Just a day before Ondo State’s gubernatorial election, three candidates have announced their withdrawal from the race, endorsing the incumbent Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The candidates, representing the Accord Party (AP), the National Rescue Movement (NRM), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made their decision public after a meeting with the APC National Campaign Council.

The endorsement was formalized during a visit to Governor Aiyedatiwa, led by Ajibola Falaye of the Accord Party.

Speaking on behalf of the withdrawing candidates, Falaye praised Aiyedatiwa’s leadership and progress made in the state, emphasizing his commitment to development and good governance.

In response, Aiyedatiwa called on his supporters to step up their efforts in mobilizing voters ahead of the election.

He urged them to ensure full participation by encouraging eligible voters to use their permanent voter cards on election day.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Daniel Bwala as his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications.

The appointment was confirmed in a statement released on Thursday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who also announced the appointment of three new Director-Generals for various federal agencies.

Daniel Bwala, a lawyer and renowned public affairs analyst, is known for his role as the spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 presidential campaign.

Despite being an outspoken critic of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu in the run-up to the election, Bwala later distanced himself from the PDP and expressed his intent to align with the APC.

In a July interview with Channels Television, he clarified that he was “very close” to joining the APC, although his support for President Tinubu’s administration, he said, was not motivated by personal interests.

Alongside Bwala, President Tinubu appointed three other individuals to lead key federal agencies:

Olawale Olopade as the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC). Olopade, a seasoned sports administrator, has previously served as the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Ogun State and as chairman of the local organizing committee for the 2024 National Sports Festival.

Dr. Abisoye Fagade as Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism. Fagade, a marketing communications expert, is the founder and managing director of Sodium Brand Solutions.

Dr. Adebowale Adedokun as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement. Adedokun, formerly the Director of Research, Training, and Strategic Planning at the Bureau, now steps into the leadership role.

In his statement, Onanuga emphasized that President Tinubu has called on the newly appointed officials to execute their responsibilities with “dedication, patriotism, and excellence” in service to the nation.

His Full Statement:

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of three Nigerians as directors-general of various agencies and one special adviser on Public Communications and Media. The new appointees are:

1. Mr. Olawale Olopade — Director-General, National Sports Commission

2. Dr. Abisoye Fagade — Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism

3. Dr. Adebowale Adedokun — Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement

4. Daniel Bwala — Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications (State House)

Each of these appointees brings a wealth of experience to their new roles. Olopade has significant experience in sports administration, having served as Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Ogun State and chairman of the 2024 National Sports Festival organizing committee.

Fagade, an accomplished marketing communications professional, is a prominent figure in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Adedokun, who has been with the Bureau of Public Procurement in various capacities, now leads the bureau as it continues to drive reforms in public procurement.

The President has urged all the newly appointed officials to work with diligence, integrity, and excellence as they take on their new responsibilities.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy)
November 14, 2024

Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), has been suspended indefinitely.

The suspension was announced in a statement on Thursday by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

According to Olayinka, the suspension takes effect immediately, and Engr. Ahmad has been instructed to hand over his duties to the Director of Engineering Services, Engr. [Full Name], within the FCDA.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has started the distribution of sensitive election materials to local government areas across Ondo State in preparation for Saturday’s governorship election.

The distribution took place at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) premises in Alagbaka, Akure, with party agents, armed police officers, and commercial buses hired by INEC overseeing the process.

The security measures were put in place to ensure the safe and orderly transfer of the materials to their designated locations.

The Labour Party (LP) has firmly stated that Chief Olusola Nehemiah Ebiseni remains its official candidate for the upcoming Ondo State governorship election, dismissing reports that he had been removed from the race as “false” and the result of political maneuvering by opponents.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Ojo Tosin Leramo, Director of Legal Services for the LP Campaign Organization, described the rumors surrounding Ebiseni’s candidacy as “fake news” designed to mislead the public.

He clarified that the legal suit pending before the Court of Appeal did not challenge Ebiseni’s eligibility or nomination as the party’s candidate.

