Politics
Benue Govt moves to block Peter Obi’s visit amid Alia’s defection rumours
The Benue State Government is reportedly making moves to block a planned visit by Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, to camps housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
Obi, whose post-election activities have prominently included humanitarian outreach to victims of violence across the country, was said to have planned a visit to some of the IDP camps in Benue.
The former Anambra State governor, in recent weeks, visited IDP camps in Plateau, Southern Kaduna and Nasarawa states, meeting with displaced families, donating relief materials and advocating for urgent government intervention.
His visit to Plateau State drew national attention after he held talks with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and visited victims of herdsmen attacks.
According to reliable sources, Obi’s team had reached out to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) through its Executive Secretary, Sir James Iorpuu, to officially notify the agency and seek access to designated camps for the visit.
However, it appears the move has sparked a political storm within Benue’s corridors of power.
Top government officials reportedly advised Governor Alia against granting Obi access to the IDP camps, citing political undertones.
The visit, they argued, could be perceived as a calculated move by former Governor Samuel Ortom, a staunch supporter of Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, to revive his political relevance and embarrass the current administration.
Beyond the Ortom factor, sources also revealed that the decision to stop Obi’s visit was influenced by wider political calculations.
“It is believed that allowing Obi access at this time could fuel ongoing speculations that Governor Alia is considering leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid tensions with some national leaders of the party.
“The governor is very conscious of his relationship with the Presidency and party hierarchy. Allowing Obi’s visit would not only trigger local political drama with Ortom but might also be interpreted in Abuja as a subtle alignment with the opposition at a time when Alia is battling internal party issues. This is not the kind of message he wants to send to the President.
“Such an association, especially with a high-profile opposition figure like Obi, could be politically damaging for Alia, who has been working to consolidate his hold on the state and maintain good standing with President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” a source told Ekwutosblog on Monday.
It would be recalled that in the February 25, 2023 presidential poll, Obi pulled a stunning performance in Benue State, securing over 308,000 votes, a figure that shocked many given the dominance traditionally enjoyed by the two major parties – APC and PDP.
His victory in the state was largely attributed to the support of Ortom and a groundswell of youth-driven, faith-based and middle-class backing.
Following this backdrop, sources disclosed that Governor Alia was convinced by his inner circle to forestall Obi’s visit to avoid reigniting political rivalries or offering Ortom and the Labour Party a platform to reassert influence in the state.
As a result, the governor reportedly instructed his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, to issue a public statement cautioning against what it described as “unapproved high-profile visits” to the state.
“For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the Governor’s knowledge, it is imperative to reconsider such plans, as the safety and security of individuals in this regard cannot be guaranteed,” he warned.
Though the statement fell short of directly naming Peter Obi, insiders confirmed that it was a veiled warning aimed at dissuading the former presidential candidate from proceeding with his proposed outreach.
One government source, speaking anonymously, said, “The governor is not comfortable with Obi’s visit, especially with the political undertones it carries.
“The camps are a sensitive issue and we cannot allow anyone to politicise the suffering of our displaced people.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither Obi’s camp nor the Labour Party has issued an official statement regarding the restriction.
However, a source close to the former governor disclosed that the visit was purely humanitarian and part of Obi’s ongoing national outreach to communities affected by violence and displacement.
Politics
Anyanwu, Abdurahaman, Bature, others Emerge PDP Nat’l Caretaker Committee
By Chimezie Amadi, Abuja
Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, Abdurahaman Mohammed, and Umar Bature amongst others have emerged national caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party leading to the conduct of national convention within 90 days.
This followed the gradual winding off of the tenure of the present Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) which ends on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has constituted a National Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the party, pending the conduct of a national convention.
This decision was taken at the 104th NEC meeting of the party held in Abuja on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
The 13-member Caretaker Committee has Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed as Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as Secretary.
