According to a statement by the PDP Publicity Office on Saturday, Atiku’s address will centre on issues of serious importance to the nation.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, will on Monday address the press on some crucial national issues.
According to a statement by the PDP Publicity Office on Saturday, Atiku’s address will centre on issues of serious importance to the nation.
This is coming about 48 hours after the Supreme Court dismissed the former vice president’s appeal for lacking in merit and affirmed President Bola Tinubu the winner of the February presidential election.
The statement read, “The presidential candidate of our great party, the PDP, in the February 25, 2023, presidential election and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Wazirin Adamawa, will address a crucial press conference on issues of serious importance to the nation.
“Date: Monday, October 30, 2023. Venue: PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja. Time: 11 am Prompt.”
According to a statement by the PDP Publicity Office on Saturday, Atiku’s address will centre on issues of serious importance to the nation.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, will on Monday address the press on some crucial national issues.
According to a statement by the PDP Publicity Office on Saturday, Atiku’s address will centre on issues of serious importance to the nation.
This is coming about 48 hours after the Supreme Court dismissed the former vice president’s appeal for lacking in merit and affirmed President Bola Tinubu the winner of the February presidential election.
The statement read, “The presidential candidate of our great party, the PDP, in the February 25, 2023, presidential election and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Wazirin Adamawa, will address a crucial press conference on issues of serious importance to the nation.
“Date: Monday, October 30, 2023. Venue: PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja. Time: 11 am Prompt.”
The Labour Party and the ruling All Progressives Congress have disagreed over an alleged plan by the present administration to begin a clampdown on opposition members.
While the LP claimed the clampdown may follow the victory of President Bola Tinubu at the Supreme Court, the APC said there was no truth in the allegation.
The National Chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, had claimed that his party received intelligence that the President may be coming after him, the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi and some chieftains, following his victory at the Supreme Court.
Abure’s claim came after a seven-man panel of the apex court unanimously dismissed the appeals of the LP candidate and his Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, and affirmed Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential poll.https://live.primis-amp.tech/content/video/amp/videoIframe.php?s=113240#amp=1
He said, “It is pertinent to put on record that we have it on very good authority that the government may have marked some Labour Party’s key leaders, myself especially and our leader and presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, in particular for vilification, to suppress the party, suffocate our team, and our goal of a new Nigeria. Related News
“The planned persecution, intimidation, suppression and harassment of our leaders using security agencies and all other government institutions will be defended.
“We are therefore calling on all our members and the Obidient family to be vigilant and brace for the challenges ahead. The struggle
An e-hailing cab driver, Kelechi Uzor, has submitted himself to the Okporo police station in Rumuodara, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State to prove his innocence following the alleged disappearance of a girl he dropped off.
Uzor had reportedly dropped off his passenger identified as Elizabeth Edoukumor, at Harmony Estate in Eliozu, Port Harcourt, but the latter was declared missing hours later.
Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday, Uzor said, “On that 9th of October she booked a ride at Eastern By-Pass (in Port Harcourt).
“So when the lady (Elizabeth) got the permission to enter, I entered the estate, and parked at the residence she was going to. She offloaded her bags because she came with some goods, paid me in cash and I drove off. Related News
“When I entered the estate, I was checked by the security when I was leaving, I was also checked. Later that night a lady called me and was asking whether I picked her (Elizabeth) up from the estate, I said no. That what I did, was to drop her at the estate and left the place.
“After that day, another man called was asking me question if I heard anything if she (Elizabeth) made any call that I could remember, I told him no, that I didn’t listen to her conversation.”
Uzor further explained that the next day, some other people were calling to lure him to a certain area, a request which he declined.
“Since then, I have been getting threatening calls and like the uncle threatening me that I should better bring the girl alive. I went to the police station
A father of three, Alafuro Peterside, who was shot dead by a policeman at a popular bar along Stadium Road in Port Harcourt has been buried.
The late engineer was buried at a private cemetery in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital on Friday.
Tears flowed freely from his family and a myriad of sympathisers during a brief sermon conducted at his graveside, as many who adorned black attires wore mournful looks and they left the venue immediately after he was interred.
Our correspondent recalled the murder of the 42-year-old Peterside in the presence of his wife and children in early August this year had sparked a public outcry with different groups including the Ijaw Youths Congress calling for Justice.
Also, the Chairman of the Rivers State Civil Society Organisation, Enefaa Geirgewill while condemning the incident urged the police to carry out a thorough investigation and not sweep the matter under the carpet. Related News
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Robert Clarke, says the lawyers of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi did not demonstrate professionalism in challenging President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 election.
“I am not saying they (Atiku, Obi’s lawyers) fumbled the case; what I am saying is that they have not displayed a good sense of legal practice,” the legal luminary said on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The senior lawyer’s comment comes hours after the Supreme Court upheld the victory of Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.
The apex court, in its ruling, dismissed the appeals by Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Obi.
A seven-judge panel dismissed the opposition’s appeals over claims of fraud, electoral law violations, and Tinubu’s ineligibility to run for president.
Commenting on the ruling of the apex court, Clarke said there was a lack of due diligence in the appeals, pointing out that the legal representation of Atiku and Obi could have been better.
The senior lawyer said he would not even permit a junior member of his chamber to bring such a brief before the Supreme Court.
“Where the law is not allowed to put its heads up in a proceeding, it means that there is another law which prohibits their lawyers to have brought such. They know it, they still decided — either to please their supporters and allow such a matter to come before the Supreme Court,” he said.
“I will not allow any junior in my chambers, even one or two years old to carry such a brief to go and argue in court when I have looked into all the facts and the facts are very clear. There is a limitation of time in election matters. You cannot do certain things.”
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Clarke said Obi and Atiku’s lawyers had the chance to present their evidence at a lower court but they did not.
“They had the opportunity as a pre-election matter but they never brought it out. They had the opportunity as a matter within a tribunal’s case but they never brought it. They are now coming and bringing matters that should have been argued in the lower tribunal and the Supreme Court will now be reviewing such evidence as an appellate matter and not as an original jurisdictional matter.”
“I am not blaming the lawyers; that is the last thing I would do, but I am sorry to say that the lawyers, with due respect to them, should have done a better job in this regard.
The Labour Party (LP) has rejected the judgement of the supreme court affirming the victory of President Bola Tinubu.
In a unanimous decision on Thursday, the seven-member panel of the apex court dismissed the petitions of Peter Obi of the LP and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 election.
Reacting to the verdict, Julius Abure, LP national chairman, called on the international community to rise and defend democracy in Nigeria.
Abure also described the judgement as “shocking and surprising”.
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“The leadership of Labour Party watched as the sacred fabric of justice and good conscience was shredded today at the Supreme Court as it delivered its verdict in the case between our party, the Presidential candidate and the APC Presidential candidate,” the statement reads.
“We are indeed very shocked and surprised that even the apex Court will toe the line of an earlier judgement in spite of all the flaws associated with the judgement delivered by the Presidential Election Appeal Tribunal.
“Having conclusively exercised our fundamental rights as gifted to us by the laws of the land, we have no other choice but to move on.
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“We may be disappointed and dismayed by the outcome of the exercise, but we have chosen to trudge on and to remain optimistic of what the future holds for the nation.
“However, there are great lessons to be learnt. What transpired in Nigeria since the February 25 presidential election is a clear testament that our institutions are not working and that we may be sliding towards dictatorship.
“It is very clear that the executive has hijacked both the judiciary and the legislature.
“This is so unfortunate for our democracy, and it is even more for the people of Nigeria.
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“All what our forbearers taught us has been destroyed within a short space of time because of the Unbridled ambition of a few.
“The founding fathers fought with their lives to achieve independence for the country. People lost their lives for the struggle to keep our democracy and all these years people have been struggling to achieve electoral and constitutional reforms.
“Regrettably, all of these efforts and struggles have been destroyed today.
“We are also calling on the International community to rise to the occasion to defend democracy in Nigeria.
“Your voices were loud and clear in condemnation of the outcome of the presidential election.
