The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo has kick-started the campaign for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

The governor disclosed this when he received another member of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), who had defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.

The defector and member House Committee on Budget and Appropriation, Hon. Kaycee Osamwonyi represents Uhunmwonde State Constituency.

The lawmaker had earlier been received into the party by the Chairman of APC Edo State chapter, Jarrett Tenebe, who consequently presented him to the Governor at the Government House, Benin City.

Okpebholo commended Hon. Osamwonyi and his colleagues who decided to join the APC. He assured them that his administration would create a conducive atmosphere for all of them to operate and collaborate to develop the State.

Speaking via a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor noted that his administration has embarked on developmental strides to develop all sectors of the Edo economy and will make life better for Edo people.

“We congratulate you for returning home. Your coming is a plus for the party as we have five of you who have joined, and you have made our party stronger.

“A lot of people from other political parties are ready to join our party, and soon there will be a carnival. I seek your help to drive development, and together, we will develop the State and make life better for our people.

“Uhunmwonde Local Government is very special to me, and together we can develop the area and open it for growth and development.

“The next election, especially 2027 presidential election, we are ready in Edo State. We have kick-started our own campaigns for the President in 2027. We have to mobilize the youths in our State, and you are part of the youth. I promise you that you will enjoy our party as you have chosen to join us,” he said.

Tenebe, who presented Hon. Osamwonyi to the Governor, noted that the party is now in full control of the State Assembly as it now has the majority of the members in the house.

“Hon. Osamwonyi joined the party following the developmental strides your administration has achieved in the few months you have led the State,” he said.

Hon. Osamwonyi, on his part, said his decision to join the party was a result of the disunity in his former party, the PDP, from the national to unit level, as well as the achievements of Governor Okpebholo in a very short time in office.

“The division in my party, the PDP, made me join the APC. For me, it is homecoming as I was once in APC. Your developmental strides attracted me back home as I want the best for my people.

“The several projects captured in the budget for Uhunmwonde people is impressive. I had no choice but to join the party for the development of my people,” he said

Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said the party would ensure that the right people emerge as its candidates during the 2027 general elections.

Peter Obi spoke on Wednesday during LP’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

According to the former Governor of Anambra State, the LP would correct past mistakes in 2027 and ensure fairness.

He said, “Let’s do the right thing, let’s go from ward to local government to state, to zone and nationally, everybody is free to contest.

“We will ensure fairness and we want to build a party that will be fair, just, and a party people can look at and say ‘this is how this party is.’

“We want to go into the next election knowing fully well that we are offering Nigeria’s the best of people for House of Assembly, House of Reps, Senate, governors, and every form of election.

“We want to correct the mistake we made in the past, we are going to be sure that whoever wants to contest must be a Labour Party member and not on transit.

“It’s going to be a party of ideology and not a party where you just elect people and they b come whatever goes on.

“We must have senators who agree with us, even if we fail, we fail but it’s better to fail doing right than be on the side of wrong. We are going to do that for Nigeria.”

Bashiru Lamidi Apapa on Wednesday announced that he has assumed the leadership of the Labour Party following the Supreme Court ruling that removed Julius Abure as the national chairman of the opposition party.

Apapa made this declaration during a press conference on Wednesday, citing the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court judgement that nullified Abure’s leadership as the reason for his decision.

“I, ALH BASHIRU LAMIDI APAPA, the most senior deputy national chairman, in accordance with our party constitution, Article 14 2(a)(b), hereby take over the running of the affairs of our great party with effect from today, Wednesday, the 9th day of April 2025, in an acting capacity, with Alh. Farouk Umar Ibrahim as National Secretary,” he stated.

He further clarified that, following the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the ousted former National Chairman, Julius Abure, all actions and decisions made by Abure since April 4, 2023, are now null and void.

“My leadership calls on all members of the Labour Party to note that the National Working Committee (NWC) of our party, as of 2022, will meet next week, Monday, 14th April 2025. During this meeting, we will announce our plans, including zoning the position of National Chairman to the North and National Secretary to the South,” Apapa said.

He also announced plans to revive the moribund Board of Trustees, making it functional once more.

“The National Working Committee members listed below are hereby put on notice about the NWC meeting coming up on Monday next week, where we will immediately set in motion the conduct of Ward Congresses, Local Government Congresses, State Congresses, and National Convention, where every member of our party shall have the right to participate, provided you are a financial member,” he added.

The National Working Committee members named by Apapa include:

Deputy National Chairman NLC, Mr. Ladi Iliya
Deputy National Chairman TUC, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi
National Secretary, Alh. Umar Farouq Ibrahim
National Legal Adviser, Bar. Oyelekan Akingbade
National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi
National Treasurer, Mrs. Oluchi Opara

A former President, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, has advised the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara to ask his predecessor, Nyesom Wike for forgiveness.

He opined that the incompetence caused the crisis in the state and asked the governor to stop etnicising the impasse.

Speaking via a statement, Eradiri claimed that those who are advising Fubara to fight against Wike go cap in hand to beg the FCT Minister in private.

He said: “As for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, he is incompetent and that is what has brought all this negative energy. He should not involve ijaw in his political issues and affairs. Let him tell us how he has supported the ijaws or ijaw activities?

“How many ijaws of Rivers State did he empower that he is demanding Ijaw support now? How many of the IYC comrades in Eastern zone were LGA chairmen, commissioners and appointees in his government?

“Or are all the ijaw youths of Eastern Zone only good at supporting political fights but not good enough for appointment and empowerment? When Chief Wike visited Abalama, how much did Fubara mobilise his people? Wike is a fighter and i like his style.

“I advise Fubara to go and kneel before Wike and beg for forgiveness. Those, who are deceiving him have no balls. They go cap in hand kneeling and begging same Wike when they get it they come in the open to claim ijaw lions.

“Now, Fubara is the one outside they are there ranting. Mr. President used the state of emergency to save Fubara and the ijaw nation the embarrassment of impeachment. He should go thank and appreciate President Bola Tinubu.”

Eradiri recalled that when Wike singlehandedly made Fubara Rivers governor, no ijaw gathered or even went to thank him.

“Fubara did not buy form or even spoke a word during campaigns. Why should he now be disobeying and reneging on agreement? Men are those who keep their words and abide by agreements.”

Operations have been reportedly put to a halt at the 28,000-barrels-per-day oil production refinery in Ogidigben, Warri, Delta State, as Itsekiri natives shut down the facility on Wednesday.

In a video clip released today by TVC, hundreds of Ogidigben natives were seen protesting at the entrance of the facility.

Naija News understands that a large number of locals gathered at the oil production facility that was formerly managed by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

The protest which happened at the facility, which has recently been taken over by Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings, involved women, youth, and men.

The Itsekiri natives protested against the recommendations made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency.

The demonstrators stated that their protest would extend to other significant national assets and facilities within Itsekiri land if prompt action is not undertaken.

This protest occurred just a week after INEC suggested the delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency, following a ruling by the Supreme Court.

A significant revelation has emerged from the former Governor of Plateau State and member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fidelis Tapgun.

He has alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has been working to ensure the downfall of the PDP after losing the vice-presidential ticket on two separate occasions.

In an interview with The Sun at his Jos country home, Tapgun claimed that Wike was determined to destroy the party because he was denied the vice-presidential ticket in both the 2019 and 2023 elections.

He said, “Because of the failure to secure the vice presidential ticket, Wike is doing everything in his power to bring down the PDP.”

Tapgun further accused the FCT minister of using his influence and resources to manipulate key members of the PDP, including powerful figures within the party.

According to Tapgun, Wike’s actions are part of a broader strategy to destabilize and ultimately collapse the party.

The former governor also highlighted what he termed as unconstitutional actions within the party, notably the extended tenures of acting Chairman, Umar Damagum, and former National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

Naija News reports that Tapgun contended that both individuals were well aware that their terms had expired but continued to hold on to their positions, playing a key role in the party’s internal chaos.

He pointed out that this internal strife is being exploited to weaken the PDP, as the actions of Damagum and Anyanwu were contributing to the destabilization of the party’s structure.

Tapgun, a former minister and Nigeria’s ambassador to Kenya, expressed grave concern over the PDP’s future, claiming that the party’s inability to unite and resolve internal conflicts would make it nearly impossible for the party to challenge the ruling administration in the 2027 elections.

He said, “I don’t see the PDP surviving or being able to participate in the 2027 election due to the insincerity within the party.”

He added that the party should shift its focus beyond the 2027 elections and begin preparing for 2031, noting that the party lacked the necessary cohesion to effectively contest against President Bola Tinubu’s government, whose reforms were beginning to show positive effects on the Nigerian economy.

A Call For Reflection And Reform

Tapgun also took issue with the party’s internal elections and the ongoing power struggle over key positions. “The tussle over the chairmanship and the secretaryship of the party is part of the ploy to ensure that PDP dies a natural death,” he argued, criticizing the actions of Damagum and Anyanwu.

According to Tapgun, the party’s constitution clearly mandates that the position of the chairman belongs to the North-Central region after Iyorchia Ayu’s departure.

Similarly, Anyanwu, who had resigned to contest the Imo State governorship election, no longer had the legal or moral grounds to remain as secretary.

In his conclusion, Tapgun expressed doubt about the party’s ability to reinvent itself in time to mount a serious challenge to the ruling government in the upcoming elections.

“People organizing now should just forget it because I don’t see the party coming together to confront the present administration in the election,” he said, adding that the actions of some members had taken advantage of the party’s popularity to destroy it. However, he expressed hope that the PDP might look to 2031 for a more structured and unified attempt at governance.

Barely 48 hours after the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee of the Labour Party threatened to sanction LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, over Wednesday’s meeting, the camps of the duo told PUNCH Online that the summit will hold as planned.

The Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku, and Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, disclosed this in two separate phone chats.

The clarifications come in the wake of speculations that Obi and Otti had chickened out following Abure’s threat of sanction.

“Who are those speculating about the nonsense? This is the real theatre of the absurd. If someone were acting this out as a Nollywood script, everyone would say this scriptwriter is a foolish and demented scriptwriter. Nigerians can innovate the good, the bad and the ugly,” Ndubuaku kicked.

The union leader, however, confirmed that he would be attending the event.

Ibrahim also dispelled the insinuation, saying all the invited stakeholders are ready to storm the venue today.  He said, “It is not true. There is nothing like that. If it was postponed, I would have issued you and other media persons an official statement on that.”

When asked about the threat of sanctions on his principal and the governor, the spokesman declined to comment.

“We don’t want any drama with the Labour Party or join issues with members of the party,” he said.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that the Abure-led NEC sacked LP Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene, from his position over his alleged involvement in anti-party activities.

The NEC also vowed to direct the disciplinary committee to sanction Obi and Otti if they go ahead with their planned stakeholders’ engagement on Wednesday and other activities that may undermine the party.

The development was announced in the communique read to journalists by the Labour Party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk, at the end of a NEC meeting held at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

Earlier, both Abure and Obi had simultaneously called for separate meetings of the National Executive Committee to discuss the future of the party following Friday’s judgment by the Supreme Court.

While Abure’s NEC was held at the national headquarters on Monday, Obi and Governor Alex Otti moved their stakeholders’ summit to Wednesday to a yet-to-be-named venue.

The feuding parties made the summons in separate terse statements made available to PUNCH Online.

When contacted for reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, insisted that the NEC, which is the highest organ in the party, has made its position known.

“However, we are watching the development and will respond at the right time,” Obiora said.

Niger military government has officially made Hausa the country’s new national language, moving away from its colonial past where French played a central role.

The change was announced in a new charter released on March 31, published in a special edition of the government’s official journal.

According to the document, “The national language is Hausa,” and “the working languages are English and French.”

Hausa is already the most commonly spoken language across Niger, especially in the Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua regions.

Most of the country’s population of about 26 million people understand and speak Hausa. In comparison, only around three million people, just 13 per cent, can speak French.

The new charter also officially lists nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “the spoken languages of Niger.”

This language switch follows a national meeting held in February. 

During that event, the military government received more support and General Abdourahamane Tiani, the junta leader, was given approval to stay in power for five more years.

Since taking over in a coup in July 2023, which removed the country’s civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, the junta has been cutting off ties with France.

These actions include removing French troops from the country, ending diplomatic relations, and changing the names of roads and buildings that used to carry French names.

Like Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which also have military governments and used to be French colonies, are taking similar steps.

They’ve also pulled out of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, a group similar to the Commonwealth that supports French-speaking nations.

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has approved the appointment of a new chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

According to the statement, the new RSIEC Chairman, Dr Micheal Ekpai Odey, will work with six members and four professors.

The appointment was announced in a Government Special Announcement issued on Wednesday by Prof. Ibibia Worika, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government.

The statement, which was sent to newsmen, said the appointment takes effect from Monday, 7th of April 2025.

It reads, “The Following have also been appointed as Chairman and members of the Rivers State Electoral Commission:

“Dr Micheal Ekpai Odey, Chairman
Mr Lezaasi Lenee Torbira member
Prof  Author Nwafor
Professor Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha Member
Professor (Dame) Joyce Akaninwor Member
Dr (Mrs) Olive A. Bruce Member
Professor Chidi Halliday Member.

“All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025”.

Recall that Ibas had last week suspended the heads of all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state, including the RSIEC, then headed by Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.)