Other members of the Caretaker Committee are; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), National Organising Secretary, Hon. Umar M. Bature, Dr Kyari Grema, Hon Janguda Haruna Mohammed, Barr. Okechukwu Osuana, Senator Nwogu Olaka, Senator Sandy Onor, Prof Adenike Ogunse, Hon. Bisi Kolawole, Engr Deji Doherty, and Dr Ibrahim Bala Aboki.
The Caretaker Committee has been mandated to run the affairs of the party for a period of 60 days, during which all pending congresses should be conducted and a national convention should be held.
Similarly, a frontline political structure in Imo State, Divine Mandate Movement (DMM) has applauded the emergence of its founder and leader of PDP in the Southeast, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu as Secretary of the committee.
According to DMM, the appointment marks a crucial step toward stabilizing and repositioning the party as it prepares for its forthcoming National Convention.
DMM therefore commends the National Executive Committee (NEC) for its wisdom in selecting individuals of proven competence, loyalty, and integrity to steer the affairs of the party at this pivotal moment. “The responsibility before the Caretaker Committee is immense, and party faithful across the country as well as the wider Nigerian public look up to them with great expectations”.
“The nation expects a leadership that will uphold internal democracy, restore unity, and reinforce the values that have long distinguished the PDP. We are confident that the newly inaugurated committee will work diligently, transparently, and inclusively to rebuild confidence among members and strengthen the party’s structure nationwide.”
“As the party marches toward its National Convention, we urge all stakeholders to give the Caretaker Committee the full cooperation needed to carry out its mandate effectively. This is a time to close ranks, reaffirm shared ideals, and demonstrate unwavering commitment to the progress of our party and our democracy.”
The DMM furtger pledges its full support and calls on all party members to embrace peace, discipline, and collective responsibility.
Politics
Barr, Chief Willie Amadi retires from active partisan politics.
Former Federal Commission
er/Ombudsman in the Public Complaints Commission Nigeria and immediate past Chief Technical Adviser to the Government of Imo State on Environment, Barr. Chief Willie Amadi, says there is a hopless and total loss of confidence by the common man in the Nigerian Judicial system.
This is even as Barr Amadi opined that the situation could also be blamed on the the prevailing and increasing daily hardship in the country due to unabated bad governance by both the political class, civil servants and business men doing business with governments at all levels.
The London and Nigeria trained legal practitioner, former Special Adviser on Sanitation & Transport and pioneer General Manager of Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission,
under which his Clean & Green initiative won the cleanest State capital award in the country on three consecutive time back to back, regretted that the deliberate and sustained diminishing of the powers of our critical regulatory institutions such as the EFCC, CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU, POLICE, INEC and most unfortunately and sadly, the once revered JUDICIARY by the political class amounts to the burial program of our great nation. These institutions have now become lame ducks and totally subservient to the whimps and caprices of the ruling class and foreigners with vested and manipulative interests in our mineral and natural resources.
Amadi, an Environmentalist who recently unveiled his second book, “The Ombudsman and Justice Delivery in Nigeria~ Challenges and Prospects”
expressed shock that our apex court which is today on serious trial, has turned to “the main hope of corrupt men and no longer, the last hope of the common man”
He further lamented that the prevailing “lack of consequences” syndrome which has become the norm today has given today’s power brokers and nouveau de rich the impetus to deliberately and recklessly breach the law with impunity as nothing will happen, because their actions are now condoned by the judiciary, going by the avalanche of negotiated, scary and shameless judgments delivered without any shade of justice component. This ugly development have not only scared many foreign investors whose business cannot be protected by the Nigerian judicial system in the event of breach, but has also psychologically dehumanised and discouraged citizens from seeking redress and justice through our law courts. Barr. Amadi warned that forcing citizens to resort to self help remedy as an alternative by the helpless citizens may be the delicate way forward with dire consequences, if care is not taken. A Stitch in time, therefore will save nine he advised.
Barr Amadi equally wondered if the rich leaders who are in power today have noticed that “temperatures” are rising daily on the streets and could occasion a sudden mob reaction from the poor masses. He warned that immediate enthronement of good governance, rule of law and protection of citizen’s fundamental rights, remains the only escape route for the very near future.
