Twelve-year- old Munachi Udochukwu was happily living in Onitsha attending primary school along with his two siblings.

Doted on by his two parents, he is seen off to school at the beginning of the new term. This exercise is a yearly ritual for Munachi and his younger sister.

Narrating how he found himself in a Yahoo training centre in Lagos, after he was arrested, Munachi, said prior to his arrival in Lagos, he was living happily with his parents in Anambra State before he was introduced to the gang who operates the facility.

According to him, one of the factors that pushed him into the crime was the death of his father, whom he said was the sole breadwinner.

“I was woken up one early morning by the news of the sudden death of my father who left home for his business place the previous day.

“His death shattered my dreams of a promising carrier in future as I was made to drop out of school since the proceed from my mother’s petty trading business was not enough to sustained the family.

“Then, not knowing what to do, my mother approached a friend of hers, for financial support, but rather she introduced my mother to a gang that was recruiting young boys in the East into internet fraud.

“To her, the prospects was good as she believed that in less than one year, her young son would be rich enough to shoulder the burden and that her worries will be over.

“The only thing that stood against the thought of a lavish lifestyle is the money to buy me a laptop, data and some few other items.

“Not wanting to fail again, she quickly, without thinking of the possible dangers ahead, sold the only land that was given to my father by his family to raise the fund,” he confessed to a team of detectives from the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti where he was being detained.

Munachi explained that few weeks later, he arrived Lagos along with three others and that they were enrolled into the internet training centre where they will be taught on the technics of swindling unsuspecting foreign and local businessmen.

“At first, we were shown different romance online sites and how we can capture those seeking sexual pleasure for a token in dollars.

“We all had different roles to play in the quest to defraud a would-be client. We must perform our part perfectly, failure of which attracts severe beating. You are made to stay without food if the stake is high.

“I have only spent few months before we were arrested by the police. Most of the money we made goes to our teachers. The only thing we were given is food. Those who have graduated gets a fraction of the proceed from a successful deal,” he added.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, who confirmed their arrest at a press conference held at the command headquarters, identified operators of the facility as ChibikeIheijika 923) Stanley Iheijika (22), Obiora Oyedibe (26) and Emmanuel Onedibe (25).

CP Jimoh, who was represented by the command’s spokesman, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, gave the names of the trainees as Okorie Henry, Otoh Chisom (20), Okeke Kwufrochukwu (26), Uchenna

Obeji (26), Munachi Udochukwu (12) and Chinedu Ukachukwu (23).

Speaking at the conference, Hundeyin said operatives of the command successfully uncovered and dismantled an illegal internet fraud training facility, commonly referred to as “Yahoo School”, operating in the Iju area of Lagos.

He stated that during the operations, detectives of the command arrested 10 suspects, four of which are the yahoo experts, who were running the notorious school.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the principal suspects of the facility recruited the trainees from Anambra State, engaged them to commit internet fraud and other related crimes.

“The proceeds from their fraudulent activities were being confiscated by the principal suspects. All suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba for further discreet investigation and prosecution.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the sponsors who financed the trainee’s enrolment in the school, as well as the owner of the facility where the cranial and illegal activities took place,” he added.

A fresh wave of political tension is brewing in Rivers State, casting serious doubts on the potential for Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s early return to office, following the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18.

While some stakeholders had hoped that Fubara’s reinstatement might be announced during the President’s Democracy Day address on May 29, recent developments have suggested that such optimism may be misplaced.

Naija News reports that trouble erupted on Friday during an empowerment programme organised for 500 women from Rivers State, as part of the Renewed Hope Initiative led by First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

During the event, held in Port Harcourt, the women walked out when the wife of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (Rtd), Theresa Ibas, was invited to address them.

The walkout attracted sharp national attention and criticism from various quarters, particularly from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is currently on an official visit to China.

Wike described the incident as “an insult on anyone representing the First Lady of Nigeria” and stated, “As a leader in Rivers State, I apologise.”

However, many Rivers women and stakeholders from the Niger Delta rejected Wike’s remarks, claiming that the women’s actions had been misrepresented and politically weaponized.

The spokesperson for the Ijaw Republican Assembly and a renowned human rights activist, Annkio Briggs, in an interview with Punch, condemned attempts to link the walkout to Governor Fubara.

