The Labour Party (LP) has raised strong objections to what it described as a clandestine attempt by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and the party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, to seize control of the party’s structure.

In a statement issued in Kaduna on Thursday, the party’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, denounced a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting convened by the duo in Abuja, labeling it as unconstitutional and unauthorized.

“At the end of their illegal meeting in Abuja, Mr Obi led other party outlaws to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in an attempt to pressure the Commission to take unlawful action against the party leadership,” Ibrahim stated.

He described the move as “a high level of desperation to seize control of the party’s structure,” and questioned the urgency, saying: “If the Supreme Court ruling truly supports them, why the rush to INEC to exert undue influence?”

According to Ibrahim, Obi and Otti also attempted to broker a deal with National Chairman Julius Abure by offering him the position of Chairman of the Board of Trustees in exchange for stepping aside.

“But unfortunately for them, Abure did not appoint himself chairman. It is not about personalities; it is about the supremacy of party organs and adherence to due process,” he insisted.

“It is not within anyone’s prerogative to allocate positions. This sort of political patronage undermines the sanctity of our democratic institutions. Such arbitrary behaviour by leaders is partly responsible for the state of governance in the country,” he added.

The LP secretary alleged that the Abuja gathering also included threats and covert plans to reclaim the party’s leadership through force.

He pointed to the Supreme Court ruling which, he said, clearly affirmed that only the National Secretary, in consultation with the National Chairman, is empowered to summon a NEC meeting.

“Obi and Otti lack the constitutional authority to convene such a meeting. Therefore, both the meeting and its resolutions are null and void,” Ibrahim declared.

Referring to the list of those who attended the meeting, he said it reflected the illegitimacy of the event.

The roll call included Obi’s 2023 running mate, serving and former lawmakers, members of the self-styled “National Caretaker Committee,” and representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

“There is no mention of any ‘National Caretaker Committee’ in our party constitution. Nor is there any provision for a governor or former presidential candidate to convene a NEC meeting,” he clarified.

He also referenced the position of labour union leader, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who has threatened to picket LP offices nationwide.

“Our immediate response to Obi, Otti and other renegades is that their plans amount to self-help. If the court ruling is in their favour, there are legal means to enforce it. Intimidation and threats will not yield positive outcomes,” Ibrahim warned.

He concluded by cautioning that leaders who cannot abide by internal party rules while out of office are unlikely to uphold the national constitution if they ever assume power.

“We condemn this illegal meeting in totality and urge members and the public to disregard both the gathering and its outcomes,” he said.

The Rivers State Government has debunked claims circulating on social media and other platforms that it has approved the recruitment of 10,000 graduates and non-graduates into the state civil service.

The report, which alleged that the recruitment portal would open on the midnight of Sunday, April 13, further claimed that the approval was given by the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), and signed by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Lucky Worika.

However, in a swift response, Dr. Inyingi Brown, the Acting Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, dismissed the information as false.

“The announcement is fake,” she said, urging members of the public to disregard the report entirely.

She clarified that any authentic information regarding recruitment into the civil service would be officially issued by the Rivers State Civil Service Commission when appropriate.

“An appropriate information will be released by the Rivers State Civil Service Commission when it falls due,” Brown assured.

… say senatorial district highest beneficiary of Mbah’s projects

Leaders of Enugu North Senatorial District, otherwise known as Nsukka Zone, have endorsed the Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, to continue in office beyond 2027, saying the governor has transformed the zone in less than two years of his administration.

The Nsukka leaders who convened at the Adada House, Nsukka, on Thursday, under the aegis of Enugu State Coalition for Progress, Enugu North Senatorial Zone Branch, comprised a cross section of socio-cultural groups, the academia, representatives of Traditional Rulers, captains of industry, businessmen and women, politicians, market men and women, farmers association, labour leaders, among other leaders drawn from the 6 council areas of the zone, expressed their unwavering support for the Mbah administration.

In an interactive session by a panel of discussants from the groups which was followed by a communique issued at the end of the discussion and signed by no fewer than 700 signatories including the former deputy governor, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, Senator Chuka Utazi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the deputy speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ezeani Ezenta, Dr. Dan Shere, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, Gen. Godwin Ugwuoke (rtd), Dr. Mike Ajogwu SAN, Chief Maxwell Ukuta, Prof Osita Ogbu, and Igwe Dr H.N Ukuta, they cited the litany of monumental infrastructural developments of the governor across the state, particularly in Nsukka Zone, as the reasons behind their endorsement.

In a resolution and vote of gratitude, the coalition commended the governor’s outstanding leadership and stellar performance since assuming office in May 2023, saying the only candidate the zone would support in 2027 is Governor Mbah.

They insisted that supporting Mbah to do 8 years in office was in the best interest of Nsukka people as his re-election would enable him finish the landmark projects initiated by his administration in the zone which were already opening Nsukka for economic development.

The coalition further praised the governor for providing peace and security in Enugu State, making it an attractive destination for investment, business, and tourism in Nigeria.

“In particular, we note with satisfaction, that the setting up of the Enugu State Command and Control Center by His Excellency at the Government House for tracking criminal activities across the state has become a model for other states of the federation. We applaud His Excellency’s holistic development agenda for Enugu State anchored on his disruptive innovation philosophy as a catalyst for positive change,” the communique read in part.

While underscoring that the senatorial district has 102 electoral wards constituting 39.2 percent of the 260 electoral wards in the state, the elated Nsukka leaders said with 102 Smart Green Schools and 102 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the six councils, the zone has become the highest beneficiary of Mbah’s stellar performance.

On the ongoing dualization of Enugu-Ugwogo Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road, the coalition described it as a critical infrastructure aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting economic activities, adding that the reconstruction of the 44.8 km Ama Ngwo-Eke-Oghe-Iwollo-Umulokpa road and the new 40 km Owo-Ama Nkanu-Ubahu-Mbu-Neke dual carriageway would open up a new traffic and economic corridor to the senatorial zone.

It also noted that Mbah’s administration has transformed Enugu State from a civil service state to a fast-emerging industrial hub, with an unimaginable annual internally generated revenue of over N600 billion by the end of 2025.

“The governor’s commitment to progress is evident in the rapid pace of development and transformation across various sectors, including roads, bridges, healthcare, security, tourism, entertainment, industries, and educational institutions.”

Throwing their weight behind the governor, Chief Ukuta said the people of the zone would not only queue behind him in the next polls, they also owed the governor apology for the herd mentality that almost led to the voting of wrong candidates.

Expressing confidence in the governor’s leadership ability, Senator Utazi said as an APC card-carrying member, he was at the meeting to particularly appreciate the good work of the governor, stressing that he deserved the unwavering support of the entire zone.

“I am a card-carrying member of APC starting from my ward in Nkpologu all the way to Abuja. I want to say that this gathering is not for PDP.”

“It’s a gathering for every well-meaning Nsukka indigene who is appreciative of the good job the governor of Enugu State is doing in Enugu State and especially in Enugu North senatorial district. In fact, when I came back to Enugu, starting from the airport, I saw nylon roads, the type only seen in Abuja.”

“When I visited the governor recently to discuss the police station I built there as a senator, the governor was immediately working to operationalize it, and is additionally working on the road from 9th Mile to Umulokpa.”

“He also told me severally the things he was doing in Nsukka zone and all of them are what people can see on ground. Let’s support him to continue with his job. I want to say frankly that Nsukka people are happy with him,” the senator added.

Adding his voice, Dr. Ajogwu said the coalition had already spoken the minds of Nsukka people which was to support the governor for another term.

On his part, Hon. Ezeani, who led lawmakers from the zone, said the governor would continue to enjoy cordial relationship with the House of Assembly to ensure the continuation of the good governance in the state.

He described the Mbah administration as business unusual where new projects were springing up daily with many already completed across the state, adding that they had already declared unalloyed support and endorsement for his candidacy beyond 2027.

Lending his voice, Dr Shere lauded the governor for the transport infrastructure project which has the Nsukka Central Terminal Station, the Holy Ghost utra-modern terminal stations, Abakpa and Gariki stations in addition with the recently delivered CNG buses ordered by state government.

“You don’t need to be told that in Nsukka, we are all adopting governor Peter Mbah to complete the job he has started here. Nsukka is now looking beautiful because of what he’s contributing to our economy, infrastructure, education and transport sectors. Look at the Enugu Air, it’s a game changing moment for the state.”

“The investment prospects will impact all the nooks and crannies of the state. Again, the International Conference Centre, the ongoing 5 star hotel, the Hotel Presidential and the 300-bed international hospital in the state will make Enugu the hub of medical tourism where robotic surgery will be conducted and thousands of jobs created,” he said.

Moving a motion for endorsement of the governor for 2027, Chief Itanyi insisted that the ongoing 43.7 km dualisation of the Penoks-Ugwogo Nike-Opi-Nsukka road was the single most costly project in the state.

The motion was unanimously affirmed by voice votes by the members coalition who filled the hall.

The European Union (EU) has called on Nigeria to strengthen its electoral system by ensuring that leaders emerge through the ballot and not by court rulings.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, made this call in Abuja on Thursday during the official launch of a report titled “From Ballot to the Courts: Analysis of Election Petition Litigation from Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections”, produced by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

Speaking through Ruben Alba, the acting Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mignot emphasised that overreliance on courts to determine election outcomes undermines the credibility and effectiveness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He pointed out that INEC faces significant logistical challenges, and the unpredictability of conflicting court decisions often hampers the electoral body’s ability to administer elections effectively.

“The critical role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democratic process has been confirmed by various judgments with great impact on the country’s democratic process. The courts have, through several groundbreaking decisions, strengthened and deepened democracy in Nigeria,” Mignot noted.

“In other words, the role played by the judiciary in the electoral process has, no doubt, given rise to positive and crucial transformation in the development process of Nigeria, but we still have a lot to work on,” he added.

The EU envoy underscored the importance of the judiciary in upholding democratic principles but stressed the need for balance and transparency in how electoral justice is dispensed.

“It is also equally important to note that an effective judicial system is a collective responsibility, while the judiciary has a significant role to play in ensuring a timely, efficient and transparent dispensation of justice,” he said.

Mignot urged Nigerian citizens to be more informed about their constitutional rights and to engage the system in a manner that holds it accountable.

“Citizens must also remain inform of their rights as enshrined by the Constitution, and this is also to hold the system accountable. With electoral judiciary, there needs to be adequate information that forces compliance with the free spirit of the legislation so that cases are not just dismissed based only on technicalities,” he said.

He also highlighted concerns over inconsistent court rulings on similar cases, warning that such discrepancies could erode public confidence in the electoral and judicial systems.

“The conflicted decisions in respect of the same set of facts is also weighing heavily on the quality of the country’s democratic experience and the trust of voters,” he cautioned.

“And as it was mentioned before, leaders should be elected through the ballot and not by the courts.”

In his remarks, Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of PLAC, said the newly launched report provided an in-depth review of judicial decisions arising from petitions filed after the February and March 2023 general elections.

He explained that the report evaluates the impact of rulings from Election Petition Tribunals, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, offering insights into how electoral justice was administered in the aftermath of the polls.