Politics

Ondo SDP Unveils Reconciliation Committee

Published

6 years ago

November 8, 2019

The National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has constituted a 29-man Ondo State Reconciliation and Development Committee to reconcile aggrieved party members in the state.
The party, in a letter signed by Alhaji Shehu Gabam, its National Secretary, named Mr Olugbemi Ogunbameru, as the Chairman and Pastor Tunde Akinola as the Secretary of the committee.
The letter named Ogunbameru, the immediate past secretary of the party in the state, as the chairman of the committee.
The letter read in parts: “At the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on the 9th Oct., 2019, the attention of the committee was drawn to the dire need to reconcile all sections of Ondo State SDP and create a strategic template for development of the party in the state.
“Consequently, the NWC, in consonance with Articles 12.5.5 (i-iii) of the constitution of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), as amended, 2018, has constituted Ondo State Reconciliation and Development Committee (ODSR and DC) under the supervision of the National Vice Chairman, South-West.
“The NWC approved your appointment as Chairman and Chief Development Officer of the committee.” the party said.
The party listed the terms of reference of the committee to include identifying aggrieved current and past party members, deploy conflict management mechanism, skills, and fact to reconcile them and get them back to the party.
The committee is to recommend “practical methods” of sustaining reconciliation and development within the state chapter.
It is also expected to “identify pragmatic procedures for accomplishing re-organisation and streamlining of the party’s operations in accordance with the guidelines from the National Headquarters.”
“The NWC also expected the committee to accomplish massive recruitment of fresh members, especially youths and women across the state, through contact and mobilisation, promotion, publicity and propaganda.
“The National body equally expected the committee to accomplish generation of funds consistent with the relevant provisions of Article 17.1 of the constitution of the SDP, as amended, 2018,” the party stated.
The committee members are Mrs Bose Ogunleye, Dr Sola Agboola, Mr Olumide Ogunleye, Hon. Festus Etobo, Hon. Oyibo Priye, Revd Alagbala Meduoye, Hon. Sunday Odonla, Hon. Babatunde Omojuwa and Hon. Femi Kekereowo.
Others are Hon. Odunayo Oyebode, Hon. Rotimi Akande, Princess Mary Akinfolarin, Hon. Femi Akinmurele, Mrs Omolara Oyewole, Chief Bankole Aladegbaye, Revd Joseph Awe, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan and Hon. Yinka Opawole.
The rest are Hon. Femi Adejare, Hon. Tope Adebambo, Hon. Sunday Adedoyin, Hon. Jeffery Abidoye, Hon. Jimi Abraham, Prof. Femi Olaleye, Mr Adebayo Yusuf, Revd Martins Falodun and Mr Femi Awoniyi.
“The tenure of the committee shall be 90 days from the date of this letter or as may be determined by the National Chairman.
“The chairman and committee members are expected to familiarise themselves with the party’s constitution and new policies and guidelines by the SDP,” it said.

Politics

Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.

The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”

Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.

The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.

The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.

At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.

Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.

The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.

However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.

According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.

Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.

The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Politics

APC Resumes Electronic Membership Registration Nationwide

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the resumption of its electronic membership registration exercise across the country.

In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.

He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.

“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.

According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).

The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.

Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”

He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.

The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.

Politics

AKPABIO, DIRI, OBOREVWORI, OTHERS VOW TO REELECT TINUBU …AS GIADOM RETAINS APC ZONAL CHAIR

Published

3 days ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has declared that with the six South-South states now being controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the zone is set to return the highest votes cast for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He stated this in Asaba, Delta State, at the party’s zonal congress, noting that the coming together of the governors of the region in the APC was made possible by its zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom.

Senator Akpabio also praised the outgone zonal chieftains of the party, saying they worked hard for the unity of the party and the zone.

“Now that we are complete and focused, we will be the geo-political zone in Nigeria that will turn out the highest votes in 2027 for President Tinubu.

“In the last 46 years or so, our region had not produced a senate president. But under President Tinubu, the South-South region is recognised. We thank the president for giving the South-South a senate president”, he said.

In his speech, the Bayelsa State Governor, and Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Senator Douye Diri, described the APC adoption of the consensus option for electing its officials as the best way to foster unity and consolidation in the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He expressed satisfaction that politically, the South-South zone now speaks with one voice under the APC, stressing the need for the region to be part of the decision-making process at the national level.

The governor recalled that when he contested for the governorship in 2019, the delegate election process for primaries in the political parties made the exercise rancorous, saying

the slogan then was that without delegates, there will be no governor, but that that has since changed with the consensus mode.

“I like to align myself with the previous speakers on the unity of the South-South zone. In this region politically, the South-South now speaks with one voice. This is important because of the strategic nature of the zone.

“If you are not on the sharing table, in terms of decision-making process, you will be left behind. We need to be united that we will not allow petty divisions among us.

“Let us work together for the unity and protection of APC in the South-South and God willing, all our candidates will come out tops in the 2027 elections. There cannot be anything better than a united family.

“Let me congratulate President Bola Tinubu for his remarkable achievements so far. Political events such as elective congresses like this were usually filled with rancour and violence. But, today, we have adopted the consensus model to produce our party executives from the wards to the regional level”, Senator Diri said.

In their goodwill messages, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and others all spoke on unity of purpose to be able to re-elect the President for a second term.

Meanwhile, Chief Victor Giadom was returned as the party’s zonal chairman alongside seven other zonal executives of the party.

Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, moved the motion for the dissolution of the immediate past zonal executive of the party and was seconded by his Bayelsa State counterpart, Abraham Ingobere.

In his remarks, the reelected zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom, said the gathering of the six governors of the region, lawmakers, ministers and other major stakeholders was an indication of the zone’s commitment to return all APC candidates in next year’s poll.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa