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Just In: Obaseki Officially Joins PDP, Promises To Deliver The State

Published

5 years ago

June 19, 2020

The speculations making the rounds for the past few days that governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, was worming up to join the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), came to an end Friday, June 19, as the Governor officially joined the party.

Obaseki, while finally dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP, promised to return the state back to the party (PDP) in the next September, 19 governorship election.

“I have officially joined the party to advance my ambition to seek re-election as Governor of Edo State.

“I, as always, remain committed to engendering good governance and sustainable development of our dear state”, he said.

Obaseki, had Tuesday, formally announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) immediately after meeting with, Ibrahim Gabriel, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja.

The governor cited injustice and other anti-democratic practices of the National Working Committee of the party as well as the governorship primary election committee that disqualified him from contesting the primary election.

The governor was received by the state chairman of the PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, party chieftains including Matthew Urhoghide, Clifford Ordia and the entire state executive committee.

Speaking further, the governor, who noted that the PDP has demonstrated and shown that it is a party rooted in democratic practices, however promised to provide leadership that will lead the party to victory.

According to him, members of the state executive committee of the PDP, teeming supporters and members of PDP. I am here this afternoon, to inform you that upon my resignation from the All Progressives Congress, I have now decided, having consulted very wisely within the state and across the country, to become a member of PDP.

“Today, I am here to go through the formality of registering as a member of this great party. I understand fully well the implications of this decision. I know that upon taking up membership of this party, I automatically become the leader of this party, that is the constitution; I read it thoroughly last night.

“The PDP in my view has demonstrated and shown that it is a party that is rooted in a democratic practices; party that believes in justice and fairness”, he said.

He continues, ” I am prepared to provide leadership that will not only put PDP in office in Edo state but I will ensure that the level of progress, level of participation in the political system by our people is unrivalled.

“I am very happy to be here, the reception I have received since I got in here has been ecstatic. The energy I see in this party is the kind of energy I require to take Edo to the level we should go to next.

“If you think we have done anything in the last four year, you have not seen anything yet because with the quality of people I am seeing here, by the grace of God, I am committing to you that I will not only lead this party to victory in Edo state, I will also make that this party establishes an example of how things will be run in Africa.

“So, today, it is with great pleasure I have come to formally take membership of this party”,he added.

While responding, the PDP state chairman , Tony Aziegbemi, assured the governor of full cooperation, noting that the party does not discriminate.

He said, “Obaseki is free to participate in the PDP governorship primary election coming up on Tuesday June 23, 2020 as he has already obtained the nomination form and have been given a waiver to contest the primaries as other PDP aspirants.

The governor was accompanied by serving commissioners, APC chieftains loyal to the governor, Kabiru Adjoto, immediate past speaker of the State House of Assembly, local government chairmen among others.

Recall Obaseki was disqualified by the APC Governorship Screening Committee due to inconsistency in his HSC result and NYSC certificate.

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Tinubu Approves Portfolios For 5 NCDC Executive Directors

Published

8 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has approved portfolios for five executive directors on the board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the announcement in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

The appointees and their portfolios are: Hajiya Biliquis Jumoke- Administration and Human Resources, Mrs Aisha Rufai Ibrahim-Commercial and Industrial Development.

Others are, Mr James Abel Uloko-Corporate Services, Prof. Muhammad Bashar-Finance and Atika Ajanah-Projects.

The president urged the executive directors to work closely with the governing board of the commission to promote and coordinate sustainable development of the North-Central geopolitical zone.”

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Court Orders Arrest Of 2 Lawyers Over Alleged Forgery, Impersonation

Published

8 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Apo, on Monday, issued a bench warrant against two lawyers charged with forgery and impersonation.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie made the arrest order following repeated failure of the defendants- Victor Giwa, and Ibitade Bukola- to appear before the court to enter their plea to the charge that was preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.

In the charge marked: CR/150/25, the duo were accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Prof. Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

According to the three-count charge, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of the SAN, requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.

The contentious letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, was allegedly addressed to the AGF.

It allegedly sought intervention of the AGF to halt an arraignment that was scheduled before trial Justice Samira Bature of the high court.

The IGP, in the charge, maintained that the two lawyers committed offences punishable under Section 97, 179 and 364 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

At the resumed proceeding of the court on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Eristo Asaph, noted that the defence lawyer told the court that the 1st defendant was bereaved, hence his absence for the scheduled arraignment.

The prosecution counsel further noted that it was on the strength of an application by the defendant that the case was adjourned.

He, therefore, wondered why the duo were also absent in court for the case to proceed.

Responding, the defence counsel, Mr. Ogbu Aboje, told the court that the 1st defendant, Giwa, wrote a letter that was accompanied with a medical report dated September 3, indicating that he had a health challenge he described as “Degenerative disorder of the lumber vertebrae,” in addition to his hypertensive condition.

He added that the 2nd defendant equally went to the hospital on Monday morning to keep to a routine appointment for the immunisation of her daughter.

More so, he drew attention of the court to an application the defendants earlier filed to challenge its jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Dissatisfied with the developments, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for the defendants to be arrested y security agencies and produced for their trial.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that having listened to both parties, he was minded to accede to the prosecution’s request.

He court stressed that the medical report did indicate that the 1st defendant would not be able to attend court, adding that the 2nd defendant did not adduce any material to justify her absence.

Consequently, relying on the provision of section 266 (2) and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Justice Onwuegbuzie issued a bench warrant for the defendants to be arrested and produced before the court on October 8.
(VANGUARD)

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Community Attributes Access Road To Reduction In Maternal Mortality In Bauchi

Published

12 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A cross-section of residents in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State has attributed the reduction in maternal mortality to the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of the Kirjaule–Lame roads.

Mr. Samila Jauro, who spoke on behalf of the community, made the disclosure during a media tour of ongoing Bauchi State projects in the area.

He explained that in the past, no fewer than 50 pregnant women and their babies had lost their lives due to delays in accessing healthcare caused by the poor condition of roads.

“We have lost many of our pregnant women and their unborn babies in the past because of bad roads.

“But the present administration has changed our lives through its infrastructural development,” Jauro said.

While commending the state government, he appealed for the electrification of Kirjauke community.

“We are grateful for the road project, but we still call on the governor to provide us with electricity.

For the past 18 years, we have had no source of power,” he added.

The Bauchi State Government, through the Ministry of Works, in 2023 awarded a 40.5-kilometer road construction and rehabilitation projects in the aforementioned sites.

Speaking on the progress of the projects, the Site Engineer, Mr. Ado Shehu, said the project had reached 75 percent completion.

“The Kirjaule–Lame and Magama–Gumau roads were awarded at the end of November 2023.

“Some portions are already completed, while others are at the second layer and shoulder stage to ensure a successful outcome.

“The duration of the project according to the contract is 36 months.

” But with 75 percent already completed, the project will be finished ahead of schedule,” he said.