The appeals, marked CA/PH/137M/2024 and CA/PH/145M/2024, were filed by Enyiada Cookey-Gam and six others.

They were challenging the decisions of the High Court regarding the elongation of their tenure.

The Court, while delivering its ruling on Monday, found the appeals to be without merit and consequently struck them out.

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The party urged Nigerians to identify with its quest to take power and move the nation to greater heights.

Labour Party made this assertion in an expanded stakeholders meeting in Abakaliki.

A communiqué, issued at the end of the meeting, was signed by Linus Okorie (Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone), Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh (Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone) and Emmanuel Nwobo (Central Senatorial Zone).

“The members of the National Transition Committee, NTC, of the Labour Party, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, Rt. Hon. Linus Okorie and Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, convened the stakeholders briefing with a view to informing members of the Labour Party, Ebonyi State Chapter, about the future political activities of the emerging Labour Party, which include mobilisation of new members and registration.

“The members of the NTC also shared details of the 2023 post-election reviews conducted by the national and state working committees of the party and consequently resolved as follows:

“That His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, remains the National Leader of the Party and he, Mr Obi, is bestowed with the appropriate competences to salvage the Nigerian economy from its declining fortunes.

“Stakeholders observed the need to support the National Transition Committee in her bid to conduct an all-inclusive state congress and national convention of the Labour Party, respectively.

“Furthermore, stakeholders urged feuding stakeholders of the party to sheath their divisive swords in the overall interest of Labour Party and our target to better the lots of Nigerians.

“That a united Labour Party, Ebonyi State Chapter, shall pursue vigorously the conversion and registration of new members into the party at the right and designated time and also set a target of 400,000 members,” the communiqué stated.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) UK South-West Caucus has strongly condemned the brutal attack on officers and men of the Amotekun Corps by Fulani herdsmen, in Akure north, Ondo State capital.

The caucus described the attack as “barbaric” and “unacceptable” and promised to provide support for the victims.

In a statement jointly signed by the group’s general secretary Mr. Ayodele Adigun and the Chairman Hon Andrew Taiwo, APC UK South West Caucus expressed shock and outrage over the incident, which left several Amotekun officers injured and one in a critical condition.

Reacting to the sad development Hon Andrew Taiwo, reiterated that the south-west caucus once again called for the provision of sophisticated weapons for the Amotekun Corps, to enable them avail effective security and ensure protection of lives and properties of south western Nigerians.

The caucus expressed profound commendation for the Ondo State government’s spontaneous response to the incident, adding that it reaffirms government’s commitment to ensuring the security across the nooks and crannies of the state.

“We feel the urgent need to appreciate the speedy move of the Ondo State Government, sequel the incident, it saddens us to record such gory tales at this age and time.

“It clearly brings to the fore the importance of our prayers, that the local security network-Amotekun be better and adequately equipped with sophisticated weapons to stem such ugly trend in future.”

The caucus however, tasked federal and state governments to provide necessary enabling laws to support the southwestern Nigeria security network to combat insecurity in the region.

Apc UK south-west Caucus also expressed its solidarity with the victims of the attack and their families, while promising a continued support for the southwestern Nigeria governor forum, in its efforts to ensure peace and security in the region.

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Oshiomhole said the law does not allow APC to interfere in PDP’s primary election conflict.

The Abuja Federal High Court had nullified the primary elections conducted by the PDP that produced Asue Ighodalo as its governorship candidate in Edo State.

The court voided the primary election conducted on February 22, 2024, because 378 delegates were unlawfully excluded by PDP.

However, Oshiomhole speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, said: “This is purely PDP intra-party, and I think the lesson is very clear, namely that parties must be encouraged to obey the laws that regulate the conduct of primaries.

“By the law, another party cannot go into intra-party conflicts in court.

“I think you should dismiss that because this is PDP versus PDP and you know that by the law, another party cannot go into intra-party conflicts in court. So if it is convenient for them to explain that you can dismiss it without asking me.

“The fact that there had been division in Edo before their primaries and after their primaries is an open secret, and the issues in dispute are also very open.

“The PDP legacy group complained that the man they gave their master bedroom has completely chased them out of the building and now they’re under the rain and as we speak they are still trying to settle.”

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Obi, who made this call on Friday via his X handle, said they would emerge stronger and more united than ever.

He stressed the need for moving forward with a shared sense of purpose and vision.

He expressed confidence that the party would overcome the current crisis through open communication, empathy, and willingness to listen.

“We will successfully resolve our differences and emerge stronger and more united than ever. Our strength lies in greater unity for our common national good.

“I reiterate my earlier appeal for us to put aside our differences and work together in a spirit of harmony and mutual understanding,” he said.

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Comrade Debo Adeniran CDHR National President made this assertion while addressing the media in the state of the nation briefing on Thursday at the Rights House, Ikeja.

“We as activists are not happy with the President’s performance so far. During his campaign, we believed so much in him going by his antecedents as one of those that spearheaded the PRONACO in those days.

“We thought his reign would bring succour and relief to the people especially as we missed that golden opportunity during the June 12 election, but the reverse is the case right now.

“We would like to call on the President to explore the possibility of reaching out to more professionals even outside his cabinet so that his policies and programmes can have a more beneficial effect on the populace.

Comrade Adeniran who touched on the ranging issues in the nation’s polity, took out time to highlight some misnomer cited while proffering workable solutions as it pertains: corruption, high cost of foodstuffs, illegal proliferation of arms and ammunition, crude shortage and Dangote refinery, SSANU/NASU strike, deplorable state of road networks and the River State impasse amongst others.

On food security Adeniran tasked the government at various levels to stop being lazy and care free about the situation, adding that they should make concerted efforts in addressing food sufficiency given our fertile lands while charging the security agencies especially the Nigerian Armed Forces to also take to agricultural ventures, to scare away marauding herdsmen and bandits pillaging the lands across zones.

“For some time now, Nigerians have been under torment by the astronomical rise in the prices of basic foods in the marketplace. This surge is reflected mainly in the prices of garri, millet, yam, fermented cassava meal (akpu), palm oil, vegetable oil, beef, rice, beans, among others.

“The high cost of these foodstuffs is alarming primarily because these food items are staples in most homes across the land. The absence of these items would contribute seriously to hunger and malnutrition in the country. This gives room for a huge concern as the steep prices have battered the purchasing power of citizens, leading to uncertainty, an increase in poverty, and an unpalatable cost of living. The disruption caused by rising food inflation has further decimated the low wages of the people.

“A 2022 survey by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said 133 million Nigerians are living in multidimensional poverty. How on earth will the people that fall into this group be able to afford these staples which has skyrocketed beyond the reach of an ordinary Nigerians?

Incessant killings, kidnappings, and destruction of farmland have led to farmers abandoning their farmland for fear of bandits and herdsmen, thereby contributing to food shortages across the country.

“The situation is rampant in Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, and Borno, where violence plagues the states often regarded as Nigeria’s food belt. In Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and other states, bandits and terrorists hold sway, collecting levies or tributes from farmers before they can plant or harvest their crops.

“So insecurity has contributed greatly to the high cost of food in the country. The government should make it a priority to secure lives and properties of the entire citizens of the country and not only the farmers as this would contribute immensely to the greater output and more investment opportunities in the economy of the country.

 As a temporary measure, the government at every level should undertake tangible programmes to defeat hunger in the land and introduction of various social safety measures at a time like this would be a welcome development.

He stressed that the existing bottlenecks in the administration of the country was due to the refusal of the powers that be to be accountable to the people with whom the sovereign powers of the land ought to reside originally.

Regarding the academic sector Adeniran critiqued the situation citing several untoward developments from the government’s end to the workers demands.

“Recently, two non-teaching staff unions mull an indefinite strike at the expiration of a two-week strike notice, over withheld 4 months salaries, and the unpaid 13 months salaries to Abia State University workers.

“The unions are the Senior Staff Union of Universities (SSANU), and the Non-teaching Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU). SSANU President at a briefing in Abuja said beyond the withheld and unpaid salaries, most institutions still owe between three and six months of the N35,000 wage award as it accused the Federal government of being slow and dodgy with regards to announcing a new national minimum wage.

“Other issues the unions concerned about are the limited number of educated individuals in the reconstituted Boards of Federal tertiary institutions and the proliferation of State Universities, amidst poor funding of existing ones.

“We would like to call on the government to do everything within the ambit of the law to avert the strike considering the negative effects of the strike on the academic activities on our campuses. Their concerns should be looked into in order to avoid another industrial unrest.”

Commenting on the Dangote refinery and the seemingly no impact felt in the sector up till now by virtue of it coming up stream, the issue he said is shrouded in secrecy and that they need come out clean.

“We felt this will help reduce the hardship but unfortunately, Dangote imports crude which in clear terms is substandard to our own Brent crude.  We should resist selling of substandard products. We are calling for the reintroduction of fuel subsidy given the suffering experienced by Nigerians.

“We should not pay for their inefficiency. Did the purchase go through sighting of appropriate authorities in the first place. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should block the loopholes being an accountant and someone who had knowledge of how the oil industry runs prior to now.

“As concerns mount over the lack of domestic crude oil to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, we would like the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to inform Nigerians on what is really happening.

“If the refinery is finding it difficult to access domestic crude oil and have to rely on importation from foreign countries then what exactly is happening in our oil and gas sector.

“We would also like to align with other groups like the Independent Petroleum Producers Group who has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider declaring a state of emergency on crude oil production in Nigeria following the lingering crisis associated with this.”

On the River State impasse Adeniran maintained that the erstwhile governor of the state Nyesom Wike ought to concentrate maximally on his newly assigned task as the FCT minister and allow the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State Siminalayi Fubara to function without hinderance in any form.

“The power play that is being displayed can be likened to the Godfatherism principle commonly practiced in Nigeria’s political arena. We would not like to delve into the details of what has happened in the state in recent time but considering the prevailing circumstances, we feel strongly that all lovers of democracy should be concerned about the situation in Rivers State.

“If not properly handled, it will definitely have catastrophic consequences for our democracy as it may snowballed into other states.”

