latest
“They Have The Right To Leave” – Wike On Rivers Lawmakers Defection From PDP.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has commented on the defection of 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the development as “unfortunate” but emphasizing that the lawmakers have the right to make their choice.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking after inspecting ongoing construction work on an interchange bridge linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi, and Gwarimpa in Abuja, Wike noted that divisions within the PDP played a significant role in the defections. He reaffirmed his commitment to the party, stating that he would continue to work with the remaining lawmakers loyal to the PDP.
“Well, it’s unfortunate. I have always said that everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the Constitution is that when a party is factionalised, they are allowed to leave,” Wike said. He added that while 16 or 17 lawmakers have left out of 27, about 10 remain, and his camp will continue to collaborate with them.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, urged the PDP to resolve its internal conflicts, stressing that the party must put its house in order to remain a relevant opposition. “I’m still in the PDP. So those who have remained, we’ll continue to work together. And I have said to the party, put your house in order. Because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that will lose. For me, those who have left are free. But those who remain in the party, we will continue to work together,” he said.
A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, has criticised the “Rig and Die” slogan, describing it as undemocratic and a threat to the country’s democratic process.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okoye, who previously chaired INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, maintained that nobody has the right to use force or violence against another person over alleged electoral offences.
He made the remarks during an appearance on Arise News on Tuesday evening.
The former commissioner said anyone suspected of engaging in electoral malpractice should be reported to the appropriate security agencies rather than subjected to physical attacks.
According to him, the law does not permit individuals to take matters into their own hands, even when they believe an electoral offence has been committed.
“So I think that in our circumstances, no individual, even under Section 132 of the Electoral Act, is permitted to treat anybody with the use of force or violence.
“If you believe that anybody has committed an offence during an election period or during an election, your responsibility is to report the person to the lawful security agencies and for them to take action, but not to incite people to take the law into their own hands; that is self-help, and self-help is not permitted in a democratic system,” he said.
The slogan, which has been widely interpreted as a warning against electoral manipulation, gained renewed attention in October 2026 after former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, used it at a campaign event in Delta State.
Omo-Agege had warned that anyone caught rigging the 2027 elections would face deadly consequences.
“Anybody who rigs the election on that day, we will kill him! If you don’t value your life, come and rig the election. It is rig and die,” he said.
Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, has criticised the Nigerian government over what he described as poor leadership and a failure to prioritise the welfare of citizens.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Farotimi argued that the country’s situation was even worse than the description of a zoo previously used by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The activist expressed his dissatisfaction with the country’s leadership in a post shared on his X account.
He questioned the level of attention government officials pay to the welfare of Nigerians, accusing those in positions of authority of failing to show sufficient concern for the living conditions and well-being of the people.
Farotimi used the management of a zoological facility to illustrate his argument, saying that in countries where the rule of law is upheld, a zoo would not be allowed to operate carelessly without its management being held accountable.
He maintained that such a facility would have its operating licence revoked, its management prosecuted and the animals relocated to a safer environment.
Farotimi wrote: “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was wrong, Nigeria is NOT a zoo. There’s no country ruled by law, anywhere in the world, where a zoo would be ran with careless regard for the welfare of the animals, as Nigeria is ran, without having its license revoked, its management prosecuted, and the animals rehoused.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Olajuwon Akinyemi as the acting Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The appointment comes amid growing concerns over the poor management of refuse across the state, with heaps of waste reportedly littering major roads, residential areas and drainage channels.
Akinyemi replaces Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who was asked to resign following the concerns over the worsening waste situation in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu also approved the appointment of Dr Tijani Olorunwa as the acting Director of Operations, while Kunle Adebiyi will retain his position as the Executive Director of Finance.
As part of efforts to reform the authority, the state government has also approved the redeployment of several senior LAWMA officials to other departments and agencies within the Lagos State public service.
Under the arrangement, officers on Salary Grade Levels 13 to 17 will be transferred to the mainstream Lagos State Civil Service, local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
However, officials in the Legal Department have been exempted from the exercise to avoid disruptions to ongoing court cases and concession agreements being handled by the agency.
The heads of Landfill Operations, LAWMA Operations and Private Sector Participation Operations have also been temporarily exempted from the transfers for an initial period of 90 days.
Akinyemi, who hails from Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, is an experienced administrator.
Before his latest appointment, President Bola Tinubu appointed him Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in 2025.
He had also served in the Lagos State public service, where he held the position of Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) for UBEC.
Akinyemi previously worked as Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Lagos State Office of Infrastructure.
-
latest1 year ago“Social Media Erupts As Jim Iyke Declares Rita Dominic Nollywood’s Most Beautiful”
-
latest3 years agoEdo Political Showdown: Oshiomhole Appears At Presidential Villa As Tinubu Hands APC Gubernatorial Flag To Okpebholo (Photos & Video)
-
entertainment3 years agoLove Knows No Age American Woman Defends Marriage To Young Nigerian Man “I’m Not 70”
-
latest3 years agoOlumide Akpata Strikes Again: Drops Killer Track, Sends Edo State Into Frenzy!(Video)
-
Politics3 years agoNigerians React As Pastor Adeboye Foresees Passing Away On A Sunday After Enjoying A Satisfying Meal Of Pounded Yam
-
latest3 years agoFG Identifies 31 States At Risk Of Heavy Flooding In 2024: See Full List
-
Politics3 years agoBREAKING: Inspector-General Of Police Summons Top Police Commanders For Crucial-Security Challenges
-
latest3 years ago5 NYSC Corpers Perish In Fatal Road Accident Returning From Camp