Politics

SDP ‘Walk For Freedom’, Canvasses Votes For Candidates

Published

3 years ago

January 31, 2023

Supporters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday embarked on a road walk in Lagos State to canvass votes for their presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo and other candidates of the party.

The supporters initially converged at the SDP Secretariat in Yaba at around 8 am from where they moved to Ebute Meta, Obalende, Iyana-Oworo, Maryland, Ikorodu Road then to Computer Village in Ikeja, soliciting votes for their candidates.

Addressing the residents in Obalende and other areas, the vice-presidential candidate of the party Mr.Yusuf Buhari, urged those who were yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to take advantage of the deadline extension by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do so.

Buhari said the party chose ‘Walk for Democracy’ as part of the Lagos presidential campaign rally to reach out to the grassroots and educate voters on why they need to vote for SDP as the best alternative that would transform Nigeria.

Also speaking with journalists, the Deputy Director General for SDP presidential campaign council, Mrs. Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi, said the party is one of the oldest political parties in the country, urging Nigerians to vote for Adebayo as the next president.

Okunnu-Lamidi said “This is the party that gives mandate to Late MKO Abiola. The democracy at that period was truncated. This is thirty years after and we are in 2023, as luck would have it, we now have another candidate who understands the issues, and how to govern.

” He is very intelligent and well-educated. He is very much in tune with the reality of the grassroots, and that’s what is important, most of the candidates we have now have been in the system and are corrupted by the system, we can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results.

“This is why it’s important that Prince Adewole Adebayo, who is the people’s choice, should be given a chance to govern the country”.

She said that the party will get rid of poverty in the country, saying that if poverty was eradicated, other issues like unemployment, insecurity and other challenges facing the country would be a thing of the past.

Okunnu-Lamidi said “Our campaign is all about farewell to poverty. This farewell to poverty is the same theme that MKO Abiola had, but guess what, thirty years later, poverty is getting worse, insecurity now has a grandchild called kidnapping, and all metrics you can use to measure poverty have increased. The number of people and the level of poverty itself also increased.

”We are here to eradicate poverty and insecurity. These things, once we take care of them, solve the whole issue, solve healthcare problems, and give dignity back to the citizens. Where there is dignity of lives, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will increase. We have the number, we just need to get productivity out of them. A hungry man can’t work and strategize and these are the things to fix in order to boost productivity and boost the economic status of everyone.

”I urge Nigerians not to sell their votes but vote their conscience and presidential candidate that would assist in reposing confidence in Nigerians”.

She added: “We expect Nigerians to make a choice devoid of money, as you know the money that is being spent in politics, most of the politicians are not spending their money, rather they spend your money to campaign to you, to continue doing the same things. I expect Nigerians to listen to issues and stop getting swayed by the theatre they are bringing into it.

”They are not talking about poverty, they are not talking about how to address the problem of out-of-school children, they are not talking about finding lasting solutions to the flooding in Nigeria, they are not talking about the availability of potable water, good healthcare. What they are talking about is to keep dancing, keep thinking that politics is a game or theatre or a clown show. No, it is real because it affects your life.

”I am glad that we are finally getting to the issues and we are finally leaving that nonsense behind and bringing someone like Prince Adewole Adebayo who is young. Our candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo is 51 years old and he is capable of turning things for the better in Nigeria “.

The walk was led by the 0residential candidate of SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, running mate, Mr. Yusuf Buhari, the Deputy Director-General of SDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mrs. Khadija Okunu- Lamidi and other Chieftains.

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

4 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.”