NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Abiola’s daughter lauds Tinubu over posthumous honour to mum

Abiola’s daughter lauds Tinubu over posthumous honour to mum

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By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Hafsat Abiola, daughter of the late winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, has commended President Bola Tinubu for conferring posthumous awards on her parents.

Hafsat expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for recognising her mum’s efforts in restoring democracy to the country.

Kudirat Abiola was honoured with the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) title for her role in the campaign to validate the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.

“I wish to thank President Tinubu for the conferment of national honour on my late mother Kudirat Abiola over her June 12 struggle.

“There are no words to adequately express the depth of gratitude I feel at President Tinubu’s posthumous conferment of the merit of CFR on my mum, Kudirat Abiola.

“She was guided both by love and a sense of duty to defend her husband’s mandate and to work with many across the country for the restoration of democracy.

“Yet, I have no doubt that she would have been overwhelmed with joy to be so honoured, even in death,” she stated.

Hafsat, stated that her gratitude was on behalf of the Adeyemi and Abiola families.

“I thank Mr President for deeming her worthy of this recognition and for the gift of witnessing the conferment of national honours on so many of the heroes and heroines of the June 12 struggle.

“May the conferment of these awards strengthen our collective resolve to respond to the calls for national service,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu

Insecurity, socioeconomic challenges driving voter apathy- Report

Insecurity, socioeconomic challenges driving voter apathy- Report

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By Justina Auta

A new report on “Addressing Voter Apathy in Nigeria” has identified insecurity and socioeconomic challenges as key drivers of low voter turnout during elections.

Prof. Freedom Onouha, Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, while presenting the report findings on Friday in Abuja, said the study aimed to address voters’ apathy in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the research was conducted by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).

Onouha identified electoral violence, distrust in electoral process and voters suspicion as key drivers of apathy that stifle electoral process in Nigeria,

He called for the implementation of reforms to restore citizens’ trust in the electoral process.

“There are structural as well as systemic factors that are responsible for voter apathy, but the most important ones is the issue of growing distrust in the electoral system.

“People are beginning to feel that the electoral body is not conducting elections that enable their votes to count.

“The loss of faith in those electoral bodies and electoral process is the number one reason why we are having low voter turnout,” he said.

He said that insecurity was also a major cause of voters’ apathy.

“Increasingly, we are seeing our politicians mobilise violence in a large scale, on a disposed scale, in order to win an election.

“That, in itself, is causing a lot of discomfort. People are not really prepared to risk their lives to vote for election.

“There is always this conclusion that the outcome of the election tends not to reflect in terms of the outcome,” Onouha said.

According to him, there is also the issue of bad governance.

He said that those who eventually win election failed to run the kind of governance that delivered on basic services.

“These tend to make them lose hope or disengage from the electoral process and from the government of the nation, and that in itself, is a major problem for the country,” he said.

He said that addressing these challenges was crucial to restoring the integrity of the electoral system and ensuring that citizens’ voices were heard.

He said that meaningful reforms were essential to restoring public trust and ensuring the integrity of future elections.

“The current administration needs to raise the bar in terms of security, not just now, but also during the elections, because insecurity is the major disincentive why people do not vote.

“The second point is that we need to have a clear-eyed approach to reforming our electoral processes and our electoral institutions,” he said.

“In this regard, if we say we want to transition to electronic voting and we are going to transmit results, we need to do it in such a way that it is seamless, smooth so that people will have confidence in the government.

Also, Dr Fatima Adamu, Executive Director, Nana Girls and Women Empowerment Initiative, an NGO, stressed the need to tackle insecurity, which has affected women’s participation in electoral processes.

“Women really complain bitterly about the violence during campaigns, the same thing during election. So that needs to be addressed.

“Another issue that women raise is lack of voter education and representation of quality leaders, and especially women.

“They feel that they are not giving quality women to contest, and they want the political parties to do so,” she said.

