Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, on Thursday said ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has been drafted to resolve the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Suswam said the crisis within the PDP was a “family affair,” hence Jonathan has been drafted to resolve the issues.

He spoke on Arise TV, disclosing moves to reconcile aggrieved PDP members ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The former governor expressed hope that the party’s crisis would be resolved before the presidential election in February.

According to Suswam: “Jonathan has been dragged into the issue to resolve the matter. Solving this problem between the G-5 governors is what we should be looking at. When Wike inaugurated the election council in Rivers State, all the governors were there; they were also there when Ortom inaugurated the same in Benue State; this shows that they still love the party.

“PDP has the capacity and internal mechanisms to resolve the party; this is why we are bringing in Jonathan to help resolve the matter.

“Jonathan has been dragged into the issue to resolve the matter. Solving this problem is what we should be looking at. They still love their party at heart.

“Wike had said he is open to reconciliation, Ortom said some of his comments were misinterpreted.”

The G-5 governors led by Wike have been aggrieved with the leadership of PDP following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.

They are agitating for balance and equity within the leadership of the party.

The Wike-led group said PDP’s National Chairman and presidential candidate can’t come from the same region.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters office in Abeokuta, Ogun state was set on fire by some suspected hoodlums.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning.

It was reported that the hoodlums made their way through the outer gate of the INEC office, and lit the building with fire from behind.

It was also gathered that the thugs allegedly drenched bread loaves in gasoline before throwing them into the structure at various angles to light up the INEC headquarters.

The Ogun INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niyi Ijalaye, confirmed the incident.

Ijalaye stated that the police are currently investigating the incident

He said; “It is correct that our office was set on fire. The police are investigating. I do not know what to say. I’m in shock myself.

“We called the police and other security agencies at night. The fire brigade put the situation under control. The level of damage is still being assessed.

“It is very shocking and untoward. The security agencies are doing their very best. We are meeting again later today to come up with other strategies (toward securing our facilities).”

The deputy spokesperson of the Tinubu presidential campaign council, Hannatu Musawa, has said the 2023 presidential election is a two horse race between the governing All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

According to her, it is constitutionally impossible for the Labour Party (LP) to win because of spread.

Hannatu noted that the race is mainly for Tinubu to win, adding that the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar will come a distant second.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP in Abuja yesterday, Hannatu said it is clear that Tinubu would win the 2023 presidential election because of the spread of the APC and his plans for Nigerians which he has presented as a document.

She stared: “Tinubu will win the 2023 presidential election because it is a two horse race. Atiku will come a distant second because the Labour Party doesn’t have the constitutional spread to win. The Labour Party and others that are contesting in the election are just there to benefit the system.

“It is a two-horse race. The votes are about Tinubu and Atiku. The closest to Tinubu is the PDP. NNPP, Labour and others have their base but none of them have the kind of structure that is required. APC has the structure and Tinubu will win. Peter Obi’s momentum is an advantage for the APC because he is only taking the PDP votes,” she stated.

Hannatu said the APC campaign team will use the remaining four months to the election to convince and educate the people on Tinubu’s action plans, urging Nigerians to interrogate the candidates not only on their action plans but their past records.

“I think the chances of our presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu is second to none, he is clearly the front-runner. There’s no doubt about it. I think at this point it is not so much about whether he will win, it is how much of a gap he’s going to win. I think with all that is unraveling at the moment, it is becoming clearer, because I see Bola Ahmed Tinubu coasting into victory in this election even though we still have a long way to go.

“I think there are strong contenders in the different political parties but this particular election cycle is actually a benefit to the system itself and not to affect the chances of the APC.

“This is a two-horse race. I’m not one of those who are of the opinion that the votes are going to be divided, ” she said.

Insisting that the closest contender to even have a chance to win the 2023 election is PDP, adding that NNPP and it’s candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, are still hoping to have their base.

“Yes, the Labour Party have their base but I think neither of them have the sort of political leverage or the platform or the structure. You know, we keep on talking about structure, but I think none of them have the kind of structure that is required to be able to really make a difference in terms of who’s going to win the election because of the sort of constitutional requirements that we have in the Constitution.

“Part of the requirement is that a person has to win not less than one quarter of the votes in two thirds of the country, right? That is 24 different states. So, in order for you to be able to win, you have to go beyond your base.

“For example, if your base is the Northwest toward the southeast or Southwest, you have to be able to transcend beyond that and neither the Labour party or the NNPP who are probably the closest contenders after PDP have the ability, or the capacity to be able to reach the sort of constitutional requirements.

“So, can I say that PDP is the closest contender. For the Labour party, it is constitutionally impossible for the party to win.

On whether five governors of the APC would be joining the PDP, Hannatu said it is just wishful thinking.

“I think that’s a little bit of what we call wishful thoughts. There’s no governor at this point that will want to leave the APC. There’s no reason for any governor to move over to PDP because all the governors are very much accommodated within the structure of the APC and at the same time, like I said, the trajectory is looking more as if APC is going to win. So, I think it may even be a little bit of a political suicide for any governor to do that.

“I don’t think there’s any governor that would want to leave. I go to a lot of the rallies, town hall meetings and engagements and I see all the governors being intact. And I think it is a tactic that the APC probably is trying to use in order to counter the fact that the PDP has G-5 governors within their own party that have even come out to express themselves that they’re not going to support the PDP,” Hannatu added.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected by the reported chemical explosion in the popular Ogbo Ogwu International Market in Onitsha Anambra State.

On behalf of my family and team, I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and the government and people of Anambra State.

I urge for government to ensure quick response to such situations to not only forestall such occurrences but also prevent loss of lives and properties. -AA

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to respond to a fresh suit that is seeking to disqualify the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, over alleged breach of section 90(3) of the Electoral Act.

The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, equally granted leave to the plaintiff, Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, to apply for an order of mandamus against the INEC boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

It ordered the INEC Chairman, the APC and Tinubu, who were all cited as 1st to 3rd defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1960/2022, to file their defence before November 15, when it adjourned the matter to, for hearing.

Specifically, the plaintiff, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Jideobi Johnmary, is praying the court for; “A declaration that having regard to the clear, unambiguous and express provisions, sprit and tenor of Section 90 (3) read alongside section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act 2022, the 1st defendant, has deliberately refused to exercise the powers, mandate and statutory duty/obligation bestowed on him in section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“To immediately exclude, expunge and remove the 3rd defendant’s name Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the final list of presidential candidates contesting the 2023 presidential election for failure of the 2nd Defendant to comply with the mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“A declaration that by operation of law and having regard to the clear, unambiguous and express provisions, sprit and tenor of Section 90 (3) read alongside section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act 2022, the 3rd defendant Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is not a candidate for the 2023 Presidential election.

“He is automatically excluded, expunged, and removed from participating in the 2023 presidential election for failure of the 2nd Defendant to comply with the mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 in nominating the 3rd defendant as its presidential candidate.

“An order of mandamus directing and compelling 1st defendant to exercise the powers, mandate and statutory duty/ obligation bestowed on him in section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act 2022, to immediately exclude, expunge and remove the 3rd Defendant’s name Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the final list of presidential candidates contesting the 2023 presidential election for failure of the 2nd Defendant to comply with the mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 in nominating the 3rd defendant as its presidential candidate”.

As well as, “An order nullifying and setting aside as illegal, null and void, the nomination of the 3rd defendant as the presidential candidate of the 2nd defendant for failure of the 2nd defendant to comply with the mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022”.

On grounds upon which it instituted the action, the plaintiff argued that by the provision of section 90 (3) of the 2022 Electoral Act, no political party in Nigeria is allowed to receive any contribution, of cash or kind, exceeding N50million, without showing the source of the contribution to INEC.

“The APC advertised for contributions and its members (by way of payment for forms) into its accounts by various members desiring to contest for various elections under its platform.

“The 3rd defendant picked his form through his supporters led by James Faleke, Dayo Adeyeye and Babachir Lawal and he paid 100m cheque/bank draft to the 2nd defendant.

“The APC did receive N100m from aspirants for the office of President, and has proceeded to send to INEC, the name of one of the aspirants who paid the said N100m as its candidate for the election, without a submission verifying the source of the N100 million it received from the aspirant to INEC.

“The 2nd Defendant failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of section 90 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 in nominating the 3rd defendant as its presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

“INEC is bound by s.84(13) of the electoral act to exclude APC and the candidate it submitted for failure to comply with section 90 (3)”, the plaintiff averred, adding that it resorted to the court action after INEC failed to act on its petition.

“Nigeria’s democracy is under serious of threat by corrupt activities of politicians elected to serve the people in various positions and the ongoing fight against corruption will not succeed unless citizens and civil society organizations support the government in the fight against corruption through a public interest suit of this nature.

“This application is in the overall public interest to promote good governance, public accountability, constitutional democracy and rule of law in nomination of candidate to contest the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is a public office”, it added.

The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has denied the news making rounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disqualified its candidates in the 2023 general elections.

The state chapter of the party also debunked the claims by the Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, saying his claim that 21 candidates were disqualified was embarrassing.

Bode George had over the weekend said the disqualification of the state party was brought to his attention, adding that the affected local governments are Agege, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Mushin, Ojo, and Surulere.

According to him, INEC said the primary elections did not hold in the affected local governments and the electoral committee members failed to show up in some of the LGAs.

Reacting to the development, the state working committee, in a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary, Hon. Hakeem Amode, described the disqualification as a figment of imagination.

But a member of the state executive in an interview with Dailytrust, said some of the said constituencies are still subject to litigations in various courts of law.

However, a check on the final INEC list shared by the publicity secretary revealed that the names of the party’s 40 candidates are on it.

Amode, in his statement, said the party read the news of the purported INEC disqualification of 21 candidates credited to Chief Bode George “with utmost embarrassment.”

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, has taken a dig at Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for failing to show up at the ongoing presidential town hall organized by Arise TV and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).

Kwankwaso criticized Tinubu for failing to attend or send a representative to the event meant for presential candidates to share their ideas about security and the economy with Nigerians.

The NNPP candidate spoke against the backdrop of a mild drama that played out before the commencement of the meeting after some attendees kicked against Atiku’s representation by his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Taking a jibe at Tinubu, Kwankwaso said Atiku was better off having sent a representative than “a candidate” who didn’t show at all or send representation.

Tinubu was meant to be among the four candidates to grace the first edition of the town hall but was replaced at the last minute with Kola Abiola, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate.

No explanation was given for the APC candidate’s absence.

Meanwhile, Kwankwaso had failed to attend a similar town hall meeting organized by the Arewa House which had Tinubu in attendance.

The live town hall with a focus on Security and the Economy was organized for presidential candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso; Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Kola Abiola; and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who is being represented by his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove names of all Action Alliance (AA) candidates, including the presidential candidate, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), submitted to it by the Kenneth Udeze led faction of the party.

The order, which was made available to journalists in Kaduna on Saturday, however ruled that the electoral body should display the list of candidates submitted to it by the party’s leadership under the chairmanship of Adekunle Rufai Omoaje.

The court presided over by Justice Z.B Abubakar also held that the electoral body erred by failing to give recognition to the list of candidates submitted to it by Omoaje-led faction.

Omoaje had on behalf of himself and the Action Alliance approached the court to seek redress on the non recognition of the candidates submitted to INEC by him on behalf of the party.

By the judgement of the court, the candidates already announced by INEC including the presidential candidate, Major Hamza Al-mustapha (rtd) are expected to be substituted by the list of candidates submitted by Omoaje.

Al-Mustapha was announced as the presidential candidate of the AA by INEC and his name already published on the website of the electoral body.


However, with the latest court judgment, Al-Mustapha may be replaced by another person endorsed by the Omoaje leadership.

They were media reports Al-Mustapha might risk losing the AA’s presidential ticket going by the litigation against him.

Justice Abubakar who cited section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, ordered that, INEC should immediately publish the names and addresses of all candidates submitted by Omoaje on behalf of the Action Alliance.

“By the provision of section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the INEC should publish by displaying at the relevant office or offices of INEC and on its website.”

Reacting to the development, the National Chairman of AA, Adekunle Omoaje, said Kenneth Udeze who had been parading himself of the party was expelled from the party since February 14, 2020 during the party’s National Convention in Osogbo.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the United Nations and other Aid Agencies to take urgent steps to assist people affected by the sea-like flooding of Pakistan, now decribed as the worst natural disaster in the country’s history.

The Nigerian President said this in a message of sympathy to the Pakistani government issued on Sunday over the flood disaster.

Buhari noted that the flood incident had left millions of people without shelter and food and they require urgent humanitarian relief.

“Floods have damaged half-a-million homes, affecting about 30 million people, killing above 1,000. The floods have washed away hundreds of roads, bridges and other infrastructure,” the Nigerian President said in statement signed by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

“President Buhari says Pakistan and its population are in the thoughts and prayers of Nigerians as they confront this humanitarian disaster of epic proportions.

According to CNN, at least 1,033 people, including 348 children had died while 1,527 had been injured in the severe flooding incident in Pakistan since mid-June

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Sunday that 119 people had died and 71 injured in the last 24 hours alone.

At least 33 million people have been affected by the disaster, Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman said on Thursday.

She said the floods were “unprecedented” and “the worst humanitarian disaster of this decade.”

“Pakistan is going through its eighth cycle of monsoon while normally the country has only three to four cycles of rain,” Rehman said.

“The percentages of super flood torrents are shocking.”

She highlighted in particular the impact on the south of the country, adding that “maximum” relief efforts are underway.

“He appeal to the United Nations and other Aid Agencies to take urgent steps to assist people without shelter and food as well as the millions who require urgent humanitarian relief,” the statement concluded.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja, to sack Abdullahi Adamu and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP premised its ground on alleged illegality in the process that produced the party’s national officers and candidates.

PDP in a new fresh suit demanded that all candidates produced by APC for the 2023 general elections be disqualified from the race having been allegedly produced in breach and gross violation of the 1999 Constitution and Electoral Act 2022.

The suit filed by Mr Ayo Kamaldeen Ajibade, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on behalf of the PDP was predicated on a judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on September 30, 2022, which declared as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, all actions and activities of Governor Mai Mala Buni as the Chairman, Extraordinary Convention Committee of the APC.
Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho has now assigned the new suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1864/2022 to Justice Inyang Ekwo, for determination.

Justice Ekwo has fixed November 22 for mention of the suit with an order that all the 53 persons listed by PDP in the suit as defendants be served with hearing notices in their respective locations.

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State, Alh Ahmad Sani Kaura is dead.

He died today after slumping during a peace accord meeting.

Preparations are in top gear to bury his remains according to Islamic injunction today in his home town of Kaura Namoda.

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, bags doctorate degree in Peace & Security Management/International Relations from Triune Biblical University, USA.

My thoughts and prayers are with Davido and Chioma and the Adeleke family at this time. I pray for God to strengthen and comfort them. -AA

Former governors James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, and their deputies, Benjamin Elue and Amos Utuama, are among prominent names on the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council list published, yesterday.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and PDP vice presidential candidate chairs the council with the governorship candidate and current Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori as deputy chairman.

Also on the list is former Commissioner of Finance and governorship aspirant, David Edevbie who recently lost his bid to be the party’s governorship candidate at the Supreme Court.

In the build up to the May 25 primary, all efforts to have a consensus candidate failed as Okowa and Ibori differed on who should fly the party’s flag.

While Okowa opted for Oborevwori, Ibori stood with Edevbie who was Commissioner of Finance between 1999 and 2007 when Ibori held sway as governor.

With Oborevwori winning the primary in landslide, Edevbie institute a suit at the Federal High, Abuja, challenging the eligibility of Oborevwori whom he accused of presenting false academic credentials.

Although he won at the High Court, the appellate courts upturned the ruling on the ground that the suit was premature, and reinstated Oborevwori.

Speculations were rife after the Supreme Court judgement that Edevbie and his followers were on their way out of the party.

Multiple sources hinted that the Ibori and Edevbie groups were in advanced talks with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and it’s governorship candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege on how to form formidable alliance to wrest power from Okowa at the polls.

An APC source had informed that Ibori had already given the APC his conditions if they want him to work for Omo-Agege.

But the publication of their names as members of the PDP campaign council might just put paid to their proposed rumoured defection or alliance with the opposition party in the state.

It was learnt that they were consulted before the campaign council was coupled together but their attendance at the inauguration billed for Thursday might give credence to the fact the Delta PDP family remain intact.

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has placed a ban on the holding of political rallies in public schools in the state with effect from 1 November.

Mr Umahi also banned commercial motorcyclists from operating between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. in order to check insecurity in the state.

The governor announced the ban in Abakaliki on Monday at a “stakeholders’ summit” on citizens input and consultations for the 2023 budget estimates.

The summit also discussed Nigeria’s 2023 pollution and housing censuses.

Mr Umahi said political parties must get clearance from the Commissioner for Education to hold rallies in the schools.

“Let me make it clear that from November 1, before any political rally can hold in primary and secondary schools, political parties must get approval from the Ministry of Education.

“No political campaign must hold in any public school and this is our position.

“We do not want situations where facilities in our schools are destroyed in the name of campaign. We don’t want people to go there and begin to defecate around school premises.

“We want to checkmate destruction in our schools and preserve facilities there,’’ he said.

Mr Umahi also decried the use of hate speeches by candidates of political parties and tasked all politicians to desist from the act.

On the 2023 budget estimates, he said the large chunk would go to education, infrastructure, health, and agriculture, among others.

In his contribution, Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development in the state, Orlando Nweze, said the state estimated more than N139 billion as budget for 2023.