MORNING NEWS
THE HEADLINES
Rivers APC denies favouring Wike’s loyalists in screening
Lagos speaker Obasa declares interest in Rep seat
UPDATED: Nollywood star Alex Ekubo dies at 40
Gunmen Attack Ogun Estate, Abduct Three Family Members
Trump Heads To China For Superpower Summit
Late Own Goal Keeps Ronaldo Waiting For Saudi Title
Now the news in details
The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has denied allegations that aspirants loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were favoured during the party’s screening for House of Assembly aspirants.
The party also dismissed claims that aspirants perceived to be loyal to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were denied clearance.
Speaking with journalists at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, the state Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, described the allegations as misleading and unfair.
According to him, Wike is not a member of the APC and had no involvement in the screening process.
“The FCT minister is not a member of our party, and bringing him into what we are doing in our party is not fair.
“So bringing in to say whether people who were cleared or uncleared belong to his own group or team, it does not fall in here properly,” he stated.
Ikenga noted that although Wike had publicly declared support for President Bola Tinubu, that should not be linked to the outcome of the party’s internal exercise.
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has declared his intention to contest for the Agege Federal Constituency seat.
Obasa made the declaration on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Agege, Lagos, ahead of the All Progressives Congress primaries.
The speaker, a sixth-term lawmaker, said party leaders in the constituency encouraged him to seek the House of Representatives position.
According to him, consultations with stakeholders influenced his decision to formally join the race for the federal legislative seat.
He urged party members to remain united and committed as the party prepares for its primary elections. Obasa also appealed for support for former Agege council chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi, who is contesting Agege Constituency I.
Popular Nollywood actor, Alex Ekubo, is dead. He was 40.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday by his colleagues, Funke Akindele, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Godwin Nnadiekwe, who claimed to be his ally.
Sharing on her Instagram story, Akindele wrote, “Hmmmmmm. Rest in peace, Alex. I tried to reach out to see you one more time, but I guess you knew best. May your kind soul rest in peace, Alex. ‘Ore mi like you fondly called me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together. Rest in Peace, Alex.”
Meanwhile, Ninalowo, who is now in the United States, also mourned on his page, writing, “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.”
As of the time of filing this report, his family has not issued a statement on his death. Recall that fans across social media recently expressed concerns for Ekubo following his first public appearance after months of social media silence.
Monday stormed a residential estate in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State and abducted three persons said to be members of the same family.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident.
It was gathered that the suspected gunmen, numbering about 15, invaded Ipojo Golden Estate in the Oke-Eri area of the town around 7 p.m., armed with sophisticated weapons.
According to reports, the attackers forcefully gained entry into the residence, ransacked the building, and whisked away the three victims.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident, saying the command had intensified tactical operations to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators. He called for calm and reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and ensuring the safety of residents and property in the state.
AA/channels
FOREIGN REPORT
Donald Trump was due in Beijing on Wednesday on the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade, as he seeks to ramp up trade despite potential friction over Taiwan and Iran.
Leaving Washington on Tuesday on a trip that was delayed by his war, Trump said he expected a “long talk” with his counterpart Xi Jinping about Iran, which relies on China as the top customer for its US-sanctioned oil.
But he also played down disagreements on Iran, saying that Xi has been “relatively good, to be honest with you”.
“I don’t think we need any help with Iran. We’ll win it one way or the other. We’ll win it peacefully or otherwise,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House.
This week’s trip — the first since Trump visited in 2017 — will involve high-stakes talks with Xi on Thursday and Friday, during a packed itinerary that includes a state banquet and tea reception.
SPORTS REPORT
Goalkeeper Bento’s injury-time own goal denied Cristiano Ronaldo his first Saudi Pro League title on Tuesday as Al Nassr drew 1-1 with second-placed Al Hilal.
The yellow-clad home fans were seconds from celebrating the Saudi championship when the Brazilian fumbled a long throw-in into his own net in the eighth extra minute.
Ronaldo, 41, is yet to taste domestic honours since inking a lucrative contract in 2023, a move that ignited interest in Saudi football and inspired a wave of big-name signings including Neymar and Al Hilal’s Karim Benzema.
