Headlines

The United Nations has issued a warning over a potential cholera outbreak in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps in Maiduguri, Borno State, following recent flooding in the area.

The UN is concerned that the floodwaters may contaminate water sources, leading to the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, in the already vulnerable IDP camps.

A report released by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said the immediate needs are food, protection, shelter and clean water, adding that some water sources are contaminated, and could lead to outbreaks of diseases such as Cholera.

It wrote, “The immediate needs are food, shelter and clean water, with some water sources contaminated. Protection remains a major concern, especially among unaccompanied and separated children, older persons and people living with disabilities.

Intermediate needs include non-food items and interventions to prevent the outbreak of diseases such as cholera in congested sites. The floods have also affected nutrition stabilization centres treating severely malnourished children in MMC and Jere LGAs.

“Beyond MMC and Jere LGAs in Borno State, the Dalwa community in Damboa LGA is also affected, with Bama and Gwoza LGAs similarly reporting flooding. Before the recent flash floods, almost 123,000 people in Borno State were affected by floods and windstorms since August. The floods have destroyed critical infrastructure and heightened the risk of disease outbreaks especially in overcrowded IDP camps.

Edo State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Odion Olaye, has declared that Edo state will born if the People’s Democratic Party Governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo is not declared winner ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state. 

In a video circulating online, Olaye threatened that Edo State would face dire consequences if his preferred candidate is not declared the winner.

While campaigning for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in Egor, Benin City, Olaye expressed confidence in his candidate’s victory. He predicted that the PDP would win Egor City by a landslide, securing 80% of the votes.

Olaye also stated that if the electoral body fails to declare Asue Ighodalo the winner, Edo State would erupt into chaos. “If they refuse to do that, Edo state will burn,” he threatened in the video.

Olaye’s incendiary statement has sparked concern, as it appears to incite violence and unrest if the election outcome does not favor his preferred candidate. 

His words have been met with widespread criticism, with many calling for him to retract his statement and promote peaceful electoral processes.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Kenneth Imansuangbon, seeking to disqualify Olumide Akpata as the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the September 21 election in Edo State.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang, the appellate court held that Imansuangbon failed to explore the Labour Party’s internal conflict resolution mechanism before taking the matter to court.

The court also ruled that Imansuangbon’s case was premature and couldn’t be entertained because the conditions precedent had not been met.

Furthermore, the unanimous judgment of the three-man panel of justices stated that Imansuangbon failed to tender the disputed results of the February 23 primary election, which he claimed to have won.

This development comes after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja dismissed a similar suit in June, seeking to void Akpata’s nomination as the Labour Party’s candidate in the September 21 election.