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Ekiti 2018: Fayose Shuts Down State for Olusola

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday shut down Ekiti for the mega rally and official presentation of party’s flag to his deputy and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.
Olusola received the party’s flag from the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.
At the event, former Vice- President Abubakar Atiku said the PDP was on a rescue mission in Nigeria.
He said, “The people of Ekiti, I have known you since 1992, all the projects completed which took Ekiti to a higher level have been done by the PDP alone. PDP guarantees you good hospital, road, infrastructure, education and many other dividends of democracy.
“It is time for you to ensure that this administration continues because that is the key to development. What we are doing is a rescue mission; we will bring back peace, security and prosperity of this country. Make sure you vote and stay there till the results are announced.”
Fayose had declared Thursday as a public holiday for workers in the state.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, Secondus said, “By the glory of God, Ekiti people are very peaceful and we can see the clear demonstration of love for Fayose and the incoming governor, Olusola. You won’t vote for herdsmen’s attacks and killings.
“We believe Ekiti state is full of people with the highest level of manpower and professors. Our youths are very strong, innovative and resourceful and not lazy, they are leaders of tomorrow.
“APC is broken; I am here with the National Working Committee of the PDP to appreciate you for standing for the PDP. As you can see, Fayose has worked for Ekiti and the evidence is all over in the infrastructure development, education and economic advancement.
“All PDP states are witnessing great developments, these are not so in the APC. PDP is winning and moving forward to rescue our country from economic, and security collapse and all the inhuman treatments meted out by the APC.
“You can see killings in all states, Zamfara, Plateau, and other states. APC leaders are not God, we refuse to be intimidated by them. It is their style to put fear in people but we refuse to fear.”
Fayose said he won’t receive President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday because he had not done any project in Ekiti to deserve that.
He also berated the Federal Government for allegedly closing the Akure Airport at a time the PDP leaders were coming into the state for the rally.
“I want to condemn the Federal Government for the act, it is shameful for whoever has done that. That’s not patriotic; it is shameful.
“If you vote for the APC, God forbid, you are voting for Boko Haram and herdsmen attacks. Fayemi is our customer, 16 – 0 is loading.”
Fayose urged the PDP members and supporters to shun violence but to use their votes to defend their rights.
At the event were Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Ben Ayande (Cross-River), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) while Seriake Dickson was represented by his deputy, John Jona.
The list also included former governors: Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Peter Obi (Anambra) and Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna) as well the Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walin Jibril, and members of the National Working Committee, among others.
Leaders of ethnic groups, student unions in Ekiti, Okada riders, road transport unions and National Union of Local Government Employees also attended the event.
Makarfi, who is the PDP former National Caretaker Committee Chairman, said he was happy seeing “PDP family giving APC government sleepless nights.”
Secondus said, “We are experiencing civil war because of killings. Buhari and APC are behind it. PDP will rescue this nation from them. APC is shattered, ask Fayemi, on which of the APC factions’ platform is he contesting. We have the best candidate for Ekiti.”
Olusola promised to sustain legacies of Fayose and improve on it.
“I assure you of adequate security, healthcare, excellent infrastructure, civil service, education enterprises, and exemplary leadership among others.
“Ours is a divine agenda. It is a divine mission with divine agenda it cannot be conquered by APC.”
The Punch
News
S’Court Dismisses Fubara’s Appeal Against Amaewhule-led Rivers Assembly

