Headline

Senate Presidency: Group Urge Danjuma Goje To Join Race

Published

7 years ago

April 4, 2019

Editor

The race for the President of the ninth Senate took another turn Thursday as groups stormed the National Assembly to drum support for the emergence of Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje for the top job

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has already endorsed Senator Ahmad Lawan as candidate of the party for the position of Senate President for the ninth session.

Senators Lawan (Yobe North) and Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) have publicly declared their interest for the position.

Goje is yet to make any public declaration to contest the position of Senate President.

But a group, Amalgamated Youths from North East staged a rally at National Assembly gate asked Goje to declare his intention to go for the position without further delay.

Led by one Bello Ambo from Bauchi State, the group said neither the endorsement of Lawan by the National leadership of APC nor expression of interest by Senator Ndume, should prevent Goje from throwing his hat into the ring for the position of Senate President.

Ambo noted that as far as public service experience was concerned, “Goje stands far above the others having controlled a state for eight years between 2003 and 2011 and have been in the Senate with required parliamentary experience.

He said, “Position of Senate President requires administrative and parliamentary knowledge enormously possessed by Goje as against the two other contenders from the zone.”

Reminded that the APC has taken a decision on who should occupy the position with the endorsement of Lawan, Ambo insisted that “Senators-elect were matured people who can decide who their leader should be and should be allowed to do so.”

He said, “Our party (APC) is a party of the people and not few leaders, the party should allow the people in this case, Senators -elect, to decide whoever they want as their leader in whatever capacity.

“For us the Goje Support Groups from the North East for the presidency of the 9th Senate (GSGNE), Senator Danjuma Goje is the right man for the job. He has the required experience as a tested administrator and high ranking lawmaker.

“He is a man of the people and a senator with all it takes in carrying others along across party lines and most importantly, a party man to the core that will fit perfectly into the next level agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Another leader of the group, Abdul Saleh said though Lawan is from his State, and the position of the President of the 9th Senate is zoned to the North East, Goje should be allowed to contest for the position.

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Saleh claimed that nobody sponsored them as they were yet to meet Senator Goje personally.

He said, “We are politically conscious youths from the North East resident in different areas of the federal capital territory and in particular, card carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We are calling on Senator Goje to contest for the President of the 9th Senate, being the most qualified person from the zone as far as we are concerned.

“The party might have spoken in support of Senator Ahmad Lawan but Senators-elect are to decide when the time comes. Goje should come out and contest, the same way Senator Ali Ndume is doing.

“The more they are in the race, the better the offers before Senators-elect to pick from.”

Members of the groups who spent some hours at the main entrance of the National Assembly to drum support for Goje carried banners with various inscriptions and Goje’s portraits to amplify their message to passersby and motorists.

The support group for Goje to join the Senate Presidency race is coming 48 hours after Senator Ali Ndume declared his nine point legislative agenda if elected President of the 9th Senate in June in defiance to declared adoption of Senator Lawan last week by the national leadership of APC.

Headline

UK Orders Airspace Restrictions, Road Closures for Tinubu’s State Visit

Published

12 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Eric

Authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) have announced temporary airspace restrictions and road closures in Windsor ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s State visit to the country.

Britain’s monarch, King Charles III, will host Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at Windsor Castle on March 18 and 19, 2026.

State visits represent the highest level of diplomatic engagement hosted by the British monarch.

According to Thames Valley Police, extensive security measures will be implemented in Windsor during Tinubu’s state visit, including an expanded airspace exclusion zone and a large-scale policing operation.

The castle already operates under a permanent airspace restriction, but authorities said the exclusion zone will be extended on March 18 between 07:00 and 23:59 GMT.

Police warned that anyone who breaches the restriction will “likely” face arrest.

Security operations will involve search teams, armed units, mounted officers, and road policing officers. Neighbourhood officers and Project Servator teams will also conduct patrols across the town to deter and detect criminal activity while engaging with the public.

Officials added that Windsor’s extensive CCTV network and hostile vehicle mitigation barriers will also be used as part of security arrangements.

Ch Supt Adrian Hall of the joint operations unit said:

“As a force, we have a vast amount of experience in policing royal events in Windsor, and significant planning and preparation have gone into this event.

“We will ensure everyone attending the state visit, including dignitaries, spectators, and members of the public, are kept safe to enjoy the historic occasion.”

Authorities said several road closures and parking restrictions will begin on March 17 ahead of Tinubu’s State visit, warning that motorists may experience temporary disruption on roads in and around Windsor.

Some footways and pedestrian crossings in the town centre will also close periodically between 09:30 and 12:30 on March 17 and 18 for a ceremonial procession.

Headline

False and Misleading: Senator Ireti Kingibe Not Suspended, Says ADC

Published

13 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Eric

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has dismissed reports that Senator Ireti Kingibe has been suspended from the party, describing the claims as false and misleading.

Kingibe currently represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC is not aware of any decision to suspend the senator and urged the public to ignore the circulating reports.

Abdullahi emphasized that the party has well-defined constitutional procedures for handling allegations involving its members.

“The African Democratic Congress is unaware of any suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe, the distinguished Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

He added that as a law-abiding political party, the ADC follows established internal mechanisms when dealing with issues concerning its members rather than addressing such matters through media statements.

“As a law-abiding political party, the ADC has clear constitutional procedures for addressing any allegations involving its members. Such matters are handled through established internal mechanisms, not through press statements,” Abdullahi stated.

The party therefore called on the public and media organizations to disregard the reports of Kingibe’s alleged suspension.

“We therefore urge the public and the media to disregard the reports suggesting that Senator Ireti Kingibe has been suspended by the party, as they are false and misleading,” the statement added.

Headline

Tambuwal Finally Dumps PDP, Defects to ADC

Published

17 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Eric

Former Governor Aminu Tambuwal has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the African Democratic Congress.

“I write to formally tender my resignation as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effective from today,” the letter stated.

Mr Tambuwal stated that the party’s persistent internal crisis, leadership disagreements, and divisions at various levels made it difficult for him to continue his active participation and commitment as a member.

“The ongoing conflicts have, unfortunately, worsened the unity and direction that once defined the party,” the former Sokoto governor stated.

Meanwhile, in a statement on X on Thursday, Mr Tambuwal said he had officially joined the ADC with his associates and supporters.

“I am convinced that this decision is guided by my belief that Nigeria needs a stronger political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness, and a clear commitment to national development.

“I remain fully committed to the service of our country and to the ideals of democracy, justice, and national unity,” the former governor stated.