Politics
‘AC Can Do Without Princewill’
The Rivers State Chairman of Action Congress (AC), Suage Badey finally took up the gauntlet by saying that the defection of Prince Tonye Princewill to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a blessing.
He made this known with other critical issues affecting the political landscape of the state during an exclusive interview on phone with The Tide on Sunday. He confirmed that the Action Congress (AC) has in recent times experienced massive defection of its prominent members including the party’s governorship candidate in the 2007 election, Prince Tonye Princewill with his supporters to the (PDP) in the state.
Mr Suage Badey said the defection of Prince Tonye Princewill to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was a blessing and natural, stating that people should be allowed to defect to parties of their choice.
Mr Badey stated that AC in Rivers State was united and strong to face the challenges of 2011 elections in the state, adding “it is mere speculations that Action Congress as a registered political party is weak in Rivers State rather defection should be better viewed that an individual can move to any political party of his choice”. He further stressed that such individual movement would not negatively affect the electoral fortune of the party.
The Action Congress chairman emphasised that defection would not be an issue because dynamism and changes remained constant in human life, and therefore, to him “the defection of Prince Tonye Princewill is a good omen for the Action Congress to actually reorganise and reposition itself to face the challenges of good governance and internal democracy within the party.
Mr Suage Badey said that Action Congress remains resolute as the only party out to deliver good governance, accountability, transparency and implement people oriented policies for Rivers people and Nigerians, stressing that “the mere fact that Action Congress is a registered political party means the party is also governing the people of Nigeria.
On the issue of state creation, especially creating another state out of the present Rivers State, Mr. Suage Badey added that the Action Congress believes that Rivers State is ripe for an additional state to be created out of the present conglormerate of ethnic groups called Rivers State.
He said, “I support the agitation for another state out of the present Rivers State be it Bori State or Orashi State, but the obvious is Bori State because of the margnalisation of the people and the devastation of the environment”.
He further added that the Action Congress leadership will support the creation of a viable state that can economically sustain itself, not state created to satisfy a particular political unit without economic sustainability and resources.
The Action Congress chieftain added that Nigeria should emulate how states are administered in other countries before any consideration of states creation, saying that “states are better administered in South Africa and Ghana and I expect Nigeria to learn one or two lessons from these countries before creating any state in the future”.
Action Congress believes in purposeful, result oriented and transparent leadership with a clear vision of expanding the infrastructure for the social welfare and security of the people and not leadership that sees state creation as an opportunity of bringing state resources closer to them for mismanagement and self aggrandisement.
On the issue of 2011 general election, the Action Congress chairman added that the party was prepared to challenge the ruling party in the state with purposeful programme and policies to better the lives of Nigerians, he said AC is always prepared and remained committed to transparent leadership, people oriented politics to take Nigeria to economic sustenance among the comity of nations.
Mr. Badey appealed to Rivers people and the Nigerian electorate to be more proactive. “Nigerians must ensure that their rights are not trample upon, people should come out and ensure their votes count in determining their elected representatives and candidate.
On the issue of the new Electoral Law recently passed by the National Assembly, the Action Congress Chairman said that AC is yet to hold its NEC meeting to examine the Electoral law 2010 in relation to the forthcoming general elections and provision for emergence of candidates with the financial implication for campaigning during the elections.
“Therefore, I believe that more can be done to improve the Electoral Law and enhance democracy in Nigeria”.
Philip Okparaji
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.