News
Zamfara PDP Guber Aspirant Risks Arrest For Contempt
By Lateef Taiwo
. Leaders of the coalition of ethnic nationalities have called for the immediate arrest of former PDP governorship flagbearer, Dauda Lawal for organizing a rally after a court of competent jurisdiction disqualified him along with all candidates in the last primary elections.
The ethnic coalition which held it’s meeting over the weekend , in Lagos in a communique jointly signed by the representative of Ohaneze Ndigbo youths world wide, Maxi Okwu Nnabuike, Yerima Shetima President Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Comrade Eric Oluwole , President Yoruba Youth Council , Abubakar Kurawa , Arewa lawyers progressive Forum and Comrade Isreal Uwejenya , president Niger Delta Youths Council on behalf of the other 87 coalitions who participated in the meeting have called on the Inspector General of police to immediately arrest Dauda Lawal, for holding illegal rally after his disqualification to participate in the last election by a Court of competent jurisdiction.
” We cannot fathom why a former PDP governorship candidate that has been disqualified from the party primaries should ignore the decision of the honorable court and carry on as if nothing has happened. This is a smear on decorum, abuse of judicial verdict and a classical example of contempt of court. We are shocked by this development because we expect those advising the PDP candidate to have warned him about the risks of contempt of court.
We hereby call on the Inspector-General of Police to expedite action on this matter, in the interest of Rule of Law, democracy and social justice.”
The Coalition stated that “There are other incidents of court nullification of primaries and Zamfara is proving to be an exception, for the wrong reason.The whole world knows that court initially nullified the primaries that produced Emmanuel Bwacha and Aishatu Binani as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidates for Taraba and Adamawa states respectively. And the two candidates stopped their rallies immediately. And proceeded to the Court of Appeal and won back their cases. Unlike the former Zamfara PDP governorship candidate, Binani and Bwacha halted their rallies immediately after the court verdict and later proceeded to Court of Appeal to challenge the judgement of the lower court. But the former Zamfara PDP governorship candidate would not respect the law.”
It further stated that “We learnt that the former PDP candidate has even boasted that he has held meetings with the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police( CP) before embarking on the rally, and this could be the exact reason why the CP has failed to take the appropriate action by investigating and sanctioning Dauda Lawal.We have reason to suspect that the CP is compromised. We urge the IG of Police not to spare the Zamfara PDP governorship candidate, as his arrest should serve as deterrence to others, because no Nigerian citizen should consider himself as above the law, moreso under a democracy.”
” We also call on INEC to consider disqualifying PDP candidate Dauda Lawal even on the grounds of sponsoring thuggery for physical assault and injury to innocent Zamfara people and the destruction of Billboards.
We read reports about the arrest of the thugs but we believe that doing so is not enough as their sole sponsor Dauda Lawal – should have been arrested same time as his terror gang members, because he is number one suspect.
We advise the IG of Police to also replace the current CP of Zamfara because the aloofness of the police in the State, on this weighty issue that requires prompt arrest of Malam Dauda Lawal smacks of suspicious moves to cover up contempt case. We also want the Director-General of DSS in Abuja to replace the Zamfara DSS boss as we suspect he is compromised as well. ”
The Coalition decried the occasional political violence in Zamfara state ” There is no justification for violence unleashed by these thugs in a fragile State like Zamfara unless there is deliberate plot to reverse the gains made by Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle in the fight against insecurity”
The Coalition urged the Nigeria Bar Association ( NBA)on the needs to wake up to its responsibility of protecting and promoting the interest of the judiciary. Politicians are disobeying court order deliberately, thereby ridiculing the authority of the institution of judiciary. This must be stopped.
…Commend NCDC, 20-Year North Central Development Plan
Youth groups have hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for regional development following the establishment of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and other regional development commissions.
The groups made the commendation in separate statements on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the NCDC in Abuja.
The President of the Nigerian Youth Congress, Jethro Annum, and the NYCN State Chairman of Niger State, Ambassador Abdullahi Muhammed Ishaq, who spoke on behalf of the NYCN North Central Chairmen, described the NCDC as a catalyst for development.
They said the Commission’s 20-year development plan reflects the need for long-term planning and aligns with the broader development vision of President Tinubu for the country.
Similarly, the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI), in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Danesi Momoh, and the North Central Youth Mobilization and Sensitization (NOCYMS), led by Hon. Iorwuese Ayo Fidelis, commended the NCDC for convening a broad stakeholders’ engagement aimed at developing a clear and sustainable development direction for the region over the next 20 years.
The engagement, which brought together key stakeholders and voices from across the North Central region, was described as a significant step towards developing a plan that reflects the aspirations, realities and potential of the people.
The youth leaders described the initiative as timely and forward-looking, stressing that young people and students must remain an integral part of conversations about the future of the region.
They noted that the North Central is home to millions of young Nigerians whose energy, skills, ideas and innovation can contribute significantly to the region’s economic and social transformation when provided with the right opportunities.
“Students and young people are not only beneficiaries of development; we are also partners in building the future we desire. Any 20-year development plan for the North Central must therefore give serious attention to education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, technology and youth participation,” they said.
