Politics

Edo Guber: LP Aspirant Cautions Party On Free, Fair Primary

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2024

A Labour Party, LP, governorship aspirant in the forthcoming Edo State election, Ogbemudia Bassey Osagie, on Tuesday cautioned leadersship of the party to give all aspirants a level playing ground.

Osagie spoke in Benin City during a meeting with leaders of the Labour Party in Oredo Local Government Council on his governorship ambition ahead of the primary election.

He said it’s unfortunate that money bag politicians have hijacked the party using their wealth to get people to support their guber ambition and buying vehicles for party officials to hoodwink them to allegedly skew the process in their favour.

The Sergeant/Detective at the Toronto Police, threatened to personally hold the party executives accountable should the primary be skewed in a favor of a particular aspirant who he alleged doling out cash gifts and vehicles to LP officials.

“Even if I have the money, I am not going to use money to influence people to support me. If an aspirant like me is sharing millions of naira to people. You should question my character. Firstly, you should ask, I thought this man is a police man? Where did he get the money he is sharing. Where did he have the money he is sharing to party and in buying vehicles to share to party officials? “

Osagie who said the LP must eschew all forms of illegality ahead of her primary, added that
If the party primary is not free and fair, “we are going to hold labour party executive accountable. We are going to make them understand that if money bags hijack the LP in Edo, we are not going to let go.

“Personally, I am going to hold them accountable if they don’t follow a fair process,” he said.

Noting that he would not be deterred should the primary outcome not go in his favour, Osagie said, “I am here to stay. I am not desperate to be Edo state governor. But I believe Edo State is going to be in better hands with me.

“I am going to provide the leadership that Edo people lack, the leadership that our leaders have refused to provide over the years,” Osagie said.

Osagie said that if given the opportunity to govern the state that he will deploy all the instruments of governance to completely remove Edo people from abject poverty and be a reference point to others.

Osagie said he will shock those who do not believe that the economy of Edo State can be revived as quickly as possible if all the needed apparatuses are applied to do the needful.

He said having been abroad for years , it has exposed him to so many things that can assist him to bring on board all the needed experience that will help him to put a good and acceptable governance in place.

According to him, “I have always loved to work and support my people. That was the main reason I always reach out to my people. Edo 2024 is an opportunity for me to offer myself to work for Edo people as Governor. I am already reaching out to investors that will help me to achieve the dream of changing the narrative in Edo State. I therefore need the support of all the people to succeed in actualizing the dream of being the number one citizen of the state”.

Politics

2027: Rivers APC Pledges To Follow Wike’s Instructions

Published

19 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

Leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, has declared that whatever instruction the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, gives on the 2027 elections concerning the State will be followed.

The Chairman of the party, Mr Rejoice Otobo, stated this during Wike’s “thank you” visit to the local government area on Sunday.

Otobo assured Wike that the people would not fail him because of what he has done in the area.

“We await instructions from you on the 2027 elections concerning Rivers State. Wherever you ask us to go, there we shall go; whatever you ask us to do is what we will do.

“All the good and the bad people of the LGA have decided that where you want us to go is where we will go,” the chairman said.

Similarly, his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ikechukwu Obuzor, said that the minister has given Ahoada people hope and pledged complete loyalty.

“I want to say that we are standing firm with you. Wherever you go, we will go. Be rest assured come 2027, Ahoada West will deliver the needed results for you,” he said.

Earlier, Chairman of Ahoada Local Government Council, Mr Chita Eugene, who described Wike as “the political field marshall of South South”, praised him for the unprecedented development he attracted to Rivers State.

Eugene said that the visit was not just a thank you visit; it was a celebration of effective leadership and public service.

Also, House of Representatives member representing Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency, Victor Obuzor, said that Wike deserved his support because he had done well for the LGA, and equally transformed Rivers State during his tenure as governor of the state.

Similarly, the Seyi Tinubu Support Group, led by Chidi Amadi, equally pledged their support to Wike and reelection of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

In his remarks, Wike explained that he was in the area to thank the people for the overwhelming support given to him and Tinubu during the 2023 elections.

He said that Rivers State used to be respected for its strong political stand on good governance across the country until bad governance happened.

The minister, who insisted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara must not be voted for a second term, stressed the need to restore the glory of the state in the political landscape of the country.

This, he said, would be achieved by correcting the leadership mistake in the state in 2027.

“Already, Rivers State is being respected because of what we are doing in FCT. We need a leader we can trust to drive our dear state to glory and progress,” the minister said.

Politics

Why Kano Governor Postponed Formal Defection To APC

Published

20 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

…You can’t betray me to succeed ―Kwankwaso

The much-anticipated defection of Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has allegedly been postponed.

This is just as leader of the NNPP and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, warned party members against political betrayal, insisting that defection from the movement has never brought lasting success.

According to a reliable source who preferred anonymity, the official defection of the governor earlier scheduled for Monday, January 5, 2026, has now been shifted to Monday, January 12, 2026.

The source noted that Governor Yusuf requested additional time to conclude consultations with key political actors.

The source, who was present at a meeting between Governor Yusuf and Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja on Friday, said the governor is seeking to engage a few remaining state legislators and other critical stakeholders who are yet to fully align with the proposed political realignment.

“Kano is a politically sensitive state and the governor wants to ensure that all necessary consultations are completed before making such a major decision,” the source said.

But Kwankwaso, who spoke during a meeting with supporters at his residence in Kano, said he was neither surprised nor disturbed by the alleged moves of some members planning to defect from the party to rival political parties.

In a viral video from the gathering circulating on social media, Kwankwaso stressed that political history is unforgiving to those who abandon the movements that brought them to prominence.

“I want to remind those who left us that nobody has betrayed us and succeeded,” Kwankwaso said. “Political history is very clear on this matter. Those who believe they can rise by betraying the people and the movement they came from should think deeply.”

The former governor, who was the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, said the strength of the party does not depend on the loyalty of a few political office holders but on the support of ordinary citizens, who believe in the ideals of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

“I am not disturbed by these developments.

“What truly matters is the support of the masses, not the movement of a few politicians who are chasing personal interests,” he added.

Kwankwaso pointed to the large turnout of supporters at the meeting as evidence that the NNPP continues to enjoy strong grassroots backing across Kano State despite the rumours of political realignments.

“You can see with your own eyes the number of people who came here today. This shows clearly that our movement is alive, strong and firmly rooted among the people of Kano,” he said.

He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to people-centred governance, social justice and political inclusion, describing the Kwankwasiyya Movement as bigger than any individual and resilient to political manoeuvring or defections.

Kano, long regarded as a strategic hub of northern Nigerian politics, has been rife with speculation following reports of the governor’s planned defection. The development has continued to generate intense political interest, with analysts saying that Yusuf’s move could significantly alter the balance of power in the state.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kano State government nor the leadership of the NNPP and APC has issued an official statement on the postponed defection.

Politics

Dino Melaye Reacts To Malami’s Arraignment For Money Laundering

Published

6 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Ex-Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has reacted to the arraignment of a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, before an Abuja Federal High Court.

Melaye wished Malami well as he began his trial for corruption.

Posting on X, the former lawmaker recalled how he was prosecuted by Malami over what he described as frivolous cases while he was the AGF.

He wrote: “Reminded me of how I was appearing in different courts when Malami as AGF was prosecuting me over frivolous cases including taking over one of the police cases against me. Wish him.well.”

Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and another individual are facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.

They were arraigned on allegations of unlawful acquisition and concealment of funds.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.