Leramo explained that the case in question, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, primarily sought an order for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload the names of Ebiseni and his running mate, Adedayo Ezekiel Awude, as the Labour Party’s candidates for the November 16 governorship election.

He emphasized that the motion filed in the case did not dispute the validity of the candidacy of Ebiseni and Awude.

“Contrary to the misleading claims, the court did not make any ruling on the validity of Ebiseni’s candidacy. Rather, the judgment, delivered on September 27 by Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite, granted the reliefs sought, including the uploading of our candidates’ names by INEC.”

Leramo also clarified that two subsequent appeals, one filed by Ayo Festus Olorunfemi and the other by Labour Party National Chairman Julius Abure, did not challenge the candidacy of Ebiseni or Awude.

He stressed that the appeals focused on procedural matters rather than questioning the legitimacy of the candidates.

The statement further suggested that the recent visit to Ondo State by LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his strong statements on democracy and the party’s candidates, had triggered frustration among political rivals.

The LP urged its supporters to disregard the rumors and continue their support for the party ahead of Saturday’s election.

In response to the controversy, Chief Ebiseni reaffirmed his status as the party’s candidate, stating, “A court judgment is based on facts and evidence, not speculation. I challenge those spreading misinformation to produce the judgment they are referencing.”

He reassured LP members and supporters, saying, “Let it be clear: I, Olusola Nehemiah Ebiseni, remain the Labour Party’s candidate for governor. Any claims to the contrary are baseless and misleading.”

Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has advised Nigeria’s opposition political parties to form a coalition if they hope to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele emphasized that a divided opposition would struggle to mount a successful challenge against the incumbent president.

He urged key opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), to unite and present a single, formidable candidate with the strength and resolve to take on Tinubu.

“If the PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP fail to come together and agree on a strong, capable candidate for the 2027 election, they will not be able to defeat President Tinubu. Without a solid coalition, it will be an easy win for Tinubu in 2027.”

The prophet specifically pointed out that PDP’s chances of success would be slim if the party chooses to field former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate again.

He further stressed that no sitting governor in the PDP had the political strength or national appeal to contend for the presidency in 2027.

“If the PDP insists on nominating Atiku Abubakar, it will be disastrous for them. They will lose the election. No sitting governor in PDP has the capacity to become president in 2027; they simply do not have enough strength to challenge Tinubu.”

The Edo State House of Assembly has approved the nomination of Hon. Samson Raphael Osagie as the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state.

However, the confirmation of Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, son of former Edo State Governor Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has been postponed until the next session on Monday.

The nominations were presented at the plenary by the Assembly Clerk, Audu Yahaya Omogbai, following the appointment of the two candidates by the newly inaugurated Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

Speaker Rt. Hon. Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku praised Osagie for his wealth of experience, noting his prior service in various legislative roles, including as a member of both the Edo State and National Assemblies.

Agbebaku emphasized that the approval reflected Osagie’s expertise, which would now be put to use as the state’s Attorney General.

In addition, the Assembly passed a motion urging the state government and law enforcement agencies to take stronger measures against the rising incidents of kidnapping, cultism, and other violent crimes affecting the state.

The National Industrial Court, Akure, has ordered the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), to pay N40 million to Professor Niyi Akingbe, the former Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts, for wrongful dismissal.

The court said Akingbe’s termination in 2018 was not only unjust but based on unfounded allegations of plagiarism.

Akingbe, a vocal critic of the university’s administrative practices under former Vice Chancellor, Kayode Soremekun, was dismissed following a query related to plagiarism.

The court proceedings, documented under Suit No: NICN/AK/58/2018 and made available to our correspondent in Ilọrin, said the university failed to adhere to proper procedures outlined in the FOUYE Act of 2015 and the relevant regulations governing senior staff service conditions.

In his judgement dated October 29, 2024, Justice K.D. Damulak ordered FUOYE to pay Akingbe within 30 days of the judgement, otherwise, the sum shall attract a 10% interest per annum.

