The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Labour Party

  • Enugu Governor’s Aide, Lucky Chukwu, Dies

    Enugu Governor’s Aide, Lucky Chukwu, Dies

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Hon. Chief Barrister Lucky Chukwu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, has died.

    His death was announced in October 2026 by the office of his younger brother, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, who represents Enugu East Senatorial District.

    Lucky Chukwu was an elder brother of the late Labour Party senatorial candidate, Oyibo Chukwu, and Senator Kelvin Chukwu, a former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly.

    He was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Governor Mbah in August 2026, having previously been involved in political activities in the state.

    Following his elder brother’s death, Senator Kelvin Chukwu suspended his political activities and engagements for one week to mourn the loss.

    The senator’s office announced the temporary suspension in a statement issued on October 11, 2026.

    The death is another loss for the Chukwu family, which had earlier lost Oyibo Chukwu, who was the Labour Party’s candidate for the Enugu East Senatorial District in the 2023 general election before he was assassinated during the campaign.

    Following Oyibo Chukwu’s death, Kelvin Chukwu emerged as the Labour Party’s replacement candidate and went on to win the senatorial election.

  • 2027: Otti Backs Tinubu, Rules Out Presidential Ambition After Tenure

    2027: Otti Backs Tinubu, Rules Out Presidential Ambition After Tenure

    …Explains his support for Tinubu

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has explained his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid while ruling out any plan to contest for the presidency or another elective office after completing his tenure as governor.

    Otti spoke during an interview with ARISE News on Friday, where he addressed his political position ahead of the 2027 general election and his relationship with other political actors, including former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

    The governor, who was elected on the platform of the Labour Party, said his support for Tinubu’s administration should not be confused with the Labour Party’s position on the 2027 presidential election.

    Otti said his position was influenced partly by his role as a governor and member of the National Economic Council, where state governors participate in discussions and decisions concerning the country.

    “It works the way you have said. It’s a statement of fact. I am not in a position to oppose his candidacy,” Otti said.

    He explained that governors could disagree with certain government policies but should raise their concerns through appropriate government channels rather than create unnecessary confrontation.

    “And sometimes people don’t understand opposition. When you say opposition, and you are part of a government, then what you are driving towards is implosion,” he said.

    “So if I do have a problem with anything, I’ll sit down in one of our meetings and I’ll make my point. So I’m not going to oppose his candidacy.”

    Otti, however, maintained that he had previously indicated support for a Labour Party presidential candidate, distinguishing that position from his support for Tinubu in his capacity as the incumbent President.

    When asked whether Tinubu was the Labour Party candidate he had referred to, Otti rejected the suggestion.

    “No, that’s not what I said,” he said, adding that he was referring to a candidate of the Labour Party.

    The governor also identified some Tinubu administration policies that he said were consistent with his own views, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy.

    “Quite frankly, there are a lot of things that we have talked about now, that he has implemented, that resonate with me and my thinking,” Otti said.

    “People don’t have to agree with me, but from where I sit, I know that for instance, the fuel subsidy was even unsustainable.”

    The interviewer then returned to the question of whether he was supporting Tinubu.

    “What do you expect me to say? To say I’m not supporting him?” Otti responded.

    He said Tinubu had a right to contest the 2027 election and noted that, as a state governor and member of the National Economic Council, he was involved in some of the decisions and policies of the Federal Government.

    “I had also said that as a governor in this republic, that a lot of the things that are being, in fact, I’m part of all the things that have been done as a member of National Economic Council. So, we should distinguish that.

    “When somebody now says, ‘Oh, you are supporting or you’re not,’ I have to support him,” he said.

    Otti Rules Out Presidential Ambition

    Despite his active participation in political discussions ahead of 2027, Otti said he had no plans to seek another elective position after completing his tenure as governor.

    He ruled out running for president, the Senate, local government chairmanship or any other elective office.

    “I had said just a few days ago that by the time I’m done with this, I’ll retire. So I’m not going to run for any other thing, not local government chairman, not Senate, not president, no,” he said.

    Otti said his political career was driven by what he described as a sense of duty and that he intended to leave politics after completing the work he set out to do in Abia.

    “I think I came to deliver a calling, and that is what I’m doing now. Once I finish it, I’ll retire. And I’m not getting any younger anymore,” he added.

    Otti Says Obi, Atiku Can Campaign In Abia

    The governor also said opposition politicians would be free to campaign in Abia State, regardless of their political affiliations.

    He specifically mentioned Peter Obi, saying there was no disagreement between them that would prevent the former Anambra governor from campaigning in the state.

    “Oh, absolutely. Anybody that wants to campaign in my state will be allowed. Peter Obi and I are not fighting. Just like there’s nobody I’m fighting,” Otti said.

