The member representing Enugu East Rural Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Raymond Okechukwu Ugwu, has rolled out a free empowerment initiative aimed at equipping his constituents with practical skills in agriculture and information technology.

Through his “Hon. Ray Ugwu Constituency Engagement Initiative,” the lawmaker is offering a FREE AGRO AID & ICT TRAINING targeting indigenes, residents, community leaders, cooperative societies, farmers, youths, women, and other interest groups within the constituency.

The program is designed to build capacity in sustainable farming practices, agribusiness opportunities, and essential digital skills to help participants thrive in today’s tech-driven economy.

Speaking with DAILY GAZETTE on the initiative, Hon. Ugwu emphasized that the training aligns with his vision to create self-reliant communities through practical knowledge and grassroots empowerment.

“This initiative is part of my broader agenda to promote inclusive development and ensure that our people are not left behind in the evolving economic landscape,” he said.

Participants will also receive starter kits and access to mentorship opportunities to help them translate their newly acquired skills into viable ventures.

The program, which runs in phases, is expected to train hundreds of constituents across various wards in Enugu East Rural.

Hon. Ugwu called on all interested constituents to seize the opportunity, assuring that more people-centered initiatives would follow as part of his commitment to impactful representation.

According to the lawmaker, the event shall attract notable political stalwarts to include Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state, Rt. Hon. Engr. Uche Ugwu, Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly, Dr. Patrick Uhuru, Commissioner for Agriculture Enugu State, HRH Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu, Chairman Enugu East Traditional Rulers Council, Hon. Ekene Uzodimma, among others.

The training scheduled for Wednesday, 30th April 2025, at St. Patricks Emene, shall kick off at 10am.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Hycienth Ngwu, has called for increased defection of political stalwarts to the ruling party and greater support for President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to fix Nigeria’s structurally defective economy.

Ngwu, the former South-East Publicity Secretary of the APC, made this call on Friday in Enugu while reacting to the recent wave of high-profile defections to the APC from other political parties across the country.

He attributed the influx of new members into the APC to President Tinubu’s outstanding leadership qualities and innovative strategies aimed at rescuing the economy.

“According to him, managing a structurally defective economy requires a pragmatic and balanced leader. I thank God we have that leader in President Bola Tinubu,” Ngwu stated.

“Our economy has been structurally defective, and past leaders have been using the same solution to fix it. But like the saying goes, one cannot repeat the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome.

“President Tinubu, being a pragmatic leader, changed the solution from day one of his presidency, and today, a different outcome is reshaping our economy for clear-minded people to see.

“Nigerians should see the current hardships as the period of transitional transformation from crude to refined product. It is always darkest before dawn.

“Let us pray for the sustenance of the strategic policies he has laid out and, most importantly, for the implementation of the policies to the letter,” he said.

Ngwu also appealed for bipartisan support, urging political leaders to prioritize the future of the nation over party differences.

“For the sake of the upcoming generations, let us push partisan politics aside and support President Tinubu for a second tenure.

“To achieve this, other political leaders are enjoined to defect to the APC for President Tinubu’s seamless election for a second term. Alternatively, one may choose to still support him from one’s opposition party.

“The upcoming generations will not forgive the present political class for any disruption of his second tenure.

“This is the opportune time for the South-East to change strategy and key into Nigerian mainstream politics,” he added.

Prof. Yakubu, INEC National Chairman

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has signaled its openness to enabling eligible Nigerians to vote without a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) in the 2027 general elections, provided that the move is supported by necessary legislative changes.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the commission is focused on improving voter access through technological innovations.

However, he emphasized that “any change in the voting procedure must be supported by corresponding legal amendments.”

“It is not our stand alone that is important. Equally critical is what the subsisting law says.”

“While the commission is favourably disposed to the recommendation by stakeholders (that PVCs alone should not be the only criterion for voting at an election), the law needs to be amended to reflect it,” Oyekanmi stated.

This position aligns with earlier comments made by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during a quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners held in Abuja in December 2024.

In his remarks, Yakubu stressed the growing importance of technology, especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), in enhancing the integrity and efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral process.

He said, “The commission also believes that with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on Election Day should be reviewed.”

Yakubu further noted that individuals who already possess PVCs will still be able to use them.

However, he added that INEC is exploring alternatives such as computer-generated slips that could be issued by the commission or downloaded by voters from its official website.

“Those who already have the PVCs can still use them to vote, but going forward, computer-generated slips issued to the voter or even downloaded from the Commission’s website will suffice for voter accreditation,” he explained.

“This will not only save cost, it will also eliminate the issues around the collection of PVCs and the diabolical practice of buying up the cards from voters in order to disenfranchise them,” Yakubu added.

A former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adamu made the announcement during a meeting with the State Working Committee of the APC held in Lafia, the state capital, on Thursday.

Speaking at the gathering, the former police chief said his decision was in response to what he described as a “clarion call” from the people of Nasarawa who, he claimed, have expressed confidence in his leadership capabilities and wealth of experience.

“I am answering the call of my people who believe I can serve and move Nasarawa forward,” Adamu declared.

He assured party members that if elected, his administration would be inclusive and transparent, with a firm commitment to development.

“My administration, by the grace of God, will be inclusive, transparent, and focused on delivering tangible development across all sectors,” he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to take a definitive stance on the leadership tussle within the Labour Party following the Supreme Court’s recent judgment.

Multiple sources within the commission told DAILY GAZETTE on Thursday that the decision-making process is still ongoing.

“No decision has been made yet on the Supreme Court judgment of the Labour Party,” one official disclosed under the condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.

Another official explained that INEC is awaiting a full understanding of the court’s intent before making any pronouncement.

“The commission needs to obtain a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgement, study it carefully to determine what the court intended, before arriving at an informed decision,” the source said.

The Supreme Court, in a ruling delivered on April 4, 2025, nullified an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal that had recognized Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

It ruled that the appellate court lacked jurisdiction over internal party affairs.

However, the judgment has sparked divergent interpretations.

Julius Abure maintains that the verdict does not remove him from his position, while a caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman insists that Abure has been effectively removed.

Another factional figure, Lamidi Apapa, has also re-emerged, laying claim to the party’s leadership.

Seeking to resolve the confusion, an LP delegation including Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, met with INEC officials in Abuja on April 9.

During the meeting, Otti presented the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment to the commission.

The visit aimed to reinforce communication between the party and INEC, and to clarify the party’s leadership.

INEC National Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, received the delegation alongside other senior officials.

Olumekun assured the visitors of the commission’s dedication to impartiality.

He emphasized INEC’s “commitment to neutrality, transparency, and the rule of law” in discharging its duties.

Despite this effort at clarification, Abure insisted on Thursday that he remains the legitimate chairman of the Labour Party.

He addressed the media in Abuja through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh.

“The position of the Labour Party after critically reviewing the Supreme Court judgment delivered on the 4th of April 2025 stated as follows: The Supreme Court, contrary to speculations, actually reaffirmed the National Convention of the Party held on the 27th of March 2024 at Nnewi,” Ifoh stated.

Citing legal precedent, he continued, “The reason for the non-justiciability of internal disputes of a political party is simple, and in the eyes of the law, a political party is a corporate entity with its constitution, rules, regulations, and guidelines which are binding on members who had joined freely have consented to be so bound (See Abegunde Vs. Ondo State House of Assembly & Ors. (2015) LPELR-24588 (SC).”

He further warned: “Consequently, we admonished Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, and Peter Obi, former presidential Candidate of our party in the 2023 General Election, who are the protagonists of the current division in the Party, to hear the Supreme Court loud and clear.”

Abure argued that the party had complied with all legal requirements prior to the convention in question.

“The Supreme Court admonished party members to respect the Constitution of their party when it stated thus; Political Parties have put in place diverse kinds of internal dispute resolution mechanisms to handle any matter arising from disputes among members,” he said.

Two weeks earlier, Obi and Otti’s faction presented the 48-page Certified True Copy of the ruling during a separate LP National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja.

They claimed it settled any lingering misinterpretations of the court’s decision.

Present at the gathering were Obi, Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku of the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, and Senator Darlington Nwokocha, National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee.

Also in attendance were Kenneth Okonkwo, members of both the National and Abia State Assemblies, and representatives of the Obidient Movement Worldwide.

Efforts to reach Tony Akeni, spokesperson for the Usman-led faction, were unsuccessful.

He requested more time due to health reasons and promised to respond later, but remained unreachable at press time.

Similarly, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, could not be contacted.

The trend of high-level defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears far from over, as more state governors are reportedly preparing to join the ruling party.

In a surprise development, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori recently led his cabinet in defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, intensifying political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, while speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, hinted that more defections are imminent.

“I don’t know the number, but we are expecting [more governors to join the APC],” he stated.

“You have a lot of people who have shown interest – even among the governors, you know – who are coming into the APC.”

Sule attributed the growing appeal of the APC to President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms. “When we are meeting with the president, you see the excitement among them,” he noted.

According to him, politicians feel welcomed and valued by Tinubu’s leadership.

“They feel accepted by this president, and they like him,” Sule added.

Governor Oborevwori’s switch to the APC was accompanied by his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, during an event in Asaba, marking the end of long-standing speculation about their political alignment.

Okowa had previously been the PDP’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

Oborevwori had earlier pledged support for President Tinubu’s potential re-election in 2027, even while still a PDP member.

Akwa Ibom Governor Umoh Eno similarly endorsed Tinubu’s second-term bid.

Commenting on the move, Delta State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the decision was motivated by a desire “for us to be able to collaborate and build a state that every Deltan will be proud of.”

Governor Sule emphasized that these developments reflect a broader admiration for Tinubu’s approach to governance.

“According to him, the swelling number of high-profile politicians in the APC is a reflection of the reforms by President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” the report concluded.