Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says he is not bothered by the defection of his running mate in the 2023 presidential election, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, stating that he is not leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Atiku, speaking through his media aide, Paul Ibe, said it is undemocratic to begrudge anyone for choosing where to belong politically. “Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, bears no grudges; he has said that, and he means it. “As a democrat, he subscribes to the universality and constitutionality of the freedom of association, which is one of the pillars of…

The Nigeria Labour Congress has declared that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, does not require any coalition with the Peoples Democratic Party or support from political figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to win the 2027 presidential election. Speaking in an exclusive interview, the Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, asserted that Obi remains a formidable and widely accepted candidate, capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu in a free and fair contest. Ndubuaku dismissed any speculation about Obi rejoining the PDP, describing the opposition…

Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged killer of Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga, has told the Lagos High Court sitting before Justice Yetunde Adesanya that her confessional statement was extracted under duress and threat. Miss Ojukwu, a former Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, made the revelation on Tuesday while continuing her testimony in her own defence. She alleged that she was slapped, intimidated, and made to sign a false statement by officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba. According to her, a police officer identified as Mr. Bamidele seized her phone, instructed her to unlock it,…

After hours of questioning by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, a popular Lagos socialite, Emeka Okonkwo (a.k.a. E-Money) purportedly regained his release on Tuesday evening. E-money had been picked on Monday night at his residence in the Omole area of Lagos and taken to the commission’s office in Abuja for questioning. E-Money was arrested by operatives of over alleged abuse of the Naira and defacing of foreign currencies. But the socialite had on Tuesday evening taken to his Instagram handle, @iam_emoney1, to celebrate his release. Displaying as a king in his palace in the place, E-money wrote,…

The national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has instructed its Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, to prepare legal processes to take the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the party’s former vice-presidential candidate, and the entire PDP structure in Delta to court for defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Addressing journalists after the first meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, for the year, Acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, explained that the party was prepared to challenge the defection legally to reclaim its mandate, as the officials were initially elected under the PDP platform. The…

Ifeanyi Okowa, vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, says President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to complete eight years in office.  Okowa, a former senator, spoke on Tuesday on ‘The Morning Show’, an Arise TV programme. The former governor of Delta recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with his successor and several political officeholders in the state, in tow. “But beyond all this, for the stability of this nation, I also do believe that, yes, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected president in 2023, and for the stability of Nigeria, it…

Operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested popular Lagos socialite and businessman, Emeka Okonkwo Daniel, popularly called E-Money, for allegedly misusing the Naira notes. Sources within the commission said on Tuesday that E-Money was arrested on Monday night at his residence in the Omole area of Lagos for allegedly spraying United States dollars, an act said to violate the Foreign Exchange Act. “On Monday night, we arrested E-Money for Naira abuse and defacing foreign currencies. Specifically, he was alleged to have sprayed US dollars, which is against the Foreign Exchange Act. “He was arrested at his…

By Uche Aguoru In an alarming show of high-handedness, insecurity, and utter disdain for democratic values, the administration of Governor Alex Otti has unleashed a new wave of repression on traditional rulers in Abia State. Under the guise of a so-called “code of conduct,” Otti’s government has issued directives that amount to nothing less than the caging of these custodians of culture and tradition. The new guidelines dictate that no traditional ruler may receive or host visitors in their palaces without express approval from the governor. Even more shockingly, they are forbidden from traveling outside the state or convening meetings…

Former Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has faulted Senator Bukola Saraki’s comment about his defection, saying the former Senate President has no moral right to criticise his decision. On Monday, key political stakeholders in Delta State including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori his predecessor, Okowa and political appointees in the state officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Following the gale of defection which emptied the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) structure into the APC, Saraki, in a strongly worded statement, said Okowa’s defection to the APC is an indication of how low politics has become in Nigeria. Given the…

Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, has suspended Caulson Oahimire, the executive secretary of the Edo primary healthcare development agency, over alleged financial infractions. Fred Ituah, chief press secretary (CPS) to the governor, confirmed the incident on Tuesday. In a statement, the governor directed that the most senior official of the agency should take over pending the outcome of an investigation by a special committee. “The executive governor of Edo state, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Caulson Osoikhia Oahimire over allegations of grave financial and official infractions,”…