CODIFIER

By Wilson Macaulay A Yoruba indigenous rights group, under the aegis of  the Yoruba Rights Initiative, has condemned what it alleged to be the dispossession of 1,355 hectares of land in Eti-Osa in Lagos State from an 85 year old man, Pa Faloye Awosika, by two individuals of Southeastern extraction, Samson Nnadi and Jerry Erondu, through their real estate development company, Carter-Tech Ltd. Addressing newsmen over the weekend in Lagos, the group, through its Convener, Bamidele Adebanjo, and spokesperson, Eniola Fafunwa, alleged a case of gross injustice and naked oppression done to Yoruba people in Yorubaland by certain individuals from the Southeastern part of the country that had recently come to its attention. The group said:  "This case involves an 85 years old Yoruba elder, Pa C. Faloye Awosika, who has been most heinously duped of his land of 1,355 Hectares in Eti-Osa, Lagos State, by one criminally inclined fellow, Samson Nnadi and his equally crooked busin...

A Coalition of 25 civil society organisations have called on security agencies to caution political parties against activities that could plunge states into serious crisis, ahead of the off-season governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.  The Civil Society Organisations, in a communique issued after a three-day election preview on the three states, specifically singled out the Social Democratic Party's slant of activities in Kogi State as an example of what security agencies must caution stakeholders against.  According to them, the wild allegations and ethnic profiling which have become the hallmark of the SDP's campaign in Kogi State, "are  capable of compromising the peace and security of the electorate, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, election observers and other candidates in the state."  The CSOs said they came to this conclusion after painstakingly monitoring campaign strategies of various political parties participat...

The Ofu Local Government chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State has welcomed over 500 new members into its fold ahead of the 2023 Governorship elections in the state.  A former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Oduh Akowe, along with his supporters from PDP, SDP and NNPP, were, on Tuesday evening, received into the party at the Ofu Local Government Secretariat Ugwolawo.  The event was graced by high-profile politicians such as the APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, Elder Joel Salifu Oyibo; Kogi East Zonal Chairman of APC, Hon. Muhammed Nasiru Alfa; Senator representing Kogi East, Isah Jibrin Echocho; House of Representatives member for Idah Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. David Idris Zacharias; and Kogi State House of Assembly member for Ofu constituency, Hon. Seidu Shehu Amodu, among others.  The Zonal Chairman of the party, Alfa who welcomed the new members assured them that they would be fully integrated and given equal opportunity to...

His Excellency, RT Hon (Elder) Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State, in continuation of the celebration of his "FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE"  on Thursday  14th , September 2023   Commissioned  the 2.6 km Okpolo/Enhwe/Uwheru  Road (Phase 2) amidst pomp and peagantry to the glory of God. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori the Delta Chief Executive in the course of Commissioning remarks stated that irrespective of the paucity of funds, the  State decided to embark on this Road Project due to the  fundamental need to mitigate the chalenges of perennial flooding in the Area. The Governor clarified and reaffirmed that his administration is  committed to giving equal attention to both Rural and Urban Roads in the State,  hence the recent  Exco approval of three flyovers to be constructed in Warri and Uvwie to   Check the problem of persistent traffic gridlock in Warri and Effurun  Metropolis...

...Describe her status in state as 'very controversial' ...Say 'we have enough female politicians that we've not appreciated' Women from the 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State, on Tuesday, dissociated themselves from a celebration of the tribunal victory of a Senatorial Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.  The women, who addressed the press in Asaba, the state capital, said they would have not bothered to raise an eyebrow on the tribunal victory but for the senatorial candidate's "media congratulatory stunt", which focused on Delta women.  The Convener, Delta State Grassroots Women, Umukoro Oghenekevwe, who addressed the press on behalf of others, pointed out that the media stunt compelled them to set the records straight and publicly dissociate the good women of Delta from the purpoted celebration of someone who allegedly "has a very controversial status in Delta State."  The women, who sa...

. To unveil next line of action soon The crisis rocking the Kogi State Chapter of the People's Democratic Party took another dimension on Thursday, as a former Deputy Governor of the State, Arc Abayomi Awoniyi, officially dumped the party "after 25 unbroken years of loyal and dedicated membership and service."  Awoniyi, who served as Deputy to former Governor Idris Wada, conveyed his resignation in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the PDP in Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State, dated 31st August, 2023.  Though he has not officially indicated his next line of action, and did not give specific reasons for his exit from the PDP, his resignation might not be unconnected with his dissatisfaction with the last Governorship primary of the party, an exercise he termed a "farce".  There are also strong indications that he will be joining the All Progressives Congress very soon.  The letter, titled, "Letter of Resignation from the Peoples De...

Senator Sadiku Abubakar Ohere representing Kogi Central Senatorial District has expressed optimism that he is confident of victory, as he heads to Appeal Court.  Abubakar stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen this evening.  The statement reads, “I received the judgement of the Tribunal with great shock.”  “Particularly worrisome is the aspect bordering on the Tribunal’s decision that as Respondent, I ought to have filed a cross-petition to be able to challenge votes in an election petition.” “I feel strongly that, that decision is contrary to Paragraph 15 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022. As a matter of fact, I presented before the Tribunal through my team of lawyers a decision of the Appellate Courts which held that a Respondent does not need to file a cross-petition to challenge votes in an election petition, if the ground for challenging the election is “majority of lawful votes”.  “While I am wai...

...Look elsewhere for votes, Kogi not available for other parties, Sanwo-Olu tells opposition  The Chairman of the National Campaign Council for Kogi State Governorship Election, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, on Saturday, assured the All Progressives Congress' supporters that the national leaders of the party across the country would work together and provide all the necessary support to ensure overwhelming victory for the APC Governorship Candidate, Usman Ododo, on November 11, 2023.  Describing Kogi as an APC state, he said, from the reality on the ground, it was clear that there was no vacancy for any other party in Lord Lugard House.  Gov. Abiodun spoke at the inauguration of the Kogi State National Gubernatorial Campaign Council held in Lokoja.  He noted that, with the inauguration of the Campaign Council, election victory had begun in Kogi State, and commended the  resilience and hardwork of Governor Yahaya Bello, which he said had led to the restor...