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Ondo PDP factionalised over National Publicity Secretary position

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The zoning of the position of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party to Ondo state ahead of its convention has further factionalized the party.

 

Recall that the party had remained divided after the last governorship election till now.

 

The party’s governorship candidate in the last election, Eyitayo Jegede who had assumed the position of the leader of the party in the state has been accused of not carrying other stakeholders along in the affairs of the party.

 

Jegede has reportedly hijacked the organs party in the state hence the executive members do his bidding as regards the affairs of the party and sharing of party positions.

 

But, a member of the party’s executive told vanguard in confidence that those that endorsed Ologunagba are on their own describing them as jokers.

 

He denied allegations that the party organs have been hijacked by Jegede.

 

The zoning of the office of the Publicity Secretary of the party to the state has further widened the gulf within the party.

 

No fewer than five chieftains of the party have signified their intention to occupy the position.

 

They include the former governorship aspirant and former vice chairman, south of the party Dr Eddy Olafeso, former information commissioner in the state, Kayode Akinmade, former Publicity Secretary in the south-west, Hon Ayo Fadaka, former states Director of Publicity, Hon Zadok Akintoye and a former member of the National Assembly, BarristerDebo Ologunagba.

 

A twist was reportedly introduced when reports reached the contestants that Jegede was working behind the scene to impose Debo Ologunagba on the party.

 

The report had it that the state party caucus members met recently and the choice of Debo Ologunagba by Jegede disrupted the meeting.

 

Vanguard gathered that some caucus members of the party kicked against Jegedes candidate and argued in favour of both Akinmade and Olafeso who were former information commissioners in the state.

 

According to sources, someone to occupy the position of the party’s Publicity Secretary must have a pedigree and a background knowledge of how to manage information.

 

Vanguard gathered that after much argument and the insistence of Jegede, the caucus settled for Ologunagba.

 

But, Vanguard gathered that the candidates, especially those that have collected the form have kicked against the imposition of Jegede’s candidate on the party.

 

The contestants have reportedly taken their case to the National Secretariat of the party.

 

Meanwhile, One of the contestants, Dr Olafeso told the vanguard that “Nobody has been endorsed.

 

Olafeso said that he was ready to submit his form and ready to compete with anyone that showed interest in the position.

 

He added that ” l am ready to redefine our party and take it to greater heights”

 

Another contestant, Hon Ayo Fadaka confirmed that there was a meeting to which a select spectrum of people was invited to deliberate on the issue adding that not all contending tendencies in the Party were invited to the meeting.

 

“While I will readily declare that there is no schism in the Party, I will however be honest enough to admit that there are contending groups.

 

“It is unfortunate that people just assume that anyone can fill the position of the National Publicity Secretary, very unfortunate.

 

“That job is technical and demands proper understanding, capacity and capability, you must be trained for it.

 

In his reaction, another contestant, Zadok Akintoye said that the decision of the party leadership ” is good and I am hopeful that we all can work together for the good of the PDP at all levels.

 

Akintoye told the vanguard that “Their decision stands accepted and as a party member, I have grown through the ranks to understand the importance of system integrity. The decision is good and I am hopeful that we all can work together for the good of the PDP at all levels.

 

Contacted, the state Publicity Secretary

  • Dayo Johnson Akure

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Presidency Clarifies Edun, Dangiwa Resigned—Not Sacked

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Wale Edun and Ahmed Dangiwa

Presidency Clarifies Edun, Dangiwa Resigned—Not Sacked

The Presidency has clarified that former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, resigned from office on health grounds and was not removed, putting to rest speculation surrounding his exit from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

In a statement issued in Abuja by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the government also confirmed that the former Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, similarly stepped down voluntarily.

According to the Presidency, Edun conveyed his decision in a formal resignation letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing health concerns. The former minister, who recently turned 70, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the administration.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda. Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected,” his letter read in part.

The Presidency disclosed that Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President on Tuesday, where both men held a closed-door meeting lasting about an hour before the official announcement of his resignation.

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Following the meeting, Edun was said to have departed Abuja to focus on private business interests and personal matters, marking the end of his tenure in public office for now.

Similarly, Ahmed Dangiwa thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, as the administration acknowledged his contributions to housing and urban development policies during his time in office.

President Tinubu expressed appreciation to both former ministers for their service and roles in advancing the government’s reform agenda, wishing them success in their future endeavours.

As part of the transition, the Presidency confirmed that Taiwo Oyedele has assumed office as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. He has been tasked with consolidating ongoing fiscal reforms and driving Nigeria’s economic agenda with renewed discipline and innovation.

In the housing sector, the President is expected to forward the nomination of Muttaqha Darma to the Senate for confirmation as Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

Edun, a seasoned economist and investment banker, previously served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance between 1999 and 2004 during Tinubu’s tenure as governor, where he played a key role in fiscal reforms at the state level.

His tenure at the federal level was marked by efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s economy, manage public finances, and implement reforms amid inflationary pressures and global economic uncertainty.

The Presidency’s clarification comes amid heightened public interest and political commentary following the recent cabinet reshuffle, with officials emphasising that the exits were voluntary and part of a smooth leadership transition within the administration.

Presidency Clarifies Edun, Dangiwa Resigned—Not Sacked

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Insecurity in Nigeria: US Lawmaker Accuses Matawalle of Attempt to Silence Global Scrutiny

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A United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels
A United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels

Insecurity in Nigeria: US Lawmaker Accuses Matawalle of Attempt to Silence Global Scrutiny

A fresh controversy has erupted over Nigeria insecurity, drawing international attention after a United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels, accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of attempting to suppress global scrutiny of ongoing violence across parts of the country.

Daniels, a member of the Florida House of Representatives and Chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats, made the allegations during a Facebook Live broadcast, where she claimed there were coordinated efforts linked to the minister to influence American officials and control the narrative surrounding the security crisis in Nigeria.

According to Daniels, her earlier statements highlighting what she described as targeted killings in Nigeria, particularly affecting Christian communities, triggered pressure from individuals she alleged were associated with Matawalle. She said these efforts included attempts to discredit her report, circulate counter-narratives, and lobby U.S.-based elected officials to publicly oppose her position. Daniels further alleged that an unnamed American lawmaker was “persuaded” to defend Nigeria’s defence leadership, raising concerns about possible external influence on U.S. political voices.

“I am speaking on behalf of people who say they are under attack,” Daniels stated, emphasizing that her intervention was intended to call for investigation into the violence in Northern Nigeria rather than make outright accusations. She insisted that no amount of pressure would silence her, citing her constitutional right to speak on international human rights issues.

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The controversy stems from a report released on April 14, 2026, by Daniels under the UN-WCD, which spotlighted escalating insecurity in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the North-Central and North-West regions. The report referenced attacks during the Easter period in Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states, noting what it described as a widening gap between government assurances and the realities faced by communities on the ground.

In addition to documenting the Nigeria killings crisis, the report questioned the credibility of the current defence leadership and recommended a review of the country’s security architecture. It specifically called on Bola Tinubu to consider redeploying Matawalle and initiating a transparent investigation into both the security situation and the allegations of influence operations.

Daniels maintained that her findings were based on testimonies from affected communities, contributions from members of the Nigerian diaspora, and intelligence gathered through the UN-WCD’s multinational network spanning the United States, Nigeria, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and Canada. She stressed that the aim was to promote accountability and draw global attention to the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, not to interfere with the country’s sovereignty.

As of now, Matawalle has not issued an official response to the allegations. However, the development has sparked debate within political and diplomatic circles, with some Nigerian stakeholders cautioning against foreign involvement in domestic security matters, while others argue that international attention could help address the Nigeria security crisis more effectively.

The situation underscores growing global concern over banditry in Nigeria, insurgency, and communal violence, as well as increasing scrutiny of how Nigeria’s defence leadership is handling the crisis. It also highlights the expanding influence of diaspora voices and foreign lawmakers in shaping international narratives around Nigeria’s internal security challenges.

Insecurity in Nigeria: US Lawmaker Accuses Matawalle of Attempt to Silence Global Scrutiny

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BREAKING: Tinubu Allegedly Shakes Up Cabinet, Removes Wale Edun, Ahmed Dangiwa

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Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun
Wale Edun

BREAKING: Tinubu Allegedly Shakes Up Cabinet, Removes Wale Edun, Ahmed Dangiwa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly approved a minor cabinet reshuffle involving key changes in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), including the removal of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, alongside the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.

The development was said to have been contained in a memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, directing immediate transition processes across the affected ministries.

Wale Edun, Dangiwa Relieved of Ministerial Duties

According to the reported directive, Wale Edun has been asked to hand over duties at the Ministry of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Similarly, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa is to vacate his position as Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

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The memo reportedly instructed that all handover processes be concluded on or before close of business on Thursday, April 23, 2026, ensuring a smooth administrative transition within the affected ministries.

Succession Arrangements and Ministerial Changes

The document further stated that Mr. Taiwo Oyedele has been named as the incoming Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, following Edun’s exit.

In the housing ministry, Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma has reportedly been nominated as Minister-designate for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, pending formal confirmation procedures. Until then, Dangiwa has been directed to hand over to the Minister of State within the ministry.

Presidency Explains Reason for Reshuffle

Explaining the development, SGF George Akume was quoted as saying the changes are aimed at improving cohesion, synergy in governance, and economic delivery under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He added that President Tinubu acted within his constitutional powers under Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), emphasizing that cabinet adjustments remain part of ongoing efforts to improve governance efficiency.

Presidential Appreciation and Next Steps

The memo also reportedly conveyed President Tinubu’s appreciation to outgoing ministers for their service to the nation, while wishing them success in their future engagements. It further indicated that the President assured Nigerians and cabinet members that government reinvigoration efforts will continue periodically.

 

 

BREAKING: Tinubu Allegedly Shakes Up Cabinet, Removes Wale Edun, Ahmed Dangiwa

 

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