Rivers APC denies favouring Wike’s loyalists in screening
Lagos speaker Obasa declares interest in Rep seat
UPDATED: Nollywood star Alex Ekubo dies at 40
Gunmen Attack Ogun Estate, Abduct Three Family Members
Trump Heads To China For Superpower Summit
Late Own Goal Keeps Ronaldo Waiting For Saudi Title
Now the news in details
The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has denied allegations that aspirants loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were favoured during the party’s screening for House of Assembly aspirants.
The party also dismissed claims that aspirants perceived to be loyal to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were denied clearance.
Speaking with journalists at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, the state Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, described the allegations as misleading and unfair.
According to him, Wike is not a member of the APC and had no involvement in the screening process.
“The FCT minister is not a member of our party, and bringing him into what we are doing in our party is not fair.
“So bringing in to say whether people who were cleared or uncleared belong to his own group or team, it does not fall in here properly,” he stated.
Ikenga noted that although Wike had publicly declared support for President Bola Tinubu, that should not be linked to the outcome of the party’s internal exercise.
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has declared his intention to contest for the Agege Federal Constituency seat.
Obasa made the declaration on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Agege, Lagos, ahead of the All Progressives Congress primaries.
The speaker, a sixth-term lawmaker, said party leaders in the constituency encouraged him to seek the House of Representatives position.
According to him, consultations with stakeholders influenced his decision to formally join the race for the federal legislative seat.
He urged party members to remain united and committed as the party prepares for its primary elections. Obasa also appealed for support for former Agege council chairman, Ganiyu Egunjobi, who is contesting Agege Constituency I.
Popular Nollywood actor, Alex Ekubo, is dead. He was 40.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday by his colleagues, Funke Akindele, Bolanle Ninalowo, and Godwin Nnadiekwe, who claimed to be his ally.
Sharing on her Instagram story, Akindele wrote, “Hmmmmmm. Rest in peace, Alex. I tried to reach out to see you one more time, but I guess you knew best. May your kind soul rest in peace, Alex. ‘Ore mi like you fondly called me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together. Rest in Peace, Alex.”
Meanwhile, Ninalowo, who is now in the United States, also mourned on his page, writing, “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.”
As of the time of filing this report, his family has not issued a statement on his death. Recall that fans across social media recently expressed concerns for Ekubo following his first public appearance after months of social media silence.
Monday stormed a residential estate in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State and abducted three persons said to be members of the same family.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident.
It was gathered that the suspected gunmen, numbering about 15, invaded Ipojo Golden Estate in the Oke-Eri area of the town around 7 p.m., armed with sophisticated weapons.
According to reports, the attackers forcefully gained entry into the residence, ransacked the building, and whisked away the three victims.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident, saying the command had intensified tactical operations to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators. He called for calm and reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and ensuring the safety of residents and property in the state.
AA/channels
FOREIGN REPORT
Donald Trump was due in Beijing on Wednesday on the first visit to China by a US president in nearly a decade, as he seeks to ramp up trade despite potential friction over Taiwan and Iran.
Leaving Washington on Tuesday on a trip that was delayed by his war, Trump said he expected a “long talk” with his counterpart Xi Jinping about Iran, which relies on China as the top customer for its US-sanctioned oil.
But he also played down disagreements on Iran, saying that Xi has been “relatively good, to be honest with you”.
“I don’t think we need any help with Iran. We’ll win it one way or the other. We’ll win it peacefully or otherwise,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House.
This week’s trip — the first since Trump visited in 2017 — will involve high-stakes talks with Xi on Thursday and Friday, during a packed itinerary that includes a state banquet and tea reception.
SPORTS REPORT
Goalkeeper Bento’s injury-time own goal denied Cristiano Ronaldo his first Saudi Pro League title on Tuesday as Al Nassr drew 1-1 with second-placed Al Hilal.
The yellow-clad home fans were seconds from celebrating the Saudi championship when the Brazilian fumbled a long throw-in into his own net in the eighth extra minute.
Ronaldo, 41, is yet to taste domestic honours since inking a lucrative contract in 2023, a move that ignited interest in Saudi football and inspired a wave of big-name signings including Neymar and Al Hilal’s Karim Benzema.