Politics

Taraba APC Crisis Deepens As Aggrieved Aspirant Heads To Court

Published

2 months ago

March 8, 2026

The lingering crisis surrounding the emergence of a new executive for the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Taraba State has taken a fresh turn, as an aggrieved chairmanship aspirant, Alhaji Haruna Hadi Lau, has dragged the party before the Federal High Court in Jalingo.

Lau alleged that he was unjustly excluded from the process that produced a consensus candidate during the party’s recently concluded state congress.

Speaking with journalists in Jalingo weekend, the aspirant insisted that he never stepped down for any candidate, contrary to claims circulating within the party, emphasizing that the process that led to the emergence of the party’s state chairman lacked transparency and fairness.

He further alleged that officials assigned to conduct the congress were not allowed to properly engage with contestants prior to the exercise.

“The congress was conducted without my knowledge because I did not see the election committee and the appeal committee. If they were on the ground, they ought to have met with all the contestants before the congress, but that did not happen,” Lau said.

Lau claimed that the committees responsible for conducting the exercise were allegedly hijacked and deliberately kept away from some contestants, including himself.

Displaying the receipt for his purchased chairmanship nomination form before journalists, the aspirant expressed disappointment that the party leadership failed to explain to him and his supporters why he was allegedly excluded from the caucus meeting that eventually produced the consensus candidate.

“I did not step down for anybody. I bought my form and was prepared to contest, but the process was not transparent,” he maintained.

Lau further disclosed that he has formally petitioned the process and approached the court seeking redress, stressing that the alleged compromise of the committees left him with no option but to challenge the outcome legally.

The development has also sparked growing discontent among some members of the party in the state. Some aggrieved party members who spoke with journalists expressed concern that the manner in which the congress was conducted could negatively affect the party’s fortunes in future elections.

They alleged that long standing members of the party were sidelined during the congress, paving the way for what they described as “new APC members” to occupy key leadership positions in the state.

According to them, several members of the newly constituted executive were formerly members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The concerned members warned that unless the national leadership of the party intervenes to address the grievances, the internal crisis could deepen and undermine party unity ahead of future elections.

They therefore called on the national leadership of the APC to urgently intervene and resolve the dispute.

In a swift reaction, the party’s state spokesperson, Aaron Artimas, dismissed the allegations, explaining that the positions in the state executive were zoned and allocated to various stakeholders to nominate candidates.

According to him, the stakeholders submitted a list of nominees which was later endorsed by the party’s caucus, made up of former elected leaders.

“The positions were zoned and given to stakeholders to produce candidates. The caucus, which comprises former elected leaders, agreed on the list presented by the stakeholders, and the nominees were given forms to complete,” Artimas said.

He added that the governor, as the leader of the party in the state, was permitted to present a candidate of his choice for the chairmanship position.

Artimas also questioned Lau’s claim of purchasing a nomination form, stating that the party had no record of him submitting any form through the appropriate channels.

“He did not give us any form or indicate that he bought a form. If you buy a form, you are expected to submit it through the relevant channel. Since he did not submit any form, how are we supposed to know that we had two candidates interested in the chairmanship position?” he said.

Politics

JUST IN: Why I left ADC For NDC With Kwankwaso – Peter Obi Opens Up

Published

19 hours ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

A former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has given reasons why he resigned from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to join the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, alongside a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

In a long post on X on Monday, Obi insisted it was not out of anger or ambition.

Rather, he said the move is a continuation of the quest to build a new Nigeria.

Obi wrote: “Yesterday, I formally joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside my dear brother, Engr. Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, with one clear purpose: to continue the struggle for a new Nigeria built on justice, competence, accountability, and compassion for the ordinary Nigerian.

“As I stated yesterday, this decision was not made out of anger, personal ambition, or convenience. It came after deep reflection on the present condition of our nation and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria from the dangerous path it is currently heading.

“Over the years, I have remained steadfast in my conviction that politics should never be about individuals, positions, or personal gain. It must be about the people, especially the millions of Nigerians who today can no longer afford necessities, whose businesses are collapsing, whose children are losing hope, and whose future is becoming increasingly uncertain.

“I left the ADC for the same reason I left the Labour Party: the severe, orchestrated litigation and internal crises deliberately designed to ensure that I, alongside many other notable individuals, do not effectively participate in the electoral process. I sincerely appreciate and remain deeply grateful to the Leadership of ADC for the opportunity to work together in pursuit of a better Nigeria. I am particularly grateful to ADC Chairman Senator David Mark for his exceptional Leadership. I also deeply appreciate my Leader and elder brother YE, Atiku Abubakar, as well as other respected leaders within the party.

