Ahead of the Edo State governorship election, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mark Idah, has resigned his membership of the party.

This is contained in a letter addressed to the Chairman, Ward 10 of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, and made available to INFO DAILY Tuesday in Benin City.

“From today, I cease to be a member of the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State,” his letter reads in part.

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Idah also resigned his position as SUPERVISORY COUNSELLOR FOR INVESTMENT, Oredo Local Government Area Council, as contained in his letter addressed to the Chairman of the Council, Tom Obaseki.

Though his reason for resignation is not stated in the letter, the PDP stalwart further stated: “It has become imperative that I have left the post due to personal reasons.”

The Labour Party (LP), has set up a 22-member Electoral Reform Committee to articulate its position on how to reform Nigeria’s electoral system for optimal performance.

In a statement signed by the party’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk, in Abuja, Tuesday the LP named Dr. Sam Amadi as Chairman with Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi the current Deputy National Chairman as alternate Chairman.

It read, “This is to inform members of the public that the leadership of the party has approved the follow persons to serve as members of Labour Party Electoral Reform Committee.

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“They are mandated to carry out a holistic review of the electoral process that will guarantee free and fair elections.

“The committee is given three months to submit its report to the party. The members are as follows:

Hon. Dr. Sam Amadi – Chairman, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi – Alternate Chairman, Mrs Dudu Manuga – Secretary, Comrade Adekunle Rotimi – Alternate Secretary, Barrister Calistus Ihediagwa – Alternate Secretary.

Others include: “Nasiru kura, Alex Ejeseme – SAN, Hannah Amina Yahaya, Hon.Chijioke Edeoga, Sen. Tony Nwoye, Mike Igini, Hon. Benedict Etanabene, Hon. Esosa Iyawe, Nuhu Toro – (TUC), Mohammed A. Raji, Martins Egbanubi – (TUC), Mohammed Sabitu Aliyu, Obaze Oseloka, Hon. Oke-Joe Onuakalusi, Hon. Auwal Aliyu Tafoki, Prof Onje Gye-Wado and Dr. Ishaku Adam.”

The committee will be inaugurated on Thursday.

Former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara has revealed that he rejected the sum of N250 million to support the third-term agenda during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

In an excerpt from the YouTube interview series “Untold Stories with Adesuwa,” released on Monday, when asked about the truthfulness of this assertion, he said, “That’s very correct.”

The third-term agenda marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s 25-year uninterrupted democratic history, involving a constitutional amendment bill aimed at allowing then-President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a third term in office.

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Speaking further, Wabara revealed that while he didn’t believe the stories that some senators received N50 million at the time, he received N250 million bribe, which was brought to him in a G-Wagon at 1:20 a.m.

Wabara also stated that his educational background played a huge role in rejecting the third-term agenda.

“I turned down a N250 million bribe to support the third term agenda. The money came to me by 1:30 a.m., before my third-term speech. It came in a sparkling black G-Wagon. I can still remember that it was in a black G-Wagon and a rickety 504 station wagon. The money was discharged, and my wife was there.”

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Highlighting the significance of the decision, Wabara stated that if the third-term agenda had stood, other presidents wouldn’t have emerged.

“Without people like us, there wouldn’t be democracy now. Yes, if we had supported the third term, you know, I mean we would have had dictatorship, tyranny, and people like Buhari wouldn’t have emerged. Even the present Tinubu would not have emerged because Obasanjo would have still been there,” he said.

Speaking on the current state of affairs in the country, Wabara lamented that those in power had unfortunately weaponized poverty.

His words: “Hunger misdirects, and my people say that when you are having leaves or whatever the goat eats, you are the person they will continue to follow. That is what is happening in our democracy today because of hunger. The elders and the politicians—those in government—are not creating the enabling environments to eschew hunger.

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“It is a deliberate act to continue to make the electorate hungry so that they will continue to follow sheepishly. So, there will be stomach infrastructure before they start thinking whether we are being led aright.”

He also clarified that he was not removed from office by Obasanjo but resigned while reiterating that there was no pressure.