Politics Archives | Page 6 of 21

Edo Guber: Ighodalo Crises Foul Over Supreme Court Verdict

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

A candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Edo State 2024 Gubernatorial election, Barrister Asue Ighodalo has expressed reservations over the verdict of the Supreme Court as delivered on Thursday. A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment, held that the appellant failed to prove allegations of non-compliance, as well as claim that Monday Okpebholo did not win lawful votes cast during the September 21 governorship election in Edo State. .Ighadalo, in a swift reaction posted on his social pages, disagreed with the Court’s stance, insisting that it was a stolen mandate. He wrote; “My dear people of Edo State, “Today, the Supreme Court has ruled. “Though I accept the finality of its judgement, I do not and cannot pretend that what was delivered amounts to justice. “What happened in the September 2024 Governorshp Election was not a contest. It was a robbery. Coordinated. Deliberate. And now, tragically validated by the highest court in the land. I will not and cannot obstruct any judicial pronouncement, no matter how flawed, I must never fear to speak the truth to power. “Like you, I feel a deep sense of betrayal. Not just by those who rigged the process, but by the very institutions we trusted to protect our democracy. You came out in hope. You voted for competence, for progress, for prosperity. And now, we are told that your voice does not matter. That your freely given mandate can be trampled without consequence. “I feel your pain. I share your anger. And I will never forget your courage. “To every young person who saw in this moment the birth of a new Edo. “To every elder who longed to see our state rise again. To every woman and man who prayed, campaigned, and voted. We may not have won the office, but we won something greater. We found one another. We discovered our collective strength. “Though this painful chapter closes today, our beautiful story does not end. The struggle to reclaim the soul of our beloved state continues. “Yes, dark days may lie ahead. The weight of this illegitimacy will unfortunately echo beyond the halls of the Supreme Court. I fear Edo will feel it in the absence of leadership, in the poverty of policy, and in the daily suffering of her people. “But we are neither fearful nor a broken people. We may be wounded. But all wounds heal. So let this be our vow. We will not retreat. We will not be silenced. And we will never forget. “To those who now hold power undeserved, lead with humility. Govern with conscience. History sees what the courts may not. And one day, it will deliver its own verdict.”

Supreme Court Upholds Okpebholo’s Election as Edo Governor

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago01 mins

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as Governor of Edo State. The five-member panel, in a unanimous judgment, held that the appellant failed to prove allegations of non-compliance, as well as claim that Okpebholo did not win lawful votes cast during the September 21 governorship election in Edo State. Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal, who read the lead judgment, stated that the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal were in order in dismissing the case of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, for lacking in merit. Details later…

ADC Accuses Tinubu Administration of Politicising Buhari Tribute

ADC Appoints Taekwondo Grandmaster, 36 Others as States Chairmen

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago13 mins

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appointed a Nigerian Taekwondo grandmaster, George Ashiru and 36 others as States Chairmen ahead of the 2027 General Elections. Ashiru, according to press statement on Wednesday, will serve as the Party’s Chairman in Lagos State. The seven-time Nigerian Taekwondo champion in the light and welter weight categories and won a silver medal at the 4th All Africa Games in Kenya in 1987 was born to a royal household in the southwestern part of Nigeria. Others appointees are as follows; Hanatu Garaba (Plateau), Musa S. Shuaib (Nasarawa), Adekolu O. Moses (Ekiti), Patrick Obianyo (Anambra), Hon. Haruna Hassan (Bauchi), Otunba Pat. Olufemi (Ogun) Celestine Orbunda (Benue), Mohammed Bolori (Borno), Comrade John Ogar (Cross River), Austine Okotie (Delta), Jennifer Adibie N (Ebonyi), Kennedy Odion (Edo), Iyke Nwoka (Abia), Stella Chukwula (Enugu), Mallam Danladi Yau (Gombe), Duke Gabriel Dick (Akwa Ibom), Alh. Sanni Mohammed (Jigawa), Ahmed Tijani M (Kaduna), Ungogo Musa (Kano), Alh. Usman Musa (Katsina) Hajia Hawa Mohammed (Kebbi). Also on the list are; John Adeli Udale (Kogi), Adebayo Akadi (Kwara), Chief Mrs Ganiyu Sidirika (Ondo), Auta Mohammed (Niger), Yohanna Shehu K (Adamawa), Chief Emmanuel Amushe (Imo), Charles Idowu (Osun), Alh. Yinka Adona (Oyo), Yusuf Tijani (FCT) Ode Lawrence E (Rivers), Hon. Umar Farouk (Sokoto), Adamu Hassan (Taraba), Alh. Kalli Umar (Yobe) and Alh. Kabiru Garba (Zamfara). Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State chapter has notified all persons who obtained membership cards last week without the stamp and imprimatur of the state chairman to present them at the State Secretariat of the Party at No. 84 Udotung Ubo Street, Uyo, for stamping and signature of the State chairman, and entry of their names in the Party’s membership register.

