Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rubbished Ikenga Ugochinyere, the House of Representatives member representing Ideato Federal Constituency in Imo State, as a habitual liar.

Olayinka made the remarks in response to Ugochinyere’s recent demand that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) expel both Wike and the party’s embattled National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu. Ugochinyere had also advocated for the removal of PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, insisting these actions were crucial to resolving the party’s internal crisis.

In his statement, Ugochinyere warned of an impending crisis, urging the NWC to take swift action:
“To prevent this looming disaster, the NWC must urgently convene an emergency meeting and, with or without Damagum, use their majority to expel Anyanwu—the party’s political traitor—and confirm the appointment of a substantive National Chairman from the North Central region.”

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In a sharp rebuttal during an interview with Daily Post, Olayinka labeled Ugochinyere a “political Hushpuppi,” accusing him of exploiting political platforms for dubious motives.

“Ugochinyere embodies the lies and deception troubling the PDP,” Olayinka said.
“He’s nothing more than a political Hushpuppi, constantly on the lookout for a platform to carry out his Yahoo Yahoo brand of politics.
“Soon enough, when the PDP needs him, he’ll be nowhere to be found.”

A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo, said he did not regret his decision to dump the Labour Party (LP) for the APC.

Ozigbo, who defected to the APC ahead of the party’s governorship primaries, lost the ticket to Nicholas Ukachukwu. He said he dumped the LP because he was not comfortable with what was going on in the party.

Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Friday, the former LP chieftain justified his defection to the ruling party, saying he explored all options, but his concerns were not addressed.

Asked if he regrets dumping the LP, Ozigbo said, “I have no regrets whatsoever.”

On the gale of defection that hit the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State, the governorship aspirant said different politicians have different reasons for defecting to another party.

“Some of them are genuine considerations, either because of lack of internal party mechanism to resolve issues fairly and equitably, that can actually push somebody out, and then some others may find other reasons. Some noble, some not so noble,” he stated.

According to Ozigbo, he decided to join the ruling APC because the main opposition parties were dysfunctional.

“I put all the parties on the table, and I did my introspection. I prayed about it, I engaged as much as I could. And for me, there are only two options we have in this country today, either be in the mainstream party and see how you can orchestrate the change that you’re looking for, or be part of opposition. I see a very dysfunctional position,” he said.

He maintained that his reason for joining the APC was noble, adding that his defection to the party was predicated on his mission to connect Anambra to the center.’

“I am here for noble reasons. I’m here because I prioritize Anambra people first. I’m here because I also prioritize God, and I felt that there’s one party that can enable us not just get the victory, protect the mandate, connect Anambra to the center and eventually achieve better dividends of democracy, and ultimately, I have a better country,” Ozigbo said.

The Labour Party on Thursday reaffirmed Barrister Julius Abure’s leadership as National Chairman following a Supreme Court judgement on April 4.

National Chairman Abure and National Secretary Alh. Umar Farouk Ibrahim, addressing reporters in Abuja, said the court upheld the party’s National Convention held on March 27 in Nnewi, Anambra State, which elected the current National Working Committee (NWC).

The Supreme Court stated that political parties must adhere to their constitutions and that leadership disputes are internal matters, not subject to judicial interference. “Political parties must learn to adhere to their constitution and guidelines in the conduct of their domestic affairs,” the court ruled, affirming that party members are bound by decisions of organs like the NWC, National Executive Committee (NEC), and National Convention.

Abure and Ibrahim urged Abia State Governor Alex Otti and former presidential candidate Peter Obi to respect the ruling and cease actions causing internal divisions. They noted that the court did not overturn CA/ABJ/1172/2024, which recognised Abure as National Chairman, and confirmed the party’s compliance with electoral laws and INEC regulations for the 2024 convention.

The party dismissed claims of a caretaker committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, stating no valid NEC meeting or stakeholder gathering occurred on 4 September 2024 in Abia State. It declared that no leadership vacuum exists and urged members to align with the NWC as affirmed by the Supreme Court.

The announcement follows weeks of factional disputes, with Abure’s group maintaining the party’s Abuja secretariat while the Usman-led caretaker committee awaits INEC’s interpretation of the judgement.