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APC sacks Uzodinma, appoints Governor Otu primary election committee chairman

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed Bassey Otu, governor of Cross River State, as the chairman of its governorship primary election committee in Edo State.

This followed a series of petitions for the removal of the chairman of the election committee, Hope Uzodinma, from various quarters.

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo and chairman of the panel, had chaired the committee, which triggered controversy after producing three different candidates – Dennis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and Anamero Sunday Dekeri – and declared Dennis Idahosa the winner of the exercise.

Following the controversy, the National Working Committee of the ruling party declared the initial primary election inconclusive and held an emergency meeting on Tuesday night in Abuja, where it was resolved that a fresh primary would be conducted on Thursday.

In a list released on the eve of the new primary, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River was listed as the chairman of the new committee that will oversee the election.

Before the announcement, there was outrage from various quarters demanding the removal of Uzodinma as chairman of the panel.

In a statement jointly signed by Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and General Charles Airhiavbere, rtd, the aspirants said Uzodinma did not observe the minimum requirements for compliance with the relevant provisions of the laws and regulations guiding the election as provided in both the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution.

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Politics

Ondo Guber: Ayedatiwa receives Obasanjo’s blessing

The governorship aspiration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday, received the blessing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo who visited Ondo for the commissioning of the Ojaja park also visited Aiyedatiwa at the Presidential Lodge of the Government House in Akure, the State capital, in a show of political camaraderie and support.

Obasanjo rallied support for Aiyedatiwa urging the people of the state to reelect the Governor.

The former President who extended his well-wishes for the governor’s re-election campaign, shared his past political campaign experiences with Governor Aiyedatiwa.

The former President was in Akure for the commissioning of the Ojaja Park, an estate developed by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

After being briefed by the Governor on his campaign activities ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, Obasanjo wished the governor victory in the election.

The ex-president said: “I understand the challenges of this period for you. I remember my campaign for the 1999 election, I covered the entire six states of the South West in one day.

“I think we started in Akure, Ondo State here, then to Ekiti and we got to Lagos around 8pm. This is a crucial part of the process and I wish you all the best.”

Aiyedatiwa, who appreciated the former President for the visit, acknowledged his contributions to the development of Nigeria, adding that his achievements as President remain indelible.

The Governor described Obasanjo as a good recurring decimal in the life of the nation, a remark the former President laughed at and suggested to be a newspaper headline.

Aiyedatiwa also shared his past personal experiences multiple times with the former President, saying despite his high profile and military background, Obasanjo remains a very humble and humane leader.

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Ex-minister Gwarzo kicks against dismissal from Tinubu’s cabinet

The sacked Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo, has kicked against his removal from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

Gwarzo claimed that he was not guilty of poor performance.

In a cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024, Tinubu dismissed Gwarzo alongside four other ministers.

The other dismissed ministers are Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye, Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, and the Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim.

Commenting on the development, Gwarzo said the president informed him about the decision to relive him of his duties before the decision was made public.

Speaking with BBC Hausa, the sacked minister said: “I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance.

“And I was minister of state, with the senior minister overseeing a large portion of the Ministry’s activities.

“Before the announcement, the President had informed me of his decision.

“He said Kano North was overloaded with political officers, hence the need to strike a balance. We gave our advice, but it was ignored.

“From there, I began to suspect that certain individuals were behind this because, to me, that wasn’t a valid reason.

“If the ministerial slot is indeed meant for Kano Central, we have our 2023 governorship candidate who is also our leader in Kano Central. Why not consider giving him the position?

“Gawuna should be offered the role first, unless he declines, in which case it could be given to someone else.

“All other candidates from Plateau and Zamfara states who contested for the governorships were appointed to positions.”

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Gombe: NNPP ex-guber candidate, Mailantarki defects to PDP

The 2023 governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Gombe State, Khamisu Mailantarki, on Saturday, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Mailantarki had three months resigned from the NNPP, but did not join another party.

While speaking at the party secretariat during his reception ceremony, Mailantarki explained that he joined the PDP to help enhance the party’s chances.

He said that his entry would help the main opposition party unseat the All Progressives Congress in the state in 2027.

He decried the unfavourable APC-led government policies at both federal and state levels, stressing that they have failed miserably in delivering good governance to the people of Nigeria.

According to him, “PDP is the only strong party capable of seizing power from the APC, which is the reason for my decision to join it after quitting the NNPP.”

While lambasting Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, Mailantarki added that some of his administration’s uncompassionate policies, such as revoking land titles and compelling civil servants to undergo biometric registration every day at their workplaces, failure of which would render them ineligible for salary payment, were unacceptable.

The former gubernatorial candidate said that it was unfair to force workers to go to work five times a day during this period of economic hardship without a commensurate salary.

The PDP Gombe State chairman, Abner Kwaskebe, who received the governorship candidate, commended Mailantarki’s bold step.

He noted that Mailantarki’s defection is a huge success for the party and promised all members a level playing field.

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