In a significant political development, former Niger State Deputy Governor and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, along with two prominent figures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have officially abandoned the party, making a high-profile move to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Joining Ibeto in this political shift are Ibrahim Egbo, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Lapai Agaie federal constituency, and Alhaji Abubakar Azozo, former Niger State Commissioner of Water Resources. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, accompanied by the other defectors, made the announcement at the state APC secretariat in Minna. They attributed their…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
In a notable development on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced key appointments for various Senate committees. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) takes the helm as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content and assumes the position of vice chairman for the Committee on Steel. Akpabio further appointed Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) as the chairman of the Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, alongside 13 other senators assigned as chairmen and vice chairmen for different committees. The committee appointments are as follows: Committee on Steel – Chairman: Patrick Ndubueze Vice Chairman: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Committee on Tourism -…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has addressed recent reports alleging that it refused to provide certified true copies of the November 11 gubernatorial polls to the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Athan Achonu, in Imo State. INEC clarified its position through its verified handle on Monday. Achonu had accused INEC of denying his party access to the certified true copies of election documents. In response, INEC stated that it is in the process of assessing the cost for certifying the requested documents and assembling all necessary materials. The electoral body posted on its official handle: “The attention of the management…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has recounted how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to which he belonged in 1998, lost a local government election in Ogun State because of his refusal to endorse plans to bribe police and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) personnel. Speaking in Abeokuta on Monday during a high-level consultation on ‘Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa,’ Obasanjo shared that party leaders had suggested allocating funds for the police and INEC. However, he rejected the proposal, citing his belief that these officials were government workers earning monthly salaries. Obasanjo, addressing politicians and professors, expressed discomfort with the…
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has declared his confidence and readiness for the upcoming governorship rerun election, stating that he approaches the contest with full assurance of victory. The Governor conveyed this sentiment during an address to his enthusiastic supporters at the State’s PDP secretariat in Gusau upon his return from a foreign trip. Governor Lawal expressed optimism, saying, “Even if the election is held a hundred times, there is no doubt that I will run away with a landslide victory.” He thanked the court for its ruling and affirmed his preparedness to engage with the All Progressives Congress (APC)…
The Nasarawa Police Command has issued a stern warning to political parties and their supporters, cautioning against any potential acts of violence in anticipation of the Court of Appeal judgment on the state’s governorship election. Acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Shettima Muhammad, conveyed the message during a press conference held in Lafia on Monday. DCP Muhammad highlighted the collaborative efforts of the police and other security agencies in intensifying security measures across the state to prevent any breakdown of law and order surrounding the judgment. Security personnel have been strategically deployed to key locations to maintain peace. In his statement,…
In a recent statement, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State in the upcoming 2023 general election, has raised concerns about the hindrances facing Lagos in its pursuit of becoming a global financial hub. Rhodes-Vivour specifically pointed to alleged cronyism within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a major obstacle. Rhodes-Vivour expressed dissatisfaction with Governor Sanwolu’s efforts to attract investors in London, describing them as “underwhelming, dishonest, and incoherent.” He highlighted the dismantling of a $10 million tech investment aimed at revolutionizing bike-hailing services in Lagos as evidence of conflicting policies within the state government. According to…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully addressed the passport production crisis affecting its three Missions in the United States. Passport services at the country’s missions in the US have reportedly resumed. A Public Notice displayed at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC announced the resolution of the issue. The notice specified that all passport applicants previously scheduled for biometric capturing are expected to visit the Mission on Monday. For those applicants originally scheduled from Monday, November 13th, to Thursday, November 16th, the biometric capturing has been rescheduled. The notice indicates that the capturing has been refixed to take…
Supporters of the Labour Party (LP) staged a protest on Monday at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. The demonstration was prompted by the party’s alleged denial of access to documents used in the November 11 governorship election. Senator Athan Achonu, the LP candidate in the election, claimed that INEC had refused to provide certified true copies of the election materials despite an official request. LP State Chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, addressed journalists during the protest, expressing frustration with INEC’s handling of the situation. Ihejiagwa, who spoke from a wheelchair, stated,…
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court sternly warned the public against leaving charms in his courtroom during Monday’s trial of five men accused of murdering Ifeanyi Etunmuse. “No one should leave charms in my courtroom. It should not be repeated. A talisman was found after the last adjourned date in the murder case,” Justice Oshodi emphasized, referring to the charm as ‘property’ and cautioning the courtroom audience against leaving such items. The defendants, Atunrase Omolabi, Shittu Olawale, Olaide Opeifa, Olanrewaju Adebiyi (aka Maja), and Jamiu Omosanya (aka Orobo), face charges of attempted murder and murder for their alleged…
