Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Michael Adesina

The October 30 church service was a Thursday service unlike any other at The Carpenter’s Church, Port Harcourt, as members gathered expecting a regular worship experience — but left in tears after the heartbreaking announcement of the passing of their beloved presiding pastor, Pastor Mrs. Nkechi Ene.

The atmosphere, which had begun with songs of praise, quickly turned somber when a senior minister in the church, mounted the pulpit to confirm the news many had struggled to believe.

“Pastor Nkechi Ene has went home to be with the Lord,” he said in a trembling voice, his words echoing through the packed auditorium. For a moment, there was silence. Then came the sound of quiet sobs, breaking into wails as members struggled to process the news.

Some fell to their knees, others buried their faces in their hands, while ushers and fellow congregants moved around offering comfort and support.

The church, which Pastor Ene had led for years with deep passion, love, and unwavering faith, seemed to grieve as one body — united in pain but holding onto hope.

“She was more than a pastor to us,” said one long-time member, her voice shaking. “She was a mother, a teacher, a shepherd who cared deeply about every single one of us. It’s hard to imagine this church without her.”

By Adeyemi Adeleye

Former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has faulted the Federal High Court ruling that stopped the party’s planned national convention, describing it as “a dangerous intrusion into political processes” capable of destabilising Nigeria’s democracy.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, restrained the PDP from holding its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.

The interim order followed a suit alleging the party’s non-compliance with the 1999 Constitution, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, and its own constitution in preparations for the convention.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses before attempting to elect new national officers, stating that the lapse undermined internal democracy.

The decision effectively stalled the party’s leadership renewal process, raising fresh concerns about internal cohesion and readiness for future elections.

Reacting in a statement, George condemned the ruling as “shocking and dangerous for the nation’s democratic stability,” arguing that it set a worrisome precedent for judicial interference in political party affairs.

“This judgment will consume this country,” George said. “It is time the judge removed his wig and gown and joined politics.”

He called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to urgently review what he described as an “unjustifiable intervention” capable of triggering political disorder.

“Judges are not politicians. Their duty is to interpret the law, not to meddle in party administration,” he added.

eorge questioned the basis of the ruling, noting that INEC had monitored all PDP congresses nationwide and raised no objections or reports of irregularities.

“INEC is not complaining. The judge did not invite INEC officials. So why is he complaining? Does he have political interest?” he queried.

The PDP stalwart emphasised that the party, founded in 1998, has consistently adhered to due process in its congresses and conventions.

He warned that the court’s decision risked weaponising the judiciary against party autonomy and political stability in Africa’s largest democracy.

eorge urged members of the PDP to remain calm and united while pursuing lawful means to challenge the ruling.

“The PDP must stay focused and rely on its internal mechanisms to resolve this issue. We cannot allow our democracy to be derailed by judicial overreach,” he said.

The party is expected to explore legal options in the coming days as it seeks to protect its internal processes and sustain momentum ahead of the next election cycle.

The daughter of Pastor Mrs. Nkechi Chinyere Ene has broken her silence following the death of her mother, the presiding pastor of The Carpenter’s Church, who passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

In an emotional social media post, she wrote: “My beautiful mother went home to be with Jesus yesterday. It’s hard to describe how I feel in all honesty but I’m committed to taking it a day at a time. Pastor Nkechi Ene is the fiercest woman of faith I have ever known and her legacy lives on. Mommy, I love you.”

The Carpenter’s Church had earlier announced Pastor Ene’s death, describing it as a “great loss to the church and the body of Christ.” According to the church, she experienced a sudden health crisis shortly after returning from an extensive ministry trip marked by “miracles and testimonies.”

Pastor Sola Akinwale, speaking on behalf of the church, described Pastor Ene as “one of the great generals of God in our generation — one who lived and taught the undiluted Word of God, danced with the Holy Spirit, and by precept and example taught us to do the same.”

The church continues to call for prayers and support for her family, which includes her husband, Brother Emeka Ene, her daughters Zoe, Chloe, Tracy, and Osi, as well as her mother, Ma Mercy Chijioke, and siblings.

Despite the deep sense of loss, the church said Pastor Ene’s legacy will continue to inspire the congregation and believers around the world.

Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has once again made a controversial statement about the top Nigerian afrobeats artists.

