advertise with us
Home Blog Page 129

FCT election results: APC, APGA sweep Dawaki Polling Units ahead of ADC, PDP 

By
Editor
-
0

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have emerged victorious over the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in five polling units in Dawaki/LEA Primary School, Bwari Area Council, during Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory elections.

 

Results collated from Polling Units 067, 004, 072, 069, and 068 show that APC secured wins in the chairmanship contest, while APGA dominated the councillorship race across the affected polling units.

 

Despite the competitive races, voter turnout was generally low. Counting of ballots commenced at about 2:45pm across the polling units.

 

At PU 067, APGA led the councillorship vote with 27 ballots, while APC and APGA recorded 11 votes each in the chairmanship contest.

 

In PU 004, APGA scored 84 votes to top the councillorship category, while APC clinched the chairmanship seat with 81 votes. The polling unit has 2,854 registered voters.

 

PU 069 saw APGA secure 25 votes in the councillorship race, while APC narrowly edged other parties with 14 votes in the chairmanship category. The unit has 745 registered voters.

 

At PU 068, APGA recorded 36 votes in the councillorship election and 23 votes in the chairmanship race. The unit has 787 registered voters, with 58 accredited voters.

 

In PU 072, APC polled 19 votes to win the chairmanship contest, while the councillorship votes were closely split, with APC and APGA recording 10 and nine votes, respectively. The unit has 416 registered voters and 34 accredited voters.

 

Overall, the results reflect APC’s strength in the chairmanship race and APGA’s dominance at the councillorship level in the Dawaki polling units.

Naira suffers sharpest depreciation against US dollar

By
Editor
-
0

The naira recorded its steepest single-day depreciation against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Friday, closing the week on a negative trajectory.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that the local currency weakened to N1,346.32 per dollar on Friday, compared to N1,341.35 traded the previous day. This represents a day-on-day decline of N4.97—the sharpest drop since the naira resumed its downward trend on Wednesday.

 

Since midweek, the currency has depreciated by N10.36 at the official market.

 

On a week-on-week basis, the naira also posted losses, weakening by 9.0 when compared to the N1,355.42 exchange rate recorded last Friday.

 

In contrast, the parallel market saw a strong performance during the week. The naira appreciated significantly to close at N1,317 per dollar, improving from N1,440 traded the previous week—a substantial gain of N123 on a week-on-week basis.

 

Meanwhile, figures from the apex bank indicated that Nigeria’s external reserves stood at $48.50 billion as of February 17, 2026.

EPL: Four matches that could produce surprise results

By
Editor
-
0

The English Premier League heads into Matchweek 27 this weekend with several high-stakes encounters on the cards.

The standout clash is the North London Derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. With Spurs battling to steer clear of relegation trouble and Mikel Arteta’s side pushing to stay in the title race, the derby carries significant implications at both ends of the table.

 

However, beyond that headline fixture, a number of other games could spring unexpected results.

 

Here are four matches that may deliver upsets:

 

1. Chelsea vs. Burnley

 

Chelsea will be eager to avoid another slip-up at Stamford Bridge after surrendering a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw against Leeds United in their last home outing.

 

Burnley, meanwhile, arrive in a confident mood following a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Crystal Palace. Having already stunned one London side, Burnley could pose serious problems again.

 

2. Manchester City vs. Newcastle

 

History has not favored Newcastle United in this fixture, with the Magpies losing 18 and drawing just two of their last 20 visits to the Etihad.

 

But this weekend may offer a different narrative. Manchester City will be wary of a response from Eddie Howe’s men, who are determined to avoid a third straight defeat to City across competitions.

 

3. Nottingham Forest vs. Liverpool

 

Liverpool edged a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Sunderland last time out, handing the Black Cats their first home defeat of the season. Now they head to the City Ground to face a rejuvenated Nottingham Forest side under new manager Vitor Pereira.

 

Forest recently impressed with a 3-0 Europa League triumph over Fenerbahçe in Turkey, and the renewed momentum in their squad could make this a tricky assignment for the Reds.

 

4. Everton vs. Manchester United

 

Manchester United saw their momentum slowed by a 1-1 draw at West Ham United, exposing potential tactical vulnerabilities.