Barrister Sani Mohammad Takori, a former member of the House of Representatives and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed deep concern over the internal crisis within the Zamfara State chapter of the party. Takori lamented that the ongoing turmoil has become a source of worry, perplexity, and embarrassment for the party. Addressing the media via telephone, the former federal lawmaker highlighted the distress of APC supporters in Zamfara State, attributing the party’s defeat in the 2023 general election to the lingering internal crisis. He emphasized the importance of the party’s leadership in the state addressing the issue…
The National Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Olaposi Oginni, has pointed the finger at the party’s presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, for the removal of Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano by the election tribunal and the Appeal Court. Despite Yusuf’s initial victory in the March 18 governorship election, the APC is poised to take over the seat pending a Supreme Court decision. Oginni accused Kwankwaso of irregularities and electoral malpractices, attributing the Kano governor’s predicament to the former presidential candidate’s alleged greediness and insatiable quest for power. In a statement, Oginni argued that the lack of internal…
Amidst the ongoing escalation between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon’s Hezbollah Movement claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli troops in Northern Israel on Monday, using drones, artillery, and missiles. Hezbollah fighters, backed by Iran, reportedly deployed three attack drones west of Kiryat Shmona in Northern Israel, followed by artillery fire in the same area. Earlier, the group claimed to have fired “Burkan missiles” at an Israeli barracks and carried out additional attacks on Israeli positions. Israel’s army confirmed the drone strikes, stating that three UAVs were identified near an army post, with no reported injuries. The army reported…
Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has taken a bold step by declaring his intention to run for the governorship position, challenging his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki. Shaibu, who has been in a tense relationship with Obaseki, revealed his ambition to lead the state under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking in Benin City, Shaibu justified his gubernatorial bid, asserting that Edo requires a practical leader. Noting the nearing 2024 Edo governorship election, he expressed concerns about experimenting with leadership, emphasizing the need for a leader who understands the state’s politics and the people’s needs. Shaibu…
In a decisive ruling on Monday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal lodged by Titus Uba, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the election of Governor Hyacinth Alia in Benue State. Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, delivering a unanimous judgment, addressed and rejected all three issues raised by Uba and the PDP. Notably, the court dismissed Uba’s claim of non-qualification against Deputy Governor Samuel Ode, stating that the forgery of INEC Form EC9 was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The court emphasized that issues of non-qualification fall under pre-election matters, exclusively within the…
The Presidency, through President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has responded to complaints about the Appeal Court’s judgment sacking Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State. Onanuga shifted blame to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that the PDP’s use of an illegal caretaker committee for primaries in Plateau State, despite a court order, led to the governor’s removal. In a post titled “The Avoidable Fate of Caleb Mutfwang” on X, Onanuga recalled the 2019 case in Zamfara State, where the APC lost due to illegal primaries, leading to the ousting of all APC elected officials.…
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State urged political officeholders to maintain humility in serving the people during a thanksgiving service held on Sunday. The occasion, dedicated to the Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emeka Nwaobi, took place at St. Paul’s Catholic Cathedral Church in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area. Describing Nwaobi as a commendable individual, Governor Oborevwori encouraged him to continue serving with humility and to leverage his position for the unity and benefit of Aniocha North. Reflecting on their political journey, the governor highlighted their shared experiences, emphasizing the role of divine intervention. The…
The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) swiftly addressed misleading reports on Sunday, refuting claims of the withdrawal of Sector 4 Niger from the organization. Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, Chief Military Public Information Officer in Ndjamena, Chad, issued a statement dismissing the insinuations as false and lacking official correspondence. The MNJTF, established to foster a safe environment in regions affected by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, stressed the integral role of Niger as a member. Abdullahi stated, “At no point has there been any official communication regarding Niger’s withdrawal or exit from the MNJTF.” Highlighting the collaborative efforts of member…
Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s decision to halt the planned electricity tariff hike, stating that it reflects the president’s sensitivity to the masses’ plight. Speaking to journalists in Osogbo on Sunday, Oyintiloye highlighted that Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had revealed on November 8 that President Tinubu intervened to prevent an increase in the cost of electricity tariff. The president insisted that a subsidy be maintained on power consumed nationwide, emphasizing the potential counter-productivity of removing the subsidy while Nigerians were still grappling with the effects…
The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party issued a call on Sunday to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, urging them to follow the example of Liberian President George Weah by extending congratulations to President Bola Tinubu. President Weah gracefully conceded defeat in his re-election bid to opposition leader Joseph Boakai, showcasing a commendable display of sportsmanship. Abayomi Arabambi, the spokesman for the LP faction, emphasized the importance of emulating such sportsmanship, stating, “Nigerian leaders should emulate this spirit of sportsmanship.” Arabambi urged Obi and Atiku to join forces with President Tinubu…