Olivarez books quarters berth in China tilt ahead of Palawan Open stint

Eric Jed Olivarez is hitting peak form ahead of the highly anticipated inaugural Palawan Open 2026, battling through a grueling qualifying campaign to secure a quarterfinal berth in the M15 Luan Jian An Open in China.

Olivarez displayed immense grit in Lu’an, outlasting ATP-ranked opponents in three consecutive qualifying matches to reach the main draw. He opened his bid by upsetting Japan’s No. 13 seed Yua Taka, 7-6(5), 7-5, before dominating local favorite Xirui Han, 6-3, 6-4. In the final qualifying round, Olivarez showed superb poise, out-steadying Japanese No. 8 seed Shu Muto in a thrilling 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 showdown.

Carrying that momentum into the tournament proper, the 28-year-old Filipino swept the first four games in the Round of 16 against China’s Xiaofei Wang before the latter retired, setting up a tough quarterfinal showdown with Japan’s Kosuke Ogura on Thursday. More importantly, it served notice of his readiness to not just compete, but strongly contend for the upcoming local crown.

Olivarez’s overseas success adds massive intrigue to the Palawan Open 2026, a P2-million showcase that unwraps on May 24 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Backed by a hefty prize pool, the tournament represents a monumental leap forward for the local tennis ecosystem.

The men’s singles champion will take home P300,000, with the runner-up pocketing P150,000 and the losing semifinalists receiving P100,000 each. The women’s singles titlist will receive with P100,000.

The blue-ribbon event, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Gentry Timepieces and Bagong Pilipinas, features a stacked international cast headlined by India’s top seed Digvijay Singh. Leading the local defense alongside Olivarez is the country’s top-ranked player, Alberto Lim Jr.

Meanwhile, Christopher Papa of the United States enters as the fourth seed, followed closely by India’s Aggarwal Parth and local standouts John Benedict Aguilar, Nilo Ledama and Vicente Anasta.

The tournament’s depth is mirrored in the women’s division, which is headlined by rising stars Tennielle Madis, Stefi Aludo, Tiffany Nocos and Kaye-Ann Emana, with Elizabeth Abarque, Louraine Jallorina, Niña Alcantara and Althea Ong bolstering the elite field.

Organizers of the event, sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) and the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), envision the week-long championship as the cornerstone of a long-term program to revitalize Philippine tennis from the grassroots up to the elite level.

To institutionalize this growth, Palawan Group of Companies founder and chairman Bobby Castro revealed plans to turn the Open into an annual fixture that will rotate across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

By bringing premier tennis to various provinces, the initiative aims to discover fresh regional talent, energize local sports development, and establish a sustainable pathway for the future stars of Philippine sports.

The event is supported by Dunlop (official ball), Franchise One Hotel (official hotel), Queens at Bollywood Restaurant (official restaurant), Darlings Fine Jewels, Victoria Linen and the Palawan Group of Companies.

Paper Rex’s invy reflects on career after winning first regional trophy

Filipino player Adrian Jiggs ‘invy’ Reyes has added a major milestone to his career, capturing his first Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific title with Paper Rex after sweeping Thailand’s Full Sense, 3-0, over the weekend.

‘It feels amazing to finally win. I hope it’s the first of many. It’s a big confidence boost for me,’ said Reyes during the team’s stage interview.

The title comes after a period of adjustment for Reyes, who took on the initiator role for Paper Rex after years of being under the previously all-Filipino squad Team Secret.

‘Alecks has mentioned it before. [Initiator is] one of the harder roles, especially for this team. The past few months, my teammates have been helping me a lot despite me struggling in some moments. I really appreciate them and the coaching staff as well, they’ve helped me a lot, and gained back my confidence from those rough moments. It’s special because I get to help out all the boys shine also,’ said Reyes.

Paper Rex head coach Alexandre ‘alecks’ Salle said Reyes had long been on his radar.

‘I mean, the truth is, he was on my shortlist even in 2022. I mean, I just sorted by stats and I saw he’s top of the stats. So it was easy, like, oh, who’s this guy? And then we scrimmed against him a few times. I felt that he was a very good player already.’ said Sallé during their post-match conference.

Salle noted that Reyes’ performance performances have remained consistent through the years.