“As we join the NDC, I sincerely appeal to the Nigerian Government against the encouragement of unresolved litigations and the infusion of crises within political parties. Democracy must never become a weapon against the people. A healthy democracy thrives on strong institutions, credible alternatives, and the freedom of citizens to make choices without intimidation, manipulation, or fear. Opposition parties must not be weakened or destroyed, because when democracy loses balance, the people ultimately suffer.

“Nigeria today is passing through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Poverty is rising. Hunger is widespread. Insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods. Businesses are shutting down daily. Our young people are becoming discouraged, and many citizens have lost faith in the system. At a time like this, leadership must be driven not by propaganda or division, but by competence, capacity, character, and compassion.

“Our decision to join the NDC is therefore not an abandonment of values, but a continuation of the same mission we have always stood for: building a Nigeria where leadership is about service, where public resources are managed responsibly, where institutions function independently, and where every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, religion, region, or social status, can live with dignity, security, and hope.

“I remain committed to working with all Nigerians of goodwill across political, ethnic, and religious lines. The task before us is bigger than any individual or political party. It is about the future of our children and the survival of our dear nation.

“I thank Nigerians, especially our youths and women, for remaining peaceful, resilient, and hopeful despite the enormous challenges confronting the country. I urge you not to lose faith in Nigeria. Nations do not change because people surrender to hopelessness; they change because people continue to believe, continue to sacrifice, and continue to stand for what is right.”

Politics

Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Formally Join NDC, Warn Members Against Litigation

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned party members to steer clear of any form of litigation that can plunge the party into chaos ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday after he was formally joined the party alongside the former governor of Kano State,

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso , the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP), urged members to embrace dialogue in the interest of the party

“Please let there be no litigation. Party members, please don’t go to court. We want to build a party, we are not lawyers,” he pleaded.

The two political figures were received into the opposition party on Sunday at its national secretariat in Abuja.

Earlier, Obi had announced his exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Kwankwaso had indicated he was engaged in “wide-ranging consultations” with the NDC.

The National Chairman of the party, Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, presented membership cards to both leaders at the event.

Speaking afterwards, Kwankwaso said their engagement with NDC stakeholders was driven by a shared vision and ideological alignment.

“We came to discuss with stakeholders of the party and found that our ideologies and beliefs are largely the same,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to register with the NDC ahead of the deadline for party membership registration, stressing the need for broader participation in the political process.

Politics

Edo South Senatorial Seat: Nothing Wrong Seeking Wike’s Support – Ogbeide-Ihama

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2026

Editor

Edo South All Progressives Congress’ senatorial aspirant, Omeregie Ogbeide-Ihama, on Saturday said that there is nothing wrong seeking the Federal Capital Territory Minister, nyesom Wike’s support for his political ambition.

The former House of Representatives member was reacting to insinuation in some quarters that he had gone to meet the FCT Minister for help in order to get the party’s ticket.

Ogbeide-Ihama, who spoke when he visited the leadership of the Edo South Senatorial District to declare his intention to contest the senatorial seat, said if such insinuations of meeting Wike for support was true, there is nothing bad so far meeting Wike can guarantee him the ticket.

Ogbeide-Ihama appealed to the senatorial leaders of the party to give the ticket to the most qualified aspirants, stressing that “it is not a game of try your luck or gamble.”

According to him, among the aspirants, he is the most qualified having gone to the House of Representatives twice.

He stressed that he feels most qualified and experienced to be saddled with the responsibility and not someone who wants to learn on the job.

Ogbeide-Ihama, while stating his ordeals when contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said his billboards were pulled down several times yet he won the election.

He added that now that he has joined the APC, the election should be easy sailing because he is now one of them.

He further appealed to the leadership of the party that they should know that times are changing and the world is gravitating towards the youth, adding that as a youth, he should be sent to represent the senatorial district because he still has the strength and energy to champion the cause of the seven local government areas that make up the Edo South Senatorial district.

Earlier, the Edo South Senatorial district leader and former deputy governor of the state, Pius Odubu, said that the election should be seen as that of a family affair.

He appealed to Ogbeide-Ihama to go about his campaign in a peaceful manner