The youth representatives further assured the NCDC of their readiness to work closely with the Commission and other relevant stakeholders to advance initiatives that will create meaningful opportunities for students and young people across the region.
They expressed confidence that sustained collaboration among the Commission, governments, educational institutions, organised youth bodies, traditional institutions, the private sector and other stakeholders could help translate the region’s enormous potential into measurable and sustainable development.
…Commends Commission, Urges Quarterly Engagements
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone C, has called for sustained inclusion of students and young people in the North Central Development Commission’s (NCDC) 20-year development agenda.
The association made the call while commending the NCDC for convening a broad stakeholders’ engagement to shape a long-term development direction for the region.
The Coordinator of NANS Zone C, Comrade Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said students and young people must not be treated merely as beneficiaries of development, but as active partners in shaping the future of the North Central.
According to him, the region’s large youth population represents a significant pool of energy, skills, ideas and innovation that can contribute to economic and social transformation if properly harnessed.
“Students and young people are not only beneficiaries of development; we are also partners in building the future we desire,” he said.
Babatunde said any 20-year development plan for the region should give serious attention to education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, technology and youth participation.
He described the NCDC stakeholders’ engagement as timely and forward-looking, saying it provided an important platform for different interests across the region to contribute to the development conversation.
Also in attendance was Comrade Anzaku Shedrack CNS, Head of Emergency and Disaster Management, NANS, who represented the NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde GCNS.
Shedrack commended the Commission for the initiative and urged it to sustain similar engagements quarterly.
He also assured the NCDC that NANS was pleased with the 20-year development roadmap and would continue to support the Commission in advancing initiatives aimed at developing the region.
NANS Zone C further pledged to work with the Commission and other stakeholders to promote initiatives capable of creating opportunities for students and young Nigerians across the North Central.
The association called for continuous engagement with the student constituency, stressing that their experiences, concerns and ideas should form part of the region’s long-term development agenda.
It expressed optimism that sustained collaboration among the NCDC, governments, educational institutions, organised youth bodies, traditional institutions, the private sector and other stakeholders would help unlock the region’s potential and promote inclusive growth.
Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta.
Imo Lawyers for the Defence of Democracy have called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to stop what it termed public attacks on Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, saying political disagreements should be resolved through democratic dialogue and constitutional means.The group made the call in a statement signed by its Secretary, Ifeoma Chukwunyere on Friday, September 18, 2026, amid what it described as increasingly personal exchanges between Wike and Uzodinma over political developments within the All Progressives Congress.The lawyers said the APC Governors’ Forum had rejected what they described as Wike’s “Rainbow Coalition” political arrangement, arguing that the disagreement should be addressed with the forum rather than through personal attacks on Uzodinma.According to the group, the forum’s position was based on concerns that the political arrangement could weaken the APC or create divided loyalty within the party.“We recognise the constitutional right of every Nigerian, including public officials and political actors, to express political opinions, criticise policies and participate in political activities,” the group said.“However, that freedom must not become a licence for personal attacks, intimidation or unnecessary escalation.”The lawyers said Uzodinma, as the governor of Imo State, should be allowed to discharge his responsibilities without political exchanges creating tension capable of affecting the peace and stability of the state.They urged Wike to desist from further public comments concerning the governor, insisting that political disagreements should focus on policies, programmes, political positions and verifiable facts rather than personal exchanges.The group also warned political actors against turning Imo State into a battleground for political supremacy.“Imo State is not a battlefield for political supremacy. Its people have the constitutional right to choose their leaders and determine their political future without undue interference, intimidation or external pressure,” it said.The lawyers further called on political parties, leaders, supporters and media platforms to avoid inflammatory language that could provoke confrontation.They urged Uzodinma to continue to operate within the Constitution and the laws of the country, while allowing relevant political and legal institutions to handle legitimate disagreements.The group also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to encourage restraint among political actors, particularly in relation to the dispute between Wike and Uzodinma.Addressing Wike directly, the lawyers said: “Mr. Minister, Imo State belongs to its people. You are not from Imo, so stay off Imo.”They stressed that disagreements over political strategies, elections, alliances and political actors in the state should be settled through democratic debate and constitutional processes.The group said it would continue to monitor developments affecting constitutional governance, democratic participation, political freedom and peace in Imo State.“Our position is simple: Democracy must prevail. The Constitution must prevail. The rule of law must prevail,” the statement added.
IGP Disu meets Niger governor over deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners
Tinubu Orders Probe Into Deaths of Suspected Illegal Miners in NSCDC Custody
-
Uncategorized6 years agoFG, states urged to harness flooding for ranching, others with technology – Agbaje
-
Headlines11 years agoBreaking: EFCC seals Borno House of Assembly, as Hon members take to their heels
-
News12 years agoNigeria Security Operatives Stage Manhunt For Homosexual Perpetrator
-
News10 years agoHow 21-year-old Girl fled community over accusation of lesbianism
-
News11 years agoYobe Gov Moves Against Deputy
-
Opinion7 years ago7 signs she has friend zoned you
-
Technology5 years ago
Online job placement company headhunts women
-
Headlines10 years agoBorno Dep Gov Abducts Another Church Leader