The leadership of the Labour Party has issued a stern warning in response to plans by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to invade the party’s National Secretariat.

According to the national secretary of the party, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the NLC, in collaboration with the illegal Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) and the National Transition Committee (NTC), is mobilizing members, hired thugs, and other miscreants to execute the planned invasion starting Monday, April 7, 2025.

The Labour Party claims that the invasion, allegedly funded by the Abia State government and another prominent leader within the party, intends to unlawfully break into the party’s national headquarters, seize sensitive documents, and vandalize party property.

This action, the party says, would not only violate the law but also disrupt the peace of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“This planned invasion is not just reckless, but a desperate attempt by the NLC to undermine the Labour Party,”

He further highlighted the contradiction between the NLC’s actions and its role as a labour union, which, by law, is prohibited from engaging in partisan politics.

Ibrahim pointed to past incidents where miscreants were mobilized to desecrate the party’s headquarters and damage its property.

The Labour Party emphasized that the Supreme Court ruling of April 5, 2025, is clear on the matter.

The judgment, they said, unequivocally mandates political parties to resolve internal leadership issues within their own structures, and no external entity, including the NLC or any caretaker committee, has the authority to interfere in such matters.

The Labour Party’s leadership, under Barrister Julius Abure, who was validly elected in March 2024, remains intact, the statement stressed.

The party made it clear that any attempt to forcibly take over the leadership will be met with strong resistance.

The Party called on security agencies, including the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to ensure that such unlawful actions are swiftly stopped.

They further urged that those behind the planned invasion, no matter how influential they might be, should be apprehended and face the full force of the law.

“Any activity that threatens the peace of the FCT must be nipped in the bud.” the statement added.

The Federal Government has initiated the screening process for candidates nominated for ambassadorial positions as part of efforts to fill the vacant roles at Nigeria’s 76 embassies and 22 high commissions.

Nominees have been directed to report to the nearest Department of State Services (DSS) offices for security screenings.

In addition to the security checks, some of the nominees have reportedly been asked to provide detailed records of their personal education and work history.

A reliable source informed DAILY GAZETTE  that two former governors from the South-East, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, have already undergone the screening process for the ambassadorial positions.

The source also confirmed that Shehu Sani, a recent addition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and former presidential aide Reno Omokri are among the nominees who have been screened.

Further confirmation came that former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, have also completed the screening and have been cleared for their potential diplomatic assignments.

It should be noted that in September 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, both career and non-career.

After nearly two years of waiting, the presidency in March 2025 announced that replacements for these ambassadors would be named “very soon.”

DAILY GAZETTE previously reported that background checks are being conducted on the nominees, with information from the screenings being shared with relevant government agencies in both the presidency and the legislature.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that the delay in the appointment of new ambassadors was due to financial constraints, while foreign officials and other stakeholders raised concerns about the lack of diplomatic leadership at several foreign missions.

However, with the ongoing screening process, the Federal Government is expected to announce the new diplomats and their respective portfolios shortly.

Aliyu Atiku Abubakar, the Turaki Adamawa and son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has addressed the controversy surrounding his visit to the Emir of Fufore, Muhammad Sani Ribadu, amid accusations that it was a political endorsement of the newly created emirates in Adamawa.

The visit had sparked criticism among some of the former vice president’s supporters, who interpreted it as a tacit endorsement of the emirates established by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

Critics claimed the creation of these emirates was intended to reduce the influence of the Lamido Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, and argued that Governor Fintiri had not consulted Atiku, who holds the traditional title of Wazirin Adamawa and is the second-highest traditional figure in the state.

The Emir of Fufore is the brother of National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and both families are connected by marriage, as Aliyu is married to the NSA’s daughter.

Some critics suggested that the visit could be seen as aligning with political interests that conflicted with his father’s, particularly in light of the reported fallout between Atiku and Governor Fintiri.

Commentator Madu Maiha raised concerns, questioning whether the visit was “a betrayal of his father and his emirate, a strategic political manoeuvre for personal gain, or an act of self-diminution to appease influential forces for immediate rewards.”

In response to the backlash, Aliyu clarified the purpose of his visit in a statement posted on social media.

He said, “It has come to my attention that a recent visit I made to the Emir of Fufore has sparked reactions and a wide range of opinions. Some have gone as far as describing the visit as an endorsement of the newly established Fufore Emirate.”

Aliyu further explained: “It is important to note that the new emir is an uncle to my dear wife. My wife continues to stand by me, my siblings, and my extended relatives at all times, including during joyful and unpleasant moments.”

“As her husband, I appreciate and value such acts of kindness and respect. Indeed, I believe such deeds deserve reciprocity. On that note, I see nothing wrong with having respectful and courteous relationships with my in-laws.”

He continued, “There was life before politics, and life is not all about politics. I am grateful to my parents for raising my siblings and I in a manner that recognises this distinction.”

Aliyu also reaffirmed his loyalty to the Lamido Adamawa, saying, “my loyalty to His Royal Highness, Lamido Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, PhD, is indisputably absolute. His decision to appoint me as the Turaki Adamawa at a record age of 25 is arguably the greatest honour bestowed on me in my life.”

He concluded by saying, “If anyone thinks they can cause friction or disharmony within my family by politicising how we lead our modest lives, they need to take their ill-intentioned criticism and obnoxious attitude elsewhere.”

The Federal Government is currently vetting individuals to fill diplomatic positions across its 109 missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates, DAILY GAZETTE reports

Sources familiar with the process have revealed that former Minister of Aviation under President Obasanjo, Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, are among the nominees for these ambassadorial roles.

It has been further reported that the vetting process is decentralized, with candidates required to report to the nearest Department of State Services (DSS) office for screening.

A Presidency official, who spoke under anonymity, confirmed that several candidates had already been asked to provide personal details, including their educational and professional backgrounds.

“They’re already doing security checks with DSS. When they have cleared security checks, we will release the list. Only those who have been cleared are announced. The process is ongoing. I know that we should have a list before the end of this month (April),” the official revealed.

A second source added, “The vetting is not done centrally. It is based on the location of the nominees. Nominees have been reached to provide personal history and information such as where they attended school, what appointments they have held, and the like. So, it is by location.”

Since September 2023, President Bola Tinubu has been operating his foreign policy, which includes his 4Ds—Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora—without appointing ambassadors.

That month, Tinubu undertook a sector-wide review of Nigeria’s foreign policy, which led to the recall of over 83 career and non-career ambassadors from their positions.

Sources close to the President confirmed that he spent part of his holiday in December reviewing the names of ambassadorial nominees and intended to submit a consolidated list to the National Assembly by the end of the month.

However, reports from January indicated a change of plans.

The delay in the process was reportedly due to financial constraints, particularly the $1 billion required to address the arrears owed to foreign service officials, replace aging vehicles, and renovate embassy buildings.

A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained, “You see, the major issue is money. Not money to pay them [ambassadors], because how much is their salaries and benefits? The main money is CAPEX [Capital Expenditure]. By the time they put the cost together to fix the issues, it is running to almost $1bn. Most of those embassies, almost 90 per cent, are rundown. Either the residence is not good, the embassy does not have a functional office, or their rent has expired. The embassies that are buoyant may not be up to 10 as we speak. I understand that some of them don’t have serviceable vehicles.”

“The last vehicles they bought were from 10 years ago. Some of them are broken down, and ambassadors cannot use such vehicles because they carry the image of the country. Some of them don’t even have power and running water. So, if you post ambassadors there today, you’re sending them to trouble.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, also acknowledged the delays, attributing them to financial limitations. “It is a money problem,” Tuggar stated during a ministerial briefing in Abuja last May.

He emphasized the importance of funding to ensure the effective operation of missions abroad, stating, “there is no point sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to even travel to their designated countries and to run the missions effectively, one needs funding. Mr President is working on it, and it will be done in due course.”

A foreign service official explained that while provisions had been made in the 2025 budget to address some of the financial challenges, the funds were still insufficient.

Although the full list of nominees is classified, senior Presidency and foreign service officers confirmed that several high-profile and controversial figures are being screened for the positions.

One official remarked, “They’re going to announce the appointments soon. They are being screened as we speak. The names of the nominees are highly classified for now because not every one of the names listed will eventually make it through.”

“FFK [Femi Fani-Kayode] is on the list. These are some of the controversial names that have been put forward as well. Then there is Fola Adeola [founder of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc] and Femi Pedro too. They’re moving on with the process more quickly this time.”

Another official explained the reason behind the thorough vetting, stating, “the nominees are being vetted, and background checks are being conducted on them. It is usually done so that the nominees will not have any security issues and their deployment will not have a negative impact on the country.”

Although rumors circulated that Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was also on the list, a credible source within the Presidency denied it, stating, “Reno is not on the list. But FFK is there.”

Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, also weighed in on the delay, explaining that the ambassadorial list includes both career and political ambassadors.

He added, “Don’t forget that the ambassadorial list has two components. There are career ambassadors and political ambassadors. The foreign affairs list and the consolidated list will still go through certain processes before they are released.”

Two of the nominees contacted for comment declined to speak on the matter, neither confirming nor denying their inclusion in the list.