    He added that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other presidential candidates would similarly be allowed to campaign in the state.

    “So if he wants to campaign in the state, he will be allowed to campaign. If any other person, even Atiku, if he wants to campaign, he will be allowed to campaign. So that is what democracy is about,” he said.

    Otti’s comments come as political parties and their potential candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, with discussions around alliances, presidential candidates and the future direction of the opposition continuing across the country.

    The governor, meanwhile, said his immediate priority remained the completion of his tenure in Abia rather than pursuing another political office.

  • [INTERVIEW] I’m Undisturbed By LP Leadership Crisis – Anambra Guber Candidate, Moghalu

    [INTERVIEW] I’m Undisturbed By LP Leadership Crisis – Anambra Guber Candidate, Moghalu

    You have just inaugurated your campaign council and what does that portend for your ambition?

    Yes, I have just done that and you can agree with me that my campaign is grassroots based. Some weeks back, we inaugurated the State Campaign Council and today we inaugurated the campaign councils in the 21 local government areas of the state. By the time they get home, they will inaugurate the campaign councils in the 326 Electoral Wards in the state and then the polling units campaign council and what we are doing is to take the campaign to the grassroots so that the people we are talking about will be involved in what we are doing.

    In the time past, most candidates did interface with the grassroots but all of a sudden, the grassroot is being factored in, may we know why?

    It is not all of a sudden. The truth about it is that every election is grassroots based, because every election ends at the polling booths or polling units and even those of us operating at the state must go back to our polling units on the election day.

    For example, I have a polling unit in in Uruagu Ward 1, so on the election day I have to go there and vote so it is about the people and those who designed the electoral structure have the people in mind because if the election have to be held at the state level it means that people at the local level will not participate. So, the election is now taken to them and it is all about the grassroots.

    How sure are you that the members of the campaign council would protect your votes?

    I have implicit confidence in the caliber and quality of the persons in my campaign Council and I am very confident that they will justify the purpose for which they were set up and there is nothing to fear about that.

    Most candidates chose their running mates from Anambra Central Senatorial District, but you chose to go to Anambra North Senatorial District?

    This is due to political exigency and nothing more. People consider voting strength which is also part of it, but then if we are going to choose a running mate, you have to put a lot of factors into consideration. You need to talk about who would add value to your ticket; you also look at experience and also look at gender balancing.

    You also look at political base and voting population and these are the issues and after those considerations I set up a committee to go hunt for a suitable running mate and after that they came up with this consideration and brought somebody that I find very interesting and quite experience and knowledgeable.

    Talking about the zoning arrangements, you are from the South and the incumbent is from the South, are you going to do one term?

    Yes, and the Constitution provided for a four-year term and the second four years is at the liberty of the people and if they decide to elect you; that is if they so wish and it is not a right and it is not an entitlement but s gift from the people in appreciation of the services that you rendered to them.

    I am going for four years and that is it and I know people talk about if I go for four years that I would want to do another four-year there by denying Anambra Central Senatorial District their turn but that is not correct. I will only go four years because I am a beneficiary of the zoning arrangements.

    And what makes me credible is the fact that rather than destroy a process that I was a beneficiary of, I have to encourage and sustain it for posterity. This is because I know that the South is already doing four years and what is left for the South is another four years so that the Central would have their turn. I shall work towards that and do four years and four years is enough for me to achieve what I have in my program and keep to my electoral promises. Let me say it and let it be noted. Anybody who cannot achieve anything in four years, if you give him even twelve years it is not possible that he can achieve anything in that eight or 12 years.

    Are you not worried that the Labour Party has been in crisis and by election the party’s candidates were disqualified?

    I am concerned but not worried because the truth about it is that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is the umpire and it is the Commission’s responsibility to regulate the electoral process. If they come out and say that the Labour Party has no candidate it is incumbent on us as a political party to either agree with them or disagree with them and if we disagree with them, we challenge their decision at the law court and whatever the court says we abide by this.

    You may have escaped this by whiskers by not getting a nomination from the Abure faction of the party?

    He signed my form and I should think so because at the time that I was elected at the primary election, Abure was still National Chairman.

    If Abure signed your ticket, don’t you think your candidacy is under threat?

    No, it is not a threat at all. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has come up with a position on that. Don’t forget that one or two people came up to challenge me about the primary election. You see, primary is a process and not an event. It only ends on a particular day but it starts two or three months before. From the process of advertising the sale of forms then screening of candidates with clams and objections before we go into the voting proper. If there are more than one candidate there would be voting and if it is only one candidate we go by affirmation and all the while Abure was the National Chairman of the party.

    How come it only affected those that were contesting for the by election?