She remarked, “Blaming Governor Fubara is like giving a dog a bad name to hang it.” Briggs clarified that the women, who organised under the banner of Rivers Women Unite for Sim (RWUS), had eagerly awaited the First Lady’s visit.

“They mobilized from all 23 LGAs, printed T-shirts and banners featuring Mrs. Tinubu and Mrs. Fubara, and even prepared a gift for the First Lady,” Briggs stated.

Support For The Women’s Respectful Actions

The President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, also weighed in, insisting that the women’s actions had been respectful.

“Their vests bore the names of both Mrs. Tinubu and Governor Fubara. Would they do that if they intended to be disrespectful?” Okaba queried.

In a statement through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike accused certain individuals of undermining efforts for peace. “You can’t claim to want peace while sponsoring people to insult the President and his wife,” Wike said, indirectly referring to Governor Fubara’s recent peace visits to both President Tinubu in London and to Wike himself in Abuja.

“These shenanigans won’t bring peace. Those who truly want peace must act accordingly. I and my supporters condemn that show of shame, and we apologize to the First Lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women,” Wike added.

In response to Wike’s remarks, the women clarified that Governor Fubara had no involvement in their actions. They emphasized their organic support for the Governor, stating, “We are organic supporters, not puppets. While the Governor pursues peace, it doesn’t mean Rivers people should be subjected to manipulation.”

The women made it clear that they did not—and would not—disrespect the First Lady or President Tinubu. “That narrative is Wike’s usual attempt to blackmail Rivers people. Political power is transient; this phase will pass, and history will judge all actors accordingly,” they said.

With tensions now reigniting, it is evident that the peace accord between Governor Fubara and Nyesom Wike has irreparably broken down.

This setback raises serious concerns about the future of the state and the possibility of Fubara’s return to Government House in the near future.

A former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu in the Office of the Vice President, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called on former presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, to step aside in the 2027 presidential race.

Naija News reports that Baba-Ahmed suggested that both men, alongside President Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, should make way for younger politicians to take over the reins of leadership.

In an interview with Trust TV, Baba-Ahmed expressed his belief that the older generation, including Obi and Kwankwaso, has exhausted its potential to bring meaningful change to Nigeria.

He argued that these politicians, along with the country’s current leadership, had already made their contributions and should now allow the younger generation to step up.

“Peter Obi, Kwankwaso should also step aside for the younger generation, alongside President Tinubu and Atiku.

“This particular generation has played itself out; they really have nothing to offer this country,” Baba-Ahmed said.

Baba-Ahmed emphasised his frustration with the recurring cycle of politics in Nigeria, where power struggles continue to dominate the political scene.

He criticized the “winner-takes-all” mentality that often prevails in elections, where personal ambitions overshadow national interest. Baba-Ahmed noted that despite their long tenure in politics, the older generation of politicians lacks the energy and drive needed to address the country’s current challenges.

“We are going through the same politics again, where there is bitterness and the winner takes it all. It has to be me at all costs. And when you get to power, you don’t have the energy and the strength to tackle the country,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed went on to argue that Nigeria needed fresh leadership, not dominated by “tired and elderly politicians” who have spent the last few decades merely managing power.

He stressed that the nation’s future could not be bright under such leadership, calling for a new direction with younger, more energetic leaders.

“The nation needs a new lease of life. “I don’t see Nigeria with a bright future under these tired and elderly politicians who have spent the last 20 to 30 years just simply managing power,” Baba-Ahmed declared.

Baba-Ahmed also criticised the tradition of Nigerian presidents serving for eight years.

He added, “One of the distracting things is this nonsense that once you are president, you must serve for two terms. Who said that? When the NEF realized that Buhari was bad news for this country, he wasn’t performing and not willing to fix this country, we rallied other groups in the country.

“We met here in Abuja and told the nation that don’t trust Buhari with another four years, and we were right. Ohanaeze, NEF, Afenifere, and I think about four or five groups met in Abuja and said Buhari should not be given a second term.

“But now you hear things like he must do his eight years, what about the South? We have taken to a very crude politics and put it on the constitution where everyone is saying the South must have its eights years because Buhari did.

“Where is this thing coming from? These are some of the rubbish that is poisoning the politics. Even if you can’t perform, what if you have health or age issues, must you remain president for eight years simply because you come from one part of the country? This is the kind of thinking that keeps us declining permanently.”

SOME former People’s Democratic Party, PDP, members in Delta State who moved with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, have, for unclear reasons, refused to resign their membership and yet, want to register as APC members.

Sources said the ongoing registration commenced on a shaky note as the APC ward leaders in parts of the state declined to register the PDP defectors, demanding evidence of their resignation from their former party. 

This came as PDP members at the various wards and local government chapters of the state who rebuffed Oborevwori and Okowa’s movement to the APC, converged weekend, vowing to rebuild the PDP.

The refusal to register the new members for not presenting their resignation letters triggered some glitches in the ongoing registration process.

The development compelled the state APC, led by Elder Omeni Sobotie, to quickly intervene, instructing the ward and local government leaders to overlook the non-presentation of resignation letters.

Meanwhile, Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, the Chairman of the Zonal Caretaker of the PDP in the South-South, who is midwifing the rebirth process, told Vanguard that the state’s caretaker executive would be available in one month.

Vanguard understood that some defectors were undecided on the exercise because of the rivalry and frosty relationship between the PDP and APC members before the defection.

“This coming together is not smooth yet. The old members are afraid of the new members, while the new members are just watching,” a source revealed.

However, Mr. Valentine Onojeghuo, the APC state publicity secretary, has directed the local government and ward chairmen to register the newly defected members without any preconditions or demands, including letters of resignation from the PDP.

He said in a statement: “All party functionaries at the grassroots, local government chairmen and ward chairmen, are hereby instructed to eliminate any bureaucratic hurdles, red tape or procedural bottlenecks that may hinder the seamless registration and integration of these new members.”

Speaking to Vanguard, chairman of the APC in Ughelli North local government area, Mr. Obakpororo Onoabedje, said: “Currently, we have issued cards to ward chairmen to go and register PDP members willing to register.

“From skeletal reports, they are not forthcoming; they are foot-dragging. From what we are seeing and experiencing, the exercise is very clumsy.”

But a source said: “They only just left PDP, but registration is low-key for now. There is no stipulated time they should come and register. The registration, like Permanent Voter Card, run from morning till evening.

“They will move when the time comes; most people want to be sure. It is a gradual process. The process is slow because the people are sitting back to watch what is going to come next.

“Many don’t know what will happen, so they are sceptical. There are uncertainties, so some are reluctant.’’
The chairman of the PDP, South-South, Emma Ogidi, said he was encouraged by the rejection of the defection by many PDP members coming to express willingness to remain in the PDP.

He said he had given the party’s supporters guidelines on forming the caretaker committee, adding “I have told them to open the doors till one month before we close it.

‘’Like I told you much earlier, in one month, the caretaker committee of the PDP in the state will be ready.”
Recall that Governor Oborevwori and former Governor Okowa defected to the ruling party with the entire structure of the PDP last week, with the governor describing the development not just as defection but a movement.

The governor had said at the official declaration in Asaba, the state capital, last week: “What you have seen here today is a movement, it’ is not a defection; it’s a movement. We have done consultations with our National Assembly members, with leadership, with stakeholders at the state level, at the senatorial level, at the local government level, at the ward level and we all decided that we must all join.

“This is Delta State; we cannot carry last. When we stand for something, we remain committed to it; we have been in opposition for almost 10 years.

“Do we need that? Mr. President has supported us; he has shown us love. We cannot face him in 2027 to work against him. That love that he has shown to us in Delta State, we need to reciprocate it.

“We cannot do it in our own party. We have to be inside to do it, and to do it well. When you consult widely you see everybody will come with you and you can see that the love is organic: you can see my relationship with governors; you see all the governors here.

“You see the large number of governors: yesterday nine came and slept over. Today, see all of them here. I want to bless all of you; I want to thank all of you.

“This is a movement, this is not a defection; we have agreed we will move together and when we move together, what is at the national we will be able to grab it.

“Our members in the National Assembly are the next; they have agreed they will all defect on the floor of the house, and we have justification to move.

“All of us want to be in the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is in line with my M.O.R.E Agenda. For us in Delta State, it’s a statement and I believe other governors will join because it’s a movement and when you have a movement, you don’t fail.”

No lawsuit filed against Delta defectors yet

Although the PDP threatened to go to court to challenge the defection of its members in Delta State, Vanguard learned yesterday that it was yet to do so.

A member of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, who was present at the meeting last Tuesday when the decision was taken, told Vanguard weekend in Abuja, said the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, was making preparations to pursue the case in court.

“We’re focused on reclaiming our mandate. We intend to seek court declarations for the seats of the defectors to be declared vacant, in line with constitutional provisions,” the NWC member stated.

He clarified that, for the time being, the party’s legal efforts would be focused solely on Delta State, with no immediate plans to take similar action in other states.

Although the decision to proceed with legal action was reached on Tuesday, the public holiday on Thursday, coupled with the lack of a follow-up meeting by Friday, may have delayed the formal filing of court papers.

“The decision was taken only on Tuesday. Thursday was a public holiday and we didn’t reconvene on Friday. We expect further briefings at the next meeting,” the source said

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), a unit of the Lagos State Police Command, have arrested two individuals for impersonating officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and exploiting accident victims.

The suspects, identified as Nuche Joseph, 34, and Lawal Rofiat, 29, were apprehended on April 29, while posing as LASAMBUS personnel.

According to RRS in a statement on Sunday, the duo were operating under the name of BrainGrace Ambulance Service, deceiving members of the public and demanding payments for emergency medical services that are supposed to be free.

Their illegal operation came to light after the relatives of an accident victim took to social media to express outrage over being charged N150,000 for pre-hospital care.

Tragically, the victim died before reaching the hospital. The relatives initially believed they were dealing with genuine LASAMBUS officials and accused the Lagos State Government of exploitation.

LASAMBUS is an agency of the state government that provides emergency medical services free of charge to accident victims across Lagos.

“The suspects, working with BrainGrace Ambulance service, have been impersonating Lagos Ambulance Service and fleecing accident victims of various sums of money for pre – hospital care which is rendered free of charge to accident victims in the state.

“The fraudulent activity of the suspects was exposed on social media by relatives of an accident victim who BrainGrace Ambulance forced to cough up N150,000:00 for pre-hospital care but the victim died before getting to the hospital.

“The relatives of the deceased, realizing the service was designed by Lagos State Government to be rendered free of charge, felt exploited. They took to social media to expose BrainGrace Ambulance erroneously claiming that they were defrauded by Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) officials,” the statement read.

The RRS confirmed that both suspects have confessed to the crime and have been charged to court.

“The two suspects have made confessional statements to the police and have been charged to court,” the statement added.

President Donald Trump announced Sunday he will impose a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States, describing foreign production incentives as a “National Security threat” that is causing the American film industry to die a “very fast death.”

“This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda,” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform, concluding with: “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

The President said he has authorised relevant government agencies, including the Department of Commerce, to “immediately begin the process” of implementing the tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X with a brief message: “We’re on it.”

However, neither Trump nor Lutnick provided specific details about how the tariffs would be implemented. According to Reuters, industry insiders are questioning whether the tariffs would apply to streaming services as well as theatrical releases, and how they would be calculated, whether based on production costs or box office revenue.

This move follows Trump’s January appointment of Hollywood veterans Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson to lead efforts to bring Hollywood back “bigger, better and stronger than ever before.”

Film and television production has been steadily leaving Hollywood for years, attracted by tax incentives in other locations. According to research firm ProdPro, about half of the spending on movie and TV projects with budgets exceeding $40 million went outside the U.S. in 2023. Los Angeles has experienced a nearly 40% drop in production over the past decade, according to FilmLA.

All major media companies, including Walt Disney, Netflix, and Universal Pictures, currently film in countries like Canada and Britain, taking advantage of credits and cash rebates offered by foreign governments. A recent ProdPro survey ranked California as only the sixth most preferred filming location for the next two years, behind Toronto, Britain, Vancouver, Central Europe, and Australia.

The Afenifere Diaspora USA has distanced itself from a press statement attributed to one Chief Omololu Abagun, claiming the group has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Prof. Sikiru Fadairo and Secretary, Comrade David Adenekan, the group described the claim as false and laughable, saying no such decision has been taken by the organisation.

“Is it not a figment of imagination for one Chief Omololu Abagun to sit at one place in the corner of his room to issue a false statement that claimed Afenifere has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a re-election in 2027?

“Is this not laughable? To say the obvious fact, in Afenifere, any decision of such magnitude of national interest is always taken after a rigorous brainstorming to evaluate or weigh the pros and cons of such a decision, having taken into great cognisance the overall interest of the whole country. No such decision of great national interest will be taken without adequate consultations with every organ of the organisation,” the statement said.

The group noted that any decision of such magnitude would be taken after rigorous brainstorming and consultations with every organ of the organisation.

Afenifere Diaspora USA also questioned the basis of Abagun’s claim, asking where the communique was and who signed it.

The group further debunked Abagun’s statement that Tinubu is not a Yoruba president, saying that while the statement may be true in the sense that Tinubu is not representing the goodwill of Yoruba people, the president’s appointments have been lopsided in favour of Yorubas.

“We probe into PBAT’S appointments is suggestive of lopsided appointments in favour of people of Yoruba tribe, including Kogi and Kwara states to the detriment of others in the other four geo-political zones.

“We stand by the true meaning of Afenifere, ‘love thy neighbours as you love yourself.’

“We are also determined to continue to embrace the philosophy of the founding fathers of Afenifere to always uphold the principles of justice, fairness and equity; and to corroborate the fact of the statement based on empirical evidence that PBAT’S appointments are lopsided to favor Yorubas that are his great disciples. This cannot be overemphasised.

“Prejudice apart and without mincing words, the popular slogan among many of PBAT’S acolytes who are benefitting from his plum appointments and they quick to play to the gallery by singing and echoing, ‘Bola on your mandate we shall stand’ is not for the interest of Yoruba as a people,” the group said.

The group affirmed its commitment to upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and equity, and warned the public that Chief Omololu Abagun and his co-travelers are unknown to the organisation’s structure and leadership representation.

“In the interest of unity of purpose and strong synergy, the general public must note that, Chief Omololu Abagun and his co-travelers are unknown to the organization structure and leadership representation of Afenifere, a disclaimer indeed,” the group said.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded the removal of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of tertiary institutions found guilty of mismanaging the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja over the weekend, the newly elected NANS President, Comrade Olushola Ladoja, stated that any institution head involved in dubious dealings, such as withholding students’ loans or conspiring with banks for personal gain, would face nationwide student-led resistance.

“I’m telling you categorically, as NANS President, that any Vice Chancellor, Rector or Provost, found withholding students’ loans or having any dubious dealings in this students’ loan administration, we will agitate for their going.

“They must be removed from office, because while Federal Government is trying to do things that will help Nigerians, some people are there sabotaging it. And NANS will not accept that. We will fight whosoever is found wanting of such character,” he said.

Ladoja revealed that NANS had met with Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr to address concerns over alleged fraudulent practices.

He added that both officials assured them that necessary action would be taken to address the irregularities.

He disclosed that a meeting has been scheduled for Thursday in Abuja, where all Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents from Nigerian tertiary institutions will converge with NANS executives and NELFUND officials to discuss the issues and chart a way forward.

NANS praised the student loan initiative for increasing access to education but warned that mismanagement could compromise the scheme’s credibility.

The association pledged to monitor the situation and ensure transparency and accountability.

Nigeria were held to a goalless draw by Morocco in a tense Group B encounter at the ongoing CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo on Sunday, The PUNCH reports.

In a contest that revived memories of their dramatic 2005 semi-final duel, which Nigeria edged on penalties after a 2-2 draw, both sides battled intensely but lacked the clinical edge in front of goal to make a decisive impact.

The fixture marked Nigeria’s 99th appearance in the history of the U-20 AFCON, and despite dominant spells during the game, the Flying Eagles were unable to secure what would have been their 57th win in the competition.

Having begun their campaign with a 1-0 win over Tunisia, Aliyu Zubairu’s team aimed to record back-to-back wins for the first time since 2015. However, Morocco proved a more resilient opponent, successfully neutralising Nigeria’s attacking threats. 

The game saw moments of individual brilliance, particularly from Nigeria’s captain Daniel Bameyi, who led from the back with authority, registering the most touches (75) and executing 59 passes at a success rate of 72.9 per cent. His defensive leadership ensured goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt remained largely untested throughout the match, as Nigeria did not concede a single shot on target.

The match was characterised by physical duels, tactical fouls, and several injury-induced stoppages with both sides suffering from disruptions. Morocco forced into an early injury substitution when Othmane Maamma had to be replaced in added time, while Nigeria’s Divine Oliseh and Clinton Jephta also sustained knocks that required changes.

Israel Ayuma, Divine Oliseh, and Emmanuel Chukwu came closest to breaking the deadlock for Nigeria, but their attempts lacked precision, with Ayuma’s effort flying wide in added time and Chukwu’s header earlier in the first half sailing over.

There were a flurry of bookings, as the game became increasingly scrappy. Nigeria’s Rickson Mendos and Clinton Jephta were cautioned for rough challenges, while Morocco’s Hossam Essadak and Hamza Koutoune also found themselves in the referee’s book.

Despite the draw, Nigeria maintained their strong record in second group games, extending their unbeaten run in such fixtures to five (W3 D2), with their last defeat in a second group match dating back to 2011 against Cameroon.

The result leaves Group B delicately poised, with both teams still in contention for a place in the knockout stage as they head into the final round of matches, both levelled on four points, one ahead of Tunisia in third.

Curtains will drop on Group B with the Flying Eagles facing bottom Kenya who are yet to earn a point at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo while the Moroccans face Tunisia in a winners-take-all encounter simultaneously at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on Wednesday.

There is no let to the crisis in the Labour Party.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has written to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking the termination of recognition for the Julius Abure-led leadership.

It also plans a surprise takeover of the party secretariats in the states.

They are currently being controlled by officials loyal to Julius Abure.

In another dimension to the crisis, a prominent member in Anambra State and a campaign manager for Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, Oseloka Obaze, has dumped the party.

NLC President Joe Ajaero, who spoke in Abuja, said the Congress has written to INEC over the protracted chairmanship tussle in the party.

 He said plans to takeover the party would be unfolded during the National Executive Committee of the NLC.

 The umbrella union has been at loggerheads with the Julius Abure – led National Working Committee (NWC) after the party’s convention in Nnewi, Anambra State last year.

 The Congress refused to recognise the convention, insisting that the Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired.

 It urged Abure and other NWC members to vacate their positions in line with an agreement it had with the party leaders.

According to the Congress, INEC was privy to the agreement.

 Ajaero said there was no going back on the plan to take over LP offices across the federation.

He said: “I don’t know whether the press release told you the date we are doing that. So, if I update you on the mobilisation, the essence of surprise will not be there.

 “Ordinarily, the day we issued  the statement, we would have said we are taking it over tomorrow. But we asked every worker, if you check that statement, to be on standby. And we are working on it.

“I have even written to INEC and on the day of our NEC meeting, every other thing will be decided there. And we’re going to do that, you know, because that’s the way it is. Labour Party is an institutional party, either in Nigeria or anywhere, owned by the trade unions, anywhere in the world.”

 Ajaero added: “So, for anybody to come, for any charlatan to come, to say he’s now the owner of Labour Party, he is a joker. Of course, you know that person, it won’t work.

“You know, you can’t be calling Labour Party without the trade unions; you are talking of empty shelves. Labour Party is all about the trade union movement. The issue of taking over is not maybe, one off. We will decide where we will operate.

 “The certificate of the Labour Party is in this office. And those threatening that they have gone to swear an affidavit, if we get them, that would amount to deliberate plagiarism.”

Obi’s former campaign chief dumps LP

 Obaze explained that he resigned from LP due to the inability of the party to resolve its leadership crisis.

In a letter of April 6, 2025 to the LP Chairman in Ochuche Ward 406, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Obaze also protested against the outcome of the April 5 governorship primary.

It reads: “The processes, conduct and outcome of the Labour Party governorship primary held on April 5, 2025 in Awka, were fraught with outright irregularities, bothering on fraud and criminality.

“It was not in tandem with either the party’s Constitution and espoused core values or true tenets of democracy.

“As such, I hereby disassociate myself henceforth from the Labour Party.”