News

Aftermath of APC Mega Rally: You’ve Nothing to Offer Ekiti People, PDP Tells APC

Published

7 years ago

June 20, 2018

Eric

The Peoples Democratic Party has described the APC governorship mega rally as an alleged dramatic display of the failures embodied in the party.

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the rhetoric that enveloped what he described as a poorly attended rally, centred on abusive tantrums against the person of Governor Ayodele Fayose rather than raising issues of development which the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had always claimed to be his area of strength.

This, he said, was evident as “Fayemi could not even itemise his last achievements in office, if any, upon which he wanted to be re-elected.”

Ologbondiyan added, “The Ekiti rally, therefore, ended as a political comic relief for the PDP as many of the APC gladiators at the rally attested to the fact that Ekiti had been transformed from her poorly developed status in 2014 when Fayemi ruled.

“Dr. Fayemi as an ‘Ekiti Kete’ ought to have listened to the drumbeats of his invited guests as they spoke poorly of his tenure.

“If his (Fayemi’s) own guests could adjudge his tenure with such dismal illustrations, is it the Ekiti that he left in embarrassing debt in 2014 that will reward his failure with another term in office?”

Meanwhile, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, and Deputy Leader, Mr. Ebenezer Alagbada, has defected to the All Progressives Congress from the PDP.

He joined another member, Gboyega Aribisogan, who had earlier defected to the APC after he was suspended for 180 legislative days for alleged anti-party activities.

Alagbada, who announced his defection on Tuesday at a press briefing in Ado Ekiti, said that he took the decision after consulting his constituents.

The lawmaker who hails from Ise-Ekiti with a former spokesperson for the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said he defected because Fayose allegedly reneged on his promise to give his constituency the governorship slot.

“We were, therefore, very hopeful when two of our illustrious sons, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, and Mr. Owoseeni Ajayi, came out to show interests to contest for the PDP gubernatorial candidate.

“My constituency was, therefore, shocked and surprised when none of the two aspirants from my constituency was found worthy of the support by the governor.”

The Punch

News

Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

News

Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.

News

Senate Confirms Chris Musa As New Defence Minister

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.

The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.

According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.

“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.