POLITICS
2023: Okowa Cautions against Cyber Bullying in Election Campaigns
Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta and Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned against cyber bullying in the name of campaigns for the 2023 elections.
Okowa made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja at the Northern Christian Youth Assembly Summit, with the theme ‘Unifying Nigeria:The Role of Northern Christian Youths and Women’.
He said that Nigerians should be allowed to use the cyber space to express their choices ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“We are beginning to see bullying in the cyber space of our country, I think that everybody should have his space, time, to be able to think, make comments without being bullied,” he said.
According to him, what is important in the build up to the election is for Nigerians not to act on emotions, but be guided with knowledge and build cohesion in electing credible leaders to transform Nigeria.
“This is the hallmark of those who think and use their brains; when we talk about the future is for the youths, it is actually from today.
“However, the real truth is, our youths particularly youths leaders must be in position to have a clear understanding of things so that they are able to guide others aright.
“This is because if you have a leadership that is not able to provide that true leadership of guiding people aright and people begin to think in the wrong way, then you create further problems rather than finding solutions and we all go the wrong path,” Okowa said.
He commended the group for organising the summit to discuss Nigeria’s challenges and find solutions.
Okowa also said that the topic of the event was apt, because it focused on unifying Nigeria.
He called on Nigerians not to practice politics of religion, but to unite to elect leaders that would build a Nigeria for all where things would work.
He assured that if elected, their administration would give priority to education and tackle poverty.
In his remarks, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, National Chairman of PDP said it was time for Christians to show greater interest in politics.
“I do not think God will just come down and answer your prayer, you need to act too, that way, God will help us.
“For a long time, many people saw politics as something to be left to others, but I am happy that today this narrative has changed, events have made it possible to see that the control of political power is very important.
“Therefore, it is important that Christians have to rise up, come together and show a greater interest in politics.”
Ayu also urged them to join parties and be interested in what is happening around them so as not to allow bad leaders takeover power and misuse it to affect them, their families and communities negatively.
He said that Nigerian needed leaders that would attend to the challenges facing the country and assured that Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential candidate, will be the right choice to achieve that.
He assured that if given the chance, they would unify the country and enhance national development .
“We looked around and we thought we have to give him not just a vice president that will assist him, but we did our homework to select a young man who is highly educated, very humble, and who has done very well as a governor in his home state.
“It is on Okowa’s personal merit he was selected by the party as the vice presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar.
“I think Nigeria will be very lucky to have two such people who are committed to development, who are detribalised and who believe in uniting this country,” Ayu said.
He, therefore, urged the group to support Atiku and mobilise Nigerians to vote for PDP, so as to salvage Nigeria.
In his comments, the Anglican Archbishop of Jos, Rev. Marcus Ibrahim, who read from Ezekiel 3:16-21, called on youths to guide other citizens to elect credible leaders in 2023.
Ibrahim called on the Church and youths to be the voice of the voiceless by speaking against evil and injustice in the country.
“As we enter election year, we should give our people direction, by encouraging them to come out and vote.
“Youths as watchmen should herald a new dawn in the country as we prepare for 2023 general elections.
“To me, the winning team is Atiku and Okowa, so we should make noise everywhere because that is one of the strategy God taught Joshua to defeat Jericho,” he said.
Earlier, the host, Mr Bok Ayuba, former Speaker, Plateau House of Assemby, said the group had agreed to back the PDP candidates, because they believed in their capacity to rescue Nigeria and make things right.
Ayuba said the group has branches in all local government areas of the country and would go round to mobilise support for the PDP.
“We will go to every state to mobilise from each local government to have a great number to discuss the way forward ahead of 2023 elections,” he added.
He urged members of the group “to spread the news and galvanise massive voters’ support to ensure PDP wins in 2023”.(NAN)
The Labour Party has fixed its national convention for April 28 in Umuahia, Abia.
The party also officially released the list of chairmen and members of its electoral sub-committees for the forthcoming congresses in all the states of the federation.
Senior Special Adviser (Media) to the Interim National Chairman, Ken Asogwa, made these known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
The party had earlier announced the timetable for its congresses, with ward congresses scheduled for April 23, local government congresses, April 24 and state congresses April 26.
According to Asogwa, the sub-committees, made up of experienced and respected party members, have been constituted to oversee the conduct of the congresses in their respective states.
He listed the chairmen to include: Iheanacho Obioma (Abia); Francis Kim (Adamawa); Ekong Solomon (Akwa Ibom); Chief Tony Asuoha (Anambra); Malam Mustapha Adamu (Bauchi); Beredugo Ebimonyo (Bayelsa) and Chief John Ochoga (Benue).
