Politics

JUST IN] Edo APC Crisis: State Auditor, Ex-Reps Minority Whip, Woman Leader, 5 Others Recommended For Expulsion

Published

3 years ago

April 26, 2023

… Recommends Others For Pardon, Suspension

… It’s Charade That Falls Short Of APC Constitutional Requirements – Osagie

A disciplinary committee set up to look into allegations of Anti-party activities levelled against eleven chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State has recommended expulsion of the current State Auditor of the party, Hon. Roland Alari; former Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie; Mrs. Esohe Idemudia, woman leader of the local government and four others.

Other chieftains recommended for expulsion include: Mr. Monday Guobadia; Nelson Gomez Iserhienrhien, he was, until his suspension and consequent expulsion, Secretary of the party in the local government; Mr. Festus Iyekeoretin, until his suspension, he was the ward chairman of Isi South (Ward 8) and Mr. Evans Ozabor.

The committee also recommended three out of the eleven alleged offenders – Hon. Jolly Iyekeoretin; Barr. Felix Alari; Mr. Simon Uduogie, to be pardoned while it recommended that Mr. William Amadin be suspended for six months and thereafter reintegrated to the party.

According to the recommendation letter jointly signed by the Committee Chairman, Prof. David Osifo; Secretary, Daniel A. Noah Osa-Ogbegie, Esq., and a member, Dr. Washington Osa. Osifo, Esq, the alleged offenders allegedly worked against the party in their respective wards and units in the just concluded general elections resulting to the party’s failure in the local government area.

The recommendation letter addressed to the party local government chairman, the current State Auditor was accused of refusal to attend leaders’ meetings and campaigns, refusal to contribute monetarily to campaigns and involvement in “the 30 million Naira the PDP shared in Ehor ward on the eve of the House of Assembly election; he openly canvassed for votes against the party in his unit on the day of election for the House of Assembly ; that he organised a party in his house at Ehor to celebrate the loss of the party in his unit and ward in the House of Assembly election, singing songs to mock the party.”

On the other hand, Hon. Osagie was accused in the recommendation letter of refusal to attend leaders’ meeting, openly campaigned against his party , the APC and “That he did not contribute a dime to our campaigns fundraising. That he lost all the three Elections that were conducted on 25th Feb in his unit and ward by high margins.

“On the eve of the House of Assembly Elections; which was Friday 17th March, that he, Hon. Samson Osagie was seen in Rialto hotel, Eyaen at night holding a meeting with some of his ward Leaders including Mrs. Betty Iyayi, LGA Assistant Women leader, Barr. Uyi Ediale, LGA Legal adviser among others. It was gathered that it was in that meeting he concluded plans to sabotage APC and work in favour of the opposition in their various units.

“It is confirmed that he, Hon. Osagie called Hon. Stanley Otabor one of the Legacy PDP members who had agreed to work for the APC that he had resolved to work for PDP and that he (aforementioned Stanley Otabor) should join.

“It is also confirmed that he told one Mr. Igbinidu, a legacy PDP member that he should work for PDP when he (Igbinidu) was ready to work for the APC following prior arrangement the APC made with his PDP group. That the said Mr. Igbinudu was called by Hon. Charles Idahosa and he confirmed it to Hon. Charles Idahosa.

“In his polling unit on the House of Assembly Election Day, it was confirmed by some voters that Hon. Osagie told them to vote for the opposition PDP and when he was asked why, he said that was the order and that the PDP candidate was born at Egba and from neighbouring community, so Egba people must support their own. That was how APC lost the election to PDP.”

On the former Woman leader, the recommendation in the letter says “that she was in the USA at the beginning of campaigns and refused to participate in campaign even after she came back to Nigeria.

“That she did not donate any money to the campaign even after enjoying the opportunity as National delegate in the Presidential primaries.

“That she canvassed votes for the PDP to win Igieduma ward. That perusal of her unit and ward results eloquently point to her acts of sabotage against the Party that has done much for her. The petition also mentioned that she collected money from Governor Godwin Obaseki’s PDP in the House of Assembly election.”

Contacted by INFO DAILY, the former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Osagie said: “The allegations against me were duly answered and all denied but the committees abandoned my response to the allegations and make their unjust ,and unfair recommendations even when they have no cogent evidence to substantiate the allegations.”

“Indeed they were working from answer to questions to satisfy the bid of their pay masters.

“Unfortunately, the entire charade falls short of the Constitutional requirements for discipline in Article 21 of the APC Constitution.”

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Politics

N’Assembly committee Approves New State For S’East

Published

19 hours 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

2 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.

Politics

Why I Refused To Endorse El-Rufai As My Successor — Obasanjo

Published

2 days ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how he turned down a suggestion to endorse former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor.

Speaking on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the second edition of the annual Ajibosin Platform symposium themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance”, Obasanjo disclosed that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had recommended El-Rufai for the presidency, but he rejected the idea.

Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address at the event, had earlier narrated how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34, an encounter that led to his appointment as the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Addressing the audience, Obasanjo took a playful jab at Chidoka for leaving out the El-Rufai story.

“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said.

Turning to Chidoka, who was seated among the panelists, he asked, “No be so (Is that not true)?” The former minister nodded in agreement.

Obasanjo explained that he dismissed the suggestion because he believed El-Rufai still needed time to grow politically.

“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?

“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature.’”

The former president, however, commended Chidoka, El-Rufai, and other former aides for their “special attributes,” which he said contributed to the success of his administration.

Speaking further on leadership, Obasanjo emphasised character, exposure, experience, and training as essential qualities of effective governance.

Obasanjo said, “It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is apprenticeship.

“But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough.”

El-Rufai served under Obasanjo’s administration as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) before becoming the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 2003 and 2007. When Obasanjo was leaving office in 2007, he instead backed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his preferred successor.

In his address, Chidoka blamed Nigeria’s development setbacks on excuses and what he described as the politics of alibi.

“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind.

“Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance—rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.

“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” he said.

He urged leaders to prioritise accountability and measurable results.

“We must therefore make leadership accountable not to rhetoric but to results: measure by building national dashboards and accountability systems that track every promise, every budget, every outcome. Monitor by strengthening the institutions that evaluate government performance and expose complacency,” he said.