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Category: Opinion

  • 2027: Finding alternative political party, our main hurdle — Anti-Tinubu coalition

    2027: Finding alternative political party, our main hurdle — Anti-Tinubu coalition

    ABUJA: Ahead of the 2027 general election, the new broad-based coalition of opposition leaders say they are on the verge of reaching a final consensus on its structure and modus operandi, noting that its main hurdle had been finding an alternative political party.

    The coalition noted that while the issue of zoning is being raised by some individuals, the matter had not been formally discussed at its meetings.

    It added that at this stage of negotiations, the main focus was around getting leaders to agree to work together, as “there is strong recognition that prospective members should set aside personal ambitions to contest the 2027 elections.”

    The coalition disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Last Thursday, some opposition leaders had at a news conference in Abuja, opposed the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

    They also said the group would work as a coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

    Those in the forefront of the coalition are former vice president and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party LP, Mr Peter Obi, former Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir el-Rufai and Tinubu’s estranged ally and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir Lawal.

    They are joined in the coalition by some aggrieved elements of the APC including a former Governor of Nasarawa State and former National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; former Rivers state Governor and ex-Transport minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and; former Ekiti state Governor and ex-Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi.

    Lukman noted that while responding to a question during the press conference, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had confirmed that the formation of a coalition ahead of 2027 general election was going on.
    According to Lukman, this has generated wide interests and national debates with varied interpretations.
    He said in order to set the records straight, it was important to state that negotiations were ongoing, adding that nothing had been finalized.

    “Once concluded, formal announcements will be made with all the details regarding composition of membership, programme of action towards 2027, framework for contesting the 2027 elections, etc,” he stated.
    According to him, consultations are in advanced stages, basically reaching out to prospective members of the coalition, mapping out issues for agreements among members.

    He said: “At this stage of negotiations, the main focus is around getting leaders to agree to work together and substantially there is strong recognition that prospective members should set aside personal ambitions to contest the 2027 elections.

    “The second issue being negotiated is the political party that will be the platform for the 2027 electoral contest. These two issues are carefully being negotiated. While acknowledging that with respect to the requirement for members to set aside personal ambitions, there are strong interests being expressed around issues of zoning by individual leaders, these issues are yet to be formally discussed at any consultation meeting.

    “The speculation, therefore, by some media analysts about disagreements stalemating the coalition negotiation is not true. The consensus among leaders is that the final decision about processes of candidates’ selection can only be handled and determined when there is agreement regarding the political party on whose platform the coalition will field candidates.

    “The question of negotiating the political party is the most difficult challenge. This is an area that many members of the coalitions have been engaging in different ways for more than a year now. Perhaps, it is important to highlight that there are many groups, including some members of the coalition, who have filed applications to register political parties.

    “For reasons best known to INEC, these applications are being frustrated. The only conclusion that can be reached in the circumstance is that INEC has decided that it will not register new parties.

    “To make matters worse, many of the existing registered parties who did not meet the electoral threshold of winning any seat in the last general elections face the threat of deregistration. Given this unpleasant reality, members of the coalition opened negotiations with some of the existing parties that have met the electoral threshold.

    ‘’Interestingly, somehow, some of the prospective parties being negotiated are being remotely pushed into crises mode in the same way PDP, Labour Party and NNPP have been entangled with existential problems. It is almost a clear case of destroying the legal basis for any party to qualify to field candidates for 2027 other than the ruling APC,” he added.

    Allegation’s untrue – INEC

    However, INEC yesterday disclaimed the allegations, saying associations which meet the requirements for registration as political parties would be duly registered.

    Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the commission had had to even notify political associations when they file incomplete documents for registration as parties.

    Reacting to the allegation, Oyekanmi said: “It is not true, the commission will not frustrate any association seeking registration as a political party. We operate a transparent process. There are conditions to be fulfilled and there is an application procedure to be followed, as contained in the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022).

    “There are documents to be submitted and verified, and there are different stages of an application. An applicant needs to be in compliance with all the requirements and must also submit genuine documents.
    “If there are issues during the application process, the commission will immediately inform the applicant to rectify such areas.’’

  • Democracy not working in Nigeria — Obasanjo, Obi, Tambuwal, Kukah

    Democracy not working in Nigeria — Obasanjo, Obi, Tambuwal, Kukah

    ABUJA—Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, and Aminu Tambuwal, the former governor of Sokoto State, yesterday expressed concerns that democracy was not working in Nigeria.

    The leaders, who spoke at the 60th birthday celebration of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Emeka Ihedioha, at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Intercontinental Hotel, yesterday, stressed the need for urgent reforms to address the country’s challenges.

    Speaking at the event also attended by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku and immediate past governor of katsina State, Aminu Masari, Obasanjo noted that democracy, as currently practised in Nigeria and much of Africa, has failed to meet the need of the people.

    According to him, western model of democracy does not align with African values and needs, and “democracy in Africa has failed because it is not African.”

    Obasanjo, who called for a redefinition of democracy to better reflect the continent’s cultural realities and serve the people more effectively, said: “Is democracy failing in Africa? Are we talking of democracy or western liberal democracy?

    “We should remember that in Africa, we had a form of government which attended to the needs of the people. That is democracy.

    “Abraham Lincoln describes it as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But what do we have today? The Greek democracy affects everyone but democracy has now become representative democracy and it hasn’t taken care of everyone.

    “Democracy in Africa has failed because it’s not African, it didn’t have our culture and way of life. You will say, go to court when you know that you can’t get justice. Democracy is dying in Africa and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa.”

    On his part, Obi also noted that the democracy practiced in the country is not working as it should.
    Recalling his experience, where he had to fight for his mandate after being impeached as governor of Anambra State, Obi maintained that he did not resort to bribery.

    He said: “Democracy is not working in Nigeria. Everything has been knocked down. I didn’t pay a dime to retrieve my mandate. When I was impeached, Obasanjo called to ask about my welfare. Nigeria should imbibe the Indonesian democracy, proportional representation.’’

    Speaking further, Obi said Nigeria’s democracy, which had been progressing since 1999, is now being “knocked down” by the current administration.

    “Some people came and knocked everything down. That is the situation we are in now. Everything has been knocked down. Nothing works.

    “I became a governor through the court when President Obasanjo and Atiku were in government.
    “I did not pay the court one naira. I was sitting in my office, and the court declared me the winner. It can’t happen in Nigeria today.

    “When I was being impeached, the president sent people to come and intervene on my behalf. Ken Nnamani came, begging the House (House of Assembly) not to impeach me.

    “Today, the president is impeaching a person. They were in PDP; I was in APGA. The president was calling and saying, ‘Peter, are you okay? Even when I was impeached, President Obasanjo called and said, ‘Are you okay? Are you safe?

    “When the court eventually declared me (the winner) under Andy Uba (as governor), President Yar’Adua called my phone in London and said, ‘come back. I said, President, I can’t come back.

    “When I came back, the military people came and received me at the airport. I couldn’t believe it. And took me straight to him. Now, the president would ask me not to come back. Democracy is collapsing.”

    Delivering the keynote address, titled “Is Democracy Failing in Africa?’’ Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, faulted the weaponization of religion in Nigeria, which he described as one of the major hindrances to the country’s democratic development.

    Kukah also described the relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku as being like a Catholic marriage, where they quarrel frequently but never broke up.

    The cleric, who, however, called for a more honest and inclusive approach to addressing the country’s challenges, said further: “Democracy is working for different people as you can see in their outlook. There is the belief that citizens are free to rebel. There has been debate whether the Nigerian constitution is perfect or not.

    “No constitution will be better than the Bible and Koran. Yet, we are still living in sin. The problem is that in Nigeria, the issue of Christian and Muslim prayer is not the best. The weaponisation of religion is a big problem in Nigeria.

    “Democracy is work in progress. God doesn’t discriminate between Christian or Muslim prayers. There is no discrimination. We are children of one God. If we are not treating each other rightly, one of them must be a bastard.

    “Democracy and its principles are endless contests. There are certain things God has given us which people can’t control.

    “We, as Africans, inherited a system that’s not ours, but we can’t say it’s not relevant to us. There are differences between democracy in Asia and that of Africa. Singapore, for example. What do we make of the tenets of democracy in Africa?

    “I feel sorry for the judges. At the last election, even small me, I had people calling me, complaining, talk to this, talk to that. Pressure on judges to deliver justice. I agree that there’s an urgent need to clean up the mess.

    “Democracy is about everything, it’s about justice. How do we know if democracy is working in Nigeria? Do we measure democracy based on the things we wish ourselves?”

    In his remarks, former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, said democracy in Nigeria is still work in progress but noted that its success depends on the commitment of political leaders to abide by the rules.
    Weighing on the emergency rule declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, Tambuwal recalled that there was cooperation of the National Assembly during a state of emergency under Obasanjo’s administration, saying democracy could work when political actors act responsibly.

    “Democracy will work if the actors play by the rules. It’s work in progress. Under Obasanjo, a state of emergency was declared. The NASS worked together to ensure that 2/3 majority passed the emergency. “Each member had to vote. In this same NASS, we have the same constitution. What happened in the last one? We need to chase out the bad operators of democracy”, he stated.

    Speaking at the event, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said Ihedioha has remained loyal, even when they found themselves on different political platforms.

    “Emeka and I have kept this relationship and till today I have found him extremely loyal, dedicated and focused, even though sometimes we found ourselves on different political divides but we kept our relationship and I think that testifies with the kind of person Emeka is,” he said.

    On his part, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, traced the origin of democracy and what he and his team at the commonwealth did to promote its cause across the globe.

    Anyaoku said: “As Commonwealth Secretary-General, I helped members to transit to multi-party democracy. Also the collapse of apartheid administration in South Africa. Review of 1999 constitution
    “We need a new constitution to address many challenges. True federalism is the answer to the management of national issues.

    “The recent coup in Mali, Niger tend to take us back. The nature of our politics and the conduct of our politicians is another problem of our democracy.

    “They have become instruments of capturing political power. It’s only true, stable democratic governance that can rid our country of the crises which impede development.

    “I believe Nigeria can change this Eurocentric narrative. We in Africa and Nigeria have a responsibility to get a stable democracy and change the Eurocentric narrative.”

    While expressing gratitude to all who attended the event, the celebrant, Emeka Ihedioha, said: “My father told me the most expensive habit is having friends. I have lived my life pursuing the cause for democracy. We should all rise to defend democracy.

    “I urge all men to always speak truth to power and protect democracy. There’s life after money. I will remain who I am. For me and democracy, it is till God do us apart.”

  • Gov Mbah okays promotion, conversion of 2,061 civil servants

    Gov Mbah okays promotion, conversion of 2,061 civil servants

    Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved the promotion and conversion of  2,061 civil servants who participated in the 2024 promotion and conversation exercises in the state.

    This is even as elated civil servants in the state expressed delight at the prioritisation of their welfare by Mbah’s administration through the prompt payments of salaries and emoluments, improved working environment and capacity.

    Chairman of Enugu State Civil Service Commission, ESCSC, Mr. Robison Odo, who disclosed this yesterday, said:  “The executive governor of the state recently gave his approval for the release of the promotion and conversion exercises of 2,061 officers who successfully partook in the 2024 promotion interviews.

    “The promotion and conversion exercises affected officers from grade level 01 to grade level 17. On our part, we will waste no time in implementing the governor’s approval.’’

    Odo, who hailed Mbah for the prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, said the governor had shown resilience and commitment to the welfare of workers in the state since the inception of his administration.

    “We want to appreciate the governor in a special way for all he is doing for workers in the state. Despite the enormous work going on across every sector of the state, he still approved ¦ 80,000 minimum wage in 2024, which is beyond the national minimum wage benchmark,” he noted.

    According to him, workers in the state will continue to support the governor’s programmes in order to achieve the goals set out by the administration for the benefits of the state.

    He added:  “On our part, we will continue to instill discipline in the service, with the commitment to foster creativity, innovation and productivity that would help the success of the government.’’

  • Sen. Kingibe expresses dismay over Karu Bridge explosion

    Sen. Kingibe expresses dismay over Karu Bridge explosion

    The Senator representing Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has expressed dismay over the tanker explosion at Karu Bridge on the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, calling for more stringent safety measures.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a truck carrying fertiliser had, on Wednesday evening, crashed at the popular Karu Bridge in Abuja, hours after a petrol-laden tanker exploded on the same spot, causing multiple accidents and fatalities.

    The accident claimed the lives of no fewer than nine persons, while about 30 vehicles were destroyed.

    NAN also reports that a similar accident involving a truck occurred on the same spot barely 16 hours after the Wednesday incident.

    Kingibe, in a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Kennedy Mbele, commiserated with the families of the victims, Abuja residents and the entire country over what she called tragic and avoidable accidents.

    She urged the relevant authorities to pay strict attention to safety regulations in the transportation and road traffic sector to avoid a reoccurrence of such incidents.

    Kingibe reiterated her earlier call on road users, particularly those conveying inflammable materials, to always be careful.

    While wishing those who sustained injuries quick recovery, she prayed Allah to grant those who lost their lives in the incidents eternal rest. (NAN)

  • Rivers Crisis: No country can succeed under dictatorial regime – Jonathan

    Rivers Crisis: No country can succeed under dictatorial regime – Jonathan

    ABUJA – Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned that no country can succeed when government officials abuse power and act as in a dictatorship.

    He argued that the crisis in Rivers State reflects wider governance challenges in Nigeria, where key figures in the executive, legislature and judiciary are failing to uphold justice and the rule of law.

    Jonathan delivered his remarks on Saturday at the Annual Colloquium of the Haske Satumari Foundation in Abuja, an event aimed at amplifying marginalised voices and promoting equitable governance.

    He stressed that government decisions have lasting effects and that poor conduct in all branches is undermining democratic institutions.

    The former president expressed concern that compromised institutions deter investment and impede economic growth, as investors are wary of environments where judicial rulings may be influenced.

    He emphasised that sustainable social change requires continuous effort and commitment to good governance, warning that failure to ensure justice and fairness endangers the nation’s stability and future prosperity.

    The former Nigerian leader said, “We’re talking about building a society where no one is oppressed, as reflected in the top paragraph of our national anthem. As a former president, and also from the Niger Delta, when the issue of suspending the governor came out, I think people called on me, ‘President Jonathan you should say something.’

    “What is happening in Nigeria today regarding the situation in river states is like an Indian proverb that said that if somebody is sleeping, really sleeping, you can easily wake up that person. But if that person is pretending to sleep, you find it difficult to wake up that person. The key actors in Nigeria, from executives to the legislature, and the judiciary, they know the correct thing to do, but they are refusing to do it. They are pretending to sleep.

    “Waking such a person is extremely difficult, but the person knows the right thing. The clear abuse of offices, clear abuse of power, clear abuse of privileges, cutting across from the three arms of government, from the executive to the parliament to the judiciary. And I always plead with our people that whatever we do affects everybody.

    “No businessman can bring his money to invest in a country where the judiciary is compromised, where a government functionary can dictate to judges what judgment they will give. No man brings his money to invest in that economy because we are taking a big risk. So whatever we do affects everybody.

    “And if we want to build a nation where our children and our grandchildren, no matter how painful it is, we must strive to do what is right. It may cost us, but we must endeavour and pay the price to insist on doing what is right. Whether you are holding an executive office as a president, a minister, governor, or special advisor, executive, whether you are holding an office in the parliament, senate, or rep, whether you are a judicial officer in high courts or appellate courts, we must strive to do what is right.

    “If we want to build a nation that our children will be proud of. As we engage in these discussions, let us remember that promoting social change is not a one-time event, but a continuous process. It requires a sustained commitment, collective action, and unwavering dedication to the values that promote good governance.”

    Speaking at the colloquium, Kudla Satumari, the foundation’s founder, explained that the event was intended to highlight systemic inequalities and the need for inclusive governance.

    “Our agitation is equity is not to give to people to feel that they are entitled but we want people that deserve to be heard and included in the processes so that we have a fair equitable and justice in the society,” he added.

    Other speakers at the colloquium emphasized that when public officials do not consistently uphold democratic principles, the nation’s institutions and future prosperity are at risk.

  • PDP Scribe: Supreme Court passes buck to party

    PDP Scribe: Supreme Court passes buck to party

    THE Supreme Court, yesterday, practically returned the decision on who should be the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the party’s hierarchy. It quashed lower courts’ verdicts on the issue and faulted the Court of Appeal and High Court in Enugu for dabbling into what it described as a domestic affair of a political party.

    Senator Sunday Anyanwu, who left the secretaryship to fly PDP’s flag as Imo governorship candidate in 2023, is in a tug of war with SKE Udeh-Okoye for the post.

    Following the apex court’s verdict, the Udeh-Okoye and Anyanwu camps claimed victory, yesterday, as they prepare to return to Court on March 25 for hearing the suit Senator Anyanwu filed to stay execution of the judgments the apex court nullified, yesterday.

    Indeed, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP, said with the Supreme Court decision, Udeh-Okoye remains the national secretary of the party.

    Udeh-Okoye’s backers

    Those backing Udeh-Okoye for the PDP national secretaryship include 2023 Presidential Candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Chairman and Secretary of the BoT: Senator Adolphus Wabara and Senator Ahmed Makarfi; majority of the BoT; majority of the South-East caucus; majority of the Senate and House of Representatives caucus of the PDP; 10 of the 12 members of the PDP Governors Forum; and National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum (a latter day convert) among others.

    Anyanwu’s supporters

    Conversely, Senator Anyanwu’s supporters include FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, and members of his now defunct G-5 governors -Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, serving Governors Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), former National Vice Chairman, South South, Chief Dan Orbi among others.

    Supreme Court verdict

    Nullifying lower courts’ judgments that removed Senator Anyanwu as the national secretary of the PDP, the apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, faulted the Court of Appeal and High Court in Enugu for dabbling into what it described as a domestic affair of a political party.

    The high court had on the strength of a suit that was brought before it by a member of the PDP, Mr. Aniagu Emmanuel, removed Anyanwu as the national scribe of the party.

    The decision of the trial court was subsequently upheld by the appellate court, which recognised Chief Udeh-Okoye as Senator Anyanwu’s replacement.

    The appellate court held that Anyanwu’s continued stay in office as national secretary was in breach of PDP’s Constitution, having contested and emerged as the party’s candidate in the governorship election that held in Imo State in 2024.

    Dissatisfied with the judgments, Anyanwu approached the Supreme Court to set them aside.

    Delivering its judgment in the matter on Friday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, held that the two lower courts were wrong to have meddled in an internal affair of the PDP.

    When Judiciary can interfere in party affairs

    It held that the party has its own dispute resolution mechanisms embedded in its constitution.
    The apex court, in its lead judgment that was delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, stressed that the judiciary would only intervene, when a political party is accused of sidelining its own laws and regulations.

    It held that it is not the duty of courts to involve itself in the leadership selection process of political parties but to ensure adherence to due process, equity, justice, fairness and the rule of law.

    Besides, the Supreme Court noted that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, whose substantive suit led to Anyanwu’s removal, failed to establish his locus standi (legal right) to institute the action.

    Consequently, it vacated the judgments of the two lower courts for want of jurisdiction to entertain the dispute surrounding the office of a National Secretary in the PDP.

    It will be recalled that the Board of Trustees, BOT, and the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP, had earlier endorsed Chief Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party, in line with the judgments the apex court vacated on Friday

    Anyanwu had outright rejected the decisions of the BOT and NWC, insisting that the position was the subject of a pending litigation.

    On his part, Chief Udeh-Okoye, in a recent process he filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, maintained that Senator Anyanwu had ceased to be the national secretary of the PDP.

    He told the court that though the Senator Anyanwu was elected at a National Convention the party held on October 30, 2021, for a four-year tenure, he, however, lost the position after he was nominated as candidate of the party for the governorship election that held in Imo State in 2023.

    Chief Udeh-Okoye told the court that whereas Article 47(5) of the PDP Constitution requires any officer elected into the party’s Executive Committee at any level, to resign before running for any elective office, Article 47 (6) made provision for the appointment of someone from the same area or zone, to serve out the tenure of such officer.

    According to him, following Senator Anyanwu’s refusal to vacate the office, the Board of Trustees of the PDP, in a letter dated October 12, 2023, drew the attention of the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagun, to the constitutional breach.

    He said the South East zone Executives of the party, in a meeting held at Enugu on October 16, 2022, nominated him to serve out the residue of Senator Anyanwu’s remaining tenure in office.

    Chief Udeh-Okoye told the court that the litigation that led to the concurrent judgments of the courts in Enugu, was a fallout of the meeting where he was nominated.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo had fixed March 25 to hear the suit Senator Anyanwu filed to stay execution of the judgments the apex court nullified on Friday.

    Jude-Okoye remains our secretary – PDP

    Reacting to the apex court verdict, the PDP NWC, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, explained that the judgment affirmed that the issue of party leadership positions, including the National Secretary, is entirely an internal affair of the Party requiring only the Party internal mechanism to which the courts have no jurisdiction.

    He said: “Today’s judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirms the standing position of the Party and emphatically settles the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP having been duly nominated, endorsed and ratified through the internal mechanism of the PDP statutory Organs and bodies in line with provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

    “For clarity, the NWC at its 576th meeting held on the 11th of October, 2023, directed the South-East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu upon Senator Anyanwu’s nomination as the governorship candidate of the PDP to contest the November 2023 Governorship election in Imo State.

    “Consequent upon the directive of the NWC, the South-East Zonal Executive Committee at its meeting held on the 20th of October 2023 passed a resolution approving the emergence and forwarding of the name of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye to the NWC as the National Secretary of the Party.

    “Accordingly, the NWC at its 577th meeting held on 7th of November 2023 pursuant to its powers under the PDP Constitution, duly received, deliberated upon, accepted and approved the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the Party, which appointment has also since been endorsed by relevant Organs and bodies of the PDP including the Board of Trustees (BoT), South-East Zonal Caucus, the PDP Governors’ Forum and officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public.

    “The PDP commends the Supreme Court for upholding the principle of the supremacy of the Party in the management of its internal affairs, describing it as victory for democracy.

    “The NWC urges all patriotic members of the PDP to remain united as we work together to move our great Party forward.”

    SE PDP Congratulates Udeh-Okoye, Hails S/Court for affirming Party Supremacy

    The South East Zonal Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has congratulated Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye on the affirmation of his position as the National Secretary of the PDP by the Supreme Court.

    The South East PDP, in a statement co-issued by the Chairman of the Zonal Executive Committee, Chief Ali Odefa, and the Zonal Secretary, Hon. James Ugwu, on Friday, equally hailed the Supreme Court for saving, not just the party, but also the nation’s democracy from the hands of those bent on destroying it for their selfish political capital.

    Reacting to the apex court ruling, the statement said, “This is not just a victory for Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye as a person, but also for the party as a whole and for the nation’s democracy in general.

    “This judgment expressly ratifies the South Zonal Executive Committee’s nomination of Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary to serve-out the remaining tenure of Senator Samuel Anyanyu, who had won the party’s nomination as its flag bearer in the Imo 2023 governorship election. It equally validates Udeh-Okoye’s ratification by the National Working Committee (NWC) on November 7, 2023 and his endorsement by various organs of the party.

    “Consequently, the South East heartily congratulates our party leaders, party faithful, and, of course, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye on this momentous victory.

    “We are happy that this judgment has finally reestablished party supremacy and the ramifications of this decision is a big win for not just the PDP, but for all the political parties in Nigeria. By this decision, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that, as our people would say, the okro can never be taller than the person that planted it. The party is supreme.”

  • State of emergency: Akpabio opens up on alleged $15,000 bribe to senators

    State of emergency: Akpabio opens up on alleged $15,000 bribe to senators

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio has debunked insinuations of a $15,000 bribe allegedly parceled to senators to endorse the proclamation of a state of emergency on Rivers State. He has described the rumours as part of a hate campaign directed against his person.

    Akpabio spoke for the first time on the swirling rumour in the social media space that he facilitated the disbursement of the dollar for votes in his Maitama residence during the breaking of fast with senators.

    Saturday Vanguard reports that the Senate President was alleged to have facilitated the disbursement of the dollars on two consecutive days; first $5,000 on Tuesday and then $10,000 on Wednesday, the eve of the vote on the proclamation.

    However, dismissing the allegation as part of the campaign of hate and malice against his person, Akpabio speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Hon Eseme Eyiboh said:

    “I am aware and it is true that since Senator Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate assumed that position he has been breaking fast. He did it last year, he did it this year, so why is it turning it into a rumour?”

    Asking why Akpabio would be giving out dollars to his colleagues, he continued:
    “On the issue of the dollars, he is giving the money for what? I am aware of the breaking of the fast but I can tell you I am not aware and it is not true of the dollars, whether $5,000 or $10,000, people are just conjuring it to be able to give flavour to their malice and hate campaign.

    “People are just conjuring the story of the $5,000, $10,000 to add flavour to their malice and hate campaign. He has been doing it. He did it last year, so why is this one associated with money,” Eyiboh asked?

    Saturday Vanguard reports that the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the proclamation on a state of emergency in Rivers State with a unanimous voice vote on Thursday.

  • ‘They’re making a mistake’ — Bode George faults opposition coalition move

    ‘They’re making a mistake’ — Bode George faults opposition coalition move

    Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Bode George has faulted some politicians’ plan to form a mega party ahead of the 2027 general election, saying their move is driven by personal ambition.

    Since the former Governor of Kaduna, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the conversation about forming a mega party that will wrestle power from the APC in 2027 has intensified.

    El-Rufai has invited opposition politicians, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, to strengthen his new party and make it the main challenger to the APC in the coming general election.

    If El-Rufai’s plan to get top opposition politicians to join the SDP succeeds, it would mark the end of the PDP, a party that ruled Nigeria for 16 years before the APC took over power in 2015.

    However, the idea of the mega party does not seem to sit well with George, who believes the lingering crisis in the PDP should not be grounds for the party to collapse its structure and form an alliance with other fringe opposition parties.

    Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, March 21, 2025, the PDP chieftain said some of those pushing for coalition have the ambition to become president.

    When the PDP crisis started, George warned that the party was not anybody’s private enterprise, but nobody listened to him.

    He warned that the coalition advocates are making ‘monumental mistakes’ and added that no nation or party is without crisis.

    He said, “All those people saying they are going to float a mega party, is there any of them who is not ambitious to be president of Nigeria? Is that the real approach to solving this problem?

    “For me, it started like a little mess at our national convention. Some of us advised that our party is not a private enterprise of anybody, but nobody listened. Then Wike started on his own, and he has gone beyond the red line.

    “Do you think there is any nation or party that does not have a crisis? All these groups who are running around for their personal ambition, they are making a monumental mistake and they are all dancing on the graves of our founding fathers.”

    On the state of emergency controversy in Rivers State, George urged President Bola Tinubu to be very careful.

    He also advised the people of Rivers State to eschew violence and avoid any situation that would further escalate the state’s tense atmosphere.

  • Asaba 1967 massacre: Our people need apology, Obi of Asaba tells Tinubu

    Asaba 1967 massacre: Our people need apology, Obi of Asaba tells Tinubu

    ABUJA —– THE Obi of Asaba, Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, yesterday told President Bola Tinubu that the people of Asaba in Delta State need an apology over the 1967 Asaba massacre.

    The Asagba of Asaba also demanded more federal government presence in Delta State, lamenting that Asaba is the only state capital without any federal university.

    This is as the first-class monarch has commended President Bola Tinubu’s governance, describing him as being on the right track despite the complexities of leading Nigeria.

    Speaking to journalists at the State House in Abuja on Thursday after a courtesy visit to the President, the traditional ruler acknowledged that while challenges exist, Tinubu’s administration remains committed to national progress.

    Prof. Azinge, who was on the visit with other members of a delegation from Asaba Kingdom, said “there might be some hiccups, but on the whole, we score him highly in that regard, and we pray for him.

    He said: “It is a very difficult country to govern. There will always be criticisms here and there, but I believe he is on the right track, and we wish him the very best.”

    The natural ruler stated that a key purpose of his visit was to advocate for greater federal presence in Delta State, particularly in Asaba.

    He highlighted the absence of a federal university in the state capital, calling it a “worrisome” oversight.

    “Asaba remains the only state capital in Nigeria without a federal university. We need institutions in our locality, and that for us is a major concern”, he noted.

    The monarch also used the opportunity to remind President Tinubu of the 1967 Asaba massacre, expressing the need for an official acknowledgment or apology from the federal government.

    “Among other requests, we mentioned to him the massacre of Asaba people in 1967 and that our people need some apology if need be in that regard,” he said.

    Prof. Azinge revealed that the visit was also a gesture of appreciation for various federal projects benefiting Delta State.

    He specifically mentioned the construction of the access road to the Niger Bridge and the routing of a gas pipeline through Asaba and Awka.

    “Secondly, we acknowledged and appreciated some of the gestures extended by the federal government to our area, especially the access road to the Niger Bridge and the passing of a gas line through Asaba to Awka, all of which are in progress,” he stated.

    The Asagba of Asaba described the meeting as both a “thank you” and a “solidarity” visit.

    He expressed gratitude to the President for sending a delegation, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to represent him at the burial of his predecessor, the 13th Asagba of Asaba.

    “So, on the whole, it turned out to be a wonderful visit. He appreciated our coming and indicated that whenever he visits the South-South, he will make a stop in Asaba,” Prof. Azinge concluded.

  • Senate, Reps approve Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers; Dickson tackles Akpabio

    Senate, Reps approve Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers; Dickson tackles Akpabio

    The Senate and House of Representatives, today, Thursday, passed and adopted the state of emergency proclamation of President Bola Tinubu in Rivers state, and the six-month suspension he slammed on Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

    Hours earlier, the House of Representatives passed and adopted the proclamation through a voice vote with 243 members in attendance.

    The House also made recommendations to the proclamation.

    The House recommended that a national committee should be set up to mitigate and restore peace back to Rivers State.

    Secondly, the National Assembly should take over the activities of the state Assembly within six months.

    Senate…

    At the upper chamber, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage after a closed-door session that lasted over one hour.

    According to him, the Senate relied on its Orders 133, 134, 135 and 136.

    Earlier, Akpabio disclosed that Tinubu had written the Senate a letter of proclamation on the six-month suspension he slammed on Fubara.

    The letter read, aloud at plenary by Akpabio, said: “In compliance with the provisions of Section 305, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I hereby forward, for the Constitution of the Senate, copies of the official Gazette of the State of Emergency Proclamation 2025.

    “The main features of the proclamation are as follows: