The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has chosen new national executives to lead the party for the next four years.

The elections took place during the party’s 2025 National Convention, marking what the leadership describes as a significant step in strengthening the party’s structure.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Amb. Khalid Arewa, and made available to journalists in Bauchi, he described the convention as “a major milestone in the party’s journey,” reaffirming ZLP’s commitment to “equality, equity, and transparency.”

He further encouraged Nigerians to align with the party’s vision, stating: “We call on Nigerians to join the party in building a better future for the nation.”

The newly elected members of the ZLP National Executive include:

• National Chairman: Hon. Chief Barr. Dan Nwanyanwu
• National Secretary: Hon. Yahaya Makama
• National Vice Chairman (North Central): Alh. Usman Danjuma
• National Legal Adviser: Barr. ThankGod Enohoro, LLM
• National Publicity Secretary: Amb. Khalid Arewa
• National Women Leader: Mrs. Chinyare Oge-Kalu
• National Youth Leader: Comr. Lucky Okurabore

Additional executive members were also elected from all six geo-political zones to ensure broad representation.

Key resolutions reached at the convention include “amendments to the party’s constitution to enhance transparency, accountability, and good governance,” as well as the “introduction of new measures to promote inclusivity and encourage participation in party activities.”

The new ZLP leadership reiterated its commitment to democratic principles and urged all members to stay dedicated to the party’s mission, emphasizing: “We remain focused on advancing good governance in Nigeria.”

Over 1,000 groups within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have declared their support for Senator Samuel Anyanwu, affirming his position as the party’s National Secretary amid an ongoing leadership crisis.

The PDP Youth Frontiers Network, a coalition of progressive-minded youth groups within the party, made this known at a press briefing in Abuja, where they addressed what they described as an unconstitutional attempt to replace Anyanwu with Deputy National Secretary, Sunday Udeh-Okoye.

Speaking at the event, National Coordinator Hon. Henry Owolabi condemned the interference of the PDP Governors’ Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT), accusing them of overstepping their bounds by advising the National Working Committee (NWC) to swear in Udeh-Okoye.

Owolabi argued that such a move contradicts the PDP Constitution and disregards the fact that Senator Anyanwu was duly elected at a national convention.

He further noted that Anyanwu has already appealed the judgment at the Supreme Court, meaning the status quo should be maintained until a final decision is reached.

The group also issued a strong warning against what they described as the influence of desperate power mongers, asserting that the actions of the Governors’ Forum and the BoT are “illegal, deliberately mischievous, and uncomplimentary” to the party.

Threatening to take action if their warning is ignored, the groups vowed to mobilize their members and supporters to block judicial premises and take civil actions if necessary.

Owolabi emphasized the need for unity within the PDP, stating:

“We consider it an imperative and dire need of the hour that, as a Party, we must begin by building consensus and form once more a united, formidable, and strong Party, striving to preserve the PDP as a veritable platform for good governance in Nigeria and not continue in the path of self-interest, self-distraught, myopic divisiveness, and pristine bickering which has not helped us but has become viable and fertile ground for the opposition to hatch inroads and poach into us, destroying our very fabrics.”

Reiterating their firm stance, Owolabi declared:

“We, therefore, join our voices and affirm unequivocal, unflinching, and unwavering support and loyalty of our organization and that of all party supporters to the ideals of the party and by extension to the office of the National Secretary.

“That Senator Anyanwu remains the National Secretary and the attempt to remove him and replace him with a judiciary-imposed secretary, without any Congress or legitimate procedural ratification of any organ of the party, is hereby totally rejected.

“We warn all detractors and perpetrators and indeed the Judiciary to steer clear of the internal workings of our great party and henceforth refrain from issuing illegal, baseless, porous judgments that lack legal foundation and are immoral.

“We are poised to mobilize all our members and teeming supporters to block all judicial premises and ensure civil actions that will lead to compliance with this warning if it is flaunted.”

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly opposed the statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, which dismissed the suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara.

According to the Abia PDP, its decision to suspend Wabara is rooted in the party’s constitution and cannot be overturned by a mere statement from the publicity secretary.

The party also warned that it would pursue legal action if any attempt is made to undermine the decision of the State Executive Committee (SEC) through unconstitutional means.

