News

Presidency: Atiku Sets Up Anti-Rigging C’ttee

Published

7 years ago

January 4, 2019

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has constituted an anti-rigging committee to counter alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to suppress votes in his stronghold in the February 16, 2019 election.
A source close to the former vice president told newsmen that Atiku’s major concerns about the 2019 presidential election are the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“In a free and fair election, Atiku is confident of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari. However, given the intelligence reports at his disposal, INEC and security agencies are the main obstacle to his winning the 2019 election. This informed the setting up of the anti-rigging committee,” the source said.
The identities of the anti-rigging committee are still being guarded.
Atiku is hoping to make a big haul of votes from South-South, South-East and North-Central geo-political zones in the presidential election.
But there are fears that APC might militarise the zones to whittle down the chances of the party in these areas to favour President Buhari.
The anti-rigging committee is to work directly with the presidential candidate, the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and the organs of the party.
Its duty is to, among other things, pre-empt any rigging strategy of APC, raise early rigging alert, check plot by the ruling party to rig the election, as well as mobilise local and international groups against electoral malpractice.
According to the source, PDP’s fears that the election might not be free and fair were heightened by President Buhari’s refusal to assent to the 2010 Electoral Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly.
He further disclosed that the party does not have confidence that the electoral umpire will conduct free and fair elections.
“What happened in Ekiti and Osun states is clear to everybody. Buhari is not ready for free and fair election. That is why we are taking pre-emptive measure,” he stated.
Another source stated that PDP has uncovered plot by the ruling party to suppress the support base of its presidential candidate.
“We know that the Operation Python Dance campaign by the military is to help APC rig the presidential election.
“There will be heavy military presence mostly in the South-South, South-East and then, North-Central. These are PDP areas.
“That is why our party is rejecting it. We are not in a war situation. The military should go to North-East and Zamfara State where there are insurgents and cattle rustlers.
“There is no threat to peace in the South and North Central zones,” the source who asked not to be named, said.
Kola Ologbondiyan, Director, Media and Publicity of PDP, however, said he was not aware of any plan by the party to create anti-rigging committee.
He disclosed that what the party is demanding from INEC is transparency in the conduct of the election.
“We are demanding that international and local observers should be allowed into INEC’s situation room where the transmission of votes will take place.
“You recall in 1993, it was clear that Abiola was winning because of transparency.
“So, instead of INEC locking themselves in one situation room and manipulate the election, they should allow the European Union (EU) and United States (U.S.) observers to participate in the collation of results. That is how we can guarantee transparency,” Ologbondiyan stated
Spokesperson of APC presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo (SAN), said PDP is suffering from depression.
“They have ran out of ideas, ran out of what to say. They are now talking like demented fellows. They have said this million times without proof. That is sign of depression,” Keyamo said.
INEC said the position of PDP did not represent the general opinion of Nigerians.
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the allegation has become the familiar song by the party, which Nigerians were tired of hearing.
Oyekanmi advised PDP that it is not compulsory for any political party to field candidates in the 2019 general elections, especially if that political party does not have confidence in the electoral body organizing it.
“If you are a student who wants to sit for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and you don’t have confidence in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), then you don’t have any business sitting for the examination. You can go to Ghana, Sierra Leone or the Sudan to sit for an equivalent examination.
“There are 74 political parties taking part in the presidential election. Let those who have confidence in INEC participate and we will not disappoint them.
“Nigerians have confidence in the Commission and we are happy about the feedback we are getting,” he added.
Also, INEC said it is not considering the party’s demand at the moment.
INEC’s Director, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP), Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said that there is no country that allows international observers in its situation room.
Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that disbursement of PDP’s campaign funds would be done at ward level and “not to an individual.”
“Other members of the ward will have to be present and the money has to be accounted for.
“We discovered that in 2015, many people collected campaign money and disappeared. We don’t want it to happen this time around.
“The national chairman has given orders that every party member must deliver his or her ward. If you are strong go to your ward and work. We don’t want Abuja politicians. Many of these people hanging around Wadata Plaza (PDP National Secretariat) are not known in their wards,” the source said.
Before now, PDP had declared “operation deliver your ward” to its members as basis for political reward.
Atiku, at a meeting with members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) immediately after securing the party’s ticket, insisted that reward system would be based on electoral performance of members.

News

NDLEA Intercepts Drugs Hidden In Clothes, Garri

Published

2 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine and various opioids concealed in walls of cartons used to package cloths and other items going to the United Kingdom and Australia.

Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement shared on X yesterday confirmed the interdiction.

According to him, “The two seizures were recorded at a courier company in Lagos on Friday 15th May 2026 during examination of shipments going to the UK and Australia.

“A total of 170grams of cocaine sealed in cellophane parcels and buried in the walls of a carton of cloths heading to Australia were recovered.

“A wide range of opioids including: 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 1,100 capsules of tramadol and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection were recovered from another carton which has United Kingdom as its final destination”.

“In FCT Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Monday 11th May arrested a 29-year-old businessman Ogadi Peter who specializes in producing drug laced cakes and cookies for parties and social gatherings in the capital city.

“Following credible intelligence, he was traced to his home in Life Camp area of the FCT where he was nabbed while 800grams of skunk and 2.70kg drug laced cookies recovered from him”.

“In Delta state, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 10th May, raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani local government area where they destroyed 27,500 kilograms of skunk on 11 hectares of farmland and recovered 22.9kg of same substance while a 52-year-old suspect Ifeanyichukwu Peter was arrested in a follow up operation at Obiaruku.

“A similar raid in Orogun village, Ughelli North LGA on Tuesday 12th May led to the destruction of 37,500 kilograms and recovery of 55.4kg of same psychoactive substance on 15 hectares of farm as well as the arrest of 30-year-old Godwin Vincent Osadera.

“This brings the total weight of skunk destroyed by NDLEA operatives supported by soldiers in the two operations to 65,000 kilograms”.

“In Kaduna State, 361kg of skunk was recovered during a raid operation at Dan Magaji area of Zaria town on Wednesday 13th May. and a suspect Husaini Suleiman, 42 ,was arrested.

“A large cache of military-grade ammunition was intercepted by NDLEA officers on patrol along Abuja-Kaduna highway, Kaduna on Tuesday 12th May.

“A suspect, 35-year-old Abdullahi Hassan was caught conveying the 1, 989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm concealed in fresh white cassava granules locally known as garri.

“Both the suspect and exhibit have since been transferred to another security agency for further investigation’.

Also, a total of 181kg skunk was recovered from a suspect Aliyu Sani when NDLEA operatives raided the Ogere area of Ogun state on Wednesday 13th May, while another suspect Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa, 27, was arrested with 105,850 pills of opioids including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5 along Zaki- Biam road Wukari LGA, Taraba state on Thursday 14th May.

In Oyo State, two suspects: Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, were arrested on Thursday, 14th May at Challenge II, Saki town, in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies.

NDLEA also said a total of 1,388.4175 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on two farms on Friday, 15th May when NDLEA officers raided Ago forest, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo state.

A 25-litre jerry can of palm oil used to conceal 1.2kg pills of tramaking 225mg was recovered from Kofar Ruwa motor park in Kano on Monday, 11th May following credible intelligence while a suspect Aminu Isa, 35, was arrested at Sabuwar Sharada area of the state same day with 30.5kg skunk.

The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week including: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of The Apostolic Church Model College, Ijokodo, Ibadan Oyo State; School of Health Technology, Lambata, Niger state; Yewa Junior High School, Agege, Lagos; Government Secondary School, Yardaje, Katsina; Igogo Commercial High School, Igogo Ekiti and Government Girls Secondary School, Magwan, Kano state; among others.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Delta, Kaduna, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, FCT and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

News

Five Die In Abuja Building Collapse

Published

2 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market in the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday morning.

Ten other persons were rescued alive from the rubble, according to the media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, who provided an update on the incident via his X handle on Saturday.

Olayinka further stated that the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, who visited the site, disclosed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had directed that “all casualties be given free medical treatment.”

According to him, emergency responders continued efforts to evacuate more victims believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

Officials of the Federal Fire Service, health workers, security agencies and local volunteers were at the scene working to rescue victims.

Recall that in April, six persons were injured following a similar collapse of a two-storey building under construction in Jikwoyi within the AMAC area.

News

Odu Charges Newlyweds To Build Marriage On Love

Published

2 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has charged newlywed couples to build their marriages on the virtues of love as taught in the Word of God.

Prof. Odu gave the charge at the wedding ceremony of Amblessed Favour Sunny-Cookey and Samson Jesuganji at Lifegate Power Ministries, Dominion Cathedral, in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

This was contained in a statement by the Head of Press, Deputy Governor’s Office, Owupele Benebo last Saturday.

The statement identified the bride as the daughter of Pastor Sunny Cookey, the Founder and Presiding Pastor of Lifegate Ministries.

The deputy governor congratulated the couple on a new phase of life, and prayed for God’s blessings upon their union, noting that the couple were raised by godly parents and encouraging them to uphold the Christian values instilled in them.

Referring to the sermon delivered during the ceremony, Odu emphasized that the principles of love and submission remain fundamental to a successful marriage.

According to her, genuine love reflects the nature of God, stressing that love should remain the foundation of the couple’s relationship as they journey through life together.

She prayed for enduring peace, happiness, and progress in their home, expressing confidence that the marriage would continue to flourish under God’s guidance.

The deputy governor commended the families of the couple for their support and upbringing, while urging the newlyweds to always remember the significance of the day and the commitment they had made before God and witnesses.

In his sermon at the wedding, the Founder and Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, stated that marriage did not originate from Western culture, traditions, or human ideas, but from God, whom he described as the “manufacturer” of marriage.

According to the cleric, couples seeking lasting and peaceful homes must rely on biblical principles rather than societal trends or assumptions.

He explained that many marital crises and rising divorce rates stem from ignorance and failure to apply scriptural teachings in family life.

Drawing from the biblical parable of building a house on a rock, Ibiyeomie said the Word of God remains the only solid foundation capable of sustaining marriages through challenges and difficult times.

He noted that marriage naturally comes with unexpected realities and pressures, stressing that religious ceremonies or cultural practices alone are not enough to sustain a home without proper understanding of God’s instructions.

The pastor further warned that ignorance of scripture remains one of the greatest weapons against believers, urging Christians to study and practice the Word of God rather than merely attending church services.

The ceremony had many ministers in attendance including Apostle Zilly Aggrey, Pastor George Izunwa, and Bishop Winston Iwo.