Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A former governorship candidate in Zamfara State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, on Friday narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja. Shinkafi, who confirmed the incident, said he was attacked shortly after observing Juma’at prayers while returning home. According to him, a group of heavily armed, masked men dressed in black intercepted his vehicle and opened fire before fleeing in a black, unmarked Prado Jeep. The politician, who once contested for the Zamfara governorship seat, described the attack as a clear attempt on his life, linking it to his strong position on insecurity…

Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger recently in the news over an altercation with a flight attendant, has dismissed reports that she filed a N500 billion lawsuit against the Federal Government and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Emmanson, who was arraigned earlier this year for allegedly attacking a purser on an Ibom Air flight, described the viral reports of a lawsuit as “false and misleading.” Taking to her Instagram story on Saturday, she clarified that while she has not yet instituted any legal action, she would personally inform the public whenever she decides to do so. “I have not…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Princess Adesola Ayoola Elegbeji, has been declared  winner of the Remo Federal Constituency by-election held on Saturday in Ogun State. PLATFORM TIMES reports that Elegbeji, secured  a  victory across the three local government areas of Sagamu, Ikenne and Remo North. The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Kazeem Olajide Bello, announced the results in the early hours of Sunday, declaring the APC candidate winner after polling 41,237 votes against closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which recorded 14,324 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) managed only 289 votes. Breakdown of Results Ikenne LGA…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered over N5bn and $10m from contractors and former officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited indicted in the multi-billion naira fraud that trailed the turnaround maintenance of the nation’s refineries. Investigations by The Punch  revealed that the anti-graft agency is also closing in on another N10bn and $13m allegedly siphoned by contractors and government officials involved in the controversial rehabilitation projects. Top EFCC sources disclosed that the Commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, personally took charge of the probe following widespread concerns that the refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri have remained…

Daud Olatunji Widespread violence, alleged vote-buying, and voter apathy on Saturday marred the by-elections conducted across several states to fill vacant senatorial and House of Representatives seats. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the seats vacant following the resignation or death of their former occupants. According to the commission, 3.5 million registered voters across 12 states were expected to participate in the exercise. Ogun State: PDP Chairman, INEC Staff Arrested In Ogun State, the polls in the Remo Federal Constituency turned chaotic as security operatives arrested the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abayomi Tella, alongside…

Agents of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were on Saturday accused of ballot manipulation after being caught with thumb-printed ballot papers during the Anambra by-election. The incident occurred at Aguata High School, Ekwulobia, where eyewitnesses alleged that the intercepted materials consisted of multiple ballot sheets already thumb-printed in favour of the party. A video obtained from the scene showed bundles of ballot papers allegedly being smuggled into the polling unit. In the footage, a voice was heard saying: > “This is what we discovered: ballot papers already thumb-printed. They were trying to smuggle it into the ballot box before our…

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on Saturday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of unleashing violence during the Anambra South senatorial by-election, alleging that his Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu, was physically assaulted. Soludo, who spoke to journalists shortly after casting his ballot at polling unit 002, Ofiyi Square, Isuofia ward in Aguata Local Government Area, described the incident as “shocking but not unexpected.” According to him, Odimegwu was attacked at Ezinifite in Nnewi South LGA by thugs allegedly moving around with the APC governorship candidate in the state. “Just in the last few minutes, I got a…

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old man, Bello Azeez, for allegedly staging his own kidnap to swindle his family and friends of ₦500,000. Azeez, a native of Ipele in Owo Local Government Area, was arrested on Saturday after investigators discovered that he masterminded the false abduction when his father declined his request for a loan to settle a personal debt. According to police sources, the suspect, who had earlier informed relatives that he was travelling to Ibadan, began making frantic calls, claiming he had been abducted and demanding ransom for his release. Disturbed by the development, his…

Nigeria’s fight against terrorism recorded a significant victory with the capture of two top leaders of the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru terrorist group, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced on Saturday. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Ribadu described the operation as “the most decisive blow” yet against the extremist group, stressing that the arrests have dismantled Ansaru’s central command structure. The intelligence-led operation, conducted between May and July, targeted Ansaru enclaves around Kainji National Park, which stretches across Niger and Kwara states and connects to networks in the Benin Republic. The NSA identified the suspects as Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known…

The Kano State Police Command on Saturday said it had arrested no fewer than 288 suspected political thugs for disrupting the rerun and by-elections across the state. The command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the suspects were apprehended in different parts of Kano while attempting to unleash violence on voters and election officials. According to him, dangerous weapons, including a pump-action rifle, locally-made guns, knives, and cutlasses, were recovered from the suspects. Kiyawa explained that the arrests were part of the police strategy to maintain law and order during the election, stressing that…