‘I’ve watched this guy top the stats every year. Every single game he plays for Team Secret is usually high impact. I still don’t think he’s on his best role. I think flash initiator is actually his best role. But as you can see, he can play quite a lot of roles pretty damn well. So very proud of him,’ added Salle.

Adjusting to Paper Rex, however, has presented its own challenges.

‘It’s very difficult to be in this team. When everyone has an idea and he has to choose which idea is the best. And he gets pulled apart by his duelists a lot,’ explained Sallé.

Reyes credited both his previous experience and his new environment for his development as a player.

‘I think my growth, from the start, being in Team Secret, there was a lot of ups and downs. I learned a lot, especially losing a lot of important games, like qualification matches,’ recalled Reyes.

He added that joining Paper Rex allowed him to further refine his play.

‘Everyone is really good, so I was able to absorb how they play and everything and put it in my play style. And also with the coaching staff, alecks is a really great coach. Whenever I had a bad game, he would always talk with me and sit down with me even for an hour, midnight or something. He would help me see another point of view in the game. And it really helps me be more confident in myself,’ said Reyes.

Reyes and Paper Rex hope to capture their second trophy of the year as they compete in Masters London next month. As the region’s top seed, they get an immediate ticket to the playoffs, while Filipino duo Patrick ‘PatMen’ Mendoza and Xavier ‘xavi8k’ Juan under Global Esports still begin their campaign in the Swiss Stages.

Marcos orders completion of flood control projects ahead of rainy days

Will the Marcos administration’s initiative, worth billions of pesos, be effective in mitigating floods in Metro Manila and key cities in the country? Only the upcoming rainy season can tell.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday inspected the ongoing ‘drainage improvement project’ on G. Araneta Avenue in Quezon City as part of the government’s intensified flood mitigation efforts under the ‘Oplan Kontra Baha’ program.

‘Historically, whenever the rain becomes too strong-or even when it simply rains-this area gets flooded immediately. When the rains are heavy, floodwaters can rise above a person’s height,’ he said.

According to Marcos, the stretch of G. Araneta Avenue is among the critical flood-prone locations being prioritized by the government, but he said similar interventions are being carried out across Metro Manila and other parts of the country under Oplan Kontra Baha.

The construction of the flood mitigation structure from G. Araneta Avenue to San Juan River started on March 6, 2025. It is expected to be completed by the end of the month and address the perennial flooding problem in the area.

Funding for the P482.5-million project was sourced from the 2024 national budget.

The project spans 758 meters from Kaliraya Street to E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue and includes the installation of two high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes with a diameter of 1.5 meters (59 inches) to upgrade the existing drainage lines, which are only 0.91 m (36 in) wide.

This will result in rainwater flowing out of the drainage system more quickly, which will prevent the accumulation of water on roads during rains.

Two mobile pumps will serve as a support system and can pump out 2 cubic meters of water per second.

These will help accelerate the discharge of floodwater to the sewer systems, so it will not remain in low-lying areas around G. Araneta, especially when the water level in San Juan River rises or when the natural flow of the drainage system is no longer sufficient.

Pipe-laying activities are expected to be completed next week, while the construction of the pumping station is targeted to start within the year or early next year

‘These are the [flood mitigation] strategies we are employing. This is just one of them. We are already doing so many things around Metro Manila and across the Philippines to find ways to control flooding,’ the President said.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, who joined the President during the inspection, said residents have already felt some improvement during recent rains since the interventions began.

‘During the heavy rains last weekend, we already saw some alleviation and improvement. But we should not be satisfied with that yet. We need to keep going and finish this before June,’ Dizon said.

He added that the President’s directive is to complete the project before the onset of the rainy season, which starts between late May and early June, triggered by the onset of the southwest monsoon (habagat) and persists until November.

Launched in November last year at the height of the flood control projects mess, the Oplan Kontra Baha initiative involves waterway clearing operations, drainage rehabilitation, and pumping station upgrades intended to reduce flooding in Metro Manila and other flood-prone areas in the country.

President Marcos ordered zero budget to be allocated to locally funded flood control projects under the DPWH for the 2026 national budget to prevent another corruption scandal.

The program shall be carried out until July this year, with the DPWH and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spearheading the program with a P2-billion budget.

It aims to clean up at least 4 million cubic meters of trash and silt-which can fill 1,600 Olympic-size swimming pools-across the waterways in Metro Manila. The organic matter collected will then be used for the waste-to-energy initiative of the Department of Energy.

