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Cross River PDP battles national exco over state congress

The Cross River chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected claims of the National Working Committee’s (NWC) on the legitimacy of its recent state congress.

The PDP NWC had in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, faulted claims that a state congress has been held in Cross River.

Ologunagba described any such exercise as ‘hallucination’ and insisted that the process had been formally postponed by the NWC.

But in reaction, the Publicity Secretary of PDP in Cross River State, Mr Mike Ojisi, in a statemen issued in Calabar on Wednesday asserted that the congress conducted on Sept. 27 was duly authorised, monitored and attended by all party leaders and structures in across the state.

Ojisi said it was supervised by a panel constituted by the party and monitored by relevant authorities, including electoral umpire, INEC, the Police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

‘The said Congress was duly monitored by all duly constituted authorities including the INEC team of observers which was ably led by the Resident Electoral Commissioner himself, The Police and Civil defence,’ he stated.

He questioned the legitimacy of a purported National Working Committee (NWC) meeting that claimed to have taken a decision against the Congress.

He said that congresses do not hold at the ‘whims and caprices’ of the NWC or when the National Publicity Secretary says so.

‘A purported social media chat between five members of the NWC cannot constitute a National Working Committee of the Party, talk more of taking such a fundamental decision,’ Ojisi said.

He challenged the national leadership to disclose the venue, date, and approved memorandum of such a meeting.

Ojisi reiterated the party’s commitment to its ideals and loyalty to legitimate decisions taken in accordance with extant rules.

‘As law abiding party members we remain committed to the ideals of the party remaining loyal to all legitimate decisions of the Party taken in accordance with extant rules guiding the process towards taking them,’ he said.

‘No Congress’

Recall that Ologunagba, who also serves as secretary of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) said Cross River was one of the states where the state congress was shifted after due considerations.

‘For emphasis, there was none. There was no congress in Cross River State for the PDP, because it has been postponed, along with that of Plateau and Kebbi,’ Ologunagba declared.

He dismissed reports that party members gathered in Calabar for a Congress, saying such an event bore no legitimacy.

‘All these processes, particularly the setting up of an electoral panel, have not happened,’ he said.

Asked if the party would sanction organisers of the alleged exercise in Calabar, Ologunagba replied: ‘for anybody who has brought this party into disrepute, we know what to do.

‘There’s a constitution. We all subscribed to be members, and we swore to obey it. Enough is enough.

He added that the NNWC will constitute a Caretaker committee who shall run the affairs of the party in Cross River for some time.

‘Currently for Cross River, the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee will be overseeing the affairs of the chapter as earlier directed by the NWC,’ he said.

65th Independence: Okpebholo charges Nigerians on unity, teamwork

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Monday Okpebholo, has charged Nigerians on the need for unity and teamwork to achieve the purpose of independence.

He gave the charge on Wednesday, in a speech he delivered to mark the nation’s 65th Independence Day anniversary.

He noted that every October 1 reminds Nigerians ‘of the sacrifices of our founding fathers, who fought with courage and vision to give us a free nation’, adding that it is a day of pride, reflection, and, above all, renewed hope.

‘Independence is not only about freedom from foreign rule. It calls for unity and teamwork in order to maximise the opportunities that come with freedom. We must always remind ourselves that we can achieve more if we come together as Edo people,’ Okpebholo said.

Addressing the children and youths, the Governor who described them as the heartbeat of this State, charged them not to give in to despair.

‘Do not give in to despair. Your energy and talents are the key to our future, and this government will continue to invest in you.

‘My message today is simple: A New Edo Has Risen. A New Nigeria Has Risen. Together, with courage and dedication, nothing can stop us,’ he concluded.

I was shocked- Ebonyi governor reacts to rumours of ill-health

Ebonyi governor, Francis Nwifuru has said he was shocked over recent insinuations on the social media that he travelled abroad to attend to a health condition.

The rumours of the ill-health of the governor had caused palpable anxiety among some people in the state with many expressing worries over the governor’s wellbeing.

Speaking on Thursday, Nwifuru said he was shocked over the rumours his illness while on a recent official trip abroad.

The Governor spoke during the 65 Independence celebration and 29th year of Ebonyi’s creation in Abakaliki.

He said even his father was perturbed and called him to ask whether all was still well.

