President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje as Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) under the Ministry of Aviation.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.

In addition to Ganduje’s appointment, the President named chairpersons for 41 federal organizations, alongside new leadership roles, including a Managing Director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a Director-General for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).

President Tinubu disclosed that board chairpersons are non-executive roles and urged appointees to avoid interfering in the management of the respective organizations.

Complete List of President Tinubu’s Appointments for Federal Boards and Agencies
1. National Youth Service Corps, Ministry of Youth Development – Hon. Hillard Eta (Chairman, Cross River)

2. Nigerian Institute of International Affairs – Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi (Chairman, Lagos)

3. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Ministry of Aviation – H.E. Abdullahi Ganduje (Chairman, Kano)

4. National Sugar Development Council – Sen. Surajudeen Bashiru Ajibola (Chairman, Osun)

5. Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company – H.E. Sulaiman Argungu (Chairman, Kebbi)

6. National Agency for Great Green Wall – Sen. Magnus Abe (Chairman, Rivers)

7. National Teachers Institute – Barr. Festus Fuanter (Chairman, Plateau)

8. National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) – Raji Kazeem Kolawole (Director-General, Oyo)

9. Nigerian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration – Chief Victor Tombari Giadom (Chairman, Rivers)

10. Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria – Comrade Mustapha Salihu (Chairman, Adamawa)

11. Industrial Training Fund – Hon. Hamma Adama Ali Kumo (Chairman, Gombe)

12. Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology – Donatus Enyinnah Nwankpa (Chairman, Abia)

13. Sheda Science and Technology Complex – Sen. Abubakar Maikafi (Chairman, Bauchi)

14. Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria – H.E. Nasiru Gawuna (Chairman, Kano)

15. National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion – Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi (Chairman, Lagos)

16. Nigerian Postal Service – Chief D. J. Kekemeke (Chairman, Ondo)

17. National Inland Waterways Authority – Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar (Chairman, Sokoto)

18. National Steel Council – Prof. Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar (Chairman, Nasarawa)

19. National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency – Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad (Chairman, Kaduna)

20. National Bio-Safety Management Agency – Mu’azu Bawa Rijau (Chairman, Niger)

21. Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute – Hon. Durosimi Meseko (Chairman, Kogi)

22. Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe – Hajia Zainab A. Ibrahim (Chairman, Taraba)

23. Nigerian Railway Corporation – Dr. Kayode Isiak Opeifa (Managing Director, Lagos)

24. Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti – Aare (Hon.) Durotolu Oyebode Bankole (Chairman, Ogun)

25. Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta – Mr. Abdullahi Dayo Israel (Chairman, Lagos)

26. Federal Medical Centre, Asaba – Dr. Mrs. Mary Alile Idele (Chairman, Edo)

27. Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja – Nze Chidi Duru (OON) (Chairman, Anambra)

28. Federal Medical Centre, Owerri – Hon. Emma Eneukwu (Chairman, Enugu)

29. Civil Defence, Immigration and Prisons Services Board – Major Gen. Jubril Abdulmalik Rtd (Secretary, Kano)

30. Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia – Mr. Uguru Mathew Ofoke (Chairman, Ebonyi)

31. Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa – Barr. Felix Chukwumenoye Morka (Chairman, Delta)

32. Federal Medical Centre, Yola – Alh. Bashir Usman Gumel (Chairman, Jigawa)

33. David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Ubuhu, Ebonyi State – Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu (Chairman, Imo)

34. National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency – Chief Edward Omo-Erewa (Chairman, Edo)

35. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) – Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar (Chairman, Kaduna)

36. Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State – Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Chairman, Borno)

37. Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State – Hon. Lawal M. Liman (Chairman)

38. Federal Medical Centre, Katsina – Dr. Abubakar Isa Maiha (Chairman)

39. Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) – Isa Sadiq Achida (Chairman, Sokoto)

40. Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu – Dr. Mohammed Gusau Hassan (Chairman, Zamfara)

41. National Building and Road Research Institute – Hon. Yahuza Ado Inuwa (Chairman, Nasarawa)

42. Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority – Amb. Abubakar Shehu Wurno (Chairman, Sokoto)

43. Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital – Augustine Chukwu Umahi (Chairman, Ebonyi)

44. Federal Scholarship Board – Engr. Babatunde Fakoyede (Chairman, Ekiti)

45. Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund – Hon. Shola Olofin (Chairman, Ekiti)

More witnesses have continued to testify, at the instance of Asue Ighodalo and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), before the governorship election petitions tribunal sitting in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The witnesses alleged massive irregularities in the conduct of the September 21, 2024 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oredo, Ovia South West, and Esan North East.

There were also witnesses from Esan Central.

The witness from Oredo Local Government Area said the conduct of the governorship election was characterised by irregularities in some polling units in Esan North East, Oredo, Esan South East, and Esa Central local government areas.