 

Everton, solid at home this season, will look to capitalize when they host United on Monday night in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.

 

With pressure mounting across the table, Matchweek 27 could yet deliver a few unexpected twists.

‘A call to connect’—Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson speaks after political appointment 

By
Editor
-
0

Popular Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson has been appointed Special Adviser on Public Engagement and Advocacy to the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo.

The actress announced the development on Friday through a post on her Instagram story, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to serve.

 

In a statement dated February 19 and signed by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, the appointment was described as part of the administration’s resolve to deepen citizens’ participation in government policies and programs.

Reacting to her new role, Johnson said she accepted the responsibility with humility, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the governor’s agenda. She thanked Governor Okpebholo for the confidence reposed in her, describing the appointment as a call to connect with the people, listen to their concerns, and advocate purposefully on their behalf.

“A call to connect, listen, and advocate with purpose.”

 

 

NLC, GenCos clash over N6.5 trillion power debt as blackouts worsen nationwide

By
Editor
-
0

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) are locked in a heated dispute over the Federal Government’s legacy debt to electricity generation companies, even as Nigerians grapple with persistent blackouts.

NLC President Joe Ajaero has criticized the Federal Government’s reported plan to pay N3 trillion from the Federation Account to GenCos as part-settlement of an outstanding N6.5 trillion power sector debt.

 

In a statement issued on Thursday, Ajaero described the proposed payment and the debt figure as a “heist” and “grand deception,” alleging that it is an attempt to shortchange Nigerians.

 

“Nigerians cannot and should not continue to pay for darkness,” he declared, insisting that citizens should not bear the burden of inefficiencies in the power sector.

 

Responding, Chief Executive Officer of APGC, Joy Ogaji, said the labor leader may not fully understand the gravity of the situation. She maintained that the Federal Government’s indebtedness to GenCos stands at N6.5 trillion and warned that failure to address the liability could cripple electricity generation nationwide.

 

Ogaji also argued that the Federal Government’s N501 billion power sector bond issuance falls far short of what is required to offset the accumulated debt, cautioning that continued delays could trigger a major collapse in the country’s power supply.

 

While both parties trade accusations, electricity consumers across the country continue to endure outages. On Thursday, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company and the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company announced disruptions following a partial national grid collapse that plunged parts of the Southeast into darkness.

 

Similarly, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company confirmed a scheduled power outage in parts of the Federal Capital Territory on Friday.

 

The ongoing dispute over legacy debts comes at a time when many Nigerians remain frustrated by erratic electricity supply, raising fresh concerns about the stability of the nation’s power sector.

FCT election: AEDC announces outage in Abuja

By
Editor
-
0

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has notified residents of Gwarinpa, Dawaki, News Engineering, France Engineering, Charley Boy, and nearby communities of a planned power outage.

In a statement issued on Friday, the distribution company explained that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) will undertake maintenance on the 60 MVA Transformer TR1 at the Katampe Transmission Substation on Saturday, February 21, 2026, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

According to AEDC, the scheduled exercise is part of ongoing measures aimed at improving service reliability and strengthening electricity supply to the affected areas.

The company appealed to customers for understanding and apologized for the inconvenience the temporary disruption may cause.

The development coincides with Federal Capital Territory elections being conducted on Saturday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Earlier, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory declared Friday a public holiday, while the police also announced a curfew across the nation’s capital ahead of the election.

Police arrests Tiktoker Mirabel over false rape claim

By
Editor
-
0

The Ogun State Police Command has taken a popular TikTok personality, Mirabel, into custody as investigations continue into claims that she may have fabricated a sexual assault incident that recently went viral on social media.

Confirming the development on Friday, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the influencer is being questioned as authorities seek to establish the authenticity of her initial complaint.

 

“She is with us now, and the investigation is ongoing,” Babaseyi stated.

 

Asked whether she could face prosecution for allegedly filing a false report, the police spokesperson said any decision would depend strictly on the outcome of the investigation.

 

“The facts will tell at the conclusion of our investigation so we can get to a logical conclusion on whether those allegations were true or not,” he added.

 

The controversy began after Mirabel, known on TikTok as @mirab351, shared a series of emotional videos alleging that an unidentified person broke into her residence on February 15 and sexually assaulted her. She further claimed that the suspect boasted of having influential family connections that would shield him from prosecution.