Contrary to the rumours, Nwifuru insisted that he was hale and hearty while on the foreign trip.

He attributed the rumours to what he described as the misrepresentation of his meekness to be weakness.

‘We have given people lots of privileges, but do not push a man to the wall.

‘I was, however, encouraged with the fact that if you are not important, no one will talk about you,’ he said.

Nwifuru counseled people especially youths not to take his calm, unique but resolute disposition for granted.

‘This does not mean that we cannot bite but I don’t want us to start biting.

‘When you see a man that is calm, be careful of him.

‘When I recall my rough road to where I am presently, I decide to take things easy,’ he said.

He reeled his administration’s achievements since assuming office in 2023, reiterating his determination to meet all objectives in his people’s charter of needs mantra.

‘Ebonyi has a lot to celebrate at 29 years and I thank our former governors and leaders of the state for keeping the state together since 1996,’ he said.

Former Governors of the state, Sen. Sam Egwu and Chief Martin Elechi in their remarks, thanked Nwifuru for effectively steering the state’s affairs in the people’s benefit.

The state All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha among other stakeholders also congratulated the governor, while pledging their unalloyed support to his administration.

The governor inspected a guard of honour to mark the celebration, presented staff of offices to new traditional rulers in the state among other engagements.

New Cebu archbishop installed

The Archdiocese of Cebu welcomed Archbishop Alberto Uy as its new head during a Solemn Canonical Possession and Installation Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral yesterday.

Addressing the congregation, Uy said: ‘My good people in Cebu, I am here, reporting for duty. The Archdiocese of Cebu is so big and my capacity is so little. Please be good to me. I promise to give you my best, so we can walk closer to Christ, our true shepherd.’

Uy thanked his family, the clergy and devotees as well as all those who joined the ceremony personally and online.

The prelate honored the members of his family, whom he described as his ‘first home, first teachers, first good friends and constant source of support.’

He pledged to remain humble and serve the people of Cebu well.

‘I come to you as your unworthy servant, fully aware that I cannot complete this mission alone. I will always need God’s unfailing help and yours as well,’ he said.

Acknowledging the longing of Filipinos for authentic leadership, Uy vowed to be transparent, accountable and faithful to his mission.

He urged the faithful to remain connected with the church through the archdiocese’s and his official Facebook pages.

Uy is the 25th bishop and fifth metropolitan archbishop of Cebu, replacing Cebu Archbishop-Emeritus Jose Palma who retired after nearly 15 years of serving the archdiocese.

Supreme Court voids Bangsamoro districting acts, resets BARMM polls not later than March 2026

The Supreme Court has effectively reset the first regular parliamentary elections for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), ordering the polls to be conducted no later than March 31, 2026.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, October 1, Supreme Court Spokesperson Camille Ting said that the high court’s en banc session on Tuesday, September 30, declared two regional laws governing parliamentary districts-Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77 and BAA 58 -unconstitutional.

The high court also said that the parliamentary elections previously scheduled for October 13 cannot proceed due to the lack of a valid legal framework for defining electoral districts.

However, it ordered the Commission on Elections to proceed with preparations and conduct the first regular elections for the Members of the Parliament not later than March 31, 2026.

BAA 77 Voided. The Supreme Court also declared unconstitutional the BA77, the act which reorganized parliamentary districts to reallocate seats originally assigned to Sulu, was passed on Aug. 19, 2025, and signed on Aug. 28, 2025.

According to Ting, the act violated Section 5 of the Voters Registration Act, which prohibits the alteration of precincts once the election period has commenced.

She said that the act violated the Bangsamoro Organic Law requirement that districts must comprise adjoining areas.

‘Some local government units in Lano del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Cotabato City were assigned to different districts that were neither contiguous nor adjacent,’ Ting said.

BAA77 reorganizes parliamentary districts within the BARMM to reallocate seats originally intended for Sulu, after the Supreme Court declared that it was not part of the BARMM.

BAA 53 was also voided. The Supreme Court also declared BAA 58, the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024, unconstitutional.

According to Ting, the high tribunal ruled that the nullification of BAA 77 does not revive the earlier law because BAA 58’s framework is now outdated.

BAA 58 still included Sulu in its parliamentary districts, a provision inconsistent with subsequent rulings removing Sulu from BARMM.

