Category Nigeria News

A former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has dismissed concerns that the growing number of lawmakers defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) poses a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television political programme, Oshiomhole responded to questions regarding the recent defection of three senators to the APC, bringing the party’s total strength in the Senate to 68, edging closer to a two-thirds majority.

“Whether this is a danger to democracy? No, I don’t think so,” he stated on Tuesday.

According to him, an APC majority will not eliminate debates or dissent in the National Assembly, noting that lawmakers often vote based on issues, not party lines.

“If you’ve been following debates in the Senate, sometimes you can’t even distinguish who is PDP or APC in terms of the positions people take,” he said.

READ ALSO: We’re Unshaken By Aliero, Others’ Defection To APC — Kebbi PDP

Oshiomhole added that having an aligned legislature is not unusual in democratic societies, citing the United States as an example.

“The US celebrates when a president has control of both the Congress and the Senate. Every government wants that because democracy, in a sense, is not only a means to an end — it is an end in itself.

“The right to contribute and the freedom to express yourself are part of what defines democracy, not just the number of parties represented,” he argued.

He maintained that his loyalty lies with the national interest over party allegiance.

“If you watch my contributions on the floor of the Senate, the first party is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I’ve argued, and I make no apologies, that the total of all political parties in Nigeria, whether in or out of government, is not equivalent to Nigeria. If I see a conflict between party interest and national interest, I have no difficulty in resolving it in favour of Nigeria,” he said.

 Excited For Defections

Reflecting on the defections, Oshiomhole said he was personally pleased, particularly because those who crossed over were foundational members of the APC.

“I was particularly excited because those who joined us today include co-founders of the APC. When a founder of a house returns to the house, those of us who have been there and missed their absence, it’s a thing of joy,” he said.

He also dismissed suggestions that people who defect to the APC do so out of coercion.

Touching on his widely criticised 2019 comment that “when you join the APC, your sins are forgiven,” Oshiomhole said the statement was deliberately taken out of context and used to cause mischief.

“It hurt me. That was mischief,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) formally defected from the PDP to the APC during a Senate plenary session.

Their move followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and other party leaders.

The defections increased the APC’s numerical strength in the 10th Senate to 68.

The Senate’s composition now stands as follows: APC – 68, PDP – 30, Labour Party – 5, NNPP – 1, SDP – 2, and APGA – 1.

Meanwhile, the PDP is exploring reconciliation efforts amid rising defections.

Commenting on the House of Representatives’ rejection of a bill proposing rotational presidency, Oshiomhole said the move was appropriate, arguing that using geography as a legal basis for power distribution holds little merit.

A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has called on President Bola Tinubu to compensate the family of the late Moshood Abiola with ₦45 billion as restitution for the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Lamido made the call on Tuesday during the public presentation of his autobiography, Being True to Myself, in Abuja.

He argued that the payment would not only symbolise justice but also offer moral closure to what remains one of Nigeria’s most painful democratic reversals.

“Before I end my remarks, I would like to appeal to the President, President (Bola) Tinubu, to close the chapter of June 12,” Lamido said.

Referring to a former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida’s recent memoir, Lamido stated, “In his book, General Babangida revealed that Abiola won the election. He said that.

“When I went to him, he said that Abiola was being owed ₦45 billion, and therefore, if he were the President, he would pay the money. So, it means Abiola is being doubly punished, denied his own presidency and also his own money.

“Please, tell the President to please let him pay Abiola’s family the money for which he has been suffering, for which he has been denied his own presidency — ₦45 billion. It’s very, very important. When this money is paid, the chapter will be closed,” he added.

READ ALSO: [June 12:] We Acted In ‘Supreme National Interest’ – IBB

Lamido’s appeal came in the wake of revelations from Babangida’s released memoir, ‘A Journey in Service,’ in February, which has reignited national debate about the events of 1993.

In the book, Babangida, for the first time, publicly acknowledged that Abiola won the annulled election, widely considered the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.

According to Babangida, Abiola of the Social Democratic Party secured 8,128,720 votes against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC), who polled 5,848,247 votes.

Babangida admitted that annulling the election was the most difficult decision of his life, citing fears of military coups and national instability. He took responsibility for his administration’s missteps, while also claiming that the decision was executed by forces within his government.

He further alleged that the announcement of the annulment was made without his authorisation.

The claims elicited mixed reactions nationwide.

While President Tinubu and others have lauded Babangida for finally recognising Abiola’s victory, critics — including human rights groups — argue that the memoir attempted to deflect accountability.

In 2018, a former president, Muhammadu Buhari, posthumously awarded Abiola the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Nigeria’s highest national honour.

At least three persons have been killed, with many others injured, following an attack by armed men on Bandawa, an agrarian community in the Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba state.

it was learnt that trouble started when the bandits, in their number, reportedly attacked and killed a farmer who confronted them over the presence of their cattle on his farm.

A few days after, another farmer riding on his motorcycle was said to have been ambushed and killed, while women and children moved out of the community for safety were involved in a boat mishap, leading to the death of a lady.

Narrating the incident to Channel Television, the National President, Bandawa Community Development Association, Mathias Manyi, described the incident as barbaric and unfortunate.

He said the villagers had lived peacefully over the years with the herders and wondered why the community was attacked.

The district head of Bandawa community, Yushau Sharia, said he had asked that the women and children be sent out of the community for safety and instructed that no one should be allowed to go into the domains of the herders for reprisals.

He urged the security agencies to station their men within the community to avert further attacks.

While appreciating the military for acting swiftly, the district head revealed that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Abduct Ondo APC Ward Chairman, Demand ₦100m Ransom

”I am appealing to the state government to step in and assist us, just as the brigade commander has deployed some soldiers. We want the police and other sister security agencies to do the same to restore peace in our communities. What has happened is indeed a sad event for us, and we need peace”

”Behind my house is a large expanse of land where farmers from Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Yobe, and Lagos come yearly.”

However, the Nigerian Army has said that it would not spare anyone involved in the attack.

Speaking during a visit to the community, the Commander, 6 Brigade, who doubles as the Commander, Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, Brigadier General Kingsley Uwa, for a first-hand assessment of the incident, said ”Anyone involved in the killings in Bandawa community will not go free. I am here to sympathise with you and tell you that this will not slide.

“I have reinforced the troops on the ground to make sure that such does not repeat itself. Expect a conclusive, discreet, and comprehensive investigation that will unearth the rationale behind this and as well curtail future occurrences. It is our responsibility to safeguard lives and property and I won’t be here to tolerate such.”

Four people have lost their lives in a fatal road accident along G. U. Ake Road, in Rivers State.

The incident was said to have occurred when the driver of a Toyota Camry, with registration number ABJ 10 EM, lost control of the vehicle and rammed into some pedestrians at midnight on Monday.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-koko, in a statement, said the four pedestrians were confirmed dead at the scene on Monday.

“One Benson Peter Michael, male, 36 years old, and the driver of a Toyota Camry with registration number ABJ 10 EM, lost control of the vehicle and collided with six pedestrians.

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“Tragically, four of the pedestrians were confirmed dead at the scene, while two others sustained injuries and were immediately rushed to BMH Hospital for medical attention,” Iringe-koko said.

She said the driver of the vehicle is currently in custody, while the accidented vehicle had been recovered and taken to the station.

She also disclosed that the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Mortuary.

“The case will be transferred to the State Traffic Department for further investigation.

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 5, Ifon, in the Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nelson Adepoyigi.

The incident was said to have occurred on Monday evening at the entrance of his farm along the Ifon-Owo Road.

According to sources in the community, the gunmen have reached out to the family of the victim, demanding N100 million to secure his release.

The spokesperson of Ondo State Police Command, DSP Olusola Ayanlade, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday.

The statement read, “Upon receiving the report, the DPO (in) Ifon, in collaboration with hunters, local vigilance members, and Nigeria Army personnel, has launched a manhunt for the suspects.”

Ayanlade appealed to members of the public with information that could assist in the rescue operation to come forward and present such to the police.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State has said that the defection of three senators from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not reduce its strength or prospects in the state.

The party made this known during a press conference held at its Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi.

It also described the move by the senators as a betrayal.

“We are not shaken by their defection. The PDP remains strong and will continue to stand firm in Kebbi State,” the State Chairman of the party, Usman Bello Suru, said.

He expressed disappointment, stating that the party had supported the senators when they were denied tickets by the APC in the 2023 elections.

READ ALSO: APC Suspends Ex-Reps Member, Nine Party Officials In Kebbi

“When the APC rejected them, it was the PDP that gave them a platform and stood by them. Now, they are returning to the same APC that has brought hardship and high cost of living to the people,” he said.

Suru criticised the motives behind the defection, saying it was driven by personal interest rather than the public good.

“They did not leave for the sake of the people. They left for their selfish ambitions. It is an act of ingratitude,” he added.

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the defection of Senators Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central; Yahaya Abdullahi of Kebbi North Senatorial District, and Garba Maidoki from Kebbi South senatorial zone, from the PDP to the APC.

The defection was formally announced during a plenary session on Tuesday, following their recent resignation from the opposition PDP.

Their official defection came days after they announced their move to the ruling party, following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.