By Our Correspondent

Ahead of 2027 Presidential election,Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has declared President Bola Ahmed Tinubu winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election in Osun State with a total of 100,880 votes.

Oyetola, who served as the chairman of the APC primary election committee in the state, announced the result after the conclusion of the exercise across the local government areas of Osun State.

According to him, Tinubu secured all the votes cast during the primary, representing 100 per cent support from party members who participated in the exercise, leaving his opponent, Mr. Stanley Osayamen Osifo with Zero votes.

The former Osun governor said the exercise was peaceful, transparent and conducted in line with the guidelines of the party, commending APC members and officials for their orderly conduct throughout the process.

He added that the overwhelming support recorded for the president reflected the confidence of party members in Tinubu’s leadership and his administration’s policies at the national level.

He said, “I shall now present the official results of the presidential primary election as collated in Osun State: Total digitally registered members of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State :109,806: Total Accreditated members for today’s presidential Primary election :100,880. His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR — 100,880 votes Mr. Stanley Osayamen Osifo — 0 votes (Zero Votes)

“By the powers vested in me as the Collation Officer for Osun State, I hereby declare His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as the winner of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Primary Election 2026 in Osun State.

“As we move forward, I urge all members of our great party to remain steadfast, united and committed to the collective task before us. The journey ahead requires sacrifice, unity of purpose and sustained mobilisation as we work together towards another decisive electoral victory for our great party, beginning with the forthcoming governorship election on August 15, 2026.”

By David Owei
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, Publisher of the Blue Economy Newsmagazine and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER), has congratulated Professor Momoko Kitada on receiving the 2026 IMO Gender Equality Award.

The award was conferred at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London during the commemoration of the International Day for Women in Maritime on May 18, 2026.

Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Thursday, Dr. Kiyaramo, who also serves as Special Assistant to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Port Harcourt, commended Prof. Kitada’s decades of work advancing opportunities for women in shipping and maritime leadership as both a seafarer and academic.

A former Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Government on Tourism, Dr. Kiyaramo said the IMO recognition reflects Prof. Kitada’s long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in maritime education and professional development, particularly for young professionals and future industry leaders.

“Prof. Momoko Kitada currently serves as Academic Dean, Full Professor, and Head of Maritime Education and Training at the World Maritime University (WMU),” Dr. Kiyaramo noted. “For several years, she has integrated gender perspectives into maritime education, sustainability, innovation, digitalization, and leadership development.”

He added that her work has focused on identifying structural barriers facing women in maritime and developing practical solutions to build a more inclusive industry.

During the award ceremony, Prof. Kitada reflected on how her mother encouraged her to pursue education and economic independence from an early age, stressing that knowledge and genuine understanding are key to advancing gender equality.

IMO, Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez praised Kitada’s contribution, stating that her work has helped move gender balance “from aspirational policy to actual practice.”

Established in 2022, the IMO Gender Equality Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in the maritime sector.

The Philippines were also recognized at the event, with Commodore Christine Pauline Bergaño-Diciano, Ms. Elisa D. Chomi, and Rear Admiral Mitzie Silva-Campo receiving Letters of Commendation from the IMO.

By Our Correspondent

The All Progressive Congress, APC, governorship primary election has ended in Rivers State with the lawmaker representing the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, emerging as party’s gubernatorial candidate in forthcoming 2027 elections.

Chinda, who is the Minority Leader, of the House of Representative, and a strong ally of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, emerged as the sole candidate of the party following the withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and two other aspirants, Pastor Tonye Cole and Dr. Dax Alabo George-Kelly from exercise. He was declared winner of the primary held in across 23 local government areas of the state on Monday with 268,497.

Declaring the results of the election at the APC State Secretariat in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the APC Governorship primaries election for Rivers State and Returning Office, Kwamoti Bitrus, said OK Chinda got 268,497 votes, out of the total number of voters at 297,068

Bitrus thanked the party’s faithful, especially the State APC chairman, Tony Okocha and Rivers people for the peace experienced all through the exercise.

‎“The sole aspirant, Chinda Ogundu Kingsley, scored the total number of votes, 268, 497. Chinda Ogundu Kingsley having satisfied the requirements of APC Constitution and guidelines, and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared winner of the primary election and is in turn elected as the party’s governorship candidate for Rivers State dated this 21st day of May 2026.

‎”We appreciate your conduct and your commitment, most especially the State Party Chairman that provides a conducive environment for us to conduct this exercise and we are so grateful for that.

‎ “I also want to appreciate the people of Rivers State. We have gone to four places to observe before coming to the collation center how the exercise is being carried out and we are truly satisfied with what we have seen, which was rancor free. That is how a party should conduct themselves, and we commend you for that,” he added.

‎Addressing newsmen, Felix Obuah, the APC candidate for Rivers West Senatorial District, congratulated OK Chinda, describing him as the best sellable candidate for the party in the polls.

‎He boasted that no other party or candidate can defeat Chinda in the 2027 elections.

‎”In Rivers State, we are going for the best candidate that can join people around in Rivers State. To be sincere to you, I don’t think any party can win anything in Rivers State.

“I want to assure you that we’re not only marketing OK Chinda, we’re marketing a better candidate. Chinda is an acceptable candidate any day any time and I want to be very grateful to God Almighty for making this day to come,” he said.