News

FCT APC Chieftains Protest Exclusion In Wike’s Appointments

Published

2 years ago

March 18, 2024

Leaders of All Progressives Congress in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday protested the recent appointments by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, saying he is obsessed with engaging his Peoples Democratic Party loyalists at the expense of their members.

The FCT party chieftains, who vented their frustration at a press conference in Abuja, called on President Bola Tinubu to call the former Rivers State governor to order before he destroys his political structure in the nation’s capital.

Wike has come under heavy fire over his choice of appointments since he assumed office.

His appointments of former Chairman of the PDP in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers, Chidi Amadi as Chief of Staff; erstwhile State Chairman of the PDP, Felix Obuah as Coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council; Michael Chinda as Senior Special Adviser on Land, Urban and Regional Planning and Barivure Fred, another senior aide on Environment and Waste Management among others have continued to irk APC members, especially indigenes of the FCT.

Addressing the newsmen, a party chieftain in FCT, Abdulwahab Ekekhide, faulted the minister’s appointments since his coming to office, describing them as lopsided and an utter disregard for FCT members of the party who contributed to the president’s election victory.

He said, “We want to let President Bola Tinubu know that Nyesom Wike is killing the political structure of the APC in FCT due to his lack of regard for the party and its leadership. Since their assumption of office, he has refused to sit with the party’s leadership, even though the party has written him a series of letters to grant the party audience, all to no avail. We say this is unacceptable.

“You will all recall some months back when Wike was quoted as saying, ‘Nobody can take over or kill my political structure in Rivers State.’ So why is he now killing the President’s political structure in the FCT? The reason the APC always loses elections in the FCT is that successive ministers import strangers who do not belong to any political ward or polling unit or have voting rights as appointees. But when it is time for general elections, they will pack their baggage and travel to their various states, leaving the FCT dry.

“We call on Mr. President to caution the minister. Let him start empowering the party or else, the APC will struggle to get two percent and the President may lose the next area councils election in 2027 if the situation remains this way. These recent appointment have shown that Wike wants to finally kill and bury the party. His agenda we don’t know but we will resist any further attempts to ridicule the party.”

The APC Youth Leader of the FCT, Isaac David, shared his sentiment.

David, an indigene of Abuja, also threatened that if Wike is allowed to continue denying party members their rights after working so hard for the president’s electoral victory, they may be forced to withdraw their support for the president.

“The minister’s PVC wasn’t registered in the FCT here. Same goes to the PDP loyalists and supporters he is bringing into Abuja for appointments. If they are ignoring us the indigenes and the FCT APC members, we will see who will vote him back in 2027.

“We will withdraw our support from Mr President. Let us see he plans to win the FCT in 2027,” he stated.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.