Burna Boy ,while speaking on a livestream with Australian media personality Playboymax, claimed that he is the second best afrobeats artists.

The Grammy award winning singer claimed that late icon Fela Kuti is the only artist that is greater than him. He emphasised his bold claim, stating that Fela is the king of Afrobeats.

“He [Fala Kuti] is the king. He is the only one [African artist] who is greater than me. He is the only one,” he stated.

Kogi State Polytechnic has launched an investigation into a network of nine individuals allegedly involved in large-scale certificate forgery and document falsification.

The institution’s Rector, Professor Salisu Ogbo, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday in Lokoja. According to him, the scandal has led to the suspension of five staff members, while four individuals claiming to be students have been arrested in connection with the alleged racketeering.

“Management recently uncovered a syndicate comprising students, non-students, and a few unscrupulous members of staff who were found manipulating academic records and disregarding institutional procedures,” Ogbo stated.

He revealed that 30 counterfeit National Diploma (ND) certificates had already been discovered and reportedly sold to unsuspecting buyers. Shockingly, some of the perpetrators used the forged results to seek admission into the institution’s Higher National Diploma (HND) programme.

The rector explained that the operation was uncovered through intelligence gathering and routine verification exercises conducted by the Admissions, ICT, and Security Units of the polytechnic.

“These individuals breached our security systems and tampered with the protective features on official Statements of Result,” he said.

Ogbo added that the suspects worked with result processors to generate fake academic results for persons who had failed or skipped examinations, thereby presenting them as successful graduates.

He condemned the act as a direct attack on the integrity of the polytechnic, vowing that those involved would face the full weight of the law.

“This is a criminal affront to the credibility of our institution. Such misconduct will not be tolerated or allowed to go unpunished,” he affirmed.

The Rector assured the public and stakeholders that the polytechnic’s quality assurance and security systems remain intact and that management is committed to preserving the school’s reputation.

“We will continue to expose and eradicate all forms of academic fraud capable of tarnishing the good name of Kogi State Polytechnic,” Ogbo concluded.

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government has demolished more than 200 illegal shanties and dislodged criminal hideouts in a major enforcement exercise around Apapa Road, Ijora, and Costain under bridges.

The operation, coordinated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, involved several government agencies working together to reclaim public spaces taken over by illegal occupants, abandoned vehicles, and environmental nuisances.

During the exercise, operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) discovered a dummy firearm and other dangerous weapons hidden beneath the Costain Bridge, confirming long-standing suspicions that the area served as a criminal hideout.

iwa described the state of the cleared areas as deplorable, saying such unlawful occupation was a “monumental affront to public decency, environmental order, and the security of Lagos residents.”

He stressed that the government would not tolerate any return of shanty dwellers or miscreants to the cleared sites.

He explained that the cleanup was part of ongoing efforts to curb traffic robberies, drug peddling, and environmental degradation that have plagued the area for years.

The exercise also included the removal of unauthorized garages and abandoned trucks converted into makeshift shelters.

The multi-agency operation featured the participation of LASTMA, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and the Nigeria Police Force.

iwa reaffirmed the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to urban renewal, public safety, and environmental restoration, urging residents to support government efforts toward achieving a safer and cleaner Lagos.

He noted that the clearance drive aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of maintaining a secure, orderly, and sustainable megacity.

By Edeki Igafe

Seven suspects who allegedly abducted three people at a dredging site at Ubeji community, Warri South Local Government of Delta State have been arrested while their victims were also rescued.

Spokesperson for Delta Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to journalists on Friday in Warri.

ccording to him, the three victims who were all males were rescued from the custody of the suspects.

Edafe said that the suspects were arrested on Thursday by the police operatives attached to the Ekpan Division, Uvwie Local Government of the state.

He said that the suspects were nabbed following a credible information received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Ekpan Division, CSP Labe Joseph.

ccording to Edafe, the DPO received a distress report of a suspected case of kidnapping incident at Ubeji Community, behind the Ubeji Gas Plant.

“Acting on the report, the DPO deployed a team of detectives and patrol operatives to the scene.

“On sighting the police teams, the suspected kidnappers fled into an abandoned poultry within the same community.

“The police team swiftly cordoned off the area, leading to the successful arrest of the seven suspects,” he said.

