The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned that it will not hesitate to clamp down on independent and other markets of petrol who fail to reduce the price of their products, following the sharp reduction in the price of crude oil in the international market

FCCPC said in a statement on Tuesday that it is closely monitoring the continued drop in crude oil prices in the international market to ensure the gains are reflected in what Nigerians pay at the filling stations.

The commission noted in the statement signed by it’s head of media and publicity, Ondaje Ijagwu, that the price of petrol must reflect the current price of crude inn the international market, adding that petroleum products marketers have often attributed the surge in prices over the last eight months to volatility in crude oil prices following the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict in the Middle East and the

“Latest reports indicate that Brent futures have fallen from the peak of $115 in September to below $90 this week in the international market.

“In the country today, petrol prices average between ₦1,405 and ₦1,420 per litre in Abuja and between ₦1,325 and ₦1,370 in Lagos.

“On 27 February, the day before the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran began, Brent crude futures closed at US$72.48 per barrel. Around that time, petrol sold for between ₦839 and ₦925 per litre at filling stations in Lagos and Abuja.”

Commenting on the development, Tunji Bello, chief executive officer (CEO) of the commission, said sustained lower crude prices would leave refiners and marketers with no justification for keeping petrol and diesel prices relatively high.

“We expect easing in wholesale petrol costs and for the resulting savings to reach consumers at the pump without undue delay.

“We are aware of the difficulties high pump prices have caused Nigerians for some time now.

“Let me reassure that the Commission will continue to work with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and other relevant government agencies to track wholesale and retail petrol prices.” Bello said 

The CEO warned that the commission would take action within its mandate where evidence of anti-competitive conduct or unfair practices prevents consumers from benefiting from lower costs.

From Saidu Maradin (Gusau)

Ahead of the 2027, general election, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Zamfara State has declared  that rigging of elections in the state is now a thing in the past, vowing that it would protect every vote cast for it’s governorship candidate, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa

The party in a statement issued in Gusau, by  a group of its supporters, led by Muhammad Sagir, warned those planning to rig the 2027 general elections, insisting that they would protect the integrity of the electoral process at polling units.

“We will remain at the polling units until our governorship candidate, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, is declared the winner with the highest number of lawful votes cast.

“There is no way to rig the election. Rigging is a thing of the past. We have countless ways to protect our votes,” the group stated.

The NDC supporters, who demanded the conduct of a free, fair and credible manner, said it has no fears in  the emergence of Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa as the winner.

They added that the people of Zamfara State had experienced leadership that made promises but failed to deliver, stressing the need for accountable and competent leadership.

“The people of Zamfara have seen leadership that promises and fails.

“We will mobilise grassroots support and rally behind competent and accountable leaders like Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa for meaningful development in the state,” the group concluded.

**” Says delisted PDP guber candidate’s name not on party register

By Tony Chuddy

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it’s delisted governorship candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state, Ladies Adebutu, is not a member of the party

INEC told an Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday that it excluded Adebutu from its list of candidates cleared for the 2027 general elections in Ogun state because his name was not contained in the list of PDP members from the state that was submitted to the commission by the party

INEC made the disclosure in a counter-affidavit deposed to by Mr Mustapha Mohammed, a Chief Program Analyst in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department, before the court

The election umpire told the court that it found only the name of the PDP’s deputy governorship candidate in the state, Kolapo Lateefat Oyeyemi, in the register.

The Ogun state PDP had in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2573/2026, challenged the refusal of INEC to list Adebutu as its candidate in the 2027 governorship election in the state

While the PDP is the 1st plaintiff in the matter, Adebutu is listed as the 2nd plaintiff, with INEC named as the sole defendant.

INEC in it’s counter affidavit, said it had done due diligence before the final list of candidates for the election was published.

According to the deponent, “I know as a fact that before the Governorship Candidates Final List was published, the ICT department conducted a search on the membership register submitted by the 1st plaintiff and during the search, the ICT department found the name of the 1st plaintiff’s candidate fielded as Deputy Governor of Ogun State (Kolapo Lateefat Oyeyemi) in the register but could not find the name of the 2nd plaintiff.

“The search was also conducted to find a possible match for the name of the 2nd plaintiff, but no possible match was found in the Ogun State membership register.

“That I know as a fact that all the queries conducted on the membership register in the flash drives (PDF/read only) submitted to the defendant by the 1st plaintiff do not contain the name of the 2nd plaintiff.

“That the flash drive attached to the plaintiff’s affidavit and further affidavit in support of the Originating Summons was shown to me and I have carefully examined it, and I state that the contents of the flash drive are not the same as those submitted to the defendant.

“That the first flash drive submitted by the 1st plaintiff to the defendant on 22 April 2026 had files named Ogun 01-038, while the second flash drive submitted to the defendant had files named Ogun 01-04, with serial numbers of members 1–18,973 and 1–19,308 respectively.

“That serial number 1536 on the membership register submitted by the 1st plaintiff to the defendant contains the name of one Lugboso Sunday Seun and not the name of the 2nd plaintiff,” INEC’s witness further averred.

The commission further contended that two flash drives were submitted to it alongside the hard-copy membership register, and neither contained the name and particulars of the 2nd plaintiff, Adebutu.

After hearing and adopting the final addresses by the parties, the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu fixed Friday for judgment.