Others are: Urom Iyang (Cross River); Chuks Onitsha (Delta); Chief Mitchell Nwabueze (Ebonyi); Dr Saliu Edogiawerie (Edo); Usman Mohammed (Niger); Owolabi Ezekiel (Ogun); Charles Afolabi (Ondo); Balogun Ibrahim (Osun); Babatunde Yusuf (Oyo); Fakorede Matthew (Ekiti) and Dr David Ogba (Enugu).
Also included are: Adoga Knaabayi (Gombe); Chinagorom Nwankpa (Imo); Mustapha Garba (Jigawa); Dr Emmanuel Barau (Kaduna); Kabiru Said (Kano); Pastor Ishaku Izang (Plateau); Amaobi Ogah (Rivers); Prof. Muhamuda Muhammad (Sokoto); Jesse Williams (Taraba); Mukhtar Hassan (Yobe) and Haila Baja (Zamfara).
Also, Ismail Bello (Katsina); Muh’d (Birnin Kebbi); Samuel Ajare (Kogi); Bodunde Adebayo (Kwara); Chukwuemeka Ogbanna (Lagos); Dr Muttaqa Yushau (Nasarawa) and Rose Uba-Anarah (FCT).
Asogwa quoted the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Nenadi Usman, as urging the chairmen and members to carry out their responsibilities with utmost fairness, transparency and integrity.
Usman reminded them of the party’s core values of equal opportunity and social justice, urging them to reflect these principles in the discharge of their duties.
She stressed the need for diligence and commitment, noting that the credibility of the party must be upheld throughout the congress process.
The statement assured that all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure a smooth, successful, and hitch-free convention.
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The Amir and National Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Alatoye Abdulazeez, has urged Nigerian youths to unite politically and strategically, identifying Adewole Adebayo as a potential leader capable of driving national transformation if given collective support.
Speaking during an interview, Abdulazeez emphasized that Nigeria’s progress hinges largely on the ability of young people to organize themselves beyond tribal, religious, and financial inducements, and to rally behind credible leadership.
According to him, while several young candidates have emerged in past elections, their failure to build strong alliances allowed older political forces to maintain dominance.
He noted that the case of Adebayo, a lawyer and businessman who contested under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), presents an opportunity for a different political direction if youths can act in unity.
“If the younger generation is sure that Adewole Adebayo can deliver, they should team up with him, get things right, and encourage other youths across tribes to see themselves as one,” Abdulazeez said.
He stressed that Nigeria is currently in what he described as a “storming stage” of nationhood, where divisions along ethnic and regional lines continue to hinder development.
He warned that unless a “national norm” is established—where citizens prioritize unity over sectional interests—the country may struggle to reach its full potential.
The cleric further advised youths to avoid electoral inducement and reject divisive politics, urging them instead to focus on long-term nation-building.
“We must move from where we are to the next stage. Otherwise, we will keep moving in the same direction,” he added.
Beyond politics, Abdulazeez reiterated the Ahmadiyya motto, “Love for All, Hatred for None,” as a guiding principle for national cohesion, stressing that religion should be a force for peace rather than division.
He condemned terrorism and violence carried out in the name of religion, insisting that such acts contradict Islamic teachings.
On governance, he acknowledged efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that while progress has been made in some areas, more attention is needed in critical sectors such as power and economic management.
Abdulazeez concluded with a call for collective responsibility among citizens, particularly the youth, to reshape Nigeria’s future through unity, moral discipline, and active participation in governance.
“Leadership is not just about those in office,” he said. “It is also about those who choose them.”
End
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) have released a revised timetable for the 2026 local government elections.
ENSIEC Chairman, Prof. Christian Ngwu, presented the updated schedule to journalists in Enugu.
Ngwu said the framework outlines activities leading to elections on Sept.
26 and re-run polls on Oct. 10.He explained the adjustments followed the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
“The revised timetable aligns with the new law and other relevant statutes guiding elections in the state,” he said.
He recalled ENSIEC earlier issued a notice on Aug. 20, 2025 alongside an initial timetable.
According to him, party primaries will be held from Jan. 23 to May 26.
“Campaigns will begin on April 29 and end on Sept. 25, 24 hours before polling,” Ngwu added.
He said submission of nomination forms closes on May 29, while candidates’ particulars will be published on June 19.
“The final list of candidates will be released on July 27,” he stated.
Ngwu added that submission of polling agents ends on Aug. 31, while the official notice of poll comes on Sept. 11.
He confirmed elections will be held on Sept. 26, with voting from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. using the open secret ballot system.
“In case of inconclusive results, re-run elections will be conducted on Oct. 10,” he said.
Ngwu stressed the timetable was issued under the commission’s constitutional mandate and in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
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