The Labour Party (LP) has distanced itself from its former Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, stating that he is no longer a member of the party.

Okonkwo, in a statement on Tuesday, had announced his resignation from the LP, citing internal crises and leadership struggles as reasons for his departure.

According to him, the party was not ready for the 2027 general elections, and its leadership had failed to resolve its challenges.

“My entrance to politics is for good governance, and I will continue to work for it to ensure that Nigeria becomes a great country of incorruptible men. This aim can no longer be realised within the Labour Party as presently constituted,” Okonkwo had declared.

He had also accused LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, of prioritising personal interests over the party’s progress, while lamenting the lack of effective leadership at the national level.

However, the LP leadership dismissed his concerns, asserting that Okonkwo was only trying to gain attention.

Speaking in an interview with PUNCH, the National Secretary of LP, Umar Farouk, made it clear that Okonkwo had already left the party and accused him of seeking relevance by repeatedly announcing his resignation.

Farouk also dismissed the actor-turned-politician’s criticisms of the party’s leadership crisis, advising him to return to his Nollywood career instead of meddling in politics.

He concluded by stating that Okonkwo was not suited for politics and should focus on his acting career instead.

He said, “How many times is he going to resign from the party? Has he forgotten that he resigned about three, four or five months ago? It is only when he wants to find relevance that he opens his mouth to start talking again. I have already addressed that issue with him.

“He just finds joy throwing Abure’s name around. That is why everytime he seeks relevance, he starts talking Labour Party and Abure. Let him go. He has been in APGA, PDP and the APC. So what is he doing in Labour Party?

“Let him carry his bag and return to Nollywood where he came from. He should leave us alone. He doesn’t deserve to be in any political party because he is not a good politician.” 

By Suleiman Ibrahim, Abuja.

The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to the purported suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great Party, Distinguished Senator Adolphus Wabara from the Party

The NWC categorically dismisses the purported suspension as null and void and of no effect whatsoever not being consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down Rules of our great Party.

For emphasis no State Working Committee has the power to suspend or take any disciplinary action against a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party without due recourse to the NWC as clearly provided under Section 57 (7) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017)

Section 57 (7) is unambiguous in providing that; “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly…”

The explicit import of Section 57 (7) is that the Abia State Chapter has no powers whatsoever to take any disciplinary action against the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, being a member of the National Executive Committee of the Party.

The PDP therefore condemns the purported suspension of Senator Wabara as reckless, unconstitutional and cautions those behind this act in defiance of the PDP Constitution to retrace their steps as the NWC will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary actions to preserve the stability of our Party and the sanctity of its Constitution.

The NWC calls on all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters of our Party in Abia State, the South East Zone and indeed across the country to disregard the purported suspension.

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary

By Suleiman Ibrahim

The crisis rocking the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) seemed to have deepened. In a communique issued after the 54th National Convention held in Lagos, the party insisted that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Engr Buba Galadima, and Ahmed Ajuji-led NWC remain expelled, Leadership Newspaper Report

NNPP, in a communique signed by the chairman of the Convention Committee, Engr Mohammed Babayo Abdullahi, maintained that the convention adopted the recent nationwide concluded congresses by the party in all wards, local government, states and six geopolitical zones

The communique posited that the convention reaffirmed BOT’s decision, returned Dr Agbo Gilbert Major’s led NWC, and retained the NNPP Constitution 2022 as amended.

“The Convention appealed and encouraged INEC to implement and enforce the Abia State High Court’s compelling judgment of November 1, 2024, upload the new NWC members of the latest Nigeria People’s party led by Dr Agbo Major Gilbert, and replace the Dr Ahmed Ajuji-led NWC, which has been expelled from the party before.

“The existence of Dr Ahmed Ajuji led NWC in the INEC server is complete disobedience to court orders and disrespect to rule of law in Nigeria. The convention, therefore, calls to duty the chairman of INEC, Prof Yakubu Mohammed.

“The convention reaffirmed the vote of confidence on the founder and chairman board of trustees of the new Nigeria People’s party in the person of Dr Aniebonam Boniface Okechukwu

“The convention reaffirmed the termination of the NNPP memorandum of understanding with the Kwankwasiyya and national movements after the 2023 general elections.

The convention observed and clarified that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as a natural person, is not known to the New Nigeria People’s Party. He was merely a servant and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement. This means that with the termination of the memorandum of understanding with the Kwankwasiyya movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is gone with his principal.”

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By John Audu, Abuja.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed allegations of failing to support President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, asserting that he has moved on from such claims.

In a statement made on Monday, El-Rufai, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), addressed the ongoing political discourse surrounding his involvement in the election that saw Tinubu secure victory against main opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

El-Rufai’s comments come in response to a recent tweet from an X user, Yusuf Tukur, who suggested that Tinubu and his allies had sought El-Rufai’s support prior to the election but later accused him of not backing the president effectively. Tukur’s tweet highlighted the perceived ingratitude of Tinubu’s camp in light of El-Rufai’s past contributions.

In reaction, El-Rufai took to his X handle, emphasizing that his political actions were driven by a sense of duty rather than personal gain. “We did what we did for God, country, and party, expecting nothing in return,” he stated. “What is unfolding is merely another life experience and part of human nature. We have moved on, but their conscience won’t let them sleep well. Thanks anyway.”

El-Rufai further clarified his position on governance, expressing his disdain for political pretense and likening some politicians to actors. “Truly, I don’t know how to pretend. Being a Nollywood actor in governance is for some others, not for some of us,” he remarked, reinforcing his commitment to authenticity in political leadership.