After 7 years on the run, NDLEA arrests wanted drug kingpin with 11.6kg cocaine, meth . Raids Lagos hotel, recovers party drugs; intercepts Italy, Pakistan-bound consignments in Golden Morn cereal packs, condiments; destroys 101,150kg skunk in Osun forest
Operatives of a special operations unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a wanted 60-year-old drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, ending seven years of evading the long arm of the law, even as he was caught attempting to ship large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine to the Southeast and other parts of the country.
Okpara who has been on the wanted list of NDLEA since 2019 was eventually nabbed at his hideout at 72 Micheal Ojo Street, Isheri in Ojo area of Lagos state on Sunday 13th July 2025 following the interception of some of his consignments at 5:45am same day at Ilasamaja along Apapa-Oshodi expressway. In the early morning operation, a team of NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence arrested one of Okparas couriers, 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi while heading to Onitsha, Anambra state in a white Toyota Sienna vehicle.
The agencys sniffer dogs were subsequently brought in to search the vehicle after which 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine were found hidden in body compartments of the space bus. A follow up operation was promptly carried out at Okparas hideout in Isheri where additional 1.8kg cocaine and 1.3kg methamphetamine were recovered from his residence.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, NDLEA operatives in a joint operation with Aviation Security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Wednesday 16th July recovered 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from the luggage of an Italy-bound passenger, Omoregie Nice Uyiosa. The suspect who was going to Italy via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight claimed he purchased the drugs himself, hoping to sell them in Italy at higher prices. In another arrest at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives at the export shed on Thursday 17th July intercepted 17 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1.70kg concealed in packs of popular cereal, Golden Morn, going to Pakistan as part of a consolidated cargo. A suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna who presented the consignment for shipment was arrested. In Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 19th July raided Sarah Sam Hotels located at 115 Ogudu road in Kosofe where different party drugs are being distributed and sold. The raid followed credible intelligence and surveillance which confirmed a suspect Obayemi Oyetade as the arrowhead of the drug network. At the time of the operation, 1.30kg Chocolate Cannabis, 900grams of gummies and 22.9grams of skunk were recovered from Obayemis room in the hotel, which is a 20-room facility run as a family business, housing his mother and siblings. Other items recovered from the hotel include three vehicles.
Three suspects: Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi and Emmanuel Madu were on Saturday 19th July, arrested during an intelligence-led raid at Narayi High Cost area of Chikun LGA, Kaduna State, where 742.866 kilograms of skunk, and Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis were seized from them. In Kano, Lawan Rabiu was nabbed with 36,000 pills of tramadol along Danbatta-Kazaure road, on Wednesday 16th July.
While a total of 25,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from a suspect Aliyu Abubakar, at Gombe roundabout on Friday 18th July, the duo of Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were arrested same day with 49 blocks of compressed skunk that weighed 29kg at Kwadom, Yemaltu Deba LGA, Gombe state. In Borno, NDLEA officers on patrol along Baga road, Maiduguri, on Saturday 19th July intercepted 74,360 pills of opioids in a Mercedes Benz C180 car marked GUB 409 AA and arrested Audu Modu, 44, in connection with the seizure, while in Bayelsa state, a 63-year-old grandma Akuna Nelson was on Thursday 17th July arrested at Osiri area of Yenagoa in connection with the seizure of 163 litres of skuchies.
Four suspects: Ikechukw Abugu, 42; Sunday Ani, 18; Chukwu Christian, 46; and Emmanuel Olisakwe, 55, were on Thursday 17th July arrested by NDLEA operatives along Okene-Lokoja highway, Kogi state in connection with the seizure of 2kg methamphetamine recovered during a search of their vehicle coming from Onitsha, Anambra state to Minna, Niger state.
In Abia state, NDLEA officers on Monday 14th July raided the base of a notorious drug dealer, Nduka Obi, 39, at 4 Niger street, Ugwa road, Aba, where various quantities of tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and a total of N736,000 monetary exhibit were recovered from him. While a total of 45,000 pills of tramadol were seized from a suspect Chisom Okpalaeke, 30, by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Onitsha - Enugu expressway, Enugu state on Wednesday 16th July, officers of the Taraba state command of the agency same day apprehended the duo of Ngwokwoka Thomas, 44, and Mohammed Audu, 44 with 10,000 caps of tramadol and a gram of cannabis at Dan Anacha, Gassol LGA.
The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Badeggi, Niger; Dah Model Academy, Ngurore, Adamawa; Icon Academy, Nsukka, Enugu; Government Technical College, Nkpor, Anambra and Madrisatul Tahfizul Qur'an Wa Ulumud Deen, Jaba Fagge, Kano state; among others. While commending the officers and men of MMIA, SOU, Lagos, Kaduna, Osun, Bayelsa, Gombe, Borno, Abia, Kogi, Enugu, and Taraba Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Sunday 20th July 2025
Unbelievable ! I did not know just how ill HE President Buhari was and minutes after sending my get well wishes I have just learned that he passed away. I am so very sad. May the Soul of HE @MBuhari rest in perfect peace. My deepest condolences to the entire Buhari family and his close aides and associates.
I am just learning of HE President Buhari’s @MBuhari health situation. Your Excellency we all pray for your good health and speedy recovery. I appreciate the support you gave me in my current position during your time in office. Wishing you the very best.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in microwaves imported from Thailand and wraps of cocaine built into ladies’ lipsticks going to Guinea at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in microwaves imported from Thailand and wraps of cocaine built into ladies’ lipsticks going to Guinea at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.
The Loud consignment was part of a consolidated cargo that came in two tranches on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Based on credible intelligence, the cargo was subjected to thorough search during which 23 parcels of loud weighing 11.3kg concealed in new microwaves were recovered on Monday 7th July 2025. A suspect Ezenwegbu Chike has been arrested in connection with the seizure.
Barely a week after a total of 420grams of cocaine factory fitted in 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the UK were seized at a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Lagos airport have intercepted another consignment of cocaine built into ladies’ lipsticks as part of a cargo containing hair attachments, face powder, and other items heading to Malabo, Guinea.
No less than 400grams of cocaine and phenacetine, a cutting agent, were recovered from the lipsticks when dismantled while a businessman at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos, Ezeikwelume Prince Afam was arrested on Friday 11th July in connection with the seizure.
Meanwhile, a notorious drug kingpin Okechukwu Izugha (a.k.a Okey Omeogo) has been arrested in Lagos by operatives of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA after 12 months of going into hiding. He was nabbed on Wednesday 9th July at his wife’s shop in Ijesha market.