    Because from what I heard they have concluded the process before the court judgement and that is mere speculation because I don’t know exactly what the judgement said.

    The on-going coalition appears to have made your presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi to be one leg in the Labour Party and another leg in ADC, how do you look at the coalition?

    Let me start with the first question that you asked about my leader. That is not correct and I’m sure that you were around here on the 11th of last month when we had our flag off and our leader Mr Peter Obi was there and spoke extensively on this issue. He said and I quote ‘I am a member of the Labor Party and I remain a member of the Labor Party and will participate in the process to elect a labor party governor in the person of Chief Dr George Moghalu,’ who he said is his candidate for the November 8 election and it is no longer an issue of joining ADC until it comes into effect. He added that ADC is for the 2027 Presidential election and that is what the coalition is all about. And until such a time in future when he remains a member of the Labour Party.

    About the coalition; one thing that I know is that I am not a native doctor neither am I a suit sayer neither can I predict tomorrow. For now, there are political heavyweights in ADC who have come together to build a political platform which they intend to use for the 2027 general election. What I will say here is just wait and see and to what extent can they make sacrifices and dump their ego to build a formidable coalition. I remember when we formed the APC, the political parties merged to form the APC and the best bet is let us wait and see and watch things emerge.

    Let’s look at the Anambra gubernatorial election and you are a candidate, what gives you this conference that you will win the election?

    I am coming with a very accepted program which I have resented to Anambra people and the fact also is that the incumbent has not done well and because I believe it is God’s time.

    Are you relying on the influence of Mr Peter Obi and the Obidient family?

    Certainly, he is a political leader and was governor of Anambra State loved by the people. The same Peter who midwifed the other two candidates in the last two elections had 85 percent of the votes casted in Anambra State during the presidential election and that is very significant and also scored 600 and something thousand votes at the presidential election. Is that enough evidence to prove to you that his presence as my leader would contribute greatly to my ambition.

  • You lied, LP didn’t participate in Anambra By-election – Moghalu Campaign Organization to Soludo

    You lied, LP didn’t participate in Anambra By-election – Moghalu Campaign Organization to Soludo

    The campaign organization of Dr. George Moghalu and Hon. Mrs. Ifeoma Okaro has issued a statement about the controversy which erupted after Governor Soludo reportedly boasted in Nanka about defeating the Labour Party and its governorship candidate at his polling unit, a claim the Moghalu-Okaro team says is both “misleading and deceptive.”

    The statement, signed by Arch. Okey Chukwuogo, Director-General of the Moghalu Campaign Organization, described the by-election as a “cash bazaar of shame,” accusing the Soludo-led administration of converting the state treasury into a vote-buying machine.

    The campaign team concluded by reiterating their commitment to “service, security, accountability, and people-first governance” and called on Ndi Anambra to prepare for what they termed a decisive showdown in the upcoming November 8, 2025, gubernatorial election.

    PACESETTER reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Chief Emma Nwachukwu and Mimi Azikiwe, both of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), winners of the Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha North 1 state constituency by-elections held on August 16, 2025.

    The full Press Statement is reproduced below:

    BY-ELECTION SHAME: ANAMBRA TREASURY TURNED INTO CASH BAZAAR

    The Campaign Organization of Dr. George Moghalu and Hon. Mrs. Ifeoma Okaro notes with deep concern the boastful and misleading claims made by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo in Nanka after Saturday’s by-election, where he arrogantly declared that Labour Party and its governorship candidate were “defeated” in his polling unit.

    Ordinarily, such empty chest-thumping should be ignored. But silence breeds distortion, and Ndi Anambra deserve the truth, plain and clear.

    The truth is this: Labour Party had no candidate in the by-election. INEC had already made it clear that Labour Party could not participate in the August 16, 2025 by-elections anywhere in the country not for House of Assembly and not for Senate. How then could Governor Soludo boast of “defeating” Labour Party? Was any Labour Party candidate published by INEC? Did anyone see Labour Party campaign or posters anywhere? Clearly, Soludo’s so-called victory is nothing but a stage-managed comic act designed to deceive the public.

    Yet, even without participating in the election, Ndi Anambra still demonstrated overwhelming affection for Labour Party. In several polling units, voters openly demanded to vote for Labour Party despite its exclusion. This speaks louder than Soludo’s propaganda. It shows Labour Party is not just a political party, but the very heartbeat of Ndi Anambra —a people’s movement that cannot be silenced.

    What played out on Saturday was not democracy but a bazaar of shame. The entire state watched as Anambra’s treasury was emptied to fund reckless vote buying, with reports of voters receiving up to ₦30,000 each. This rain of cash only proves one thing: APGA and its government have nothing to offer except desperation and deceit.

