Author: Vardiafrica

Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has expressed regret over his decision not to purchase Premier League club Arsenal for $2bn. In a recent interview on Bloomberg TV in New York, the billionaire acknowledged that the “time has passed” for him to buy Arsenal, saying that the club is now valued at approximately $4bn. In 2020, Dangote announced his intention to acquire the North London club after completing his refinery project. As of September 2024, Dangote is the second-richest person in Africa, with an estimated net worth of $13.4 billion. He, however, explained that he no longer has the liquidity…

The leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has disclosed that investigation of alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum sector by Ad – hoc committees separately set up by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in July, will now be jointly handled by both chambers. Senator Bamidele who doubles as the Chairman of the investigative Adhoc committee stated this in a statement personally signed by him on Monday. He says: ‘As we return fully to the parliamentary sessions on Tuesday this week, the National Assembly will without ambiguity, revisit its decision to decisively address challenges in the petroleum…

Nigeria is demanding permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council. The country’s Minister of Defence Abubakar Badaru made the demand at the Summit of the Future during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. “He said that Nigeria has contributed to International Peace and Security in terms of troops, finance, logistics, and civilian experts to various African countries, including Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire. In addition, Nigeria has played a key role in regional security and stability in West Africa and the Sahel,” the ministry’s Director of Information Henshaw Ogubike…

Protesters have besieged the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Edo State. The protesters are alleging that the election results released so far by the electoral body have been tampered with and do not reflect the true wishes of the people. “We came out en masse to vote Asue Ighodalo but the Independent National Electoral Commission is trying to subvert the will of the people,” a protester said. “The INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal went down immediately they started announcing this result. Go and check the figures that are there and the figures that are being announced. INEC is pushing…

Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Edo State governorship election, has described the election as potentially the worst in Nigeria’s history, citing numerous alleged irregularities. Speaking during a live press conference on Sunday, organised by the Edo PDP National Campaign Council and led by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Ighodalo expressed deep concerns over the election’s integrity. He detailed several instances of electoral infractions across various polling units, particularly focusing on manipulations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Ighodalo pointed out significant discrepancies, notably in polling units in Ikpoba/Okha Ologbo, where accredited voters…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken the lead in the Edo governorship election after the collation of results from 16 LGAs. Results from the remaining two LGAs are being expected at the collation centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin, the Edo capital. The exercise commenced on Sunday morning after it failed to kick off after the election on Saturday. So far, the APC has bagged 244,549 votes. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 195,954 while the Labour Party (LP) has polled 13,348 votes. The election featured 17 candidates — but Asue Ighodalo of the PDP,…

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for the United States to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In a statement on Sunday, Stanley Nkwocha, senior special assistant to the president on media and communications, said Shettima’s trip to UNGA was at the behest of President Bola Tinubu. The 79th UNGA with the theme, ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations’, will be held between September 24 and 28. “It would be recalled that President Tinubu had directed the Vice President to…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to visits by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to its state office and collation centre on Sunday. Channels Television had reported how Obaseki who stormed INEC’s collation centre unannounced around 2 AM, was walked out around 4:10 AM. Obaseki was there to protest anomalies in the collation of results of some local government areas including his Oredo. He was, however, told that his presence was not needed there. At about 3 AM, a combined team of policemen led by DIG Mba and…

Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Edo State witnessed some drama Sunday morning, after some members of the All Progressives Congress stormed the premises at about 3.30 am, demanding that state governor Godwin Obaseki should leave According to them, Obeseki had no reason to be there when results were yet to be announced. Channels Television gathered that the governor was there to make complaints on some infractions. The governor was said to have gained entrance into the premises of INEC on Aduwawa Road, Benin City under the cover of the night and headed straight upstairs, sitting close to…

The political atmosphere in Edo State became tense Sunday morning, when the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki was asked to leave the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Frank Mba. Obaseki who had stormed INEC’s collation centre unannounced around 2 AM, was walked out around 4:10 AM. Obaseki was there to protest anomalies in the collation of results of some local government areas including his Oredo. He was, however, told that his presence was not needed there. At about 3 AM, a combined team of policemen led by DIG…