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By Gloria Ikibah

A delegation of international journalists has been given the rare honour of ringing the market-closing bell at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), bringing to a close a familiarisation visit to Asia’s oldest stock exchange.

The symbolic ceremony was led by BSE Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sundararaman Ramamurthy, who hosted the visiting media representatives at the exchange’s historic headquarters in Mumbai.

The bell-ringing followed a briefing during which Ramamurthy traced the 151-year-old institution’s remarkable journey from its beginnings under a banyan tree to its emergence as one of the world’s leading stock exchanges.

The journalists were also taken through the historic trading hall where brokers once conducted transactions through open outcry, relying on hand signals and shouted bids before the introduction of electronic trading.

Ramamurthy told the delegation that India’s capital markets had undergone a dramatic transformation, with trading now carried out electronically and increasingly through smartphones, enabling investors to access the market from virtually anywhere.

He also highlighted the growth in investor participation in India, the development of modern settlement systems and the expanding role of technology in promoting transparency and protecting investors.

The visiting journalists were briefed on the BSE’s contribution to capital formation and economic development, as well as India’s growing role in global derivatives and options trading.

The ceremonial closing bell provided the international media representatives with a firsthand experience of one of the longstanding traditions associated with stock exchanges around the world.

The visit was part of efforts to familiarise international journalists with India’s financial markets and the evolution of one of the country’s most important economic institutions.

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President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has signaled a strategic shift in the nation’s political landscape, predicting a decisive victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking during the state’s 39th-anniversary celebrations, Akpabio, who is the country’s third-highest-ranking official—touted the political stability achieved in the oil-rich Niger Delta region as a blueprint for the national electoral roadmap. He explicitly called for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the incumbent state governor, Umo Eno and himself

Addressing a diverse crowd of stakeholders, Akpabio framed the 2027 election as a referendum on continuity and structural reform. He argued that the economic policies initiated by President Tinubu, while demanding significant sacrifice from the populace, are vital for Nigeria’s long-term industrialization and infrastructure development.

“The case for re-electing President Tinubu rests on national stabilization and long-term economic reforms,” Akpabio said. “The ‘Renewed Hope’ Agenda is a trajectory that Nigeria must maintain to achieve sustained prosperity.”

For international observers, the Senate President’s endorsement of Governor Eno—a member of the opposition who has cultivated a non-partisan, pragmatic approach to local governance—highlights a growing trend of “developmental governance” where state-federal collaboration is being prioritized over traditional partisan combat. Akpabio lauded the governor for bridging historical political divides, effectively creating a unified front that local analysts believe is essential for regional stability in the Niger Delta.

Beyond the ballot box, Akpabio utilized the anniversary platform to advocate for greater regional integration. Drawing on the cultural and historical ties between Akwa Ibom and neighboring Cross River State, the Senate President urged for enhanced formal cooperation between the two states.

“We are one people, one history, and one future,” Akpabio declared, suggesting that the South-South zone’s economic potential could only be fully unlocked through cross-border collaboration and institutionalized regional partnership.

The anniversary served as both a political rally and a moment of historical reflection. Founded on the dreams and advocacy of local leaders, Akwa Ibom has transformed from a modest administrative territory into one of Nigeria’s most consequential states.

Akpabio paid tribute to the pioneers of the state, noting that its development has been driven primarily by the resilience and intellectual capital of its citizens. “Our greatest resource has always been our people,” he remarked, citing their achievements across sectors ranging from academia and sports to the global professional services industry.

By framing re-election not just as a partisan victory, but as a commitment to a unified national development strategy, the APC leadership is clearly aiming to preemptively consolidate support ahead of a contentious 2027 cycle. As Akwa Ibom prepares to hit the four-decade milestone next year, the alignment between the local government in Uyo and the federal administration in Abuja appears to be the primary pillar of the party’s upcoming campaign strategy.

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State has suffered a setback following the defection of its former state youth leader, Hon. ABM Jacob Alebura, to the Labour Party (LP) alongside several other party members.

The development is expected to strengthen the Labour Party’s structure in the state, particularly ahead of the 2027 governorship election, in which Hon. Jonathan Gbefwi Gaza is the party’s governorship candidate.

Gaza, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals, represents the Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State in the National Assembly.

Alebura formally expressed his intention to join the Labour Party in a letter sighted by Naijablitznews.com, stating that he had also registered as a member under the Doma Local Government Area structure of the party.

He said his decision was driven by his commitment to the ideals of the Labour Party and his desire to contribute to building a stronger political movement.

“I’m writing to formally express my intent to join the Labour Party LP and to officially register myself as a full member of the Labour Party, under the Doma Local government area structure Nasarawa state, effective from today.

“I’m committed to upholding the ideals, values and constitution of the Labour Party and I look forward to actively participating in the activities of the party at the ward level, towards building a stronger, more inclusive, and people-oriented political movement for the progress of our community and our nation,” the letter read.

Alebura had on September 19, 2026, resigned from the PDP, citing what he described as marginalisation by party leaders and stakeholders.

He also pointed to an unresolved dispute between him and the PDP chairman in Doma Local Government Area as one of the reasons for his departure from the party.

The former PDP youth leader was received into the Labour Party alongside other defectors by the state chairman and the leadership of the party in Doma Local Government Area, as well as other party stakeholders.

The latest movement adds to the political realignment taking place in Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 elections, with the Labour Party seeking to consolidate its structures across the state.