Politics Archives - Page 46 of 87

BREAKING: Popular broadcaster arrested by FIB

Oyo-state-based broadcaster and social activist, Oriyomi Hamzat, has been arrested by the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and is being transferred to Abuja, POLITICS NIGERIA reports.

The FIB is the apex of intelligence gathering in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). It is the only arm of the Force that provides Intelligence on Crime and National Security.

It is not yet clear why Hamzat, the owner of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Ibadan, was arrested.

The State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in Ibadan invited Hamzat, before handing him over to the FIB.

This newspaper understands that Hamzat has been championing the call for justice for Timothy Adegoke, the late Masters student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Since Adegoke mysteriously died in Room 305 at Hilton Hotel and Resorts Ile-Ife in November 2021, Hamzat has been on the hunt to track down his alleged killer(s).

When this reporter called the police to get comments from them about why Hamzat was arrested, the personnel asked him to “come down to the FIB office”.

BREAKING! Peter Obi Dumps PDP, Withdraws From Presidential Race

Former governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi has dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Obi announced his resignation in a letter dated 20, addressed to the National Chairman of the party.

In the letter sighted by Vanguard, Obi gave reasons for his withdrawal from the presidential race.

PR Guru, Tokunbo Modupe Clinch PDP Senatorial Primary

Popular Public Relations consultant, Adetokunbo Modupe on Monday, emerged victorius at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary election to pick the flag bearer that will contest 2023 election for Ondo North Senatorial District.

Toks as he is fondly called garnered 124 votes to beat his rival, Prince Foluso Mayowa Adefemi, who polled 93 votes.

The PR guru who contested but lost in the primaries for the same position four years ago, was the Ondo State campaign director of the Goodluck Jonathan presidential campaign for the 2015 election.

He sits atop TPT International, one of the leading PR agencies in Nigeria.

APC Postpones Presidential Screening Indefinitely

The ruling All Progressives Congress APC has postponed indefinitely, the screening of its presidential aspirants earlier slated for Monday, May 23.

Although the no reason was given for the alteration of its timetable, the ruling party has been consistent in violating its own timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr. Felix Morka in a late Sunday statement said a new date will be announced in due course.

“The Screening Excercise for Presidential Aspirants of the All Progressives Congress APC earlier scheduled to be held on Monday, May 23rd, 2022, is hereby postponed.

“A new date for the exercise will be announced shortly. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted”, the party stated.

Biafra: Your Agitation Is Useless And Senseless – Umahi Fires IPOB

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has described the continuous sit-at-home in the Southeast over the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as senseless and useless.

Speaking in an interview with some editors, Umahi also said the agitation by the pro-Biafra group is ‘nonsense’.

According to the governor and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), even if Biafra is achieved, Ebonyi State will not be part of it.

Umahi said, “I use this opportunity to tell Igbo to be wise, this sit at home is useless and it is nonsense. This agitation is nonsense for me because even if it was to be Biafra, Ebonyi will not belong to Biafra.

“I have been saying it and I will continue to say it and I have no apologies because we have been used as house boys and house girls and by the creation of Ebonyi State, we are having self-determination and somebody telling me about Biafra. We have to get to the status of our brothers and sisters in Southeast. Before, we have no confidence in ourselves and we are changing the narratives and somebody has been your house boy and house girl and the person wants to aspire, you will definitely not be happy.”

He stressed that the people of his state are in support of a united and equitable just Nigeria.

The APC chieftain said he will continue to preach that there is no gain in sit at home and that there is no gain in killing ourselves.

“We are living peacefully with our brothers and sisters from other regions and it is quite encouraging. But in sit at home, I support not it at all and I call on our people to come out in sincerity and fear of God, let us work together to do something about our region and liberate our people.

“So, the moment extreme politics dies off in Southeast and then brainwashing, then we can begin to aspire as we be. Killings and violence have not been part of our cultural values and I don’t know where it came from. So, that’s my position,” Umahi said.

Presidential Primaries: PDP Loses Eagles Square To APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost the Eagle Square, the proposed venue of its presidential primary to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News learned that the opposition party lost the venue to the ruling party with the help of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Muhammed Musa Bello.

It was gathered that Bello helped the APC to reserve the Eagle Square for its presidential primary scheduled to hold between May 30 and June 1.

According to the Guardian, the minister denied the PDP from holding its special convention/presidential primary at the Eagle Square. The opposition had slated its presidential primary for May 28 and 29.

Following the development, the opposition party has reportedly moved its event to the MKO Abiola Stadium on the outskirts of Abuja.

The PDP Convention Planning Committee, led by former Senate President David Mark, on Tuesday, visited the stadium to assess facilities at the proposed venue of the special convention.

Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has hit back at the presidency over the accusation that the group is pushing for the break up of Nigeria.

NEF submitted that the presidency might be playing some mischief by accusing it of supporting calls for some tribes or regions to leave Nigeria.

The spokesman of NEF, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed said at no time did the forum release any statement calling for the break up of Nigeria as claimed by the presidency, adding that the forum is interested in the unity of Nigeria.

