Politics

2027: Obidients Reconvene, Plot APC’s Ouster

Published

9 months ago

December 1, 2024

Members of various support groups of the Obidient Movement in Delta State reconvened in Asaba, the state capital, over the weekend to strategize on ousting the All Progressives Congress (APC) from governance in the 2027 general elections.

The movement expressed discontent with the APC-led federal government, accusing it of confusion, lack of vision, and mediocrity, and lamenting that it had subjected the country to untold hardship.

Speaking virtually at the Obidient Movement Conference themed “Reawakening and Harmonizing Obidient Movement for a New Nigeria,” Prof. Pat Utomi emphasized the importance of good governance and progressive administration.

In his keynote address, renowned scholar Prof. Chris Nwaokobia underscored the urgency of preparing for 2027. He stated, “The time is ripe to begin networking and creating a stronger movement than what we had in 2023 because the federal government is a monstrous failure.

“Hunger has become a common denominator; anger is on the streets. They have failed in just about everything. They don’t know what to do with the economy; the system is absolutely rudderless. Leadership has lost direction, and they are confused.

“If a new Nigeria is possible and the current era is a monstrous failure, the message of the movement will resonate even more.”

Earlier, Delta Obidient Elders Council Chairman, Chief Chris Biose, expressed concern over Nigeria’s underperformance.

“Nigeria has a vibrant population of over 200 million people with vast uncultivated agricultural land, yet citizens are dying of hunger, unable to feed themselves, and access basic standard facilities,” he said. “It is safe to say Nigeria is underperforming its potentials. It is a contradiction.”

Biose criticized leaders for failing the nation and commended Obidient youths across the country for their political self-mobilization during the 2023 presidential election, which he described as a significant effort to challenge entrenched political parties.

“It is time to prepare to re-enact the magic of February 25, 2023, with greater intensity and finality,” Biose urged. “The electorate that supported Mr. Peter Obi are still here, disappointed but still desirous of good governance. How do we reenlist them in the struggle for a New Nigeria?”

He further outlined a vision for a self-reliant nation focused on production rather than consumption, where resources are utilized for the benefit of the masses rather than a corrupt elite.

“Nigerian citizens deserve a prosperous and egalitarian nation-state,” he said.

“To achieve the objective of a New and Better Nigeria, Obidients must arm themselves with a clear vision, workable plans, well-articulated targets, knowledge, skills, courage, persistence, and personal discipline.

“No doubt, Obidients have taken upon themselves the historic duty of building a new Nigeria.”

Politics

APC Defeats NNPP In Kano Re-run Election

Published

5 hours ago

August 17, 2025

Editor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defeated the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the Ghari/Tsanyawa supplementary re-run election in Kano State.

Announcing the result on Sunday, the Returning Officer, Prof. Muhammad Waziri of Bayero University, declared APC’s Garba Gwarmai winner with 31,472 votes, ahead of NNPP’s Yusuf Maigado, who polled 27,931 votes.

The supplementary election was conducted after the initial poll was declared inconclusive.

Hon. Gwarmai’s 3,541-vote lead marks a significant victory for the APC, further consolidating its political foothold in the state.

According to Tribune Online, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kano State Chapter, had expressed concerns over alleged irregularities in the rerun elections for Ghari/Takai and Bagwai/Shanono Constituencies.

Politics

Obi Blames Tinubu For 70% Investment Crash

Published

21 hours ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of presiding over what he described as “a collapse in foreign direct investment.”

He blamed what he called “poor leadership, weak governance, and uncoordinated reforms” for the country’s economic woes.

Obi, in a statement shared on official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, noted that going by fresh figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, FDI into Nigeria plunged by about 70 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, falling to $126.29m from $421.8m recorded in the last quarter of 2024.

“While the President, ministers, and other government officials continue their global galivanting in search of FDI, our poor performance in key governance indicators – such as rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, and voice and accountability – continues to prove that you cannot attract sustainable foreign investment with poor leadership and governance,” Obi wrote.

While noting that the country’s investment inflows were largely speculative, Obi said, “Of the total capital importation of about $5.64 bn in Q1 2025, FDI accounted for only about 2.24 per cent, compared to 8.2 per cent in Q4 2024.

“Disturbingly, about 90 per cent of the imported capital went into speculative money market instruments, with negligible impact on industrial growth or job creation, given the ease with which such ‘hot money’ can exit the economy.”

He argued the sharp drop in manufacturing inflows further underscored the lack of investor confidence in the country.

“Capital flows to the manufacturing sector declined by 32.1 per cent, falling to only $129.92 million in Q1 2025 from $191.92 million in the same quarter of 2023. There is no better confirmation of the lack of trust in this government, whose reforms remain uncoordinated and largely reactive,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor further compared the country’s performance with other African nations that recorded major gains.

“In 2024, while global FDI flows declined, Africa’s FDI rose by about 75 per cent to $97 billion,” he stated.

“Egypt alone attracted $46.58 billion. Ethiopia received $3.98 billion, Côte d’Ivoire $3.80 billion, Mozambique $3.55 billion, Uganda $3.30 billion, DR Congo $3.11 billion, South Africa $2.47 billion, Namibia $2.06 billion, Senegal $2.02 billion, Guinea $1.83 billion, and Morocco $1.64 billion.”

According to him, Nigeria has been left trailing far behind.

“Most disappointingly, our dear nation, the so-called ‘Giant of Africa,’ received only $1.08 billion – about one per cent of Africa’s total FDI – representing a decline of about 42 per cent from 2023. Worse still, after that 42 per cent drop between 2023 and 2024, FDI to Nigeria has further declined by 75 per cent between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025,” Obi lamented.

He warned that unless Nigeria fixed its governance problems, it would continue to lose investment to more stable African economies.

“We cannot achieve sustainable growth and development with ineffective leadership and a weak government,” he said.

Politics

By-election: Edo Deputy Gov Lauds Credible Process, Encourages Voters

Published

1 day ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, on Saturday commended the impressive turnout of voters in the ongoing by-election for the Ovia Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

Idahosa gave the commendation after casting his ballot at Unit 3, Old Education Board, Iguobazuwa West Ward, Ovia South-West Local Government Area.

He described the process as seamless, peaceful, and encouraging.

Edo Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, on the queue at the Ovia Federal Constituency to cast his vote.

“I must commend the people for coming out in large numbers to vote. So far, everything is going well. We are expecting free, fair, and credible elections. Ovia people will be happy with the outcome. I am calling on more voters to come out and perform their civic duties.

“I just voted and I am going home while I wait for the result,” he said.

Meanwhile, at Okada West Ward Units 1, 4, and 6, voters were seen in long queues waiting to cast their ballots.