The court held that “The claimant’s case succeeds in part.

“A declaration that an allegation of plagiarism against the claimant cannot be made in the absence of the work/publication of a particular author or authors the claimant purportedly plagiarised.

“(Thus) specifying what part of the work copied, printed, or passed off as the original works of the claim without the claimant having acknowledged such works”.

The judge lamented the lack of fair hearing on behalf of the lecturer.

“Similarly, the failure of the defendant to produce the alleged report of external assessors in evidence, in spite of the fact that the claimant is saying there was no such external assessors report, is proof of its non-existence at best…

“…it’s without substance, a fair hearing, unlawful and accordingly, same is hereby set aside.”

According to Damulak, “I have taken a look at the dismissal letter, (defendant’s exhibit LE 10.) and the report of the staff disciplinary committee (claimant’s exhibit 20).

“The defendant relied on the report of the staff disciplinary committee on TETFUND in dismissing the claimant.

“It is true that the dismissal was on 31/10/2018 while the report of the staff disciplinary committee TETFUND intervention grant was signed by the members of the committee on 7/11/2018.

“This means that as of 31/10/2024, there was no formal signed and issued report of the disciplinary committee for the defendant.”

Parts of the judgement reads: “A declaration that the claimant’s dismissal vide letter dated 31 October 2018, without fair hearing, is null and void.

“The defendant is hereby ordered to pay to the claimant general damages assessed at N40 million within 30 days of this judgement or the sum shall attract 10% interest per annum.”

Counsel for Akingbe, Ademola Olowoyeye, had argued that the allegations of plagiarism were vague and lacked substantial evidence.

He said Akingbe met all requirements for promotion to the position of Professor in the Department of English, and the denial of this promotion based on unsubstantiated allegations was deemed unlawful.

The remains of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, have arrived in Abuja for burial on Friday.

The Nigerian Air Force aircraft, NAF 918, carrying the body, touched down at the presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at approximately 12:15 pm on Thursday, after departing from Lagos around 11am.

Upon arrival, the military leadership and dignitaries were present to receive the body.

A solemn guard of honour was conducted, with the military band playing in tribute as the coffin was carried along a red carpet, witnessed by senior military officials.

The late COAS will be interred on Friday at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

General Lagbaja passed away last Tuesday in Lagos after a brief illness, though the specifics of the illness have not been disclosed.

The presidency conveyed their condolences to his family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this period of mourning.

Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja had served as the Chief of Army Staff for just over a year, having been appointed to the position by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.

His distinguished military career began in 1987 when he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992 as part of the 39th Regular Course and later served in various significant roles, including platoon commander and in operations such as Zaki in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, and Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.

General Lagbaja was also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, where he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies.

His expertise and leadership were recognized in numerous internal security operations across Nigeria.

He is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.

Abia Onyike, a former Commissioner for Information in Ebonyi State, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Onyike, who also served as the Special Adviser on Media Relations under former Governor Sam Egwu and was a key figure during Governor Martin Elechi’s administration, made the announcement at a ceremony in Owutu Edda Ward, Edda Local Government Area, on Wednesday.

In a statement released on Thursday, Onyike explained his decision to join the APC, citing the leadership of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as the primary motivation.

He expressed admiration for Nwifuru’s efforts to restore good governance and foster inclusive politics in Ebonyi State.

“I am joining the APC because of the need to support Governor Nwifuru in his efforts to build a solid foundation for good governance and to promote the ongoing peace and progress in Ebonyi State. Politics is local, and it is driven by the desire for development within our state. I am committed to joining hands with other progressive forces to sustain the current peaceful atmosphere in Ebonyi.”

The Chairman of APC in Owutu Edda Ward, Mr. Oko Ogbuagu, welcomed Onyike’s defection, emphasizing the value of his experience and influence.

“Abia Onyike is a man of the people, a tested leader. His joining the APC will strengthen our party’s position as we look ahead to future elections,” Ogbuagu said.