Politics
Imo Labour Party splits over plot to remove state chairman
Labour Party, Imo State chapter, seems to have been split into two following an attempt by some state exco members to remove the state chairman of the party, Callistus Ihejiagwa, over alleged anti-party activities and other allegations leveled against him.
In a press statement signed by some members of the state working committee, it was alleged that the party chairman is running the affairs of the party as his private business, as he no longer consults with the exco members on issues concerning the party.
According to the press statement, which was read out before journalists by the spokesperson of the party, Bright Offurum, it was alleged that the party chairman has been associating with the APC-led government in the state after the defections of its two federal lawmakers to the ruling party.
Offurum further alleged that efforts made to condemn the defections of the two lawmakers by issuing an official statement against the act were rebuffed by the state chairman, whom they accused of romancing with the lawmakers even after their defections.
The party spokesperson hinted that Ihejiagwa is currently in Israel on an APC-sponsored pilgrimage.
He also said that, as a leader of one of the opposition parties in the state, the chairman has never raised a voice to condemn some administrative policies of the ruling party.
“
We have lost the moral burden of promoting the needed opposition to the APC-led government.
The Imo State Labour Party chairman needs to be changed, and an acting chairman appointed pending the commencement of congress,” the statement read.
The party’s publicity secretary further accused the chairman of administrative high-handedness, saying that he was in the habit of taking unilateral decisions without involving party leaders and stakeholders.
He added that Ihejiagwa single-handedly changed party leaders in the various LGAs and wards and replaced them with people not known by the party.
“There is great tension in the party now, and it must be handled immediately by urging the state chairman to step down to avoid the disintegration of the party.
The elected federal and state lawmakers are not happy with him, including the major stakeholders and party faithful,” the release further read.
Responding to the attempt to remove the state chairman, Chima Igbo Onyeisiala, the publicity secretary of the other group, described the act as an ill-conceived attempt coming from former members of the party sacked by the current party leadership under Ihejiagwa.
He pointed out that those behind the move were driven by selfish interests and monetary inducements.
“We are fully aware that these individuals were sponsored by a few leaders in the party who previously sponsored and participated in the failed attempt to remove our national chairman, Julius Abure, the NWC, and the NEC.
By the special grace of God, they have failed again,” he stated.
Onyeisiala explained that the process of removing a state chairman is clearly outlined in the party’s constitution and that anything outside it is null and void.
He used the medium to enjoin party faithful and the public to disregard what he described as a shameful display of desperation, maintaining that the party is one in the state and remains firm under the leadership of Ihejiagwa.
A faction of Accord Party has held its own governorship primary, where Mr. Clement Bamigbola emerged as the faction’s governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State election.
This is coming just four days after the emergence of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s flag-bearer.
Recall that the party under the leadership of Maxwell Mgbudem, on Wednesday, held a similar exercise which produced Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s candidate.
However, a faction of the party rejected his emergence, insisting that Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem is not the legally recognized national chairman of the Accord Party.
In a fresh development on Sunday, about 300 delegates of the Accord Party from across Osun State elected Bamigbola as the factional candidate during a primary held at Regina Suite, Osogbo.
Bamigbola emerged through a voice vote conducted by the delegates, after which the Chairman of the Primary Committee, Hon. Olufemi Ogundare, declared him the party’s candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
President Bola Tinubu and leaders of ECOWAS countries are currently meeting in Abuja.
The 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government is taking place at the State House Conference Centre, in Abuja.
Leaders of West African countries at the meeting include President Julius Bio (Sierra Leone, ECOWAS Chair), President Patrice Talon (Benin), José Maria Neves (Cabo Verde) and Alassane Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire).
Others are Adama Barrow (The Gambia), John Mahama (Ghana), Umaro Embaló (Guinea-Bissau), Joseph Boakai (Liberia), Bassirou Faye (Senegal) and Faure Gnassingbé (Togo).
The meeting is coming against the backdrop of five turbulent years for West Africa, which saw coups in Mali (2020, 2021), Burkina Faso (twice in 2022), and Niger (2023).
The latest incidents include an attempted coup in Benin on December 7, 2025, and renewed instability in Guinea-Bissau.
At the time of filing this report, details of the meeting are yet to be disclosed.
Politics
Breaking: Diri Orders Autopsy on Bayelsa Deputy Governor’s Death, Warns Against Politicisation
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Saturday while receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Reacting to the incident, the governor condemned what he described as widespread misinformation and speculation on social media, warning against any attempt to politicise the deputy governor’s death.
“I want to make an appeal. I have seen people politicise his death. In Ijaw land, there is no enmity in death. Let nobody politicise the passing of our dearly beloved deputy governor,” Diri said.
“If anyone truly loves him, this is the time to show it. I have directed that an autopsy be carried out to reveal the cause of his death. There is a lot of nonsense going on on social media.”
The governor further urged the public to focus on mourning and honouring the late deputy governor, noting that the state government had declared three working days of mourning in his honour.
“If anyone is issuing statements to eulogise him, let it end there. Let us mourn him because Bayelsa State is in a mourning mood,” he added.
Governor Diri also called for unity and love among the people, reminding them of the inevitability of death.
Speaking during the condolence visit, former President Goodluck Jonathan described the late Ewhrudjakpo as a committed and dedicated individual who played a key role in the activities of his foundation.
“For me, he was someone my foundation and I will never forget. He represented the governor in all our programs,” Jonathan said, adding that Ewhrudjakpo worked tirelessly in that role, even more than when he served as deputy governor.
The man who tackled a gunman to the floor and saved people from getting sh0t at Bondi Beach in Australia has been identified as Ahmed al Ahmed.
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