Politics

Edo Poll: APC Clears Air, Says No Aspirant Disqualified

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2024

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

Contrary to reports in some quarters that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has screened out some governorship aspirants in the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election, the party has come to say no aspirant has been disqualified so far.

On January 13, a stakeholders meeting was held by leaders of the party in the state in Abuja where a five-man committee led by Prof. Julius Ihonvbere was set up with the responsibility of interfacing with the over 26 aspirants and pruning the number to a reasonable size, and coming up with a credible aspirant who will bear the flag of the party.

The House Representatives Majority Leader-led committee after meeting with the over 26 aspirants reportedly screened and pruned the number of aspirants to 10, later 6 and finally four, a development that has caused tension in the party in the state.

But speaking during a press briefing in Benin on Tuesday, Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Peter Uwadiae, said there was no time the committee disqualified any aspirants, stressing that the Prof. Ihonvbere-led committee was not given such power.

The Publicity Secretary who said only the committee set up by the National Working Committee, is constitutionally empowered to screen and disqualify any governorship aspirant, disclosed that the committee set up by leaders of the party in the state was just “a mere adversary committee” and not a screening committee as portrayed.

Uwadiae said: “The Prof. Ihonvbere
committee was put up by caucus of the party in the state. The need for it was that we were advised by the national to ensure that the number of aspirants is pruned down, that was the rationale behind the setting up of the committee. The committee was to look at the aspirants, interface with them, and possibly also advise the party on the need for some of these aspirants to drop their ambition.

“It was not a screening committee as such. Because under our law and constitution, it is only the National Working Committee that has power to set up a screening committee. But the Prof. Julius Ihonvbere committee was necessitated by the increase in the number of aspirants. The national believes that if we allow all these aspirants to go into the field on the day of our primary, there might be rancour and disaffection which will ultimately rob on the party.

“So, I want to let our people know that the Prof. Ihonvbere committee is just an adversary committee, and this is the same way we want people outside to look at it.

“What the committee brought out as recommendation, was a mere adversary recommendation and not recommendation that stops anybody from purchasing forms.

“The Committee never disqualified anybody. The committee merely advised the party on the way to go so that there will be no crisis in the party,” he added.

The Publicity Secretary, while stating that his party believes in unity, fair play and democracy, described his party as disciplined, assuring that nothing would be done outside what the party constitution and Electoral Act spelt out

“We are a very disciplined party. We do our things according to law, dictate of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act and the party constitution. We will not derail from those statutory provisions,” he added.

He, therefore, urged party faithful not to allow the situation to cause rancour and disaffection among them.

Politics

Agege LG Chairman Resigns

Published

11 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Agege Local Government
Mr. Tunde Azeez Disco has stepped down as the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, citing persistent health challenges as the reason for his resignation.

The former chairman submitted his resignation letter to the Agege Local Government Legislative Arm.

He noted that his health status had significantly impacted his ability to effectively discharge his official duties.

The legislative house, while acknowledging Azeez Disco’s dedication to public service, quickly accepted the decision. Following a thorough deliberation, a unanimous resolution was passed, accepting the resignation with immediate effect.

The council wished the outgoing chairman well in his future endeavours, with the event underlining the necessity for public officials to prioritise personal health and well-being.

Ganiyu Obasa, son of the Speaker, Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, is the Vice chairman of Agege Local Government.

In May, residents of Agege, under the banner of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the local government election in Agege.

They claimed that Obasa allegedly plans to foist his surrogates as candidates in the local government and councillorship elections.

In a meeting held in response to the announcement of candidates for the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of the Agege Local Government and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the aggrieved residents alleged that those shortlisted as candidates to represent the area were handpicked by Obasa.

They said the process was void of internal democracy and collective participation.

Addressing the media, Kamardeen Sabitu, chairman of the PCC for Agege and Orile-Agege, alleged that Obasa did everything possible to manipulate the political structure in the area for personal gain.

During the protest, demonstrators carried placards reading “Red Card, Obasa O to ge, (it is enough). They also chanted songs such as “Enough is Enough, this suffering is enough, Tinubu, rescue us.”

