Politics

Court Stops Enforcement Of Wabara’s Purported Suspension From PDP

Published

6 months ago

March 1, 2025

Abia State High Court sitting at Obehie, Ukwa West Local Government Area, has stopped the enforcement of the purported suspension of the former Senate President and the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara.

The court presided over by Justice LTC Eruba, in an order, restrained Elder Abraham Amah, laying claim to the Abia State chairmanship of the PDP, from enforcing the said suspension.

Senator Wabara had in a suit marked HUK/8/2025, dragged Amah to the court, seeking the order of the court to restrain the defendant from enforcing the purported suspension.

Granting the prayers of the Claimant, the Court ordered: ”The defendant is restrained from enforcing the suspension of the Claimant/Applicant from the People’s Democratic Party, or in any way, affecting his position as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP till the motion on notice is determined.”

Recall that Amah, a former Vice Chairman of the PDP, Abia North, had penultimate week, in Umuahia, announced the purported suspension of Wabara, accusing the former Senate President of engaging in anti-party.

Amah cited a complimentary remark by the BoT Chairman on Gov. Alex Otti for awarding contract for the reconstruction of the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road Aba, in October 2023, as anti-party.

But the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP, had in a swift response, declared the purported suspension as “null and void and of no effect”.

The NWC posited that the said suspension was a violation of the party’s constitution, and did not hold any water.

Similarly, a pressure group known as PDP Frontiers for Change and Progress, had also said that Amah lacked the constitutional powers to suspend a BoT Chairman of the party.

Meanwhile, the PDP Frontiers for Change and Progress, has blasted a former Commissioner for Information, Abia State, Chief John Okiyi Kalu over his recent media attacks on Wabara.

The former Information boss, had on a live radio programme in Umuahia, alleged that Senator Wabara had a secret meeting in London with Gov. Alex Otti, to perfect plans to bring the Governor to the PDP ahead of 2027.

He further claimed that Wabara’s intension in wooing Otti, was to chase ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu (who Kalu served under), from the ‘Big Umbrella’.

But the National Coordinator of the PDP pro-group, Mr Emeka Yellow Ikpegbu, challenged Kalu to substantiate his claims with evidence.

He accused Kalu and his co-travellers of resorting to blackmail to frustrate the genuine efforts of “Senator Wabara and other progressives” to rebuild the party which he said, “was destroyed by APC moles in the PDP”.

Ikpegbu argued that even if efforts were made to bring Gov. Otti back to the PDP, such efforts were not strange in politics, and should not in any way pose a threat to any genuine lover of the party.

He regretted that “some individuals acting as moles for the APC” were making “futile attempts to hijack the leadership of the PDP in Abia State”, but vowed never to give them “any breathing space.”

“We will not allow people who claim to be in PDP but their spirit is with the APC to destroy our great party. They go to Abuja and lobby for appointments in an APC-led federal government but come to Abia to destroy the PDP so they can use it as bargaining instrument in 2027.

“It’s better they formally defect to the APC and leave the PDP alone so we can rebuild our party. Abia is a PDP state and nobody will stop the genuine efforts of progressives to rebuild the party and open it up for good persons to join us.

“What’s wrong if Gov. Otti, who everybody can see, is performing, decides to join the PDP? APC is wooing him, APGA is wooing him. What is wrong if PDP also woos him? A performing Governor is always a beautiful bride, and his joining the PDP will brighten our fortunes in 2027.”

Ikpegbu further recalled that in 2010, former Governor Theodore Orji left the Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA, for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, before finally joining the PDP, arguing that assuming Gov. Otti makes up his mind to join the PDP, “it won’t be the first time a sitting Governor will be joining the PDP”.

But Otti’s Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, had in quick response to Kalu, said that his Principal had no intentions dumping the Labour Party, the platform on which he came to power.

He also denied any secret meeting between Otti and Wabara in London, adding that even if the Governor decides to join the PDP, “he will not be joining the faction led by Kalu and his likes.”

Politics

FULL LIST: APC Sweeps Rivers Elections, Wins 20 Of 23 LGAs

Published

5 hours ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

The All Progressives Congress has emerged victorious in a landslide victory in the Saturday Rivers State local government elections, securing 20 out of the 23 LGAs.

According to The PUNCH, the Chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr Michael Odey, announced the results at the commission’s Headquarters along Aba Road in Port Harcourt on Sunday afternoon.

According to Odey, the Peoples Democratic Party managed to clinch the remaining three LGAs.