    This by-election has become an eye-opener. A governor who chants “Solution is Here” could not win without sharing money. If indeed Soludo has performed, why did he need to squander billions to “prove” popularity? What credibility lies in a victory that was purchased, not earned?

    Even worse, Governor Soludo now celebrates the “defeat” of a widow. Ndi Anambra must ask: what kind of leader spends billions just to humiliate a widow in an election? What kind of victory is this one without conscience?

    And the bigger question: where is the security vote of Ndi Anambra? If billions can be released overnight to buy votes, why has Soludo failed to secure lives and property, fix our collapsing roads, revive hospitals, empower our youths with jobs, and restore hope in our communities? Why is there always money for vote buying but never money for governance?

    Governor Soludo parades himself as a reformer and economist, but this election has exposed him as a reckless spender, a political trader, and a leader thriving on propaganda rather than performance. This is hypocrisy at its peak.

    Let it be clear: Saturday’s by-election was no test of popularity. It was a one-sided drama because Labour Party did not participate. APGA should not deceive itself. November 8, 2025 will tell a different story because Labour Party has a sellable and capable governorship candidate. Ndi Anambra will speak decisively at the ballot box.

    Dr. George Moghalu and Hon. Mrs. Ifeoma Okaro remain unwavering in their commitment to provide Ndi Anambra with leadership anchored on service, security, accountability, and people-first governance as captured in our Recovery Agenda. Unlike APGA’s Soludo, our mission is not to buy votes but to build lives. Ndi Anambra deserve leaders who invest resources to secure their future, not squander them for fleeting bragging rights.

    The countdown to November has begun. Labour Party is alive. Labour Party is strong. Labour Party is unstoppable. Ndi Anambra, the time to reclaim our state is now.

    Signed:
    Arc. Okey Chukwuogo
    DG, Dr. George Moghalu & Hon. Mrs. Ifeoma Okaro Campaign Organization

  • ‘A Beacon of Purposeful Leadership’, Anambra LP Guber Candidate, Moghalu Celebrates Running Mate on Her Birthday

    ‘A Beacon of Purposeful Leadership’, Anambra LP Guber Candidate, Moghalu Celebrates Running Mate on Her Birthday

    The Labour Party governorship candidate for the November 2025 Anambra election, Dr. George Moghalu, has extended warm birthday wishes to his running mate, Mrs. Ifeoma Veronica Okaro, describing her as a woman of virtue, character, and enduring commitment to public service.

    In a statement personally signed by him, Dr. Moghalu hailed Mrs. Okaro as a beacon of purposeful leadership, praising her tireless efforts in education, community development, and women empowerment across the state.

    He noted that her birthday is not only a celebration of life but an opportunity to recognize her decades of service, especially in championing girl-child education and mentoring young women.

    Mrs. Okaro, a respected educationist from Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area, is the immediate past Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Service Commission. She also serves as President of the ASATU Women Wing and is a former Education Director of the Diocese on the Niger. Her career earned her the prestigious Presidential Award for Best Public Secondary School Administrator in Nigeria.

    Dr. Moghalu reaffirmed his confidence in her leadership, stating that having her as a running mate is a blessing to both his candidacy and the people of Anambra. He described her as a symbol of the values his administration seeks to restore accountability, compassion, and excellence.

    He concluded by praying for continued strength, good health, and grace upon her life.

  • Anambra LP Guber Candidate, Moghalu, Congratulates Fr. Ebube Muonso on His 14th Priestly Anniversary

    Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

    The Anambra State governorship candidate of the Labour Party, George Moghalu, has congratulated Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chibuzor Obimma ( Ebube Muonso), on the occasion of his 14th priestly anniversary.

    In a statement personally signed by Moghalu and made available to newsmen, he lauded the priest for speaking truth to power.

    Moghalu noted that the priest had become a moral compass and wished him well.

    The full statement reads:

    Today, I extend my warmest and most heartfelt congratulations to Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chibuzor Obimma ( Ebube Muonso), as he marks 14 glorious years of priestly service and unshakable devotion in the vineyard of the Most High.

    For over a decade, you have remained a steadfast soldier of Christ lifting the banner of faith, hope, and salvation high. Yours is a voice that echoes across the land fearless, bold, and uncompromising in the face of evil.

    You speak truth to power. You comfort the afflicted. You are the voice of the voiceless, the defender of the poor, and a lighthouse for the broken and forgotten. Your ministry is a testament to divine purpose, and your life, a symbol of spiritual courage in a time that desperately needs it.

    On this special anniversary, I thank you personally—for your wise counsel, your fervent prayers, and your unrelenting spiritual support. You have remained a moral compass and a spiritual shield to many, including myself.

    As you celebrate this sacred milestone, may heaven continue to fortify your mission, deepen your anointing, and expand your impact. May your voice never grow faint, and may your altar never lack fire.

    Happy 14th Priestly Anniversary, Ebube Muonso. May God’s grace continue to overshadow you.

    — Dr. George Moghalu
    Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Anambra State

  • Nigeria Decides 2023: LP faults result collation process, says it will challenge election results in court

    Nigeria Decides 2023: LP faults result collation process, says it will challenge election results in court

    The Labour Party (LP) has faulted the process of collating the result of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying it will challenge the outcome in court.

    LP alleged that most of its members were deliberately disenfranchised through varied means across the country, but were more discerning in its strongholds.

    The party in a statement on Sunday issued by the National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim said while the party made inroads with high votes in most parts of Northern Nigeria, LP members were deliberately prevented from voting, chased away violently from polling units, or had ballot papers and boxes destroyed and burnt in others.

    He cited Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Kano, Yobe and Edo states among places where such acts were rampantly perpetrated in violation of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

    Umar said in some places, INEC staff and electoral materials were not deployed to areas that are known to be strongholds of Labour Party, or deployed late to frustrate the party supporters who, psychologically got tired of waiting and had to leave the polling units for the fear of the unknown.

    “The delay by INEC to upload and announce results, especially where Labour Party, is already known to have taken lead, is also worrisome and we feel it is deliberate to anger our party and our supporters” he said.

    Umar also alleged that intelligence from the fields revealed that across the Northern states, electorates identified as Labour Party supporters were tactically denied access to their polling units by some officials who connived with others to confuse the electorates by insisting their polling units are different and sending them to the wrongs ones. He said this frustrated the electorates, and reduced the votes polled by Labour Party, which would have more than doubled if the right things were done.

    LP called on INEC to checkmate and call its polling staff to order and also ensure punitive measures in line with the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

    The Labour Party National Secretary assured that the party would definitely challenge the outcome and final result in court.

    He however called on the party members and supporters to be calm, remain law abiding, but be encouraged with their efforts so far, and mobilise even more for the next round of elections, as the party takes steps to right the wrong meted out to her in the Saturday Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    (Vanguard)

  • 2023: Peter Obi to hold Presidential rally at Ebonyi Township Stadium January 11

    2023: Peter Obi to hold Presidential rally at Ebonyi Township Stadium January 11

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, yesterday approved the request of the state chapter of Labour Party to use the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki for it’s rally slated to hold on 11 January,2022.

    Presidential candidate of the Labour party, Mr. Peter Obi, and his team are expected in Ebonyi for his presidential rally next week.

    To ensure the success of the rally , the Governor instructed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to allow the party to use the stadium for the rally provided they fulfil the necessary requirements as outlined in his executive order.

    The Governor gave the instruction while addressing some Commissioners and heads of government agencies and departments at his country home on Thursday.

    The public officers were in the Governor’s home with their Staff on a Christmas and New year homage to the Governor.

    The Governor emphasized that no Political party should be denied access to government owned facilities for any lawful activity, provided they fulfil the demands of the existing Executive order in the State for the use of such facilities.

    “The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, the Labour Party applied that they want to use the stadium on the 11th.

    “They must be allowed to use it, but they must comply with my Executive Order.

    “No Party should be denied the use of our facilities, but the laws of the State must be obeyed” he said.

    Governor Umahi who used the occasion to commend some Ministries for their outstanding performance in 2022, also cautioned those found wanting to buckle up or risk sanctions.

    He admonished all political actors to always put the development of the State first in their actions, insisting that Ebonyi State will continue to fare better under a government by the All Progressives Congress at all levels.

    “I continue to say that our first interest is Ebonyi as a State, and our Party is APC, and there is nothing like vote here, and vote elsewhere in all the elections.”

    Addressing the forum of former Executive Assistants, Senior Technical Assistants and Technical Assistants, the Governor said he would ensure that any of them who merits it would be brought into the State Executive Council in the next Administration.

    He however prescribed the major criteria as their ability to win their polling units up to 90 percent for APC in the coming elections.

    “Some of the former STAs and TAs who worked very hard will make members of Exco in the next Administration.

    “To be qualified, you must show evidence of winning your polling unit with over 90 percent” he said.

    (Sun)

  • Obasanjo has crashed Atiku, Tinubu’s presidential bid with Obi’s endorsement – Udeogaranya

    Obasanjo has crashed Atiku, Tinubu’s presidential bid with Obi’s endorsement – Udeogaranya

    A former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections, Chief Charles Udeogaranya has called on the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to abandon their presidential campaigns with immediate effect, as their chances of winning have been crashed beyond redemption by the former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s premium endorsement of Mr Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP).

