Politics

Wike Preparing Murder, Other Charges Against PDP Rivers Gov Aspirant, Aide Alleges

Published

4 years ago

May 2, 2022

Ibrahim Lawal, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to embattled governorship aspirant of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Farah Dagogo, has alleged that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, was preparing murder charges against his principal.

He said this in a statement issued in Port-Harcourt on Sunday and made available to newsmen.

This is coming two days after Dagogo, who currently represents the Degema-Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was arraigned before a Magistrate Court and consequently remanded in police custody.

Lawal said the lawmaker was still in police detention through spurious and politically motivated charges instigated by Wike.

He also alleged that the Camp Commandant to the Governor, Efeturi Irikefe, attempted to shoot Dagogo in the vehicle after his arrest at the South-South PDP secretariat in Port-Harcourt, where he submitted himself for the screening of governorship aspirants in the zone, but for the intervention of other security operatives.

The statement read, “The allegation of April 27, 2022, of disruption of PDP National and State House of Assembly screening exercise, upon which Hon. Farah Dagogo was declared wanted by Governor Nyesom Wike and subsequently unlawfully whisked away on the instruction of the Governor the following day, April 28, 2022, when Hon. Farah Dagogo made himself available at the PDP governorship screening exercise venue was false.

“There was no disruption of the screening exercise for the National and House of Assembly aspirants.

“The exercise went on smoothly from around 3 pm, April 27, 2022, to the following day, around 3 am April 28, 2022. Aspirants vying for both National and State Assembly have openly said there was no disruption. They all did their screening successfully.

“The matter that is of greater concern to us now is the safety of Hon. Farah Dagogo.

“We have it on good authority that the Camp Commandant to the Governor, Efeturi Irikefe, who led the supposed arrest, attempted to shoot Hon. Farah Dagogo inside the vehicle transporting him to their destination on that fateful day, April 28, 2022.

“It took restraint from others, who struggled with the Camp Commandant telling him ‘that was not the mission now’ before he calmed down. Whatever that statement means, we still do not know.

“Our earlier position stands, Hon. Farah Dagogo’s life is still in danger. Governor Nyesom Wike and his goons should be responsible for anything that happens to Dagogo.

“We are also aware that Governor Nyesom Wike is unrelenting in his persecution goals.

“He is trying to set up Honorable further with other trump-up charges of murder, bunkering, and other nefarious activities, Hon. Farah having seen his first plan fail woefully.

“Hon. Farah Dagogo is a refined gentleman, a Federal Lawmaker of high repute with untainted integrity. This is for the attention of all lovers of democracy,” he stated.

Lawal further alleged that the Governor’s action was to take out Dagogo from the governorship race and cause him “emotionally and psychologically distress with all these manifestly unjustifiable clampdowns”.

“Hon. Farah Dagogo remains unshakable in his governorship pursuit and more than resolved to continue speaking against injustice and tyranny,” the statement added

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

5 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

5 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

6 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.