Headlines
Finally, UN Sec-Gen Guterres Condemns Iran’s Missiles Attack on Israel
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has condemned Iran’s missile strikes on Israel, urging an end to the cycle of escalating violence in the Middle East.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Guterres called for a halt to the “deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence,” referencing the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed groups in the region.
Guterres’ remarks follow a recent fallout with Israeli authorities, who declared him persona non grata. The controversy arose after Guterres initially called for a ceasefire without explicitly mentioning the Iranian attack.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz described Guterres as “an anti-Israel secretary-general who lends support to terrorists.”
During the Security Council session, Guterres clarified his stance, stating that he had condemned the attack in April and reiterated his condemnation of the recent missile strikes by Iran.
“These attacks paradoxically do not seem to support the cause of the Palestinian people, or reduce their suffering,” Guterres said. He also criticised Israel’s military actions in Gaza, referring to the campaign as “the most deadly and destructive military campaign in my years as secretary-general.”
On Tuesday, Iran launched approximately 180 ballistic missiles into Israel, most of which were intercepted. Following the attack, Guterres condemned the “broadening of the Middle East conflict” in a statement on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Before Guterres addressed the Security Council, Katz emphasised that any figure who fails to unequivocally condemn Iran’s assault on Israel does not deserve to enter the country. Katz criticised Guterres’ “anti-Israel policy” since the war began.
The missile strikes are the latest in a series of escalations between Iran and Israel, which have been intensifying over the past year. The conflict has involved ongoing clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, and escalated after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on 7 October, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 251 were taken hostage.
Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry reports 41,689 casualties. Throughout the conflict, tensions have also simmered between Israel and the United Nations over the role of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and the agency’s response to Israeli airstrikes that have killed some of its staff.
By Eric Elezuo
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been declared winner of the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The declaration was made at the Trascorp Hilton Hotel, where the final collation of results was made.
The former Vice President polled a total of 1, 846, 370 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Governor of Rivers State, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, who scored just over 500 thousand votes. Alhaji Muhammed Hayatu-Deen came third.
Headlines
ADC Presidential Primary: Hayatu-Deen Alleges Rigging, Withdraws from Results Announcement
One of the presidential aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, says he will not attend the announcement of the party’s presidential primary election results, citing allegations of widespread vote rigging.
In a statement on his X handle on Tuesday, Hayatu-Deen expressed concern over reports of electoral irregularities from across the country.
The ADC aspirant noted that he witnessed some of the incidents.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” the statement read.
The development comes amid keen competition for the ADC presidential ticket involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen.
The ADC presidential primary election collation exercise will take place in Abuja. Results are expected from across the nation.
Ahead of the nationwide presidential primary held on Monday, the ADC had urged aspirants, party leaders, delegates, and members to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold party unity.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the exercise as a defining moment for both the ADC and Nigerians seeking a credible political alternative.
According to him, the party remained committed to internal democracy and a transparent leadership selection process.
“The ADC remains proud to stand today as the only truly democratic party in Nigeria because it is the only political party whose choice of presidential candidate is determined through open primaries,” Abdullahi stated.
The party also stressed that the conduct of aspirants and party members during the exercise would reflect the leadership culture the ADC seeks to promote.
Headlines
You’re Not Different from APC, INEC, Amaechi Slams ADC, Rejects Presidential Primary Results
A former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected the results of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice.
Amaechi, in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, described the outcome of the exercise as “concocted results.”
He said he had earlier made it clear that he would only accept the outcome of the primaries if the process was free, fair and transparent.
“I will not accept results from a process that does not reflect the values that the ADC had pledged to uphold,” he said.
Amaechi alleged that about 80 percent of party members across the country were prevented from voting during the exercise.
“There’s no way that about eighty percent of members of the party were not allowed to vote, and you expect me to accept such results,” he stated.
The former Governor of Rivers State accused the party of engaging in practices it had previously condemned in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, the ADC cannot criticize vote buying, rigging and manipulation of election results by others while allegedly engaging in similar acts during its own primary.
Amaechi added that the development was unacceptable and contrary to the ideals upon which the party was founded.
