By Saint Mugaga

The Labour Party (LP), has announced the suspension of Mr. Emmanuel Agida, former chairman of the party in Benue State.

The party also suspended Hon. Hilda Doukubo and Eneyi G. Zidougha, former chairmen of Rivers and Bayelsa states, respectively; as well as ex-national deputy chairman, Dr. Ayo Olurunfemi; former chairman of Bauchi state, Muhammed Sabitu Aliyu; and some erstwhile national and state officials loyal to former national chairman, Julius Abure.

The Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee, which is recognized by the Supreme Court, announced the names of the 26 suspended party members on its X handle.

According to the post, the National Executive Council of the party approved the suspension of Mr. Agida and 25 others.

Recall that the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in a landmark judgement last year, sacked Julius Abure as the national chairman of the party.

In a unanimous ruling delivered on April 4, 2025, the 5-man panel of the apex court effectively removed Abure as the national chairman by setting aside a previous Court of Appeal judgement that had recognized his leadership

Also in January 2026, in another ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the court cited the Supreme Court verdict of 4th April 2025 to declare former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, as the valid national chairman of the party.

The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop recognizing Abure and instead, acknowledge the Senator Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as the legitimate authority representing the party, pending the national convention where new national officials shall emerge.

Other stakeholders suspended by the authority of the Labour Party include: Hon. Lincolin Charles, Ogar Osim, Vincent Okwuokei, Casmir Agbo Uchenna, Simon Zubairu Bamga, Abduljamid Sa’ad Suleiman, Auwala Ahmed, and Ularama Jubrila.

Also suspended are, Grace Zafara Posat, Suleiman Abdurahman Abdul, Ajibade Adekunle Samson, Alexander Emmanuel Ombugu, Elizabeth Ativie, Godwin Jioke, Airen Igbinedion, Osas Frank, Kennedy Ahanotu, Abayomi Arabambi, Umar Faruk Ibrahim, Auwal Tafoki, and Obiora Ifoh.

The party has since fixed its national convention for Saturday, April 28, 2026, to elect new national officials.

By Aliyu Musa

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has announced Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada as his preferred candidate to succeed him in the 2027 general election.

He described the senator as an embodiment of the Muje Maha spirit that has guided his administration’s approach to governance and political inclusivity.

Governor Sule disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with political appointees and heads of government agencies at the Government House, where he explained in detail the process that led him to settle on Senator Wadada as the APC’s most suitable governorship candidate for 2027.

According to him, the process of identifying a successor had been ongoing for over a year, involving wide consultations that went beyond the boundaries of Nasarawa State.

He said the consultations included discussions with foreign and prospective investors, youth groups, women organisations, traditional rulers, party officials and various stakeholders from across the state’s three senatorial zones, as well as selected members of his cabinet.

“We have to look for people who have the capacity to be able to win this election,” the Governor said.

He explained that after exhaustive consultations, the field was eventually narrowed to three aspirants, each of whom was considered capable of winning, adding that further consultations were conducted before a final decision was reached in favour of Senator Wadada.

Gov. Sule maintained that the aspirants from Nasarawa West Senatorial District had responded with commendable maturity, meeting among themselves and agreeing collectively to support whoever emerged as the preferred candidate.

Governor Sule said the aspirants from Nasarawa West had also raised the matter of equitable distribution of elective positions between the two federal constituencies that make up the zone, noting that since the governorship would go to one constituency, they were requesting that senatorial and other legislative positions be distributed to reflect the interests of the other constituency as well.

The Governor said he had no objection whatsoever to that request and gave his full support to the arrangement, urging his appointees to assist in working it out.

Turning to his political appointees, Governor Sule acknowledged that some of them had privately supported various aspirants through the process, saying he understood this as human nature.

He however reminded them that the Muje Maha principle they had all professed demanded that personal preferences now be set aside in favour of collective support for Senator Wadada and all other APC candidates across every elective position.

“Now all the support, if we are sincere about the so-called Muje Maha, now it is the period that Muje Maha is Wadada,” the Governor said.

He added that the same principle of collective support must extend to the APC’s senatorial candidates, House of Representatives candidates and State House of Assembly candidates, stressing that all elective positions must be approached with the same level of unity and commitment.

Governor Sule was emphatic that the choice of Senator Wadada was not a reflection of superiority over the other aspirants, cautioning his appointees against any temptation to mock or disparage those who were not selected.

He said the decision was the product of a careful, multi-dimensional assessment and that any of the three shortlisted aspirants could have won the election.

He urged those who had supported other aspirants to transition smoothly into full support for the party’s preferred candidate without bitterness or division.

The Governor also spoke about the 2027 presidential election, expressing strong confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would record an impressive performance in Nasarawa State, saying that even those who were not favourably disposed to his own administration had expressed willingness to vote for the President.

He described this as one of the most encouraging signs heading into the election cycle.

Earlier, the Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN, had set the tone for the meeting by assuring the Governor that his appointees were fully present, fully committed and ready to carry his message to every corner of the state.

He described the gathering as a test of loyalty that he was confident all those present would pass.

By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as a serial election contestant and loser, who will still contest in 2031.

The Minister was responding to comments by Atiku that the current administration has not done anything positive for Nigerians.

Wike, who spoke during an inspection tour of ongoing road projects in Abuja, said Nigerians would dismiss such criticisms, insisting that visible developments across the FCT tell a different story.

“Atiku is a serial failure. He is a serial contestant and loser and I am sure that in 2031, he will still contest. Nigerians would be laughing at such a person making that kind of statement that nothing positive has been done,” he said.

In a no-holds-barred response, the minister challenged Atiku to compare the state of Abuja during his time in office with what is obtainable today.

“Let him compare FCT now and when he was Vice President. Can he honestly say what we have now is the same as then?” Wike queried.

He maintained that the administration would not be distracted by political attacks, stressing that governance must continue regardless of the election season.

“The election will come, but people must work. Contractors are not part of the election,” he declared.

Amid the political fireworks, Wike assured residents that key road projects linking satellite towns would be delivered on schedule, boosting connectivity and easing pressure on the city centre.

He revealed that the Airport–Kuje road project is nearing completion, with one part of the bridge set to be opened for use next week.

“From Airport Junction to Kuje, one part of the bridge is almost completed. Before the end of May, the entire job will be handed over,” he said.

On the Kuje–Gwagwalada road, the minister said the first phase of the dualisation project, spanning about seven kilometres, would also be completed before the end of May.

“I am happy with the progress, we are satisfied with the quality of jobs being delivered,” he added.

Wike noted that the ongoing projects would transform Kuje into a major hub, attracting residents and investors, and reducing congestion in Abuja city.

“Very soon, Kuje will no longer be a satellite town. People will move there, build houses, and the pressure on the city will reduce,” he said.

The minister also dismissed allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the FCT Administration attempted to frustrate its convention by targeting the Rainbow Event Centre.

“I don’t even know where that place is, there was no interference from anybody. These people should just stop looking for sympathy,” he said.

He challenged the party to produce evidence of any correspondence with the office concerned with themanagement of theEagleSquare, insisting that due process was not followed.

Wike further assured that ongoing projects would not be slowed down by political activities, revealing that over 80 per cent of planned works would be completed before January.

“Our focus is clear deliver projects, improve lives, and keep Abuja moving,” he said.

The inspection tour is part of efforts by the FCT Administration to ensure contractors meet deadlines and deliver quality infrastructure across the territory.