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Lawmakers Who Left Labour Party Seek Strategic Positions in APC Ahead of 2027 Elections – Etanabene

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Lawmakers Who Left Labour Party Seek Strategic Positions in APC Ahead of 2027 Elections – Etanabene

Ekwutosblog has gathered that Benedict Etanabene, the lawmaker representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives, has downplayed the notion that recent defections from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) signify a crisis within the party.

Instead, he attributes the moves to political strategizing ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, Etanabene dismissed claims of internal discord as the reason for the defections. According to him, the defecting lawmakers are positioning themselves in response to the APC’s recent electoral successes in Ondo and Edo States, which have unsettled some opposition members.

“There is no leadership crisis in the Labour Party,” he asserted. “Those who left the party, including those aligned with the Julius Abure faction, are simply thinking about their political future and the challenges posed by the APC’s dominance.”

Etanabene further argued that the defections reflect a broader trend likely to affect other opposition parties as the 2027 elections approach. He said, “What happened in Edo and Ondo is frightening to the extent that in 2027, it is going to be business as usual for APC. They [the defectors] have started thinking of positioning themselves.”

Four Labour Party lawmakers defected to the APC on Thursday, including:

Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency)
Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna)
Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency)
Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo)

Despite these defections, Etanabene emphasized his loyalty to the Labour Party and dismissed any intention of following suit. He urged politicians to uphold morality in politics and resist abandoning the parties that gave them electoral opportunities.

“I have no plans to leave the Labour Party. Politicians need to prioritize ethics and avoid switching parties for personal gains. Loyalty to the people and the platform that brought you to office is paramount,” he said.

Etanabene also lamented the current state of electoral integrity in Nigeria, criticizing the system where votes do not seem to count. He called for urgent reforms to restore public confidence in the electoral process and urged politicians to focus on the long-term development of democracy rather than short-term gains.

 

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES SENATOR IFEANYI ARARUME ON HIS BIRTHDAY

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President Bola Tinubu felicitates Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume, astute politician and accomplished businessman, on his birthday, December 16.

Senator Ararume’s odyssey in politics began in the late 1980s, when he served as the State Treasurer of the Liberal Convention in old Imo State. He later joined the National Finance Committee of the defunct National Republican Convention.

He represented Imo North in the 9th National Assembly. He was first elected in May 1999 and re-elected in April 2003. He also served on several committees and held other official roles.

President Tinubu commends the former senator for his years of service to the nation and contributions to its peace, unity, and progress.

The President describes Senator Ararume as a resolute and shrewd politician, highlighting his courageous and remarkable political journey through the years.

President Tinubu wishes Senator Ararume a happy 67th birthday and prays that God Almighty will grant him more years of good health and strength.

 

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Ndigbo are no longer spectators in the Nigerian project- Minister Dave Umahi dismisses calls for Biafra under Tinubu’s administration

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The Minister of Works, David Umahi, says the all-inclusive style of governance being practiced by President Bola Tinubu has made the agitation for Biafra an unnecessary clamour.

While speaking at the inspection of the Enugu-Anambra road last Saturday, December 13, Umahi said the Tinubu administration had given Ndigbo what they had sought for decades, not through secession, but through what he described as unprecedented inclusion in national governance and development.

He explained that the agitation for Biafra was historically driven by neglect, exclusion and underrepresentation at the federal level, but insisted that the situation had changed under the current administration.

“When a people are fully integrated, respected and empowered within the structure of the nation, the dream they once chased through agitation has already been achieved through cooperation.

The push for Biafran secession over the years was borne out of neglect, exclusion and underrepresentation but today the narrative has changed dramatically under President Bola Tinubu.

The President has deliberately opened the doors of national development to the South-East. Appointments, policy inputs and infrastructure priorities now reflect true federal balance.

Every sector now bears visible Igbo footprints. The emergence of Igbo sons and daughters in strategic positions is a testament to this inclusion.

Biafra was never about breaking Nigeria; it was about being counted in Nigeria. Through inclusion, equity and concrete development, Ndigbo are no longer spectators in the Nigerian project; they are co-authors of its future. When justice finds a people, agitation loses its voice.”he said

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ADC Launches 90-Day Membership Drive, Fixes Dates For Congresses, National Convention

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced a 90-day nationwide membership mobilisation, revalidation, and registration exercise as part of preparations for its internal party activities ahead of 2026.

The party also approved provisional dates for its congresses and the election of delegates at the polling unit, ward, and local government levels across the country.

In circulars issued by its national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the ADC said the congresses are expected to hold between January 20 and January 27, 2026.

The process, the party said, will lead to the emergence of delegates who will participate in its non-elective national convention scheduled for February 2026 in Abuja.

A statement by Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the party, said the decisions were reached at a meeting of the national working committee (NWC) held on November 27, 2025.

Abdullahi said the timetable and activities were approved in line with the resolutions of the NWC and in accordance with relevant provisions of the party’s constitution.

The ADC said further details on the membership exercise, congresses, and convention will be communicated to party members and stakeholders in due course.

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