News
PDP To Kwara Governor – Elect : Your Statement On Offa Robbery Is A Misstep
By Steve Oni, Ilorin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state has replied the state governor-elect, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on his reported plan to interface with the police on the issue of Offa robbery incident.
The party in a statement by its state publicity secretary, Tunde Ashaolu expressed the belief that AbdulRazaq is ignorant of the issues concerning the Offa robbery case.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who has just been elected as next Governor of Kwara State in last Saturday election to the effect that he will probe the Offa robbery incident after he is sworn in.
“While we consider it the prerogative of a Governor to choose what will be the priority of his administration, we believe this statement suggested one of three things is happening to the Governor-elect. He is ignorant of the issues concerning the Offa robbery case and has been given a wrong briefing, he does not understand how criminal investigation and prosecution process works or he is just outrightly mischievous. He may also just want to start his administration by overheating the polity.
“Whichever one is the case, we in the Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will like to let Mr. AbdulRazaq know that the police have comprehensively investigated the Offa robbery case and sent their reports to the Director of Public Prosecution in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on two different occasions. And on each occasion, the DPP gave a clean bill of health to both the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and incumbent Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed.
“It is also on the basis of these concluded investigations which started in the state and later moved to Abuja and the legal advice from the Office of the DPP of the Federation that the suspects are now being prosecuted in the High Court in Ilorin.
“We therefore wonder what investigation Mr. AbdulRazaq still wants to conduct on the issue which the then Inspector General of Police had worked on and in which the DPP stated clearly that no prima facie case has been established against the duo of Saraki and Ahmed.
“However, if this is a priority to him, he should feel free to pursue it. We are sure that just like the previous efforts to implicate the leaders of Kwara PDP on the Offa robbery case ended as exercise in futility, this new project Mr. Abdulrazaq wants to embark on will end the same way. Mr. AbdulRazaq was insinuating in his statement that there was a cover up of some politicians in the investigations into the case but this is far from the truth. The whole world knows that the then IGP who directed the investigation could never favour PDP leaders.
“Also, we need to state it clearly that if in its first public statement Mr. AbdulRazaq sent a strong signal that he would lay emphasis on victimization, demonization and witch-hunt rather than talk about governance and the need to diligently serve the people, he may actually have also indicated that the peace, stability and development of the state will not be a priority to him.
“Mr. AbdulRazaq should know that though our leaders have trod the path of peace by congratulating him and others who emerged from the last elections, if the style he wants to adopt in governing Kwara State is to blackmail and witch-hunt people, we shall be ready for him.
“Our leaders have made it clear that we are willing to give him the opportunity and co-operation he needs to provide good governance for our people. However, if his interest is to jeopardize the peace and create disharmony in the state, we shall be ready to show him that we have the capacity to match his war-mongering. A word is enough for the wise.”
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
Kwara: Security Team Kills Two Bandits, Rescues Two Kidnap Victims
Kwara: Police Launch Investigations Into Killing Of Farmer On Farmland
Kwara: Joint Security Team Arrests Alleged Cultist, Recovers Firearm
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