Chris Okewulonu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, alongside Chuma Nnaji, Ihedioha’s former deputy governorship candidate, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, bringing with them their supporters.

The defection took place at the APC secretariat in Owerri, Imo State.

During the event, Okewulonu addressed party members, highlighting his recent resignation from both the PDP and its Board of Trustees.

He explained that his decision to leave the PDP followed deep reflection and consultations with his family, political colleagues, and well-wishers.

Okewulonu went on to describe his growing disillusionment with the PDP, stating that the values that initially attracted him to the party had been eroded over time.

He explained that his time away from active politics allowed him to critically evaluate Imo’s political landscape and reconsider his role in the state’s development.

He expressed his belief that Nigeria’s opposition parties were struggling with internal disagreements, which led him to question whether he could continue supporting a party that was not effectively contributing to the political progress of Imo State.

Okewulonu further emphasized that he wanted to contribute more actively to improving the lives of the people of Imo, which he felt was better achieved by aligning with the APC.

Reflecting on the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma, Okewulonu praised the governor’s efforts, particularly highlighting the administration’s infrastructural achievements and human capacity-building initiatives.

He expressed his support for Uzodimma’s governance, stating that the administration had delivered significant benefits to the people of Imo.

Governor Uzodimma welcomed Okewulonu, Nnaji, and their supporters into the APC fold, calling the defection a positive step for the party.

He acknowledged that the APC had faced challenges in the past but now stood as the party that truly cared for Imo citizens.

Uzodimma described the influx of new members as a sign of the growing influence and strength of the APC in the state, emphasizing that it was a party for genuine progress.

“We are now attracting people who truly want Imo to progress. The real leaders are returning to APC, and we must all work together to address the problems of our people,” Uzodimma said.

The governor also likened the arrival of Okewulonu and Nnaji to a sports team signing top players, saying, “In football, when you sign great players like Ronaldo and Messi, your team becomes stronger. This is what is happening now in our party.”

Nnaji, who also spoke at the event, expressed his confidence in APC’s leadership, stating that over 3,000 of his supporters had joined the party alongside him.

Other key political figures who joined the APC with Okewulonu and Nnaji include Paschal Obi, a former member of the House of Representatives from Ideato South, and Tochukwu Okere, the current representative for Owerri Federal Constituency, among others.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has given a fresh two-week deadline for owners of 762 plots of land in the Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, to settle the payment for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O), or face permanent revocation of their land allocations.

This directive follows the FCT Administration’s recent revocation of land titles held by prominent individuals, including former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen; House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abass; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, among others, for failing to pay for their C-of-Os.

A statement issued on Friday by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the minister, emphasized that the primary goal of the FCT administration was not to seize the land, but to ensure that the owners fulfill their payment obligations to the government.

The statement explained that on October 5, 2024, the FCT published a list of 3,273 land allottees who had yet to make payments for their C-of-Os.

They were given a two-week window to make payments or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O). By the end of that period, 2,511 allottees had complied, leaving 762 still in default.

“On Thursday, a notice was published announcing the withdrawal of R-of-O titles from the 762 defaulters. However, many of the affected allottees have now expressed willingness to pay, prompting the government to extend a two-week grace period,” the statement read.

Wike has now given the defaulters, along with 614 others with outstanding C-of-O payments, until January 3, 2025, to settle their dues.

After this deadline, the revocation of their R-of-O titles will be final, with no further extensions, in accordance with Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.

This move is part of the government’s effort to enforce accountability and ensure that landowners meet their financial responsibilities to the state.

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has shared how the political agenda of former President Goodluck Jonathan impacted and nearly derailed his political aspirations before ultimately leading to his rise in the National Assembly.

Speaking at a Service of Songs held in honor of the late Madam Ani-Gunn Rhoda Ikiogha, the mother of Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, former Chief of Staff to the Bayelsa State Government and Commissioner for Agriculture, Governor Diri recalled how his early political career was shaped by the decisions of Jonathan’s administration.

Diri, alongside Chief Ikiogha, were both political protégés of Jonathan before his rise to the presidency.

They initially worked together, but their paths diverged due to differing political interests. The governor explained that, along with his mentor, former Governor Dickson, they had planned to run for Senate and the House of Representatives, with Diri aiming for a Senate seat and Ikiogha seeking a House seat.

However, their ambitions were sidelined by the broader political agenda of Jonathan’s government, which led to tensions between the two.

Diri remarked that it was at this point that their political paths diverged for the first time.

While Jonathan’s agenda overwhelmed their individual plans, it ultimately paved the way for Diri’s election to the House of Representatives in 2015, as the Senate seat was zoned to Yenagoa, leaving Ikiogha without the ticket.

Despite this, Diri acknowledged that Ikiogha played a crucial role in his 2023 re-election, even becoming a target of opposition forces for supporting Diri after switching political camps.

He praised the late Madam Ikiogha for being a strong pillar for her son and the family, and for fostering unity among political associates, even those in opposition.

He described her as a welcoming, supportive figure who left behind a legacy of kindness and strong Christian values.

Former President Jonathan, who attended the service, also paid tribute to the late matriarch, describing her as a mother figure to him and others close to Chief Ikiogha.

He recalled how she had opened her home in Yenagoa to many travelers, particularly from Port Harcourt, during the early days of Bayelsa’s creation.

Jonathan also shared the poignant memory of her deep sadness following the 2015 presidential election loss, recalling how she had starved herself in mourning.

