The non-recognition of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congresses in Bayelsa State by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has led to fresh controversy in the state, as the two factional leaders are insisting they are in charge of the party until a fresh congress is conducted.

THREE Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, with battle-ready anti-riot policemen and soldiers took over Ekpan community in Delta State, yesterday, following several days of skirmishes between rival community factions, which had resulted in the maiming of four persons over a largesse of N25 million from Chevron Nigeria Limited.

RESIDENT Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ebonyi State, Dr. Humphery Nwangene, has warned that the nation might experience a major political crisis if a credible electoral system was not put in place before the 2011 general elections.

THE Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Tunde Lakoju, has lamented the alleged failure by National Assembly members from the state to assist Governor Adams Oshiomhole in addressing unemployment problem in the state.

Two people were confirmed dead at the weekend, while two others were badly injured in a road crash at Umudim, Ngor Okpala, along the ever busy Owerri-Aba federal highway.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has a lot of time to waste contrary to speculations that running the country was a demanding affair that left the President with hardly any time to spare.

In what is seen as an indication of some of the changes that would come in the Indpendent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman of Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, refused to receive briefings from the two deputy secretaries of the commission, saying their position was not recognised by any of the statutes of the commission nor the commission’s Condition of Service.

PROFESSOR Gates piece was published in The Nation Monday, April 26 2010 edition. As to be expected the problem he was addressing was elegantly stated in the introductory paragraphs reproduced below:

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, directed all relevant security agencies to find the where-abouts of the Chairman, Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr Wahaab Oba, and three other journalists who were on Sunday afternoon kidnapped in Abia State with a view to producing them alive.

LITIGANTS and lawyers in Oyo State looked helpless yesterday when they could not gain entrance into court premises in the state following a renewed strike by members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN.