Politics
Ex-NBA President, Akpata, Distances Self From Abure’s Arrest
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Former National Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and frontline governorship aspirant of Labour Party (LP), for the September 21st gubernatorial election in Edo, Olumide Akpata, on Thursday, denied involvement in the arrest of the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure and five others in Benin City on Wednesday.
In a statement issued in Benin City, and endorsed by the LP gubernatorial hopeful, Akpata slammed another aspirant of the party for making reckless unfounded comments linking him with Abure’s arrest, describing Imansuangbon’s allegations as false and irresponsible.
“I have been made aware of reckless and unfounded comments made by Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon in the press yesterday, February 21, 2024, where he accused me of being behind the recent arrest and detention of Comrade Julius Abure, National Chairman of the Labour Party, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, Edo State Chairman of the Labour Party, and other party officials by the Nigeria Police Force.
“Let me categorically state that these allegations made by Mr Imasuagbon, who claims to be a lawyer and should therefore know better, are completely false and, frankly, very irresponsible. I had absolutely no involvement whatsoever in the arrests he referred to.
“As we have been told by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force Zone 5 Zonal Headquarters, the arrests stemmed from an entirely separate incident that occurred in Benin City on December 29, 2023, where one Comrade Anselm Eragbe, a former National Youth Leader of the Labour Party, was allegedly assaulted.
“Comrade Eragbe thereafter submitted a petition on the attack, accusing the arrested officials of orchestrating the incident. It was this petition that prompted a police investigation and subsequent arrests.
“I must make it clear that I have no connection at all to this unfortunate matter, beyond also being falsely accused on national television on December 29, 2023, of being responsible for the incident involving Comrade Eragbe.
“As someone falsely implicated in this matter, I have a strong interest in the outcome of the police investigation in order to clear my name fully”, Akpata said.
The LP governorship aspirant expressed concern over the arrest of the party’s National Chairman and other party officials barely 48 hours to the party’s governorship primary election in Edo State, just as he expressed worry over the delay of the release of the party’s delegates’ list of the ward congresses conducted last Tuesday.
“Given the timing of the arrests just 48 hours before the Labour Party primaries scheduled for February 23, 2024, the last possible day for political parties intending to field candidates in the September 21, 2024, Edo State Gubernatorial elections to conduct primaries, it raises some very serious concerns. It is imperative that the party be able to conduct free, fair, and smooth primaries as planned on Friday, February 23, 2024.
“I strongly urge the party leadership to explore all lawful options as provided by the party’s constitution to ensure the activities and operations of the Labour Party continue without obstruction. The party must urgently release the final delegate list from the ward congresses of Tuesday, February 20, 2024, which were monitored by INEC.
“It is worrying that we still do not have full delegate information more than 24 hours after the congress. I want to use this opportunity to caution Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon to cease his campaign of falsehoods and calumny against me, which he renewed with vigour on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 and has continued with his latest unwarranted attacks, where he attempted to link me to the party leadership’s arrest. Mr Imasuagbon is clearly intimidated by my aspiration and has resorted to spreading lies in a desperate bid to derail my campaign. I can no longer allow his disgraceful smear tactics to go unanswered.
“He should be ashamed for tarnishing my good name without justification. If Mr. Imasuagbon does not immediately stop his dishonourable attacks against me, I will not hesitate to pursue legal action to protect my reputation against his baseless claims.
“The time has come for him to face consequences for his deceitful conduct.
“In closing, I sincerely hope the detained officials secure and are allowed access to proper legal counsel, as is their constitutional right, and that this unfortunate matter is resolved quickly.
“However, I implore that the internal issues of the party must not hamper our preparations for the crucial primaries, as we have no wiggle room for error. I remain committed to the principles and values of the Labour Party and call for unity behind our shared vision,” Akpata stated.
Politics
BREAKING: Ex- Lagos guber candidate Jandor dumps PDP
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Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly known as JANDOR, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The 2023 Lagos governorship candidate made the announcement on Monday during a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos.
While he did not disclose his next political move, JANDOR assured that he would make his intentions known in the coming months.
His departure from the PDP comes with the backing of his supporters across the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State.
Details to follow…
Politics
UPDATED: Present 2025 Budget in the next 48hrs, Rivers Assembly tells embattled Fubara
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… Assembly insists on no account should Rivers people suffer
The Rivers State House of Assembly has given embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara 48 hours to present the 2025 budget to the House.
Also, Fubara was encouraged to act fast and do the needful to stop unnecessary suffering by Rivers people over the stoppage of federal allocations to the state.
See details below:
The Rivers House of Assembly on the 3rd day of March 2025, amongst other matters deliberated on Judgements of
the Supreme Court in Suits numbers- SC/Cy/1174/2024 and sC/CV/1105/2024 delivered on the 28h day of
February 2025 and resolved as follows:
“That pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit no.: sc/CV/1174/2024 for the stoppage of
Statutory Federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and haltíng of spending from the
Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State pending the passage of an Appropriation Bill, you are
requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House in line with the provisions of the 1999
Constitution as amended.
“That the House expects you to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours.
“That since the Supreme Court in the judgement delivered in Suit no.: SC/CV/1105/20
0/2024 nullified the
Rivers State Local Government Elections of 5th October 2024 for non-compliance with the
Electoral Act among other reasons, the House would soon commence the process of amending the
Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and the Rivers State Independent Electoral
Commission Law No. 2 of 2018 so that they can be in tandem with the Electoral Act and pave the way
for the commencement of plans for fresh Local Government elections in the State.
That your attention should be drawn to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended; the Rivers
State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 as well as the Judgement of the Supreme Court in
Suit No.: Sc/cv/343/2024 that prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGA’S or any
other persons other than democratically elected officials.
That the House would proceed on a 12- week recess as from Friday 7th March 2025 but Standing
Committees would be expected to continue statutory functions.
“Please be informed that our resolutions are geared towards a quick fix to the current financial quagmire
occasioned by the absence of an Appropriatíon Law for Rivers State.
“We do not want Rivers State people to
suffer.
“We, therefore, urge you to act fast and do the needful in the best interest of the good people of Rivers
State.
Politics
BREAKING: Present 2025 Budget in the next 48hrs, Rivers Assembly tells embattled Fubara
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The Rivers State House of Assembly has given embattled Governor Sim Fubara 48 hours to present the 2025 budget to the House.
The lawmakers said this during plenary in Port Harcourt on Monday.
More details shortly…
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