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Politics

Refund N300m Confab Hosting Rights, Rivers Tells NBA

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The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has replied to the Nigerian Bar Association regarding the reason for relocating its Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu State.

Ibas faulted the reason cited by the NBA, describing it as misleading and uncharitable.

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The Sole Administrator stated this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, and sent to newsmen.

He said while the NBA reserves the right to choose a venue for its conference, the association had yet to address the issue of the refund of the hosting rights paid by the state government for the conference.

READ ALSO: OAU Student Electrocuted While Retrieving Ball

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The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.

“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”

It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.

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“We find the reasons cited for this decision—particularly the insinuation that the Sole Administrator’s actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law—to be misleading, uncharitable, and unbecoming of an association that prides itself on upholding justice and fairness.

READ ALSO: Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibas Dismantles Fubara’s Political Structures With Key Appointments

“The NBA’s statement overlooks the constitutional basis for the current administration in Rivers State.

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“The declaration of a state of emergency was a necessary response to a breakdown of public order and democratic processes.”

The Sole Administrator further said that Bola Tinubu, in exercising his constitutional authority, acted in the best interest of the state to restore stability.

The statement continued, “The Sole Administrator’s mandate is clear: to oversee a transitional period that ensures the return of full democratic governance in line with the Constitution.

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“To suggest that this intervention ‘flouts the rule of law’ is not only incorrect but ignores the Supreme Court’s rulings that have validated key decisions made during this period.

READ ALSO: 18-year-old Nigerian Offered Admission Into Six Top US Ivy League Colleges

“In the event the NBA is not aware, may we refer the association to the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/CV/1176/2024 (Rivers State House of Assembly & Others vs. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) & Nine Others), where the apex court unequivocally ruled that any local government election conducted in violation of the Electoral Act is “unconstitutional, null, and void.”

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It said contrary to the NBA’s assertions, the Sole Administrator has consistently reaffirmed his commitment to the NBA, as a body of legal minds, should know better than to reduce a complex constitutional matter to political sensationalism.

While appealing for constructive engagement, the statement said, “Rivers State is passing through a challenging but necessary phase in its democratic journey.

“Rather than contributing to unnecessary tension, we expect the NBA—as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s democracy—to engage constructively, offering solutions instead of amplifying divisive narratives.

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“The Sole Administrator remains focused on his mandate to stabilize the state and facilitate a smooth return to full constitutional governance. We urge the NBA and other well-meaning Nigerians to support this process in the interest of peace and progress.”

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Politics

Obidient Movement Most Toxic Political Group — Buhari’s Ex-aide

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Muhammadu Buhari’s ex-aide, Bashir Ahmad on Peter Obi’s support base, Obidient movement
Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has described the Obidient movement—a youth-led support base of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections—as the most toxic political group.

Ahmad said this in a comment posted on his personal X account (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, saying the group has no other stock in trade than to insult, drag, and ridicule every politician without restraint.

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According to Ahmad, people in the Obidients movement resort to personal attacks anytime Peter Obi’s name comes up in a serious conversation that requires intelligent engagement.

READ ALSO:Obi Berates Tinubu For ‘Ignoring’ Benue, Says No Value For Human Lives

I honestly can’t wrap my head around the attitude and despicable behaviour of those so-called Obidients. Arguably, they are the most toxic political groups we have ever had in this part of the world. From morning till night, they insult, drag and ridicule every politician and leader without restraint because to them no one is ever good enough.

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“But the moment you bring up their ‘demigod’ Peter Obi’s name, even in the context of a serious, national conversation, they suddenly lose the ability to engage intelligently and instantly abandon logic and reason only to resort to personal attacks. They don’t offer facts, explanations or thoughtful dialogue, it is always a barrage of insults from them,” he said.

Continuing, Buhari’s former aide on digital media said the Obidient is not what a healthy political movement looks like, adding that there’s no way Peter Obi can win over people with the attitude of the movement.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: Obidient Movement Infiltrated By Saboteurs, Abure Laments

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Honestly, Obidient isn’t a healthy movement, by far, it is not what a healthy political movement looks like. With their attitude and this kind of behavior, there is no way Peter can win over people from the other side or even the undecided voters. The truth is, no political movement can succeed particularly in a diverse country like Nigeria through aggression, emotional blackmail and echo chambers,” he further said.

According to Ahmad, elections are won by persuading people and not by intimidation or abuse.

He added, “To win elections, you must be able to persuade, not intimidate and to engage, not abuse.