Reflecting on her life, Jonathan expressed gratitude that she lived to the age of 91, emphasizing that her contributions to society would be remembered for years to come.

A sermon delivered by Pastor Amos Tubogbo of the Redeemed Christian Church of God focused on the importance of living a life in accordance with God’s teachings, emphasizing that only such a life would be justified in the end.

Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, the chief mourner, thanked those who supported his family during their time of loss, including Jonathan, the state government, and the Redeemed Christian Church of God community.

He shared that his mother’s burial was being held in line with her wishes, including organizing a church crusade in her honor at the Kpansia Primary School field in Yenagoa.

As Nigeria approach the 2027 general elections, many citizens have expressed a lack of confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and credible poll.

Despite INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, attending the recent elections in Ghana widely praised for their transparency and fairness, Nigerians remain skeptical about the ability of INEC to replicate such success.

Ghana’s election was celebrated for its smooth operation, with no reports of electoral manipulation, ballot box snatching, or delays in result transmission.

This stood in stark contrast to Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, which were marred by allegations of electoral malpractice, manipulation, and logistical issues.

When Professor Yakubu returned from Ghana, he attributed their success to lessons learned from Nigeria, a statement that left many Nigerians shocked and disillusioned.

Many believe that INEC has not demonstrated the capability to conduct a credible election in the coming years, especially after failures in off-cycle elections such as those in Edo and Ondo.

There are widespread calls for urgent reforms to ensure that the electoral body is free from political influence and can conduct a transparent election in 2027.

Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), emphasized that Ghana’s electoral body provides a model that Nigeria must strive to emulate.

He stressed the need for crucial reforms in Nigeria, including securing INEC’s independence, overhauling electoral laws, ensuring the enforceability of laws like the mandatory use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and immediately transmitting results to INEC’s portal.

Okaba also highlighted the importance of fostering internal democracy within political parties and leveraging technology to modernize voter registration and result transmission.

He argued that reforms must ensure the proper use of security agencies, focusing on non-interference in the voting process.

Zik Gbemre, Coordinator of the Niger Delta Peace Coalition, similarly criticized INEC’s lack of progress since the 2023 elections.

He pointed out that despite improvements like the Results Viewing Portal (IREV), the credibility of the results uploaded on the system was questionable. Gbemre stated that the true issue lies not in the absence of laws but in the failure to enforce them and the impunity surrounding electoral malpractice.

He called for more stringent measures against election offenders to deter future violations.

Public commentator, Emmanuel Kuejubola also weighed in, arguing that INEC’s lack of willpower and the interference from the executive arm of government undermine the process.

Kuejubola noted that the system was rife with political influence, which rendered the implementation of electoral laws ineffective.

He urged Nigerians to unite in their demand for credible elections, irrespective of ethnic or religious considerations.

Hon. Stephen Adewale, a former chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo, suggested that while there is still time for INEC to reform, the current challenges make a credible election in 2027 uncertain.

He called for the presidency to ensure INEC’s autonomy, reduce political interference, and strengthen the Electoral Act to provide clear guidelines for party primaries, voter registration, and election dispute resolution.

Adewale also stressed the importance of enhancing security at polling units and intensifying voter education.

Looking at Ghana’s electoral success, analysts argued that Nigeria could potentially conduct even more credible elections if it draws lessons from its neighbor.

Ghana’s success, attributed to a robust legal framework, impartiality, and technology-driven processes, has set high expectations for Nigeria’s electoral future.

To achieve this, reforms are necessary to ensure INEC operates independently from political forces and that there are no compromises in the voting process.

For INEC to improve, stakeholders suggested transparency in the appointment of commissioners, financial autonomy for the commission, and clear consequences for electoral offenders.

The use of technology for voter registration, result transmission, and monitoring must be expanded, and new practices like voting by proxy and diaspora voting should be explored.

Charles Tejiri, an activist, acknowledged the challenges of achieving credible elections in Nigeria due to ethnic and religious divisions, but urged Nigerians to continue advocating for transparency.

He suggested that only through a determined and unbiased INEC leadership, free from political manipulation, could credible elections be possible.

Some experts, like Surv. Furoebi Akene of the Centre for Environmental Preservation & Development (CEPAD), believe that INEC is capable of conducting credible elections, but it is hindered by systemic corruption and interference from political elites.

Akene emphasized the importance of addressing these issues and fostering a culture of responsible citizenship to improve the electoral process.

Saviour Akpan, Executive Director of the COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peace Building, concluded that Nigeria has the potential to conduct a more credible election than Ghana if its citizens demand it.

He stressed that electoral integrity begins with citizens who are willing to speak truth to power and uphold the values of participatory democracy.

Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, has been granted bail and released from the Kuje Custodial Centre after meeting the conditions set by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.

The court approved a N500 million bail bond, along with the requirement for three sureties, each of whom must own property in premium areas of Abuja such as Maitama, Guzape, or Asokoro.

The bail was granted by Justice MaryAnne Anenih on Thursday.

The release was confirmed by Bello’s spokesperson, Adama Duza, who stated that the Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) in FCT, Ajibogun Olatubosun, was present when the former governor was freed.

Bello is currently facing a 16-count indictment, including charges of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and unlawful possession of property, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Alongside him, two other individuals, Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, are also facing the same charges.

Three of them pleaded not guilty to the allegations.