Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, ruled that Ighodalo’s appeal lacked merit and upheld the earlier judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The court maintained that the appellants failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn the tribunal’s ruling, which had declared Okpebholo’s election valid.

Ighodalo, who rejected the judgment, has vowed to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

In the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election, Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo of the PDP, who garnered 247,274 votes. Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata finished third with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates participated in the contest but failed to make significant electoral impact.

The APC secured victories in over 10 of Edo’s 18 local government areas and dominated two of the three senatorial districts, enabling Okpebholo to clinch the governorship seat.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo winner of the poll, and he was sworn into office on November 12, 2024, succeeding former Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP.

Following the declaration, Ighodalo approached the election tribunal seeking to nullify Okpebholo’s victory. However, in its April 2025 ruling, the tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition on grounds of insufficient evidence and failure to prove claims of electoral malpractice or non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

Justice Kpochi noted that the petitioners failed to call credible witnesses such as polling unit agents, presiding officers, or voters to substantiate their allegations, a lapse which the tribunal said weakened their case beyond repair.

With the Appeal Court now siding with both the tribunal and the electoral body, Ighodalo’s final legal recourse lies with the Supreme Court.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced an amnesty programme targeting cultists and individuals in possession of illegal firearms, as part of a broader push to restore peace and prepare restive communities for a major urban development project.

The governor made the disclosure on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional and community leaders from Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba—areas located within the proposed site for a new city project in Benin City.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo urged youths involved in cultism and criminal activity to take advantage of the window to surrender to authorities in exchange for amnesty.

“We are committed to restoring peace and stability to every corner of Edo,” the governor said. “This amnesty programme is designed not just for disarmament, but to offer a lifeline—skills training, empowerment, and the opportunity to lead productive lives.”

A technical committee, he added, will soon be inaugurated to manage the reintegration of surrendered cultists and criminal elements, with a mandate to implement restorative justice and skill-building initiatives.

The amnesty effort is closely tied to the government’s new city initiative, which will span several communities including Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba. Governor Okpebholo reiterated that the urban expansion will be carried out with community input and cultural sensitivity.

“For the new city project, especially LOT ‘A,’ we are committed to preserving traditional sites. As for LOT ‘B,’ once development commences, residents can present their documents to the Committee on Land Resolution,” he stated.

He also assured affected residents that steps will be taken to regularize legitimate land claims across all designated LOTS, adding that the government was open to addressing grievances from property owners affected by previous demolitions.

“Those who lost their properties under the last administration should meet with the Land Resolution Committee, provided they have their documents,” he said.

Governor Okpebholo’s peace outreach and development agenda mark a significant shift in the state’s approach to both urban expansion and crime prevention, signaling a more inclusive and rehabilitative path forward.

Mauritania’s former Minister of Economy and Finance, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, has been elected as the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Dr. Akinwumi Adesina at the helm of the continent’s premier financial institution.

The 60-year-old development expert emerged victorious on Thursday after securing 76.18% of the total votes in just three rounds of balloting—fewer than the six rounds required for his predecessor’s win in 2015. His swift ascent to the presidency signals strong continental and international confidence in his leadership.

Zambian economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo placed a distant second with 20.26%, while Senegal’s Amadou Hott followed with 3.55%.

Under AfDB election rules, the winning candidate must garner a dual majority: support from the bank’s 81 total member countries and a separate majority from its 54 African member states. Tah met both criteria, securing 72.37% of the African vote.

Dr. Tah brings over a decade of leadership experience from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he served as Director General. His cross-regional expertise is expected to enhance collaboration between North African and sub-Saharan member states, particularly at a time when the AfDB faces growing challenges, including the reduction of U.S. funding.

In a statement conceding the race, Maimbo extended congratulations to the incoming president:
“I wish to congratulate Dr. Sidi Ould Tah on his successful election as the President-elect of the African Development Bank Group. I entered this race driven by a love and deep concern for our continent and offered a vision for Africa’s future. Today, the Governors have chosen the leader they believe will best deliver the vision of the Africa we want at this pivotal moment.”

Dr. Tah is expected to take office as the AfDB seeks to reinforce its development agenda amid global financial shifts and mounting continental demands.

A Nigerian pilgrim, Hajiya Zainab from Plateau State, has been hailed for her rare display of honesty after returning $5,000 (approximately ₦8.2 million) she found at the Masjidul Haram in Makkah to a fellow pilgrim from Russia.

Her act of integrity has drawn commendation from both the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

In a statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the Plateau Pilgrims Board, Daiyabu Dauda, Hajiya Zainab was described as a shining example of moral uprightness and virtue.

“She demonstrated exceptional integrity and honesty by returning $5,000 she found in Masjidul Haram to its rightful owner. That’s a remarkable act of kindness,” Dauda said.

NAHCON also lauded the gesture, noting that it reflects the values expected of pilgrims on the holy journey.

Meanwhile, NAHCON has disclosed that discussions are ongoing with Saudi authorities to reopen visa processing for intending Nigerian pilgrims who are yet to travel.

In a statement released Wednesday by the Commission’s Assistant Director of Information, Fatima Usara, NAHCON expressed cautious optimism.

“There is optimism for a positive outcome, and when that is realised, the commission will immediately transport the registered pilgrims for the Hajj in another special arrangement,” Usara stated.

She added that selected staff members have already been placed on standby should the visa window be reopened.

Delegates from across West Africa have convened at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), marking a major milestone for the regional bloc dedicated to unity and integration.

Ahead of the main event, President Bola Tinubu, who currently serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, joined other dignitaries and ECOWAS officials at a commemorative gathering held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

Also in attendance is General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), the only surviving founding leader of ECOWAS. Gowon played a pivotal role in the establishment of the bloc in 1975, following the signing of the original treaty in Lagos.

Following the NIIA event, heads of state, government officials, and ECOWAS representatives will proceed to Eko Hotel for the main celebration.

In a statement released earlier, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed that President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, will deliver the welcome address.

President Tinubu is expected to reflect on ECOWAS’s achievements over the past five decades, while Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman of the NIIA and a former Minister of External Affairs, will review the bloc’s 50-year journey. Panel discussions are also scheduled to further examine the regional body’s progress and challenges.

General Gowon is expected to participate in all ceremonies and deliver a keynote address at the Eko Hotel event.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has donated three acres of land to the International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) for the construction of the World Ifa Temple.

The donation, according to the ICIR, is aimed at promoting traditional religious practices and establishing what is expected to become the largest pilgrimage site for Yoruba traditional worshippers globally.

The development was announced on Wednesday in a statement issued by the President of the ICIR, Fayemi Fakayode, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Fakayode described the gesture as a demonstration of the monarch’s deep commitment to Yoruba tradition, culture, and spirituality.

“This gesture of our revered first-class Oba has demonstrated his love for tradition and Yoruba culture and spirituality,” the statement read.

He added, “On behalf of the Council of Araba and Oluwo, under the chairmanship of His Eminence, Awodotun Aworeni, the Araba/Olu-Isese Agbaye, and all practitioners of Ifa and Orisa worldwide, we thank His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, for this good and historic gesture.”

Fakayode further noted that the temple would stand as a symbol of Ooni’s dedication to preserving and promoting the cultural and spiritual legacy of the Yoruba people.

“This project is going to be the largest World Ifa Temple across the world, and it will serve as a major pilgrimage site for practitioners of Oduduwa’s spirituality across the globe,” he stated.

Controversial Nigerian rapper Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington or Akpi, has sparked widespread anger across Nigeria after confessing on a live stream to engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl in a hotel on Children’s Day, May 27, 2025.

The admission, which included claims of enticing the minor with 2,000 Naira, has ignited a firestorm of criticism on social media platform X, with many Nigerians labeling the act as rape and child prostitution, and calling for his immediate arrest and prosecution.

In a series of posts on X, users expressed shock and disgust, with some accusing the rapper of predatory behavior. One user, @lotxnna, wrote, “Speed Darlington needs to be arrested and charged with rape of a minor. He confessed unprovoked to raping a 15-year-old girl in a hotel recently.

He also enticed her with 2000 Naira which is child prostitution.” Another user, @kelechicollin13, shared a video allegedly showing Darlington confessing to sexual encounters with minors, including a 14-year-old, and urged authorities such as the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (@Lagosdsva) and the Nigeria Police (@PoliceNG) to take action, stating, “Here is a pedophile right in front of you.
He needs to be arrested asap.”

The confession, reportedly made during a live stream, has fueled accusations of selective outrage, with @BENNY7GG
noting, “Speed Darlington really said he made out with a 15-year-old on Children’s Day and Nigerians are still yet to call for his arrest, some are even laughing.

Just another obvious example that selective outrage is a thing.” Others, like @Chiomabonny, expressed frustration with Nigeria’s legal system, stating, “I hope Nigerian police will see this video and take action.

Speed Darlington is a pedo, and he is admitting to sleeping with a minor. Nigeria is a curse.”

The timing of the confession on Children’s Day, a national holiday dedicated to celebrating and protecting children, has further amplified public outrage.

Users such as @YarKafanchan emphasized the severity of the situation, posting, “Speed Darlington admitted to r*ping a 15-year-old child in Nigeria.

This is not a joke, he said it on camera. Please don’t be lax with your job, he shouldn’t be walking free.”

As of now, no official statement has been released by the Nigeria Police or other authorities regarding the latest allegations against Darlington.

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (@naptipnigeria), tagged by several X users, have yet to confirm whether an investigation has been launched.