLOSOTU

138 ADEBOYE TAOFEEK EWENLA

139 ADEALA ADEMULEGUN

140 ABIOLA FAYEHUN

141 MR FOLAMI RICHARD AKINTEWE

142 CHIEF MRS GRACE AKINRIBIDE

143 TAOFEEK AZEEZ

144 HON IFEOLU LASAN

145 MR BANKOLE ADEGBULUGBE

146 HABIB YEKINI

147 WALE AYEJUNI

148 PIPE IKOTUN

149 AKINTUNDE JOHN FOLAJIMI

150 FLORENCE OLAWOYE

151 OYETUNDE MUKAILA AKEREKORO

152 MRS BOLAJOKO OYEDELE

153 ALHAJI RASHEED OLAWOYE

154 AGBOOLA LEPE

155 ALABA ORIRETAN

156 HON AKINSUNMI DAYO

157 HON AROWOLO MOSES ILEMOBADE

158 MR. OLUFEMI BABATUNDE

159 MR ADEYEMI AREMU

160 MRS TOLA ADEYEMI

161 ENGR JIMI AKINRINMADE

162 SOLA AKINMEJIWA

163 MR OLALEKAN OLAYINKA

164 MR ADEGEYE KEHINDE PAUL

165 SALAUDEEN WAHEED

166 TOPE AKINNEYE

167 OLAWUNMI SEYI

168 HON WALE AKINKUOTU

169 JOSEPH KOKUMO

170 HON OBANLA KEHINDE SAMUEL

171 CHIEF MRS YEMI AJONIBODE

172 CHIEF MALOMO BAYODE OJO

173 HON FAFUNMILADE TILEEWA

174 SHABA BABATUNDE

175 HON AZEEZ AWE ELI

176 BAWA AKINSANYA

177 OLAYODE EMMAN JAYEOLA

178 PRINCESS FOLAKEMI OGUNSILE

180 MR ALU OJO EMMANUEL

181 BODE AWE

182 SEIDU FATAI OYEWOLE

183 OLORUNFEMI CHRISTOPHER

184 UMAR MUSLIU BOBOYE

185 AKEJU AGUNLOYE

186 AGBI STEPHEN OMOBAMIDELE

187 OLUMIDE AWOLUMATE

188 MRS AIYEGBUSI BRIDGET ADUNNI

189 OLOWOMUKE OMONIYI

190 HON AYENIYI OLAYEYE

191 HON BORIRE SUNDAY SOLA

192 SUNDAY OTEKAYE

193 OYEPITAN SUNDAY

194 FEMI OLADOKUN

195 AYETIRAN OLAJIDE PETER

196 ODOLE VICTOR

197 ADEBAYO AUGUSTINE

198 FEMI JOHNSON

199 IKUYINMINU IBIKUNLE

200 IKULALA SEUN

201 MORAYO JOSEPHINE ITIOLU

202 ADETARAMI OLOWOLAFE

203 BIDEMI ABAYAGBON

204 SEGUN LEMAN

205 ANDREW IDOWU EDEMA

206 MRS OLAWUNMI MEDAHUNSI

207 KUNLE OROKOTAN

208 PRINCESS AGBEKE CECILIA OROJO

209 MR OMOYELE ABRAHAM

210 HON (CHIEF) RAPHAEL ABEJOYE

211 RT. HON DOYE OLAJIDE

212 HON IKUPOLUYI AJINDE

213 MR FAMOUS GUNTEI

214 COMRADE TIEWEI EBIMOTIMI AKINS

215 HON BARR CORPORAL E. NANAOPIRI

216 BARR EDDY KPILIBOH

217 COM.JAPHET EREGHA

218 HON IJI WARERE

219 OMOMOFE KOLEDOYE

220 BARR LEKAN OBOLO

221 BLESSING MEFUN

222 ALORE OMOSUYI

223 BARR AKOJE TOPIC

224 PRINCESS YEMISI IJI AYEOLA

225 WILLIAMS EBI

226 TIMI SOBUJON

227 TAYO KUPOLUYI

228 MR AWENE ODIGHIMIYENTIMI

229 BARR BISI AYENI

230 AJOBIEWE DAVID

231 OTERUKU SUNDAY

232 AROGUNDADE SEGUN

233 OMOLORUN CHRIS

234 BIOLA BALOGUN

235 SOLOMON OGUNNIYI

236 BARR. PETER ALABA OJO

237 OMOBA ADEDAPO ABIOLA

238 OLANIKE ADAMS

239 OLADOTUN ADESIDA

240 GIDEON OMOJOLA

241 OGUNLEYE JOSHUA

242 MRS (CHIEF) BUKUNMI AKEJU

243 MR ADEBAYO CYRIL

244 HON GBOGI EMMANUEL

245 AYODELE ADEYEMI

246 HON JEROME ABIODUN

247 OLUMIDE AKOMOLAFE

248 MRS YEMI AKEJU

249 BIOLA CHRISTIANA IJIMAKINWA

250 MRS. OYINKANSOLA WILLIAMS AROLOYE

251 MR. SUNDAY OLALUBI

252 MR FALADE AYODELE

253 CHIEF ABULOYE BANJI

254 BARR ASANI BAKARE

255 DARE AJAYI

260 MR KUNLE ADU

261 MR. TUNDE ADEGBONMIRE

262 MR. AYODEJI ORIKOGBO

263 MR. GBENGA ADU

264 ADEGUNLEHIN JOSHUA

265 IFEDAYO AYODELE FEMI

266 AANU OBEBE

267 AKOSILE ESTHER

268 DR. AKINBOLADE OMOSUWA

269 CHIEF ALADEKUGBE SOLA

270 HON. ADEBUSOYE JOSHUA .O

271 OLUWAROTIMI ILUYEMI

272 AYODELE JOHNSON

273 SAYO OGUNMADE

274 CHIEF OLATUNJI JOHN

275 SEGUN OMOYOFUNMI

276 NELSON MAFO

277 TALE ADEBAWO

278 SINA AKINMADE

279 SUNDAY AROGBO

280 YETUNDE ADEFUWA

281 DAVID OBAJULAYE

282 LAWSON AKINTOKUN

283 EVANG OLADOKU MOYEYE

284 BOSE OLOWODARA

285 EGBOWON BAYO

286 DR BELLO TITUS ABIODUN

287 OLATINPO OLANIYI OLUKAYODE

