Politics
Sowore Criticizes Tinubu Regime Over Minors’ Detention on Treason Charges
Activist Omoyele Sowore recently took to his X handle to condemn the detention conditions faced by a group of young people who were recently arraigned on charges of treason.
He criticized what he called the “ignoble” regime of President Bola Tinubu, also known as @officialABAT, for their treatment of the minors.
According to Sowore, the minors remain in detention at the Abattoir detention centre in Apo, Abuja, struggling to meet what he described as “inhuman” bail conditions set by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The detention of minors on treason charges has been a contentious issue, raising concerns about the treatment of young citizens within Nigeria’s justice system.
Sowore noted that Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), has not yet addressed the case files of these detainees, leading to further delays in the legal process.
Fagbemi reportedly claimed he didn’t sign off on the charges; however, Sowore asserted that the AGF had several discussions with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to determine the charges.
He questioned the validity of Fagbemi’s claims, suggesting that the AGF’s office must have had direct involvement, as the police cannot independently charge citizens with treason without input from the Attorney General.
This perceived lack of transparency has fueled public outcry.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who set the bail terms, is now under scrutiny as well, with many calling his conditions excessive and difficult for the young detainees to meet.
Egwuatu has presided over a range of high-profile cases, including issues involving human rights and political charges, but the public’s response indicates discontent with the terms applied in this particular case.
Sowore’s criticism extended to the federal government, with calls for Tinubu’s administration to be held accountable for what he described as “wicked” actions.
Sowore has long been vocal against Tinubu’s administration, often using platforms such as X to rally support for the #TinubuMustGo and #RevolutionNow movements.
The lack of a timely legal response from the AGF’s office only adds to the perception that the justice system is being manipulated for political reasons, according to Sowore and his supporters.
The situation has not only birthed frustration but has also intensified discussions around judicial independence and accountability in Nigeria.
Politics
Federal Government Reinstates Ikechebelu as UNIZIK Acting Vice-Chancellor
The Federal Government has reinstated Professor Joseph Ikechebelu as the new acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK).
In a letter dated November 18, 2024, President Tinubu nullified the controversial appointment of Professor Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh as the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor.
Odoh’s appointment was deemed illegal as it was carried out by the now-dissolved 10th Governing Council of the university.
The letter instructed Ikechebelu to immediately resume his duties as the acting Vice-Chancellor, effectively restoring him to the position he briefly held earlier this year.
Sani-Gwarzo, in his correspondence, directed Ikechebelu to oversee the administration of the university while forwarding matters requiring council approval to the Minister of Education until a new council is constituted by the President.
This move aims to restore stability to the institution, which has faced governance challenges in recent months.
Professor Joseph Ikechebelu, a renowned scholar and experienced administrator, had initially been appointed as acting Vice-Chancellor in June 2024 but was removed in July by the former Governing Council.
His reinstatement is seen as a step toward addressing leadership disputes and ensuring smooth operations within the university.
In a related development, the Federal Government has also reinstated Victor Modebelu as the Acting Registrar of UNIZIK.
Modebelu previously held this position but was replaced by Rosemary Nwokike, whose appointment as substantive registrar was recently terminated by President Tinubu.
Politics
“I Stood My Ground and Didn’t Buy Votes” – Nejo on Ondo Election Loss
Myson Nejo, the governorship candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ondo State, has spoken out about the issue of vote buying that marred the state’s recent gubernatorial election.
Despite coming in third place with 4,138 votes, Nejo has maintained that his loss was due to his decision to reject the corrupt practice of vote trading.
In a statement made on Sunday, Nejo expressed disappointment over the widespread vote-buying during the election.
He pointed out that candidates who could afford to buy votes from voters were the ones who emerged victorious.
Nejo, however, chose not to engage in such practices, even when faced with pressure to do so.
“I lost the election because I refused to buy votes,” Nejo said.
“But I’m proud of my decision. I didn’t give out any money, and despite that, I still received votes from the people who believed in my vision for Ondo State.
To me, those votes are legitimate and meaningful because they weren’t influenced by money or unethical tactics.”
Nejo revealed the shocking extent of the vote-buying, noting that voters were being offered as much as N20,000 in exchange for their ballots in some areas.
In his polling unit, the going rate was between N10,000 and N15,000.
Nejo explained that, because he refused to take part in these practices, he received very few votes in his unit—just two votes—while his overall tally was a modest 40 votes.
Despite this, he expressed satisfaction with the integrity of his campaign.
“People were asking me for money in exchange for their votes, but I stuck to my principles.
I told them if they wanted to vote, they could do so freely, without expecting anything from me.
I wasn’t going to give a kobo to influence the outcome of the election,” Nejo said.
Politics
PDP Calls Ondo Election the Worst and Accuses APC of Electoral Manipulation
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized the Ondo State governorship election held on Saturday, calling it the worst-ever election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Also, the party expressed deep dissatisfaction with the election’s outcome, stating that it fell far short of the standards expected of a free, fair, and credible poll.
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made it clear that the party would conduct a more thorough review of the election results and take appropriate actions to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP will be holding a comprehensive review of the election and its results, and we will take the necessary steps in defence of our democracy,” Ologunagba said.
The PDP also condemned what it described as electoral malpractice, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the system in their favour.
According to Ologunagba, the election was marred by “electoral swindling, deceit, and manipulation,” all orchestrated by the APC to maintain its grip on power.
The party further alleged that the election was plagued by widespread vote-buying, vote-selling, and other forms of electoral manipulation aimed at suppressing the will of the people.
Ologunagba stressed that the actions of the APC were aimed at undermining the genuine aspirations of the voters, calling it a blatant attempt to derail the democratic process.
“The level of vote-buying and monetization we witnessed in this election was unprecedented,” Ologunagba stated.
“This blatant disregard for democratic principles by the APC and its government apparatus is a dangerous trend that threatens the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.”
The PDP has called on both the Nigerian public and the international community to pay attention to the irregularities in the Ondo election, emphasizing the need for serious action to prevent such practices from becoming entrenched in the nation’s electoral system.
-
Entertainment20 hours ago
Davido Advises Black Americans Not To Relocate To Nigeria Due To Economy
-
News24 hours ago
Florida Mother Arrested for Allegedly Drowning 14-Year-Old Daughter
-
News23 hours ago
Police Arrest Suspected Child Trafficker in Imo, Rescue Three Stolen Children
-
Sport24 hours ago
Rodri Calls Real Madrid the Best Club in History Despite Future Speculation
-
Sport22 hours ago
Germany Faces Italy In Quaterfinals in UEFA Nation League
-
News3 hours ago
Regina Daniels Reacts to Co-Wife Laila’s Post on 14-Year Marriage with Ned Nwoko
-
Business4 hours ago
Dangote Refinery Faces Supply Issues as NNPCL Fails to Meet Crude Oil Targets
-
Sport21 hours ago
Enugu State To Host The 23rd Edition Of The National Sports Festival