‘Since BAA 58 is based on an outdated framework following the removal of Sulu from BARMM, it cannot be reinstated,’ Ting said.

‘Rather, a new and valid districting law must be passed consistent with the Bangsamoro Organic Law, national laws, and the Constitution,’ she added.

The Supreme Court also has issued a mandate requiring the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to immediately determine and finalize the new parliamentary districts, ensuring full compliance with the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the court’s specified criteria by Oct. 30, 2025.

Pure Energy group to backdoor COAL?

COAL is a non-operational zombie, so I’m in favor of any move by COAL’s board that will make this company a productive part of the PSE. That said, I’m not a fan of backdoor listings, as I think they encourage blind speculation and reward insider trading while also side-stepping important parts of the price discovery process. Let me be clear: I’m not alleging that anyone related to COAL or PURE has done anything specific to encourage blind speculation, or that they’ve done insider trading. The lack of information is the issue. In a regular IPO, we’d get a legally vetted document that lays out the ownership structure, the plan, and the risk/reward matrix for all to see. Here, what do we know? Just the names of the buyers.

Cebuana Lhuillier Bank’s Iponventure earns global recognition for driving financial inclusion

Cebuana Lhuillier Bank’s (CL Bank) Iponventure campaign has earned international acclaim with a Bronze Stevie Award for Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year at the prestigious International Business Awards (IBA).

The award highlights the bank’s efforts to make saving simple, consistent and accessible for millions of Filipinos, proving that financial empowerment can begin with small, steady steps.

‘This recognition reaffirms our belief that true leadership is not measured only by growth and profit, but by how many lives we uplift and how much positive change we create. Iponventure is proof that even the simplest tools can spark a culture of saving, empower families and open doors to a brighter financial future for every Filipino,’ said Jean Henri Lhuillier, CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier Bank, as he reflected on Iponventure’s global win.

At the heart of Iponventure is the IPONBOX, a simple but powerful tool that has been distributed to more than 700,000 clients nationwide. This visual savings container serves as a constant reminder to set aside even small amounts of money regularly.

Shared through branches, community events, employee programs and social media content from financial experts, the IPONBOX has grown into a recognizable symbol of the message: start small and save consistently.

The campaign also makes formal saving more accessible through Micro Savings Accounts, which can be opened with just a P50 initial deposit.

By breaking down one of the biggest barriers to banking, Iponventure empowers Filipinos to begin their savings journey. This effort is further supported by the Cebuana 24k Rewards Program, a free loyalty program that gives clients incentives for using the bank’s financial services, helping them save even more along the way.

In 2024, Iponventure opened over 1.1 million new Micro Savings accounts and raised balances among IPONBOX users. These savings have helped families handle emergencies, grow small businesses, and plan for their children’s future-showing that even modest deposits create real security.

Unlike short-term campaigns, Iponventure drives lasting behavior change by combining practical tools, financial education, and community involvement, making saving a daily habit championed by both clients and employees.

By aligning its social responsibility programs with its mission to promote inclusive financial empowerment, CL Bank has gone beyond offering services. It has started a movement that makes saving personal, practical and achievable for every Filipino.

Loan without fear: How Global Dominion becomes ‘Ka-partner Mo sa Pag-angat’

For many Filipinos, the word ‘debt’ is often avoided because it comes with fear and anxiety. Many stories of being buried in debt or struggling to pay it off have caused a negative perception. But the truth is, if used correctly and responsibly, loans are not something to fear-they can actually be a tool for growth and progress.

Mostly, it’s because of lack of financial knowledge and the bad experiences of others. If the concept of interest rates, repayment terms and proper budgeting isn’t clear, it’s easy to think of a loan as a burden. And when used for wants and not for needs, that’s when the impact becomes negative.

In fact, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, only two out of 10 Filipino adults have formal loans, while the rest rely on informal lending. Around 77% remain unbanked or underbanked, which explains the hesitation towards borrowing. Yet BSP data also shows that 43% of borrowers use loans for productive purposes such as business, real estate or asset purchases.

This proves that loans, when managed wisely, are not burdens but bridges. Whether for a home, a vehicle or a business, they can turn dreams into reality. With the right financing and discipline, loans don’t hold you back-they push you forward.

As one of the leading financing companies in the Philippines, Global Dominion Financing Inc. offers easy and affordable loan products such as car/truck financing, car refinancing (Sangla OR/CR) and more-all designed to support Filipinos in their journey to success.

At the heart of Global Dominion’s work is the commitment to show that it can be possible (#PwedePala) maabot ang tagumpay kapag may tamang ka-partner sa iyong financial needs. Loans are not enemies of financial freedom; used wisely, they’re bridges to success. With the right partner, you’ll realize that it’s possible to dream big and achieve more-because there will always be a “Ka-Partner Mo sa Pag-Angat.”

Eala wins Suzhou opening assignment

Alex Eala ground out a gutsy 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win over Katarzyna Kawa of Poland in their rain-interrupted Round 1 duel in the WTA125 Suzhou Open yesterday at the Sungent International Tennis Center in China.

The fourth-seeded Eala kept her patience, cool and composure amidst the interruptions and outfought Kawa in their back-and-forth match that lasted two hours and 27 minutes.

It was payback time for Eala, who bowed to Kawa at the W60 Templeton event in California three years ago.

Eala, WTA No. 58, will face No. 106 Greet Minnen of Belgium in the Round of 16 for a shot at her fourth straight quarterfinals appearance.

With Eala and Kawa, WTA No. 124, locked at 2 in the first frame, officials suspended the match for a few hours before resuming in the afternoon.

Eala went on to win four of the last five games to take the first set before the match was halted anew momentarily down the stretch of the second with Kawa holding a 5-3 lead en route to a 6-3 win.

It became an explosive battle with Eala and Kawa taking turns in breaking at 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5 in the extended decider. Eala finally snapped the exchange with a 2-0 closeout.

Synology partners with VST-ECS to expand distribution network in Philippines

Synology Inc., a global leader in network-attached storage (NAS), data protection and hybrid cloud solutions, today announced the appointment of VST-ECS Phils., Inc. as its official distribution partner in the Philippines.

This partnership marks a significant milestone in Synology’s commitment to expanding its local presence and accelerating access to secure, scalable and high-performance data infrastructure across the country.

As digital transformation accelerates across industries in the Philippines, organizations face increasing challenges in securing, managing and scaling their data infrastructure.

Modern organizations require more than just basic storage-they need an end-to-end infrastructure that combines centralized data storage, automated backup, hybrid cloud integration and built-in cybersecurity features.

VST ECS will distribute Synology’s complete portfolio of solutions, including its network-attached storage (NAS), comprehensive data backup and recovery solutions, surveillance systems, as well as business productivity solutions.

These solutions empower organizations to streamline IT operations, enhance data protection and improve overall productivity.

‘We’re excited to strengthen Synology’s footprint in the Philippines through this partnership with VST ECS. With their extensive distribution network and deep local expertise, we expect connections with more organizations, accelerated market growth and increased delivery of enterprise-grade data solutions to the vast market,” Claire Huang, Synology’s country manager for the Philippines, said.

‘Our collaboration with VST ECS reinforces our long-term commitment to supporting the Philippines’ digital growth. Together, we aim to empower organizations of all sizes with reliable, innovative and future-ready IT solutions that strengthen the country’s technological capabilities and accelerate its digital transformation,’ Thachawan Chinchanakarn, ASEAN regional sales manager at Synology, said.

With its extensive nationwide reach and in-depth understanding of local market needs, VST ECS is well-positioned to bring Synology’s solutions to a broad range of business users, helping them build secure, scalable and intelligent IT environments.

‘As the country’s leading ICT distributor, VST ECS plays a pivotal role in empowering organizations with the right technologies to modernize infrastructure and future-proof operations. Our partnership with Synology allows us to deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions that simplify data management, enhance protection and support seamless hybrid cloud adoption,’ Jimmy Go, president and CEO of VST ECS Phils., Inc., said.

‘Backed by our nationwide channel network and deep technical expertise, we are committed to expanding Synology’s presence and enabling more organizations to build agile, secure and scalable IT environments’ he added.

This collaboration is part of Synology’s broader initiative to deepen its footprint in Southeast Asia by strengthening its local partner ecosystem and ensuring easier access to enterprise-grade data solutions.