But even without the national government’s directive, local government units are mandated to clean and clear obstructions along their respective waterways.

In 1998, then-President Joseph Estrada launched a similar initiative, the ‘Brigada Kontra Baha,’ supposedly a one-time national cleanup day, but which would then be institutionalized through the Linis Bayan program through his Administrative Order No. 32.

The program, however, had not prevented the heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides-worsened by the La Niña phenomenon from 1998 to 1999-in the country the following year, including the Cherry Hills Subdivision tragedy.

43 areas seen to hit ‘danger’ level heat index on Thursday, May 21

Forty-three areas are forecast to record ‘danger’ level indices on Thursday, May 21, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

‘Danger’ level heat indices refer to those ranging between 42°C and 51°C, and bring increased risks of heat cramps and heat exhaustion, which could then lead to heat stroke.

Sangley Point in Cavite City is expected to reach the highest peak heat index on Thursday at 46ºC.

Meanwhile, the other areas expected to record danger-level heat indices are as follows:

Naia in Pasay City, Metro Manila – 42ºC

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte – 43ºC

Dagupan City, Pangasinan – 45ºC

DMMSU in Bacnotan, La Union – 44ºC

Aparri, Cagayan – 43ºC

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan -44ºC

NVSU in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya – 43ºC

ISU in Echague, Isabela – 44ºC

Baler (Radar), Aurora – 44ºC

Casiguran, Aurora – 43ºC

Iba, Zambales – 42ºC

Clark Airport (DMIA), Pampanga – 42ºC

CLSU in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – 42ºC

Cubi Pt., Subic Bay Olongapo City – 43ºC

San Ildefonso, Bulacan – 42ºC

TAU in Camiling, Tarlac – 44ºC

Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City – 42ºC

Infanta, Quezon – 43ºC

Alabat, Quezon – 42ºC

Coron, Palawan – 42ºC

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro – 42ºC

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – 42ºC

Aborlan, Palawan – 42ºC

Cuyo, Palawan – 42ºC

Daet, Camarines Norte – 44ºC

Legazpi City, Albay – 43ºC

Virac (Synop), Catanduanes – 44ºC

Masbate City, Masbate – 43ºC

Juban, Sorsogon – 42ºC

CBSUA-Pili, Camarines Sur – 42ºC

Roxas City, Capiz – 44ºC

Mambusao, Capiz – 42ºC

Iloilo City, Iloilo – 42ºC

Dumangas Iloilo – 42ºC

Catarman, Northern Samar – 44ºC

Tacloban City, Leyte – 42ºC

Borongan, Eastern Samar – 42ºC

Guiuan, Eastern Samar – 44ºC

Maasin, Southern Leyte – 44ºC

Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte – 44ºC

Davao City, Davao del Sur – 42ºC

Butuan City, Agusan del Norte – 43ºC

How Tinubu can restore stability in universities – CONUA president

Dr ‘Niyi Sunmonu is the national president of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA). He shares, in this interview with Tunbosun Ogundare, insights into the position of CONUA on some pressing national issues touching the union and broader university education in the country. Excerpts:

We observe that your renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement with the Federal Government is still inconclusive after several months. How do you react to this?

The Federal Government and CONUA have held several meetings, and significant progress has been made. Areas of disagreement have been substantially narrowed. At this stage, we expect the government to, without further delay, append its signature to the agreement already reached. Doing so will restore confidence and contribute meaningfully to stability in our universities. I don’t want to talk more on this matter.

Salaries of university lecturers are delayed these days before payment. How does this affect your financial responsibilities?

It is a fact that since the (re)migration to the GIFMIS platform, salary payments have been consistently delayed, often until the 9th or 10th of a new month. This is demoralising and disruptive to personal and family responsibilities. The government needs to urgently address whatever structural or administrative issues are responsible. CONUA has consistently maintained that prompt and accurate payment of salaries and emoluments is more important than the choice of payment platform. So, as I had said, the government should address this issue with urgency.

But, there are concerns that the Federal Government may be finding a way to shift payment of salaries to respective universities to handle. What is your view on this and its sustainability?

I do not have sufficient information to confirm that position, and it would be premature to comment definitively. However, on the surface, I do not believe this is currently the case. If such a policy is indeed under consideration, it would raise serious sustainability concerns, especially given the financial realities of many universities. However, I reiterate that I have no confirmation that this is the case.

