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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and SLB, a global technology company on Tuesday in Lagos unveiled the first three products of their joint program, the NCDMB-SLB Technology Enhancement Program (N-STEP), a platform whereby students of higher institutions develop software plugins for diverse oil field applications.  The programme was unveiled on the sidelines of the 2023 Nigerian Association of Petroleum Geologists (NAPE) and it showcased nine students representing three prestigious universities in Nigeria who had developed software solutions that would address live oil and gas challenges. The unveiling ceremony was witnessed by industry stakeholders,…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa The deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has assured that the Prosperity Government of Governor Douye Diri would redouble its efforts at developing the state in the next four years. Senator Ewhrudjakpo gave the assurance when a delegation of the chiefs, elders and people of Bayelsa West Senatorial District paid him a congratulatory visit over his reelection as deputy governor in the just-concluded governorship polls. Addressing the delegation at his residence in Government House, Yenagoa, on Tuesday, the deputy governor said the administration would work harder to reciprocate the people’s overwhelming show of love…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa   Ex-Militant leaders from the six states of the Niger Delta region have attributed the defeat of the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, to the alleged “unholy alliance” between him and former militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (also known as Tompolo) over the alleged award of over $370 million U.S dollars belonging to Bayelsa (central corridor) to a contractor in Delta State. The ex-militant leaders, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said despite the wide acceptance of the winner of the just concluded Bayelsa Governorship poll, Senator Douye Diri…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa Bayelsa State erupted in jubilation on Monday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the off-cycle governorship election in the state. This was even as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was the state agent, has rejected the result, alleging massive riggings and cancellation of its votes. Governor Diri polled 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 110,108 votes. In the state capital, Yenagoa, jubilant crowd trooped into the streets singing, dancing…

By Young E. Freeborn, Warri As Evwreni kingdom gears up for elections into community offices, Prince Kenneth Ukpebitere has countered a recent publication, by some members of the Ukpebitere royal family, claiming that the family did not endorse him as one of the contestants for the position of president general of Evwreni Clan Improvement Union in its upcoming 2023 elections.  Prince Kenneth Ukpebitere, in a response to the publication, told the members of his family and the public that, “the president-general of Evwreni kingdom is not a family inheritance, but is open to all eligible contestants in the entire kingdom.”…

By Emma Ovundah The incumbent governor of Bayelsa State, and governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Douye Diri has been declared winner of the just concluded November 11 governorship election in the state. Returning Officer for the Bayelsa State governorship election, Prof. Kuta Farouk, made the declaration on Monday evening at the INEC headquarters in Yenagoa. Our correspondent reports that Douye Diri, who contested the November 11, 2023 election against 16 other candidates, won 6 out of 8 local government areas of the state with 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All…

By Ehichioya Ezomon This is a response to a comment on my October 30, 2023, piece on, “How Supreme Court trashed Atiku’s ‘fresh evidence’ from Chicago.” Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got the new evidence from President Bola Tinubu’s academic records and deposition to authenticate his certificate by the Chicago State University, in Illinois, United States, on October 2 and 3, respectively. The respondent to the article on ‘NTA Benin Family Forum’ WhatsApp page, reposted a fabled, “Justice in 21st century Nigeria,” woven by Usman Muhammad around a murder case, in which the suspect was…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa There was marked improvement in the organisation of the Bayelsa Governorship Election. In many parts of Yenagoa City, electoral personnel and materials arrived early to the polling units with accreditation and voting also taking place. The process has been largely peaceful and orderly with moderate turnout of voters in many places. Despite the heavy presence of security personnel across the State, there have been isolated incidents of violence and disruption of the electoral process in some areas. Compared to the 2023 General Election, INEC Personnel and materials arrived in many polling units on schedule in Yenagoa…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa Ad-Hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a Corps member was on Saturday attacked by suspected thugs of the All Progressive Congress (APC), carting away the elections materials, the BIVAS for Ward 1, Unit 23 located at Onopa in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the State. The bag of the Corps members was taken along the armed thugs. Confirming the incident, the Unit Agent of the PDP, said the collation and sorting of voting was ongoing when the armed thugs invaded the unit. He also confirmed that no one was injured in the…

By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa There was palpable tension at Twon Brass jetty in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State when officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were offloading the election materials. This followed a misunderstanding that occurred between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over where the election materials should be kept ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) governorship election. It was alleged that the chairman of Brass LGA chapter of the PDP, identified as Bara Daniel was injured in the head by alleged supporters of the APC, allegedly led by…