Mr Lennart Oestergaard, Resident Representative of FES, said: “If people do not make use of their right to vote, then that is a challenge, and it has to be addressed.

“This research findings is open to everyone who is interested, civil society, actors, academia and also the government, to take a look at it, and maybe if it’s helpful, take some learnings.”

Dr Joseph Ochogwu, Director-General, IPCR, represented by Dr Ayuba Caleb, said that the institute remained committed to supporting efforts that deepen democratic values and foster a culture of active peaceful citizenship.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Democracy: 10th Senate passed people-centred bills -Spokesman

Democracy: 10th Senate passed people-centred bills -Spokesman

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Naomi Sharang

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, says the 10th Senate had passed bills that were people-centred.

This, he said, was against contrary opinions that the upper chamber is a rubber stamp parliament.

Adaramodu spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja as the 10th Senate marked its second anniversary.

He said the senate only approved bills that would have direct impact on citizens.

“We are not going to publish everything that was brought to the National Assembly. The ones that cannot scale through in most cases, will not and the ones that will scale through will.

“There is no way the executive will bring any bill which is for advancement of Nigeria and Nigerians, that will be rejected.”

He said the 10th Senate had done very well and delivered its mandate as representatives of the people.

“You know that the legislature is for three-pronged functions; law making, oversight functions and advocacy for our constituents.

“So, when we talk about law making, at least in the past two years, we have sorted out nothing less than 800 bills.

“Some are in the third reading, some are in the second reading, some have just come through the first reading.

“Some bills had already been passed to the Presidency for assent and some had been assented to and they became laws,” he said.

Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South, said the 10th Senate had raised so many motions, adding that many of the motions and resolutions therefrom, had been sent to the executive.

“Some have been executed. Some are still under processes of maybe inviting stakeholders.

“We have dealt with so many public petitions and we have done a lot, lawmaking wise.

“And then when we talk about oversight function, we have done a lot, especially as it relates to security matters.

“We have invited security chiefs almost eight times to interrogate them, to ask questions, to give them suggestions and to ensure that they are never left alone.

“We have assisted the executive to ensure that minimum wage was raised by more than 100 per cent for Nigerian workers.”

The senator further said the upper chamber also ensured that the judiciary was not left alone, as it raised emoluments of judicial officers by almost 300 per cent.

Adaramodu said the upper chamber had done a lot in infrastructure via   appropriation and supervising the executive in making sure that road constructions and rehabilitations were given adequate attention.

He listed the top priority road projects to include the Badagry-Sokoto Road, roads leading from Kaduna to Kano and the road leading from Abuja to Lokoja.

On his part, the Chairman, Committee on Senate Services, Sen. Sunday Karimi, said the 10th Senate has performed to expectations of the people who voted them into office.

“It’s been two years since the 10th Senate was inaugurated. So far, so good, we have at least lived up to expectations.

“A lot of bills and motions that impact positively on our people had been passed into law.

“The government brought a request for increase in workers’ salaries, and we immediately passed it so that workers earnings will increase.

“Not just that, the student loan scheme, that will allow Nigerian students to take loans to finance their education became an act of parliament which enables Nigerian students to easily have access to loans.”

Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, listed other achievements of the 10th Senate to include creation of regional development commissions.

“We created all these commissions, so that we can directly impact on our people.

“The commission bill was the baby of the national assembly and is now an act of parliament.

“We also created a lot of developments across our senatorial districts like several universities and other higher institutions, and we have been doing this for years.

“I cannot stop counting; a lot has been done for the people. The recent tax reform bill is an instance.

“When the tax reform bill was brought by the President, you would think that Nigeria will collapse but we went into it and convinced our people.

“The bill will bring development and increase revenue of the three tiers of government,” he said.

Karimi faulted opinions that the 10th Senate is a rubber stamp legislature.

“If you call it a rubber stamp senate, that’s a mistake, it’s an error. We are not out to fight this government, we are out to work with this government to impact positively on our people.

“Let me tell you, there are areas we disagree with the executive. We may not do it publicly for you to know. Sometimes we go into closed-door sessions and iron out our disagreements.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Tinubu pays tribute to Buhari for adopting June 12 Democracy Day

Tinubu pays tribute to Buhari for adopting June 12 Democracy Day

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By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to former president Muhammadu Buhari, for making June 12 Nigeria’s Democracy Day and officially acknowledging Chief MKO Abiola as duly elected president of Nigeria after the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Tinubu paid the tribute to Buhari in his address on Thursday at the Joint Session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Nigeria’s 2025 Democracy Day.

The President also paid tribute to other heroes of democracy saying: “Whilst Abiola was the June 12’s central figure, Nigerians must not forget the long list of those who equally deserved to be called heroes of Nigerian democracy.

“We must celebrate the courage of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and Pa Alfred Rewane, both of whom were murdered by agents of military repression.

“We also remember the many civil rights activists, journalists, and politicians imprisoned, exiled, tossed aside, tortured and beaten by the military regime.”

Tinubu also honoured late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Balarabe Musa, Ganiyu Dawodu, Bagauda Kaltho, and Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu.

“I mention these names not to exclude or degrade the profound contributions of anyone else but to illustrate, through these few heroes, the universality of our pursuit of democracy.

“The struggle was never the province of any one group or section of the country, it was pan-Nigerian in its conception and will be even more as we strive to perfect it,” the President stated. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Democracy Day: Fubara reaffirms commitment to rule of law, Rivers welfare

Democracy Day: Fubara reaffirms commitment to rule of law, Rivers welfare

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By Precious Akutamadu
Suspended Rivers Governor, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting fundamental human rights, and promoting inclusive participation in the democratic process.
Fubara made the remarks in his Democracy Day message, released to journalists on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Nelson Chukwudi, in Port Harcourt.The governor emphasised the need to safeguard lives and property through robust security measures, while maintaining a government rooted in transparency and accountability.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, Fubara called for collaboration across political divides to build a society where every citizen’s voice is heard and supported.

Acknowledging the recent political turbulence in Rivers, Fubara noted that democracy must be actively protected and nurtured, especially during challenging times.

He stated that his administration remained focused on fairness, civil liberties, and responsible governance, prioritising inclusive policies and strong oversight mechanisms.

Fubara also urged citizens to unite, innovate, and pursue common goals, stressing the importance of honoring the legacy of those who sacrificed for Nigeria’s democratic journey.

Expressing optimism about the state’s future, he said Rivers would emerge stronger and more united in spite of current challenges.

He appealed to residents of the state and Nigerians at large to commit themselves to building a society where everyone could contribute meaningfully to national and state development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijendu Iheaka/Kevin Okunzuwa
Democracy Day: Ododo urges Nigerians to rekindle democratic spirit of unity, development

Democracy Day: Ododo urges Nigerians to rekindle democratic spirit of unity, development

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By Thompson Yamput

Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has urged Nigerians to rekindle the democratic spirit of unity, civic responsibility, and engagement for development as the nation marks the 2025 Democracy Day.

The governor gave the charge in his message marking the Democracy Day in Lokoja on Thursday.

Ododo described June 12 as a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey toward democratic governance, and a solemn reminder that democracy is not gifted but earned.

“The sacrifices made by pro-democracy heroes, including our father, President Bola Tinubu, must never be forgotten.

“They are the foremost figures whose relentless struggle helped birth the democratic freedoms that we all Nigerians now enjoy,” he said.

Ododo paid glowing tribute to the heroes of the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the country’s history but sadly annulled.

According to him, we are not only beneficiaries of the democracy earned through the blood and sweat of our heroes; we are stewards of its promises.

The governor emphasised that democracy thrives when it is participatory and accountable.

He said that his administration remains focused on building strong institutions, promoting transparency, and empowering citizens, especially the youth to take an active role in governance.