CONUA sometime ago accused ASUU’s leadership of misrepresenting the role played by the late Professor Biodun Jeyifo, in resolving the OAU-ASUU crisis, which eventually led to the formation of CONUA. Are you still holding on to your view?

May I first note that the late Comrade Professor Biodun Jeyifo continues to rest in peace. On the issue you raised, the truth cannot be buried indefinitely; it will always resurface. The facts surrounding Professor Jeyifo’s role are well documented. Our position remains unchanged: the narrative presented by the current leadership of our sister union, ASUU, did not fully reflect the truth of his efforts in resolving the crisis at the time.

ASUU, in an interview recently, told the Nigerian Tribune about its readiness to welcome CONUA members back into its fold if they choose to rejoin, as you had claimed that ASUU’s founding fathers didn’t establish the union for division but for the unity of lecturers. How do you respond to that?

That position can be described as ‘being clever by half.’ The same ASUU leadership is fully aware of the actions taken in the past, including the formal expulsion of members who eventually formed CONUA. These were not informal occurrences. They were documented and formally communicated. At this stage, the focus should be on mutual co-existence. This is not unusual; labour centres like the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) co-exist effectively, and similar plural arrangements can work within the university system, also. So, CONUA has come to stay by the grace of God.

What is your assessment of the government’s solar power intervention for universities under the Band ‘A’ tariff?

While advancements in solar energy are commendable, they cannot fully address the energy needs of universities, especially if we aim for global competitiveness. The intervention is helpful, but it will only address part of the electricity problem in the university system. CONUA, for example, had earlier proposed that universities should be granted a special energy status. Reliable and sustainable power supply remains critical to improving our global standing. We are using this medium to call on the Federal Government to do the electrification projects as promised in some pilot universities without delay.

If education is considered central to economic growth, why does Nigeria still struggles socio-economically, despite parading many scholars?

The major issue is the disconnection between the university system and the broader society. Our curricula must better integrate theory with practical application, in line with global best practices. Additionally, government must demonstrate confidence in local expertise by actively engaging and utilizing Nigerian scholars in national development initiatives. By these, things will get better.

What is the CONUA position on your three and a half months’ salaries withheld during the ASUU strike under the previous administration?

For CONUA, the withheld salaries cannot simply be written off. The government justified the withholding on the basis of strike action. However, our members neither declared nor participated in that strike. Therefore, their salaries should not have been withheld in the first place. This position is supported by relevant provisions of the Trade Disputes Act.

What are the three major priorities CONUA would want President Bola Tinubu to attend to?

First, the immediate payment of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries owed to our members. The second is the prompt signing and full implementation of the FGN-CONUA agreement, along with CONUA’s inclusion in the implementation monitoring framework. This will remove current uncertainties, address parity concerns, and support uninterrupted academic calendars, which CONUA strongly advocates. Third is institutional support for union pluralism to reduce marginalization and encourage healthy competition that ultimately strengthens the university system.

As a Nigerian, what do you think the government is not getting right?

There is a need to move away from a consumption-driven fiscal model heavily reliant on borrowing. This approach undermines long-term investments in infrastructure, health, education, and productivity. Security challenges also remain a major concern, as persistent insecurity continues to affect lives, economic growth, and investor confidence. Finally, education must be treated as a strategic national investment. If properly prioritized, it will produce graduates who are competitive and relevant in a 21st-century economy.

APM Terminals Apapa reinforces safety-first at 2026 Global Safety Day

THE Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr. Kamal Alhraishat, has reaffirmed the company’s unwavering commitment to safety, describing it as a deeply embedded culture rather than a regulatory obligation.

He made the assertion during the commemoration of the 2026 Global Safety Day, themed: ‘We Are Safe Together.’ Addressing employees and stakeholders, Alhraishat stressed that safety goes beyond policies and procedures, stressing that it is shared responsibility to be practised daily by anyone within the terminal environment.

‘Safety is not just a checklist or a system we follow; it is a way of life at the terminal,’ he said. ‘It means working with genuine care for one another, ensuring that no one operates in isolation and that every individual has the support of a colleague. We carry a collective responsibility for everyone within our environment – from our co-workers to contractors and customers – and that responsibility must guide every action we take.’

Alhraishat highlighted the importance of vigilance and open communication in sustaining high safety standards, urging employees to speak up whenever unsafe conditions are observed.

