Author: Vardiafrica

The national working committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Turaki, is currently meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. The meeting is taking place at the former president’s office in the Maitama area of the nation’s capital. The agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, but TheCable understands the discussion is linked to the leadership within the opposition party and the state of the nation. In November, a faction of the party backed by the PDP governors, including Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo, held a convention and elected new NWC members,…

Venezuela’s parliament on Monday formally swore in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president, two days after US forces captured her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, and flew him to New York to face trial on drug trafficking charges.Rodriguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president, took the oath of office before the National Assembly, addressing lawmakers: “I take this oath in the name of all Venezuelans. I am in pain over the kidnapping of our heroes, the hostages in the United States,” she said, referring to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The session also saw the reelection of Rodriguez’s brother, Jorge Rodriguez, as parliament speaker, consolidating…

The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Professor Ngozi Odu, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. Odu’s defection comes more than a month after Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the majority of state and federal lawmakers from Rivers State left the PDP for the APC. She completed her registration on Sunday at Akabuka, Ward 8, Unit 11 in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state and subsequently toured the six zones of the LGA to sensitise residents on the ongoing APC e-registration exercise.The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the Head…

Junk food adverts are banned on television and online starting on Monday as part of a drive to tackle childhood obesity. The UK-wide ban stops food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) being advertised on TV before 21:00 and at any time online. It applies to products considered to be the biggest drivers of childhood obesity, including soft drinks, chocolates and sweets, pizzas and ice creams. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said it is committed to helping people eat healthily and has been voluntarily abiding by the new restrictions since October. As well as more obviously…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has stated its commitment to completing the sand-filling and reclamation project in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area, and the 4.5-kilometre Nonwa-Uedeme-Ogu Road linking Tai and Ogu-Bolo Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Speaking during an inspection of the projects, the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, reiterated the Commission’s resolve to ensure that all ongoing projects across the region were completed and inaugurated for the benefit of the people. Iyaye expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the Okochiri reclamation project and noted that it would help the community gain…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written two letters to the Senate, seeking confirmation of 21 nominees for the boards of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). In the first letter, President Tinubu nominated Senator Magnus Abe to serve as the NUPRC board chair. Abe, who represented Rivers South East in the Senate for two terms, is a former NNPC board member and current chairman of the National Agency of the Great Green Wall. Other nominees for the NUPRC board are Engineer Paul Yaro Jezhi, a former Trade Union Congress…

Manchester United have sacked boss Ruben Amorim, the club has confirmed. The announcement was made on Monday morning less than 24 hours after Amorim held a stunning news conference following the 1-1 draw with Leeds United in which he urged United bosses to “do your jobs.” Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher is set to take charge of United’s trip to Burnley on Wednesday. Sources have told ESPN that the club is still mapping out a succession plan but is leaning toward naming an interim boss until the end of the season before making a permanent appointment in the summer. Amorim was informed in person…

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York court on Monday, two days after he was whisked away by the United States special forces in a military operation in Caracas. Images showed an armoured vehicle carrying Maduro and his wife arriving at the courthouse earlier. Maduro is facing four counts relating to alleged drugs and weapons possession and trafficking. Cilia Flores, his wife; Ernesto Guerra, Maduro’s son; Diosdado Rondon, minister of interior, justice and peace; Ramon Chachin, former interior minister; and Héctor Flores, leader of Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan transnational crime gang; were named as co-defendants. According to the indictment, Maduro…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, to stay away from Rivers State politics, describing the state as a “no go area” for meddlers. Wike delivered the message during a “thank you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, escalating tensions within the APC over internal party squabbles. The admonition came in response to Basiru’s Sunday statement urging APC National Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, to stop disrespecting Governor Siminalayi Fubara to curry favour with Wike. Basiru’s remarks followed Giadom’s controversial December 30, 2025,…

The United Kingdom has rolled out expanded enforcement powers allowing authorities to confiscate mobile phones and SIM cards from migrants who enter the country illegally. The new measures, which do not require an arrest, came into force on Monday at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent and represent a significant tightening of border controls. According to the Home Office, the powers are intended to support intelligence-gathering operations aimed at disrupting criminal networks that organise and profit from dangerous Channel crossings. Officials at the centre are equipped with technology that enables them to extract and analyse data from seized devices,…