An appeal filed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been dismissed by the Supreme Court in Abuja.
Fubara was also ordered to pay N2m to the Assembly and the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, by a five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji on Monday.
The case was dismissed after Fubara’s lawyer, Yusuf Ali, withdrew the suit.
Recall that on October 10, 2024, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, admonished Fubara for failing to follow the rule of law in his actions.
The court further held that Fubara’s actions violated Section 96 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires at least one-third of the Assembly members to form a quorum.
The court noted that “four out of 31 members cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, constitute the required quorum for legislative business.”
Meanwhile, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court also ruled against Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget before the four-member Assembly led by Edison Ehie.
The budget presentation was a result of the leadership crisis within the Rivers State House of Assembly. Fubara had argued that the Amaewhule-led faction lost its legitimacy after defecting from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
However, the lower courts ruled that he failed to provide evidence of their defection and, therefore, could not legally present the budget to a four-member House.
Following the Court of Appeal judgment, Fubara approached the Supreme Court to set aside the lower court’s ruling and allow him to present the budget to the Ehie-led faction.
However, when the case was called on Monday, Fubara’s counsel, Yusuf Ali, informed the Supreme Court that the governor had decided to withdraw the appeal.
Ali stated that a notice dated February 6 had already been filed, explaining that the appeal had been overtaken by events.
All 17 respondents in the case, represented by various lawyers, did not oppose the withdrawal. However, J.B. Daudu (SAN), representing the 3rd to 12th respondents (National Assembly and its leadership), and Wole Olanipekun (SAN), representing the 1st and 2nd respondents (Rivers State House of Assembly and Amaewhule), requested a cost of N2 million.
Daudu further urged the court to dismiss the appeal rather than strike it out, as issues had already been joined.
The five-member Supreme Court panel dismissed the appeal after confirming that the withdrawal was not opposed.
In a brief ruling, Justice Abba-Aji declared the appeal dismissed and awarded a cost of N2 million in favour of the 1st to 12th respondents.
The Punch
News
Ex-Minister Turaki in Court over Adultery, False Marriage Allegations

A former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court at Zone 2 in Abuja on allegations bordering on false marriage, adultery, among others.
Turaki pleaded not guilty when the First Information Report (FIR) was read to him in the dock on Thursday before the presiding Magistrate of Court 9, Abubakar Jega.
He insisted that the alleged offences are not true.
According to the FIR, the former minister is accused of “deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriage, adultery by a man and criminal intimidation, contrary to sections 383, 387 and 389 of the Penal Code.”
The prosecution stated that the investigation of the case followed a petition dated August 9, 2024, received by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force FCID, Abuja.
It further stated that the investigation revealed that “you Barrister Kabiru Taminu Turaki (SAN), between December 2014 and August 2016, deceitfully cohabited Ms. Hadiza Musa Bafta at a hotel called Han’s Place.
“You also co-habited her at Ideal Home Holiday, Asokoro between August 2016 and November 2021.
“You hired a place for her at No. 12 Clement Akpagbo Close, Gauzape from November 2021 and made her believe you were married to her and continuously had sexual intercourse with her, which resulted to a baby girl.
“You abandoned Hadiza Musa Baffa with her only child and denied the paternity. You threatened to use your influence and position to terminate the lives of mother and child.
“You are thereby suspected to have committed the above offences.”
Shortly after Turaki:s arraignment, the prosecuting lawyer , Chijioke Okorie urged the court to set a date for the commencement of trial.
Turaki’s lawyer, A. I. Mohammed, who did not object to the prosecution’s request for a date for trial, applied for bail for the defendant on the grounds that he would be available whenever he is required to attend court.
Magistrate Jega granted bail to Turaki at N1million with two sureties in like sum.
He said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must provide evidence of the residences.
The magistrate then adjourned to March 11 for the commencement of trial.
News
Decomposing Body of Kidnapped Anambra Lawmaker Found on 2nd Niger Bridge

The decomposing body of a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, has been discovered on the 2nd Niger Bridge.
Azuka’s body was discovered by a combined team of security agencies.
The lawmaker representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunabankpa Road, Inland Town, Onitsha.
After weeks of investigation, security operatives from Abuja apprehended the suspects late Wednesday. The arrested individuals later led authorities to the location where they had dumped the lawmaker’s remains.
Police authorities in Anambra State said details of the incident are sketchy.
However, the spokesman of the command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said police operatives have been deployed to the scene.
According to him, further details would be made known to the public in due time.
The incident marks the second kidnapping and murder of a sitting Anambra lawmaker in recent years.
In 2022, Okey Okoye, popularly known as “Okey Di Ok” from Aguata, was abducted and beheaded.
His body was later found around the Nnobi axis of the South-East state. The region has experienced a slew of violence in recent years. Gunmen have at various times attacked public facilities and killed scores of persons despite repeated assurances from government and security agencies.
The calls for secession have also reached new highs in the region in recent years. But no group has claimed responsibility for the wave of violence in the South-East.
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