“To our youth, you are not just the leaders of tomorrow; you are the true guardians of our democracy today. This democracy belongs to you,” he charged.

He reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to the democratic ideals of inclusion, justice, and accountability.

Ododo pledged to continue leading a people-centered administration that delivers concrete results in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and security.

The governor, however, called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society actors, and public servants to lead by example, stressing that democracy is best measured not by titles or rhetoric, but by tangible results that improve the lives of the people.

“Let us remember that democracy is strengthened not by titles, but by service…not by rhetoric, but by results,” he said.

He urged citizens to remain vigilant against forces that threaten national unity, to strongly defend democratic values from disruption, division, and all other tendencies that undermine national interest.

Ododo further pledged to support and align with national developmental policies and programmes of the Federal Government under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“As governor, every day and night, I will stand to protect the rights and freedoms of all residents of Kogi, ensuring they can live and work in safety and dignity.

“Let us rise together in the spirit of nationhood. Let us stand together in the pursuit of progress. Let us walk together on the path of peace, equity, and sustainable development,” he further urged. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

Calls for lowering voting age dominate NILDS-Democracy Radio’ school debate

Calls for lowering voting age dominate NILDS-Democracy Radio’ school debate

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By EricJames Ochigbo

Calls for lowering voter age and rejecting e-voting on Wednesday in Abuja dominated the maiden edition of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS)-Democracy Radio secondary school debate.

Students from Africa Community School, Asokoro and Intelligence Quotient Academy, who emerged winners, made the call at the debate, organised to mark Nigeria’s 26th anniversary of unbroken democracy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the topic of the debate was “Is E-Voting the Future of Nigeria’s Democracy/Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16 years.”

Miss Khadijah Matawale, a student of Intelligence Quotient Academy, said that every citizen had the right to life, freedom of speech and movement, and should be given the right to vote.

Matawale described voting as a process of electing leaders in a democratic setting by citizens, arguing that teenagers at the age of 16 are equally citizens.

According to her, if the aged have the right mindset to vote and have a say in what is going in government, teenagers at age 16 should also be allowed to vote.

“If everybody, irrespective of age or experience, is affected by bad governance, why can’t voting age be reduced to accommodate those of 16 years of age?

“In countries like Australia, Cuba and Brazil, they allow teenagers, 16 and 17 years of age to vote; why can’t that be implemented in Nigeria?” she queried.

On her part, Miss Oluwadamilola Wright of Africa Community School, argued that though technology looked like the way forward, there were lots of constraints.

Wright said that transparency could not be assured, as operators of the system were those appointed by people in power, thus making it difficult to be sure if the output was the will of the people or government officials.

She also stated that electronic systems could be very expensive to acquire and operate.

In his own contribution, Master Ogbodo Kelvin, of Government Secondary School, Area 10, Garki, argued that e-voting was the future of Nigeria’s electoral system and across the world.

Kelvin noted that the world was changing in terms of technological advancement and that e-voting would ensure empowerment, transparency and reduction in electoral fraud.

“We’re in a world where climate change is affecting us a lot. We will consume a lot of parts with manual voting but with e-voting, it will reduce the use of paper; we are conscious of our plight; it is democracy with a conscience,” he said.

However, Miss Oluwapamilerinayo Abobarin, an SS II student of Treasure Homes International Schools, argued that voting should be done by adult citizens alone.

Abobarin said that it was risky to allow younger teenagers to vote in deciding t fate of a complex nation like Nigeria.

“A 16-year old is not emotionally stable. Science shows that the part of the brain responsible for decision-making is not yet developed until mid-twenties.

“This is enough reason for us to see that a 16-year-old is not mature enough for such decision for the whole nation.

“They are still very dependent on their parents; they are easily influenced and manipulated by social media influencers, easy prey for cyber bullies and can be forced by someone in their neighbourhood to vote for a particular candidate.

