Politics
Controversy Trails Membership Status of Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai Others
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark and other promoters of the coalition under African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday came under further attacks for what a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, called seeking to serve two masters.
George, a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, accused Atiku and other party members of moving into ADC without resigning from the party.
He said it was bad enough that Atiku and Mark in particular had to abandon the PDP to its fate after precipitating the crisis that has turned the party into a shadow of its former self.
Factional leader of Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure said Abia State Governor Alex Otti should leave the LP immediately to join the party’s flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, in the ADC.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the anti-Tinubu coalition as a political distraction which is bound to fail.
Chief George, speaking on Channels Television, said: “You can’t serve two masters, as stated in the Holy Book. You either serve A or you serve B. But to say you are in A and B is a fallacy.”
He alleged that Mark and Atiku were some of the architects of the crisis rocking the PDP.
Continuing, he said: “It is nothing but existential imbecility. Or sometimes what is called existential docility. What is it that they are all going there?
“This is your father’s house. The house made you, brought you into the limelight. You gain every laurel and recognition from this same house. And because there is a little crisis, is leaving the cultural thing to do? No, you sit in there.
“If you have a house that is leaking, do you run out? No, you are the landlord.
“Do they have a concept? What is the strategy they have? That is a classless strategy.
“When we had the last convention, General Buhari had just finished eight years. Then Atiku Abubakar wanted to compete (but) we said no; a northerner had just finished eight years. We had (Peter) Obi in the South. This was the beginning of the crisis.
“David Mark was the chairman of that convention and Iyorchia Ayu was the chairman of the party. Of course, you cannot do things like that and get away with it. I warned against it at that point.”
Abure in a statement yesterday asked Otti to stop deceiving the public that he has not joined the other faction’s Caretaker Committee in the coalition party.
The leadership of the LP, according to him, is in a hurry to recalibrate the party ahead of 2027.
Abure said the LP would not fall for Otti’s deception again.
“How can he be in the Labour Party when recently he conducted the local government election in Abia State with Zenith Labour Party as his party?” he wondered.
He added: “He should not think that every Nigerian is bereft of knowledge. He formed and is funding the illegal caretaker committee that has formally joined the ADC.
“The icing on the cake was the Wednesday unveiling of the coalition where every member of the caretaker committee formally joined the ADC.
“We are shocked that Otti is paradoxically trying to mislead members of the Labour Party to say that he is still a member of the Labour Party. In any event, we had earlier suspended him indefinitely from the party because of his anti-party activities.
“Labour Party is on the move again. We have the best brand in Nigeria, and we are eager to engage young Nigerians who have the interest of the nation at heart.
“We are therefore willing to let go of everyone, no matter how high, whose interest in Nigeria is self-driven, opportunistic politicians who are not principled.
“Labour Party is not and cannot be in any coalition because coalitions of political parties are ideologically bereft. It is a marriage of political strange fellows whose only agenda is power-grabbing.
“It is selfish in nature, and no true democrat will agree to such an amalgam. Labour Party is therefore in a hurry to sanitise itself of people without character.”
Politics
BREAKING: “Serial Disrespect” Sparks Drama As Senate Order Arrest Of Tinubu’s Appointee
The Senate has asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately remove the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), from his office.
As reported by Nigerian Tribune, the Senate committee on finance, while passing a resolution in Abuja on Thursday, February 26, accused Magaji of failing to honour the upper legislative chamber’s invitations to account for the finances of his agency.
Senator Sani Musa, the chairman of the committee, said:
“He (Magaji) refused on so many occasions to honour our invitation to appear before this committee.
“We have issues with the reconciliation of the revenue of CAC.
“Each time we invite him, he gives us excuses.
” Magaji was appointed to this position by President Tinubu on October 13, 2023.
As the registrar-general of the CAC, Magaji is expected to work for the development and regulation of corporate affairs in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu on Wednesday night, February 25, formally urged the Senate to begin the process of amending the 1999 constitution to provide for the establishment of state police, declaring that Nigeria must urgently restructure its security architecture to confront terrorism, banditry and insurgency.
Speaking at an interfaith breaking of fast with the leadership and members of the Senate at the State House, Abuja, the president stated that the time had come for lawmakers to “start thinking” about embedding state policing in the constitution to enable governments at subnational levels better secure their territories.
The Nation quoted President Tinubu as saying:
“Nigeria is extremely challenged, we are facing terrorism, banditry, insurgency, but you never failed to make a right response to these calls.
“What I will ask for tonight is for you to start thinking how best to amend the Constitution to incorporate the state police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, free our children from fear.”
Politics
Opposition Leaders Urge N’Assembly To Begin Fresh Electoral Act Amendment
Leaders of the African Democratic Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party have called on the National Assembly to commence a fresh process to amend the Electoral Act.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, NNPP National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, urged federal lawmakers to expunge all objectionable provisions contained in the Act.
Prominent opposition figures at the meeting included former Senate President David Mark; NNPP chieftain Buba Galadima; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Also in attendance at the Lagos/Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, were the ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi; and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alongside other stakeholders.
Others present included Senator Dino Melaye, former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, and former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, among several dignitaries.
Politics
Assembly Confirms Popular Redeemed Pastor As Deputy Governor
The Bayelsa state house of assembly has approved the appointment of Peter Akpe as the deputy governor of the state.
Akpe, a pastor, served as chief of staff to Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, prior to his nomination.
Ordained clergy by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Akpe has had a career spanning the civil service and politics.
He served in the Rivers and Bayelsa state civil services before transitioning fully into politics.

Akpe was a two-term member of the Bayelsa state house of assembly from 2011 to 2019, serving as majority leader throughout his stint in the legislature.
He also served as commissioner between 2008 and 2011 under the Seriake Dickson administration.
The approval clears the way for his swearing-in as deputy governor.
Akpe’s appointment follows the death of Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the former deputy governor, who passed on last December.
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