Throwback: Reno Omokri Reignites Allegation of Drug Links Against President Tinubu

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

2027: Martha Agba South-South APC Stakeholders Endorse Tinubu for Second Term

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

Prominent political leader Martha Agba joined key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benin City for a high-level South-South Stakeholders Meeting, where the region formally reaffirmed its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of the 2027 general elections. The strategic gathering brought together a formidable coalition of APC faithful, including Governors of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Cross River States, zonal party executives, and former governors—most notably Senator Ben Ayade of Cross River State. The President of the Senate led a robust delegation of National Assembly members from the region, underscoring growing internal unity and the APC’s preparedness to retain national leadership. Addressing the gathering, Martha Agba restated her unwavering support for President Tinubu and Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, pledging to continue mobilizing grassroots support for their re-election efforts. She also used the platform to encourage young women across the South-South to take active roles in politics, urging them to prepare for elective positions in 2027. “Inclusive participation is essential for a truly representative democracy,” she said. The meeting concluded with the Senate President delivering the closing remarks and reading a communiqué in which the APC South-South leaders unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their candidate for a second term. With this endorsement, the APC aims to consolidate its base across the South-South, rallying support amid a tightening race as opposition forces also mobilize nationwide.

2027: ADC Coalition Leaders Begin Grassroots Mobilisation Nationwide

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

Published: July 6, 2025 | By Kamal Yalwa As Nigeria’s 2027 general elections draw closer, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition has officially begun grassroots mobilisation efforts across the country. The coalition’s interim national chairman, Senator David Mark, and national secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have returned to their respective states—Benue and Osun—to galvanise support from local political bases. According to sources within the party, each coalition leader has been assigned a geo-political zone for mobilisation. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will lead mobilisation efforts in the North East, Mark in the North Central, and former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai in the North West. In the southern regions, Peter Obi will coordinate activities in the South East, Rotimi Amaechi in the South-South, and Aregbesola in the South West. While Mark’s presence in Benue coincided with a family event, insiders say he is expected to meet local political stakeholders. Aregbesola, meanwhile, was welcomed by loyalists as he transited through Lagos to Osun State. Atiku reportedly met with ADC leaders from Gombe State in Abuja last Friday, indicating an intensifying momentum. Confirming the developments, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said coalition leaders had been directed to consult widely within their zones and would reconvene in Abuja in two weeks to assess progress. Other key politicians such as Maina Waziri in Yobe and Emeka Ihedioha in Imo have also begun rallying support in their respective states. The official unveiling of the ADC-led coalition in Abuja last Wednesday sent ripples across Nigeria’s political landscape, especially as the PDP and Labour Party remain entangled in internal leadership crises. Prominent political figures—including Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Amaechi, Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, and Senator David Mark—attended the coalition’s unveiling, signalling a serious opposition challenge to the ruling APC. While APC officials have downplayed the coalition, Senator Mark declared that the ADC alliance is committed to rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges. Political watchers are divided. While some believe the coalition’s political heavyweights still wield considerable influence, others warn the ruling party not to underestimate the opposition’s grassroots potential. Former APC Abuja chairman Sunny Moniedafe noted that widespread hardship could make the 2027 elections unpredictable, while Senator Abubakar Girei dismissed the coalition as a group of “disgruntled politicians” with no clear ideology. Still, groups like the Arewa Youths for the Sustenance of Democracy caution the APC against complacency, describing the coalition as politically savvy with nationwide reach. Responding to critics, Atiku’s aide Hon. Oladimeji Fabiyi maintained that the coalition has strong grassroots appeal and national credibility, backed by the political clout of its members. As mobilisation accelerates, one thing is clear—Nigeria’s political scene is heating up fast, and the ADC coalition is shaping up to be a formidable force in the 2027 race.

