The Lagos State PDP Spokesman, Alhaji Hakeem Amode, has dumped the main opposition party in the state for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Amode, along with other PDP chieftains, announced his defection at a news conference on Monday in Ikeja.

Speaking, Amode said he and other defectors were motivated and inspired by the visionary leadership of the 2023 State PDP Governorship Candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), who had earlier moved to the APC. 

“It is with great honour and a profound sense of responsibility that we stand before you today to announce a pivotal decision; one that marks a significant turning point not just for us as individuals, but for many committed political stakeholders who have journeyed with us over the years.

“Today, we have decided to collapse the entire PDP structure in Lagos State, from ward to the state level , to align with His Excellency Jandor to decamp en masse to the APC.

“The PDP, both at the national and state level, has lost its way. The party has deviated from the founding ideals that once made it the largest and most respected political platform in Africa.

“Today, its future is riddled with tension and uncertainty.The PDP is in a coma and may not survive unless urgent measures are taken,” Amode said.

According to him, the tenure of the defectors within the PDP had been lengthy and eventful, characterised by both achievements and setbacks.

He said that majority of the defectors  had the privilege of serving PDP in various capacities, worked for  change and did their best  for their former party

He said: “However, after thorough introspection and extensive consultation, we believe it is time to chart a new course.

“This decision has not been made lightly. It  reflects our commitment to taking control of our political destinies in order to better serve our people and the loyal supporters who continue to stand by us.”

Amode said that PDP in Lagos, under the leadership of Mr Philip Aivoji, had been fractured and disunited.

“Poor leadership and a lack of cohesion have cost us dearly

“Today, we, alongside several former PDP candidates at various levels, national, local government executives, ward leaders, and key stakeholders across Lagos, formally resign from the PDP and align ourselves with the APC.

“We have submitted our letters of resignation to our respective ward chairmen, local government chairmen, and the state leadership of the PDP.”

Amode ,who noted that the decision to leave PDP was no  driven by personal ambition,said  defecting to APC was to serve the society better.

“We are determined to work with our new partners in the APC to deliver the true dividends of democracy to every corner of our great state.

Speaking , Alhaja Safurat Abdulkareem, a two-time State PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate, said that the defectors  were determined to follow the progressives to make the state better.

Also speaking, a former  State PDP Deputy Chairman, Chief Ola Apena, said PDP had no relevance in the state anymore.

“PDP is dead. There is no more PDP. The party is in complete limbo and we don’t know whether it will  be  up,”he said.

Speaking on behalf of  2023 PDP  State House of Assembly Candidates, Mr Ibrahim Balogun, who flew the party’s flag in Kosofe, said he wasted time by staying in PDP for 18 years.

“We will work for Tinubu in 2027. We are going en masse into APC. Jandor is a visionary leader to follow because he is a man of the people,” Balogun said.

Speaking , Adediran, who congratulated the defectors, said, ” We have successfully collapsed the entire structure of the PDP into APC now.

“There is no point in belonging into a political party that has no determination and purpose of winning elections. PDP is a social club, not interested in winning.

“Lagos State PDP leadership is ensure that the party does not win and the party had been doing this for over two decades now, wasting people’s destiny.

“I congratulate these PDP leaders for joining me in APC. PDP is a sinking ship. In Nigeria of today, there is no other viable platform apart from APC,” Adediran said.

Other PDP leaders, who dumped the party for APC included Prince Rufus Adeniyi, a former PDP Assistant State Organising Secretary (Lagos West) and Mr Jerry Afemikhe (Olori Odo), a former PDP House of Representatives Candidate in Surulere Constituency I.

Some 2023 PDP Lagos State House of Assembly candidates who dumped the party included Messrs Keshinro Abiodun (Epe 1);Akeem Jinadu, (Eti-Osa 1); Ibrahim Balogun (Kosofe 2).

Messrs Taofeek Obanikoro (Lagos Island 1); Tunde Pratt (Lagos Mainland 2); Saheed Aregbesola (Oshodi-Isolo State 2), Sulaimon Thompson (Surulere 1)and  Taofeek Kuye ( Ajeromi-Ifelodun State 1) also dumped PDP for APC.

Mr Adeyemi Kazeem:former PDP Chairman, Ojo Local Government;Pastor Gbenga Ogunleye,media aide to  the 2023 Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate were also among those who defected.

Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has declared that after God, his loyalty lies with President Bola Tinubu, saying that he takes instructions only from the duo.

Umahi made the declaration in Abakaliki while speaking with newsmen on the president’s recent commendation of him over some infrastructural feats.

The minister said the commendation was worth more than one trillion dollars to him, as it shows he was on the right track and that God answers prayers.

“I have told the president even publicly that my loyalty is to God first and then, him.

“When a man gives you the type of trust Tinubu has given me, you will.be of the devil to betray him,” he said.

He said that anyone who betrayed Tinubu after receiving such a level of trust and support would incur the wrath of God.

“Have you seen where a man presided over the procurement of a project worth N1.6 trillion, and his boss did not call him to ask how he went about it?

“I am talking about one section of the project, depending on the length.

“I pray every day that if I place myself, family, and friends over God, Tinubu, and Nigerians, let Him not answer me,” he said.

Umahi vowed to continue praying for Tinubu and all those who love him and appreciate what his doing.

“I also dedicate the president’s commendation to all those who pray for me to succeed in serving the people.

“This means that contractors would be on their toes to complete about 30 mega projects which the president will inaugurate by Dec.20.

“I am involved in the construction and inspection of the projects scattered across the six geo-political zones of the country,” he said.

(NAN)

Maryam Abacha, widow of former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has rejected long-standing allegations that her late husband looted billions of dollars during his time in office, insisting there is no credible evidence to support the claims.

Speaking in an interview with TVC on Sunday, Mrs. Abacha challenged the narrative surrounding her husband’s legacy and questioned the basis of the accusations.

“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?” she asked.

She also claimed that funds her husband allegedly secured for Nigeria disappeared shortly after his death.

“And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that,” she said.

Mrs. Abacha criticised the continued focus on her husband nearly three decades after his death, questioning the motivations behind the scrutiny.

“Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she asked. “Why are we so bad towards each other? Because somebody is a northerner or a southerner, somebody is a Muslim or a Christian… It’s not fair.” 

She also directed criticism at the media, urging journalists to play a more constructive role.

“People are not that bad. Twenty-seven years ago, and you are still talking about Abacha. He must be very powerful and loved by Nigerians. We thank God for that,” she said.

Responding to comments about Nigeria’s relatively stable economy during her husband’s rule, marked by increased foreign reserves and reduced external debt, Mrs. Abacha reiterated her position that there was no wrongdoing.

“So, where did he steal the money from? So where would he have stolen the money from?” she asked. “And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything.”

She concluded by calling for unity and mutual respect among Nigerians, saying, “Babangida doesn’t make Nigeria alone. Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Abiola and everybody, nobody is big enough for Nigeria. Even the single man on the street is very important. We are all human beings, for goodness sake. All these wahala should stop.”

The Managing Director, Cross River State Water Board Limited, Godwin Nyiam, has dragged the state’s Security Adviser, Major General Okoi Obono(retd), to court over alleged assault.

Nyiam’s lawyer, E. E. Osim disclosed this on Sunday in Calabar, saying his client, demands the sum of N500m compensation from Obono for slapping him in public.

The incident reportedly occurred at the Fogg Petrol Station in Calabar in April.

The legal practitioner stated that his client decided to drag the security adviser  to court to put an end to any further unruly behaviour, stressing that a singular act caused his client pain, intimidation, harassment, and emotional distress because of the way he was publicly humiliated.

The petition averred that the slap by the state security adviser demoralised his client and made him embarrassed after Obono allegedly ordered uniform men under his command to assault, intimidate, and harass him at Fogg  Petrol station at Federal Housing Estate, Calabar on  May 24, 2025.

A petition from The Advocates Chambers addressed to The Brigade Commander, 13 Amphibious Brigade Headquarters Calabar, demanded N500m compensation from Obono, and an apology letter to be published in two national newspapers for infringement on his fundamental human rights.

The petition signed by  E.E. Osim & Co and two other lawyers from the Lord Advocate, with Our Ref: TAC/ADM/001/Vol. 1/2024 dated April 24, 2025,  warned that failure to tender an apology to their client would risk litigation. 

The petition asked the brigade commander to use his good office to fish out the officers allegedly ordered by Obono to harass the MD of Cross River State Waterboard Limited.

“Heretofore, write to you to use your good offices to fish out those attached to the said General under reference on the aforementioned date to treat our client and offer due apology in two national dailies for compensation.” The petition stated.

But in a swift reaction to the issue, in a text message sent to the security adviser by our correspondent, in reply to the text message, the security adviser denied ordering his men to beat Nyam.

“On what grounds will I do that, please?” Obono questioned.

Effort to speak with the Army’s  Public Relations Officer, Capt. Jimoh Jamila failed as text messages and calls put across to her were never returned or replied.

Kingsley Utulu, a Nigerian, has been sentenced to prison for five years and three months for his involvement in a significant hacking and identity theft operation that defrauded United States tax authorities and private citizens of more than $2.5 million.

Utulu’s sentencing was announced by Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, alongside Christopher Raia, the Assistant Director in charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, at the weekend.

They charged the 38-year-old Nigerian of aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Clayton said, “Kingsley Uchelue Utulu took part in a scheme to hack into the U.S. tax preparation businesses, trade in the stolen personal identifying information, and defraud the IRS and other governmental bodies.

“Offshore scammers like Utulu and his co-conspirators may think they can target hard-working Americans with their hacking and fraud schemes and avoid prosecution.

“The FBI will never exempt any individual who seeks to unlawfully profit through deceitful practices, regardless of where they are located.”

Utulu was apprehended in the United Kingdom, UK, and was subsequently extradited to the United States to stand trial.

Alongside his prison term, Utulu was mandated to pay restitution of $3,683,029.39 and to forfeit $290,250.

DAILY POST reports that this latest development follows the recent convictions of two other Nigerians, Abel Daramola and Olutayo Ogunlaja, who were found guilty of running a $560,000 international romance scam.

They are now facing potential sentences of up to 20 years in a United States federal prison.

Mr Peter Obi has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of being responsible for the lingering crisis in the Labour Party.

Obi was the erstwhile presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 general election.

The former Anambra state governor made the accusation on Monday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme.

Obi specifically stated that the leadership crisis in the Labor Party was instigated and sustained by the government of today.

He said: “This is what you get, always, right? This is what you get always in Nigeria, because we now live in a country of propaganda and lies – and they manufacture it.

“The problem we have in Labor Party is problem instigated and sustained by the government of today.

“I don’t need to tell you when you have a party chairman who calls a state governor a dwarf and dwarf thinking. Forget about me, so it’s not weak.

“Okay, I’m weak, but it’s not weak. Is every other person there weak? So we’re not sincere with ourselves.

“You speak the truth and they call you names. And we now live in a country of propaganda and lies. They are trying to put problems everywhere, they want to even put problems in families.”

Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, has confirmed he will extend his stay with Al Nassr.

Ronaldo, speaking after their Nations League final win over Spain, said “nothing is gonna change”.

According to Fabrizio Romano’s post on X on Monday, the 40-year-old is now ready to commit his future to the Saudi Pro League side.

Romano wrote: “Cristiano Ronaldo confirms plan to stay at Al Nassr by signing a new deal.

“My future? Basically, nothing is gonna change. Staying at Al Nassr? Yea.”

Ronaldo’s future became uncertain with his current contract set to expire at the end of June and no progress in negotiations over fresh terms.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined Al Nassr in December 2022 after his contract with Manchester United was terminated.

His arrival marked a turning point for Saudi Arabian football, drawing global attention to the league and triggering a wave of high-profile signings across the league.

UK-based Nigerian reality star, Natasha Akide, simply known as Tacha, has expressed concern over the unruly behaviour of some Nigerian Christian clerics.

She claimed that 90 per cent of Nigerian pastors won’t get away with what they do in Nigeria outside the country.

She stated this while reacting to the drama involving the Senior Pastor of the House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin, and a car spotter. 

DAILY POST reports that Pastor Adefarasin came under public criticism after a video showing him holding a pistol-like object and rebuking a car spotter filming his car went viral.

Addressing the viral video, Adefarasin claimed that the object seen in the footage was not a firearm, and that he did not point it at anyone.

He also claimed that the car spotter was aggressive.

Reacting in a video message shared via her X handle, Tacha insisted that the video showed Pastor Adefarasin holding a pistol-like object, and that the car spotter wasn’t aggressive.

She claimed that the Senior Pastor of the House on the Rock Church was trying to gaslight the public.

She said, “I didn’t want to say anything about the church brouhaha that’s going on until I saw clips from today’s service. Because there’s nothing I hate more than gaslighting. Everybody saw the video. We all saw the video. And from the video, we can tell who the aggressor was.

“In case you have forgotten, this pastor stopped his car, wined down, held an object that looks like a firearm and told this boy, ‘Don’t do that, don’t do that…’

“And from what I remembered, the boy was even hailing the pastor in that video. There are so many car spotters all around the world. I don’t see what that boy was doing wrong. I don’t see how he was being aggressive. How was he being aggressive?
“Nothing pain me pass the gullible congregation that was clapping and cheering. Because what are you clapping and cheering for?

“Didn’t you watch the video or you have selective blindness? And let me make this very clear, 90 per cent of our Nigerian Pastors will not get away with what they do in Nigeria outside Nigeria. The kind of Christianity they practice, if they try it anywhere outside Nigeria their church will close down within a year.
“Let’s not even go far, if it was Seyi Tinubu or Wike or Wike’s son tthat did this same thing, one part of Twitter would be burning by now and it will burn for one week. But because he is a pastor, some persons are making excuses for him.

“This is the same pastor who allegedly stepped out of his car last year to smash the windscreen of a bus that hit his car putting the passengers at risk. And yet wants to label the content creator as aggressive. So anybody holding a phone now is aggressive? This selective hypocrisy is so crazy. Let’s stop being hypocrites.”

A Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Public Affairs, Aliyu Audu has resigned.

Audu tendered his resignation to the president through the chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila on Sunday, June 8.

In letter addressed to Gbajabiamila, the former SSA said his resignation was with immediate effect.

Citing the incessant defection of politicians, especially governors and lawyers from various parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Audu said he would not be used as a tool to reduce Nigeria to a one-party State.

In a different statement also issued shortly after his resignation, the former presidential aide said this decision was not borne out of rebellion but following his ideals and conscience.

“Though I do not align with the PDP, I refuse to be used directly or indirectly as an instrument to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.

“That would be a betrayal of both divine favour and democratic principle,” Audu said.

Warning of the danger associated with the level of silence growing in Nigeria’s Poli space, Audu said leaders owe it to God to protect the values and justice within the system.

He, however, stated that he would continue to do his bid by supporting the government in power for a better Nigeria.

Audu also condemned the alliance between the president and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

He said, “We just differ on political views as I pride myself with being a progressive and a promoter of democratic values which seems to be lost in the unholy alliance of PBAT with Wike.

“That does not mean our gbas gbos will seize o. We are still here for the attacks and counter attacks. Oya Agbadorians over to you,” he added.

A former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai escaped an attack from some members of the Boko Haram terrorist group, a lawmaker Ali Ndume has disclosed.

Ndume said the convoy of the ex-COAS was attacked by the terrorists in Borno State on Friday.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ndume said the attack on Buratai’s convoy raises concern about the boldness of the insurgents and the escalating insecurity in the Northeast.

While details of the attack and casualties remain unclear, the lawmaker said the ex-COAS’ convoy was attacked near a major military base in the state.

He said the insurgents had ambushed Buratai’s convoy leading to gunfire between the troops escorting him and the group members.

“We are in a dire security situation. Just two days ago, Buratai was attacked at the front operations base in Borno. His team responded gallantly, but the insurgents managed to destroy several military assets,” Ndume stated.

He also stated that the insurgents were said to be targeting aMine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs), tanks, and machine guns belonging to the military.

“The situation in Borno is deteriorating rapidly. Insurgents now move freely, torching and stealing military equipment. It is becoming a full-blown crisis,” he said.

Ndume further called for stronger approaches against the terrorists in the region to actualise the desired peace and stability.