General
CNPP Urges Abure to Resign as Labour Party National Chairman
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Mr Julius Abure has been advised to resign as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) amid controversies trailing his leadership of the opposition political group.
This advice was given by the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr James Ezema.
CNPP is the umbrella body of all registered political parties and associations in the country.
The group said the leadership of LP, which gained momentum after the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, joined the party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general elections, mismanaged the crisis it is going through at the moment.
The party recently held a national convention, which was disowned by some party executives and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The event was not attended by Mr Obi, its candidate in the 2023 presidential election won by Mr Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In its statement issued on Sunday, CNPP applauded INEC for resisting pressure to endorse the outcome of the contentious national convention of the party.
“In view of the obvious lack of internal democracy in most of the political parties in Nigeria, INEC has done well for the sake of advancing our democracy by resisting obvious pressure to use its officials to endorse the outcome of the recent contentious national convention organised by a faction of the party.
“Therefore, we call on Barrister Julius Abure to make himself the hero in the crisis by tendering his immediate resignation as the National Chairman of the party,” it said.
The group further said, “Nigeria is supposed to be a liberal democracy, where inclusive representation, rule of law, and protection of the rights and liberties of individuals within the political parties must be encouraged by all democrats and democratic institutions.
“It was against this backdrop of the lack of inclusivity that characterised the build-up to the convention held in Anambra State, making it contrary to the Federal High Court’s judgment of Friday, July 23, 2021, which ordered parties in the Labour Party leadership tussle “to maintain status quo ante bellum in order not to disturb the rest of the matter pending further order of the court.”
“In the same vein, in the judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/866/2014 between Labour Party and 3 Ors. vs. Com. Salisu Muhammed, the court unequivocally declared the Labour Party as an institutional political party founded, promoted, and registered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on behalf of the Nigerian workers.
“In this light, the Julius Abure faction of the party misfired by holding the purported national convention of the Labour Party when it fell short of “an expansive and inclusive” exercise as ordered in a widely publicised subsisting court order.
“Leaving out NLC and other critical stakeholders in its consultations ahead of the convention was a miscalculated move as we recall that the former national chairman of Labour Party, High Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, on leaving office, submitted the Labour Party’s certificate of registration to the union in recognition of Labour Party as an institutional political party founded, promoted, and registered by the NLC.
“For us, the current leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party is needless and avoidable if basic ingredients of democracy, including inclusivity, justice, and accountability, were observed,” the CNPP stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos International Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos State was shut down on Wednesday by traders protesting the proposed takeover of the facility by state and local government authorities.
The aggrieved demonstrators emphasised that the complex belongs to the federal government, and if there is a transfer of ownership to the state and local governments, then stakeholders should be carried along.
They expressed concerns that handing over the trade fair complex to the duo could be disruptive, and traders may have to pay more taxes and levies, which will, in turn, result in higher prices of goods.
In protest of the planned takeover, the traders yesterday locked up their shops, especially those in the ASPANDA Market segment within the facility, where spare parts are sold.
Apparently worried about the situation, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms Jumoke Oduwole, visited the market to talk to the traders.
She urged them to reopen the complex, as efforts are being made by the federal government to resolve the issue amicably.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court order to extend the detention of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Nasir El-Rufai.
This order gives the anti-graft agency ample time to finalise its investigation into allegations against the former governor, which has now deepened as a result of some new findings.
Subsequently, the new order, which was granted on Tuesday in the presence of Mr El-Rufai’s lawyer, will expire on Thursday, March 19.
However, Mr El-Rufai’s lawyer, whose application to quash the first remand order was declined by a Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari, has returned to the same court to nullify the latest order.
Justice Okechukwu John Akweke has fixed March 17 to decide whether or not he should set aside the latest detention order.
He said, “Upon hearing and listening to the prosecuting counsel, Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha Esq., praying this Honourable court for the following orders:
“An order of this Honourable Court issuing a remand warrant against the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in favour of the Applicant, i.e. Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to detain the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in its custody for another fourteen (14) days pending conclusion of investigation activities on allegations of Money Laundering/abuse of office.
“And for such other or further order(s) as this Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances. It is hereby ordered that: Application granted as prayed.
“That the Applicant, i.e. the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ICPC is hereby ordered to re-detain the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) for an additional 14 days to enable the commission to conclude investigation activities.
“That the return date shall be the 19th day of March 2026, for the report of compliance.”
The scrutiny of Mr El-Rufai by the ICPC follows the report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s ad hoc committee constituted in 2024 to investigate finances, loans and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023 under his eight-year administration of the state.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has begun evacuating willing Nigerians in Iran, escorting them across the Armenian border to ensure their safety amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The evacuation follows the growing crisis that began on February 28 after coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The attacks triggered retaliatory missile and drone strikes across parts of the region, raising fears of a wider conflict.
The chief executive of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in a post on her X handle on Tuesday.
She said officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the evacuation of Nigerians who wish to leave the country and are facilitating their safe passage into Armenia.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also reassured that no Nigerian in Iran has so far been affected by the ongoing tensions, noting that embassy officials remain stationed at the border to receive and assist evacuees.
Her post read, “Willing Nigerians [are] being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian embassy in Iran for safe passage. No Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the war as officials remain at the border to receive all who want to leave.”
The development comes as tensions in parts of the Middle East continue to raise concerns over the safety of foreign nationals residing in affected areas.
For repatriation flights, the NiDCOM chair said the airspace is currently unsafe but assured Nigerians in the Middle East that the Federal Government team is on standby to evacuate them.
“And as for repatriation flights, the skies are currently unsafe to fly. Luckily, a flight came in from the UAE to Lagos two days ago, just before another strike and the closure of the airspace.
“Once the airspace opens, the multi-agency FG team on crisis and evacuation is on standby. Our prayers are with you and all our people in affected countries,” she said.
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