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LP Crisis: Drama As Abure, Apapa Clash Over Appeal Court Ruling

Published

1 month ago

August 24, 2023

Editor

The Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa-led factions of the Labour Party have disagreed over a ruling of an Appeal Court, in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Thursday.

While Apapa and his supporters claim that the court dismissed Abure as National Chairman and affirmed their candidate as the authentic chairman, the Abure-led Labour Party dismissed such claims as fake news.

According to reports emanating from the Apapa-led camp, the Appeal Court also dismissed the governorship and other candidates sponsored by the Abure-led National Working Committee while affirming Apapa’s leadership of the party.

In response, the LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh said in a statement in Abuja, that facts about what transpired in court state otherwise.

He said, “It is another devastating blow for the Lamidi Apapa led dissident group as the Court of Appeal Owerri, sitting in Abuja today, Thursday August 24, 2023 dismissed the appeal filed by one Mr Basil Maduka, who is contending for the Labour Party governorship candidacy for Imo state.

“The court further held that the appeal by the Labour Party was not necessary as the decision of the trial court was in its favour and that mere comments of the trial judge in the matter was NOT A JUDGEMENT and should be discountenanced.

“Labour Party had asked the Court of Appeal to quash the comments of the trial court in the Federal High Court Owerri. Labour party also told the court that Senator Athan Achonu won the party’s primaries.

“The attention seeking camp of Lamidi Apapa had earlier today as usual misinformed the public by twisting the clear judgement of the appellate court.

“It is therefore important to state that neither the Federal High Court Owerri nor the Court of Appeal Owerri, which sat in Abuja today made any orders in the matter other than for lack of locus standi against the plaintiff (Basil Maduka).

“Consequently, the status quo remains with Senator Athan Achonu as the validly nominated candidate of Labour Party for 2023 Imo governorship election

“With this Court of Appeal judgment and the endorsement of Senator Achonu by our national leader Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, the Labour Party National Chairman Julius Abure and other stakeholders and party members, the dust has settled on the gubernatorial ticket issue.

“Achonu has received the governorship flag of the party and has since flagged off his campaign with a well attended ceremony in Owerri on Tuesday.

“Recall that similarly, the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City recently affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party (LP).

“In the case of Mr Lucky Shaibu v. Julius Abure & 5 ORS (Appeal No: CA/B/93/2023), His Lordships Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua, Fatima Omoro Akinbami and Hon. Justice Sybil O. Nwaka-Gbagi in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal of the Appellant.

“In his lead judgment Justice Abadua, while nullifying the earlier suspension and all actions taken against Abure and the party arising from the purported suspension, affirmed the decision of the High Court of Edo State and held that one man cannot suspend the national chairman of Labour Party in line with Article 13 and 17 of the Constitution of the Party and the extant Electoral Act of 2022 particularly when the appellant has been described by the party as unknown.

“We are therefore calling on the Labour Party members, Obidient faithfuls and the general public to distance themselves from these falling and compromised members of the party who have since been shoved out of the party.”
VANGUARD

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OAU Reviews Tuition Fees

Published

2 hours ago

September 25, 2023

Editor

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has reviewed the school fees payable by the students of the university.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olanrewaju, obtained in Osogbo on Monday stated that the management reduced the fees after a meeting held with the students.

Olanrewaju had said that the Students Union leaders were adamant, insisting that the fees should be reduced by 50%.

He added that the university management made it clear that the new charges were the minimum the university require to run efficiently.

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Hope Rises As Edo, FG Inspect Benin-Abraka Road

Published

4 hours ago

September 25, 2023

Editor

The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh; the Edo State Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Engr. Ethan Uzamere and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, at the weekend inspected ongoing construction of the Benin-Abraka Road.

Impressed with the level of work done on the road, the delegation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the development of critical infrastructure to boost economic growth and development.

Momoh said, “The Benin-Abraka Road is one of the roads under the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). This road was awarded in 2009 and about 15km out of the 88km has been constructed by the Ministry of Niger Delta Development.

“Also, I understand that there was an MoU between the State government and NDDC to complete the remaining parts of the road. I have also been told that the State government has awarded 40.5km out of the 88km, which means about 28km is left uncompleted.

“From the work done so far, I am impressed and hope the rest of the road is completed up to Abraka in Delta State so that the people in this area will make use of the road but if it’s not completed up to Abraka the purpose will be defeated.”

He added, “I am happy that the MD of NDDC is here and will take the documents back home to study them and get back to the State government because the project needs to be jointly funded to enable it see the light of the day.”

The Minister, while decrying the poor state of roads across the country, noted, “Looking at the time lines under this present administration, we should be looking at the next two to three years because we have a lot of roads across the Country and Niger Delta is bad. It’s difficult to access Warri through this route. When coming from Akure today, it was difficult to access Akure through Owan and we had to pass through Ore. That shows that the people from Edo North are completely cut off from Benin City.”

He added, “If the only road we manage through Ondo State is no longer accessible, you know Benin-Auchi road has been cut-off and it shows we are in trouble. We will begin to look at this problem. We have a listening President who will look at this because he is ready to bring development to every part of Nigeria and we believe that by the time we present the report of our findings, these problems will be attended to.”

On his part, Uzamere, while noting the importance of the inspection, stated, “This kind of visit is necessary because, the issue being looked at. The road is for the development of the people. We are here with the Minister and the MD of NDDC to see what is going on so far.”

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What I’ll Do If I Were President – Pastor Adeyemi

Published

8 hours ago

September 25, 2023

Editor

The Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, has proposed a weekly practice of addressing constituents if he were in a leadership role as President of Nigeria or the governor of a state.

Adeyemi emphasised the importance of regular communication between leaders and the people and stressed that such addresses could be brief, but they would focus on promoting development and progress.

He said this while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, on Monday.

“If I was the governor or president of Nigeria, I would address the nation every Sunday evening or Monday. It may be five minutes but I will sell the idea of development.

“For too long, we’ve allowed those in power to dictate our path forward. If they are unwilling to instigate change, we must initiate it ourselves, starting at the individual level,” Adeyemi asserted.

While highlighting the power of communication, particularly through social media and modern communication tools, in spreading messages and initiating change, he underlined the need for responsible leadership at all levels and encouraged citizens to take an active role in shaping the future of Nigeria.

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