The full list of chairpersons-elect is as follows:

1. Abua/Odual: Ofori Owolabi (APC)

2. Ahoada East: Solomon Achoma (APC)

3. Ahoada West: Eugene Epelle (APC)

4. Akuku Toru: Bob Fubara (APC)

5. Andoni: Lucky Promise (APC)

6. Asari Toru: George Onegiyeofori (APC)

7. Bonny: Abinye Blessing Pepple (APC)

8. Degema: Michael John Williams (APC)

9. Eleme: Obarilomate Ollor (APC)

10. Emohua: Chidi Loyd (APC)

11. Etche: Njoku Boniface (APC)

12. Gokana: Dekor Confidence (APC)

13. Ikwerre: Charles Wobodo (APC)

14. Khana: Bariere Thomas (APC)

15. Obio/Akpor: Gift Worlu (PDP)

16. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni: Shedrach Ogbogu (PDP)

17. Ogu/Bolo: Vincent Nemioboka (APC)

18. Okrika: Akuro Tobin (APC)

19. Omuma: Obasi Uchechwuku (APC)

20. Opobo/Nkoro: James A. James (APC)

21. Oyigbo: Okechukwu Akara (APC)

22. PHALGA: Allwell Ihunda (PDP)

23. Tai: Mbakpone Okpe (APC)

The RSIEC Chairman also disclosed that certificates of return will be presented to the winners on Monday, September 1.

This election marks the first time the APC has gained such dominance in Rivers State since the return of democracy in 1999.

Politics

Keyamo Warns PDP Against Fielding Jonathan, Obi In 2027

Published

5 hours ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party risks serious setbacks in its 2027 presidential strategy if it opts for former President Goodluck Jonathan or ex-Anambra governor Peter Obi as its standard-bearer.

In a long post on his X account on Sunday, Keyamo said the opposition party remains in a “non-enviable position” after failing to zone its 2023 ticket to the South, a decision he said cost the PDP support in its traditional strongholds in the South-South and South-East.

Keyamo argued that nominating Jonathan carries a constitutional danger tied to section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which he suggested could bar anyone sworn in twice as president from contesting again.

“If he is fielded, the Party runs the RISK of NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE AT ALL,” Keyamo wrote, warning that such a legal challenge would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.

“The constitutional amendment was made AFTER the court judgment which cleared him (Jonathan) to run in 2015, so nothing is decided yet on that new amendment, hence I use the word ‘RISK’ advisedly. All the arguments as to whether the section can be interpreted to affect him will not be decided on Social Media, but at the Supreme Court.

“If he is barred from running AFTER nominations have closed and the PDP is declared as having no candidate, nobody should scream ‘judiciary is corrupt’ because such a large party saw the judicial danger ahead and deliberately ignored it.”

He added that the party would bear responsibility if it ignored the legal risk and lost its candidacy after nominations closed.

“All the arguments … will not be decided on social media, but at the Supreme Court,” he said.

Keyamo also dismissed the likelihood of a successful South-West flagbearer for the PDP.

“If the PDP decides to field its most attractive S/West candidate, no other region of the country will vote for a fresh Yoruba candidate who would be eligible for a fresh two terms in office.

“And that candidate will battle with the well-oiled APC structures in the S/West. You need a majority of at least 3 to 4 regions in Nigeria to win the Presidency.”

On Peter Obi, the minister said bringing the former Labour Party candidate into the PDP fold would not solve the party’s problems.

He suggested doubts about Obi’s credibility, plus his past one-term pledge, could dilute support among his core followers.

“The principled ones amongst the ‘obidients’ will see him as going back to his vomit … and may not be too vociferous in their support anymore,” Keyamo wrote.

Concluding his assessment, the minister blamed the PDP’s current predicament on what he called its “original sin” of not zoning the 2023 ticket to the South.

“The young social media warriors may lampoon anyone talking about these zoning sentiments, but that is the REALITY of our politics,” he said, adding that unless “something EXTRAORDINARY happens, the Party may have to wait till 2031.”

The PDP has not publicly responded to Keyamo’s comments.

Politics

Ex-Tinubu Campaign Coordinator Resigns From APC

Published

6 hours ago

August 31, 2025

Editor

The former Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign Coordinator in Zamfara State, Senator Kabiru Marafa has confirmed his resignation from the All Progressives Congress.

Marafa, who confirmed his registration to Channels Television via text message on Sunday, left the ruling party after a meeting with his political structure last Wednesday and Thursday.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the leaders of the group unanimously resolved to dump the APC over what they described as injustice, neglect, and worsening insecurity in Zamfara State.

They expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation, citing recent statistics that placed Zamfara as the state with the highest number of kidnapping cases in the country.

The group also accused the Federal Government of politicising insecurity during the recent Kaura Namoda bye-election, alleging that security forces were deployed to secure the APC’s electoral victory rather than protect lives.

“The entire structure with all its supporters hereby formally resigns from the All Progressives Congress in protest against the sustained injustice, mistrust, marginalisation, and deliberate neglect of Zamfara State and its people. We shall, in due course, announce our next political direction, guided by the collective interest of the good people of Zamfara State,” the communiqué, issued on Friday, partly read.

On political appointments, Marafa’s loyalists faulted what they termed the deliberate marginalisation of Zamfara, despite the state’s contribution to the APC’s 2023 presidential victory.

They noted that while other states in the North-West secured multiple ministerial slots, Zamfara got only one, and communities devastated by banditry attacks have received little or no federal intervention.

The statement, signed by Comrade Bashir Muhammad Mafara (Chairman) and Dr. Mannir Bature Tsafe (Secretary), added that the group will soon announce its next political direction in line with the aspirations of the Zamfara people.