Headlines
Peter Obi Candidacy Excites All Classes of Nigerians, Group, IPOB Reply Miyetti Allah
The Peter Obi Support Network has described the claims by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-Cultural Association that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is being sponsored by the Indigenous People of Biafra as the handiwork of the opponents of the former Anambra State governor.
The National Secretary of the Miyetti Allah group, Saleh Alhassan, had said the promoters of IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu have switched allegiance to Obi, adding that no Fulani man would vote for the LP presidential candidate.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, the Director, Strategic Communication, POSN, Onwuasoanya Jones, stated that many members of the Miyetti Allah are key supporters of the “Obidient Movement” and have consistently committed their personal resources into the project.
Jones said, “I do not know how that individual came about such conclusions, but what I can tell you is that the Peter Obi candidacy excites all classes of Nigerians, including millions of those who, for one reason or the other, are dissatisfied by the way Nigeria is being governed at the moment.
“In Peter Obi, they see a renewed reason to believe in a prosperous and equitable Nigeria.
IPOB has also faulted the Miyetti Allah group.
IPOB’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, who stated these in an interview with The PUNCH, on Sunday, said, “IPOB knows that those constantly linking Peter Obi with IPOB and Biafra agitation are doing so because of their hatred against Igbos and their fear for Biafra. They never linked their presidential candidates to Boko Haram terrorists and bandits.”
The Punch
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature for one month.
The suspension comes on the heels of the judgement of the Federal High Court On Friday, which stopped the party’s planned national convention.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists in Abuja on Saturday, that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the national working committee, which was held in Abuja.
President Donald Trump of the United States on Friday designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), in response to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.
Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that Christianity faces a serious threat in Nigeria.
The US leader also added Nigeria to a State Department watch list.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
According to the US president, he was placing Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, on a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations the US deems to have engaged in religious freedom violations.
According to the State Department’s website, the list includes China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan, among others.
Trump said he had asked US Representatives Riley Moore and Tom Cole, as well as the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, to look into the matter and report back to him.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Hon. Abubakar Gummi from the House of Representatives after he left the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmaker represented the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the ruling, holding that Gummi’s defection breached the Constitution.
The court said the seat does not belong to any politician but to the political party that sponsored the election.
According to the judgment, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, is barred from recognising Gummi “as a member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.”
The judge also instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission to “conduct a fresh election” for the vacant seat within 30 days.
The case was instituted by the PDP and its Zamfara chairman, who insisted that Gummi’s move to the APC had no legal justification. They argued that there was no division in the PDP to support his defection, as required by Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution.
Gummi, through his counsel, claimed he left the PDP due to internal crises which he said made it “impossible” to serve his constituents effectively. The judge, however, dismissed his arguments and granted all the reliefs requested by the plaintiffs.
Justice Egwuatu, in a firm comment, warned politicians against what he described as reckless party hopping.
“Political prostitution must not be rewarded,” he declared, adding that lawmakers must not transfer votes won on one party’s platform to another party.
The court also ordered Gummi to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, until the date of judgment. He is also barred from earning any further benefits as a member of the House.
Additionally, the judge imposed a N500,000 cost against the defendants in favour of the PDP.