“Imagine a 16-year-old becoming president of Nigeria, because the right to vote comes with the right to be voted for,” she said.

In an interview with NAN, the General-Manager of NILDS-Democracy Radio, Mrs Uju Nwachukwu, said that the initiative was centered around questions of interest to young people.

Nwachukwu said that following social media comments of young people after the 2023 elections, the debate was designed to propel new thinking among young people.

“What we are trying to do is more of awareness on governance and politics for younger people.

“At NILDS-Democracy Radio, our mandate is to bridge information gap between the governed and the government, and we are not leaving the younger generation.

“We want to get the younger generation talking; they are the younger demography that is most often over-looked; they will turn 18 in two years.

“At some point in time, they are going to be part of the system; so getting them involved now is a better strategy than waiting until that time where they express their discontent by other means like riots and protests.

“Getting them intellectually involved now, getting them to do research and understand things for themselves is the essence of this conversation,” she said.

Nwachukwu said that young people were very impressionable, as they could easily convince their peers to run with such ideas.

The general manager said that the debate would not be a one-off event but would be expanded to include university students. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Nasarawa 7th Assembly passes 21 bills in 2 years

Nasarawa 7th Assembly passes 21 bills in 2 years

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By Awayi Kuje

The 7th Nasarawa State House of Assembly says it passed 21 bills and 41 resolutions within the last two years.

The Speaker of the 7th Assembly, Dr Danladi Jatau, disclosed this on Wednesday, at a sitting to mark the end of the second session of the Assembly in Lafia.

According to him, the bills comprised 17 executive bills and four private members’ bills.

Jatau described the 7th Assembly as one of the best due to laudable achievements in the last two years.

The speaker said the achievements recorded were a result of unity and good working relationships among members of the Assembly.

“I can’t thank you enough for our unity and effective synergy, as well as collaboration with other arms of government in the state.

“I want to applaud you for your support and cooperation. This assembly I have rated to be the best as we have competent members who are doing their job diligently.

“I also want to applaud you for your roles and your integrity at all times, and I urge you to keep it up,” the speaker said.

Jatau assured of his continued determination to operate an open-door policy and an all-inclusive leadership for the progress and development of the House and the state.

The speaker reassured of an enhanced cordial working relationship between the three arms of government.

“I want to assure His Excellency of our continued commitment and determination to give him all the necessary and needed support to succeed,” he added.

The speaker also assured the staff of his continued commitment to improving their standard of living through improved welfare. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwafunke Ishola

Defection: We won’t miss those who left our party — Lagos PDP

Defection: We won’t miss those who left our party — Lagos PDP

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By Adeyemi Adeleye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State says it is not bothered about Monday’s defection of some party leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos Central), Mr Hakeem Olalemi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

NAN reports that some PDP leaders, including the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Hakeem Amode, announced their resignation from the party on Monday.

Other prominent PDP leaders who dumped the party for APC were Alhaja Safurat Abdulkareem, a two-time PDP deputy governorship candidate in the state and a former Lagos PDP deputy chairman, Chief Ola Apena.

Olalemi said the party would not miss the defectors as they were not active members of the party.

The PDP chieftain said the defectors had not been active in PDP in the last two years.

“All the people that left had been inactive in the party in the past two years; we are not going to miss them at all.

“The party has since moved on. We are moving on without them. These people showed long ago they were not PDP members again, they are Jandor’s people and we have always known that they are APC.

“In Lagos PDP, we have long forgotten them. They had not been part of us for over two years. When last did you hear them defend PDP in Lagos State before their defection?

“It (their defection) is not news to us in Lagos PDP, we know they left since. We are not bothered a bit,” Olalemi said.

NAN reports other PDP leaders who dumped the party on Monday for APC also included Prince Rufus Adeniyi, a former PDP Assistant State Organising Secretary (Lagos West) and Mr Jerry Afemikhe (Olori Odo), a former PDP House of Representatives candidate in Surulere Constituency I.