The position comes after the call out by the presidency in a statement on Tuesday by the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu who said NEF has no right to speak on behalf of Nigerians just because they have access to the media.

Presidential bid: Amaechi steps down as transport minister

Rotimi Amaechi has resigned his position as minister of transportation.

The development was confirmed on Monday by an insider in the ministry.

According to the source, the minister resigned following the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari on appointees interested in contesting the 2023 elections.

The president had, on May 11, directed all appointees seeking elective offices to resign on or before May 16.

As of May 13, when Buhari held a valedictory session for ministers seeking elective offices, there was no development on if Amaechi had tendered his resignation.

Speaking after the valedictory session, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had told state house correspondents that 10 members of the federal executive council (FEC) had indicated their interest in contesting in the general election.

On if all the ministers had tendered their resignation at the time, Mohammed had said “some have and others are in the process of doing so”.

The information minister had also quoted the president as saying “the vacancies would be replaced very soon without delay”.

Amaechi joins the likes of Ogbonnaya Onu and Godswill Akpabio who have also resigned their positions as ministers to contest the presidency in the 2023 election.

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba had, in April, resigned as minister of state for education to contest the presidency.

Meanwhile, Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, and Pauline Tallen, minister of women affairs, have withdrawn their resignation.

While Ngige has withdrawn from running for president, Tallen has stepped aside from representing Plateau south senatorial district in the national assembly.

2023: Kwankwaso Is APC, PDP Biggest Problem – Orji Uzor Kalu

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has described Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the biggest problem of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Naija News reports that since Kwankwaso joined the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from the PDP, the party has gained popularity.

Speaking to Channels Television on Monday night, Orji Uzor Kalu stated that the too major political parties must be aware of the threat posed by the NNPP.

He stated that if any of the major parties zone its presidential ticket to the South, they should forget about producing Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.

Kalu said, “Let me tell you that whether in APC or PDP, the problem we have now is Kwankwaso. Our problem is not APC or PDP. Because Kwankwaso is already a presidential candidate we are in problem.

“We are forcing every party – that is what I saw – to pull out. Because of Kwankwaso if you give me the ticket from the South East, I will lose and it would not be good for us.

“Kwankwaso left PDP and went to NNPP and if PDP or APC zone its presidential ticket to a candidate in the southern Nigeria, then Kwankwaso is a president in waiting. I can assure you that knowing the mentality on the ground, unless we are telling ourselves lies.

“I cannot lie to myself; I’m a student of realism. So Kwankwaso is the problem because if PDP goes to North and the APC goes to south it’s as well telling myself to pack my luggage and go. I’ll not have a job in the National Assembly or the federal government of Nigeria. That’s the truth. Whether you want to believe it or not, Kwankwaso has changed the dynamics.”

APC Party Chairman Found Dead In Bauchi Hotel Room

The death has been reported by an All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Bauchi State.

The deceased who was the chairman of Bauchi Local Government Area, Husseini Musa Gwabba, was found lifeless in a hotel room in the state capital, Naija News learnt.

The cause of his death is yet to be determined but the state police command has ordered an autopsy.

Gwabba according to SaharaReporters, was found lifeless in a hotel room Saturday morning in Bauchi, the state capital.

The politician was said to have received a series of death threats from some persons suspected to be high-ranking members of the party who saw his emergence to the position as a threat to their survival in the party

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the police in the state, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, said a thorough autopsy will be conducted on the remains of the politician to ascertain the cause of his death.

“The result of the autopsy as being awaited will be made public, please.

“Three suspects have been arrested in connection to the death of Gwabba and are being interrogated by the police,” Wakil said.

Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has lost his Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, Hon Tony Otokhine, in a fatal motor accident.

The sad development was confirmed in a Facebook post on Sunday evening by Governor Okowa’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ossai Ovie Success, Naija News understands.

The government official disclosed with regret that Otokhine died in a ghastly crash while returning to Asaba after attending the traditional wedding of Nigeria Bar Association President, Olumide Akpata, on Saturday, May 14, in Benin City.

Success recalled their last conversation at the wedding event. He described the deceased as a humble and nice person to be with.

2023: Amosun Speaks on Stepping Down For Tinubu, Others

Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has declared that he is not in the presidential race to align with Chief Bola Tinubu or any other aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former governor also said he did not obtain the APC senatorial form, neither did he attend the screening exercise organised for APC senatorial aspirants, as being peddled by some individuals.

TRIXX NG recalls that some media houses over the weekend reported that there were rumours that Amosun had agreed to step down for Tinubu, having been screened and cleared for the Ogun Central senatorial race.

But, in a swift reaction, Amosun debunked the rumour spreading on social media, saying the “two news stories are false.”

According to a statement signed by his media aide, Bola Adeyemi, he said that the Ogun Central Senator “procured only the forms for the presidential ticket of the APC and did not attend the screening exercise for Senatorial aspirants because he is not one.”

While urging Nigerians to dismiss the “false news”, Adeyemi maintained that “Amosun is in the race for the presidential ticket of the APC and has no plans to align with any politician in the race.”