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“For us, the ruling party, it is a good thing that they will continue living in denial, even Peter himself has refused to see the damage this toxic movement has been doing to his cause.”
(TRIBUNE)

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Worst Of PDP Defections Yet To Come – Saraki Warns

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Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Reconciliation Committee, and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has warned that more defections from the party may still occur, even as efforts continue to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Saraki made this known during an interview on Arise TV on Friday.

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He said: “PDP would likely see one or two more defections, and we should prepare ourselves for that; there is a possibility.

“We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP. We would probably see maybe one or two governors who will defect, and we might see some senators who will defect.

READ ALSO:Damagum Is PDP’s Problem – Ex-Benue Gov Suswam

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He, however, described the timing of the crisis as an advantage, arguing that it gives the PDP time to recover and rebuild before the election cycle begins in full swing.

For some of us, this happening early in PDP is an advantage. We are lucky that this is not happening, let’s say, late 2026; we would not even have had time to recover and regroup,” he said.

We have just under two years to the election, and we are lucky to have that. I think, with a lot of commitment and understanding, it is not a lost cause.

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“A party with over 26 years of history that has been around, the largest party, we will definitely have low times like this.”

READ ALSO:Saraki Heads Seven-member PDP Reconciliation Committee

Despite the turbulence at the national level, Saraki said the PDP remains strong at the grassroots and across state structures.

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He said: “When you go round the country, the state chapters, the local government chapters, the party is still very strong in the grassroots. In some areas in the country, they are not even aware of what is happening at our level, in Abuja.

“The reactions we are seeing at the grassroots give us a lot of encouragement. But what we need to do is to get to the bottom and start to build.”

READ ALSO:Aid Reveals What Peter Obi Discussed With Atiku, Saraki, Lamido During Visits

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He added that the party is already laying the groundwork for the 2027 elections but warned that the stakes go beyond just party survival.

This is not just about resolving today’s issues. It’s about building for the future. The next convention must not be business as usual. We must bring in new, younger faces who represent the future of this party.

“If PDP fails, Nigeria edges closer to a one-party state. And that would be a disaster for democracy.”

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CSO, PDP Bicker Over Fagbemi’s Stand On Osun LG Crisis

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An Osun-based civil society group, The Osun Masterminds, has urged the State Government to respect the opinion of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, regarding the leadership crisis rocking local government areas in the state.

The group said Fagbemi, being the number one law officer of the federation, his opinions on issues relating to law are not just official, but are also binding.

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This was disclosed by the Executive Director of the group, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, while speaking with journalists at the monthly media briefing of the organisation held in Osogbo on Friday.

READ ALSO:Osun APC, PDP In War Of Words After Adeleke, Tinubu’s Meeting

Oyedokun-Alli, who said accused the state government of disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, adding that the group has studied several legal positions on the Osun local government disputes and came to the conclusion that the government was swimming against the tide of clear court pronouncements.

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We are to point out, however, that the utter disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, by the Osun State Government is a matter of grave concern. Where we understand that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, is the number one Law Officer of the Federation, we must realise that his opinions are not just official, they are also binding.

“We have studied several legal positions on this matter, especially from highly revered silks who have dissected the pronouncements of the Court, and one thing remains obvious – the Osun State Government is swimming against the tide of clear Court pronouncements.

READ ALSO:IG Squads Occupy Secretariats As Osun LG Poll Crisis Rages

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“The question that begs answers, however, is why the Osun State Government is so unwilling to work with Local Government Chairmen elected under a different political platform. Where we respect the principles of separation of powers, should we not be willing to work together even if the political parties are not the same? Has the APC-led Federal Government refused to work with the Adeleke Government because it is of the PDP?”, Oyedokun-Alli said.

Calling on the stakeholders to prevail on the Osun State Government to end the LG crisis, Oyedokun-Alli, however, urged the residents, regardless of party affiliation, to cohabitate in peace.

Responding to issues raised by the group, the spokesperson for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Oladele Bamiji, said TOM was a partisan organisation that has consistently supported the All Progressives Congress in the state.

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READ ALSO:Osun LG Crisis: Council Boss, PDP Trade Accusations

Bamiji further said, “Their so-called ‘civil society’ posturing has long collapsed under the weight of its hypocrisy and shameless servitude to the dictates of APC in Osun and beyond, and it is sad they are dead to their dented image out there.

“TOM has again confirmed to the people of Osun that it is nothing but a busy body propaganda irritant of the APC, issuing monthly rankings, not out of civic concern but to earn its monthly stipend from its political sponsors.

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“We find it laughable and frankly disturbing that any group claiming to possess civic literacy would hold binding the personal opinion of a political appointee like the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, over and above the ruling of a competent court of law.”
(PUNCH)

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