 

However, days later, during a conversation with social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), Mirabel admitted she had been under the influence of drugs at the time of the alleged incident and may have experienced hallucinations, raising questions about the credibility of her earlier claims.

 

Police say investigations are ongoing to determine the true circumstances surrounding the matter.

You fall short of legal threshold – US Supreme Court rejects Trump’s tariff

By
Editor
-
0

United States President Donald Trump faces a major setback as the Supreme Court of the United States on Friday struck down his sweeping tariff measures imposed under a law designed for national emergencies, a ruling with far-reaching consequences for the global economy.

The justices, in a 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, affirmed a lower court’s judgment that Trump exceeded his authority by invoking a 1977 statute to justify the tariffs.

In the 170-page ruling, Roberts stated that the president “falls short” of the legal threshold required to impose the tariffs under the cited law.

At the center of the dispute was the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which the Trump administration argued granted the president broad authority to impose tariffs during national emergencies. However, the court rejected that interpretation, warning that it would encroach on Congress’s constitutional powers and breach the “major questions” doctrine.

The doctrine, frequently relied upon by the court’s conservative majority, holds that executive actions of vast economic and political significance must be clearly authorized by Congress. The court has previously invoked the principle to block key executive initiatives by former President Joe Biden.

Citing earlier precedent, Roberts wrote that “the president must point to clear congressional authorization” to justify such an extraordinary assertion of power, concluding that Trump failed to do so.

On April 2, a date he dubbed “Liberation Day,” Trump had unveiled what he described as “reciprocal” tariffs targeting goods imported from most U.S. trading partners. The Supreme Court’s decision now effectively nullifies that move, reinforcing limits on presidential authority over trade policy.

 

DSS to arraign El-Rufai

By
Editor
-
0

The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Wednesday, February 25, over alleged cybercrime and threats to national security.

El-Rufai will appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja to answer to a three-count charge filed by the secret police.

 

According to court documents, the charges stem from comments allegedly made by the former governor during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time program on February 13.

 

The DSS accused El-Rufai of unlawfully intercepting telephone communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

 

In the first count, the prosecution alleged that El-Rufai admitted during the televised interview that he and others intercepted the NSA’s phone communications, an offense said to be punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

 

The second count accused him of acknowledging that he knew an individual who intercepted the NSA’s calls but failed to report the matter to security agencies, contrary to Section 27(b) of the same Act.

 

In the third count, the DSS alleged that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment in 2026 to compromise public safety and national security by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications. The charge also cited provisions of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

 

Nigerian Newssphere recalls that on February 18, the DSS briefly took El-Rufai into custody after he had spent two nights with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

The former governor had earlier claimed that the NSA’s phone was wiretapped, enabling him to hear directives allegedly issued for his arrest.

 

El-Rufai is also reported to be in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.

Naira gains N33 against US dollar at black market

By
Editor
-
0

The naira recorded a sharp appreciation against the United States dollar at the parallel market on Thursday, strengthening by N33 on a day-to-day basis.

A Bureau De Change operator, Abubakar Hassan, disclosed tto Nigerian Newssphere on Friday that the local currency firmed to N1,317 per dollar, up from N1,350 traded the previous day at the black market.

According to him, the naira’s rebound marks its strongest performance at the parallel market in several months.

“The naira strengthened to its highest level at the black market in months. This is largely due to low demand pressure and recent interventions by the Central Bank,” Hassan explained.

In contrast, the currency weakened at the official foreign exchange window. Data showed that the naira depreciated by N3.23 on Thursday to close at N1,341.35 per dollar, compared to N1,338.12 recorded on Wednesday, extending its losses for the second consecutive day.

The mixed performance across the foreign exchange markets comes as Nigeria’s external reserves stood at $48.50 billion as of February 17, 2026, according to figures from the apex bank.

The latest movements follow Wednesday’s trading session, which ended with divergent trends at both the official and parallel markets.

1...128129130...393Page 129 of 393

ABOUT US

Your trusted source for breaking news, politics, business, entertainment, sports, technology, and trending stories from Nigeria and around the world.

FOLLOW US

© Nigerian News Sphere