Giving his testimony at the resumed hearing on the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the petitioners’ witness and PDP Esan North East Local Government Area Collation Agent, Mr. Igbarase Matthias, prayed the tribunal to admit his statement on oath, which he deposed to on October 11, 2024 in support of the petitioners’ case

The 54-year-old claimed that there was over-voting in polling unit 011, and added that he was aware that the uploading of results into the IREV took place at the polling unit level.

Upon cross-examination by the lead counsel to the first respondent (INEC), Kanu Agabi, the witness said he made his deposition on October 11, 2024 while the screenshots of INEC’s BIVAS Report he relied on in his statement were certified by INEC on January 8, 2025.

On his part, the PDP agent for Oredo Local Government Area, Aigbe Ighodaro Lucky, told the court that there was over-voting in 66 polling units in the local government area and incorrect scores were entered by INEC for his party in favour of All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election.

Lucky said he relied on INEC documents to arrive at his statement on oath and adopted same as evidence in the petition.

He also told the tribunal that there were no prior recordings of serial numbers of sensitive materials deployed for the election in the local government area in INEC’s Form EC25B.

For Adekunle Oboh, PDP Local Government Area Collation Agent in Esan Central, there were irregularities in 23 polling units in the area during the election.

Oboh also told the court in his testimonies that there were no prior recordings of serial numbers of sensitive materials deployed to some polling units in the area in Form EC25B.

He said the polling units’ result sheets were signed by his party’s agents up to the ward level before he signed Form EC8C.

He admitted that all the Forms EC8A (result sheets) were counter-signed by INEC presiding officers, and submitted that the documents he personally examined on the basis of his witness deposition were obtained from INEC by his party.

Wilson Ibhawa, the petitioners’ Esan South East Local Government Area Collation Agent, said there was no prior recording of serial numbers sensitive materials used in the election in Form EC25B in five polling units in his area.

While raising objections to the admissibility of the documents tendered in court, counsel to the respondents deferred their reasons to the address stage of the petition.

Similarly, Destiny Enabulele, a 48-year-old development worker, who appeared as a witness in Ovia South West Local Government Area, presented by PDP, sought leave of the tribunal to correct some errors in his witness deposition before adopting same. But this did not get the approval of the respondents’ counsel, who objected.

Moses Agbukor, 54, told the tribunal to disregard paragraphs 13 and 14 in his witness deposition, as it was inserted in error, which was objected to by counsel to the respondents because of the line of presentation.

Baba Odenobemhe, the sixth witness for the petitioners, also sought leave of the tribunal to correct some errors in his witness deposition before adopting same.

Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, admitted the documents oral evidence as exhibits, provisionally, pending the arguments of the respondents’ counsel in their final written address.

Kpochi adjourned sitting to today, Friday, January 24, for continuation of hearing.

Former Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has said that Senator Ned Nwoko’s planned movement to the All Progressives Congress, APC, may be a ploy to destabilise the party in Delta state.

According to Nwaoboshi, Nwoko, who recently announced his intention to defect to the APC, is allegedly working with elements in the Presidency to dissolve the Delta State APC Executive Committee before the expiration of its tenure.

In a statement released on January 20, 2025, Nwaoboshi described the move as a “grave threat” to the unity and stability of the APC in Delta State. “It is unacceptable and disrespectful to the democratic principles that the APC stands for,” he said. Nwaoboshi added that the alleged plan undermines the rights of duly elected officials and violates the party’s constitution.

The Delta State APC Executive was elected to serve a specific tenure, and Nwaoboshi warned that dissolving the structure prematurely would lead to chaos. “Such a move has the potential to jeopardize the party’s ability to field candidates in the 2027 general elections,” he cautioned. He called on all party stakeholders to resist any such attempts, stating that the party must prioritize its stability to achieve electoral success.

Nwaoboshi, who represented Delta North Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023, criticized Nwoko for attempting to dictate terms within the APC despite not being a member. “If Nwoko genuinely wants to join the APC, he must follow the same process as every other member—build relationships, respect the leadership structure, and adhere to the party’s democratic processes,” he asserted.

He also accused Nwoko of being motivated by self-interest rather than a genuine commitment to the people of Delta State or the APC’s principles. Nwaoboshi described Nwoko’s history of party-hopping as evidence of his opportunism. “His interest in the APC appears driven by personal gain rather than the party’s ideals,” he stated, warning against allowing such tendencies to disrupt the party’s internal harmony.

Nwaoboshi further urged the national leadership of the APC and the Presidency to ignore any calls from Nwoko to dissolve the Delta State APC Executive. He described such a proposal as unconstitutional and an affront to the party’s democratic ethos. “The leadership must remain steadfast and uphold the party’s constitution rather than succumbing to the whims of individuals seeking to destabilize our party,” he emphasized.

The former senator also cautioned Nwoko against meddling in the internal affairs of the Delta State APC, warning that such interference would meet stiff resistance. “We will not be intimidated by his antics. The APC is a democratic institution, and we will defend its integrity against any attempt to destabilize it,” he declared.

Nwaoboshi reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the unity and principles of the APC in Delta State. He called on party members and stakeholders to stand firm and resist any actions that threaten the stability and integrity of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.