News
Soludo set to endorse Tinubu! *President will celebrate gov’s good works – APGA
Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, is set to join in the blanket endorsement of President Bola Tinubu, who is due to arrive the state on Thursday, in what is likely to be a quid pro quo arrangement, both seeking re-election, the former in November this year and the latter, in 2027.
Regardless that Peter Obi, one of the strongest opponents of the President is from the state, Soludo, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who is also in Tinubu’s economic team is enthused by his “bold and courageous” even though his last but one predecessor believes that Nigeria is heading south under the President’s watch.
Recently, while hosting reporters ahead of his three-year anniversary, Soludo had praised the President’s policies, such as removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira, Nigeria’s local currency, saying that they were good economic moves, notwithstanding the sufferings that had come with it.
An indication that Tinubu, would also likely to endorse the former CBN boss, came at the weekend with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the platform on which Soludo won election in 2021, sounding upbeat about the President’s impression of his performance after taking power on March 17, 2022.
Reports say that APGA is already having a serious rift with the All Progressives Congress (APC), said to be feeling a sense of loss that Tinubu’s visit could mean endorsement for Soludo, against its candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, which might not augur well for the ruling party, in the bid to add Anambra to its coffers to complete its agenda of taking over the entire southern.
Already, neighbouring Delta State, is now completely APC, after Sheriff Oborevwori, emptied the entire Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), structure which had remained in the state since 1999 and on which platform he was elected into the ruling party, a fortnight ago.
Last week, Umo Eno, Oborevwori’s counterpart in Akwa Ibom, who had earlier announced that he would be supporting Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, for reasons he said he would proffer at a later date, indicated that he was also porting out to the PDP, which he described as a damaged aircraft, a recant of his earlier position that he would not be defecting from the party.
Chinedu Obigwe, National Coordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum, while dismissing the misgivings of the APC, indicated that Tinubu’s coming would be a good omen for both the party and the its government, saying that it would be used to celebrate the tall achievements in the state.
Some of the landmark projects, which the President, is expected to commission, include the new Anambra Government House, Governor’s Lodge and Presidential Lodge projects, as well as
Solution Fun City, Ekwulobia Flyover Bridge project, among others.
Chiding the APC, he said: “The above referred news report should be ignored by sane minds because it’s the handiwork of my pay-as-you-go writers. They are only doing their best to justify the millions of naira they collected.
“Anambra is peaceful and calm like ice water. What the president is coming to do in Anambra is to celebrate Governor Soludo’s achievements in office with the people of the state, and such presidential gesture will serve as encouragement to other governors.
“The achievements of Governor Soludo’s administration are worth celebrating because, since the history of our state’s creation, no governor can boast of doing what Soludo did in the state within a short space of three years and two months.
Obigwe accused the APC candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu of buying support for his governorship ambition through such propaganda, claiming that the people of Anambra are celebrating Governor Soludo’s achievements and expressing overwhelming support for his second term.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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