Some 2023 PDP Lagos State House of Assembly candidates who dumped the party included Messrs Keshinro Abiodun (Epe 1); Akeem Jinadu, (Eti-Osa 1) and Ibrahim Balogun (Kosofe 2).

Messrs Taofeek Obanikoro (Lagos Island 1); Tunde Pratt (Lagos Mainland 2); Saheed Aregbesola (Oshodi-Isolo State 2), Sulaimon Thompson (Surulere 1) and Taofeek Kuye (Ajeromi-Ifelodun State 1) also dumped PDP for APC.

Mr Adeyemi Kazeem: former PDP Chairman, Ojo Local Government; Pastor Gbenga Ogunleye, media aide to the 2023 Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate were also among those who defected. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Buhari Bolaji

PDP stakeholders, leaders reaffirm Anyawu as substantive National Secretary

PDP stakeholders, leaders reaffirm Anyawu as substantive National Secretary

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By Philip Yatai

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’ Eminent Stakeholders and Concerned Leaders have reaffirmed Sen. Sam Anyawu as the duly elected and substantive National Secretary of the party.

The stakeholders made the reaffirmation in a communique in Abuja on Monday, after a closed-door meeting to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis affecting the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders and the concerned leaders were drawn from the various states of the federation.

Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who read the communique said that Anyawu’s reaffirmation followed the resolutions of the stakeholders, in line with the Judgment of the Supreme Court.

Wike explained that the meeting was organised to review the state of affairs of the party and the need to reinforce internal democracy, equity and justice within the ranks of the party.

He said that the stakeholders resolved that the seemingly intractable crisis in the party was as a result of the inexplicable refusal of a few to adhere to the party’s constitution.

He particularly referred to Section 36(1) (a) (b) and (c); Sections 47(3)(5) and 48(1)(i) and the definitive Supreme Court Judgment regarding the position of the office of the national secretary of the party.

The minister expressed the stakeholders’ worry that the party was on an inevitable path to self- annihilation.

This, he said, was only feasible, if urgent steps were not taken to rein in the desperate, divisive and selfish tendencies that brought the party to its knees in the lead up to the 2023 election.

He added that the divisive tendencies, unfortunately, have found expression in the conduct of certain interests within the ranks of the party both at National Executive Committee (NEC), National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees levels.

The minister added that to finally arrest the inexorable drift towards extinction in the party, the PDP must, without further delay, respect the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“We, therefore, unequivocally reaffirm Sen. Sam Anyanwu as the duly elected and substantive National Secretary of our great party.

“In line with the provisions of our party constitution, only the National Secretary, Anyanwu, can issue notices of meeting of the National Convention, NEC, National Caucus and the NWC.

“To this end, all notices not issued by him and actions founded on them, including correspondences to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

“Furthermore, it is clear from the constitution that only the National Convention, properly and duly constituted can remove Anyanwu as the national secretary, arising from his status as a member of the NEC of the party.

“We, therefore, demand that the acting National Chairman and the National Secretary jointly issue a notice to INEC with an attached agenda for the NEC meeting of the party, being the only pathway to abide by extant laws.

Wike reiterated the stakeholders’ commitment to the great party and urged all members to uphold the rule of law and respect constitutional mandate.

He also called on members of the party to resist all manoeuvres aimed at destabilising the party and support the efforts of the National Reconciliation Committee headed by Sen. Bukola Saraki.

The minister further said the stakeholders had resolved that the party must make an unequivocal pronouncement, zoning its presidential candidate to the South in the 2027 elections.

“This is in the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal character principles and respect for our party constitution, after the unbroken years of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the north,” Wike said.

NAN reports that some of the stakeholders at the meeting included former Gov. Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu, former Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue and former Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.

Also at the meeting were the National Secretary of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and former Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Philip Aduda.

Former federal and state lawmakers and some zonal and state party executives among others equally attended the meeting. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

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