Politics

Benue APC Crisis Deepens As Police Shut Secretariat

Published

2 years ago

March 2, 2024

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in Benue State has assumed dangerous dimensions as the party opened a factional secretariat on Thursday.

The party is in turmoil, with the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, and his cabinet and supporters pitted against the APC structure led by state Chairman, Austin Agada.

The Agada-led state working committee is loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

The PUNCH had reported that Agada was purportedly removed as the party chairman by his Ehaje council ward and subsequently restrained from parading himself as party chairman.

Following the court injunctions, the state executive committee of the party led by the governor thereafter appointed Benjamin Omakolo as the acting party chairman.

But Omakolo was later sacked by the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpampese, after vacating the order restraining Agada.

While the party secretariat located at J.S. Tarka Road is being occupied by the Agada-led state working committee, the factional office was opened on Thursday by Omakolo-led team located close to the government house, Makurdi.

The PUNCH correspondent who monitored the situation on Friday observed stern-looking security men drawn from police officers, personnel of the state Community Volunteer Guard, members of the Peace Corps and political touts condoned by the Agada-led secretariat.

Vehicles and motorcycles as well as people passing through the area were thoroughly scrutinised and diverted to other routes.

The sealing of the secretariat may not be unconnected with the meeting of the APC stakeholders earlier conveyed by the state party chairman.

The notice of the meeting was announced by the state party publicity secretary, Daniel Ihomun, in a notice titled, ‘Notice of Executive Interface with Dr Mathias Byuan and APC stakeholders meeting’ at the state party secretariat on Friday.

Shortly after the announcement of the meeting, the state government placed a ban on political meetings in the state and hinged the reason for insecurity.

A letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Paul Biam, and addressed to the state Commissioner of Police partly read, “I write to inform you that his Excellency, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has banned all political gatherings in any form, be it intra or inter-party or groups in Benue State till further notice.

“This has become necessary following intelligence on the volatility of the security atmosphere in the state.”

In response to the letter banning political gatherings, the CP, Emmanuel Adesina, through his deputy, Samuel Gimba, wrote a letter to the APC state chairman, Agada, and asked him to suspend the proposed meeting.

Politics

PDP Issues Certificate Of Expulsion To Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, Others

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has issued certificate of expulsion from the party to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other 10 members earlier expelled from the party.

The party National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The other members, according to him, include the embattled National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the Legal Adviser, Kamarudeen Ajibade, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

They also included Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, George Turna and Chief Dan Orbih, expelled during the party National convention in Lagos.

Turaki said that the original copies of the certificate had been dispatched to the owners through a courier service to serve as proof that they were expelled from the PDP.

“We have taken note of the fact that Nigerian law frowns on dual membership of political parties, and so we have sought to make it easy for them.

“Now that they are no longer members of our party, and now that the National Convention, which is the highest decision-making organ of our party, has expelled them, we have decided to issue them certificates of expulsion.

“So, when they go to register with other political parties in Nigeria, they will show these certificates as proof that they are no longer members of the PDP.

“By that, those parties will not accuse them of trying to belong to more than one political party,” he said.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, and other government agencies, to take note.

“Very soon, members of the society will be informed via proper disclaimers that any person henceforth who decides to do business with them, any or all of them, does so at his or her own risk.

“They are no longer members of the PDP. They have been expelled,” he added.

He added that the NWC also reviewed some of the cases filed against the party and lawsuits instituted by the party, particularly the one that related to the “unlawful and illegal” closure of the party’s national Secretariat, the Legacy House, and the Wadata Plaza.

“The brief we received from our lawyers is that we are on sound ground, and that very soon, the law will take its course,” he said.

Turaki said the NWC was prepared to be saddled with the responsibility of performing its functions as the leading opposition party in Nigeria.

“We are going to provide a credible alternative to Nigerians. We are going to provide credible leadership to Nigerians by the special grace of God from 2027,” he said.

Politics

Adebayo Adedamola Wins Osun PDP Governorship Primary

Published

3 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, popularly known as FRYO, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun State.

The primary election took place in Osogbo on Tuesday amid heavy security presence.

Announcing the result, chairman of the primary election committee, Humphrey Abba, stated that Adebayo secured 919 votes out of 957 accredited ballots, giving him a clear victory in the contest.

Explaining that there were 20 void votes following the withdrawal of one of the candidates, believed to be Governor Ademola Adeleke, Abba added, “The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and he stands elected and returned.”

DAILY POST reports that despite announcing his resignation from the party, Adeleke’s name appeared on the ballot paper for the PDP governorship primary.

Party officials said the exercise was conducted in accordance with established guidelines, with accredited delegates participating in the voting process.

Adeleke announced his resignation in a letter dated November 4, 2025, and addressed to the PDP leadership at his ward.

On Monday, Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, had announced that the governorship primary slated for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, has been postponed due to leadership crisis at the national level.

But a faction of the party went ahead with the exercise in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Politics

Gov Adeleke Resigns From PDP

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial primaries of the party.

Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, sighted by Tribune Online was addressed to the PDP ward chairman for Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, Ede, Osun State.

According to the letter, the governor’s resignation was based on “the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

According to the letter, titled: “Resignation of my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’ read, “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my Membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect.

“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”