Izugha came under NDLEA radar on 7th August 2024 after a 9kg cocaine was recovered from a suspect Obiora Joseph Agudosi at a motor park in Orile, Lagos while going to deliver the consignment in the southeast. Izugha was identified as the owner of the seized drug. In the course of investigating the kingpin and his network, his wife Maureen Izugha was arrested with 500grams of cocaine at her beverages store in Ijesha market on 21st January 2025. She was thereafter arraigned in court, convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment. Unknown to him that NDLEA was still on his trail, the wanted kingpin came out of his hiding and was promptly arrested last Wednesday.
In Edo state, no fewer than 28,054.053 kilograms of skunk, a local strain of cannabis, were destroyed on three farms measuring over 11 hectares at Ewere Uzebba forest in Owan West local government area on Tuesday 8th July, while 82kg of already processed cannabis was recovered from the location. The NDLEA operatives who went for the operation however came under gun attack from armed members of the cartel on their way out of the forest. They were able to repel the attack and came out unhurt while one of their operational vehicles was riddled with bullets.
In Lagos, 1,400 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 700kg and a Ford delivery truck marked JJJ 698 YJ were recovered at Okun -Ajah Beach, while two suspects: Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul were nabbed along Ajah -Epe expressway by NDLEA operatives on Friday 11th July. Recovered from them include: 26kg Ghana Loud, 123grams of methamphetamine and 45grams of Molly as well as their delivery van with registration number AJK 191 LG.
While NDLEA operatives in Borno state on Saturday 12th July arrested Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi, 42, with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine, pills of tramadol and rohypnol at Njimtilo, Maiduguri, coming on the heels of the seizure of 10,000 pills of tramadol from another suspect Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu, 34, on Wednesday 9th July, their counterparts in Gombe state recovered a total of 116,226 pills of tramadol and D-5 from five suspects: Hafiz Bello, 22; Isah Suleman, 48; Kabiru Muhammed, 30; Abdullahi Adamu, 30; and Abel Murna, 25, at Gombe main market and along Gombe-Kano road on Tuesday 8th and Saturday 12th July.
A suspect, Sabiu Bala was on Thursday 10th July arrested along Okene-Lokoja expressway in Kogi state while conveying 316.600kg skunk, while another suspect Haladu Suleiman, 38, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives with 58.805kg of same substance in Gubuchi area of Ikara LGA, Kaduna state.
In Taraba state, three suspects: Auwal Ibrahim, 30; Lukman Ibrahim, 18; and Hamza Adamu, 25, were on Saturday 12th July arrested by NDLEA officers at Lanka Viri checkpoint while conveying 577,890 pills of opioids and 1.160kg skunk concealed in tyre compartment of a petrol tanker marked MUB 334 YH. The arrest of the trio on Tuesday 8th July followed credible intelligence. Three other suspects: Shamsudini Abdullahi, 35; Adamu Abdullahi,21; and Magaji Rabo, 26, were nabbed with 48.1kg skunk at Janguza barracks area of Kano state by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 9th July.
The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Word of Promise High School, Calabar, Cross River; Government Girls Arabic Senior Secondary School, Indabo Wudil, Kano; Community Secondary School, Umundu, Enugu; Okemagba Senior High School, Epe, Lagos; Bishop Gideon Otubelu Memorial College, Ukpo, Anambra; and traditional rulers in Bende area of Abia state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, SOU, Edo, Lagos, Taraba, Kano, Kogi, Gombe, Borno and kaduna Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
The South East PDP has officially presented SKE Udeh-Okoye to the PDP National Working Committee as the Zone's recommended substantive National Secretary. They were received by the Deputy National Chairman, South. All Zonal Officers, PDP National Assembly members from the South East were present.
The body of the late Pope Francis will be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday at 9:00 AM to lie in state until his funeral on Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.
The Holy See Press Office announced on Tuesday that Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside at the funeral Mass, which will be concelebrated by Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests from across the globe.
The Eucharistic celebration will conclude with the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, or nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of Pope Francis' soul.
The late Pope's body will then be taken into St. Peter’s Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for entombment.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the coffin containing the Pope’s body will be carried from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of translation on April 23, which will begin at 9:00 AM with a moment of prayer.
The procession will pass through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs, according to the Holy See Press Office.
The procession will then exit through the Arch of the Bells into St. Peter’s Square and enter the Vatican Basilica through the central door.
At the Altar of the Confession, the Cardinal Camerlengo will preside over the Liturgy of the Word, at the conclusion of which the visits to the body of the Roman Pontiff will commence.
The Vatican's certification of Pope Francis' death:
Vatican City, 21 April 2025
DEATH OF HIS HOLINESS FRANCIS
I certify that His Holiness Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio), born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on 17 December 1936, resident in Vatican City, Vatican citizen, died at 7.35 a.m. on 21/04/2025 in his apartment at Domus Santa Marta (Vatican City) due to:
- CEREBRAL STROKE - COMA - IRREVERSIBLE CARDIAC ARREST
In a patient suffering from:
- Previous episode of acute respiratory failure in bilateral multimicrobial pneumonia - Multiple bronchiectasis - Arterial hypertension - Type II diabetes
Death was confirmed by electrocardiographic recording. I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the causes of death are those indicated above.
The Director of the Health and Hygiene Department of the Vatican City State
Of course, everyone knows that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in France. He has been there since the second day of this month, just about three weeks now. That one is clear. What is unclear is precisely what Nigeria’s president is doing in a foreign country for three weeks, or who is in charge at home right now.
Since 1999, three parallel but often connected cultures are taking hold in Nigerian politics and the press. The first is the increasing tendency by government officials to be dishonest with Nigerians about critical or even the most basic governance issues. The second is the unsettled position of the vice president and deputy governors, particularly when a president or governor is unavailable to do their jobs. And perhaps worse, there is the tendency for the press to treat both of these issues very differently, depending on the ‘colour’ of the people involved. The press goes hysterical when some kinds of people are involved, but becomes silent when other kinds of people are involved in the same kinds of political events and activities. I will discuss the first today, and the rest some other time.
Yes, we know that President Tinubu is in France. But it is becoming increasingly clear that Tinubu is not there for what the government claimed, which could mean that the presidency has been dishonest with Nigerians about a critical issue. As the Punch newspaper reported on Wednesday, April 2, Tinubu took off for Paris “on a two-week working visit” that morning. The report cited a statement released by presidential adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and stated further that during his stay in Paris, “the president will appraise his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones”. It added that the president will use the visit as “a retreat” to “review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary”.
All of that would have seen him returning home by Wednesday, April 16. But in response to mounting criticism from opposition politicians, the presidency released yet another statement late Thursday, April 17, indicating that the president’s “two-week working visit” in France has been extended. As Daily Trust reported the following day on April 18, Tinubu would now return “to resume his official duties after the Easter holidays,” although he has been “closely monitoring developments in the country.”
