Politics
Biafra Government in Exile Defends Amaka Sunnberger Against Nigerian Prosecution Call
The Biafra Government in Exile (BGIE), led by Simon Ekpa, has reached out to the Canadian authorities to defend Amaka Sunnberger, following calls for her prosecution due to a controversial video in which she allegedly threatened violence against the Yoruba and Bini people of Edo State.
Sunnberger’s remarks, made in a viral TikTok video, triggered widespread outrage and concern, with the Nigerian government, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), taking swift action by petitioning the Mayor of Brampton to prosecute her for inciting violence.
In defense of Sunnberger, Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the BGIE, vowed to protect her and has acted on this promise.
The BGIE’s Director General of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Joy Robi, addressed a detailed letter to the Mayor of Brampton, calling for a review of the accusations leveled against Sunnberger and highlighting what the BGIE perceives as inaccuracies in NiDCOM’s claims.
This three-page letter, which Ekpa posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, argues that NiDCOM’s response to Sunnberger’s comments lacks context and overlooks the suffering of Biafrans, particularly those of the Igbo ethnic group.
According to the letter, many within the Nigerian government have made violent statements against the Biafran people without facing similar calls for prosecution, which Dr. Robi sees as a clear double standard.
The letter also presents Sunnberger’s alleged mental trauma as a significant factor in her comments.
It claims that she recently experienced an attempted kidnapping of her child in Canada, which severely impacted her psychological state.
According to the BGIE, Sunnberger’s outburst against the Yoruba and Edo people was an expression of deep emotional distress stemming from the continual persecution faced by the Biafran people in Nigeria.
The letter emphasizes that Biafrans, both at home and abroad, endure severe hardships and threats, which often go unrecognized by the Nigerian authorities.
Dr. Robi’s letter further criticizes NiDCOM’s Chair, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, suggesting that she hails from a “privileged” Nigerian tribe and has failed to acknowledge the widespread suffering endured by the Igbo population.
The letter claims that this privileged position has led to a one-sided understanding of the situation, dismissing the complex realities that Biafrans face daily, including ongoing violence and threats in Nigeria.
While acknowledging that Sunnberger’s comments may have been inappropriate, the BGIE argues that they were made under extreme emotional pressure and should not result in the loss of her job or further punishment.
The letter suggests that prosecuting Sunnberger would be unjust and would ignore the underlying issues of discrimination and violence against Biafrans.
Instead, the BGIE urges the Canadian authorities to view Sunnberger’s remarks in the broader context of the struggles faced by Biafrans and to dismiss NiDCOM’s request for prosecution.
The letter concludes with a strong appeal for compassion and understanding, stating that Sunnberger has contributed positively to her community in Canada and that the charges against her do not reflect her true character.
The BGIE reaffirmed their commitment to defending Sunnberger against any punitive actions, stating that they would not stand by if NiDCOM’s petition were to result in negative consequences for her.
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.
Politics
Ogun PDP Questions Credibility of Local Government Elections
The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has expressed serious concerns over the alleged irregularities in the ongoing local government elections.
The party accused the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) of distributing two separate result sheets to polling units instead of the standard single sheet, raising doubts about the integrity of the entire process.
Also, PDP criticized the delayed distribution of election materials.
Reports revealed that as late as 7:32 am, election officials were still collecting materials from the OGSIEC office in Abeokuta, the state capital.
This was barely half an hour before the scheduled commencement of voting at 8:00 am.
The delay, the party argued, posed a significant challenge to the smooth conduct of the elections.
Waliu Oladipupo, the PDP’s state party agent, described the situation as troubling.
Speaking to journalists, he expressed fears that these lapses could undermine the credibility of the polls.
Oladipupo emphasized that issues like distributing two result sheets and starting late could create an environment ripe for malpractice and ultimately disenfranchise voters.
He argued that such mismanagement not only disrespects the democratic process but also casts a shadow over the efforts to ensure free and fair elections.
OGSIEC, headed by Babatunde Osibodu, had previously assured citizens of the state’s readiness to conduct credible elections.
However, the PDP’s observations seem to contradict those promises.
With over 20 local government areas participating, the stakes are high for both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP, which has been vocal in its criticism of governance under Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration.
-
Entertainment17 hours ago
Davido Reflects on Life as He Turns 32 and Donates N300M to Orphanages
-
Business14 hours ago
NNPCL Launches Utapate Crude to Increase Nigeria’s Oil Exports
-
News17 hours ago
Man Found Dead in Ogun Hotel After Returning from the U.S.
-
News12 hours ago
Tron Founder Justin Sun Buys $6.2M Banana Artwork, Plans to Eat It
-
News16 hours ago
MDCAN Praises Tinubu for Resolving UNIZIK Crisis and Supporting Medical Professionals
-
News9 hours ago
LeBron James Steps Away from Social Media, Cites Negativity in Sports Coverage
-
News17 hours ago
ACF Criticizes Tinubu’s Policies, Highlights Northern Challenges
-
News15 hours ago
Nigerian Man Sentenced to Six Years in U.S. Prison for $6M Medicaid Bribery Scam