On whether it is imperative to restructure the Nigeria judiciary, the National Assembly and by extension the Country. Amadi regretted that while both arms of government have been dangerously compromised and bought over by the Executive arm they are supposed to monitor, it is only the preservation of strong institutions that can guarantee good governance in Nigeria as experienced in other climes where strong institutions hold sway, dictate and guide on authorities on due process and decisions to be taken in governance. He cited the powers of the police and the courts, particularly the Supreme Court of the United States and the recent avalanche of Executive Orders signed by the POTUS. He recalled that late Senate Presidents Okadigbo, Nnamani and Speaker Ghali Nabba led National Assembly were the last presiding officers of the National Assembly that brought dignity, honor and integrity to the legislature. He reasoned that any restructured sub nationals without strong institutions will still experience the same failure of a federation like we are currently experiencing.
On rising insecurity in Nigeria, he recalled that the issue of insurgency and sponsored criminality including unreported genocide against Christians in Nigeria from 2015 till date, eventually culminated in forcing the United States of America to finally and rightly designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”. The protracted insecurity of today, he recalled, began with the clear sabotage of the Jonathan’s administration using the Chibok girls saga, a trap which was designed to stop Jonathan’s second term bid.
Surprisingly, that escalation later boomeranged under late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration who pretentious support for foreign criminal elements and religious extremists entry into the country through an open boarder control and passages for his 2015 Presidential election became a thorn in the flesh of the administration after the election.
Sadly, Buhari failed to manage the self infliction, which eventually messed up his administration, an administration which condoned an unprecedented massive looting and outright embezzlement of our commonwealth by a section of the country including the destruction of values of good governance, accountability and management of the economy.
According to him, the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited the huge mess and it does appear that the administration could be paying for and or attoning for their sins in the conspiracy leading to the 2015 Presidential election against Goodluck Jonathan.
On the recent threat by President Donald Trump on invading Nigeria to stop the genocide and flushing out the rampaging terrorists, Barr Amadi advised the country to quickly leverage on the United States likely intervention and appeal to the American government to establish a military base in Nigeria in order to permanently eradicate this hydra headed insurgency and ultimately tranquilize the Sahel region. The legal luminary insisted that the buck stops on Mr. President’s table, and as such, he alone takes full responsibility for the escalating insecurity in the country. He insisted that Mr. President must act fast and ignore naive and mercantile diplomatic opinion analysts to avoid further damage to a fractured nation.
On the issue of Imo Charter of Equity, the Owerri Nchise-born socialite, politician and clan High Chief of the five autonomous communities of Owere expressed optimism that an Imo Governor of Owerri Zone extraction shall emerge in 2027, God willing.
He announced of his retirement from active partisan politics on his 65th birthday on November 30th 2027, but added that during the transition period, he will continue to Chair the Social Media sub-committee at Imo Harmony Project, an umbrella body of eminent Owerri Zone sons and daughters that is strategically pushing for an Imo governor of Owerri Zone extraction, when he believes that, his involvement and contributions in politics will be rested with the blessed assurance of the Charter of Equity.
Barr Amadi, a scholar and doctorate degree candidate of Law said that he will focus on research, writing and teaching of law in the Universities, post 2027.
Politics
Buhari Ex-aide, Bashir Ahmad Reveals Next Two Governors to Join APC
Bashir Ahmad, ex-media aide to former president, Muhammadu Buhari has boasted that two governors will decamp to the All Progressives Congress, APC in a matter of days.
He stated this in a post on his X page on Tuesday.
According to him, the governor of Taraba state, Agbu Kefas and another of his counterpart from the North West, will join the ruling party “in a matter of days”.
Ahmad wrote: “In just a matter of days, the Governor of Taraba State and another Governor from the North West will officially join our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
As at June 2025, at least two incumbent governors had decamped to the APC.
They include Pastor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State) and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State).
The governor of Enugu, Peter Mbah, is heavily rumoured to be the next to jump ship.
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