POLITICS
Edo Governorship: Intimidation, Harassment Won’t Stop me—Shaibu

Edo Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, says intimidation and harassment will not change his resolve in the pursuit of his political ambition.
Shaibu said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday.
Shaibu emerged the party’s candidate in a parallel primary held on Thursday to choose a standard bearer for the upcoming governorship election in Edo.
He alleged so much intimidation and harassment of people in the build up to the primary.
“The level of intimidation and harassment meted out to me and those people who believe in me was beyond comprehension, yet it does not actually change our resolve in what we believe in.
“People were sacked, some civil servants were suspended, others transferred from their position and taken away from their family comfort to different places, all because they were associating with me.
“Well, I dare say that anybody still intimidating or harassing anybody means that he is not ready to win an election“, he told newsmen.
He, therefore, said that his emergence as a candidate was no longer about him but the people, adding that it was imperative the party listened to the voice of the people.
He said if the party truly desired to win the election on Sept. 21 it would field a popular and competent candidate not impose a candidate on the people.
He also said that the PDP must adhere to the electoral laws and party guidelines to be able to win the upcoming election in the state.
He explained that there were party guidelines for electing a governorship candidate, just as there is an electoral law guiding political activities.
Shaibu further said for the PDP to win the upcoming governorship election in the state, it should adhere strictly to its own rules and guidelines.
The deputy governor also alleged that elections were about contestation, noting that the other primary that produced Mr Asue Ighodalo as its candidate disenfranchised 381 delegates.
“The electoral law forbids exclusion. An election can be re-ordered because of exclusion, it is a major sin that the law forbids“, he told newsmen.
He said though political parties have the right to produce candidates, such rights must comply with the electoral laws and the party’s own guidelines.
“If the guideline is not followed in the process of producing your candidate, that candidate cannot see the light of day.
“So the ultimate right of any party is to follow your rules in producing your candidate”, Shaibu said.
NAN recalls that Ighodalo defeated about nine other candidates including the Deputy Governor of the state in the election.
He had vote 577 votes to become the candidate of the PDP in the Sept. 21 governorship election in the state while his closest rival garnered one vote.
The Chairman, Edo PDP Primary Electoral Committee and Gov of Dauda Lawal Zamfara declared him as the winner of the exercise.
However, in a parallel exercise, Shaibu was declared winner of the election.
The returning officer, Bartholomew Moses, declared: “during the counting of this primary election, Philip Shaibu has a score of 301 votes.
“Therefore, I hereby declare Philip Shaibu as the authentic elected candidate for this election in the PDP.” (NAN)
POLITICS
Mass Defection Hits Labour Party in Kaduna

About 10,000 members of the Labour Party (LP) have decamped to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State.
The state chairman of ADC, Alhaji Tijjani Mustapha, while welcoming the decampees in Kaduna on Saturday, said, “To our 10,000 decampees from the Labour Party, we welcome you with open arms to the ADC family.
Your decision to join us is a testament to our shared vision for a better Kaduna State and Nigeria, and we are excited to have you on board. ”He stated that their presence in the party marks a significant milestone in the journey towards creating positive democratic change in Kaduna State and the nation at large.
The state chairman of the party also presented Alexander Adanu as the party’s candidate for the 2025 by-election for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Alexander Igoji Adamu thanked the ADC for welcoming them with open arms, saying that their willingness to embrace them is a testament to the party’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
According to him, “Our decision to join the ADC is a reflection of our shared desire for a better Nigeria, where transparency, accountability, and good governance reign supreme.”
He also expressed gratitude to the ADC for adopting him as its candidate for the House of Representatives 2025 by-election for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency.
Adamu assured, “As we embark on this new journey, let us remember that our collective goal is to build a Nigeria that works for all its citizens—a Nigeria where every individual has access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.”
POLITICS
PDP Governors Forum Disown El-Rufai/Obi 2027 Presidential Ticket

