Author: Ifeanyi N.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the Federal Government to intervene in the insecurity situation in Imo and restore normalcy in the state. PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said the intervention was important to avert more attacks on the state. “We call on the Federal Government to quickly move in to avert more bloodshed in Imo and other parts of the country. The PDP national chairman also advised security agencies including the Police and the Department of State Services, to do a thorough investigation, adding that the situation in…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the Senate says it strongly and unreservedly supports President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in addressing all challenges facing the country. The Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Abdullahi Yahaya (APC-Kebbi) made the disclosure on behalf of the APC caucus at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday. The caucus was reacting to a statement credited to the PDP minority caucus in the National Assembly on the handling of the security situation in the country by President Buhari. “We in the APC caucus totally reject the many incorrect statement contained in the press release by the minority…

The Supreme Court today upheld a judgment of the Court of Appeal, which okayed the deregistration of the National Unity Party (NUP) and 73 other political parties. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last year deregistered the political parties. The electoral body cited their inability to win any election during the 2019 general elections as the reason. In the judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro on Friday, the Supreme Court said the deregistration of NUP was done in line with the laws and in compliance with the extant provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Act. With the latest judgment, the…

In 2019, the 16 years reign of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki as the King of Kwara politics came to an end in the hands of a coalition. The coalition, which comprises the Incumbent governor, Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaks, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed, Minister of Transportation (State), Gbamisola Saraki, (who is also the younger sister of Saraki) and ex-loyalists of the Saraki, ended the reign of Saraki. But in less than 2 years, things are falling apart in the O to ge camp. As the Governor tries to consolidate hold on party structure, loyalists of Lai Muhammed and…

The Osun State Government have been called upon to see the need to quickly conduct elections or constitute caretaker committees at the local government level as elective positions at the third tier of government cannot continue to remain vacant. This call was made by Adekanola Desmond Abiodun, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State in a chat with the media. Adekanola stated that since the local government is the closest to the people, the manner the government appointed council managers are managing the affairs of their councils calls for sober reflection. According to him, “It…

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, on Thursday, blamed Nigeria’s insecurity challenge on the failure of past leaders. Umahi said the failure of past Nigerian leaders to address the future of youths was responsible for the current spate of insecurity. The Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum disclosed this while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Thursday. Umahi, who stressed that Nigerians should not blame the current administration for the spike in insecurity, insisted that the situation was systemic. The governor called for sincerity in the fight against insecurity, if the country is to win the war. He said:…

For the remaining 753 Voting Points in Osun to be converted to Polling Units, the national headquarter of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has to ratify the reports of the expansion of voter access to Polling Units. This was revealed in an address delivered by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje at the stakeholders meeting on expansion of voter access to Polling Units held Thursday, 6th May 2021 in Osogbo. Agbaje said the ongoing expansion exercise though geared towards the 2023 General Elections can still be used for the 2022 gubernatorial election in Osun State. The REC…

The Senate has adjourned plenary until May 18, 2021, to enable members to observe the Sallah celebrations. The Senate President, Mr Ahmad Lawan, announced this after a closed-door session with Service Chiefs, which lasted for about 4 hours on Thursday. Lawan, however, disclosed that before that date, “we expect that our committees will still be working, particularly the Joint Committee working on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). “We expect that the joint committee will be presenting its report to the Senate as soon as we resume. “It’s still our desire and determination to pass the PIB before the end of…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, warned political parties, including the APC and PDP, to stay away from engaging in premature campaigns ahead of the 2022 governorship election or risk being sanctioned. Dr Adeniran Tella, Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, gave the warning in Ado-Ekiti at a stakeholders’ meeting with political leaders, religious groups, youths and women. The meeting was convened to address issues bothering on expanding voters’ access to polling units, as it affected the state. “The commission is challenging you to play this game by the rules,” Tella said. “The Electoral Act, 2010, Section 9991,…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to pay attention to the situation in Imo State. The National Chairman, Uche Secondus, told reporters on Wednesday in Abuja that federal authorities should intervene to forestall further incidents. Secondus accused the Imo State Government of plotting to rope perceived opponents in its probe of the attacks. The opposition leader stressed that Imo and other parts of the country needed adequate security. He advised the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to do a thorough investigation and not politicise what is going on in the South-East State. Secondus…

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma says the masterminds of attacks in Imo and other parts of Nigerians will be exposed soon. The governor disclosed that security agencies are compiling a comprehensive report on recent incidents. Uzodimma was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday. The Imo helmsman said he would allow the security agencies to do their job as the matter is still under investigation. “Sooner than later, you will see a report that will expose identities of those behind what has happened in Imo and what is possibly happening in other states,” he said. Imo has come…

Two groups within the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have collapsed their structures with the sole aim of unseating the incumbent Governor of the State, Seyi Makinde in 2023. InfoStride News reports that Makinde, who was sworn-in as the Governor of the State on May 29th 2019, won the gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Makinde defeated the candidate of APC, Adebayo Adelabu through a coalition which had African Democratic Congress (ADC) Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). Our correspondent recalls that a former Governor of the…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has released guidelines for aspirants contesting on its platform for the July 24 Local Government election in the state. The PDP Chairman in Lagos, Adedeji Doherty who made this known in a statement released on Thursday said sales of nomination forms for the Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship positions will begin on May 7 and end on May 14, while May 18 is the last day for the submission of the forms. According to him, the party’s screening exercise for the chairmanship and councillorship aspirants would hold on May 20, while ward…

A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olumide Aderinokun, has asked Governor Dapo Abiodun not to turn the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) into a revenue generation agency. InfoStride News reports that the Ogun electoral commission, saddled with the responsibility of conducting elections into the local governments of the state, has demanded N200,000 from chairmanship candidates. OGSIEC, through its Chairman, said Tuesday that those eyeing the councillorship posts must pay a non-refundable deposit of N100,000 each, saying it was in accordance with the law of the commission. But, the Akinruyiwa of Owu Kingdom, Aderinokun told Governor Dapo…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated this on Wednesday, explaining that to arrive at the new number of PUs, a total of 1,495 voting points (VPs) used for the 2019 general election will be converted to polling units in addition to the existing 2,609 PUs used for the 2019 election. The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Kassim Gaidam, in an address said converted voting points would be moved from the vicinities of PUs where they currently exist to places with no PUs He explained that conversion of VPs and their relocation to new settlements is to enhance…

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus of the National Assembly on Wednesday reacted to the Peoples Democratic Party’s allegation that ‘insecurity under the APC-led government was worsening by the day. The APC caucus had planned to hold a joint meeting of Senators and Rep members on its platform, however only a few members turned up with many absent for unknown reasons, But speaking at a press conference after the meeting attended by a few, the APC senators maintained that their PDP counterparts were overheating the polity. The caucus decision which was read by the Senate leader, Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi,…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has created additional 1,235 polling units in Imo State. The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Francis Ezeonu made this known while briefing newsmen on Wednesday, NAN reports. Ezeonu said over the years, there had been attempts by the commission to create additional polling units to cater to the interest of new settlements and areas with unmanageable voter population. He explained that in 2011, the commission opted to create voting points and voting settlements to address the issue of overcrowding during elections and new settlements not served by existing polling units. Ezeonu said…

The African Democratic Party (ADC) has expressed opposition to the plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create additional polling units ahead of 2023. The National Chairman of the party, Okey Nwosu, addressed the media in Onitsha on Wednesday. He said that establishing more units in addition to the existing 120,000 was bad timing, considering the current economic challenges. The chairman said America, with more population and landmass, has only about 240,000 polling places. “How do we justify this with INEC’s call for additional polling units? Is it because INEC is spending from government coffers?” he quipped. The…

The crisis rocking the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), took a new twist on Wednesday following the opening of a new parallel party Secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital. The Ebierien Fala Itubor led faction of the party who is in charge of the new secretariat and is suspected to be loyal to former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, also accused the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, of failing in his leadership role. The newly opened parallel secretariat is miles away from the popular APC secretariat…

Olusegun Bamgbose, the National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, has pleaded with former Army Generals, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar and Azuibike Ihejirika to, without further delay, rescue the country from imminent collapse. He noted that the insecurity in the country has become so worrisome and pathetic, calling on every Nigerian to be concerned about how to address the issue before it gets out of hand. The recent attacks on our security agents are like ill wind which will blow no one any good. There is a need to prioritize the issue of insecurity. “Our nation is gasping for…