    The politician noted that “Obasanjo is not just a two-time former president of Nigeria in both military and democratic governments but the champion of Nigerian unity from the bitter Nigerian civil war, a tall status and an impeccable experience that crowns him the sole right to attest to Nigerians and the global village the best candidate for the Nigerian presidency, IT IS FINISHED”.

    Udeogaranya counsels Peter Obi detractors and merchants of fear about Nigerian unity with a Nigerian president from the South-East, to look elsewhere as their falsehood and hateful propaganda have been shattered like an irredeemably broken bottle by the former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP). An endorsement that is framed and firmly anchored with the best intelligence and vetting processes to determine who can best unify, safeguard and prosper Nigeria among the top 2023 presidential candidates if given power.

    (Vanguard)

  • Money laundering: Labour Party Campaign DG pays N13m, escapes two-year jail

    Money laundering: Labour Party Campaign DG pays N13m, escapes two-year jail

    Dr Doyin Okupe, a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was on Monday found guilty of receiving over N200m cash from a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

    He was therefore sentenced to two years imprisonment by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja with an option of N500, 000 fine on each of the 26 count charges for which he was found guilty.

    Delivering her judgment, Justice Ojukwu held that Okupe, who is the first defendant in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission violated the Money Laundering Act.

    She said he had up to 4.30 pm to pay the fine option totalling N13m on all the charges he was found guilty of or be sent to the Kuje Correctional Centre.

    Justice Ojukwu, in sentencing Okupe, considered the pleadings for leniency from the convict’s wife, Omolola, and his son, Adesunkanmi.

    While stating that the Money Laundering Act provided that no individual or organisation shall receive any sum above N5m and N10m respectively without passing through a financial institution, the judge held that, “there is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution” and that Okupe was not a financial institution, and that, even if the president was said to have authorised the funds, he did not say that the money must be paid in cash.

    Consequently, the court found Okupe guilty in counts 34, 35, 36 to 59 and sets him free from counts 1 to 33 because the prosecution failed to establish the charge of money laundering and criminal breach of trust and corruption against the NSA.

    In counts 34 to 59 upon which Okupe was convicted, he was accused of receiving various sums of money ranging from N10m on different occasions from 2012 to 2015 when he was Jonathan’s aide.

    The said sum, he said, was spent on running his office, payment of staff members and image laundering of the former President and his administration. But, the court, however, held that receiving such amounts in cash violated the Money Laundering Act.

    Shortly after his conviction, Okupe’s counsel, Francis Oronsaye, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy because the defendant was a first-time offender, a family man who is also advanced in age and having health challenges that he is currently treating in Nigeria and outside the country.

    Fine paid

    The reporter however gathered that Okupe succeeded in paying his fine before the deadline and was allowed to go.

    A source said, “Okupe has paid; they returned with the bank papers around 4.25pm. The court processed it, and everybody signed, including the EFCC lawyer.”

    Shortly after his release, Okupe tweeted, “God is not man. The enemies have tried in so many ways but kept on failing. Victory is of God.”

    Labour Party speaks

    Meanwhile, the leadership of the Labour Party on Monday said it would first obtain a copy of the judgment of the court that convicted Okupe, who is the Director-General of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council and study it before taking a position on the matter.

    The spokesman of the campaign council, Yunusa Tanko, disclosed this in an interview with The reporter shortly after Okupe was convicted.

  • [ANALYSIS] Enugu LP Guber Ticket: Issues, Intrigues, Twists, Way Forward

    [ANALYSIS] Enugu LP Guber Ticket: Issues, Intrigues, Twists, Way Forward

    By Onochie Jon-Igwesi

    Labour Party was almost nowhere to be seen in the build up to the 2023 political scene before May 27, 2022, when Mr Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and 2019 PDP Vice Presidential candidate, formally announced his decision to join their fold after exiting the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

    Since that move, the rejected stone, arguably, appears to be the rave of the moment.

    Such rapid and geometric growth comes with its attendant issues. It would later go on to reveal itself, first, in the Labour Party Presidential race.

    At the Asaba, Delta State, presidential primary election, Mr. Pat Utomi stepped down for Mr Peter Obi to emerge as the party’s sole presidential candidate, unbeknownst to them that a then factional presidential candidate, Jude Ezenwafor, would later go on to challenge the emergence of Obi. However, possibly by divine orchestration, Ezenwafor, after a while, willingly withdrew from the LP presidential ticket claims, citing personal grounds and offered an apology for causing discomfort.

    As the campaigns for the 2023 elections draw closer and going by the swelling patronage of the Labour Party by, majorly, Nigerian youths and in recent times, Nigerians from all age brackets, the struggle for who clinches the gubernatorial ticket of the party is almost throwing its different state chapters into serious confusion.

    In Enugu State, things are not different as two camps lay claims to being the authentic holder of the party’s governorship ticket.

    On one hand is the Chijioke Edeoga camp, and on the other hand, the Evarest Nnaji camp.

    Both Edeoga and Nnaji were governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party. While Nnaji formally announced his decision to withdraw from the PDP guber primaries in the early hours of May 25, 2022, the day the election was conducted, Edeoga participated, coming second with a total of 9 votes.

    Many observers have wondered why the duo of Nnaji and Edeoga are re-launching their guber bid using the Labour Party, especially when both of them congratulated the PDP standard bearer, Peter Mbah, and even asked their supporters to channel their support to Mbah.

    But the staunch supporters of the two camps wouldn’t hear of that, with the Edeoga camp claiming irregularities in the state PDP primary elections.

    On the scramble for the Labour Party ticket, their supporters who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak, had a lot to reveal.

    Evarest Nnaji’s camp

    On August 4, 2022, a primary election was conducted and it announced Chijioke Edeoga as the winner and governorship candidate of the party in the state.

    Speaking on the legality of the exercise, the campaign organization of Nnaji’s camp, in a publicly issued statement through the Director General, Okey Ezirigwe, wondered why Edeoga should “appear as the sole candidate as seen in the amateur videos from the purported primary that produced him”. He went on to emphasize that Nnaji fulfilled all the party guidelines and was issued the INEC nomination form by the party.

    In his words “The questions Edeoga should answer are, did Nnaji purchase the Labour Party gubernatorial expression of interest and nomination forms or not? Was he given a waiver after he met the party’s conditions for waiver, and did Nnaji fulfill the requirements for becoming the party’s flag-bearer or not? Was Nnaji at any point disqualified from participating in the primaries he fully paid for and met all conditions to emerge the consensus candidate as contained in the party guidelines? How did he (Edeoga) appear as the sole candidate as seen in the amateur videos from the purported primary that produced him and why was the kangaroo primary secretly held in a beer parlour located at the back of his private residence?

    “The purported INEC officials who claimed to have observed the fake election did not emanate from Abuja and INEC had since put a disclaimer. The security agents who attended the purported primary election were proven not to have been officially assigned to observe the process and there was no official memo stating that the party had fixed a primary election between the duo of Edeoga and Nnaji. If the party did, there is no way Nnaji would not be present and the venue would not have been in a beer barn located next to the home of Edeoga”, Ezirigwe stated.

    Submitting that at first, Edeoga’s preferred interest was to contest for the Senate, Ezirigwe questioned why the outcome of the party stakeholders meeting held in Lagos and led by Prof. Pat Utomi, wherein it was made public that there were two governorship aspirants of the party in the state, wasn’t adhered to.

    Chijioke Edeoga’s camp

    Reacting to the claims, a key member of Edeoga’s camp who also spoke on anonymity was perplexed as to “why people believe in lies and folktales than truth and sense of reasonability”.

    He wondered why Nnaji was raising the issue “after over one month of the conduct of the Labour Party primary election for its gubernatorial candidate for Enugu State”.

    He said: “Labour Party conducted its gubernatorial primary election at the largest hall of Top 10 Hotels by SARS office, Golf Estate, Enugu. The place was chosen for strategic security reasons. Again, is it reasonable to hire a stadium for election involving 85 delegates at 5 per Local Government of the 17 LGAs in Enugu state? The hotel is there, whether beer parlour or not, and is verifiable, as our incoming President, Peter Obi will say.

    “The primary election was conducted in line with the guidelines of our Labour Party and that of INEC. The election was by open secret balloting under the supervision of the National Leaders of the party led by the National Deputy Chairman, South East, State Party EXCOs, representatives of NLC, TUC and CSOs, including the Press and Security Agencies, and monitored by INEC according to the Electoral Act of 2022. At the end of voting and sorting, Hon. Barr. Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga emerged victorious with 81 votes, and returned elected and announced by the Returning Officer, Asst. National Secretary of Labour Party. Edeoga’s Certificate of Return was subsequently presented to him by the National Chairman of our great party, Abure, at the party’s headquarters at Abuja”.

    Asked why Edeoga participated unopposed in the primaries, he said, “Edeoga was elected unopposed because in an election where there is not more than one aspirant, the only aspirant automatically will be elected unopposed. Just like I said before, the Team for the conduct of the election announced to the delegates that Enugu State made their job easier by having only one aspirant in the name of Hon. Barr. Chijioke Edeoga. In this situation, should we have manufactured more aspirants or faked some? There is therefore no truth in sidelining Nnaji as no one builds anything on nothing. Odengene (Nnaji) wasn’t an aspirant. The delegates couldn’t have voted for anyone based on rumours of Odegene’s aspiration for the LP’s Gubernatorial ticket for Enugu State”.

