Politics

Ex-convict Arrested With Guns, Charms At Kwara APC Rally

Published

2 years ago

January 31, 2023

The Kwara State Police Command has said a 44-year-old man was on Sunday arrested at the All Progressives Congress campaign rally in Ilorin, with two locally made guns and charms.

Police gave the name of the middle-aged man as Safi Abolaji aka Ojulari, who was allegedly caught at the APC rally at Ojuekun Sarumi area of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State in the afternoon on Sunday.

The state Police Command in a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, said that Abolaji of the Kankatu area, Ilorin was caught at the rally with two locally made short guns with cartridges and some charms.

He said that investigation conducted revealed that the suspect confessed to be a member of a cult group and an ex-convict who was recently released from prison.

Okasanmi said, “Acting swiftly on intelligence to the effect that, at the APC political rally on January 29, 2023, at about 1530 hrs, held at Ojuekun Sarumi area, Ilorin, one Safi Abolaji aka Ojulari “M,” age 44, of Kankatu area, Ilorin, was overpowered by public-spirited persons and policemen with two locally made short-guns with cartridges and some charms found in his possession.

“During the investigation, the suspect, who confirmed to be an active member of the Aye confraternity, was also just recently released from the correctional facility after serving a prison term, he could not sufficiently explain his presence at the rally, having confirmed to be a member of the People Democratic Party in the state.

“An investigation into the matter is ongoing to establish his motive and to arrest other members of his cult group,” the statement said.

“The Commissioner for Police in Kwara State, CP Paul Odama, has for the umpteenth time warned criminal elements to change their ways or leave Kwara State, as the command would not leave any stone unturned in making Kwara State a state that is conducive for all positive human endeavours,” the statement added.

Okasanmi said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations into the case are concluded.

Politics

2027: Drama As Two ‘ADA’ Emerge In INEC’s List Of 110 Party Registration Bids

Published

9 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

Two political associations seeking registration as political parties have submitted identical acronyms to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

According to Vanguard, the first is the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, being promoted by Chief Akin Ricketts and said to be one of the special purpose vehicles that the anti-Tinubu coalition is seeking to use as a platform in the 2027 general election.

While the Ricketts ADA is 109 on the INEC list, the other ADA, Advanced Democratic Alliance, is 110, the last one the list unveiled by the electoral umpire.

This second ADA has Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman as Protem Chairman and Zipporah Pius Miracles as Secretary.

The Ricketts ADA has its national headquarters at Ground Floor, UAC Complex, Plot 273 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street, CBD, Abuja, FCT.

Suleiman’s ADA has its national headquarters at 1 Frandriance Close, Off Oda Crescent, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, no fewer than 110 political associations have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking registration as political parties.

Politics

Damagum Is PDP’s Problem – Ex-Benue Gov Suswam

Published

19 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Wednesday declared that the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum, is the problem of the party.

Suswam, who insisted that Damagum is not a leader, said the party has been drifting downwards since he assumed the role of acting National Chairman.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former governor said, “There is no integrity in the leadership of PDP, I’m happy that Wike said it.

Politics

Confusion In PDP As NWC Counters Damagum, Rejects Anyanwu’s Reinstatement

Published

21 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed claims that the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, has been postponed.

A statement signed by key members of the NWC on Wednesday also denied reports that Samuel Anyanwu has been reinstated as the party’s National Secretary.

The NWC said the statement comes in response to a press briefing earlier in the day by the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.

DAILY POST reports that Damagum had announced the postponement of the NEC meeting and said Anyanwu is to resume as National Secretary.

Rejecting Damagum’s declarations, the NWC said his pronouncements were contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which scheduled the next NEC session for June 30 and referred all matters concerning the National Secretary’s office to that meeting.

“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the Party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC),” the statement read.

Citing Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), the NWC emphasized that NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party after the National Convention and that its resolutions are binding on all members and organs of the party.

The NWC described the announcement regarding Anyanwu’s resumption as “misleading” and reaffirmed that the matter remains under the jurisdiction of the forthcoming NEC meeting.

The statement was jointly signed by Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, National Treasurer, Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Auditor, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, among others.