Tag: states

United States to host first edition of FIFA’s 32-team Club World Cup in 2025

The United States was on Friday, June 23, announced as the host country for the expanded Club World Cup in 2025. This will be the first time that the FIFA tournament features 32 teams, representing a significant expansion from the current format. FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a press conference. Source: Getty FIFA President Gianni Infantino who said the competition will be “the pinnacle” of elite men’s club football, revealed that twelve European clubs will feature, including the past three Champions League winners Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City. There would be four representatives each from Asia, Africa, and CONCACAF, which includes North and Central America, as well as six from South America. The dates, host cities, and match schedule for the tournament will be established at a later date. Asides from hosting the first edition of the expanded FIFA club world cup, the United States will also host the 2024 Copa America. They are also co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup along with Mexico and Canada. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said; “The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of elite professional men’s club football. FIFA President, Gianni Infantino president the Club World Cup trophy to Real Madrid. Source: Getty “With the required infrastructure in place together with a massive local interest, the United States is the ideal host to kick off this new, global tournament.” The current version of the FIFA Club World Cup, an annual competition with seven teams, will be discontinued after 2023. The 20th edition of the Club World Cup, which runs from 12-22 December 2023, will be hosted by Saudi Arabia. Real Madrid won the last edition, which was held in Morocco in February. The African country also hosted the event in 2013 and 2014, and it has also been held in Brazil, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. This expanded version in 2025 is a huge commercial opportunity for FIFA to try new broadcasting models and sign new sponsors, funding hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money for the clubs.

Tinubu scheduled to meet with leaders from United States, France, and Switzerland

Starting Thursday, President Bola Tinubu will attend the Paris Financial Pact Summit where he will hold meetings with the delegations of France, the United States of America, Sweden, and two other countries. Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, informed reporters in Paris that the request for meetings with Tinubu is a result of his administration’s economic policies that have been implemented in the past three weeks since he took office.

President Bola Tinubu “Quite a number of them, the US, France itself, Switzerland and two others. There are so many international financial institutions that are also willing to see him,” Alake told journalists in Paris on Wednesday. The presidential spokesman said the two-day summit would enable Tinubu, who is on his first foreign trip since his inauguration, to network and attract foreign direct investment to the country. Alake explained, “The President wants to network with international finance Corporations and countries that would facilitate foreign direct investment into Nigeria. “Don’t forget that Mr. President has taken some very bold steps in the area of economy, in the area of social engineering in the last few weeks, and particularly with reference to the unification of the multiple exchange rates, which has caused a very positive multiplier effect.” Apart from the immediate, medium and long-term positive effects of the unification policy, Alake said, “There could be a need for an injection of direct foreign exchange into the economy to shore up the value of the naira while market forces stabilise.” He cited the lifted restrictions on spending done through domiciliary accounts, saying it will “build confidence in the foreign exchange system of Nigeria, which means people abroad can begin to bring in their money into the economy.” “Even those at home, who have hoarded their dollars for fear of restrictions and all that, will now be more encouraged to bring the dollars into the financial system,” he added. Despite these, the presidential aide said the country still needs an injection of foreign exchange to build or complement its domestic policies. “That is the essence of this meeting; it is a global summit and there are several heads of state of developed societies. The President’s policies in the last three weeks have really encouraged these foreign nations and investors to become more interested in the affairs of Nigeria; in shoring up the economy of Nigeria. “A lot of them are quite interested. Many of them have even indicated interest to meet with Mr. President on this trip,” Alake said. On Thursday and Friday, Tinubu will join other leaders to review and sign a New Global Financial Pact that places vulnerable countries on the priority list for support and investment following the devastating impact of climate change, the energy crisis, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders will mobilise innovative financing for countries vulnerable to climate change, foster development in low-income countries, and encourage investment in “green” infrastructure for the energy transition in emerging and developing economies. The President and the other global leaders, multilateral institutions, financial experts and economists will also take a more holistic look at the recovery of economies from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising cases of poverty to provide access to finance and investment that will leverage inclusive growth. He returns on Saturday.

FRANCE leaders meet scheduled states Switzerland TINUBU United

Who is Kwara State’s Governor?

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was born on 5 February 1960 is a Nigerian politician, and has been the governor of Kwara State since 2019. Before this, he served as First Fuels Limited’s CEO. Under the banner of the political party Congress for Progressive Change, he unsuccessfully ran for governor of Kwara State in 2003, 2007, and 2011, and was beaten by Abubakar Bukola Saraki in each of those years and by Abdulfatah Ahmed in 2011. But in 2019, he ran for office once more as a candidate for the All Progressive Congress, which is currently in power in Nigeria. After winning the state’s 2019 governorship election, he was elected governor of Kwara State. He launches KwaraLEARN in basic education in 2021 to give instructors more control. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Profile Summary Name: AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Date of Birth: February 5, 1960 Place of Birth: Kwara State Career: Politician Net Worth: $4m Wife: Olufolake Molawa Davies Abdulrazaq

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq bio. Photo Credit: @RealAARahman: Twitter AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Early life Ilorin West Local Government is where he was born. The first northern lawyer in Nigeria, Alh. A. G. F. AbdulRazaq SAN, is the father of AbdulRahman. Between 1966 and 1968, he attended Capital School in Kaduna, 1970 to 1971, Bishop Smith Memorial School in Ilorin, and 1976, according to reports, he graduated from Government College in Kaduna with a West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Career In 1999, when Nigeria regained democracy, he entered politics. He ran unsuccessfully for governor of Kwara State in 2011 on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and he ran unsuccessfully again in both 2011 and 2015 for the Kwara Central Senatorial District on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket. In October 2018, he triumphed in the All Progressive Congress’s Kwara State primary for governor. On 9 March 2019, he was chosen to serve as governor of Kwara State, and on May 29, 2019, he took office. Personal life He has three boys with his wife, Olufolake Molawa Davies Abdulrazaq. Net Worth The estimated net worth of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is $4 million. Social Media Twitter: @RealAARahman

Governor Kwara states

Simon Ekpa announces total lockdown in Southeast states to demand release of Nnamdi Kanu

Biafra agitator and Finland-based lawyer who also serves as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government, Simon Ekpa, on Wednesday announced a weeklong sit-at-home to demand the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Simon Ekpa in a statement disclosed that there will be a sit-at-home from July 3rd to 10th, 2023 which is a necessary step for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu and in preparation for Biafra’s referendum. Simeon Ekpa He urged all market leaders, companies and individuals in the southeast to comply. “The Biafra Republic Government In-Exile (BRGIE) and Biafra De Facto Government-In-Homeland wish to notify Biafrans that there will be sit-at-home civil disobedience starting from 3rd July 2023 to 10th July 2023. There will be a break on 6th July 2023, where all Biafran markets will be open. The sit-at-home is for the following reasons: “Demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who remains illegally detained at the DSS dungeon; In preparation for Biafra’s self-referendum; To further put the world on notice that Biafrans are taking their future into their own hands; To demonstrate that the Biafra Republic Government In Exile remains the only legitimate government to whom the Biafran people listen and are loyal; To invalidate the illegitimacy of those who parade themselves as Nigeria’s representatives within the Biafran territory. “The sit-at-home will therefore take place in the following order: Monday 3rd July 2023 to Wednesday 5th July 2023, there will be total lockdown in Biafraland; Thursday 6th July 2023 (Break), all Biafran markets will open; Friday 7th July 2023 to Monday 10th July 2023, there will be total lockdown in Biafraland. “We hereby call on all market leaders to strictly adhere to this order and treat it with utmost seriousness. We also call on all oil companies operating in the Biafran territory to shut down oil exploration on these dates to avoid the anger of the Biafran people, which may come with heavy consequences” the statement read.

announces demand Ekpa Kanu lockdown Nnamdi release Simon SouthEast states Total

Obi tenders 136 exhibits from 6 States Including Lagos and Edo

Presidential Tribunal as Mr Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, who claimed that the 2023 presidential election was rigged, presented 136 more documents before the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, on Friday. The exhibits, which were admitted as evidence by a five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, included presidential election results from six federation states.

