The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state has kicked against the siege laid to its secretariat by security operatives.

This came as the party issued a 3-day ultimatum to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to either resume or resign.

Men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had on the early hours of Monday laid a siege to the secretariat of the opposition PDP.

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The development is not unconnected with the protest of the members of the PDP over the continued absence and whereabouts of Akeredolu.

Akeredolu had returned to the country last month after a three-month medical vacation in Germany where he treated an undisclosed illness.

However, during the protest, the PDP said they had earlier informed the security agents about their planned action.

Speaking on behalf of the opposition party, the leader of its youth wing, Tayo Oluyi, said cordoning off their office was embarrassing.

He said, “We were embarrassed because the security agencies were fully notified about this protest. We don’t want a situation whereby the PDP will be responsible for a break down of law and order in the state.

“But to our surprise, we saw security agencies with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and their vehicles with about 400 personnel armed to the teeth at the front of our secretariat.

“We asked them what they were doing here but they said they don’t won’t allow us to enter our secretariat but after some time, they allowed us access but some of our staff were asked to leave the office.

“All the youths that were supposed to participate in the peaceful protest were outside. We are condemning this action of the security agencies.”

Oluyi added that the protest was to demand the whereabouts of Governor Akeredolu since his return from medical vacation.

According to him, “All we are asking for is very simple. Where is Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu? He was elected Governor of Ondo State, he failed four years and the second term is going without any result.

“The youth wing of the party is giving Mr Governor the next twenty-four hours to address the people of Ondo state and we are giving him three days ultimatum to resume back to the state.

“We can no longer continue like this. We are the voice of the people, we are the voice of the masses. We are saying, that Mr Governor must resume back to duty, he can no longer govern us by proxy.

“So, we are giving him three days ultimatum to address us and if he fails, we as the opposition party will occupy the streets of Akure and we will continue to demand that he either resume or resign.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Akure, Ondo state capital, has been shut.

Men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) are currently at the secretariat.

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The development is not unconnected with the plan by the members of the PDP to protest the continued absence and whereabouts of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

Akeredolu had in September returned to the country from his three-month medical vacation in Germany where he treated an undisclosed illness.

But since his return, Akeredolu has reportedly been staying at his private residence in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, a development that has forced critics of his administration to demand his resignation.

The main opposition party, PDP, had on Sunday threatened to stage a massive protest in Akure, to demand his whereabouts.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ondo state, could not be immediately reached as of the time of filing this report.

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has transferred all the election petition cases pending before the court in the 36 states of the federation to the Abuja and Lagos divisions of the court.

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POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the order, which affects governorship, national, and state assembly elections, was reportedly made in response to petitions and protests by political parties and their candidates, who allege that the judges of the tribunals at the state divisions were compromised by the governors during the trial stage.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP), and their aggrieved candidates in their various petitions and protests to the leadership of the appellate court had alleged that the judges of the tribunals became vulnerable as governors generously provided logistics and other support for them.

The aggrieved parties and their candidates protested that various judgments pronounced by some of the tribunal judges were not only fraudulent but were “purchased” outright by the governors in favour of their parties and candidates in the election.

Sources reportedly said that the appellants in the various cases expressed apprehension that the same fate might befall them if their cases were allowed to be determined by the other divisions of the Court of Appeal in states under the watch of the governors.

A source said the leadership of the appellate court was persuaded to move against the governors by relocating the cases to Abuja and Lagos, where the judges could be effectively monitored by the president of the appeal court.

The source said Dongban-Mensem had reportedly launched discreet enquiries into the allegations against the governors and the judges of the trial tribunal, and it was gathered that enquiries established the veracity of the allegations to the extent that a compromised alliance was established between some governors and judges of the tribunals.

Some judges of the tribunals were reportedly indicted and might face trial by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has filed an appeal at the Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal, Benue State, against the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgement that nullified his victory in the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election in Nasarawa.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Sule as the winner of the election.

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But not satisfied with the announcement, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. David Ombugadu, approached the Nasarawa State Election Petition Tribunal to seek redress over alleged manipulations and malpractices.

The tribunal declared the PDP candidate, Ombugadu, as the authentic winner of the governorship election in the state.

But the governor rejected the decision of the tribunal, insisting that the petition lacked merit and ought to have been dismissed.

On Monday, Sule listed 27 grounds before the Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal to fault the decision of the Justice Ezekiel Ajayi-led tribunal delivered virtually on October 2, 2023.

In a notice of appeal dated October 15, 2023, Sule urged the appellate court to set aside the decision of the lower court and affirm his victory as declared by INEC.

Joined in the appeal were Ombugadu, PDP, INEC and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as first, second, third and fourth respondents respectively.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has voided the election of Senator Ishaku Abbo, lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abbo winner of the February 25, 2023 parliamentary election.

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But Amos Yohanna, his the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, rejected the result and headed for the court.

Abbo contested the election under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Details later …

Workers of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) have shut down the head office of the service in Abuja, protesting against the appointment of Tola Odeyemi as Chief Executive Officer/Post Master General.

Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential spokesman, had announced last week that President Bola Tinubu made some changes in the leadership of communication agencies, including NIPOST.

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However, moments after the news of Odeyemi’s appointment broke, there were reports that Adeyemi Adepoju, the sacked Post Master-General had been reinstated.

In a viral video, Adepoju was seen addressing some workers who claimed Tinubu had reappointed him.

But on Monday, the protesting workers denied entry to the newly appointed NIPOST CEO, saying her appointment was against their wish.

The workers, who said they preferred Adepoju, chanted solidarity songs and wielded placards.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that all hands were on deck to ensure security during the upcoming off-cycle governorship election in Kogi State.

This is even as the Commission said it has deployed 25,000 ad-hoc staff for the election and that the commission was fully prepared to conduct a free, fair, and credible election in Kogi on November 11, 2023.

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INEC chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmoud, who disclosed this during a mock voters accreditation exercise in Kogi State, disclosed that the commission was collaborating with security agencies to arrest any incidence of insecurity before, during, and after election.

Yakubu also urged election officers to properly bag all non-sensitive materials on the ground for easy movement on election day.

He said the commission was also providing alternative polling units at Family Support Program Nursery, Primary School, and UBE Junior Secondary School Gaduma in Lokoja to Ganaja Poling unit centers in the event of flooding on election day.

He assured that there would be a high level of transparency in the electoral process.

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) awaits the Supreme Court verdict on the 2023 presidential election, the tussle for leadership of the has begun amid realignment of power brokers within.

While the pro-Atiku Abubakar group are pushing to seize control of the party, the group loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike is also scheming to take the reins of the party.

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It was learnt that the dilemma before the party is the search for a national chairman who can balance the interests within and enhance the fortunes of the party.

This comes as the prospect of a mini convention after the Supreme Court verdict is being discussed in some quarters.

The convention which is being projected to re-access the party’s fortunes after the 2023 polls might see the change of leadership.

It was further learnt that the recent visit of former president of the senate, Abubakar Saraki, to Wike was linked to the search for a consensus..

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state on Sunday lunched 10,000 voters mobilizers under the Imo Progressives Movement, IPM, to spread the message of his reelection agenda ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.

The inauguration of the IPM, voters mobilisers at ward levels, took place at the Ndubuisi Kanu square in Owerri.

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The governor urged the 10000 voters mobilisers to move in and around the communities and mobilize voters for November victory, and that they should not be afraid of anybody threatening them with insecurity.

According to Uzodimma, “I want to thank you all for this wonderful show of support. The struggle for a new Imo is dependent on this body and its population which we have seen. I have seen the enthusiastic from the youths and i will disappoint them. Our opponents and agents of satan will be disappointed. Our gathering is a day all of us will not forget on earth. We will remember as a day all of rose to support good governance. So, We thank God Almighty. You have shown a great deal of support to my administration. I will not let you down.

“Those who are against us are not campaigning in Imo. They are sponsoring violence, propaganda against us. When you sponsor killings, stop our women and workers from going to work. It means you don’t have a heart of God. We must have a state everything will work. Civil servant will go to work. On the day of election, caste your votes don’t be afraid. I guarantee you security. We must create enabling environment. Those who come to kill will die in the process.”

Earlier, the member representing Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru West federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Eugine Dibiagwu, who is the global convener of the IPM, said: “The Governor of Imo State, The Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma has adorably distinguished himself to the admiration and commendations of the people. Globally, every winning team is usually encouraged, funded, and ultimately reinforced for sustained success in the future. This is the political situation in Imo State in relation to the next governorship contest as scheduled.

“The people of Imo State, especially the progressives are resolutely determined to promote the aspiration of the Governor for a deserved re-election and to fold up their sleeves to contribute and work for the victory of the Governor. This resolution by the Progressives necessitated the formation of the Imo Progressives Movement, which essence and existence through superbly coordinated leadership and membership cut across the length and breadth of Imo State.

“And today, in further demonstration of political capacity, the Imo Progressives Movement holds this historic ceremony to formally inaugurate, further empower and energize the mobilisers and other categories of members and workers and voters for the herculean task of promoting in the grassroots as well as consolidating the sustenance of the message of reelection of the governor. No doubts, a great journey for the emancipation of the people from the short – sighted political activities, events, actions, and decisions which had always wrought negative consequences on the fortunes of the State in every Governorship Election, must be dismantled, and ultimately disabled henceforth. Here we have 10000 voters mobilisers from different categories of IPM, and ward level ready for work.”