Politics

Edo Guber: LP Chair, Abure Speaks On Alleged Imposition, As US-based Businessman Joins Race

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2023

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has vowed not to impose any candidate on the teeming supporters of the party and people of Edo ahead of next year’s governorship election in the state.

Abure made the pledge when he received a delegation led by United States-based businessman, Stephen Osemwegie, who visited the party headquarters in Abuja on Friday to officially indicate interest in joining the governorship race on the platform of LP.

While addressing the audience, the national chairman stated that he has no intention of taking sidess or anointing a candidate.

This was even as he promised to give a level playing field to every aspirant ahead of the party’s primary, which date has yet to be announced.

He said, “We are going to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants. There will be equal treatment in the primaries, which will be a competitive one. As national chairman of the party, though I hail from Edo state, I want to state here categorically that I will not have an anointed candidate.

“As I said, I will not impose any aspirant or candidate on party members. It is the delegates and party members in Edo that will determine who becomes the flag bearer in the state. I therefore want to reassure my own brother who has come to indicate his interest today that he will have a level playing field.

“We are going to look for the best among party members. Then we will pool our resources, energy, and efforts together to ensure that the person we choose performs. The purpose of doing that is to ensure that at every point in time when he derails, we will be able to hold him accountable.”

The lawyer-turned-politician, however, counseled the governorship aspirant to go back to the grassroots and reach out to stakeholders at the unit, ward, and state levels in Edo State.

According to him, politics is played at the local level and not at the centre as many naive politicians often think.

Abure, who lamented that the state has always been blessed with leaders who had no genuine interest in the people, expressed optimism that his party will change the narrative after clinching the seat at the 2024 governorship poll.

“There is no doubt that we have been unfortunate to produce leaders who have not worked for the Edo people. I said so because if you take a cursory look at our history, even during military government in Nigeria, Edo has been unfortunate to get administrators who were not from that place. We have seen over the years that both the APC and PDP lack internal democracy.

“We have strategically positioned the party to be the one that will rescue Edo State. It is not by accident. It is by design. Only a Labour Party government in the state will be able to reposition Edo for greatness and restore the past glory that it was known for. We have started the walk and believe strongly that with the right candidate, personnel, and strategy, we will be able to reclaim the state on the path of growth and development.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Edo people will do the right thing. When a PDP government did not perform before 2006, the Edo people rose to the occasion and change the government. This is another time for change and I am confident it is the turn of the Labour Party. LP has always believed that when the process used in selecting candidates is faulty; it can never produce good leaders,” he said.

Reacting to the warm welcome, Osemwegie promised not to disappoint the party and the people of Edo State.

The United States-based businessman affirmed that the problem of governance at both the state and federal levels boils down to the failure of leaders to do the right thing.

“I think the problem we have in Nigeria, as Chinua Achebe said, is failing leadership. We have a situation in our country where we have resources without potential. We are still lagging in every metric. In Edo where I hail from, we have about eight million people but the unemployment level is appalling.

“I will talk more about some of these issues as we go on with our campaign. I have come up with a new direction and a new vision. Whatever we were doing before has not worked. You cannot continue doing the same thing and expect a different result. It is time for us to do something different, especially through the Labour Party. I have come to notice that what we lack over the years has been honesty, integrity, transparency, and an attitude of compassion for the people

“Today, I have come to pay a courtesy visit to the chairman and members of the National Working Committee of the party. I have been a very active member of the Diaspora support group of the Labour Party, especially in New York, where we ensure people turn up with their votes and vote right,” he said.
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Related Topics:#Edo governorship Julius Abure Labour Party

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Politics

Reps Raise The Alarm Over Terrorists’ Threat To Bomb N’Assembly Complex

Published

18 hours ago

October 28, 2025

Editor

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Garba Muhammad, on Tuesday disclosed that the National Assembly has received threats from terrorists to bomb the complex and called for urgent fortification of the edifice as a proactive measure.

Garba disclosed this in Abuja at a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Legislative Security Directorate, which seeks to enhance security management, protect the lawmakers, staff members and visitors to the nation’s parliament.

The edifice housing the Senate, the House of Representatives and sundry offices, he said, has been facing security challenges, including cases of car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered visitors.

Recall that on May 4, 2021, a similar incident was rumoured when security alert warned lawmakers of a planned Boko Haram attack on the National Assembly complex and other VIP/government locations in Abuja. In response, security measures were intensified, including strict vehicle checks that caused significant congestion at the gates.

Lawmakers were advised to use the less-congested presidential gate for safer access. The alert underscored concerns over Boko Haram’s growing threat, with insurgents reportedly operating as close as Niger State, near the Federal Capital Territory.

Following the alert, the National Assembly limited members’ presence on the premises for safety, and security experts called for stronger federal protection of national infrastructure and assets.

Garba said, “We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly.

“Legislators are exposed to threats from constituents and others who gain easy access to their offices without any formal appointment.

“It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate the legislative activities in the National Assembly. If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, no plenary at all — and that will destabilise legislative procedure, democracy, and the stability of the system, and our nation at large.

The Kano lawmaker noted that robust security management requires a holistic and coordinated approach, integrating multi-layered approaches to secure the National Assembly environment to enable lawmakers to discharge their duties in an atmosphere of peace.

“That is why this bill is important. It seeks to address all the challenges as aforesaid and adopt the world’s best practices of parliamentary security procedures and architecture.

“The need for effective security measures in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasised because parliament has to remain accessible to the public. However, this bill is committed to ensuring the best security architecture in the National Assembly — to protect legislators, staff, visitors, and property,” he said.

He urged State Houses of Assembly to take urgent steps to protect their complexes nationwide.

He called for support among stakeholders to ensure the quick passage of the bill, describing it as a major step toward securing Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“I wish us a peaceful and fruitful hearing that will ultimately bring a turnaround in the National Assembly’s security architecture,” he said.

Politics

N’Assembly committee Approves New State For S’East

Published

3 days ago

October 26, 2025

Editor

The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone.

According to a statement by the media unit of the committee, the resolution was reached on Saturday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where it reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.

The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the region.

Kalu, who joined other lawmakers to champion additional state creation for the region, argued that a new state would give the people a sense of belonging.

When created, the South-East will be at par with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones, each having six states.

The South-East is the only geo-political zone with five states comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

The North-West comprises seven states: Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa.

According to the statement, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State) at the retreat.

“The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted,” the statement read in part

Similarly, the committee also established a sub-committee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geo-political zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.

Speaking at the event, Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.

“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process.

“By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the state Houses of Assembly,” the Deputy Senate President was quoted as saying.

Politics

PDP Unveils 13-member Screening Panel For National Convention

Published

4 days ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

According to a statement issued on October 25, 2025, by the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and signed by its Chairman, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who is also the Governor of Adamawa State, the screening exercise will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The committee will be chaired by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), a former Ondo State governorship candidate and respected legal luminary.

He will be assisted by Hon. Mohammed L.S. Diri (SAN) as Deputy Chairman, while Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Esq., will serve as Secretary. Jacob Otorkpa was named Deputy Secretary.

Other members of the committee include: Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Mrs. Aduke Maina, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Achike Udenwa, Haj. Maryam Inna Ciroma, HM. Felix Hassan Hyat, HM. Zainab Maina, and Chinedu Nwachukwu, who will also serve as Administrative Secretary.

The statement noted that the selection reflected the PDP’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and internal democracy in the build-up to its national convention.

“The NCOC notes and expects that the exemplary conduct and strict adherence to rules and regulations during this very crucial assignment will justify the confidence reposed by the Party in members of the Committee,” the statement read.

Fintiri assured party members that the screening process will be conducted with the highest standards of fairness and impartiality, underscoring the PDP’s resolve to strengthen its democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This exercise is crucial in ensuring that only credible, competent, and loyal members emerge to steer the affairs of our great party,” Fintiri stated.