Presidential Tribunal. Photo Credit: @peterobigregory: Instagram Adamawa, Bayelsa, Oyo, Edo, Lagos, and Akwa Ibom were the states to whom the court acknowledged their presidential election results contained in Forms EC8A. Obi, who finished third in the presidential race, told the court that the results he presented were certified authentic copies obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission or INEC. He tendered election results from 115 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers, Niger, Benue, Cross River, Osun, and Ekiti on Thursday. The petitioners received permission from the court to submit new results from six LGAs in Rivers State, which were acknowledged and labelled as Exhibits PB 16 to PB 21 at the resumed proceedings on Friday. However, INEC said that the additional Rivers State results were “strange” to it. Also Read: “Peter Obi is my president” — Aisha Yesufu insists, calls President Tinubu an impostor Mr Kemi Pinhero, SAN, who led INEC’s legal team, informed the court that the Commission would state its reasons for opposing the results’ acceptance in its final written address. Similarly, counsel for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, as well as counsel for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, objected to the results being admitted into evidence. The responders stated that they would save their reasons for disagreeing with the election results in their final written address. Following that, Obi and the LP presented to the court new results from Bida LGA in Niger State, which were allowed as Exhibit PE 24. Whereas the court admitted results from 21 LGAs in Adamawa state and labelled them Exhibits PH 1 to PH 21, it also admitted presidential election results from 8 LGAs in Bayelsa state and labelled them Exhibits PJ 1 to PJ 8. The court accepted results from 31 LGAs in Oyo as Exhibits PK 1 – PK 31, while results from 18 LGAs in Edo state were marked as Exhibits PL 1 – PL 18. The petitioners also presented presidential election results from 20 LGAs in Lagos state, which were acknowledged as Exhibits PM 1 – PM 20, as well as results from 31 LGAs in Akwa Ibom state, which were admitted as Exhibits PN 1 – PN 31. Related: Tinubu’s Inauguration: Peter Obi finally breaks silence Although Obi won the presidential election in Lagos state, he claimed in his appeal that there was widespread voter suppression in the state and that electorate who would have voted for him were openly harassed or intimidated. Meanwhile, the Justice Tsammani-led panel unanimously reversed its previous decision to resume the hearing on Saturday. Even though the lead counsel for the petitioners, Dr Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, stated that his team was prepared to appear before the court on Saturday, lawyers for all of the respondents took turns begging the court to postpone further hearings of the matter until the next Monday, a request the panel granted. Obi and the LP have already made it known that they plan to call a total of 50 witnesses. Obi specifically claims in the joint petition he filed with the LP that President Tinubu was not the legitimate victor of the election. President Tinubu was not eligible to run for president, according to the petitioners in CA/PEPC/03/2023. According to the petitioners, Tinubu’s running mate, Shettima, was still the APC’s nominated candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial race when he became the Vice Presidential candidate. The petitioners also disputed Tinubu’s eligibility to run for president, asserting that he had previously been charged with dishonesty and drug trafficking and fined $460,000 by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in Case No: 93C 4483. The petitioners claimed that because INEC disregarded its regulations and guidelines and engaged in fraudulent practices, the election was invalidated and in breach of the Electoral Act of 2022. The Petitioners contended that, during the presidential election, the electoral body was legally compelled to prescribe and deploy technological equipment for the accreditation, verification, continuation, and authentication of voters and their personal information. As a result, they are asking the court to declare, among other things, that all votes cast for Tinubu and the APC were squandered as a result of his ineligibility/disqualification.

Edo Exhibits Including Lagos Obi states Tenders

Stage collapses during swearing-in of Kano State’s governor, Yusuf Abba (Video)

An unexpected accident happened at the swearing-in ceremony of the governor-elect of Kano State, Yusuf Abba as a stage collapses. On Monday 29th of May 2023, the swearing-in ceremony of the new Kano State governor suffered a minor setback. The new governor of Kano State, Yusuf Abba. Image Credit: Vanguard News
Source: Google The new governor Yusuf Abba, his deputy, and the acting chief judge were all on the stage when the structure fell to its knees. Reports, however, confirmed that all individuals affected by the stage collapse are in good condition. The NNPP candidate won the 2023 election after polling 1,019,602 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 890,705 votes. Watch the video below … The stage collapsed at the swearing-in ceremony in Kano State, with the new governor Yusuf Abba, his deputy, and the acting chief judge all on the podium. pic.twitter.com/8NQyzxaefI — Akpraise (@AkpraiseMedia) May 29, 2023

Abba collapses Governor KANO STAGE states swearingin Video YUSUF

Huge blow for Nigeria and England as Folarin Balogun switches allegiance to United States

