Hon. Ifeanyi Ibezi, 

A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ibezi, has defected from the party and endorsed the re-election of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

Ibezi, who previously represented Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in the 9th National Assembly, made the announcement during a meeting with his political associates at his country home in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area, on Sunday.

Ibezi pointed to the APC’s governorship primary election, which resulted in Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu emerging as the party’s candidate, as one of the main reasons for his departure.

He described the primary process as a “charade” and stated that the APC had failed to select a credible and electable candidate.

He explained that his decision to back Governor Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was based on his belief in the governor’s work and his desire to see Anambra continue to progress.

“I have switched my support to Governor Soludo. Just like I delivered Idemili North and South to President Bola Tinubu in 2023, and to Soludo in the last election, I will once again mobilise votes in November to ensure Soludo’s victory,” Ibezi declared.

“Soludo must return for a second term. I have toured his projects and I am convinced he is working. If your party is not ready to win, what do you do? You move on. I can’t be part of a party that is unserious about governance and victory.”

Ibezi further addressed his followers, emphasizing that any of his loyalists who did not understand his shift in political allegiance “lacks the basic understanding of politics.”

He added, “Our support for Soludo is total and immediate. The APC is not prepared, and we won’t waste our time.”

This move comes amid growing dissatisfaction within the APC, following the withdrawal of three leading governorship aspirants—Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Sir Paul Chukwuma, and Chukwuma Umeoji—just hours before Saturday’s primary.

The three aspirants cited irregularities and claims of violent conduct by some of the supporters of one of the candidates as their reasons for withdrawing from the race.

Okonkwo stated in a statement that he could not, in good conscience, risk the lives of his supporters “in pursuit of a manipulated primary,” while Chukwuma referred to the process as being hijacked by “retrogressive forces.”

Governor Otti, 

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has unequivocally dismissed any speculation about his intention to run for a Senate seat after completing his tenure.

Otti made this clear during a reception organized in his honor by the Anambra Development Unions Association, Aba branch, on Saturday.

Addressing the rumors, the governor described them as unfounded and misleading.

“When I finish my eight years here, I will retire. I am not going to Abuja,” Otti stated, urging his critics to cease spreading false information.

The governor emphasized the importance of creating space for younger leaders, pointing out the shift in the political landscape and the increasing involvement of youth in governance.

“We are no longer that young. Society is changing, and the young ones are rising. It’s time we give them the opportunity,” he remarked.

Otti also revealed plans to revisit the 2011 dismissal of 154 state workers, primarily teachers, from the civil service.

He stated that the Head of Service would be directed to conduct an urgent review of the situation for potential redress.

Those under the age of 65 may be re-engaged on a contract basis, particularly given the ongoing teacher shortage in the state.

The governor condemned the workers’ dismissal based on their state of origin, calling it both unjust and illegal.

“For those outside the age bracket, we’ll find fair compensation mechanisms,” he assured.

Otti reaffirmed his commitment to justice, inclusivity, and addressing the wrongs of previous administrations.

At the event, lawmaker Stephen Ucheonye and Chief Obiora Nwakpadolo commended Otti’s leadership and developmental achievements.

They explained that the governor’s performance was the inspiration behind the reception held in his honor.

Vice President Shettima, 

Stakeholders from the North-Central zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have called for President Bola Tinubu to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate in the upcoming election.

The group has urged Tinubu to select a running mate from their region if he seeks their support for his re-election.

DAILY GAZETTE gathered these stakeholders have started engaging with political heavyweights and former public office holders to bring their aspiration to fruition.

They held a private meeting on Saturday, which included notable figures such as the former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau (retd), the Onah of Abaji, His Royal Highness Musa Yunusa, former Senator John Danboyi, and other unmentioned individuals, all pushing for the agenda of a North-Central presidency.

Prof. Nghargbu K’tso, the Chairman of the North-Central Renaissance Movement and leader of the delegation, shared a statement with DAILY GAZETTE.

The statement read, “The North Central is strengthening advocacy for the return of presidency to the zone come 2027 through high-level consultations with prominent figures in the geo-political zone and Nigeria at large.”

“We appealed for the cooperation of Nigerians to make the agitation a reality and put the region in the equation of other zones who have enjoyed the constitutional right of producing president and vice president in Nigeria as the zone has what it takes to lead rather than to be led all the times.”

This move follows a press conference held just two days earlier, where hundreds of stakeholders and party leaders from the North-Central announced their unified effort to produce the next President after 65 years of perceived marginalization.

Olumide Akpata, 

The judgment by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, has not put an end to the matter.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to challenge the ruling, describing it as a judicial endorsement of electoral fraud.

