3️⃣ *Conservative Friedrich Merz is the strong favourite to become Germany's next chancellor* after a bitterly fought campaign roiled by the rise of the AfD, a far-right party backed by Team Trump.

Barring a last-minute upset in Sunday's election, *Merz's CDU/CSU bloc is leading the polls and on course to defeat Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD)* to make the 69-year-old former investment lawyer the next leader of Europe's biggest economy.

*His victory would cap months of political turmoil* since *Scholz's troubled three-party coalition imploded in November* -- but grave challenges loom for Merz and his *pledge to fix Germany's ailing economy* and rebuild its international stature.

The *election comes at a time of rapid and unsettling change for Germany and Europe,* after US President Donald *Trump reached out over their heads to Russia* to try to end the Ukraine war, sparking grave fears for future transatlantic ties.

2️⃣ *The US national security advisor has warned Ukraine's president* to stop hurling _"insults"_ at Donald Trump, as *pressure builds on Volodymyr Zelensky to sign away mineral rights* in exchange for Washington's help defending against Russia.

*Tensions between the US president and Zelensky over the proposed rare earths deal* -- which Kyiv has rejected -- and Washington's outreach to Moscow *exploded this week in a series of barbs.*

*Zelensky has said Trump has succumbed to Russian _"disinformation"_,* while the US leader accused his counterpart of starting the war and *branded him a _"dictator without elections"._*

*US national security advisor Mike Waltz said Thursday* that _"some of the rhetoric coming out of Kyiv, frankly, and *insults to President Trump were unacceptable."*_

*The US is a vital financial and military supporter of Ukraine,* but Trump has *rattled Kyiv and its European backers by opening talks with Moscow* they fear could end the war on terms that reward Russian President Vladimir Putin.

3️⃣ *Conservative Friedrich Merz is the strong favourite to become Germany's next chancellor* after a bitterly fought campaign roiled by the rise of the AfD, a far-right party backed by Team Trump.

Barring a last-minute upset in Sunday's election, *Merz's CDU/CSU bloc is leading the polls and on course to defeat Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD)* to make the 69-year-old former investment lawyer the next leader of Europe's biggest economy.

*His victory would cap months of political turmoil* since *Scholz's troubled three-party coalition imploded in November* -- but grave challenges loom for Merz and his *pledge to fix Germany's ailing economy* and rebuild its international stature.

The *election comes at a time of rapid and unsettling change for Germany and Europe,* after US President Donald *Trump reached out over their heads to Russia* to try to end the Ukraine war, sparking grave fears for future transatlantic ties.

2️⃣ *The US national security advisor has warned Ukraine's president* to stop hurling _"insults"_ at Donald Trump, as *pressure builds on Volodymyr Zelensky to sign away mineral rights* in exchange for Washington's help defending against Russia.

*Tensions between the US president and Zelensky over the proposed rare earths deal* -- which Kyiv has rejected -- and Washington's outreach to Moscow *exploded this week in a series of barbs.*

*Zelensky has said Trump has succumbed to Russian _"disinformation"_,* while the US leader accused his counterpart of starting the war and *branded him a _"dictator without elections"._*

*US national security advisor Mike Waltz said Thursday* that _"some of the rhetoric coming out of Kyiv, frankly, and *insults to President Trump were unacceptable."*_

*The US is a vital financial and military supporter of Ukraine,* but Trump has *rattled Kyiv and its European backers by opening talks with Moscow* they fear could end the war on terms that reward Russian President Vladimir Putin.

*The US national security advisor has warned Ukraine's president* to stop hurling _"insults"_ at Donald Trump, as *pressure builds on Volodymyr Zelensky to sign away mineral rights* in exchange for Washington's help defending against Russia.

*Tensions between the US president and Zelensky over the proposed rare earths deal* -- which Kyiv has rejected -- and Washington's outreach to Moscow *exploded this week in a series of barbs.*

*Zelensky has said Trump has succumbed to Russian _"disinformation"_,* while the US leader accused his counterpart of starting the war and *branded him a _"dictator without elections"._*

*US national security advisor Mike Waltz said Thursday* that _"some of the rhetoric coming out of Kyiv, frankly, and *insults to President Trump were unacceptable."*_

*The US is a vital financial and military supporter of Ukraine,* but Trump has *rattled Kyiv and its European backers by opening talks with Moscow* they fear could end the war on terms that reward Russian President Vladimir Putin.

#insidethe8thassembly

Abridged Profile – Rt. Hon. Iniobong Edward Ekong

Rt. Hon. Iniobong Edward Ekong, born on September 12, 1966, hails from Ikot Akpafuk-Ndiya in Nsit Ubium LGA, Akwa Ibom State. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics from the Nigerian Defence Academy, an M.A. in History & International Relations, and a Master's in Peace & Conflict Resolution from the University of Uyo, where he is currently pursuing a Ph.D.

A distinguished professional, Ekong has served in various military and security roles, including positions in the Nigerian Army and international peacekeeping missions. His public service career includes being Chairman of Nsit Ubium LGA, Special Assistant and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security and Special Services (2008-2022), and Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources (2022-2023).

His contributions have earned him several awards, including the Silver Jubilee Medal of Nigeria, Liberty Medal (Liberia), and Akwa Ibom Icon Award for Local Government Administration.

Nsikak Akpan
Principal Information Officer
AKHA

Kasa ta rikice fa An 'Ya Mutsa Gashin Baki A Zauren Majalisar Dattawan Nigeria Tsakanin Sanata Natasha Akpoti Da Shugaban Majalisar Goodwin Akpabio

Sanata Natasha Akpoti mai wakiltar kogi ta kudu ta bayyana cewa, bata tsoron Shugaban Majalisar "Am not Afraid of you" ta kara da cewa, duk wata matsala da take faruwa a zauren majalisar shi yake kawo ta" inji ta.

Ko meye zafi haka ?

Daga Muhammad Kwairi Waziri

Sannuku

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE COMMISSION

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved Dr Saviour Enyiekere's appointment as Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) for a five-year renewable term.

Until his appointment, Enyiekere, an environmental specialist, was the deputy chief of staff to the Senate President.

President Tinubu also approved the appointment of two commission members from each of the six geopolitical zones.

The 12 members are:

NORTH WEST:

(a) Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi

(b) Hon. Yusuf A. Yusuf Tabuka

NORTH EAST

(c) Aminu Ibrahim Malle

(d) Alhaji Lawan Maina Mahmud

NORTH CENTRAL

(e) Mark Hanmation Tersoo

(f) Salihu Umar Agboola Balogun

SOUTH WEST

(g) Hon. Taiwo Olukemi Oluga

(h) Hon. Afeez Ipeza-Balogun

SOUTH EAST

(i) Hon. Dr. Nnanna Uzor Kalu

G) Festus Ifesinachi Odii

SOUTH SOUTH

(k) Patrick A. Giwa

(l) Mrs. Mary Ekpenyong

Like the chairperson, members of the Commission shall hold office for a renewable term of five years.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

February 20, 2025