After months of speculation, Folarin Balogun has finally agreed to represent the United States of America (USA) over England and Nigeria. The 21-year-old made the decision to switch his allegiance having been snubbed by England boss Gareth Southgate. The Arsenal signee, who is currently on loan with French side Reims, was born in the US to Nigerian parents but raised in England. Balogun played for the US at under-18 level, before switching to England’s Under-21s. He withdrew from the squad in March because of injury and will not play in the upcoming European Under-21 Championship. FIFA rules allow players to switch national eligibility before making a competitive senior appearance at international level. FIFA on Tuesday, May 16, announced that Balogun’s switch from England to the U.S. has been approved, paving the way for him to become US Men National Team (USMNT) next star striker. Speaking to US Soccer’s official website, Balogun said the decision was a “no-brainer” and he feels at “home”. He said; “When I broke the news to my family they were all just over the moon, especially my mom. She said, ‘What took you so long?’ “To represent the United States means a lot, more than people would know. I’m very proud and honoured to have this opportunity, and I want to give everything I have to make our team successful.” .@Balogun on what it means to represent the United States 🗯️ — U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) May 16, 2023 Balogun previously said he’s open to representing Nigeria. The prolific striker has scored 19 goals in 34 Ligue 1 matches for Reims this season. Following the switch, he is expected to join the U.S. team at the CONCACAF Nations League finals next month.

allegiance BALOGUN blow England Folarin huge Nigeria states switches United

I want presidential election cancelled – Atiku states reason

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of PDP, accuses President-elect Bola Tinubu‘s supporters of causing violence during the recently concluded elections, hence it should be cancelled.

Atiku requested the cancellation of the presidential election held on Saturday, citing Tinubu’s campaign team’s admission of rigging. According to Atiku, this admission is proof of irregularities during the election, particularly in the southeast region. In a statement issued by his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku expressed disappointment that despite stealing the people’s mandate, Tinubu’s campaign team continued to ridicule Nigerians. Atiku also pointed out that Tinubu’s loss in Lagos showed that Nigerians did not want him. “Festus Keyamo’s claim that there was massive rigging in the southeast and that the APC will be challenging the votes in that region validates our position that this election was fraught with irregularities. “Is it not funny that Tinubu claimed he wanted to replicate the developments of Lagos across Nigeria, and yet the same people of Lagos rejected him at the poll? He and his minions unleashed thugs on the people of the state and yet still lost,” he said.

ATIKU cancelled Election presidential Reason states

6 PDP States request Supreme Court to declare INEC’s pronouncement of Tinubu as President-elect null and void

Six (6) States of the PDP have asked the Supreme Court to declare INEC’s pronouncement of Tinubu as President null and void.

In a court writ shared online, the six states of PDP which includes the Attorney General of Adamawa State, the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, the Attorney General of Bayelsa State, the Attorney General of Delta State, the Attorney General of Edo State and Attorney General of Sokoto State have called on the annulment of the results from INEC. In the midst of the Supremem court brouhaha and rejection of the results from INEC by Nigerians, Tinubu has already been given a certificate which was presented to the sitting president, President Buhari. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been called out by many Nigerians after the commissioner called the elections in favour of the APC, while announcing that Bola Tinubu is the President elect of Nigeria. See the writ below… pic.twitter.com/RzMYNdCJM0 — oseni rufai (@ruffydfire) March 3, 2023

Court declare INECs null PDP Presidentelect pronouncement request states Supreme TINUBU void

Peter Obi wins Ebonyi, Anambra and Abia States with huge votes

The presidential candidate for Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has won massive votes in Ebonyi, Anambra, and Abia States.

Peter Obi and the Labour seem to have won the hearts of the people of Anambra, Abia, and Ebonyi as they swept massive votes in these States. In a new report, Peter Obi has won 584,621 votes in Anambra while APC’s Tinubu won 5,111, PDP with 9,036 and NNPP won 1,967. In Abia State too, LP Peter Obi won 327,097, Tinubu carried 8, 914 while NNPP and PDP got 1,239 and 22,676 respectively. Also in Ebonyi state, Peter Obi’s votes were 259,738 while Tinubu got 42,402 votes and 1,661 and 13, 503 for NNPP and PDP respectively. Anambra: 2023 Presidential Election (State Results)#NigeriaDecide2023#2023Verdict#CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/DqJWO0pjwl — Channels Television (@channelstv) February 28, 2023 Ebonyi: 2023 Presidential Election (State Results)#NigeriaDecide2023#2023Verdict#CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/FkUvTCy0GX — Channels Television (@channelstv) February 28, 2023

ABIA ANAMBRA EBONYI huge Obi PETER states votes Wins