Face-off between Niger Gov, Senator disrupts pro-Tinubu rally in Borgu – Newstrends
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Face-off between Niger Gov, Senator disrupts pro-Tinubu rally in Borgu

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Dozens of security operatives on Tuesday disrupted a campaign rally organised for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The “Grand Lockdown Rally” billed to hold at the New Bussa Township stadium in Borgu, is organised by Project 774, a political group under the leadership of Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North).

Senator Abdullahi, who is the Deputy Whip of the Senate, had invited the Niger state Working Committee of the APC to the campaign rally.

The invitation letter signed by his Special Assistant (operations), Hon. Mohammed Garba Danladi, was addressed to the state Party Chairman, Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro.

“I am directed to invite you and your exco to the Grand Lockdown Rally in honour of Jagaban Borgu and Kashim Shettima, our party Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, Hon. Mohammed Bago, with Comrade Yakubu Garba as Gubernatorial and Deputy Governorship Candidates for Niger state in the 2023 General Elections.

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“In view of the need to galvanize support and positively enhance the chances of our party in the forthcoming elections, we wish to solicit and count on your unflinching support towards the success of the rally,” the letter read.

But the party’s state executive disassociated itself from the rally, asking all party faithful not to attend.

A statement by the state publicity secretary, Mallam Musa Dan Sarkindaji, said the planned rally contravene the unified campaign structure as designed by the party.

The party instead urged its executives, stakeholders, and supporters to attend the grand zonal rally which is scheduled for Wednesday in Bida, the headquarters of the Bida local government.

When our correspondent visited the New Bussa township stadium, dozens of personnel from the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Federal Road Safety Corps blocked the entrance, preventing APC supporters from accessing the campaign venue.

When approached, some security agents, who preferred not to be named because they were not authorised to speak, said they were mobilized to the venue to prevent access on “directive from the above.”

The Police spokesman in Niger, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said security operatives were mobilised to the campaign venue to prevent a breakdown of law and order having got intel of a likely breach of security.

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In a terse statement, Abiodun said, “The Police had to take over the venue of the planned rally as a proactive measure due to intelligence received of likely breach of security at the venue.

“Hence, we have to do the needful to avert any possible attack or hijack by suspected miscreants to cause mayhem and breach of peace in the community.

“The Command will not fold its alms and allow an act of political violence, avoidable loss of life, destruction of properties, and lawlessness.”

The dissociation of the APC state working Committee from the rally laid bare the cold war between Governor Bello, who is in control of the party’s structure in the state Senator Sabi Abdullahi, the organiser of the rally.

The senator, who currently occupies the Niger North senatorial seat, contested the APC ticket to retain the seat despite pressure to step down for the governor, a development that pitched him against the state executive.

The governor won the primary and since then, both of them have not been in good terms.

The poster of the governor, who is the APC senatorial candidate, is conspicuously missing at the venue of the planned campaign organized by the senator.

Daily Trust

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Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today

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Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo

Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today

The Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) will announce Hon. Dennis Idahosa as its deputy governorship candidate today, after weeks of power struggles and ego trips by party officials in selecting Senator Monday Okpebholo as the party’s running mate.

It has been discovered that Abuja would host the event.

Idahosa’s selection is said to have been made following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention at a meeting with Edo APC leaders and stakeholders.

Upon being approached, the APC’s acting state chairman did not provide a name. claimed that, however, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) would be defeated by the youngest ticket.

He said, “Our choice of running mate emanated from the people and we are going to unveil him tomorrow (Monday) in Abuja. It will be the youngest ticket ever in the history of Edo State and that is what we will use to defeat the other parties. We are not like them that are producing much older people to govern the state. We are going to produce a young team,” he said.

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Idahosa who is challenging the outcome of the party primary election in the court claimed that he won it and that the supplementary one was illegal.

It was gathered that after Tinubu’s intervention, it was agreed that Idahosa would withdraw his case from the court once all the processes were concluded.

A credible party source said, “It has been a difficult issue for over one week, especially after Idahosa went to court. The leadership of the party in Abuja had to wade into the issue. There have been so many interests at play. Ego was also involved as there were some leaders of the party who saw the primary as an opportunity to get at a leader of the party. They even threatened to publicly denounce the party and work against it if Idahosa is chosen.

“The president intervened and I believe that was what calmed nerves and I hope that all of them will respect and honour the wish of the president,” he said.

Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today

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Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries

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Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu

Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries

Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu wants the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, to declare as invalid and unlawful, the governorship indirect primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of February 22 that produced Asue Igbodalo, and that the party should be ordered to conduct fresh primary election.

Shaibu, through his lead counsel, Doyin Awoyale, SAN, also wants the presiding judge to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, as the standard-bearer of PDP in the September 21 poll.

He urged the court to nullify the PDP’s “purported” Edo governorship primary election and withdraw forthwith, the certificate of return issued to Ighodalo, saying the factional shadow poll was conducted, contrary to the provisions of PDP’s constitution and Electoral Act.

Edo deputy governor, in the suit with reference number: FHC/ABJ/CS/308/2024, sought an order to restrain Ighodalo from parading himself as the duly-nominated governorship candidate of PDP in Edo, with the party’s National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, Chief Dan Orbih, as the third defendant.

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The originating summons, as obtained yesterday in Benin by our reporter, read: “An order of injunction restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from accepting and/or recognising the name of the 4th defendant (Ighodalo) as the governorship candidate of the 2nd defendant (PDP) in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, scheduled to be conducted by the 1st defendant on the 21 of September, 2024.

“An order of this honourable court restraining the defendants, by themselves and/agents, representatives, organs, chapters, etc. from tampering with and/or discarding the delegates’ lists that emerged from the 2nd defendant’s congresses of 4th February, 2024 and 10th February, 2024, conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 2nd defendant.

“An order of this honourable court mandating the 2nd defendant to conduct a fresh governorship primary election for the nomination of the governorship candidate for the 2nd defendant in the 2024 Edo governorship election.”

Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries

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Appeal Court reinstates Abure as LP national chairman

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Appeal Court reinstates Abure as LP national chairman

The Appeal Court in Abuja has reinstated Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party.

Justice Hamma Barka in a judgement delivered on Wednesday faulted the High Court for assuming jurisdiction in the matter.

The Court also awarded N1 million in favour of Abure and against the respondent, Lamidi Apapa.

Last year, Justice Hamza Muazu of the Abuja High Court, ordered Abure and two other national officers to vacate their seats over alleged forgery.

But the Appeal Court set the verdict aside and held that Abure’s appeal had merit.

After the 2023 presidential elections, Abure has been in a legal battle with Apapa who laid claim to the party’s chairmanship.

On March 21, 2024, Abure was arrested by the Police in Benin City, Edo State, and was accused of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and related offences.

He was later released on bail.

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