Politics

Obi Group Knocks APC, PDP Over Okupe’s Conviction

Published

3 years ago

December 19, 2022

The Peter Obi Support Network has knocked the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party over the conviction of Dr Doyin Okupe, who is the Campaign Director of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for breaching the money laundering act.

The group said the conviction of Okupe has provided some corrupt politicians, currently angling for Nigeria’s top job, a new opportunity to try dismantling Peter Obi’s ironclad reputation as one of Nigeria’s most credible, honest and incorruptible politicians.

According to them, Okupe is not Obi and it is not right that Obi should be dragged into someone else’s legal misfortune.

In a statement on Monday by the Director of Media, POSN, Mr Onwuasoanya Jones, said members of the PDP and its Siamese twins in APC had scoured every file and fact, tore shelves open and searched at cemeteries and dug every trail in every financial institution they can access just to find any little dirt they can stick on Peter Obi’s integrity.

The group said but at every turn, the APC and PDP are left disappointed.

The statement read, “Even though no politician is without sins, Peter Obi has lived above reproach and operated his businesses and plied his politics with the fear of God and respect for the people.

“As expected, today’s court judgment has provided the APC and PDP media personnel with valuable materials to try to bring Peter Obi to the level of their variously discredited and severally indicted masters and presidential candidates.

“No matter how any PDP or APC operative pretends about it, they all agree that Peter Obi is in a class of his own. So, anything that would make it seem that “he is not very different from all of them” would be maximally exploited by them.

“But, while they may smile and celebrate for having got something to tag on with, we must logically assess the judgment of the High Court convicting Doyin Okupe and be able to understand if he is truly the criminal these servants of thieves would want us to believe he is.

“Almost everyone in the top echelon of the PDP and APC presidential campaign organisations is being investigated and standing trial for one serious financial crime that when you compare them with the offence for which Okupe was convicted you would know that it is just like comparing murderers on trial with someone who is convicted of a slight traffic offence.

“Doyin’s offence was not that he diverted funds meant for any project or that he stole money given to him to carry out any assignment for the Federal Government. Doyin was convicted of the same crime, almost every businessman in Nigeria commits every day.

“Whenever carry out a transaction that is above 150,000 naira in cash, you are apparently guilty of money laundering, because, by CBN’s cashless policy which was introduced by Sanusi Lamido as CBN governor, you shouldn’t have to carry any money that is more than 150,000 Naira. But, we all do that, all the time.

“That’s the exact reason Doyin was convicted. His offence was for collecting more than the specified amount of money in cash, instead of having it pass through the banks.

“This is why I do not agree with those who paint an image of Doyin as a common thief or one of the corrupt politicians. As long as this particular conviction is concerned, Doyin is merely an offender and not a criminal. He is just like someone who breached traffic lights and is fined for that.

“So, unlike those supporting Tinubu and those singing the praises of Atiku, Doyin is not a thief, they and their principals, are those whom we should be afraid to allow anywhere close to our commonwealth.

“Also, Doyin Okupe is not Peter Obi. Yes, he is one of Peter Obi’s closest political allies, as long as this project for a New Nigeria in 2023, is concerned, but this does not make it right that Obi should be dragged into the legal misfortune that recently befell Doyin.

“However, I will conclude by saying that if it is deemed wise by the top echelon of Labour Party’s PCC for Doyin to step aside, then, so be it.”

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

3 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.”