Author: Candid Reporters

In the last few days, a group that calls itself the Abia APC Renaissance Group attempted to stir public sentiment with a publication riddled with inaccuracies, conjecture, and a painful lack of understanding of how multilateral financing operates. Their claim that the Abia State Government has already “utilized” funds from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Canadian Climate Action Africa Facility (CAAF) is not only laughable but exposes an alarming ignorance of how international development frameworks function. As the official saddled with the responsibility of coordinating and speaking on multilateral and donor engagements on…

The Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, received with sadness, the news of the passing of a revered man of God and one of Abia’s most impactful and celebrated religious ambassadors, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, whose death was announced by his family a few hours ago Governor Otti recalls the father-son relationship that existed between him and Dr. Ukpai over the years, describing his exit as devastating because of the massive vacuum it has created in Christendom, the state and the country. According to the Governor “Our father in the Lord, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai has,…

President of Masters Energy Group and former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, has asserted that Nigeria’s energy future is contingent upon effectively balancing significant reforms with practical national realities, urging stakeholders to harmonize policy, investment, and innovation to achieve sustainable growth. Speaking at the NAEC Energy Conference 2025, on the “theme ‘Nigeria’s Energy Future: Optimising Opportunities and Addressing Risks for Sustainable Growth’, Dr. Ogah called for pragmatic reforms and sustained policy consistency to drive Nigeria’s energy transition. Ogah who was also the conference Chairman for NAEC Energy Conference 2025, acknowledged the transformative potential of…

Israeli forces declared a ceasefire and withdrew from some positions in Gaza on Friday, as thousands of displaced Palestinians began to trek home and the families of October 7 hostages awaited news. The Israeli army said that its troops had ceased fire at noon (0900 GMT) “in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages.” Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli troops and armoured vehicles were pulling back from forward positions in both Gaza City and Khan Yunis, and displaced Palestinian civilians told AFP they hoped to return home. Thousands of civilians could be seen by AFP journalists…

The former Minority leader Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu has decried the activities of the Abia State House of Assembly for failing to rise up to their responsibility to check the activities of Governor Otti and the executive arm. Chukwu who was reacting to the statement credited to the speaker of the Abia state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa where he claims that Governor Otti has done well, said it is regrettable that an independent arm of government could be in bed with the executive to deceive Abians. Chukwu, who represented Bende North in the…

…“I’ve spent over ₦2 million fighting to get my daughter back… I’m now financially finished,” heartbroken father cries out, calling on Abians, activists, and Nigerians to intervene before tragedy strikes. A heart-wrenching cry for help has emerged from Umuahia, Abia State, as Engr. Ogbenna Chukwuka, a native of Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area, pleads with Nigerians to come to his rescue over the alleged abduction of his 8-year-old daughter by his estranged wife and her new husband, who he claims is a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). In a pain-soaked video obtained by All…

The Abia Labour House of Reps Caucus has tackled Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu over his recent remarks on Governor Otti’s leadership performance in Abia State. CANDID REPORTERS recalls that during the president’s commissioning of Micheal Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia and Port Harcourt Road in Aba as well as other Roads in the commercial city, Minister Dave Umahi who represented the president applauded Otti’s effort in infrastructural development, neatness of the state and governance in Abia. While Hon. Benjamin Kalu faulted the level of work done while making…

The attention of Abia State government has been drawn to a nonexistent statement credited to Governor Alex Otti, which bore the above-mentioned headline. The statement further reads thus “I have no business with Lagos, I’m not competing with Lagos. My competition is China and Dubai. By the time I’m done with Abia, Lagos will look like a village”. It must be unequivocally stated that the poorly scripted statement and other innuendos contained therein, are not only false, baseless, and unfounded, but represent a divisive propaganda from a group of frustrated politicians who are getting more convinced on a daily basis…

France was plunged into fresh political turmoil on Monday after Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, resigned just 27 days into his tenure, making him the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history. Lecornu, a former defence minister, tendered his resignation on Monday morning, only hours after unveiling his new cabinet on Sunday evening. According to the Élysée Palace, the resignation was accepted by President Emmanuel Macron, who now faces renewed political uncertainty. On Sunday, Lecornu presented his government, which was nearly identical to that of his predecessor, François Bayrou. But the lack of change quickly drew criticism from coalition partners, with opposition…

The Abia State government has reacted to a trending video of the House of Representatives Member for Bende Federal Constituency and Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, where he made some allegations over the performance of the government of Governor Alex Otti. Following the development, the Abia State government has reacted through a press release made public on Monday. Abia government in the press release said Kalu made infantile comparison between the Governor and his two immediate predecessors. Abia government also added that “If Kalu wasn’t a traitor, he would have been magnanimous enough to mention the administration of his…