    On the claim by Nnaji’s campaign organization that Edeoga first wanted to run for senate, the source said “Edeoga never aspired for anything like senate, except governorship position, which he believes is a better crown to do good and contribute his quota in building a better society in Enugu State devoid of class, state of origin, religion, including practical good governance”.

    Twists

    While the debate as to who the authentic governorship candidate of the party is continued to rage on, it was alleged that Evarest Nnaji was an agent deployed by Enugu State PDP to destabilize Labour Party, being alarmed and amazed by the wide acceptance of Edeoga’s emergence.

    In severally forwarded whatsapp messages shared by Edeoga’s supporters and credited to Comrade Kennedy Iyere, a labour party chieftain and national mobiliser for Peter Obi, it alleged that Nnaji collected 2 billion naira from the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in order to cause crisis in the determination of who becomes the LP governorship candidate in the state.

    However, in a swift reaction, Iyere denied making such allegations. Iyere however said that Nnaji will surely emerge as the Governorship candidate of the party, adding that as it stands now, there was no Governorship candidate of the party in Enugu state which Mr. Chijioke Edeoga has been holding claim to.

    Speaking during the “Charity Begins At Home” conference of Labour Party in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, on Saturday, Iyere alleged that three Chieftains from the state were behind the crisis rocking the Labour Party in Enugu state.

    Denying the alleged indictment on Nnaji, Iyere said: “Would I have said such a thing? If they say I said such a thing, let them mention one or two persons who belong to that platform.

    “There was actually no primary to produce Edeoga. What happened was that after a meeting of key stakeholders in Lagos, it was discovered that Edeoga was not fit to run for the Governorship because Edeoga is a political dependant. He is not grounded politically to fund himself. Edeoga does not have N10 million to even rent an office, he depends on people giving money to him, he doesn’t even have money to take care of the basic things. He lacks financial and moral capabilities, you see the way he hijack rallies organized by others, he can’t organise his own.

    “So, in Lagos, we decided there should be another primary election but Capt Evarest Nnaji (Odengene) was deceived out of Enugu without him properly being invited to participate in the primary election after paying all that needed to be paid and filling all the forms. Most people in Labour Party did not know there was a scheduled primary election. The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state didn’t know there was a primary election and he was the one that would have given the notice.

    “Nobody’s name is yet with INEC as the Governorship candidate for Labour Party. Evarest Nnaji will be the candidate because another Primary election will be conducted before 17th September and Odengene will win. The matter is in court”, Iyere said.

    Way Forward

    A public affairs analyst, Orji Ken, who spoke to our correspondent, advised Edeoga, Nnaji and their supporters to thread carefully to avoid a boomerang on the Obidient movement in the state. He cautioned them to hold on till the October 2 date when INEC would publish the final list of governorship candidates in states of the country.

    “It is necessary for Chijioke Edeoga and Evarest Nnaji to thread with caution. The PDP is still a strong party in the state and if this squabble continues, it could definitely affect the chances of Peter Obi in Enugu state.

    “Why the unnecessary heating up of the polity by both of them? Did they not even congratulate and host the PDP governorship candidate, Peter Mbah to a reception at the end of the primaries and promised to work with him? Why did they renege on that? They should even be worried that this could affect their public view before the electorates. It shows their desperation to be governor, and at any cost.

    “While I understand that they both reserve the right to vote and be voted for, they should exercise patience till INEC publishes their own list of candidates for all the positions in the country. Either of them whose name doesn’t make it to the list or feels cheated can then approach the court”.

  • Peter Obi’s presidential ambition a ‘social media thing’ —Sule Lamido

    Peter Obi’s presidential ambition a ‘social media thing’ —Sule Lamido

    Former Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido has mocked the presidential ambition of Peter Obi, calling it “a social media thing.”

    Peter Obi, the presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party, has seen his popularity soar, especially amongst the youth demographics on social media who tagged themselves “OBIdients.”

    Nonetheless, Lamido, during an interview with the Vanguard on Saturday, slammed Obi’s penchant for defection.

    “The younger generation goes after fancy things. “Peter Obi is morally compromised, he should have stayed in the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and promoted the party in Nigeria.

    “He came from a sectional party, a party from a particular enclave and that is what made him what he is. Now, if he believes in the history of APGA and his own philosophy after coming to PDP, he shouldn’t have gone to the Labour Party.”

    Lamido further asserted that Obi was “now becoming nomadic, going from party to party but he is a good man.”

    “What is happening with him is a social media thing.”

    Obi ran as Atiku Abubakar’s running partner in the 2019 presidential election on the banner of the PDP, before defecting to the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 polls.

    (Ripples)