‘In an environment where operational pressures are inevitable, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to safety,’ he noted. ‘Safety must always come before speed, and every individual must feel empowered to stop an operation if something does not feel right.’

He also called for the continuous strengthening of a workplace culture built on respect, trust, and mutual support, where employees can confidently raise concerns without fear, thereby preventing incidents before they occur.

Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr. Frederik Klinke, underscored the role of collaboration in sustaining safe operations.

Yilwatda briefs President

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has activated internal mechanisms to quickly address grievances and disagreements arising from its ongoing primaries, National Chairman Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, said yesterday.

He was optimistic that all aggrieved members would be reconciled ahead of the general elections next year.

Yilwatda spoke with reporters after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his Lagos residence, where he outlined measures being put in place to preserve party unity despite the highly competitive nature of the primaries.

According to him, the APC already has established structures for resolving disputes and ensuring that post-primary tensions do not degenerate into prolonged crises.

He said: ‘We have our internal conflict resolution mechanism that has prevailed over a period. We have the Presidential Conflict Resolution Committee, we have the Party Conflict Resolution Committee, and the party itself has been working to ensure that we reduce crisis as much as we can.’

The party chair acknowledged that disappointments and emotional reactions were inevitable after competitive contests, but stressed that the party would initiate what he described as an ‘early healing process’ to maintain cohesion and prepare for the 2027 campaigns.

‘If you lose an election, it’s not a rare thing; the emotions, the sentiments, the fact that you feel you’re the best and then suddenly you’re not the one.

‘The sentiments and feelings, the ill-feelings, sometimes are there, but we’ll ensure that we have the early healing process so that we can work on the campaign process and emerge victorious across the country in 2027.’

Yilwatda described the ongoing primaries as the most competitive in the country’s political history, attributing the development to growing acceptance of the party nationwide.

He said the large number of aspirants seeking positions under the party’s platform reflected the APC’s expanding reach and influence across the country.

‘The assessment is very simple. You can see how competitive our party has turned out to be. We have few positions and thousands of people who have come to vie for these positions across the country, the most competitive ever in the history of Nigeria,’ he said.

Yilwatda said the process had remained largely peaceful and organised, despite isolated complaints, commending party members and supporters for their discipline.

Responding to concerns over consensus arrangements and complaints from some aspirants, he insisted that the party had strictly adhered to its guidelines.

‘Our guidelines on consensus are clear and our guidelines on direct primaries are also clear. Where consensus doesn’t work, you go for direct primaries,’ he said.

According to him, aspirants participating in consensus arrangements were required to sign consent forms indicating voluntary withdrawal in support of agreed candidates.

Speaking on Tinubu’s reaction to the ongoing process, the chairman said the President expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the primaries, especially the logistics and reduced number of incidents recorded nationwide.

He said: ‘This is the first time that we’re deploying a nationwide direct primary process. We printed our result sheets and put in place logistics exactly like what INEC does. The President was very impressed with the logistics we deployed across the country and the reduced number of incidents we have had.’

The APC chairman also thanked Tinubu for what he described as strong support for the National Working Committee, saying the President had consistently backed decisions aimed at enforcing the party’s regulations.

2027: Lamido cautions Jonathan on Turaki group’s offer

Former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Sule Lamido, has dismissed renewed calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race.

In a statement personally sent to journalists via WhatsApp and on his Facebook page yesterday, Lamido described the move as a ‘desperation call’ driven by frustration over Nigeria’s current political realities.

Lamido, whose political influence remains pivotal in Jigawa PDP politics ahead of the governorship ambition of his son, Mustapha Sule Lamido asserted that Jonathan can be welcomed for re-entry into the political arena but not in 2027.

The former Foreign Affairs Minister said Jonathan, by virtue of his status as a former president, occupies a dignified national and global position that should not be dragged into what he described as Nigeria’s ‘murky political arena.’

According to him, the political space is dominated by fragmented parties lacking ideological direction and populated by ‘unserious, self-seeking and self-serving characters’ primarily interested in grabbing power.

Lamido argued that calls for Jonathan to re-enter partisan politics, coming barely a week before the close of nominations for various positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, were ill-timed and lacked strategic depth.

‘Former President Jonathan understands his position in Nigeria as a leader in his capacity as a former president, thus making him a sovereign symbol.

‘He is also in the rank of a global alumni of world leaders.