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Okpebholo, in a statement on Thursday, said the judgement was a clear indication that APC is the party to beat in the upcoming Edo governorship election.

The court, in its ruling earlier today, declared invalid the primary election that produced Ighodalo as PDP governorship candidate.

The primary election conducted on February 22, 2024, was voided on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo invalidated the primary election while delivering judgement in a suit instituted by some aggrieved delegates.

The suit was instituted by Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.

Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP guidelines were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, Edo State capital.

The APC governorship candidate called on the PDP candidate, Ighodalo, to take the path of honour and withdraw from the race, having been misled by PDP stakeholders.

He claimed that the fate of the PDP candidate was a clear pointer to the failure that awaited the party in the forthcoming Edo governorship election.

“I welcome the court judgement given on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Abuja. The court has saved the Edo people from another four years of pain and agony,” he said.

Okpebholo added that what the PDP called primaries were a far cry, noting that with just two months until a crucial election, it was unable to put its house in order.

He called on Edo people to rally around him and APC to bring back the lost glory of the state, adding that if elected, his administration would be committed to taking the state to greater heights.

He noted that since the exit of Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo, the people of the state have not had any reason to celebrate.

“This will change in September, when the people will take power back through the ballot. Edo has been cut off from the centre for too long.

“We can see this from the level of abandonment; we need to return Edo to the centre and enjoy all the benefits that we truly deserve. We are optimistic.

“With this judgement, Edo people can clearly see that the PDP is a chaotic party and can’t be allowed to continue to lead our dear state. With APC, I assure you of the best. Our best is yet to come,” he said.

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PDP noted that Tinubu’s bad leadership had plunged Nigerians into hardship and worsened the precarious economic situation.

The opposition party said Tinubu’s administration had failed to address the problems caused by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a post on its X page, PDP wrote: “The Tinubu administration’s bad leadership has plunged Nigerians into unimaginable hardship, exacerbating the country’s already precarious economic and social conditions.

“Since assuming office in 2023, the APC led administration’s policies and actions have only served to worsen the lives of Nigerians.

“One of the most significant hardships faced by Nigerians is the escalating cost of living.

“The administration’s economic policy has led to a surge in inflation, making it difficult for Nigerians to afford basic necessities like food, healthcare, fuel, education, etc. The prices of staple foods have skyrocketed, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet.

“Another area where the administration’s leadership has failed Nigerians is in the provision of basic infrastructure.

“The country’s power sector remains in shambles, with frequent blackouts and a lack of reliable electricity supply.

“This has not only hindered economic growth but also made life difficult for citizens who rely on electricity for their daily needs.

“The administration’s handling of the fuel subsidy crisis has also added to the hardship faced by Nigerians.

“The purported removal of the subsidy has led to a significant hike in fuel prices, making transportation and other essential services unaffordable for many Nigerians.

“This has had a ripple effect on the entire economy, leading to increased prices of goods and services.”

PDP blamed the insecurity in the country due to increasing cases of kidnapping and banditry on Tinubu’s failure.

It added: “Furthermore, the administration’s failure to address the country’s security challenges has left Nigerians feeling vulnerable and unsafe.

“The rising incidence of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping has made life difficult for citizens, who live in constant fear of attack or abduction.

“The healthcare sector has also suffered under the Tinubu administration, with a lack of adequate funding and resources leading to a decline in the quality of healthcare services. This has resulted in unnecessary deaths and suffering for many Nigerians who cannot afford basic medical care.

“In conclusion, the hardship faced by Nigerians under the Tinubu administration is a direct result of bad leadership and poor governance by the APC government.

“The administration’s policies and actions have only served to worsen the lives of ordinary Nigerians, who are struggling to make ends meet. This administration has failed in its promises to Nigerians and has failed to address the problems caused by its party in the eight years of the Buhari administration.”

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The primary election conducted on February 22, 2024, was voided on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded by PDP.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo invalidated the primary election while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by the aggrieved delegates.

The suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 was instituted by one Hon Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.

Justice Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP Guidelines were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin.

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White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant to the president, Andrew Bates, described the New York Times’ report as false.

Posting on X, Bates wrote: “This claim is absolutely false and if we had been given more than 7 minutes we could have communicated this before it was publicized.

“That claim is absolutely false. If the New York Times had provided us with more than 7 minutes to comment we would have told them so.”

Bates was reacting to a report by the New York Times that Biden informed his allies that he is considering quitting the presidential race.

The newspaper quoted an anonymous source saying of Biden, “He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place,” referring to last week’s presidential debate in which Biden did poorly.

The newspaper reported that the president’s conversation is the first indication that he is seriously considering whether he can recover after a devastating performance on the debate stage in Atlanta.

The newspaper quoted Biden’s ally as saying that the president understood that he faced an uphill battle to convince voters, donors and the political class that his debate performance was an anomaly.

It added that President Biden had told a key ally that he knew he might not be able to salvage his candidacy if he could not convince the public in the coming days that he is up for the job after a disastrous debate performance last week.

The president, who the ally emphasized is still deeply in the fight for re-election, understands that his next few appearances heading into the holiday weekend must go well, particularly an interview scheduled for Friday with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News and campaign stops in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

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