Politics

2023: Why Oshiomhole Should Not Be Cleared For Primary – Edo APC Group

Published

3 years ago

May 21, 2022

Ahead of its primary elections—scheduled to hold from May 26 to May 30, 2022—some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State on Saturday warned the party against clearing its former chairman and presidential aspirant, Adams Oshiomhole, to participate in the exercise.

This is as they said the party risks losing grounds completely in Edo State whose governorship seat now lies with the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Stakeholders who held a protest outside the party’s secretariat in Abuja noted several pending legal cases and antecedents that the PDP could use to eventually disqualify Oshiomhole, should he emerge victorious in his dual bid for the presidency and the Senate.

In a statement read to journalists at Buhari House, the Coordinator of Concerned Afemai APC Members, Steven Asemah, said “We wish to draw the attention of our party to the serial controversies vis-a-vis legal burden hanging on Adams Alliu Oshiomhole, especially relating to his non-credibility to participate in the ongoing APC Nomination Exercise for the 2023 general election.

“In view of the precarious opposition status of APC in Edo state, wherein the ruling PDP under a draconic Governor Godwin Obaseki may lay ambush on the electoral prospects of APC if Adams Oshiomhole’s is considered for nomination, we, therefore, advise the APC Appeal Screening Committee to curtail avoidable technical losses of APC in Edo-North (which remains the only APC stronghold in Edo state).

“The Appeal Committee should review and stepdown Adams Oshiomhole from the ongoing 2022 APC nomination process.”

The statement was signed by CAAM Secretary, Ojo Evbouan, and is titled ‘The controversies of Oshiomhole’s credibility to contest APC primaries.’

Citing various cases, Asemah said: “Based on a subsisting indictment in May 14, 2020, by Justice Oyomire (retd.) Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report which indicted Adams Oshiomole on the gross breach of the Edo State Public Procurement Law in the N1.4bn Supply and Installations of medical Equipment by VAMED Engineering Nigeria Limited (January 4th 2015).

“And that on December 23, 2015 Contract Awards of N12.2bn to A&K Construction Ltd and another N2.5bn to Sageto Ltd for Constructions of a Teaching Hospital and Senate building respectively in the Edo University Iyamho, were also fraught with breaches of the State’s Procurement laws.

“The Constitutionality of the powers of state governors to institute administrative or judicial commissions of enquiry within their areas of jurisdiction is no longer contentious, because powers of state governments to legislate on matters is in the residual list of the 1999 Constitution. Furthermore, the Attorney-General of Edo state has powers to prosecute any person accused of committing state offences, such as the indictment of Adams Oshiomole.”

The group’s leader also said it is a dent in the credibility of Adams Oshiomhole if he has not disclosed his indictment in his 2022 APC Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms.

He noted that any such non-disclosure by Adams Oshiomhole will be contrary to article 7(iv) and 21.2(v) of the APC Constitution.

“The authenticity of Oshiomhole’s membership status after his suspension remains an unsettled fundamental issue. We recall that as of August 24, 2021 Justice D.Z. Senchi of an Abuja High Court sitting at Jabi, ruled that ‘Pursuant to the Motion on Notice, No. FCT/HC/M/8148/2020, dated and filed on 1/7/2020 discontinuing this suit at the instance of the Plaintiffs/Applicants and the Defendants/Respondents not opposing the application for discontinuance, the application is hereby granted and suit is dismissed.

“’Parties to bear their respective cost, if any.’ It was a suit filed by Comrade Mustapha Saliu, Oshawo Steven and four others over the purported suspension of the former APC National Chairman by his ward 10 APC executives, Etsako West L.G.A.

“An Abuja High Court had earlier asked Oshiomhole to Step Aside as National Chairman of the APC pending the determination of the substantive suit. The Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Lower Court, and Oshiomhole stepped aside,” the statement read.

On Oshiomhole’s alleged dual candidacy, the stakeholders said, “The validity of individuals picking dual nomination forms within the same nomination process of a political party is not a controversial political habit that is exposed to legal challenge anytime.

“Consequently, Oshiomole’s dual aspiration (for Presidency & Senate) within APC 2022 nomination process, is a disregard for internal democracy, APC constitution, INEC guidelines, Electoral Act 30,35,115d, 115k & 1999 Constitution.”

Politics

How Bello Deceitfully Assured Me Of Kogi Guber Ticket For 4 Years — Onoja

Published

6 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

Former deputy governor of Kogi State, Edward David Onoja, has revealed that his former principal, Yahaya Bello, assured him for four years that he would succeed him as governor, only to change his decision a day before the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election.

Onoja made the disclosure during an interview on MIC ON Podcast published on Saturday night, where he recounted his political journey and his relationship with former Governor Bello.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Onoja had served as Chief of State for about four years before becoming deputy governor under Bello until their tenure elapsed.

“For four years before 2023, he (Yahaya Bello) was the one who called me and said, ‘You will succeed me, get prepared.’ And of course, I planned, I worked, and when it was time, he gave all of us the opportunity (to contest),” Onoja said.

According to him, about seven cabinet members at the time, including himself, picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination forms on Bello’s directive, but in the end, Bello’s support was with the current governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

“At the end of the day, his heart and his choice was with the current governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,” he said.