Politics

JUST IN: Reps In Rowdy Session, Reject Key Motions

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2025

Editor

The plenary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday turned rowdy after members voted against some motions of urgent public importance, which bordered on the protection of lives and key government assets.

With the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, presiding, the session became rowdy, as members dissolved into a closed-door session to restore order.

It all started when the member representing Somolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Ademorin Kuye, drew the attention of his colleagues to what he called the illegal allocation of lands within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex and prayed the House to refer the matter to the Committee on Public Assets for investigation.

Kuye, a member of the All Progressives Congress is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets.

Proposing an amendment to the prayers, Delta lawmaker and Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, argued that though the matter brought before the Green Chamber is urgent enough, the Committee on Commerce, not Public Assets, should be in charge of the investigation.

Waive was supported by Akwa Ibom lawmaker, Mark Esset, who argued that “It is the Committee on Commerce that should take responsibility on this matter.”

On the other hand, Yusuf Gagdi representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Plateau State, supported Kuye, stating that the Public Assets Committee should be allowed to take charge of investigating the allegation of illegal land sale and submit a report to the House.

With no end to the back-and-forth argument in sight, Gbefwi Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa) on the advice of Kalu, proposed the constitution of an Ad-hoc Committee comprising members of both Committees (Public Assets and Commerce) to conduct the probe.

When subjected to a voice vote, almost an equal number of lawmakers voted in support and against the motion.

Not sure whose voices were louder, Kalu gave it to the nays, sparking unrest in the chamber.

Next on the order of urgent motions was Mohammed Bio representing Baruten/Kaima Federal Constituency, Kwara State.

Bio who lamented the worsening security situation in his constituency, prayed the House to urge the military to establish a base in the crisis-prone areas to stem the tides of attacks.

This time, more lawmakers voted against the motion, to the surprise of Kalu and the Kwara lawmaker.

It became clear to Kalu that members had resolved to frustrate the day’s session owing to the rejection of Kuye’s motion.

So, when again voices thundered against Ayodeji Alao-Akala’s motion which drew members’ attention to the need to address Nigeria’s description as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States President, Mr Donald Trump; Kalu allowed the motion to pass, forcing members to openly oppose the decision.

Voices of dissent rent the chambers and the plenary was suspended for a closed-door session.

…Details later

Politics

Obaseki’s Media Aide Tackles Edo Information Commissioner Over Alleged ₦600bn Debt

Published

2 days ago

November 4, 2025

Editor

A former Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has denied leaving a debt of N600bn, urging the Monday Okpehbolo-led administration to crosscheck from the Debt Management Office (DMO) before “spewing lies.”

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, had on Monday in Benin claimed that the immediate past administration in the state left a whooping ₦600bn debt.

Reacting to Afegbua’s claim via video call on Tuesday, Obaseki’s Media Adviser, Crusoe Osagie, challenged the current administration in the state to visit the DMO to see whether Edo drew such debt.

Crusoe, who said no government at whatever level has capacity to draw loans or enter into any debt arrangement without the knowledge and approval of the DMO, said lies being spewed by the Okpebholo’s administration is giving the country a bad image.

He said information of such gives the impression that the state is being governed by people who don’t understand what it means to run a government.

Crusoe described the claim as false and outrightly out of place.

On the planned probe of Mosium of West Africa Arts (MOWA), Crusoe noted that MOWA remained an international brand that entered into a business agreement with Edo State with all T’s crossed and all I’s dotted.

He insisted that every record about the transaction between Radisson Hotel and the Edo State government was contained in the transition report.

He said: “MOWA is an international investment drawing funds from the German government, the United Kingdom’s government, and the French government for its development. You think such an investment will be put on a land that was not ceded to that organization by the state.

“These people just come out there and toss all kinds of irresponsible information out there. At the end of the day what happens is that all of these turn around to form the intelligence that gathered out of Nigeria by the international community.

“It makes these countries think that the country is a failed state and the place is not being governed.”