‘It is unfair and ill-opportune to drag his person into the current murky political arena populated by unserious self-seeking and self-serving characters,’ Lamido stated.

While acknowledging that the agitation for Jonathan’s return may have stemmed from the nation’s growing sense of helplessness and disillusionment, Lamido insisted that such appeals amounted to little more than a public expression of frustration.

‘The call is appreciated, but it is a desperation call lacking any depth beyond being a ventilator of frustration,’ he added.

He cautioned Jonathan against yielding to what he termed ‘ego-caressing calls,’ urging the former president to preserve his statesmanlike image for possible future national necessity.

‘President Jonathan must not fall for this ego-caress call. We can save him for the future,’ Lamido declared.

Lamido made the call 24 hours after former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu announced that the Taminu Turaki group claiming to be leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite loosing in court in the leadership battle, that the former president had been given a presidential ticket for 2027.

Aliyu said Jonathan had been given a screening waiver to pick the ticket and contest.

Why Jonathan may not be ballot

Jonathan may not be on the ballot for the 2027 Presidential election unless there is a valid court judgement compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognising the Tanimu Turaki led Executive.

The former President was given automatic ticket by the Turaki led group.

Last night, an official of INEC said the purported forwarding of the name of Adewole Adebayo to the Commission by the Social Demcoratic Party (SDP) is not in line with the schedule of activities as released by the Commission.

The Official said the Commission was yet to activate the window for the submission of names of candidates and said all political parties are expected to conclude their primaries before the approaching the commission for the access code.

He said the commission has since stopped recieving nomination manually from political parties.

Part 3 section 25 of the guidelines and regulations for political parties released by INEC after its stakeholders meeting with leaders of registered political parties provides that only the National Chairman and National Secretary recognised by the commission can present candidates onbehlf of the party.

The Section states in subsection 3 that ‘the National Chairmen and National Secretaries of political parties as contained in the Commission’s Records shall be issued Access Codes for the electronic submission, withdrawal and substitution of names and particulars of their candidates as elected at the political party primaries monitored by the Commission’.

It also provides in section 28 that:

* (1) Political parties shall use the Access Codes provided by the Commission to upload the names and particulars of their candidates using the prescribed Forms EC 09 and EC 09A – G as provided on the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP).

* (2) The completed Forms EC 09 and EC 09A-G signed by the National Executives authorised by the Party Constitution shall be uploaded to the ICNP along with relevant covering letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission (hard copies of the documents shall not be submitted).

* (3) Submission of list of candidates shall close by 11.59pm on the last day of submission as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for Election issued by the Commission.

* (4) Political parties shall submit the nomination forms of their candidates to the Commission pursuant to the released Timetable and Schedule of Activities for Election.

* (5) Where a candidate emerges by consensus, the written consent of all cleared aspirants together with the particulars of the consensus candidate for the position shall be forwarded to the Commission through the political party’s authorised official before the commencement of the primaries.

Alhaji Abdulrahaman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu are currently recognised as National Chairman and National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party. And are listed on the INEC website in those capacity.

Political Parties are expected to submit the list of their candidates to the Commission on or before 6.00pm, July 11 for the Presidential and National Assembly nomination and August 8 for Governorship and state Assembly elections.

The parties are expected to collect access code to upload the particulars of their candidates from the INEC headquarters from June 26.

Fallout of Primaries: We know how to resolve our differences – APC Chair

Following the controversies rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the ongoing Primaries, National Chairman of the party, Nentawe Yilwatda, has said the party has what it takes to resolve its differences.

The APC chairman said this in a chat with journalists after meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, on Wednesday.

He said the party’s primaries were the most competitive in the history of country, due to the acceptability of the APC across Nigeria.

While thanking President Tinubu and members across the country for their support, the APC Chairman argued that the primaries were largely orderly and rancour free.

‘I also want to thank our supporters for the disciplined approach they’ve given these processes. It’s near rancour-free, very organised, little complaints. It’s usual for people to complain in election processes, but it’s near perfect,’ he said.

On the controversies and disagreements in some states over the consensus arrangements, he said, ‘Our guidelines on consensus are clear. Our guidelines on direct primaries are also clear. Where consensus doesn’t work, you go for direct primaries. That’s what people are doing across the states.’

Yilwatda went further to say that where there is disagreement, the party has internal mechanisms to handle post-primary issues.

