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Putin begs Russians for votes to extend his hardline rule
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By Francesca Hangeior
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday urged Russians to stay the course in the face of a “difficult period”, hours before polls open in a vote set to extend his hardline rule.
The former KGB agent is set to secure another six-year term this weekend in a vote the Kremlin says will show society is fully behind his assault on Ukraine.
“I am convinced: you realise what a difficult period our country is going through, what complex challenges we are facing in almost all areas,” Putin said in an address to Russians on the eve of the vote.
“And in order to continue to respond to them with dignity and successfully overcome difficulties, we need to continue to be united and self-confident,” he added.
Victory in the March 15-17 contest will allow Putin to stay in the Kremlin until at least 2030, longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the eighteenth century.
Appointed by his predecessor Boris Yeltsin on the final day of 1999, Putin has ruled Russia as president or prime minister ever since.
His first years in office saw an economic boom as Moscow cashed in on its vast energy resources.
But under his rule, Russia became increasingly authoritarian at home, eventually cracking down and outlawing all forms of dissent.
And abroad, Putin ramped up confrontation with the West and dispatched troops into Ukraine — annexing Crimea in 2014 and backing separatist rebels in the eastern Donbas region before launching his full-scale offensive in 2022.
With all his major critics dead, in prison or exiled, Putin sees Russian society as united behind him.
“We have already shown that we can be together, defending the freedom, sovereignty and security of Russia,” he said in a video message, while flanked by flags of the Russian tricolour and the president’s state insignia.
“Today it is critically important not to stray from this path,” he said.
The vote was a way for Russians to demonstrate their “patriotic feelings,” he added.
Voting will also take place in four recently occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
“Our fighters at the front will also vote. They, showing courage and heroism, defend the Fatherland and, participating in the elections, set an example for all of us,” the Russian leader said.
In the Ukrainian city of Mariupol — under the control of Russian forces — election officials on Thursday opened pop-up polling stations at small tables in the street and on the hoods of cars.
Banners were unfurled sporting a red, white and blue ‘V’ logo — an army symbol used as a sign of support for the military offensive.
Kyiv has dismissed the vote as a sham and appeared to have targeted some of those involved.
Last month a member of the Russian elections body in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region was killed in a car bombing celebrated by Kyiv’s spy agency.
Russia’s troops in Ukraine have chalked up their first battlefield gains in months and his most strident critic, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison colony last month.
No genuine opposition candidate has been allowed on the ballot, with Putin officially facing off against three Kremlin-approved candidates from political parties loyal to him and his policies.
Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has dismissed claims that the Mexican government rejected his diplomatic appointment, attributing his delayed resumption instead to the ongoing FIFA World Cup being co-hosted by Mexico and the United States.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today last Monday, the former presidential aide said the delay was due to logistical and diplomatic considerations linked to the global football tournament, stressing that he was not the only Nigerian envoy yet to assume duty. Omokri said reports suggesting that Mexico had declined to accept him as Nigeria’s ambassador were false and were being promoted by political opponents.
“Mexico has not rejected me. Not at all,” he said.Politics He explained that the Mexican government is currently focused on hosting the World Cup alongside the United States, leaving little room to process the arrival of new diplomats. “You should understand that Mexico is right now hosting the World Cup, along with the United States of America, and all of their focus is on that,” Omokri stated.
According to him, several Nigerian ambassadors-designate are also yet to resume at their respective postings for similar reasons.Executive Branch “Most of us ambassadors have not resumed. So, I’m not the only one. A lot of my colleagues are in my situation, but it’s okay. These things happen,” he said. The ambassador-designate also accused members of the opposition of spreading misleading narratives about his appointment, insisting that such claims have no basis in reality. “The opposition will always say things like I have been rejected. We do not work on the basis of the opposition. We work on the basis of reality,” he said.
Omokri expressed confidence that Nigeria continues to enjoy cordial diplomatic relations with countries around the world and maintained that host nations would receive Nigerian envoys in due course. “The reality of it is that we have countries in the world that respect Nigeria, and they’re going to be taking Nigeria’s envoys,” he added.
A young Nigerian girl who was trafficked to Cotonou, Benin Republice for prostitution has d!ed.
Sewuese passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026 in Benue State after she was brought home.
Activist, Zege Orkwande, who has been facilitating the rescue of trafficked Benue girls said investigation is ongoing and those who trafficked her will face the full wrath of law.
“People are asking “who took Sewuese to Cotonou”. Trust my process,” he wrote.
“The people that trafficked/smuggled her to Cotonou for prostitution will sure face the law and serve in prison uniform.
“All information gathered. I’m waiting for her to be buried first. REST WELL.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has launched a probe into the alleged withholding of operational funds approved by President Bola Tinubu for six federal information agencies by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
The investigation follows reports by Premium Times alleging that the Permanent Secretary failed to process payment files for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), despite presidential approval. The delay reportedly affected the operations of the agencies, with sources alleging that Mrs. Ukaire insisted that agency heads make detailed presentations on their projects and financial utilisation before the payments could be processed.
Agency heads and civil service experts reportedly argued that the demand contravened established procedures.
They cited a circular from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), which directs supervising ministries not to interfere in the financial administration of parastatals, noting that the agencies are accountable to their governing boards and supervising ministers rather than the Permanent Secretary for routine operational releases.
In response to the allegations, the ICPC invited Mrs. Ukaire and the heads of the affected agencies for questioning to determine the circumstances surrounding the delayed funds. Although those invited were questioned, no one was detained, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Following the report and the ICPC’s intervention, Mrs. Ukaire reportedly approved the payment files and forwarded them for disbursement. Heads of the affected agencies confirmed that the documents have now been transmitted and are awaiting final release into their respective accounts, bringing relief after months of uncertainty.
Source: Rewritten from a report by Premium Times without altering the original facts.
Ambassador Omokri Amid Rejection Rumours Says World Cup Cause of his delayed resumption
Sad: Young Nigerian reportedly trafficked for commercial s*x dies after rescue
ICPC investigates Permanent Secretary over delayed Tinubu’s approved agency funds
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