NEWS
Off Season Elections: APC, PDP In War Of Words Over Fake Video
Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have spent the penultimate day to the November 11, 2023 election trading voracious salvos over, a video alleging that the former’s candidate in Imo State, Sam Anyanwu, had withdrawn from the contest.
Recall that the PDP had cried to the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify the APC and its candidate, Gov Hope Uzodimma from the contest on the grounds of blackmailing an opponent and sponsoring a fake video against its candidate with a clear intention to mislead the electorate.
The main opposition party spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba in a statement on Friday in which it urged INEC to disqualify Gov Uzodimma for punching below the belt.
In a swift reaction, however, the APC took to X to fire back at the PDP.
The ruling party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka sought to counter the PDP’s earlier statement calling on the umpire to take drastic action against it and its candidate.
The APC averred that the wide acceptance of its candidate, Gov Uzodimma was scaring the opposition.
The APC tweeted, “RE: FAKE VIDEO – YOUR FEAR OF GOVERNOR HOPE UZODINMA’S POPULARITY WON’T STOP HIS RE-ELECTION
“We are confident that no last minute antics of @OfficialPDPNig will deter the good people of Imo State who are poised to reelect our Governor to finish the good work he has started.”
Despite the cloud being cast on the election by the accusation and counteraccusations, Ologunagba maintained that Anyanwu was not deterred by the distractions but set for victory.
He described the video as fake and berated Gov Uzodimma for allegedly resorting to a last-minute underhand method to get the PDP’s candidate out of the way.
In his opinion, it was alarming that the makers of the fake video attempted to make Nigerians believe that it was a news production of the Television Continental (TVC).
The image maker applauded the courage of the management of TVC in immediately disclaiming and condemning the fraudulent use of their corporate identity (name, logo, and inscription) as well as reputation in an attempt to pool the wool over the eyes of the electorate in Imo State.
According to the PDP its candidate, Anyanwu was very much in the governorship race and urged the people of Imo State to disregard the said video.
He said, “If there is anybody that should withdraw from the race, it is Governor Uzodimma, who has amply demonstrated that he is not ready to contest in a peaceful free, fair, and transparent election.
“The PDP calls on INEC to disqualify the APC and Governor Uzodimma as their reported involvement in producing and circulating the fake video constitutes a gross violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the Nigerian Criminal Code and Cyber Crime Law.”
Nigeria’s hope of meeting her targeted production level of three million barrels a day (bpd) has been anchored on sustained drilling activities.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), has said that security web across exploration infrastructure has improved production in recent times, while the level of oil theft has also been reduced.
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According to the NNPC Ltd, crude oil production has risen to 1.8 million barrels per day in the last month.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, gave the information on Thursday at the 2026 Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) Conference in Lagos.
Ojulari, who was represented by the Chief Communications Officer of the Company, Andy Odeh, noted that Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to 1.821 million barrels per day (bpd), including condensates, reflecting improved regulations and upstream activities.
According to Ojulari, the approach has helped to improve the operating environment and accelerate activities across the upstream sector.
“Today, we are doing 1.821 million barrels per day,” he said. “The country has recorded more than 80 per cent success in its efforts to improve production.”
The event was themed: ‘Access To Assets: Empowering Players & Driving Growth’.
Nigeria produced 1, 677,777 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day in the month of August 2026, representing an increase of 0.4 percent when compared to the month of July.
The 15th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content Forum (PNCF) is billed for Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from November 30.
This edition of the initiative of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) would hold be in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government as disclosed on Tuesday when a delegation of the NCDMB and DMG Events met with the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr Peter Pereotubo Akpe, at the Government House, Yenagoa.
Leading the delegation, the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division of NCDMB, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, conveyed the appreciation of the Executive Secretary of the board, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, to the state government for its continued support for the forum.
He said, “We appreciate the Bayelsa State Government for its continued partnership and support for the PNC Forum”.
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According to him, the Youth PNC was designed to expose young people in the Niger Delta to emerging opportunities in the oil and gas industry and the competencies required to build successful careers in other sectors of the economy.
Ezeobi added, “We have introduced new initiatives into this year’s programme to ensure that the PNC continues to deliver greater value to participants and address emerging issues in the Nigerian content space.”
The Senior Manager, Zonal Coordination, NCDMB, Mr Adebayo Joseph, spoke on plans for the Youth PNC, while the leader of the DMG Events delegation, Ms Olamide Oloko, outlined the major activities planned for the conference.
Oloko said the new initiatives would include a Local Content Roundtable and a two-day programme for Local Community Contractors aimed at helping them scale up their operations.
She added, “The 2026 edition will also feature a breakout session to collate stakeholders’ views on the future direction of Nigerian Content over the next decade.”
Responding, Akpe assured the NCDMB and DMG Events of the state government’s continued support for the PNC Forum.
Akpe said, “The Bayelsa State Government is committed to ensuring that the event is successful and that participants have a conducive and secure environment throughout their stay in the state.”
He said the initiative demonstrated the practical impact of the programme and urged the board to sustain efforts aimed at creating opportunities for young people in the region.
Nigerian women allegedly being held at a deportation facility in India have cried out over their treatment, with a video circulating online showing some of them displaying injuries and alleging that security personnel flogged detainees.
The video began circulating online on Wednesday and shows a group of Nigerian women inside and around what they described as a deportation camp.
Several of the women pointed to marks, bruises and apparent injuries on their legs, feet and bodies while alleging that they were beaten with sticks or canes.
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“See my video, see my leg,” one of the women could be heard saying in the footage.
Another woman said, “Mona see wetin dem dey do for deportation camp.”
“Deportation camp, na dem flog person, see,” another woman said while showing what appeared to be an injury.
The women further alleged that female detainees were beaten with sticks.
“Dem dey use stick dey flog women, mona dey see am,” one of them said.
Another woman, while pointing at an injured detainee, said, “Dem carry cane flog o… see her body, dem flog am.”
The women also alleged that police officers carried sticks inside the facility.
“Police carry stick like say dem dey cut firewood,” one of the women said.
The footage shows the women appearing distressed as they moved through the facility and gathered in an outdoor area.
They repeatedly appealed to Nigerians to share the video and draw attention to their situation.
“Make una see… make this video trend/go,” one woman said.
“Make una share am,” another added.
One of the women also expressed frustration over their alleged experience at the facility, saying, “We don suffer, every time, every time.”
The footage comes amid ongoing concerns over Nigerians detained at the Lampur detention centre, also known as Sewa Sadan, in New Delhi.
Recall that in September, reports emerged that more than 200 Nigerians were being held at the facility, with some detainees alleging poor food, inadequate medical care and prolonged detention.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) subsequently defended its handling of the situation and said the Nigerian High Commission in India was seeking another amnesty period to facilitate the departure of Nigerians without proper immigration documentation.
No official response from the Indian authorities or the Nigerian government specifically addressing the allegations in the latest video had been made available at the time of publication.
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