“The president left Paris for London at the weekend and has maintained constant communication with key government officials, overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country,” the same presidential source, Onanuga, was reported to have added.
The contradictions in the two versions of the stories are evident to Nigerians, or at least should be, if not to the presidency itself. First of all, presidents do not work in foreign lands, except during bilateral or multilateral state visits or other meetings. None of that is the case for Tinubu’s stay in Paris. He has not been reported meeting with any French or European officials, and there is not any multi-lateral or international event in either London or Paris that he is attending. If there is, many African and other leaders would also have been there, and we would know about it. This, in short, is not the sort of meetings that happen between leaders to strike deals on the sidelines of a major international event. In any case, “after the Easter holidays” is not a specific date, and the specifics are important in this context.
The government has released reports and pictures of Tinubu’s meeting with a senior US state department official in Paris mid last week, but that is all. But Paris is neither the seat of the Nigerian government nor of the United States. A Nigerian president does not need to travel all the way to Paris to meet with no more than mildly consequential US government officials. That is why presidents have an office and a house in the same building in their own home countries. And if the meeting were that important, then the president can go to Washington directly, or those US officials can come to Abuja, or better still both can meet via Zoom to save taxpayer money.
Moreover, this newspaper reported Onanuga as saying that the “US State Department’s representative conveyed President Trump’s interest in deepening direct engagement with Nigeria as a cornerstone of US relations with Africa.” The US government, Onanuga added, “wanted to work closely with President Tinubu to expand America’s investment in Nigeria and Africa, support energy and infrastructure development, and align trade and job creation efforts.”
The spin in this statement should be clear to readers. The Nigerian presidency is trying to frame Tinubu’s long stay in Paris as a plus for Nigeria, an active-duty event, even at a moment of violent inter-communal conflicts back home. This spin falls flat on its face, however. Not only that such a meeting should not be happening in France, but more importantly, it should not take a Nigerian president three weeks away from home to hold. How can a presidential meeting with middling American officials be more important than the leader’s presence at home at this time?
Three weeks is too long a time for any presidential meeting, even when everything is normal back home. This is why the idea that President Tinubu is “monitoring” the situation at home rankles deeply. Monitoring the situation at home and issuing “directives” from elsewhere? That is like treating a country like property or one’s private business. But Nigeria, it must be said, is not anyone’s farm or private business. It is like telling Nigerians directly that their lives do not matter, or matter enough for the president. Of course, a president can travel out of their country to other countries for official functions or even personal business or holiday. They are human beings too, and deserve their time away from work.
However, once there is unrest, natural disasters or other emergencies at home, the leader is expected to return home to lead from the front, not “monitoring the situation” on the phone, if at all. The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer cancelled a planned holiday to lead his government’s response to the far-right riots last year. Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, cut short his then ongoing official tour of Europe and returned home to lead relief efforts when a deadly earthquake broke out across several states in April 2015. Perhaps President Tinubu can learn a thing or two about citizen-focused political leadership from his peers around the world.
This brings us to the crux of the matter. President Tinubu is most likely not in France for an extended “working visit”, however the government spins it. The president is probably there for a medical check-up, holiday or some other reasons. Whatever the actual reason for this trip is, the statements put out by the government so far are merely intended to hide it. But hiding information such as that from citizens can be more harmful than useful. And it is high time Nigerian leaders began to take their relationships and connections with Nigerians more seriously. More than that, the government’s spin is probably designed to prevent Nigerians from asking the important question of who is in charge of the country right now?
While we wish the president a safe return, whatever the trip, we must also ask: Where is our president?
NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books, arrests bandits’ supplier with drugs in private part
...Recovers 563kg skunk, meth, heroin in Bayelsa warehouse, arrests 4; destroys cannabis farms in Edo forest
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of cocaine concealed in 20 sets of religious books going to Saudi Arabia.
The cocaine consignment consisting of 20 parcels with a total weight of 500grams and buried in the pages of the religious books was uncovered at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday 15th April 2025 when NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) were searching through export cargos going to Saudi Arabia at the logistics firm.
At another courier company same day, NDLEA officers intercepted five parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 2.8 kilograms hidden in a carton coming from the United States of America.
In Kano, a 22-year-old supplier of illicit substances to bandits, Muhammad Mohammed, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bichi - Kano road while heading to Katsina with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection tied to his thigh and private part with Sellotape. He was intercepted on Sunday 13th April, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was nabbed same day at Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano with 68 blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 30kg.
Not less than 557.2kg of skunk, 5.6kg of methamphetamine and 29.8grams of heroin were recovered from a house along Major General Isaiah Alllison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state where four suspects were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided the premises on Wednesday 16th April. The four suspects arrested during the raid include: Sarimiye Suwa Kurtis, 46; Roland Prosper, 34; Sarimiye Tare Paul, 45; and Fidelis Ugbesla, 46.
While a total of 1,100 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a delivery van with the driver, Ismail Abdullahi arrested in Surulere area of Lagos on Thursday 17th April, NDLEA operatives in Kaduna on Friday 18th April raided the hideout of a suspect, Ike Ani, 30, in Zaria, where no fewer than 31,950 pills of tramadol 225mg and diazepam were recovered.
In Kebbi, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bagudo road on Friday 18th April intercepted a vehicle loaded with bags of charcoal coming from Malabil, Benin Republic. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 97kg skunk concealed in the sacks of charcoal. Three suspects: Abubakar Ibrahim, 50; Mustapha Aliyu, 32; and Bashar Lawali, 28, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 48-year-old Okafor Marcel was nabbed with 11.5kg skunk at Abatete, Anambra state while NDLEA operatives in Osogbo, Osun state on Tuesday 15th April arrested Ajala Mercy, 27, with 43 litres of skushi, a mixture of black currant, cannabis and opioids recovered from her room at Dada estate, Halleluyah area of the state capital.
Two cannabis farms in Egbeta forest, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state were raided by NDLEA operatives who destroyed 3,717.8625kg of the psychoactive plant on 1.487145 hectares and recovered 136.5kg of processed cannabis.
At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, a suspect Basorun Usman Kayode, 40, who has been at large for two years was arrested by NDLEA officers in connection with the seizure of 107kg Loud imported from Cannada in 2023, while another suspect, Dauda Yakubu who distributes illicit drugs within the seaport community was arrested by a team of operatives on Monday 14th April.
The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of St. Michael Anglican Primary School, Epe, Lagos; Community Grammar School, Ipoti Ekiti, Ekiti state; College of Education, Minna, Niger state; traders at Igbona market, Osogbo, Osun state; traders at Marian Market, Calabar, Cross River; drivers and others at Peace Mass Transit park, Upper Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Kano, Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, Osun, Zone 13, Edo and Tincan Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Sunday 20th April 2025
'FOR A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR': VALENTINE OZIGBO'S STATEMENT ON NEXT STEP ON ANAMBRA 2025
When institutions falter, it is the duty of conscience to rise. I have taken that stand—not for self, but for truth, for justice, and for Ndi Anambra.
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, I took a consequential step in fighting for truth and justice. I filed a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the deeply flawed process that purportedly produced Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu as the flagbearer of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the November 2025 Anambra Governorship Election.
Let us be clear: the April 5, 2025 exercise was not a primary election—it was a well-scripted illusion. A contrived delegate list filled with names unfamiliar to even the most seasoned party leaders was used for the guber primary.
Real APC members were locked out while chaos reigned. No accreditation, no order; just thugs, violence, and a herd of hired hands masquerading as delegates. A predetermined outcome had been written before the game even began.
That three aspirants withdrew from the race is telling. These men had recognised a set-up when they saw one. A primary is the party's prerogative, yes; but the party must comply with its own rules. It must not make a mockery of its own constitution.
The crux of the matter is that Mr Ukachukwu did not qualify to run under the APC in the first place. He failed to meet the minimum threshold for eligibility. And yet, the party machinery was twisted to serve his ambition.
Now, Ukachukwu parades himself, declaring the theatre of deceit that April 5 represents as "free and fair." It is an insult to the intelligence of our people and a stain on the integrity of our party. While he fiddles like Emperor Nero, APC in Anambra is burning. The house is on fire; mass resignations, lawsuits, broken trust and the so-called candidate dances, oblivious to the smoke and embers.
But I see what Ukachukwu pretends not to see. I will not stand by while the moral architecture of our party collapses under the weight of fraud.
Having exhausted our party's internal mechanism of writing promptly to the Appeal Committees after both the flawed Delegate Congress and the Primary, I have taken this matter to court; not to chase shadows or titles but to defend the values that matter: Justice. Fairness. Due process. It is not merely my candidacy at stake but the soul of our party and, by extension, our democracy.
To be clear, I am not desperate for power. I am not asking for favours. I seek only what is just, and what is right. I believe the APC can be a home for reform, for leadership, for progress. But we must be courageous enough to clean our house when wrong is done. We cannot afford to decorate deceit with silence.
Our aim is not to fracture the party but to fortify it; to restore its integrity, renew its credibility, and secure its future as a vehicle for true democratic leadership.
Let history record that when a corrupt process attempted to masquerade as legitimacy, we did not stay silent. We stood up. We spoke out. We acted for justice, for our children, and for the future we all deserve.
Ejike George, a former Chief Magistrate in Rivers State, has revealed why he resigned rather than take orders from the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.).
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, George justified his resignation, saying he was not trained to take instructions from a military adminstrator.
“I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot,” he stated.
The former magistrates faulted President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, noting that there was no crisis in Rivers State to have warranted the move.
“It is not fair to the people of Rivers State,” George added.
“My reason for resignation is simply because I cannot adapt to the military style of adjudication that would be introduced by the reason of the sole administrator.
“As a magistrate, our courts are courts of summary jurisdiction. Our proceedings are not guided by the constitution of this country. That being the case, it means that I would take directives from my employer, who is the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
“We, in turn, take some level of directive from the governor; that would have been the elected governor who had acted as the chief security officer of the state.
“I am simply saying that I cannot take instructions from a military administrator. I cannot. In the entire 16 years that I served with the Rivers State Judiciary, I have taken instructions from civilian administrators.
“I do not know how I am going to adapt and now begin to take instructions from a military administrator. I find it very strange.
“The judiciary did not take us to any previous training on how to work with military administrators. Until that is done, I don’t know how even my colleagues would cope.
“So, for me, unfortunately, I am not the type that would keep my mouth shut. So, I decided to throw in the towel and go home and look for something else to do,” he stated.
George also criticised the Rivers State Judicial Commission for claiming that he was due for voluntary retirement and did not resign.
“I never faced any panel for any misconduct,” he said, challenging the commission to publish the report of any misconduct against him.
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY PDP GOVERNORS' FORUM AFTER ITS 2025/4TH MEETING HELD IN IBADAN ON MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025
The Peoples Democratic Party Governors' Forum (PDPGF) held its 2025/4th Meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, and resolved the following;
1. Noting the nationwide speculations about possible merger of political parties, groups and/or associations, the Forum resolved that the PDP will not join any coalition or merger. However, the PDP as a major opposition party welcomes any party, persons or groups that are willing to join it with a view to wrestling power and enthroning good leadership in 2027.
2. The Forum reiterates its position taken in Asaba on the issue of the National Secretary of the party, but in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment, Forum resolved to recommend that the Deputy National Secretary acts as National Secretary, pending the nomination and ratification of a Substantive Secretary from the South East Zone and NEC respectively at its next meeting.
3. The Forum reasserts our collective determination to avert a rape of our constitutional democracy hence the decision of approaching the Supreme Court to give a clear cut verdict on the interpretation of the provisions of the law on the declaration of State of Emergency in any state.
The Forum restates its solidarity with His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on the ordeal into which his state and people are being plunged by the declaration of a state of emergency. And we reiterate our commitment to stand with him till the end.
4. The Forum finds alarming the worsening security situation in the country, as evidenced in parts of the country especially Borno, Plateau, Katsina and Edo States. The Forum calls for review and reordering of priorities and strategies including adopting a bottom up template that guarantees the sub-nationals to constitute an effective line of defence against security breaches. While raising the concerns above, we condemn the recent attacks in Plateau State, and commiserate with the government and people of the state especially those who lost their lives and properties during this unfortunate mishap.
5. The Forum resolves that working in conjunction with the National Working Committee (NWC) and other relevant organs of the party, to hold a NEC Meeting on the 27th of May, 2025; constitute a Zoning Committee that will address all issues relating to zoning of party offices and hold an early convention in August 2025, precisely on the 28th, 29th and 30th in the ancient city of Kano.
6. The Forum equally recommends the constitution of the Zoning and National Convention Committees for ratification by the NWC and NEC as follows;
Zoning Committee: Gov. Douye Diri – Chairman; Gov. Dauda Lawal – Vice Chairman and Gov. Caleb Mutfwang – Secretary, while the National Convention Committee has Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri as Chairman; Gov. Ademola Adeleke as Vice Chairman and Gov. Peter Mbah as Secretary.
7. The Forum expressed its gratitude to the host Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the government and good people of Oyo state for their hospitality.
THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WERE:
1) H.E. Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Governor, Bauchi State & Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum 2) H.E. Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke , Osun State 3) H.E. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Adamawa State 4) H.E. Seyi Makinde , Oyo State 5) H.E. Douye Diri, Bayelsa State 6) H E. Dauda Lawal , Zamfara State 7) H.E. Agbu Kefas , Taraba State H.E Barr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah - Enugu State 9) H.E. Senator Dr Akon Eyakenyi, Deputy Governor – Akwa Ibom State 10) H.E Sir Monday Onyeme, Deputy Governor - Delta State.
Signed: H.E. Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Governor, Bauchi State & Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, April 14, 2025.
No fewer than 47 people died on Sunday night in Zike community in Kimakpa communities, located in Kwall District of Bassa local government of Plateau State.
The attack took place over a week after a similar one in Bokkos local government area which claimed 52 lives with property worth millions destroyed.
The National Secretary of the Irigwe Development Association, Danjuma Dickson Auta, confirmed the incident in Jos on Monday.
He said that the attacks occurred around 8:00 pm resulting in the deaths of 47 people and leaving many others injured.
Fed Govt to deploy more troops in troubled Plateau communities, says COAS Th Plateau Police command is yet to react to the incident.
The Plateau State Government expressed deep concerns over the alleged occupation of communities by armed groups, a situation that continues to fuel tensions across the region.
PUBLIC STATEMENT: On the Aftermath of the APC Anambra Gubernatorial Primary Election, April 5, 2025
My dear friends, supporters, members of our great party, and Ndi Anambra,
First, I give glory to God Almighty — the source of strength, grace, and clarity. In moments of darkness, His light always finds a way to shine through. His mercies endure and renew each day, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.
Yesterday, I formally submitted a petition to the Appeals Committee of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the so-called primary election conducted in Anambra on April 5, 2025. That exercise, by all observable standards, was a charade — a well-orchestrated heist designed to deliver a predetermined outcome.
The facts are now public: non-party members populated the delegate list; genuine party faithful were locked out or violently barred from voting; accreditation was either skipped or manipulated; and votes were counted without transparency.
This is not just about me. It is about the soul of our democracy. About the values we claim to represent. About the future we owe our children.
Now, many are asking, “Val, what next?” My answer is simple and unshaken: I will stay the course. I did not join politics to decorate the register, receive accolades, or shop for appointments. I came to be part of a generation that restores integrity to our political system, that makes governance accountable, and that builds the kind of country we all deserve.
My mission is clear. It is to serve Ndi Anambra with humility, vision, and excellence. That mission began long before April 5, and it will continue far beyond the treachery of that day.
Thus, I will not be distracted. I will not run to the Senate, nor will I pivot to another political opportunity for the sake of ambition. I will stand firm, here, in the APC, and I will fight this good fight to its just end. Because Ndi Anambra are worth it. Because our democracy is worth it.
History teaches us that freedom is never freely given — it is fought for. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States, Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom, Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, Nigeria’s own fight for independence from the British — all remind us that oppression always fights back before it breaks. That is what we are witnessing today: the dying kicks of a system scared of change. But Anambra must change for good. And it will.
Let me be clear: I am not a transactional politician. I do not seek power for its own sake. I seek it to make a difference — to restore dignity, create jobs, secure lives, and light a path for the next generation. The sham of April 5 was not just a fraud against me; it was a theft against Ndi Anambra.
To the architects of that manipulation, I say this; The future cannot be bribed or bullied. The people are watching. History is recording.
To our supporters — the dreamers, the believers, the Valiants, and the tireless builders of this Movement — I say: Keep your heads up. Our mission continues. Stay strong. Stay hopeful. We will not back down. We will not break.
Let us remind the APC that this election is a defining moment — not just for Anambra, but for the credibility of our party and the soul of our nation. The Party still has a chance to right this wrong and present a candidate who can truly win and govern.
May wisdom guide us, may courage strengthen us, and may the grace of God continue to carry us.
Address by Barrister Julius Abure, National Chairman of the Labour Party, to the National Executive Council (NEC) – April 7, 2025
Distinguished Members of the National Executive Committee, Esteemed Party Leaders, and Fellow Nigerians, I welcome you all to this critical session of our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of our Party. Recent developments within our party, particularly in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's pronouncement on the leadership matter, have necessitated this gathering. It is imperative that we, as the stewards of the Labour Party, offer clarity and reaffirm our collective resolve to uphold the sanctity of our constitution, the unity of our structures, and the integrity of our leadership.
Let me begin by extending our profound appreciation to the Supreme Court of Nigeria for its courageous and principled stance in affirming the supremacy of political parties in managing their internal affairs. In its judgement concerning the Labour Party, the apex court unequivocally reasserted that leadership disputes arising within a political party remain within the exclusive purview of the party’s constitution and governance structures. Accordingly, the Court declined jurisdiction in the appeal brought by Senator Nenadi Usman, thereby reinforcing the foundational principle of party autonomy. This judgment is not merely a legal victory for the Labour Party, it is a significant affirmation of democratic tenets and a milestone for institutional development in Nigeria’s political landscape.
It[b] is, however, regrettable that certain actors, most notably Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha, have chosen to misrepresent the ruling, deliberately misleading the public and attempting to manufacture confusion through a purported “Caretaker Committee.” Let it be stated categorically: this so-called committee is both unconstitutional and illegitimate. Those who convened the meeting in Umuahia lacked the legal authority to do so. Neither holds the office of National Chairman nor National Secretary as required by our party’s constitution.[/b]
Permit me to provide an unambiguous account of the current status of our leadership.
The Labour Party held a valid National Convention in 2019, whose tenure was constitutionally due to end in June 2023. In response to the extraordinary demands of the 2023 general elections, our NEC, meeting in Asaba in April of that year, authorized a one-year extension, pushing the end of tenure to June 9, 2024. In line with this resolution and the constitution of our party, a fresh National Convention was duly convened and held on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi, Anambra State. All procedures relating to that Convention were properly executed, and multiple court rulings have validated the legitimacy of the convention.
Furthermore, our Constitution, specifically Articles 12 and 14 of the amended 2024 edition, clearly outlines the structure and authority of the party’s organs. Article 14 vests the power to issue notices for meetings of the National Convention, the NEC, and the National Working Committee (NWC) in the National Secretary, but only with the consultation and approval of the National Chairman. All proper procedures were followed in the convening of the March 2024 Convention, and the actions taken were both constitutional and widely endorsed.
Let it be known across the federation and beyond: there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party. The National Working Committee, under my chairmanship, remains the recognized and legitimate leadership body of our party. We shall not cede ground to illegitimate actors or unconstitutional contraptions posing as transition committees.
As regards the supreme court judgment, I wish to specifically states as follows:
a)The court asserted the supremacy of the party over its internal affairs and that leadership of a political party is not for any court to decide as it is a no go area for the court and so the court DID NOT sack the NWC under my leadership.
b)The apex court DID NOT set aside the decision of the court below in CA/ABJ/1172/2024 BTW LABOUR PARTY VS. CHIEF EBISENI & 2 ORS decided on 13/11/2024 where it was admitted by the parties that Julius Abure is the National Chairman of the party. That decision was never appealed against and was never reviewed by the apex court. What the court set aside was the reference to it in CA/ABJ/CV/1217/2024 btw Sen. Esther Nenadi Usman & Anor VS. Labour Party & ANOR. delivered on 17/01/2025 and so that earlier decision in Ebisenis case remains binding and subsisting.
c)The apex court also admonished political parties to adhere to the provisions of their constitutions and the extant laws, especially with regards to the specified tenure of office and for any elected officer of any political party to step down at the end of their tenure for fresh elections. This is precisely what the leadership of the party did on the 27th March 2024 when it convened a National Convention to elect new officers of the party before the expiration of tenure in June 2024. The court DID NOT say that our tenure had elapsed. The court said that it is the internal mechanism of the party that produced leaders of the party. For the purpose of emphasis, before the expiration of the tenure of the Labour Party NWC elected in 2019 and extended for one year in 2023 and which expiration was supposed to occur on 9th June 2024, a new National Convention was validly convened on 27th March 2024 which produced a new leadership led by Abure and which is currently subsisting. The 27/03/2024 National Convention was in accordance with the 2019 Labour Party Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the CFRN and the INEC regulations and guidelines 2022.
The purported Labour Party Caretaker Committee emerged through unlawful, illegal, crooked, unconstitutional and mischievous means. As deposed to in a counter affidavit filed by INEC in Suit NO: A/212/24 in the High Court of Abia state, No notice was given to INEC for the 04/09/2024 so-called Stakeholders meeting held in Umuahia that produced the purported Caretaker committee. Also by Article 14(4)(b) of the Labour Party constitution, the “National Secretary shall cause to be issued notices of meetings of the National Convention, National Executive Council, The National Working Committee in consultation with and approval of the National Chairman, INEC Regulations and Guidelines for political parties operations 2022 stipulates that notices of meetings to INEC shall be signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary and Article 13(B)(XII) of Labour Party constitution mandates only the “National Executive Council to have powers to establish ad-hoc and standing committees of the party and appoint members of such committees”. By the above provisions no meeting of Labour Party held in 04/09/2024, no Caretaker Committees was set up. Also there is no provisions for any Caretaker Committee in the Labour Party Constitution and no vacancy has ever occurred in the leadership of the party.
As opined by the Apex court in this decision, the trite position is that a party is supreme over its affairs, the members and recognized organs of the party are being governed by authentic leadership elected by them on 27/03/2024. The purported Caretaker Committee are meddlesome interlopers and troublemakers whose only mission is to retard the progress of the party and are looking for collaborators.
To our teeming members and steadfast supporters across Nigeria, we assure you that the Labour Party remains united and committed to the vision of delivering transformative leadership. Our mission is clear: to usher in good governance, ensure security for our citizens, drive economic development, provide jobs, and invest meaningfully in infrastructure. Should Nigerians entrust us with power, we are prepared to lead with integrity and purpose.
On a related note, I extend our full support and solidarity to our candidate in Anambra State, Chief George Moghalu. Emerging from a transparent and credible primary election, Chief Moghalu represents the values and vision of the Labour Party. We are confident in his capacity, and we shall campaign vigorously alongside him throughout the length and breadth of Anambra to secure victory.
Finally, to all institutions, agencies, and citizens who may have received misleading narratives about the Labour Party, we urge you to rely on the facts as presented herein. Once the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment is released, we shall make it publicly available for complete transparency.
Let us move forward with unity and renewed commitment. Thank you, and may God bless you all.
Signed, Barrister. Julius Abure National Chairman Labour Party April 7, 2025
Factions of the Labour Party (LP) have summoned separate National Executive Council (NEC) meetings, each claiming the move is aimed at repositioning the party.
While the faction led by the National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, scheduled its NEC meeting to hold at the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, on Monday, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, and the Governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, have convened their own NEC meeting for April 9, also in Abuja.
Senator Neda Imasuen, who represents Edo South Senatorial District on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), has praised President Bola Tinubu for his courageous leadership, saying the south deserves to retain the presidency in 2027.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists over the weekend in Benin City, the Edo state capital, Imasuen said the president has shown “unbelievable strong courage” in navigating the affairs of the nation and should be allowed a second term.
He also welcomed the recent Supreme Court judgment sacking his kinsman, Julius Abure, as national chairman of the Labour Party, declaring that Abure did not have the party’s interest at heart.
Imasuen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, is currently the only LP senator in Edo state.
The other two senatorial seats—Edo North and Edo Central—are held by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including former Edo governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Senator Imasuen hails from the Benin Kingdom, while Abure is from Ward 3, Arue in Esan Northeast Local Government Area, Edo Central.
The representative of Edo South senatorial district, which is a stronghold of the governing APC and the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said: “I am glad to be part of this interactive session. It is a partnership that I seek. Whatever decision or direction I will take ahead of the 2027 general elections, you the journalists will be the first stakeholders to be informed.
“On the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria, the arrangement, whether written or unwritten, is that the North will do eight years, and the South will also do eight years. So, that is the battle, that is where they will be faced with the roadblock. At some point, the Northerners will agree with themselves and say let the South just finish its eight years. I do not worry about it, because it is an arrangement that is spoken or unspoken.
“There is an understanding between the North and the South. Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari was not someone whose policies I admired. As far as I am concerned, he (Buhari) did little or nothing as Nigeria’s president in eight years of two terms, but as bad as that was, everybody closed their eyes, and let him do his eight years. Even the Northerners that are agitating now, they saw Buhari, but they did not clamour that power should be taken from him, and they allowed him to do eight years. So, it is not different now that we have a President (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu), who is actually doing well.
“Why do I say he is doing well? He is a man with courage. He has such a strong courage that is unbelievable. I will give you an example, when we were faced with Tax Bill, it was a whole lot of things that happened within the Senate floor, that nobody sees it, especially when we had closed-door sessions, without cameras, recorders and reporters, people thought we were sharing money, but sometimes we were using unwanted languages and throwing tantrums at one another, just because you are holding strongly to your views.
“We are holding strongly to our views and because of that, the Northerners sometimes said they would never support President Tinubu to come for second time, but if it were to be some Presidents, they would say let me back down on this sensitive matter, so that I can come back for second term, but President Tinubu said no, I would do the right things. For me, he (President Tinubu) is a man of courage, who does not say because of second term, he will not do the right things.”
Imasuen also declared that the apex court-sacked Abure had lost focus, while there was need for sanity in LP.
He said: “Sincerely, I welcome the Supreme Court’s judgment that sacked Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman of LP in Nigeria. A lot has gone on in LP, and it is very unfortunate. So, Abure, who was the chairman of LP at the time, in my opinion, really did not have LP at heart, because it became a personal thing.
“It became something that did not really matter to them, and it was like let us fight and tear the party into pieces, instead of preserving it. That sort of thing was not what I expected from someone who led the party at a time. So, he has been dragging LP in and out of court, and now that the Supreme Court has finally sealed it, so be it. It is a welcome development.
“But the question for me and for all of us now is: where do we go from here? Someone spoke with me on the matter early this morning (April 5), and I said, I just hope that it is not a little too late of what has just come up, because LP is almost decimated. Most of the members have gone. Will this judgment bring them back? I do not know. Will it energise those who are there now? Again, I do not know. So, we need to talk.”
The LP chieftain (Imasuen) also hailed President Tinubu on his courage to conduct the important census before the 2027 general elections, in order to have accurate, not estimated population in Nigeria, and not minding the resistance from the North on the sensitive matter.
The Federal Government has commenced the screening process for candidates nominated for diplomatic roles in a bid to fill the vacant roles for its 76 embassies and 22 high commissions.
Nominees have been asked to report to the DSS offices nearest to them for security checks. Some have reportedly been contacted to provide personal education and work history.
A reliable source disclosed to Vanguard that two former south-eastern governors, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, have been screened for the role.
The source added that Shehu Sani, who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, are among the nominees who have also been screened.
The source also confirmed that former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, have already gone through the screening process and have been cleared for their prospective national assignments.
It would be recalled that in September 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, both career and non-career.
Nearly two years after their recall, the presidency, in March 2025, said that their replacements would announced “very soon.”
Vanguard recently reported that background checks were being conducted on the nominees, with information garnered from the screening shared with relevant agencies within the presidency and legislature.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, blamed the delay in appointing ambassadors on a lack of funds as foreign officials and other stakeholders raised concerns about the void in diplomatic leadership at various foreign missions.
However, with the ongoing screening exercise, the Federal Government may soon announce the names of the new diplomats and their portfolios.
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has been unanimously confirmed as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in the forthcoming November 8, 2025 Gubernatorial election.
Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Eight delegates from the three hundred and twenty six wards, cutting across the twenty one local government areas of the state, converged on Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka where they confirmed the Governor as their sole candidate through a "yes" or "no" vote.
Out of a total of three thousand, one hundred and seventy five delegates who were accredited, three thousand, one hundred and seventy two votes were cast, with four invalid votes.
A voice vote by delegates from the twenty one local government areas also went further to confirm the results of the balloting.
For the State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Barr. Ifeatu Obiokoye, what they witnessed in the primary election is an expression of what they have seen over the years under the transformative leadership of the Governor.
Chairman of the Primary Election Electoral Committee, Chief Uchenna Nwegbo noted that Governor Soludo's adoption as the sole candidate of the party, as well as the entire process complies with the electoral act, 2022.
Accepting the nomination and confirmation, Governor Soludo described the mandate and support as unprecedented, soliciting for support to continue with the progressive movement in Anambra.
While announcing and nominating Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim as his running mate, the Governor stressed that Anambra is on the rise, noting that the revolution in all sectors will continue to be deepened, working with the five pillars of development.
Under the watchful eyes of officials of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, the APGA 2025 Governorship Primary election was conducted in strict compliance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines and Regulations for Political Party Primaries.
Issuance of the nomination certificate to the Governor by the Party Primary Election Electoral Committee featured at the event.
It was gathered that thugs loyal to one of the aspirants, Ukachukwu, blocked delegates' accreditation at the governorship primary election venue in Awka.
Reports coming out of Anambra State have it that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary has descended into chaos, with Police allegedly colluding with thugs to scuttle the process.
The all-important election, taking place at the Beautiful Gate Hotel in Awka, the state's capital, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, is contested by heavyweights including Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Valentine Ozigbo, and Johnbosco Onunkwo.
However, things took a violent turn just before the process got underway as thugs allegedly loyal to one of the aspirants, Ukachukwu, and in concert with police officers, disrupted the delegate accreditation process.
[i]Trouble reportedly started around 10:37 a.m. when the hotel gate was allegedly taken over by Ukachukwu’s private security operatives and suspected thugs.
Witnesses say these thugs, with the protection of police personnel on the ground, prevented accredited delegates without Ukachukwu’s campaign identification from accessing the venue.
It was also gathered that the gate was barricaded, and only individuals carrying Ukachukwu-branded ID cards were allowed entry, as other delegates were turned away, harassed, and in some cases, physically assaulted.
A witness narrated how a male delegate was visibly rough-handled by the attackers in full view of security personnel and other delegates. The development has raised serious concerns about the integrity and fairness of the ongoing primary process.
“This is a serious matter,” said one observer who asked not to be named due to safety concerns.
“It’s not just thuggery anymore; there appears to be active collusion with security forces meant to protect us.
“The APC leadership must act decisively to ensure the safety of delegates and uphold the credibility of the process.
"This kind of thuggery cannot be allowed to go unchecked,” the observer said.
Rival supporters rise in protest Pulse gathered that the incident has triggered rapid disillusionment and anger among rival aspirants' supporters, many of whom were seen storming out of the venue in frustration.
Dr Valentine Oliobi, the Anambra State Publicity Secretary of the APC, confirmed the troubling development to reporters.
“Yes, it is true. Delegates are being stopped at the gate by Nicholas Ukachukwu’s people, and the police are cooperating with them. It is not what the party stands for,” he said.
The Valentine Ozigbo Campaign Organisation has also condemned the alleged violence and exclusionary tactics that have characterised the Anambra APC primary election.
Campaign spokesperson, Ephraim Adiele, who spoke on behalf of Ozigbo, decried what he called an attempt to “hijack the primary” through intimidation and force.
“We reject the politics of violence and call for a level playing field,” Adiele condemned in strong terms.
“Clearly, Nicholas Ukachukwu is seeking to hijack the primary. It cannot stand. The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should act now to prevent crisis.”
Several efforts to contact Ukachukwu’s camp on this allegation failed as his campaign spokesperson was not reachable.
The unfolding events have cast a shadow over the integrity of the party’s primary process, which is considered pivotal in determining the APC’s fortunes ahead of the November 2025 Anambra governorship election.
Party stakeholders are now calling on the APC's national leadership to urgently intervene, ensure the safety of delegates, and restore order to the accreditation and voting process before the situation spirals further out of control.
The recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman—declaring it meritorious—while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the Labour Party as unmeritorious, is a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone for our democracy.
It is important to emphasize that this is not a time for triumphalism—there is no victor and no vanquished. What matters most is our shared commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the Labour Party and the Nigerian people. We must now come together, united in purpose and vision, to move the party forward.
The Labour Party remains one indivisible family, steadfast in its mission to create a New Nigeria founded on justice, equity, and people-centered governance.
We call on all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm, focused, and committed to the democratic ideals that bind us.
A New Nigeria is POssible!
-Senator Nenadi E. Usman, PhD Chairman, Labour Party Caretaker Committee
Supreme Court strikes out Nenadi, Abure suits, says only Political Parties can can determine who their leaders are. It also said that the courts shouldn't dabble into the affairs of the political parties. 8 Abure is still the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal's 65th Independence Anniversary
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has departed Abuja for Dakar, Senegal, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the country's 65th Independence Day Anniversary celebrations.
Senegal celebrates its Independence Day on April 4 each year, commemorating its freedom from French colonial rule in 1960. The day is marked by national pride, with ceremonies, parades and cultural events.
The Vice President's attendance at the annual event is in honour of an invitation extended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, following the strong mutual relationship between Nigeria and Senegal.
The independence Day celebrations will be held at the Place de la Nation in Dakar, with President Faye playing host to Vice President Shettima and other distinguished guests from across Africa and beyond.
The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria tomorrow after the one-day event.
Stanley Nkwocha Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President) 3rd April, 2025
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reopened shops belonging to traders cleared of wrongdoing in Abia markets, following a crackdown on fake drugs and substandard products. The decision was announced by Martins Iluyomade, South-East Zonal Director of NAFDAC, after an appeal from the Abia State government.
Only traders found innocent will regain access to their shops, while those implicated in the sale of counterfeit medicines will face prosecution. Iluyomade emphasized NAFDAC's commitment to sanitizing the drug market and protecting public health.
The reopening is a welcome relief for traders who were not involved in the sale of fake drugs. Representatives from Eziukwu Market, Ariaria International Market, Ekumi Plaza, and Tenant Road Medicine Dealers attended a roundtable discussion to discuss the reopening.
Meanwhile, Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organization, has called on the Federal Government to protect NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who has received threats to her life. Adeyeye had raised concerns about the dangers faced by NAFDAC officials while combating counterfeit pharmaceuticals and renewed her call for stricter penalties, including the death sentence, against dealers in fake drugs.
Afenifere warned that any attack on Adeyeye would be an assault on national security and urged President Bola Tinubu to upgrade security around the NAFDAC DG, her family, and her operatives.
NLC directs Osun LG workers to stay out of Secretariats
NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS OSUN STATE COUNCIL
All NLC Osun State Council Affiliates All Osun State Local Government Workers
Dear Comrades,
23rd February, 2025
RE: SAFETY OF OUR MEMBERS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
Fraternal Greetings! The Osun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strongly affirm her earlier release notifying all Local Government Area Workers in the State to withdraw their services as a result of the political upheaval within their workplaces still subsist.
While continuing in their prayers for the state. This release further reiterates that our members safety at work is of high priority and we will not allow our members to work in an atmosphere of insecurity.
The Osun State Council of the NLC remains resolute in its commitment to defending the rights and interests of workers and the masses. We shall not be cowed or intimidated by these desperate attempts to silence us. We stand firm in our resolve to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our beloved state.
Comrade (Dr.) Christopher A. Arapasopo Chairperson, NLC All Correspondence Should Be Addressed To The State Secretary
Osun APC Mourns Remi Abass, Slain Irewole Council Chair, Directs Colleagues To Stay Off LG Council Secretariats In Honour Of Deceased
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its condolences to the immediate and political families of Honourable Remi Abass, the Chairman of Irewole Local Government Council Area of the state, who was killed by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP's political hoodlums in the ancient town of Ikire yesterday.
The state chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party's Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, today, stated that the untimely and sudden killing of the peace-loving and consummate politician was inhuman, wicked and callous.
Lawal who directed the other chairmen and their councillors to stay off their respective council secretariat as a sign of respect for their fallen colleagues until further notice assured them that the late Abass would not be killed in vain.
He commended all the council chairmen for acting in accordance with the Court of Appeal judgement that secured victory for them penultimate Monday.
The state APC chairman enjoined the police to extend their dragnet with a view to arresting, investigating and prosecution of the killers of the serving local government council chairmen and their sponsors who could not have come from the moon.
He sympathized with the immediate family members, political associates and all the progressive-loving people of Ikire over the needless gruesome murder of Alhaji Abass.
Lawal promised that the leadership of the party would do all necessary things to ensure that the chairman of Irewole Local Government Council Area did not die in vain.
He reminded the colleagues of the deceased and other members of the party that the only thing to sustain the legacy that claimed the life of Abass is to remain resolute in their commitment towards the realization of the collective aspiration of the party now and in the nearest future.
May Almighty Allah favour the soul of our amiable local government chairman in Irewole Local Government Council Area and forgive him his excesses.
Binance: Why I Didn’t Wait 7 Days Before Suing Gambaryan
On February 14, 2025, I issued a seven-day ultimatum to Tigran Gambaryan, Binance's Head of Financial Crime Compliance, to retract his defamatory claims and apologise for falsely accusing me of demanding a bribe from Binance. This egregious allegation was a clear attempt to tarnish my reputation and undermine my integrity.
As reported by the New York Times on May 7, 2024, Binance initially claimed that "unknown persons" had approached them for a bribe on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes. At the time, I did not see fit to join the lawsuit filed by Hon. Ginger Onwusibe against Binance, as the allegations did not specifically mention my name.
However, when Gambaryan recently repeated the allegation, categorically mentioning my name, I knew I had to take swift and decisive action. It became expedient to go to court to protect my reputation and defend my integrity.
Just three days after issuing the ultimatum, Monday, February 17, 2025, I instituted legal proceedings against Gambaryan. My decision to take action was motivated by the need to protect my reputation, not just as an individual, but also as a distinguished Congressman and a representative of my country.
Unfortunately, the accuser, Gambaryan, has shown no remorse for his actions. Instead of apologising, he has chosen to remain silent, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. As an African, family is at the heart of our culture. I have a larger family and more loved ones to care for than Gambaryan, and I will not let his baseless allegations go unchallenged.
Therefore, Gambaryan must come to court to substantiate his false claims or pay the compensation I have demanded. I'm seeking compensation not for personal gain but a token of accountability, serving as a deterrent to others who would seek to damage reputations and undermine trust in our society. I'm confident that the courts will uphold the truth and hold Gambaryan accountable for his actions.
Signed; Rep Philip Agbese, LLB[UK], MBA[UK], LLM[UK] Abuja, Monday, February 17, 2025
Crime › Re: NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Kingpin, Intercepts Consignments In Cereal Packs by chisomkachy(op): 4:31pm On Jul 20, 2025*. Modified: 5:13pm On Jul 20, 2025
H.E Barr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah - Enugu State