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Comprehensive Insight Into Timipre Sylva, The APC Governorship Contender Of Bayelsa State

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Comprehensive Insight Into Timipre Sylva, The APC Governorship Contender Of Bayelsa State....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

A legal controversy has emerged regarding the candidacy of Timipre Sylva, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, in the upcoming Bayelsa State governorship election, scheduled for November 11, 2023. Sylva secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket with 52,061 votes in the party’s primary.

However, this development has triggered reactions, with some politicians in the state arguing that Sylva, who served as governor twice, should not be allowed to contest again. In response to these concerns, Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered a judgment in a case filed on June 13, 2023, by an APC member, Deme Kolomo, which resulted in Sylva’s removal as the APC’s governorship candidate.

Justice Okorowo’s ruling was based on the assertion that Sylva, having previously held the position of governor for two terms, would breach the amended 1999 constitution if permitted to run for another term. The judge contended that if Sylva were to win the election and be sworn in, he would exceed the constitutionally mandated limit of eight years in office as governor of the state.

Sylva and the APC have expressed their intention to appeal the court’s decision.

Here are some key facts about Timipre Sylva:

– Timipre Sylva was born on July 7, 1964, in Brass, Bayelsa, which was formerly part of Rivers State before becoming a separate entity in 1996.

Educational Background:
– Sylva graduated with distinction in English (Linguistics) from the University of Port Harcourt in 1986, where he was the top-performing student in his department.
– He was awarded an honorary Doctorate in International Relations by UBIS University in 2011.
– Sylva received his second honorary Doctorate in Public Administration from AiPA (African Institute of Public Administration), Leading Edge Foundation, and LBBS on December 2, 2020.

Political Background:
– Sylva’s political journey commenced in 1992 when he won a seat in the House of Assembly, representing the Brass constituency in the former Rivers State.
– He served as Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Petroleum in 2004, working under Dr. Edmund Daukoru.
– As a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sylva won the 2007 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election.
– His victory was challenged in court by his opponent, Ebitimi Amgbare of the Action Congress, which eventually led to the nullification of his election by the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt in 2008.
– Sylva was reelected in a new election held on May 24, 2008.
– He served as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in President Buhari’s cabinet from August 21, 2019.

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Ekiti Politics: Governor Oyebanji Clears Path For Second-Term Cabinet In Major Shake-Up

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Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has approved the immediate dissolution of state boards, commissions, and parastatals, alongside terminating the appointments of several political aides.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to an official statement released on Sunday by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, the termination affects all Special Assistants (SAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), and Technical Assistants (TAs).

The statement clarified that the move is part of a gradual transition as the administration winds down its first term ahead of Governor Oyebanji’s second-term inauguration on October 16, 2026.

Key Exemptions

The governor outlined specific offices, governing bodies, and officials exempted from the directive:

  • Statutory Commissions: Members and chairmen of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission, and House of Assembly Service Commission remain in office.

  • Tertiary Institutions: The governing councils of all state-owned higher institutions are unaffected.

  • Selected Agency Leadership: The chairmen of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Teaching Service Commission, and Local Government Service Commission retain their positions, though their board members have been relieved of duty.

  • Senior Executive Aides: Directors-General and Technical Advisors to the Governor remain in their respective roles.

Governor Oyebanji commended the outgoing appointees for their dedication, hard work, and valuable contributions toward the progress of Ekiti State during his first tenure.

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Petrol Can Sell For ₦200 In Nigeria Without Subsidy – Donald Duke

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Former Governor of Cross River State and 2027 Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has stated that petrol in Nigeria can sell between ₦200 and ₦300 per litre without government subsidies if fuel prices are pegged to local production costs rather than international market rates.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Duke explained that true subsidy occurs when a product is bought at a high price and sold to consumers below cost. He argued that since crude oil is Nigeria’s collective resource, domestic fuel pricing should reflect what it costs to extract, refine, and distribute the oil locally.

Key Highlights of Donald Duke’s Strategy:

  • Production Cost vs. Market Price: Duke noted that while crude oil sells internationally for $70 to $80 per barrel, Nigeria’s local production cost does not exceed $40 per barrel. Out of the ~1.7 million barrels produced daily, Nigeria requires only about 300,000 barrels for local consumption.

  • Byproduct Amortization: A single barrel yields seven refined products. Duke proposed that five of those byproducts (such as aviation fuel and kerosene) be sold at commercial international rates, using those revenues to offset the refining costs of petrol and diesel.

  • Domestic Pricing Formula: He advocated supplying petrol and diesel to Nigerians at actual production cost plus a modest 5% to 10% margin to cover distribution.

Under this model, Duke asserted, the federal government could completely eliminate subsidy payments while dramatically reducing pump prices for citizens.

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Financial Probe: Taraba SEMA Boss Under Scrutiny Over ₦49.4M Inflows, Company Link

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Dr. Echuseh Audu, Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), is facing renewed scrutiny following financial disclosures linking her and a related business, Katuka’s Kitchen, to transfers totaling ₦49.44 million.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The developments follow earlier, unproven social media allegations that SEMA diverted over 10,000 bags of rice and 1,000 cartons of groundnut oil intended for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Dr. Audu has strongly denied the diversion claims and voluntarily presented herself to security agencies—including the Police, DSS, NSCDC, and the Ministry of Justice—demanding a full investigation.

Key Financial Inflows & Controversial LPRES Transfer

Financial records obtained by SaharaReporters detail multiple transfers across accounts associated with Audu and Katuka’s Kitchen:

  • World Bank Project Transfer: On October 28, 2025, the Taraba State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) Draw Down Account transferred ₦12,190,726.80 to Katuka’s Kitchen. The same amount was later returned to the LPRES account. Insiders questioned the propriety of a government project conducting business with a public official’s associated entity, though records do not specify if the transaction was a contract payment, reimbursement, or error.

  • Inflows Breakdown (Totaling ₦49.44 Million):

    • ₦15M: Transferred from an account under Audu Echuseh Echuseh at UBA (May 10, 2024).

    • ₦7M: Transferred from Katuka’s Kitchen’s Fidelity Bank account (August 16, 2024).

    • ₦5.25M: Received from Sunday Stephen via Globus Bank (January 30, 2026).

    • ₦5M: Received from Callistus Obiejezie (February 25, 2026).

    • ₦5M: Transferred from a UBA account under Audu Echuseh (Date unspecified).

₦44 Million Hospital Payments

The records also highlight three transactions totaling ₦44 million paid to GTBank accounts belonging to Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja (₦15M on Feb 20, 2026; ₦14M on Feb 26, 2026; and an undated ₦15M payment). Sources close to Audu clarified that these funds were utilized to cover medical expenses for a young girl who subsequently passed away.

Questions Over Business Ownership & Corporate Filings

While sources close to the SEMA Chief claim she formally resigned her role with Katuka’s Kitchen at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), reports indicate her Bank Verification Number (BVN) remains tied to the business’s active accounts across Access Bank, Globus Bank, and Fidelity Bank.

SEMA Maintains Stance on Integrity

TSEMA reiterated its commitment to transparency, noting that over 50,000 emergency victims have benefited from state relief distribution. Dr. Audu had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

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