288 AMINU VINCENT

289 HON FEMI AGBEDE

290 MR GABRIEL ENIALOLA AYIMORO

291 MR. TEMITOPE SHABA

292 ELDER ADEGBOLA RUFUS

293 MR GBODE OJO

294 MRS OJULAYO IRETI IDEHEN

295 HON AJAYI JOHNSON ADEDAYO

296 MRS IRETI IDEHEN

297 TIMOTHY KOREDE

298 AREMO CHRISTOPHER

299 DESMOND KOLAWOLE

300 BUSAYO OGUNYEMI

301 HON. JEROME OLORUNYOLEMI AKINLOYE

302 MR. TOYIN ADEPOJU

303 FADARE AKINTOMIWA BABTUNDE

304 HON ADENUGBA A. LAWRENCE

305 HON. FADAMITAN SINA KUNLE

306 KEHINDE OMOYELE

307 PASTOR IGE SUNDAY ADETOYE

308 CHARLES ADEDEJI

309 KEHINDE TAIWO

310 FADARE AKINTOMIWA BABATUNDE

311 AKINBOYEDE BOSE

312 ADEDINNNI MICHEAL OLUWATOSIN

313 KOLA DAVIS

314 MRS AKINMUSOLA ELIZABERTH BOSEDE

315 THICK DEBO OBAZUAYE

316 EMMANUEL GBOTEMI IGIOWO

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has refuted a report which alleged that it is undermining the effort of the Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL).

The NNPCL on Saturday strongly denied the accusation made against it by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) which suggested that the state-run oil company is working against the interests of Dangote Refinery.

The company in a press release signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye said the NNPCL is not the sole offtaker, adding that the oil market is open to lower prices from any domestic refinery.

“The attention of the NNPC Ltd has been drawn to a press release by the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, which claims that the Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL) is being undermined by actions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd),” Soneye said.

“Specifically, MURIC asserts that recent changes to the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) will prevent the Dangote Refinery from offering lower prices and that NNPC Ltd. has become the sole offtaker of all products from the refinery.

“To set the records straight, NNPC Ltd. wishes to further state as follows: The pricing of petroleum products from any refinery, including the Dangote Refinery Ltd. (DRL), is determined by global market forces.

“The recent changes in PMS prices have no impact on the DRL or any other domestic refinery’s access to the Nigerian market.

“In fact, if current prices are perceived as high, it presents an ideal opportunity for the refinery to sell its products at lower prices in the Nigerian market.”

Furthermore, the NNPCL emphasized that there is no guarantee of lower prices associated with domestic refining compared to any global parity pricing framework as confirmed by the DRL.

The NNPC Ltd. said it will only fully offtake PMS from the DRL if the market prices of PMS are higher than the pump prices in Nigeria.

“The DRL and any other domestic refinery are free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis which is the current practice for all fully deregulated products,” Soneye said.

He added that the NNPCL has no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment and therefore, the notion of becoming a sole offtaker does not arise.

According to him, the NNPCL cannot undermine a business in which it holds a billion-dollar stake.

“As an advocacy group for fair and just treatment, MURIC should have verified the facts before making statements that are entirely flawed and has the potential to incite ordinary Nigerians against the NNPC Ltd,” Soneye said.