Politics

Edo Poll: Abia Gov, Otti Storms Benin, Canvasses Votes For Akpata, LP

Published

1 year ago

September 12, 2024

The governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti on Thursday stormed Benin City, the Edo State capital to woo voters in the state to vote for the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Barr. Olumide Akpata.

Otti, who won his governorship election on the platform of the LP charged Edo voters be vigilant so that their will would not be circumvented.

Otti said though the party may not have the guns and ammunition to win the election, the people, the party and the candidate were more than enough.

According to him, “I have come to appeal to you. You are all our people. I told Olumide that there is no need to preach to the converted.

“We have converted you already and it is now time for us to go and convert others.

“This is an election that will make a difference in Edo State. It is an election for the people. We may not have all the guns and the ammunition, but we have the people.

“So, the change I want to give you is that, when you vote on that day, remain in your polling booth and don’t go home.

“That is how we did it in Abia state. So, for 48 and 72 hours, nobody slept.

“I used to tell our people, we have one saying. We said the rat does not eat something when the owner is awake.

“So, you people should not sleep. If it is about the votes, we will have the votes, if it is about winning, we will win.

“We will not allow any rat to steal our victory”, Otti said.

Speaking also, the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of the party at the national level, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, appealed to the people of the state not to disappoint the party by voting for other candidates except Akpata if they want to enjoy the dividends of democracy which the people in Abia state are currently enjoying.

“The victory is ours and we must deliver full time on that particular day and what Abia is enjoying today Edo State will enjoy it too”, Nwokocha said.

Earlier, Akpata while welcoming Otti, told his supporters that the Abia state governor was in the state to help talk to the people of the state to vote for him and his running mate, Barr. Kadiri Asamah.

“Jesus Christ said, he didn’t come for the saved but for the lost”, Akpata said

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.