Edafe said that the rescued victims had since reunited with their families.

The police spokesman said that preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted at a dredging site at Ubeji and ferried across the river.

He said that the suspects immediately contacted the families of the abductees, and threatened to kill them, if certain demands were not met.

Edafe added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the other fleeing members of the gang. (NAN)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the final stage of screening for eight political associations seeking registration as political parties, after six others failed to complete their submissions before the deadline.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 30, 2025, and signed by National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the Commission said the move follows the closure of its online portal on October 18, 2025.

ccording to INEC, only eight out of the fourteen pre-qualified associations successfully uploaded all required documents within the one-month submission window that opened on September 18.

The qualified associations are: All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Green Future Party (GFP), National Democratic Party (NDP), and Peoples Freedom Party (PFP).

The Commission stated that it will now carry out a detailed assessment and verification of the documents submitted by the eight groups to ensure compliance with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s 2022 Guidelines for Political Parties.

While INEC did not disclose the fate of the six associations that failed to complete their submissions, the implication is that they may have been dropped from the process.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic system.

As Not less than 82 secondary schools storm Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre for Opeifa Cup 2025

Former Chairperson of Lagos State Handball Association and sponsor of “Opeifa Cup 2025” Mrs. Adeola Opeifa, has disclosed that talents discover from the Lagos State Secondary Schools Handball Competition will form parts of team players at different national youth levels.

She noted the programme has contributed so much to the development of handball in the state and generally in the country.

Speaking at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, where 82 secondary schools are participating in the championship established seven years ago, Opeifa highlighted that the vision was to promote the game of handball and mentor the young talented players into wholesome ambassadors of the community.

She said, “This particular programme has been able to discover those who have represented Nigeria at the junior and senior levels. We have also been able to change people’s life because some of them were picked from the streets and brought back to schools, and today they are great guys.”

Opeifa added that this year’s event was planned to discover those that will represent the state in the next National Youth Games as they intend to inject new blood into the team, noting that training continues and those penciled down will be subjected to further training in preparations for the subsequent championships.

“We expected 20 teams from each of the six educational districts. We have 82 schools (both junior and senior) currently participating in this year’s competition,” said Adeola Opeifa.

ccording to Coach Daniel Yohanna he said described the performance of each team as impressive as they possessed the skills of the game. He pointed out that the programme is a good avenue to encourage young players who are interested in the game of handball to showcase their skills.

Some of the schools present were: Whitesand, Herbert Macaulay, Ijaye,Igbobi,Ransome Kuti, Gaskiya, Aje, Ikeja,Okesuna,Vetland,Eletu among others.

By Taiye Olayemi

The Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) has declared an interim dividend of N1.00 per ordinary share of 50 kobo each.

This is following the approval of its unaudited financial statements for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025.

The NGX Group in a statement on Thursday, said that the decision was reached at the meeting of the company’s Board of Directors.

The interim dividend will be paid to shareholders whose names appear in the Register of Members as at the close of business on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, while electronic payment will be made on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.

The Group described the declaration as another milestone in its consistent dividend payment history.

ccording to the company, this reflects the board’s confidence in NGX Group’s profitability, resilience, and commitment to shareholder value creation.

Commenting on the announcement, the Chairman of the NGX Group, Dr Umaru Kwairanga said, “The declaration of this interim dividend reaffirms the Board’s confidence in NGX Group’s solid fundamentals and long-term growth outlook.

“We have maintained a consistent dividend track record that reflects our unwavering commitment to shareholder value.

“This payment recognises our investors’ trust and remains focused on reciprocating that trust through consistent value addition to its shareholders.

“Our focus remains on delivering sustainable returns through disciplined execution and strategic growth.”

lso, the Group Managing Director of the NGX Group, Temi Popoola said, “Our commitment to shareholders is at the heart of every strategic decision we make.

“This dividend reflects the Group’s strong financial discipline, consistent profitability, and prudent capital allocation.

“As we advance our growth agenda, we will continue to unlock opportunities across our ecosystem, creating measurable value for our investors and reinforcing NGX Group’s position as a trusted driver of capital market prosperity in Africa.”

NGX Group will continue to demonstrate its commitment to transparent governance, financial discipline, and sustainable value creation.

(NAN)