Politics

Obaseki’s Claim On Inauguration Lie; Looking For Mere Excuse – APC Committee

Published

11 months ago

November 10, 2024

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo Governorship Inauguration Committee has described as lie Governor Godwin Obaseki’s claim that he (Obaseki) had been left out from the preparation for the swearing-in ceremonies of the incoming governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

Obaseki had earlier said that the APC inauguration committee has not invited him to partake in the swearing-in ceremony of the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, billed to hold Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

But reacting to Obaseki’s claim in a statement made available to INFO DAILY, Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, Chairman, Media/Publicity Sub-Committee, Edo State Governorship Inauguration Committee, asked “who is supposed to invite who?,” particularly when Obaseki “has the government apparatus at his disposal.”

Omo-Ojo, while stating that “Obaseki is merely looking for a reason to excuse himself from the traditional handing over ceremony which the Nigerian Constitution demands from him,” called on “Nigerians and in particular Edo State people to ignore Obaseki’s temper tantrums which he has always exhibited with his uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration whenever he fails to get his own way.”

Omo-Ojo noted: “This comment and others he consciously made, demonstrates Obaseki’s unprecedented malice and bitterness that traced his wasteful administration, which by God’s Grace will come to a deserved end in the next 24 hours.

The norm and practice is that, the inauguration of an incoming President or Governor, is planned by a Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

“But for obvious reasons, Obaseki has decided to abdicate his responsibility to Edo people by withdrawing the participation of his government.

“Truth be told, Obaseki who wanted to frustrate the inauguration process is only upset that the inauguration is going ahead without him discharging his constitutional responsibility.”

According to him, to make the swearing-in ceremony a success, the APC made some requests as logistics, but unfortunately “from the list of basic request we made, only one Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and four Hilux trucks were volunteered. All our requests have been met with brick walls.”

“Arising from the joint meeting we had with Obaseki’s team, a program of event which he approved was adopted. But strangely, he stoutly refused to implement same. His nominees thereafter, expressed frustration at Obaseki’s inability to give them the required support,” he added.

Omo-Ojo, while refuting Obaseki’s claim that “our party the APC has “borrowed between N2 billion and N5 billion to fund the upcoming inauguration of Governor-elect,” said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Inauguration Committee is driving the program with 20% less than what the Edo State Government led by Obaseki had budgeted, before the Accountant General was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for pending sundry corruption offences.”

Politics

Court Declines Kachikwu’s Motion Against INEC, ADC Leaders

Published

1 day ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Politics

Fubara Sacks Commissioners, Others

Published

2 days ago

October 2, 2025

Editor

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

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.

Politics

2027: Crisis Rocks Kaduna ADC Over Power Tussle

Published

3 days ago

October 1, 2025

Editor

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

“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.”