Celestine Ogba, a lawmaker representing Onicha East in the Ebonyi House of Assembly, has left the Labour Party (LP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The announcement was made during a ceremony held at the state APC secretariat in Abakaliki on Saturday, attended by party leaders.

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Expressing his satisfaction, Ogba stated that returning to the APC felt like coming back to his roots, as he had previously been a member.

He praised the APC as the largest political party in Nigeria and Africa, boasting influential members committed to delivering democratic dividends.

“I am delighted to join forces with the APC in building initiatives that will benefit the people. Ideologies that transform lives are what matter, not mere opinions. The state governor has demonstrated a people-oriented administration aligned with the people’s needs,” Ogba said.

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He emphasized that his defection was in the best interest of his constituency, aiming to avoid hindering progress and to ensure his community’s development. developmental

He highlighted the political volatility of his local government area and the need to avoid violence while advocating for rightful claims.

Ogba also mentioned that he defected along with all Labour Party stakeholders in his constituency, marking a merger of political forces from the east and west constituencies.

The Chairman of APC in Ebonyi state, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, welcomed Ogba to the party and described him as a significant acquisition.

“Catching a big fish when you go fishing is a cause for celebration, and that’s what we have achieved with Ogba’s defection.
We seek the best minds to elevate our state’s profile and improve our people’s well-being,” Okoro-Emegha said.

He noted that the party is strengthening its ranks and anticipates showcasing its efforts in future state elections. “We aim to have our candidates win unopposed in elections, and this starts now,” he added.

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The defection of Ogba is part of a broader trend of opposition members joining the APC in Ebonyi State, steadily depleting the ranks of the opposition.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of meddling and taking sides in the party’s internal leadership conflict.

The NNPP claims that INEC staff attended a convention organized by a splinter group despite being served with court notices challenging the legality of the gathering.

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In a statement released on Sunday and signed by the National Secretary, Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday, the NNPP demanded that INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, investigate the involvement of its staff in the convention and take appropriate disciplinary action.

The party emphasized the need for INEC to remain impartial in accordance with the law, stressing that political parties have the autonomy to manage their internal affairs.

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The NNPP highlighted that both the Federal High Courts in Awka, Anambra State, and Abuja had ruled that the party’s leadership crisis should be resolved internally by its members.

They expressed disappointment that expelled members, including Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, have misrepresented court rulings to the public.

The statement outlined the NNPP’s constitutional mandate for resolving internal disputes, urging INEC to support alternative dispute resolution methods rather than attending events organized by splinter groups.

While acknowledging that the INEC chairman may not always be fully briefed on internal matters, the NNPP urged him to enhance his supervisory role to ensure the commission’s proper management.

The party appealed to Yakubu to address letters from the NNPP’s Board of Trustees, requesting preservation of the party’s integrity while legal proceedings are ongoing.

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has terminated the appointments of all transition committee chairmen across the state’s 21 local government areas.

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This decision was communicated in a letter titled “Expiration of Tenure and Handover to Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs),” dated May 17, 2024.

The letter was signed by Collins Nwabunwanne, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs.

The directive is set to take effect on Monday, May 20, 2024.

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The letter reads; “Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are hereby directed to hand over the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) in your respective Local Government Councils. This directive takes effect from Monday, 20th day of May, 2024. Thank you for your service to the state. All replies to be addressed to the Honourable Commissioner.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has addressed reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso are considering forming an alternative political platform for the 2027 elections.

Recent indications suggest that Atiku, who ran as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023, may step aside in favor of Obi for the next presidential election.

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Atiku confirmed ongoing merger discussions with the Labour Party and other opposition groups in an interview with BBC Hausa Service.

He stated, “I have said repeatedly, even before the 2023 general elections, that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party. If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him.”

In response, APC’s Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, expressed that the ruling party remains unperturbed by these developments.

Duru emphasized the importance of a robust opposition for the health of democracy.

“It will be helpful if we have an effective and efficient opposition in the country to help provide an alternative view. APC and Nigeria would be better for it,” he said.

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Duru added, “We continue to hope that opposition parties will rise to the occasion to provide a formidable and constructive engagement with our political party. It is their responsibility to provide such opposition, and it is for us in the APC to continue to take the lead. We wish the opposition well. We will continue to work harder to address the needs of the Nigerian people.”

He also noted past statements from the Labour Party denying any intention to form such alliances, dismissing them as “unholy engagements.”

Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu, asserting that Nigeria collapsed following Tinubu’s swearing-in on May 29, 2023.

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Lawal attributed this collapse to the immediate and unexpected removal of the fuel subsidy, a decision announced by Tinubu during his inauguration speech.

Lawal argued that the policy was implemented hastily without the necessary governmental framework in place.

He emphasized that the absence of a cabinet and the Federal Executive Council to manage the repercussions of such a significant policy shift was a critical error.

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This lack of preparation, according to Lawal, resulted in severe economic consequences.

He illustrated the impact of the subsidy removal by pointing out the dramatic increase in transportation costs, which are vital for both business operations and daily life.

Lawal shared his personal experience as a farmer, noting that transportation costs for animal feed from Zaria soared from N270,000 to N1 million per truck immediately after the policy was announced.

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This spike in costs extended to all sectors, affecting prices and economic stability nationwide.

Lawal described the situation as a complete deflation of the country’s economy, likening it to a balloon bursting.

He emphasized that the lack of a strategic plan and the necessary advisory bodies to foresee and mitigate the policy’s impact was a significant oversight by Tinubu’s administration.

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) declared on Saturday that the judiciary poses a greater threat to Nigeria’s democracy than the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This assertion follows comments by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, who claimed that INEC was not the main problem.

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Peter Obi, while delivering a keynote speech at the fifth memorial of late Justice Anthony Aniagolu at Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu, stated, “Whenever democracy is discussed, fingers point to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the problem. But INEC is not the problem, instead, the judiciary is. The judiciary is the biggest threat to Nigeria. If our judiciary is effective, our businesses will thrive.”

The AYCF, led by National President Yerima Shettima, supported Obi’s stance, stating it aligns with their long-held belief in INEC’s credibility under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s leadership.

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The group argued that INEC has consistently demonstrated fairness, impartiality, and transparency in its conduct of elections, reinforcing the commission’s reputation.

Shettima emphasized the importance of strong institutions like INEC in maintaining democratic integrity.

He condemned any alleged judicial interference in electoral matters, asserting that the judiciary’s role should be confined to adjudicating legal disputes and upholding the rule of law, not determining election outcomes.

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“The AYCF firmly believes that strong and independent institutions such as INEC are essential in preserving the democratic fabric of our nation. We commend INEC for its dedication to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and safeguarding the democratic rights of Nigerian citizens,” he said.

The AYCF urged all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, and the media, to support and strengthen INEC to preserve Nigeria’s democracy. They warned that undermining INEC’s credibility would harm the nation’s democratic progress.

Shettima called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and actively participate in the electoral process, emphasizing the need to uphold democratic principles.