Aregbesola’s Defection to ADC Is Justified – Allies Slam Yoruba Ronu, Critics Cite APC Betrayal

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago04 mins

Supporters of former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have fired back at critics questioning his emergence as National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing such criticism as misguided and fraudulent. In a detailed rebuttal widely circulated on Friday, Aregbesola’s allies dismissed the “Yoruba Ronu” narrative that accuses him of disloyalty to President Bola Tinubu, asserting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had repeatedly betrayed and humiliated the former Minister of Interior long before his defection. “Aregbesola didn’t stab anyone. He was the one betrayed—stabbed politically by those he trusted, worked for, and handed over power to,” the statement said. “Trying to paint him as disloyal is like blaming Julius Caesar for being stabbed.” The group also emphasized that political opposition and contest are legitimate democratic processes, not acts of sabotage. “In a democracy, there is no such thing as working for someone’s downfall. There is political competition, and the people decide who wins,” they added, noting that Tinubu himself defeated an incumbent—Goodluck Jonathan—through such means in 2015. They also outlined a long list of perceived political persecution Aregbesola endured within the APC: “For six years, Aregbesola was dragged through humiliation and political exile. Now he’s in a new party, people suddenly remember his old ties to Tinubu. Where were they when he was being silenced and sidelined?” the statement queried. The former governor’s camp insisted the political alliance between Tinubu and Aregbesola is over, and any expectations of loyalty are misplaced. “It’s like a divorce—once it’s over, your ex’s choices are no longer your business. Aregbesola has moved on. He’s no longer in APC. Let him be.” They further described attempts to guilt-trip Aregbesola over his political choices as illogical, hypocritical, and delusional. “The man has chosen a new path where he is valued. Respect it. If APC didn’t want him, they should stop acting entitled to his political destiny now that he’s left.” The strong-worded response aims to shut down internal criticism and make it clear that Aregbesola is repositioning himself politically, with or without the blessing of his former allies.

Politics

Nigerian Lawmaker Slammed for Mocking 2006 ADC Plane Crash to Attack Opposition Coalition

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

A Nigerian federal lawmaker, Clement Jimbo, has come under intense criticism for a Facebook post in which he likened the recently formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the 2006 ADC plane crash that claimed 96 lives Jimbo, who represents Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State in the House of Representatives, wrote on Thursday: “How many of you remembered the ADC flight 53 that crashed in 2006? It’s back again to crash again. Please don’t board!” The post, referencing the ADC Airline Flight 053—a tragic crash that occurred shortly after takeoff from Abuja Airport and killed nearly all on board—was intended to criticize the ADC’s role in the opposition’s plans to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027. However, the analogy has been widely condemned as insensitive and disrespectful to the memory of the victims and their grieving families. “I remember my uncle was on that plane. Till date, we cannot get over the loss. If this is a joke, please stop it,” said Facebook user Eno Ekanem.“Are you mocking the dead?” asked Ofonime Honesty, another user.“It’s insensitive to use events where people lost their lives to draw this narrative,” said Abasiama Udousoro. The post, which has drawn over 230 comments, has sparked particular outrage among residents of Akwa Ibom State, where some of the crash victims hailed from. Despite repeated calls and a text message from reporters seeking clarification, Mr. Jimbo has not responded to the backlash or offered an apology at the time of this report. The 2006 ADC Flight 053 disaster remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest aviation tragedies and a source of deep national sorrow. Using it as political metaphor, critics argue, not only dishonours the victims but also reflects poor judgment by a public official.