NEWS
Anambra: Former APC Guber Aspirant Emerges YPP Sole Candidate

Mr Paul Chukwuma, an erstwhile frontline Governorship Aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Anambra, has emerged the governorship flag bearer for the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Report says that Chukwuma resigned from APC few hours to its primary election on Saturday but gave no reason for his action.
He, however, promised to continue to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to better Nigeria, his resignation, notwithstanding.
Mr Vidiyeno Bamayi, the YPP Electoral Committee Chairman and Returning Officer for the Primary Election on Thursday in Awka, declared Chukwuma the party’s sole canditate for the November 18 governorship poll.
“I Vidiyeno Bamayi hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer of the guber primary election held on April 10 in Anambra.
“That the election was not contested, as we had a single candidate, therefore, we had to do a yes or no vote.
“That Mr Paul Chukwuma received 366 ‘Yes’ votes against eight “No’ votes from the 326 wards in the state to become the YPP governorship candidate.
“That Chukwuma, having satisfied the requirements of the YPP electoral guidelines and the law, is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected as the YPP candidate in the state,” Bamayi said.
He had earlier announced that the party would adopt “Option A4”, where the delegates would line up behind the candidate of their choice, while those against would stand on their own.
According to him, with this the result will be declared on the spot.
“We are doing this with the conditions of the Electoral Act 2022, as amended.
Also the National Chairman of the party, Mr Emmanuel Amakiri, expressed optimism that Chukwuma would lead Anambra to greater height through the YPP mandate.
“You are coming to raise the bar to sustain the momentum in Anambra,” he said.
Amakiri, who decried “the greedy nature of many politicians in the country”, said that it was time for politicians, such as Chukwuma, to take the mantle of leadership.
“This is why we are presenting someone like him to the people of Anambra,” Amakiri said.
Responding, Chukwuma assured the party that he would collaborate with members and others, who would be willing to join them to win the election.
“Mr Chairman, I stand in clear terms to receive the nomination I have got from our great party today as its candidate for the governorship election in Anambra,” he said.
He commended the process and thanked the delegates, party officials and other members for the hitch-free exercise. (NAN)
Foreign News
NiDO-Worldwide Appoints New Coordinating Chairman

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NiDO)-Worldwide has appointed Mr Chibuzo Ubochi, as its new Coordinating Chairman of NIDO-Europe.
Ubochi succeeds Dr Victor Ubani, the Chairman of NIDO Americas and outgoing coordinating chairman of NiDO-Worldwide.
Ubani disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, against backdrop of the end of his tenure as coordinating chairman and inauguration of Ubochi’s tenure as the new chairman of the organisation.
He congratulated Ubochi over his recent electoral victory where he emerged chairman of the organisation, saying it was a closely contested NIDO-Europe election against Dr Johnson Odibo.
According to him, the process which was conducted with robust participation, ushered in a new era for NIDO-Europe.
Ubani said: “It is one marked by renewed strength, unity and purpose. I write in my capacity as the outgoing Coordinating Chairman of NIDO-Worldwide, having had the honour of serving in this rotational role on behalf of the Americas.
“I am deeply grateful for the cooperation and commitment demonstrated by our continental bodies throughout my tenure.
“Together, we pursued the vision of a more effective, united and relevant NIDO across all regions. I believe we made notable progress in advancing our collective mandates.
“As is the custom within our global structure, which comprises five continental bodies, I will now be handing over the rotational leadership of the Coordinating Chairmanship to the current Chairman of NIDO Europe, Sir Chibuzo Ubochi”.
Ubani explained that he had observed Ubochi’s leadership as Chairman of NIDO UK South and his previous tenure as Legal Adviser to the NIDO-Worldwide Coordinating Platform, to express confidence in the latter’s ability to lead the organisation.
“I am confident in his capacity to fulfill this responsibility with vision, integrity and diplomatic skill.
“He is well acquainted with the complexities of our global structure and is well-positioned to continue strengthening and advancing a more focused and impactful NIDO Worldwide.
“As he assumes this role, I urge all continental chairs, executives and members to extend the same cooperation and collegiality accorded me to him.
“The task ahead requires a united front, focused energy and shared commitment free from unnecessary distractions and geared solely toward the progress of our global diaspora, and the development of our homeland,” he said. (NAN)
NEWS
Man Docked over Alleged Stealing of Excavator Worth N25 Million

A 33-year old man, Alaba Oladepo, was on Tuesday, arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, over alleged stealing of a Caterpillar excavator valued N25 million.Oladepo, whose address was not given, is being charged with conspiracy and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp Sikiru Opaleye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in Nov. 2024, at the Moniya area of Ibadan. Opaleye said that Oladepo stole a D8 Caterpillar excavator valued N25 million, belonging to Olumide Bamidele.The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 383 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10 million, with two sureties in like sum.Ogunkanmi said that one of the sureties must be a landed property owner, and that the other must be a blood relation of the defendant.She adjourned the matter to Sept. 2, for hearing.(NAN)NEWS
Zelensky Wants Pressure on Russia after New Wave of Air Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling for more international pressure to be placed on Moscow following another night of heavy Russian air attacks on the Ukrainian capital.“Today is one of the largest attacks on Kiev. Odesa, Dnipro region, and Chernihiv region were also targeted,’’ he wrote on the X platform.
These airstrikes had drowned out all efforts by the U. S. and other countries to achieve peace, he said.Zelensky called on the U.S., Europe “and others around the world who called for an end to the war’’ to take action.The response to such Russian attacks must not be silence, he said.There were fires in the capital with a number of buildings destroyed, and there were several injuries, he said.The port city of Odessa was also hit hard, with two people killed and at least 10 others were injured after a drone strike, Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov wrote on Telegram.The Ukrainian Air Force says Russia attacked its neighbour with 315 drones and drone dummies, two North Korean ballistic missiles and five cruise missiles.It said that 284 targets were destroyed, including all missiles and cruise missiles.In the Russian border region of Belgorod, a woman was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.There were also reports of injuries.The Russian Defence Ministry reported that 102 Ukrainian drones were shot down over several Russian territories and the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.The information provided by the warring parties cannot be independently verified.According to Russian media reports, one of the targets was a drone factory near the city of Yelabuga in the republic of Tatarstan.Russia’s aviation authority placed temporary restrictions on take-offs and landings at 13 airports during Monday night and Tuesday morning, including the airports of Moscow and St. Petersburg. (dpa/NAN)