‘Definitely we’re going to have some aggrieved party members after this primary election. We have an internal conflict resolution mechanism that has prevailed over a period.

‘We have the Presidential Conflict Resolution Committee. We have the Party Conflict Resolution Committee,. The party itself has been working to reduce crisis, we manage people as much as we can,’ he said.

He also said, ‘The President was very impressed with the logistics we deployed across the country, the tactics we’ve used. He has also been very impressed with the reduced number of incidents that we have across the country. He’s happy with what we’re doing.’

The chairman said the nationwide deployment of direct primaries this cycle was a significant step and indicated improvements in the party’s organisational capacity, describing the exercise as a logistical success and credited members’ for their discipline which led to ‘limited conflicts’ during the process.

Kenya riots paralyse business in Busia

Businesses at the Busia border have been paralysed following an ongoing protest over fuel prices in Kenya.

Traders are stranded with their goods, and shops remain closed at the border, as security battles rioters in Busia, Kenya.

The standoff started on Monday and has left three people dead after they were reportedly hit by stray bullets fired by Kenyan police.

The rise in fuel prices has been attributed to global supply disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has affected international oil markets.

However, Kenyans say the prices are too high and are calling on the government to reduce taxes on fuel to ease the burden on consumers.

Early this week, a litre of petrol and diesel in Kenya was retailing at 244 Kenyan shillings, equivalent to approximately Shs7,300.

In Uganda, petrol was retailing at about Shs6,000 per litre, while diesel was priced at around Shs5,650 per litre, meaning fuel prices were nearly Shs1,500 higher in Kenya compared to Uganda.

Mr Babu Kayongo, a resident of Sofia, alleged that three people, including a leader of the Jobless Boys, were shot dead during riots on Tuesday evening.

‘Today, bullets have been ringing out as police disperse rioters in Busia, Kenya, who are burning tyres and blocking roads,’ Mr Kayongo said.

He said Ugandan traders engaged in cross-border trade have fled the area, leaving behind their merchandise in Kenya following the riots.

Mr Kayongo said traders from Uganda who deal in fresh produce such as cassava, avocados, and other food items have remained stuck with their goods on the Ugandan side of the border.

Ms Scovia Nabwire, a cross-border woman trader dealing in fresh food in Busia, Kenya, said she fled the area and left all her merchandise after riots broke out and gunfire was heard.

‘I left all my fruits in Kenya and ran away as youths threw stones and burned tyres, while police responded with tear gas and live bullets,’ Ms Nabwire narrated.

Ms Nabwire, like many other traders, is worried that her goods may be looted or could spoil by the time she returns to her stall in Busia, Kenya.

Mr Musa Hasyasya, a boda boda rider who was in Busia, Kenya, when the riots began, described the situation as very serious and chaotic.

Mr Hasyasya said stones thrown by a group of young men were flying over their heads as police responded with bullets and tear gas.

On the Uganda side of the border, trucks that were scheduled to cross into Kenya have remained parked in long queues, while the border gates on the Kenyan side remain closed.

Bus and truck owners, fearing being caught up in the violent protests, have parked their vehicles in Sofia on the Ugandan side of the border.

Kenyans fearing being caught up in the protests have temporarily fled and crossed into Marachi and Sofia as they monitor the tense situation across the border.

‘I am a Kenyan, but I have closed my shop and fled to Uganda because it is safer. I will monitor the situation before crossing back,’ Mr Muhuno said.

Mr Ronnie Ikinyum, a clearing agent, said not a single truck has crossed either side of the border, either from Uganda or Kenya, since yesterday, when the riots began.

‘All trucks destined for Kenya are held up in long queues on the Uganda side of the border, while those on the Kenyan side have also not crossed,’ Mr Ikinyum said.

Mr Frank Kasumba, a border resident, said the riots in Kenya have a significant economic impact not only on residents in Busia but also on Uganda and the wider region.

He said the riots are blocking imports into and exports out of the region, which he said is hurting the economy.

‘I am wondering how many millions of money have been lost in the last three days since the riots broke out in Kenya,’ Mr Kasumba said.

He said local businesses have also been affected by the riots because they are highly dependent on Kenya.

‘When we have riots in Kenya, it means most of our traders who operate businesses across the border are cut off. The shops selling clothes and traders dealing in cereals have no customers because the buyers are Kenyans,’ Mr Kasumba said.