Politics

LG Polls: Obaseki Leads Campaign To Ovia South West, Others, Says PDP Presents Youthful Candidates

Published

2 years ago

August 21, 2023

Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, led party members and leaders, as well as other government functionaries to Ovia South West, Ovia North East, and Egor Local Government Areas (LGA) of the State to canvass votes for the party’s candidates in the September 2, 2023 local council elections.

On the campaign trail were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha; the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Anthony Aziegbemi, and former Senator representing Edo South, Sen. Ehigie Uzamere, among others.

Speaking to party faithful in Iguobazuwa, Ovia South West LGA, Obaseki said his administration has the youths at heart and has worked with them, positioning them to take leadership positions in the State.

He noted that the chairmanship candidate of the party in Ovia South West is an intelligent youth who will work with him to bring more development and growth to the Council area.

Obaseki said he has rebuilt the College of Agriculture in the area, reassuring that with the election of Engr. Edosa Enowoghomwenma as Chairman, more developmental projects will be brought to the people of the Council.

In Ovia North East, the governor said, “I trust this Chairmanship candidate; he and his Vice-Chairman, Efosa Uyigue are a good pair that will bring growth and development to you people. I trust them to work for the people. Please vote for PDP to sustain the developmental strides achieved by my administration. If the chairman fails to work, I know how to hold him responsible.”

Speaking to the party faithful in Egor LGA, Obaseki commended the people for the large turnout, comparing the gathering to that of the Senatorial rally in the area.

He stated, “I thank the people and leaders of the party in Egor Local Government Area for a great mobilization, resulting to this large turnout. I am very sure that this will translate to votes for the PDP on September 2, 2023, ensuring the party wins the whole seats in the election.”

The Chairmanship candidate for Ovia South West, Engr. Edosa Enowoghomwenma promised to run a collaborative government that will centre on youth and women empowerment.

His Counterpart in Ovia North East, Hon. Collins Osamede Ogbewe thanked the governor for his trust and support for youths in the State, adding, “The governor has given youths the opportunity to serve. I am ready, committed, and reliable and will not fail the people. I will collaborate with the governor to improve security, education and agriculture in the area.”

The Chairmanship candidate in Egor, Eghe Ogbemudia, said she has the skills, experience, and expertise to deliver on her expected duties as chairman of the Council, appealing to the people to vote for the PDP to continue the developmental strides in the State in collaboration with Governor Obaseki.

Also, the member representing Ovia South West Constituency, Hon. Destiny Enabulele, appealed to the people to come out en masse to vote Edosa Enowoghomwenma, assuring that he can be trusted and will deliver on his campaign promises to the people.

Member representing Egor Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) and Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Natasha Osawaru said, “Egor is the heart of PDP, and winning in this election is sure for PDP in this local government election.”

On his part, Aziegbemi who presented the party flags to the three candidates, urged the candidates to work assiduously to election work to bring development to their various Council areas just as the governor is developing the State, ensuring the dividends of democracy

Politics

FLASHBACK: How Tinubu Blamed Jonathan For Killing Of Christians In 2014

Published

8 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

As allegations of an ongoing ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria intensify, a 2014 statement from President Bola Tinubu condemning former President Goodluck Jonathan for failing to protect Christian worshippers has resurfaced, drawing sharp parallels to criticisms now leveled at Tinubu’s administration.

In January 2014, Tinubu, then an opposition leader, lambasted Jonathan over attacks by Boko Haram in Borno and Adamawa states that targeted Christian communities.

“The slaughtering of Christian worshippers is strongly condemnable. It calls into question the competence of Jonathan to protect Nigerians,” Tinubu stated at the time.

By April 2014, amid escalating violence including the Nyanya bombing in Abuja, Tinubu doubled down, emphasising the president’s non-negotiable duty to ensure citizen safety.

“My heart bleeds for our people and the country over the deaths in Nyanya. A government unable to protect its citizens deserves to be queried,” he said.

Eleven years on, Tinubu’s words are being repurposed by critics amid reports of widespread violence against Christians across northern and central Nigeria.

According to a recent report from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), at least 7,087 Christians were killed in the first 220 days of 2025 alone—an average of 32 deaths per day.

Advocacy groups like Open Doors and International Christian Concern describe the attacks by Islamist militants, including Boko Haram and Fulani extremists, as targeted persecution amounting to genocide, with over 7,000 Christian deaths recorded in 2025 and thousands more displaced or kidnapped.

The Nigerian government has denied claims of religious targeting, insisting the violence stems from broader security challenges affecting all communities.

The crisis gained fresh international spotlight on October 31, 2025, when U.S. President Donald Trump declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over the “existential threat” to Christianity there. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated: “Thousands of Christians are being killed by radical Islamists in Nigeria… The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”

He urged Congress to investigate and affirmed US readiness to protect global Christian populations, echoing calls from allies like Senator Ted Cruz, who has described the violence as a “religious genocide.”

Opposition figures and faith-based organisations in Nigeria have invoked Tinubu’s 2014 rhetoric to demand urgent action, arguing that the same standards of accountability he once applied to Jonathan now apply to his own leadership.

Security experts caution that while the violence has complex ethnic and resource dimensions, the failure to curb targeted attacks on Christians risks further eroding trust in federal institutions.

The Tinubu administration has not yet responded to the renewed scrutiny or Trump’s designation.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Politics

Court Stops 2025 PDP National Convention

Published

18 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday halted the planned 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until the party complied with the statutory requirements of the party, the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the party namely, Hon Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) seeking to stop the convention on the ground of violation to the Electoral law.

Delivering the judgment, the Judge also restrained INEC from accepting report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law as well as its guidelines and regulations.

The Judge held that INEC is not entitled to give effect to the convention a party not done in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act and the guidelines/regulations of political parties.

The plaintiffs instituted the suit seeking to stop the planned November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention of the PDP scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State where new National Officers are expected to be elected on the ground of breach of the party’s Constitution.

The nine defendants are, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); PDP; Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organizing Secretary of the party; National Working Committee (NWC); and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party; Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; Ali Odefa; and Emmanuel Ogidi.

Politics

2027: Why Jonathan Can’t Run For President – Appeal Court Ex-President

Published

18 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has clarified why former President Goodluck Jonathan cannot contest the 2027 presidential election.

According to Salami, the Nigerian Constitution explicitly bars any individual from holding the office of President for more than eight years, making Jonathan ineligible to run again.

He explained that Jonathan had already completed the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving his own full term, which constitutionally disqualifies him from seeking another.

In an opinion piece, Salami argued that any attempt by Jonathan to contest and win in 2027 would amount to a violation of the law, stressing that such a victory would be nullified by the courts.

“It is painstakingly and dispassionately demonstrated that the ambition of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to contest for the office of the president in the 2027 general election is effectively and undoubtedly shot down,” Salami stated.