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The PDP Governors’ Forum at the weekend debunked speculations that five governors under the umbrella of the Forum are supporting purported Nasir el-Rufai/Peter Obi 2027 presidential ticket.
In a statement issued by the Forum Director-General, Dr Emmanuel Agbo, the PDP Governors described the controversial report as “unpleasant and provoking.
”While denouncing the report in very strong terms, the forum lambasted the negative forces behind the speculations and their “agents who cannot absorb the temerity of this Forum to question their incapacities in leadership by performing above the limits imposed by their failed economic policies and programs, which have left the ordinary Nigerian with nothing other than poverty and financial hardship down to the remote locations.
“Unsatisfied with the results their clones have gotten in the low-willed factions they keep financing within our party structure, they have proceeded with direct confrontation on the Governors towards creating a one-party entrapment, with intention to split the opposition and thereby cripple democratic institutions and values through questionable adoptions and misinterpretation of the law, all to strangle the lifeline of our nation to enforce dictatorship and one-party rule.
“The PDP Governors’ Forum is not in consonance with these actors, neither does it enjoy any ambience of political space to discuss nor seal the auction of the PDP through lowlife grifters who are allegedly working behind the scenes to support a ‘potential Nasir El-Rufai/Peter Obi presidential ticket in the 2027 election.’
“As a formidable party, all organs of the party have continually been engaged in attaining reconciliation across the board and reconsolidation of progressive development made in our Subnational to ameliorate the lives of our people.
“It is obvious that these mischief makers and detractors, who are bewildered at the way and manner PDP Governors are daily performing to pull the people out of economic hardship despite the intimidation by the ruling APC, are only intimidated and can only throw mud at our good works.
“In the world of politics, rumors and speculations are common, as such, we will not allow these ‘Enemies of Progress’ and ‘Agents of Confusion’ to gaslight the Nigerian people to draw wrong and erroneous conclusions.
“Our principles are for equity, social justice, sincerity of purpose, accountability, enthronement of undefiled electoral process, enhancement of the lives of the people, and propagation of humanity.
“Suffice it for us to irrevocably state here that in 2027, PDP Governors as disciplined leaders and stakeholders will exemplify this by wholeheartedly supporting whoever emerges as the flag-bearer of our great party in the battle to wrestle power from the non-performers at the centre.
“As a creed we all share, the dreams of the founding fathers of our great party will not be in vain.”
POLITICS
Again, PDP Shifts NEC Meeting Again to May 15

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again shifted the meeting of its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) from March 13 to May 15.
In a statement by the National Secretary, Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye, the party attributed the shift to “emerging issues” including unheld congresses from the Ward to Zonal level in some states.
Udeh Okoye declared that the decision to shift in the date for the NEC meeting was taken after due consultation with relevant organs and stakeholders of the party.
Part of the statement reads:
“Distinguished members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) may recall that after due deliberation by Party leaders, Stakeholders and relevant Organs of the Party, the NEC meeting was scheduled to hold on Wednesday, March 13, 2025.
“However, following emerging issues including the need to conclude our pending Zonal, State, L.G.A and Ward Congresses as well as to allow for further consultation to ensure a hitch-free conduct of the meeting especially with regard to other proposed activities of our Party, the NWC after due consultation with leaders, stakeholders and relevant Organs of the Party including the Board of Trustees (BoT) the PDP Governors’ Forum and the PDP National Assembly Caucus hereby wishes to notify distinguished members of NEC that the 99th NEC meeting earlier scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 2025 has been unavoidably shifted to Thursday, May 15, 2025.
“All NEC Members should please note the change of date and be guided accordingly.
“The NWC sincerely regrets any inconveniences this change of date will cause Distinguished members of NEC.”
Meanwhile, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party has approved that the earlier postponed party’s Zonal Congress in the South South Zone will now hold on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
In the same vein, the NWC also approved the shifting of the South West and North Central Zonal Congresses from the earlier scheduled date of Saturday, March 22, 2025 to Saturday, April 12, 2025.
According to the National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, the Zonal Congresses will hold simultaneously in Port Harcourt, Rivers State (South South Zone); Ibadan, Oyo State (South West Zone) and Jos, Plateau State (North Central Zone) to elect the Executives Officers and National Ex-Officio Members for the respective Zonal Chapters in line with the Constitution and Guidelines of our great Party.
The NWC charged all aspirants, leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members of our Party in the respective Zones, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Security Agencies and the Media to note the scheduled date of Saturday, April 12, 2025 for the Zonal Congresses for South South, South West and North Central Zones of our Party and be guided accordingly.