Politics

LP Factions Clash Over Control Of Secretariat

Published

3 years ago

April 12, 2023

There appears to be no end in sight for the crisis bedeviling the Labour Party as supporters of the two factions laying claim to its leadership continue to engage each other in a war of words.

The dispute was taken a nudge higher when both factions continued their struggle for the control of the National Secretariat, situated in Utako, Abuja, on Wednesday.

It took the intervention of security operatives including private security guards engaged to secure the building to prevent a verbal altercation from developing into a free-for-all.

Supporters of the National Chairman, Comrade Julious Abure and members of the National Working Committee loyal to him, arrived the Secretariat for a meeting and possible screening of Governorship aspirants for Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi elections.

They barely settled down to business when the factional Acting National chairman, Lamidi Apapa arrived with his supporters in tow for the same exercise.

However, they were prevailed upon to step back following the intervention of security operatives.

Soon afterwards, a Spokesperson of Forum of LP state chairmen High Chief Rotimi Kehinde, who spoke to journalists after the encounter, explained that they came to conduct screening of governorship aspirants for Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States but were denied entry into the secretariat.

Rotimi who is Chairman of Kwara State chapter of the party, who is an Abure loyalist said the Apapa -led faction that screened some aspirants on Tuesday, lacked the powers to perform the task.

Stating “I do not know how they manipulated one or two aspirants to come here yesterday (Tuesday).

“We wanted to hold a meeting and we discovered it was under lock and key. We met some DSS men and some vigilante groups…and they said they were told to lock the secretariat.

“In the course of discussing that, the illegal committee led by Apapa came around and were trying to engage us, and their thugs were almost attacking us.

“We resisted every temptation to cause commotion and crisis because we know the case is in court; anything in court you don’t discuss it and we don’t want to commit contempt of court.”

The spokesperson who further explained that the matter is already in court, expressed confidence that the court order would soon be vacated.

He said, “when you accuse someone of an offense, especially criminal offense, the person must be heard according to section 36 of the Nigerian constitution.

“In this case, you accuse four principal officers of the party of a very serious offense but they have not been heard by the court. The next thing we are hearing is they should stop parading themselves as officers of LP.

“We are party chairmen, a very integral part of NEC who have the final authority to rectify any decision taken by the party.

“We have not met and we told them, ‘go and wait for the court to decide,’ they don’t want to do that, they are taking laws into their hands.”

Chairman of Abia State chapter Keecee Igara, who also spoke on the issue accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of stoking crisis in LP.

Igara alleged that the two parties are using “suspended members of the party to come and destabilise the party.

“We are talking about taking back Nigeria, if we must take back Nigeria, we must stand on the truth. We must stand on equity and justice.”

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.