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Labour Party Kicks As Suspended Youth Leader Demands N10m

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The suspended National Youth Leader of Labour Party, Anslem Eragbe, has demanded N10m refunds from the leadership of the party to enable him to offset some embarrassing online debts he incurred during their mobilisation campaign.

Eragbe made the demand in a letter addressed to the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; his running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed; National Chairman, Julius Abure; the LP National Working Committee and members of the campaign council.

This was even as the National Secretary of the party, Umar Farouk, denied the claim, saying nobody commissioned him to put up any website or spend his money for the alleged project.

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Recall that the LP national youth leader was slammed with a six-month ban on October 21 over allegations bordering on forgery, opening of an illegal donation website and acts of insubordination.

Eragbe, who is also a senatorial candidate for Edo North, had fought back fiercely claiming his sanction was unconstitutional and illegal.

In the letter, which was made available to Saturday PUNCH, Eragbe bemoaned that the party failed to mobilise him for the campaign.

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: Labour Party Presidential Campaign DG, Okupe Resigns

He noted that every dime he spent was done from out-of-pocket allowances.

The statement read, “I wish to request that only N10m be paid to me to offset initial debt incurred for the development of the Labour Party National Mobilisation website.

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“You will recall that Labour Party did not mobilise me as the National Youth Leader of Labour Party till today for this website development save for the “out-of-pocket” allowance of one million naira (N1,000,000) only as the National Youth Leader of Labour Party for my official activities.

“I hereby attach some evidence of the over N5m receipts of debt owed to online financial platform institutions to the effect of my demand for payment for the website development to enable me to pay off these embarrassing debts.”

Continuing, Eragbe maintained that the LP national mobilization website had an unlimited database to warehouse over 47 million voters across the 176,846 polling units, 774 LGA, 36 states and 8,815 political wards, including the FCT.

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He also disclosed that the donation portal had yet to be activated for the 2023 general elections.

“You may also wish to recall and remember that the ‘Command and Control Unit and 20 buses’ donated to the party presidential campaign committee in Asokoro and some financial support were secured through my “fund solicitation” for the deployment of these ICT solutions for the 2023 presidential and general elections and these solutions need to be deployed forthwith, should you still desire same.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Labour Party Sacks National Publicity Secretary, Dissolves Ogun Exco

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“Kindly oblige me the payment of the initial outstanding N10m to enable me to offset some of this embarrassing online debt incurred for the above stated objectives.

“The Labour Party National Mobilisation LP-NG Mobile App is expected to generate an average of $80,000,000 annually for the party for a database population of a minimum of 10 million eligible voters from the 2023 national mobilization deployment,” he said.

LP reacts

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Reacting, the National Secretary of the party, Umar Farouk, denied Eragbe’s claim, saying the party owed him nothing because there was no contractual agreement between them.

READ ALSO: Labour Party Queries Kogi State Chairman, Excos Over Poor Reception At Obi’s Rally

He said, “I didn’t see the letter you are talking about because I have not been around for a while. Secondly, I am telling you in my capacity as the National Secretary that there is no contractual agreement between him and the party to my knowledge. I am not aware of it.”

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Court Declines Kachikwu’s Motion Against INEC, ADC Leaders

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday declined to hear an application filed by the African Democratic Congress’ 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, refused to entertain the motion.

Kachikwu, through his counsel, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), had sought an order compelling INEC to withdraw the publication of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola’s names as national chairman and secretary of the ADC, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

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INEC had recently recognised Mark, a former Senate President, and Aregbesola, a former Governor of Osun State, as the party’s national chairman and national secretary.

READ ALSO:Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Refund Of Rivers’ Monies Expended By Ibas

On July 7, Kachikwu and four others – Adikwu Elias, Etimbuk Umoh, Muhammed Khala, and Alaku Godwin William – filed an originating summons challenging the recognition of the duo.

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The suit lists INEC, ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola as the first to fifth defendants.

When the matter was called on Friday, Akinlaja told the court that a motion dated September 19 had been filed. He argued that despite the pendency of the suit, INEC went ahead to recognise Mark and Aregbesola as party leaders.

The plaintiffs asked the court to set aside the recognition and publication of their names, describing it as a breach of the doctrine of lis pendens. They also sought an injunction restraining Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola from further relating with INEC as ADC’s national officers.

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However, counsel for the ADC, Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), along with other defence lawyers, opposed the application.

READ ALSO:South African Court Finds Radical Politician Malema Guilty On Gun Charges

After hearing arguments, Justice Omotosho declined to entertain the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1331/2025.

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He said, “This court is not inclined to nullify anything at this stage, whether done before or now. This is a political case. I am not taking any interlocutory matter.”

The judge held that all processes filed by the parties, including preliminary objections, would be taken together with the substantive case.

Despite repeated pleas by Akinlaja for the motion to be heard, the court stood its ground.

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Justice Omotosho also granted an application for joinder filed by Nkemakolam Ukandu, the ADC deputy national secretary, and ordered that his name be added as a defendant.

He directed the plaintiffs to file the amended processes within 48 working hours and gave the defence seven days to respond. The case was adjourned till October 23 for hearing.

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Fubara Sacks Commissioners, Others

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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has sacked all commissioners and other public office holders serving in his administration.

The decision, according to a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday evening by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, takes immediate effect and followed the recent Supreme Court judgment.

The governor, during a valedictory session with his cabinet to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary at Government House, Port Harcourt, thanked the outgoing officials for their services and contributions to the state’s development over the past two years.

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The statement read in part, “Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has thanked members of his cabinet for their services and contributions to the development of the state in the last two years.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Gov Fubara Dissolves Rivers Pension Board

The governor highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s Independence, and called on all Nigerians to work together with Mr President to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous country and a brighter future for all.

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“Furthermore, the Governor has relieved all Commissioners and other public officers affected by the recent Supreme Court judgment of their appointments with immediate effect.”

Fubara also reiterated his commitment to serve the state “with renewed vigour,” while expressing gratitude to Rivers people for their support and wishing Nigerians a happy Independence anniversary.

READ ALSO:Why I Refused To Challenge Emergency Rule – Fubara

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Recall that the immediate past administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), upon assumption of office during the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu, suspended all commissioners, special advisers, and assistants appointed by Fubara. Ibas also dissolved boards and suspended heads of parastatals he met in office.

Since Ibas exited the state on September 18, the fate of Fubara’s appointees had remained uncertain. The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its first sitting after the lifting of the emergency rule, had called on the governor to submit a fresh list of commissioner-nominees for screening, alongside the 2025 budget for passage.

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2027: Crisis Rocks Kaduna ADC Over Power Tussle

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The Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is enmeshed in crisis as a fierce power struggle among leading figures threatens the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

ADC stalwart, Malam Salihu Lukman, raised the alarm on Wednesday, warning that the party may not make a meaningful impact at the polls if the internal rift persists.

In a statement, Lukman alleged that some party leaders have aligned with certain aspiring candidates for the 2027 elections to the exclusion of others.

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He called on former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Malam Jaafaru Sani, Alhaji Bashir Saidu, and other opposition leaders in the state to halt what he described as “the madness” of candidates bent on hijacking party structures.

READ ALSO:Ex-Tinubu Campaign Coordinator Resigns From APC

According to him, “anybody who is not ready to work as part of a united opposition in Kaduna State is consciously or unconsciously working for the APC.”

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Expressing concern over the infighting, Lukman said his efforts to mediate had largely failed.

“The fact that Senator Musa Bello is aggressively seeking to control structures of ADC in Zone 2 is a reflection of my failure, largely because I am associated with him.

“Senator Lawal Adamu (Mr. La) has avoided all my requests to meet him. I have met Malam Jaafaru Sani on this matter and had discussions with Malam Nasir. Sadly, we are not united, and the perception is that I am part of the problem.”

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READ ALSO:Why APC Candidates Contested 2023 LG Election Despite Intimidation — State Chairman

Lukman stressed that he has no political ambition but remains committed to building a united front. “As a citizen from Kaduna State, I am willing to make every necessary sacrifice to move our state forward. Without sounding immodest, I made every sacrifice to contribute to forming the coalition and negotiating the agreement with ADC.

“May I therefore appeal to Malam Nasir and all our leaders to please seek to unite us. It is only if we are united in ADC that we can unite our people in the state to defeat the APC in 2027. We must bear in mind that it is not just about defeating APC but about producing a government controlled by our party based on collective leadership.

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“We need to put an end to the era when we produce emperors as governors. Anything short of a government managed by collective leadership under ADC will be unacceptable.”

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