Politics
PRESIDENT TINUBU COMMENDS FINLAND FOR INTERVENING IN SIMON EKPA’S CASE
President Bola Tinubu has commended the Finnish government for intervening in the case of Simon Ekpa, saying the government will not tolerate actions and statements that could lead to divisiveness among citizens. The President spoke when he received the Letters of Credence from the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Sanna Selin, at the State House.
The Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, stated that President Tinubu commended the Finnish authorities for the timely intervention that safeguarded the nation’s integrity and mitigated an action that threatened peaceful coexistence. “I must thank you for your record on safeguarding human rights in our country with the trial of Simon Ekpa. Nigeria is indivisible,” President Tinubu told the Finnish ambassador.
Mignot
Onanuga added that President Tinubu also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of the European Union, Mr Gautier Mignot, and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Algeria, Hocine Mezoued. The President noted that the Ambassador’s priorities, including ICT, agriculture, and education, will directly impact the country’s development.
Onanuga quoted President Tinubu as saying, “Nigeria is undergoing a series of necessary reforms to stimulate growth and prosperity. Thank you also for the humanitarian support in the North East. I believe that we can work together.” The Ambassador of Finland extolled the President for his courage in initiating reforms that will benefit the economy and ensure prosperity in the future.
Onanuga stated that the Ambassador noted that Simon Ekpa has been hindering bilateral relations, adding that cooperation between the two countries is going well now. Onanuga also reported that President Tinubu met with the Ambassador of the European Union, urging the envoy to work towards elevating the volume of transactions and strengthening ties.
Bayo Onanuga noted that President Tinubu also urged collaboration between Nigeria and Algeria to implement the trans-Saharan African Gas Pipeline project. “We need to lift one another in Africa, and we will be stronger together,” the President said. The Algerian Ambassador said the project will significantly impact the continent.
Politics
2027 Shake-Up: Kogi Governor Allegedly Double-Dealing, Campaigns for Opposition in Mopamuro
In a development sending shockwaves through Kogi State politics, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has been accused of orchestrating support for opposition candidates, raising fresh questions about his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to an APC chieftain in Mopamuro Local Government Area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the governor directed his political appointees led by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo to campaign for ADC’s Hon. Leke Abejide in his bid for a third term in the House of Representatives.
Eyewitnesses said the rally saw appointees don T-shirts and caps celebrating APC achievements but without any party logos, creating confusion about their political stance.
Many APC faithful reportedly resisted participating, with some sustaining minor injuries after falling off vehicles during the walk.
Following the event, appointees from Mopamuro were allegedly summoned to a meeting where they were given an ultimatum: support the ADC candidate or resign.
The insider claimed this move undermines the rotational arrangement in Yagba Federal Constituency, where Mopamuro is expected to produce the next representative.
“It is astonishing that a sitting governor would order his own appointees to campaign for a candidate of another party,” the source said. “It smacks of double-dealing and raises serious questions about his political intentions.”
Attempts to reach Governor Ododo and Commissioner Fanwo for comment were unsuccessful.
Political analysts warn that if these claims are substantiated, they could spark internal crises within APC and reshape the electoral landscape in Kogi State ahead of 2027.
The Lagos State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has distanced itself from a lawsuit currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja, stating that it neither authorised nor endorsed the legal action.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the party’s state leadership clarified that the suit, reportedly filed on behalf of ADC state chairmen and executive committees nationwide, does not represent the position of the Lagos chapter.
State Chairman Gbenga Asiru said the chapter was not consulted prior to the filing of the case and did not grant approval to any individual or group to act on its behalf.
“The action represents the personal position of the named plaintiffs and does not reflect the stance of ADC Lagos State,” the statement read.
The chapter reaffirmed its commitment to internal democracy, the rule of law, and unity within the party, stressing that while individuals have the right to seek judicial interpretation, such actions must not be portrayed as collective decisions.
ADC Lagos added that it remains focused on strengthening its internal structures and advancing the interests of its members and supporters.
The Labour Party (LP) has scheduled May 23, 2026, for its presidential primaries as part of early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, which was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the timetable approved by NEC, the party will submit its membership register on April 15, while primaries for governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly positions are slated for May 15.
The council also ratified actions taken by the party’s leadership under Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwochocha. These include the conduct of ward, local government, and state congresses scheduled for March 26, 28, and 31, respectively, as well as the national convention fixed for April 11.
NEC reviewed recent developments within the party, particularly the invasion of its national secretariat by suspected hoodlums, allegedly backed by “rogue elements,” describing the incident as a grave violation of party order.
“Following a detailed review of the report and recommendations of the Peace, Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee,” the communiqué stated, “NEC exercised its disciplinary authority and approved the suspension of members involved in acts of indiscipline, anti-party activities, and complicity in the desecration of the party’s national secretariat.”
The party further disclosed plans to expand its membership register through a hybrid system that combines digital and manual processes. It noted that the initiative is aimed at modernising its database, strengthening internal democracy, and improving transparency and efficiency in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
To maintain continuity, NEC resolved that all existing vacancies within party structures would be filled through interim appointments. It added that such positions would be occupied in an acting capacity pending the conduct of substantive congresses.
The council also urged members to adopt internal dispute resolution mechanisms to safeguard unity as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections.