Tag: Bayelsa State

54yr-old man illegally marries 4yr-old in Bayelsa community

Aminu Imam

The Community of Akeddei, in Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa has been thrown into a state of confusion, as a family reportedly gave their four-year-old daughter in marriage to a 54-year-old man simply identified as Elder Akpos on Boxing Day. Child rights advocacy groups in the State who kicked against the traditional marriage between the child (name withheld) and 54-year-old Akpos at Akeddei have described the marriage as illegal and criminal, saying it is an act that is against the Constitution and Child Rights Act. The leading child rights…

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Elections: IGP restricts movements in Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa from Friday

Aminu Imam

In preparation for the governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States, the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun, yesterday, announced that there will be no vehicular movement as well as movement of canoes, ships and other means of transportation via waterways, starting from Friday. Egbetokun, while giving the directive, said the decision was in line with measures put in place to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the three states, and also barred some State security outfits, including ‘Ebubeagu’ and other quasi-outfits, from operating during the exercise. Speaking through…

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Tinubu demands fairness in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi polls

Aminu Imam

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to all candidates participating in the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, as well as the electorate to ensure free and fair elections. The President made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja, during the presentation of the All-Progressives Congress (APC)’ flags to the standard-bearers in the upcoming elections. According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu presented the party flags to Timipre Sylva for Bayelsa State; Governor Hope Uzodimma, of Imo State, who…

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IPAC urges INEC to ensure free, credible elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo

Aminu Imam

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo States. The National Chairman of IPAC, Egnr. Yabagi Sani, said this yesterday, ahead of INEC’s conduct of these off-cycle governorship elections, scheduled for Saturday, November 11, 2023. Sani, in a statement released by the electoral body on X (formerly Twitter), said there is no doubt that INEC is showing its best efforts in its preparations in spite of obvious encumbrances. He, however, said that a lot…

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Bayelsa: Timipre Sylva disqualified from governorship race

Aminu Imam

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has disqualified the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11 governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva.  In a judgement delivered on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, ruled that Chief Sylva having been sworn-in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa would breach the 1999 Constitution as amended if allowed to contest again. The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would…

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INEC releases final list of candidates for Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa Gov. polls

Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the November 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo States. The approval of the list followed a meeting held by the Commission yesterday in Abuja. According to a statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, all 18 political parties nominated candidates in Kogi, 17 in Bayelsa, and 16 in Imo States. Two political parties are also fielding female candidates in Bayelsa State, one in Kogi…

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Bayelsa: Gunmen abduct NPC official, demand N500m ransom 

Aminu Imam

Some gunmen have kidnapped the Federal Commissioner representing Bayelsa State at the National Population Commission (NPC), Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo. She was said to have been abducted on Sunday evening, around the Ogbakiri junction along the East-West Road in Emohua local government area of Rivers State. Izonfuo was travelling to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, from a trip to Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the hoodlums struck at about 6:30pm. It was learnt that kidnappers intercepted the NPC federal commissioner’s vehicle and whisked her away with her…

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Gunmen kidnap Jonathan’s cousin in Bayelsa

Aminu Imam

Jephthah Robert, a cousin of former president Goodluck Jonathan, has been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in front of his house around Dimrose Road in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital. According to reports, Jephthah was kidnapped on Tuesday, barely 24 hours after the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Otokito, was released by his abductors. Recall that Otokito was whisked away by gunmen on January 20 from his residence in his community, Otuokpoti, in the Ogbia local government area of the State. He spent about five…

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Suspected Niger Delta militants launch attack on Nigerian Navy, kill operatives

Aminu Imam

Assailants, suspected to be Niger Delta Avengers, (NDA), have attacked Nigerian Navy personnel deployed to a waterways security vessel in Bayelsa State, killing some of the military men. The NDA is a militant group in the Niger-Delta region. According to a video released by the attackers, about three personnel were seen down, as the Niger Delta militants continued the heavy gun battle with the military. The assailants, on June 27, had threatened that they would return with ‘Operation Humble‘ which is similar to its ‘Operation Red‘ of 2016, designed to…

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