Politics

Two Injured As Tinubu Arrives Abuja Rally Late

Published

3 years ago

February 11, 2023

Supporters at the Eagles Square, Abuja.

No fewer than two persons were reported injured at Eagle Square, venue of the rally of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday.

The first victim was a middle aged woman who fell while leaving her seat in the stand to greet a friend.

An official of the FCT Emergency Management Agency, who craved anonymity, told our reporter that she was brought to their ambulance bleeding through her nose and was treated.

“She did not sustain any serious injury. We treated her and allowed her to go after we ascertained she was alright,” he said.

The second victim allegedly sustained a fracture while scrambling for a plate of food at the venue.

After administering first aid on him, the FCT emergency rescue team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said they were shocked to hear him and other grassroots supporters, saying they would seek alternative treatment for the fracture.

The coordinator of the NSCDC rescue officials expressed shock when she said, “I have not seen this kind of thing before. He and his other friends just put up a show and said they won’t allow him to go with the ambulance.”

Meanwhile, the look of despair and fatigue on the faces of anxious supporters at Eagle Square was a summary of the rally in Abuja where Tinubu did not turn up at the venue until 7.25pm, after over five hours into the campaign.

The APC candidate arrived the venue in the company of his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The PUNCH earlier reported that the APC candidate was slated to feature in two political rallies in both Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday.

In a phone chat with The PUNCH , the Chief Spokesman of the APC presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, told our correspondent that while the Kebbi rally was expected to begin from 11.00am to 1.00pm, the Abuja campaign would commence from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.

However, as of 7.00pm, clearly five hours past the commencement time, the poster boy of the APC had not arrived the venue.

Sources told our reporter that the former Lagos State governor left his campaign ground in Kebbi late and might not arrive on time for the FCT rally.

Prior to his arrival, the disc jockeys and comperes did their best to engage and entertain the supporters at the carnival-like rally in vain.

Despite screaming into the microphone at intervals that “the presidential candidate is on his way” a number of supporters were strolling out of the venue disappointed.

Policemen, immigration officers, private security guards were seen mounting guards at major entrances to the campaign ground.

A horde of support groups wearing colourful ‘Aso Ebi’, T-shirts and caps customised with Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ marched and danced around waving banners carrying his campaign picture and other APC candidates vying for other positions at the 2023 election.

Petty food and drinks vendors were also spotted making brisk business while the wait for the party presidential candidate continues.

Among some notable dignitaries at the venue were Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi; wife of the APC vice presidential candidate, Hajia Nana Shettima; Chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission Board, Lauretta Onochie; spouse of the Governor of Borno, Dr Falmata Zulum; Minister of State for the FCT, Ramatu Tijanni; Secretary of the APC and other members of the APC PCC

Also in attendance were Nollywood artistes such as Saidi Balogun, James Faleke, Abimbola Akintola and Zack Orji

Gbajabiamila himself arrived at the Eagle Square venue at exactly 5.50pm, about four hours late.

Politics

Dino Melaye Reacts To Malami’s Arraignment For Money Laundering

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Ex-Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has reacted to the arraignment of a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, before an Abuja Federal High Court.

Melaye wished Malami well as he began his trial for corruption.

Posting on X, the former lawmaker recalled how he was prosecuted by Malami over what he described as frivolous cases while he was the AGF.

He wrote: “Reminded me of how I was appearing in different courts when Malami as AGF was prosecuting me over frivolous cases including taking over one of the police cases against me. Wish him.well.”

Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and another individual are facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.

They were arraigned on allegations of unlawful acquisition and concealment of funds.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Politics

What PDP Said About Wike’s Media Parley

Published

3 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of being a constant agent of provocation in the political space, alleging that he creates trouble to mask selfish intentions.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in response to Wike’s media parley with selected journalists in Port Harcourt, also held on Monday.

According to the PDP, remarks made by the minister on several occasions are proof that he falls short of being a locus classicus of anti-democratic adventurism.

The party said Wike’s conduct was not new, stressing that he has consistently acted as an agent provocateur in the political arena, stirring controversy to advance personal interests.

The PDP further stated that since Wike assumed office as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, he has remained a recurrent source of trouble within the party’s leadership.

“From the Sheriff era, where he was a forerunner in the Sheriff-for-National Chairman movement and later turned to fight and remove Sheriff; later he championed the Uche Secondus-for-National Chairman movement (in fact, he granted a very combustible interview that polarized the party just before the convention) and then was the same person fighting to remove Secondus.

“The same Wike led the movement to produce Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman against the advice of many party leaders, and so soon thereafter, it was Wike again who led the Ayu-must-go struggle.

“By his end-of-year media chat, Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for, and in fact declared that he is the ‘number one supporter’ of the presumptive candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 Presidential election, while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, confirming the basis of his expulsion from the PDP, for anti-party activities,” the statement said.

Politics

JUST IN: INEC Excludes PDP From Ekiti Governorship Election

Published

3 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his deputy were conspicuously absent as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the provisional list of party candidates ahead of the election.

INEC on Monday posted the list of candidates from 12 political parties vying for the state’s top job at its office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list shows that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

Other candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as deputy; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye as running mate.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action Peoples Party has Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi on its ticket.

The PDP’s absence may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.