Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, has responded to claims made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that he would not support Ighodalo in the upcoming September 21 election and that his support for Governor Godwin Obaseki was not genuine. Ighodalo, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, refuted Wike’s claims, stating that the election outcome will be determined by the people of Edo State, not by Wike or any other individual. Ighodalo also expressed disappointment that Wike’s stance differed from their prior discussions. He asserted that if his party loses the election reasonably, he would accept the result graciously but remain confident in his party’s chances if there is a level playing field.
2. Petroleum marketers in Nigeria are concerned about petrol pricing from Dangote Refinery following the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)’s release of retail prices. The marketers demand transparency, urging Dangote Refinery to disclose the price at which it sold petrol to NNPCL. They fear domestic production alone cannot meet Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption and are considering importation to fill the gap. The new prices range from N950 in Lagos to over N1,000 per liter in other regions, with independent marketers possibly selling at even higher prices. This situation may lead to a fresh petrol price hike across the country.
3. In a related issue, Ighodalo has taken legal action against Adams Oshiomhole, a senator representing Edo North, over defamatory remarks. Oshiomhole accused Ighodalo of involvement in a fraudulent scheme known as “Planwell.” Ighodalo’s legal team has demanded a public retraction and apology from Oshiomhole, along with damages of 20 billion Naira, citing the allegations as false and harmful to his reputation.
4. Real Madrid’s 18-year-old footballer, Endrick, has married Gabriely Mirandy in Spain. Despite reportedly being together for less than a year, the couple has tied the knot, with Mirandy sharing wedding photos on Instagram. She posted a Bible verse, Matthew 19:6, celebrating their union and expressing their joy in being married.
5. Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in New York City on Monday, September 16, on unspecified federal charges related to an ongoing investigation into sex trafficking. This follows raids on his properties in Los Angeles and Miami in March. However, his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed disappointment, asserting Combs’ innocence. Combs faces multiple civil lawsuits, including sexual assault allegations from his ex-partner Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and other women, some dating back to when they were minors. In February 2024, a former producer also accused Combs of sexual misconduct. His legal troubles escalated after the New York Adult Survivors Act temporarily allowed survivors to file claims. Despite these accusations, Combs continues to deny all charges.
6. The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries has addressed online mockery of a recent testimony, clarifying that the church does not fabricate testimonies. Pastor Chidi Louis, Head of Public Relations and Media, refuted claims that a viral video—showing a member’s testimony of disarming armed robbers and acquiring an “AK-27”—was real. He stated that the incident in the video occurred in a dream, not reality, and urged Nigerians to disregard the fake video. The church’s media department condemned the clip as a fabrication and released the full, accurate testimony on their TikTok, confirming it was a dream. The controversy includes other viral testimonies of miraculous survival from violent attacks, which have raised skepticism. Catholic missionary priest Fr. Kelvin Ugwu advised people to be cautious about such testimonies, suggesting they should be treated as fake until independently verified.
