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President Muhammadu Buhari and his American counterpart, President Joe Biden at the White House today, on the sidelines of the US-Africa Leaders Summit. #USAfricaLeadersSummit22.

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, was on Wednesday allegedly rushed off the stage at the party’s presidential rally in Minna due to poor health.

It was gathered that Tinubu could not arrive in the Niger State capital in the morning for the rally as he had to attend to his health with specialist doctors rushed to attend to him on Tuesday, soon after he had made an appearance at the North West zone rally held at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

He was advised to rest that Tuesday evening after the rally, thus delaying his arrival in Minna until Wednesday. He arrived at the venue of the rally, which was well underway in the afternoon in Minna.

A source who revealed the development from Minna via telephone call further said that Tinubu was advised to avoid the Minna rally to take “a deserved rest” but his team insisted he must put up an appearance in order to cover up the development.

However, when he was ushered to the stage to speak in a live telecast monitored by our correspondent, the former Lagos State Governor could only shout the party’s name several times in a slow and incoherent manner.

“APC, APC, Niger! Nigeria, Nigeria! Sai Bago, Sai Bago, APC, APC!” Tinubu said on stage.

“Sai Lolo, Sai lolo,” he continued, after which he busted into laughter.

He kept shouting, “Sai Bago, sai jagaban”, a nickname he is known for as his voice kept diminishing.

He however continued shouting, “God bless you, God bless Niger State, may God bless you,” and was led away from the podium without presenting his manifesto and what he will do if he wins the 2023 presidential election.

The rally was thereafter cut short in a live beam monitored by this paper on the candidate’s television Station, TVC.

Tinubu is believed to be having a running battle with some undisclosed illnesses.

There have been several reports of the APC candidate being afflicted with Parkinson’s disease but he has kept mum on the development.

He has also spent months overseas for treatments of undisclosed illnesses amid calls from his critics and opponents for full disclosure of his health status.

In February in Osogbo, Osun State, Tinubu had defended such calls saying, “I am not applying for the job of bricklaying or grave digging.”

That fuel concerns that he may indeed have issues with his health and admitting it inadvertently since the constitution does not mandate any candidate to disclose his health status.

“I went to school to study accountancy and management. I am applying for a thinking job and I will do it right. The job I want to do is for Nigeria to be greater and to be proud of itself,” he had added.

Also, in October 2021, Tinubu spent months in the UK, in what his camp reported to be a knee surgery.

Upon his return to Nigeria, he went philosophical stating that, “And He (God) says, if I grant you power and the privilege in this life; I am the only one who can take it from you if you don’t use it in the way and manner that promotes humanity. God can give power to any one he wills.

“It is the same God that has spared us till today and has given us the privilege. I give glory to God, because I’m standing before you hale, hearty and well,” he had said at an event hosted by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor.

Several calls and messages to one of his campaign spokesmen, Festus Keyamo, who also doubles as Minister of State for Labour and Employment, rang out with no reply to the messages.

While another spokesman of the Tinubu campaign council, Bayo Onanuga, paused the call, his counterpart, Dele Alake denied the incident in an abusive language sent to our Correspondent via a text message.

“Absolute bunkum, balderdash, hogwash, infantile imagination of warped minds,” Alake wrote.

“Go see the video clip,” he tasked our Correspondent, adding, “I was right behind him on the stage. The Campaign started a little behind schedule and there were other activities marked for today like his commissioning of the APC Minna secretariat, visit to the emir etc vis a vis the time.

“So, he was advised to just give a brief greeting and acknowledgement to the teeming crowd and he danced to the crowd enthusiastically before moving on to the commissioning venue and on to other activities.

“The man is as fit as a fiddle and the success of the Minna rally is top class.

“Again, Asiwaju will continue to confound his enemies as he coasts home to victory in the coming elections. All the evil wished him will continue to befall his traducers!” Aleke said.

Three young men suspected to be ‘Yahoo plus’ boys have raped a male tricycle operator in Anambra state.

The rapists allegedly had forceful carnal knowledge of the commercial tricycle rider for ritual purposes. According to a source, the young men negotiated the services of the tricyclist and took him to their house in Okpuno, a suburban town in Awka, where they lured him into their room and took turns raping him.

It was gathered that the incident happened on Monday.
Moreso, the Anambra state police command has confirmed the incident.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga said that one of the suspects has been arrested, while his allies have taken to their heels.

Ikenga who confirmed the incident said the state police commissioner has ordered the transfer of the matter from Central Police Station (CPS), where it was formally lodged to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

“The Commissioner of Police has ordered the transfer of the case to state CID for a discretion investigation.
Preliminary information showed that the suspect hired the victim who is a tricycle rider and lured him into a room before having carnal knowledge of him.

“Meanwhile, the result from the doctor’s report showed that there was penetration into his anus, but the arrested suspect has denied it. Further details will be communicated as investigations is still ongoing,” the PPRO said.

A former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari is leading a team of aggrieved Northern leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress to secretly work for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, SaharaReporters has gathered.

According to multiple sources, Yari recently met with Atiku in Paris, France while on his way to the US.

He and others were said to have threatened to sabotage the presidential campaign of their party and its candidate, Bola Tinubu in the Northern region.

Multiple sources in the campaign council of the presidential candidate of the APC said intelligence reports at their disposal revealed that Yari is secretly working for the opposition party.

He was quoted as accusing the national leaders of the party and Tinubu of disregarding his nominations to the presidential campaign council.

Yari, who was one of the founding members of the APC from the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) bloc has been relegated to the background by the party leadership and President Muhammadu Buhari's administration since Governor Bello Matawalle dumped the PDP for the APC.

“With everything he did for Buhari and the APC in Zamfara, he said he and his numerous supporters were abandoned. Rather than rewarding him for the investment he made for the APC, he has been running a battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” one of the sources said.

In May, he was arrested by the EFCC over alleged illegal financial dealings and misappropriation of funds.

SaharaReporters gathered that Yari was arrested over his alleged role in the judgment debts around the Paris Club refunds as claimed by some private firms.

His handling of the proceeds of the Paris Club refunds from 2017, when he was the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, to May 2019 when his two terms as governor ended, is being investigated.

A court document was filed by the EFCC in 2017 which reveals the suspicious nature of payments made by the Yari-led NGF to consultants and firms who were said to have helped the forum to recover funds with the London and Paris clubs loan between 1995 and 2002.

In the document, the EFCC stated that it received intelligence in January 2017 alleging “conspiracy, criminal misappropriation of public funds involving the sum of N19,439,225,871.11 out of the Paris Club refunds made by the Federal Government in favour of the 36 states of the federation.”

The commission had in the court filing, sought an order of forfeiture of N500 million and $500,000 allegedly recovered from Yari.

Also in February 2021, Yari was arrested and grilled by EFCC operatives in Lagos, while the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 26, 2021, ordered the final forfeiture of funds belonging to Yari, domiciled in Zenith and Polaris banks.

The judgment followed investigations that Yari had suspicious monies stuffed in his bank accounts including the sum of $56,056.75 reportedly lodged in his account with Polaris Bank; N12.9 million, N11.2 million, $303 million, N217,388.04, and $311.8 million said to be kept in different Zenith Bank accounts in the name of the ex-governor and his companies.

Another reason reportedly given by Yari for hobnobbing with Atiku and other chieftains of the PDP was the refusal of Tinubu to give him a key role in his campaign team.

"We are monitoring those who are plotting against Asiwaju (Tinubu). They are APC members during the day but at night, they are with Atiku. Yari met Atiku in Paris recently while on his way to the US,” a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council told SaharaReporters.

He said after the meeting abroad, the former governor met several times with the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is a special adviser to Atiku's campaign council.

"Twice, he has also met with the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa and other governors who are with Atiku in the PDP. He has also met with the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike," he said.

On July 19, Yari was with Wike in Rivers State, where he extensively discussed issues revolving around the 2023 presidency.

Another source in the APC said they are monitoring three governors and two former governors in the Northwest geopolitical zone who are hobnobbing with Atiku.

"Yari is at the forefront of Atiku's project in the Northwest. He is together with three serving and two former governors. We know he is one of the fifth columnists and that was why he was not considered for any major assignment in the campaign council,” the source, a senior member of the APC presidential campaign said.

He said the recent visit of Tinubu to Yari in Abuja was arranged by a former governor who was also involved in the Atiku project.

"They organised the meeting to cover up their machinations against Asiwaju. But we are fully aware of their antics and machinations. They won't go anywhere," he added.

According to him, the former Lagos State governor named Bello Matawalle, the Zamfara State governor as his Northwest zonal coordinator following the report.

"Asiwaju also allowed Matawalle to name the Zamfara State Coordinator of his campaign council," the source said.

It was further gathered that one of Atiku's daughters, Maryam and one of the aides of Matawalle, Asalam A. Aliyu have been reaching out to stakeholders in Zamfara State with Yari giving them "fatherly support" to promote Atiku's candidature.

This comes a few days after the Northern Elders Consultative Forum, including Christian leaders in the APC in the North, formally adopted Atiku for the 2023 presidential election.

According to them, the PDP candidate was adopted following the resolution of the Northern Christian leaders to work with their Muslim counterparts to adopt one of the presidential candidates in a bid to defeat the same-faith presidential ticket of the APC.

Efforts made by SaharaReporters to reach Yari on the phone were not successful.

The Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, which was presided over by Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, has adjourned hearing on a fundamental human rights suit instituted by an Onitsha-based human rights activist and lawyer, Dr. Jezie Ekejiuba, against Federal Government and four others, seeking disqualification of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to February 1, 2023.

Joined in the suit No.FHC/AWK/CS/198/2022 are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as 2nd defendant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 3rd defendant, PDP as 4th defendant and Atiku as 5th defendant, respectively.

Justice Nganjiwa chose the date after hearing the ex-parte application moved by Ekejiuba for substituted service of the originating processes on respondents. The court granted an order to serve respondents at their respective headquarters in Abuja by substituted means.

In the suit, the plaintiff stated that by allowing Atiku to contest the presidential election, his right as a Nigerian citizen would be infringed upon.
He further pleaded with the court that it will be fundamentally wrong for President Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner, to hand over to Atiku, another Northerner, in 2023, regardless of convention on power shift between the North and South.

According to him, the power rotation policy between Northern and Southern Nigeria, which has been in practice since 1999, should be respected, and every Nigerian should be given a sense of belonging.

The plaintiff, in his legal argument in support of the application, insisted that his fundamental right to be accorded his privilege or advantage is protected under section 42(1)(b) of the amended 1999 Constitution, which prohibits inequality or unequal treatment of citizens.

He also noted that the constitutional right to have or be given a sense of belonging to the nation, which is his privilege or advantage, is conferred on him and protected by the Federal Character Policy under section 14(3) of the Constitution. He noted that this is also defined by section 318 of the same Constitution.

Ekejiuba, who is the President of Voters Rights Association of Nigeria (VRAN), is, among other reliefs, seeking N200 million from each of the respondents as compensatory and general damages for the threatened violation or gross violation of his fundamental right to freedom from discrimination.

He is also seeking for an order setting aside, nullifying and/or voiding, from the onset, any election of the 5th respondent (Atiku) as the next president of Nigeria to succeed Buhari.

The Rivers State Government has noticed that despite previous advice and warnings for the Management of EUI Event Centre, GRA Phase 3, Port Harcourt to refrain from blocking an entire stretch of part of Sani Abacha link road without Government approval and subsequent refusal by the Management of the Event Centre to properly manage parking of their client's vehicles.

The Rivers State Government has with effect from today, Wednesday 7th December 2022 sealed the EUI Event Centre. - Chris Finebone (Rivers Commissioner of Information)

Governor Wike seals EUI event centre, GRA, for obstructing free flow of traffic when events are hosted there.

Jonathan Atiku Sanwo-Olu Tinubu Buhari Emefiele e-Naira pic.twitter.com/A5BvHGfcke

— KalaDakoru Batubo (@TheKalada) December 8, 2022

Thugs numbering about 20 on Thursday morning attacked the residence of the chaiman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, Senator Lee Maeba.

Maeba and several other prominent PDP leaders in the State are supporters of the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

LEADERSHIP gathered that although the thugs could not gain access into the main residence of the former federal lawmaker, his older brother was, however, injured during the attack.

Also, no fewer than four vehicles, including a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) were vandalised during the attack.

Former Deputy Speaker and Osun Governorship Candidate for Labour Party sighted at Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign in Osogbo.

COURTESY VISIT TO THE OONI OF IFE'S PALACE WITH MY DARLING HUSBAND @ATIKU -TA

The Labour Party(LP) in Imo State on Monday lost one of its aspirants, Chukwunenye Irouno who mysteriously slumped and died.

Irouno before his death was aspiring to contest for the Okigwe State constituency under the platform of the LP. He was billed to be the Master of Ceremony at the Obi-Datti rally in the State on Tuesday before he was confirmed dead at the early hours of same day.

He also served former governor of the State, Rochas Okorocha as his Special Adviser,protocol.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dogara was received into the party during the presidential campaign by the party’s presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar in the nation’s commercial capital, Lagos State.

This comes 48 hours after a group led by Dogara, the Northern Leaders Consultative Forum adopted Atiku as the preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 election.

On December 2, the group consisting of Christian and Muslim religious and political leaders in the north said after evaluation of all the presidential candidates that Atiku is “the best”.

“It is evident that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is heading for implosion and extinction; hence, it cannot be the party for now and in the future, because of its rejection to embrace inclusiveness in a diverse country like Nigeria. After the 2023 elections, APC may be dead and buried as a political party,” the group said.

“While the duo (NNPP and LP) may emerge as strong contenders in the political arena in the future, from all indications, PDP appears to be the best option to adopt and support.

“All it takes is to sustain and tackle some of the problems and challenges this country faces.

“Certainly, with proper consultations and inclusive appointments, which is mindful of the federal character principle with a sincere consideration of diverse issues such as religious affiliation, geographical location, and ethnic identity, which many believe will enhance justice, fairness and equity, after a careful evaluation of all the issues highlighted above, we now recommend the adoption of the PDP to all lovers of democracy in Nigeria for the 2023 presidential election.”

But the endorsement did not go down well with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who also contested the May 28 PDP presidential primary election against Atiku but lost to the ex-Vice President.

Wike criticised the ex-Speaker for backing Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid, claiming that Dogara had insisted on Nigeria’s presidential seat returning to southern Nigeria as against his most recent support for Atiku from the northern region.

“What I don’t like in life is people that don’t have character. I can’t stand it. At the appropriate time, I would challenge them to a debate. Ask Dogara: what made you leave PDP?” the governor asked on Monday.

“Dogara was to see me; unknown to me, he gave me an excuse and I was watching Dogara on TV being received by President Muhammadu Buhari that he has gone to APC. I say ‘Okay, no problem’. The same Dogara said the presidency should be zoned to southern Nigeria for there to be peace. Now, I hear about the same Dogara (backing Atiku from the north). Is that how you do things? Can’t you say something and stand by it?”

Wike’s comment was the latest in the crisis rocking the main opposition PDP since the party’s presidential primary earlier in May.

The major cause of poverty in Nigeria are issues that reside with the federal government — Peter Obi

#Roadto2023 #Townhallseries #Presidentialcandidates

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There's huge money in narcotics, whoever taste the wealth in narcotics will never want to stop.

A Federal High Court Sitting in Yola, Adamawa State has nullified the election of the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Aminu Iya-Abbas as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Adamawa Central Senatorial District for the 2023 general elections.

He, however, has the option to appeal.

Justice Abdulaaziz Anka, in his ruling on Monday, voided the senatorial primary for Adamawa Central conducted by the PDP.

The suit was filed by Mohammed Modibbo against the PDP and four others,

Justice Anka judge held that the participation of the fourth defendant, Chairman, Governing Council Adamawa State University, Auwal Tukur, as a political appointee without compliance to the new Electoral Act 2022 violated the process, hence “the entire process is hereby nullified.”