Former Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, has refuted claims suggesting the existence of factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking during a visit by members of the newly elected Benue State Working Committee (SWC) of the party to his residence in Makurdi, Ortom asserted that the party remains united and fully supports the leadership of the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC).

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Ortom emphasized that the Damagum-led NWC is the recognized leadership of the PDP and that any claims to the contrary do not represent the party’s position.

He praised the NWC’s efforts in navigating the party through a challenging period and called for support rather than criticism of its leadership.

“There is no faction in the Peoples Democratic Party, and we remain committed to equity, fairness, and justice. We are loyal to the party and do not belong to any dissident group,” Ortom stated.

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“The current leadership of the NWC has done its best, and no one is perfect. Rather than castigate them, they should be commended for their efforts amidst the challenges.”

Ortom further encouraged party members to address any internal issues through the appropriate channels, including the Board of Trustees (BOT), the Governors’ Forum, the National Executive Committee (NEC), and the NWC itself.

He expressed confidence that the party’s constitution provides avenues to resolve any concerns.

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“The party’s leadership should be supported and prayed for, as they have done their best under difficult circumstances,” Ortom added.

In his remarks, Benue State PDP Chairman, Chief Adaji, thanked Chief Ortom for his contributions to strengthening the party and helping it regain prominence.

He outlined the SWC’s plans to rebuild and advance the party’s prospects in future elections, reaffirming the committee’s commitment to securing victory for the PDP.

Adaji also expressed gratitude to the party’s supporters for their continued trust in the leadership and pledged that the SWC would work diligently to fulfill their expectations.

The Labour Party (LP) has rejected accusations from the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission (NLC-PC), which alleged that Julius Abure, the party’s national chairman, has been advancing the interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Addressing the matter in Abuja, LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, clarified that the claims are part of a deliberate effort to discredit Abure’s leadership.

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According to Ifoh, these allegations, which were made by individuals such as Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo and NLC-PC Acting Chairman Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, are based on the party’s recent court victories, falsely implying that the Labour Party’s success in legal battles is due to a hidden alliance with the APC.

Ifoh stated, “Recently, after the landmark court judgment affirming the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party, some persons, including a former nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, and the acting chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, have tried to push the narrative that the Labour Party, under the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure, is working for the APC, and that is why the LP has been winning all its court cases.”

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He dismissed these allegations, calling them “misleading” and “mischievous,” designed to derail the party’s leadership.

He also criticized the NLC for its failure to defend Nigerian workers in a time of economic hardship.

Ifoh remarked, “I must state clearly that the LP has been and is still critical of APC more than NLC. We put it on records that the NLC, in all its ramifications, has failed the Nigerian workers. Today, Nigerian workers are oppressed, the economy is not working, there are unfair practices against workers, and nobody speaks for the oppressed workers in Nigeria, except the current leadership of the party.”

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He emphasized that Abure’s leadership has consistently held the government accountable, positioning the LP as one of the most vocal critics of the APC since the 2023 general elections.

“If there is any leadership of the party from inception that has been very critical of the government, it is the Abure leadership of Labour Party,” Ifoh said, highlighting that under Abure, the LP has achieved remarkable results, including a significant number of electoral victories.

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“Today, we can boast that the Labour Party won a majority of votes in the 2023 presidential election and produced a governor, 8 senators, 35 House of Representatives members, and several other members of the House of Assembly across the country. From the 2023 general election till now, Labour Party has been a very vibrant and strong opposition party to this present government.”

Ifoh pointed out that it is ironic for the NLC to accuse the LP of collaborating with the APC, as the NLC itself has failed to advocate for workers’ rights.

“If there is any organisation that is working for the current government in power, we can assume without hesitation that it is the Nigeria Labour Congress,” Ifoh added, calling on the public to view the allegations as a calculated distraction from the real issues.

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns over recent court rulings on political cases, warning that these judgments are destabilizing Nigeria’s democracy.

Speaking at the 67th birthday celebration of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, in Abuja, Jonathan compared the state of democracy to an “upside-down cone,” which is inherently unstable and risks collapsing.

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Jonathan expressed disappointment in how political influence has begun to affect both lawyers and judges, cautioning that such interference undermines democratic processes.

He noted that in other countries, election litigation is uncommon, but in Nigeria, courts are flooded with pre- and post-election disputes, which he believes is a troubling trend.

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Highlighting a particular judgment that has been troubling him, Jonathan questioned the legality and fairness of a ruling that allows a Ward Chairman to expel a National Chairman of a political party.

Drawing an analogy, he said it would be absurd for a lower-level official to have the authority to dismiss someone at the highest level, such as a department head expelling a university’s vice-chancellor.

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Jonathan called on the Supreme Court to reconsider this ruling, warning that it has led to instability within political parties, particularly the PDP and at one point, the APC.

He urged the judiciary to focus on preserving natural justice and democratic integrity, emphasizing that a stable democracy requires that both legal professionals and judges remain impartial and not influenced by politics.

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Justice Mary Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has approved a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow two key witnesses to testify virtually in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

In her ruling on Friday, the judge granted the EFCC’s application to use video conferencing tools to present the witnesses, who are currently based in the United States.

The witnesses are expected to give testimony concerning Emefiele’s alleged involvement in the unlawful printing of redesigned naira notes.

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The EFCC’s counsel explained that logistical challenges had made it difficult to bring the witnesses to Nigeria.

Consequently, they sought the court’s permission to record their testimonies via video link, a request that Justice Anenih upheld, clearing the path for the virtual testimonies.

Emefiele is facing a six-count charge, with accusations surrounding the controversial naira redesign program.

Edo State’s Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, has announced that the inaugural joint meeting of the state government’s transition committee and the governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, will take place today.

Scheduled for 10 am at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy, the meeting aims to ensure a smooth transition of power.

Nehikhare confirmed that the names of the All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committee members have been received and expressed optimism about the collaboration between both committees.

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“This joint inaugural meeting, the first of its kind in Edo State as it transitions from one party to another, is crucial for setting the protocol to ensure everything is handled properly,” he stated.

Each transition committee comprises 24 members, with the state government’s committee led by Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, and the APC committee chaired by former deputy governor Pius Odubu.

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Imo State stakeholders have raised concerns over the alleged hijacking of local government funds by governors, calling on the Federal Government to establish a separate electoral body to oversee local government elections.

These concerns were expressed during a town hall meeting held in Owerri, organized by SOS Children’s Villages with support from the European Union.

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The stakeholders argued that the lack of a fair and competitive environment in local elections across the country has compromised democracy at the grassroots level.

Eze George Nwosu, the traditional ruler of Umuekwure in Ngor Okpala, highlighted the failure of weak electoral institutions, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms.

“Our institutions must be strengthened so they can hold offenders accountable. The time has come to take action and reform our electoral bodies,” he said.

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Imo State’s Chief Imam, Sheikh Suleiman Yusuf Njoku, described the state of the electoral process as “unfortunate,” lamenting that materialism had contributed to the erosion of Nigeria’s democratic values.

He urged Nigerians to focus less on material gains and more on moral and spiritual reconciliation to restore order in the country.

Ichie Levi Ekeh, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Imo State, stressed the need for stricter enforcement of electoral laws.

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He criticized the state’s electoral bodies for being biased and called for the creation of an independent federal body to conduct local government elections, given that state electoral commissions often favor the ruling party.

“We must ensure that election guidelines are respected and that electoral offenders are prosecuted to restore public trust,” he said.

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Chimezie Ebosie, a representative from the Civil Society Organization (CSO), also echoed the call for a coalition to drive these reforms and ensure local government elections are free and fair.