Onoja revealed that Bello broke the news to him just a day before the party primaries, a decision he respected despite his disappointment.

“When he broke the news to me a day before the primaries, I told him, ‘You are the boss, you are over me, what you see is what I see, so let’s go get the job done, but I hope you are not making a mistake.’ There were no issues, and then we went to the field and did our best for our candidate,” he stated.

Onoja, who is now a board member of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), emphasised that despite the turn of events, he remained committed to ensuring victory for the party’s eventual candidate and winner of the last Kogi State governorship election, Ododo, who went on to succeed Bello.

Politics

Alleged Infidelity: Soludo’s Wife Issues Senator Ekwunife Ultimatum To Apologize

Published

7 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

Mrs. Nonye Soludo

…dares her for fidelity oath, paternal DNA test challenge

The wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has issued Senator Uche Ekwunife 72 hours ultimatum to withdraw claims of Infidelity against her and tender a public apology, or face legal action.

She also challenged the senator for both of them to swear an oath of fidelity before the Blessed Virgin Mary or subject their children to DNA tests.

The challenge followed claims by Ekwunife, deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2025 Anambra governorship election, who alleged that Mrs Soludo was once close to former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju.

In a statement issued on Friday, Nonye Soludo accused the former fenale lawmaker of fabricating allegations and dragging her children into political disputes.

She described Ekwunife’s comments as malicious and said: “Since Uche Ekwunife claims to be a converted Catholic, I challenge her for both of us to swear an oath of fidelity and chastity at any cathedral in front of the Blessed Sacrament and the Bible.

“I will swear (with my children) that in my 55 years on earth, I have known only one man—Chukwuma Soludo. On your part, you should also swear (with your children or your political ambitions) that since you got married, you have never cheated on your husband,” she declared.

Soludo’s wife also invited Ekwunife to scientific verification through DNA testing.

“I challenge you, Uche Ekwunife, for us to subject our children to paternity tests in three reputable hospitals in London. I will pay all the expenses, including travel for you and your family. If the results confirm that your husband fathered all your children, I will not only congratulate you but also present a cash award,” she added.

The governor’s wife emphasised her Christian upbringing and marital fidelity.

“I married him as a virgin and my fidelity to him in 33 years of marriage and for life is ironclad,” she said.

Declaring that her life has never depended on government patronage, even as First Lady, Mrs. Soludo vowed to sustain her defence “with decency, character, and grace.”

“My weapons are decency, character, and grace. I am a long-distance runner, and I welcome you to the marathon,” she stated.

The confrontation stemmed from Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s earlier questions over Senator Ekwunife’s academic qualifications. The APC deputy governorship candidate responded with sharp criticisms, prompting the governor’s wife to step into the feud.

Politics

ADC Will Take Over Aso Rock, Lagos Govt House In 2027 — Aregbesola

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has vowed that his party will unseat President Bola Tinubu and also take over Lagos state come 2027.

The former governor of Osun State made the pledge on Saturday, at an event where the leader of the Conscience Forum of the Labour Party (LP), Hon. Moshood Salvador, led members of the group to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The event which held in Lagos also marked the 25th anniversary of the Conscience Forum as a political group.

It had in attendance the National Secretary of the African Democratic Party, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, leadership of the ADC in Lagos state, and wards and zonal leaders of the Conscience Forum from the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 LCDAs in the state.

Addressing the new members, Aregbesola commended the leadership, executives and members of the Conscience Forum while tasking them on the need to take over the seat of power in Abuja and Lagos in 2027 general elections.

He pledged that the ADC will produce the next president of the country while charging the new intakes not to relent in their efforts to changing Nigeria for the better.

He said, “I am happy to be a part of this gathering. I am also happy to receive you into the ADC folds. We are the only one that can make it difficult to take over wherever we are if the Conscience Forum, good looking people with highly cultured leadership can organized this kind of event to make a declaration for the ADC and follow the line enunciated by the leader, surely, Alausa is a sure ticket for all of us.

“With our resolve, it won’t be difficult at all to take over the seat of power. It’s a simple strategy of one getting ten and each of the ten will equally get ten. Its operation ten over ten. Once we are able to get this done, that’s the end of it. We will surely meet at the Aso Rock Villa and produce the next president of the country. Once again, I am happy to be here and we must not relax our efforts to change Nigeria.”

Speaking on the move to the ADC, Salvador said the problems confronting the Labour Party has shown that it is not a party for the future.

He said, “Today, we are marking the 25 anniversary of the Conscience Forum and at the same time, for a wise man or people of wisdom, we look back to what you’ve achieved and look forward to what we are aiming to become. Our members were in Labour Party and the problem of the Labour Party has shown that they have lost the future. Its no more a party of the future and that is why, we have to think of where next since we have the new wave and the formation of coalition of political party, for anyone that wants something good of its members, the best is to join the coalition.

“This is not just the ADC. The ADC being the symbol of the coalition and that is why Conscience Forum, being a political group with over 400, 000 members in Lagos will have to showcase our structure including our LGA and Ward officers and so on. This is necessary for them to know the size of the group they are taking in. We chose today being our 25th anniversary to declare for the ADC so that our members will now join the ADC at their various ward levels.”