Reacting to Ologunagba’s statement, Abia State PDP chairman, Elder Abraham Amah, clarified that the publicity secretary was expressing a personal opinion, as his remarks were not backed by any official resolution from the National Working Committee (NWC).

He emphasized that the PDP constitution allows disciplinary action against any member, regardless of their position, if they violate party rules.

“We categorically state that the decision of the Abia State Executive Committee (SEC) to suspend Senator Adolphus Wabara met every constitutional requirement of the party and cannot be invalidated by a mere statement from the National Publicity Secretary, which is not a by-product of any official resolution of the National Working Committee (NWC),” Amah stated.

Providing constitutional backing for the decision, Amah cited several sections of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017):

• “Section 58(1)(b) & (h)—This section provides that a member of the Party may be sanctioned for engaging in anti-party activities or any conduct likely to bring the Party into disrepute. The endorsement of a sitting governor from another political party, as done by Senator Wabara, clearly constitutes a violation of this provision.
• “Section 59(3) explicitly states that the Board of Trustees is not immune from disciplinary actions where necessary. As such, the decision to sanction Senator Wabara is well within the powers of the Abia State PDP.
• “Section 59(4) affirms that the Party can take disciplinary actions against any member whose conduct contravenes the principles of the PDP, further reinforcing the legality of the SEC’s decision.
• “Section 57(6)—While the National Publicity Secretary referenced Section 57(7), he conveniently ignored Section 57(6), which provides that the power to take disciplinary action against any member is vested in the relevant executive committees at all levels of the Party, subject to due process. The Abia PDP has acted within this legal framework.”

Amah further stressed that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP or a competent court of law has the authority to overturn the decision of the State Executive Committee.

“Until such a competent authority pronounces otherwise, the suspension of Senator Wabara remains in full effect.”

He also urged the National Publicity Secretary to exercise caution in his statements to avoid misleading the public and undermining the party’s integrity.

“We urge the National Publicity Secretary to exercise restraint and avoid issuing statements that lack a constitutional basis, mislead the public, and ridicule the party. The PDP, as a party, must uphold discipline and accountability at all levels, and no individual, regardless of position, is above the constitution of the party.

“As a State Chapter, we shall not hesitate to seek appropriate judicial redress should any attempt be made to subvert the decision of the Abia PDP SEC through unconstitutional means.”

Renowned leadership coach and former presidential candidate of the defunct Alliance for New Nigeria, Fela Durotoye, has disclosed how he turned down a fraudulent government deal worth N5 billion despite immense pressure from an official who claimed to be a pastor.

Speaking at the ongoing biannual conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, Durotoye recounted the experience, describing it as a test of integrity.

He explained that an official approached him with a lucrative training contract, designed to train individuals across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria within eight weeks.

The official insisted that Durotoye was the best person for the job.

After careful evaluation, Durotoye’s team determined a fair cost of N1.3 billion for the training programme.

However, just three days later, he received a call from the presidency confirming that he had secured the contract.

Surprisingly, he was informed that his invoice was too low and was offered an additional N700 million, bringing the total to N2 billion.

They then asked him to submit an invoice for N5 billion.

Alarmed by the inflated figure, Durotoye questioned the ethics of the request, particularly since the programme focused on ethical leadership.

However, the official dismissed his concerns, assuring him that it wasn’t an exploitation of the country’s resources.

“He said he had served the country and deserved compensation. When I reminded him that the blessings of God make one rich and add no sorrow, he fired back, saying, ‘There is no sorrow in this one. You have been doing well for Nigeria. It’s time for Nigeria to do well for you,’” Durotoye recalled.

Under mounting pressure, he decided to turn off his phone.

Three months later, reports emerged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arrested some presidency officials for misappropriating N426 million from the ethical leadership training fund.

Reflecting on the experience, Durotoye emphasized the importance of strong moral values in resisting corruption.

“Only your values can help you turn down corrupt tendencies,” he stated.

He also spoke about his tenure as Special Assistant to the President under the Tinubu administration, revealing that he declined the usual perks of office, including an official car, house, and salary.

“It was difficult to get my letter out because, according to somebody in government, my refusal to collect those things would make it difficult to pin me to corruption,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Durotoye acknowledged that there were others in government who shared his commitment to integrity.

“When we have the right values, there won’t be corruption in this land,” he concluded.