In a statement issued from Abuja after reviewing the Certified True Copy of the judgment, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the PDP Chairman in Edo State, called the verdict a travesty.

He argued that the tribunal placed technicalities above justice and ignored clear evidence of electoral malpractice.

“We are proceeding to the Court of Appeal with the facts, the law, and the will of the Edo people firmly on our side,” Aziegbemi declared, accusing the tribunal of acting as a “fourth respondent” by allegedly inventing legal barriers to shield a flawed election.

The PDP’s petition claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) manipulated the election in favor of the APC and its candidate, Okpebholo, by using fake result sheets and disregarding its own guidelines.

“The judgment failed to address an electoral coup,” said Anthony Ehilebo, Special Adviser on Media to the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

“Tap Initiative’s forensic audit revealed that many result sheets appeared to have been filled by a single hand. Yet, INEC’s own IReV portal still shows the authentic results.”

Despite the PDP’s criticism, Okpebholo has extended an olive branch, urging Ighodalo to join him in the effort to build a better Edo State.

However, PDP leaders have rejected the offer, calling it premature.

“There can be no peace without justice,” said party stalwart Goodluck Osaretin. “What happened was a stolen mandate. We are determined to retrieve it through the courts.”

Meanwhile, Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election, has explained why he chose not to challenge the election result at the tribunal.

On October 21, 2024, the last day for filing petitions at the gubernatorial election tribunal, Akpata, who had campaigned under the slogan #EdoWillBeOk, explained his decision not to contest the results.

“My decision not to approach the tribunal is not a capitulation to injustice but a resolute stand against a flawed system,” Akpata stated.

“I choose to rise above the quagmire of protracted legal battles that sometimes serve to legitimise a fundamentally compromised process. The burden of proof placed on petitioners is not just high; it is often insurmountable.”

Akpata finished a distant third in the election, securing just 22,763 votes, as Okpebholo of the APC was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, revealed on Sunday that Labour Party’s Peter Obi is in discussions to join the SDP, following in the footsteps of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

Adebayo shared this information during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

In recent months, Obi’s interactions with opposition figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have sparked speculation about his political allegiance, with many Nigerians questioning whether he is leaving the Labour Party.

However, Obi has consistently reiterated that he remains a member of the Labour Party.

Adebayo, however, asserted on Sunday that he had reliable information indicating that Obi was set to join the SDP.

He stated, “People are joining my party, and we are welcoming them. You can see how active I am in welcoming them.”

“The only little issue we have with some of them is changing the culture where, if you have not been in an environment where rules are taken seriously, some of them have been engaged in ‘Boy Scouts,’ black market operations, but we are dealing with that. But we welcome them into the party.”

The SDP candidate further added, “All these people you have mentioned—El-Rufai, Atiku Abubakar, even former Governor Peter Obi—are coming. A lot of people are coming, and we will welcome them.”

When asked to clarify if Obi was indeed joining the SDP, Adebayo hesitated, but confirmed that he had been reliably informed.

He explained, “Supposedly, until somebody joins, we don’t know. But people have told me, and the Financial Secretary of the SDP has also informed me that they are talking. So we will welcome everybody.”

Adebayo continued, “Surely, when we come in, and we don’t become a tower of Babel; if we come in, follow the rules, and allow one person to emerge transparently, clearly, without cheating, without criminality, the way we did our convention in 2022, people applauded us. No court case, no crisis, no allegations.”

He concluded, “If they can stick to our culture and follow the way we do in the SDP and produce a good alternative to Nigerians, we are going to manifestly defeat the APC and retire President Tinubu to Lagos or wherever he chooses in Nigeria.”

Works Minister, Umahi, 

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of the waterway between Eko Bridge and Carter Bridge following significant damage caused to Eko Bridge by dredging activities.

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made the announcement during an inspection tour of various bridges in Lagos State.

Umahi called on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to enforce the closure to prevent any further accidents.

“The dredger that hit the pier cap caused the pier to tumble and sink,” the minister explained.

He confirmed that the dredger’s driver or its owner had been arrested, emphasizing that the Federal Government would take decisive action due to the extent of the damage.

“I also observed a concerning amount of dredging near the Third Mainland Bridge, despite the Federal Executive Council’s ban on dredging within a 10-kilometer radius of all bridges in Nigeria, which was imposed four months ago,” Umahi remarked.

“I am shocked that dredging is still taking place.”

The minister stressed that dredging activities near bridges posed a threat to their structural integrity.

Umahi also appealed to the public to avoid parking or loading on bridges, highlighting the need to protect both the lives of Nigerians and the country’s road infrastructure.