****collapses structure for APC

Ahead of the November 11th, 2023 governorship election in Kogi State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has recieved thousands of decampees from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

The House of Representatives candidate of the NNPP for Ofu/Idah, Igalamela-Odolu/Ibaji Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Egbunu Yusuf Amanabo dumped the party along with supporters to join the ruling APC

Speaking shortly after a closed door meeting with Governor Yahaya Bello and the deputy Governorship Candidate of the APC, Joel Oyibo indicated that he will collapse all his structure in the four Local Governmemt of Ofu, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu and Ibaji for the Ododo/Oyibo campaign organization.
“I have collapsed my structure all through the four Local Government Councils that make up the Federal Constituency to support the APC candidate and his running mate.

Amanabo who also met with the State APC chairman honorable Abdullahi Bello and Women Leader Hajia Hauwa, said, he has officially joined the APC to propel the campaign for the victory of Ododo/Oyibo ticket.
He expressed his admiration for Governor Bello and his style of leadership that is devoid of tribalism and commitment to all inclusive governance and unity of the State.

“From my view, Bello is a dogged leader who is not tribalistic but carries everybody along.
“Flowing from Bello’s open door policy in governance and all inclusive government the APC is poised to winning the next election in November.”
Amanabo indicated that he had been in the opposition for almost a decade adding that each time he deployed personal resources for his campaigns and mobilization.
He added that it is time for him to play the mainstream politics.

He also expressed fulfillment that the APC is not just a ruling party this time around but with a President like Bola Tinubu who has the knack for developments, saying that soon Nigeria will reach its eldorado.

****Condemns ‘error-ridden’ judgment, proceeds to Appeal Court to seek redress

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state has asked his supporters not to fret but stay calm and peaceful as he assured them he will reclaim the people’s mandate through all available legal means.

Yusuf was reacting to the Tribunal’s judgment that upturned his victory at the March 18th, 2023 governorship election and awarded it to his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna.
He said there is no cause for any alarm as the ‘error-ridden’ judgment was only a ‘temporary setback’.
Governor Yusuf spoke to newsmen a few minutes before midnight that the Appeal Court would do the right thing by correcting all the noticeable errors contained in the Tribunal’s judgment in order to ensure that justice is done.

While expressing confidence in the capacity of the Appellate Court to upturn the Tribunal’s ruling, the governor said; “My good people of Kano State! You would recall that on March 18, 2023, you came out en masse and voted for me as your Governor with a total vote of 1,019,602 and a margin of 128,897 votes between my humble self and the second-place candidate.

“Subsequently, I was duly sworn in as your elected Governor on May 29, 2023. You may also recall that the party that lost the election took us to court. However, after almost six months of proceedings at the governorship election petition tribunal, today Wednesday, September 20, 2023, the judges of the tribunal have in their own wisdom delivered their ruling.

“As human beings their judgment may not be absolutely perfect, there are errors and misapplication of the law as pointed out by our legal team. That is why our constitution provides for other stages to go on with, such as the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

On his next line of action, Governor Yusuf said; “We have already instructed our legal team to appeal this judgment as soon as possible to ensure that justice is done. I have since directed our lawyers to obtain a copy of the judgment and appeal as appropriate.”

Urging the people of Kano to be calm and remain law abiding at all times, the Governor said the security agencies have been directed to ensure the full protection of the lives and properties of innocent citizens across the State.

According to him; “This government will continue to work for the development of our State in line with the promises we made while seeking your votes. We want to assure you that this will neither dampen our spirit nor slow us down as this is a temporary setback for our State which we will overcome by the grace of Almighty Allah (SWT).

“While thanking the good people of Kano State for their continuous support and prayer, let me further use this opportunity to call on them to continue to go about their businesses peacefully as the government would ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order across the State.”

From Abel Abogonye, Lafia

The Opposition People’s Democratic party (PDP) in Nasarawa state has called on the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, to face the challenges of developing the state as the time for politics is over.

The party also urged the governor to leave president Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, out of the politics of the state and face his political travails.

The state chairman of the party, chief Francis Orogu Enokela gave the advice while addressing journalists on Saturday in Lafia.

Chief Orogu indicated that the party has observed with grave concern the governor’s inability to settle down like his counterparts in other states to make impact after his four years and three months in office.

“We have observed that after four years and three month in office governor Abdullahi Sule is yet to commission a single remarkable project in the state because of his weak leadership ability to manage the huge state resources.

“It is disturbing that the APC governor in Nasarawa is only hiding under the guise of collaborating with the former governor of River State who has just been appointed FCT minister to discuss infrastructure development and security between Nasarawa and the FCT when even his homestead is the headquarters for kidnappers.

“We strongly advise Mr. Wike to enquire from Gov. Sule, why Nasarawa state has become hide out for terrorists operating in the FCT.

“Mr. Wike should further note that the crises in Benue is mainly at the border with Nasarawa as well as those from Taraba, Plateau, Kogi, and Southern Kaduna, among others.
“In recent times even gun runners arrested in Enugu and Zamfara state claimed to have taken off from Lafia, the State Capital.

“Under Sule, an APC state chairman, Mr. Philip Tatari was killed in Lafia metropolis, and nothing had happened. A former federal commissioner National population commission, Alh. Zakari Umaru, a classmate and close door neighbour in Gudi of Governor Sule, was murdered in his house after struggling for four hours seeking help before he was murdered by the terrorists.

“This is just a part of the litany of several others, including emirs, chiefs, farmers, and civilians, who were either killed or kidnapped. Prof Onje Gye wado, former Deputy Governor, was kidnapped, former minister of information Labaran Maku was attacked twice.

“Sadly and only recently, two army generals were kidnapped. It is worthy to note that all the hills in Nasarawa state are currently occupied by fundamentalist Fulani terrorists of foreign descent.

“Substantial number of terror groups from all over West Africa are being camped in Nasarawa terrorizing everywhere up to Northern Anambra and Enugu states.

“We believe that a conscious commitment to governance by Mr. Sule could have reduce or eliminated these security challenges. It is the non performance and insecurity ravaging the state that led to the rejection of Gov. Sule in the last election.

“We therefore call on the Federal Government to closely look into the competence of the present state government to handle the affairs of the state with a view to providing additional support to the Army operation brigade in Doma and a mobile police training centre located in one of the most vulnerable areas of the state.

“We want to use this ample opportunity once again to draw the attention of the Nasarawa state governor to the fact that the time for politics is over, as such the governor should not use the time meant to develop the state to drag president Tinubu and Wike into the politics of the state.

“The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa state hereby call on well meaning citizens of the state and other Nigerians including the president, Minister Nyisom Wike to kindly assist the the state by drawing the attention of the governor to the development of the state rather than canvassing for support and seeking help everywhere to influence the tribunal to give judgement in his favour.

“The PDP in the state is aware of all the antics Mr. Sule is deploying to influence the decision of the awaited judgement of the governorship petition tribunal. While the party believes in the integrity of the judiciary, all attempt to interfer with justice will only destroy the democracy we all agreed to practice.