“As we approach the next stage of our democratic journey, we call on you to stand by the millions of Nigerians who are already pushed beyond their limits into unnecessary hardship and penury.”
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Abure urged Nigerians not to lose hope, adding that a new Nigeria is still possible.
There was complete pandemonium, last Friday, in the ancient town of Otukpo, the South District of Benue state town, nick-named “Texas” by residents. That day, daredevil armed men in a commando fashion stormed five commercial banks in the town in a manner never seen before by residents of the town.
The armed men who were said to have assailed the town on motorbikes had earlier attacked Otukpo Police Station where they disarmed the personnel on duty and carted away arms and the two operational vehicles at the station.
After effectively taking charge of the police station, the invaders who could be well over 20, moved to the commercial banks which are all located within the heart of the town and a stone’s throw from each other.
How security barriers were ripped open
With the use of explosives and sophisticated weapons, all security barriers in the banks were ripped apart, allowing the armed men easy access to the banks and their vaults. Huge sums of money were reportedly carted away by the marauders who also seized a car from one of the banks.
The bloody attack also claimed the lives of some police personnel and bank customers who were trapped in the bank premises when the armed men struck. Among those who lost their lives in the bloody attack were, Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, DPO, who was an indigene of the area, Superintendent John Adikwu and three other police personnel including a female police officer, Emmanuella Ankyov.
Also on the list of those who were felled by the bullets of the armed men were the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Township Ward 1 Chairman, Mr. George Uloko, a staff of UBA, Emmanuel Uche who recently joined the bank after having completed his Youth Service. After accomplishing their task, the armed men drove confidently through the town, heading towards the Otukpo-Aliade road with their loot.null
However, police sources in Otukpo said the attack was not a surprise based on the prevailing security situation in the town before it happened. According to sources, the real cause of the attack was the lingering power play between the police in Oturkpo and the Benue state government. “Members of the vigilante group in Otukpo are mainly made up of retired police personnel and retired but active criminals. They have been against each other, drawing bad blood in a supremacy battle.
There’s no synergy between the vigilante men and the police. While the Vigilante men don’t consult the police, the police do not seek the input of the Vigilante men in any way.
State government insensitivity to security
To worsen the matter, the police force in the state is banking on support from the state government. It has become the normal practice for the police to rely on state governors for operations in the state. This is because of the poor funding they face.null
Security usually breaks down in any state where the government doesn’t fully back the police. police sources in Benue say the new government has not invested in them.
Military swings into action
It was, however, gathered that the gang had not gone far when the military and other security agencies gave them a hot chase and intercepted them before neighbouring Taraku in Gwer Local Government Area, LGA, where an exchange of gunfire ensued.
The security person successfully neutralized two members of the gang and recovered one of the snatched vehicles while other members of the gang escaped into the forests.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Otukpo, CSP. John Adikwu and other Police teams in the area engaged them in a gun dwell but were unable to prevent the attack on the banks.
More Police teams, in collaboration with other security agents, were deployed to Otukpo to assist in stabilizing the area and prevent these robbers from escaping.
DPO confirmed dead
“The robbers who were intercepted along Otukpo-Taraku road engaged officers in a gun duel and two of the robbers died in the process. Other gang members abandoned their vehicles and escaped into the forest area and are being chased by the police.
The DPO who sustained a gunshot injury on his stomach and three other police officers have been confirmed dead at the hospital. Other persons who sustained injuries in the bank have been moved to hospital for treatment. Investigation is ongoing at the moment. The command also promised that the fleeing armed men would be apprehended and brought to justice.”https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-7532470883667401&format=348×300&w=348&h=300&ptt=12&iu=7588930240&adk=790993082&output=html&bc=7&pv=2&wgl=1&asnt=0-40054959853057433391&dff=Nunito%2C%20sans-serif&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C375%2C0%2C375%2C667%2C375%2C627&ifi=5&rafmt=13&pfx=0&adf=2605584736&nhd=0&adx=-1&ady=6747&oid=2&is_amp=5&_v=2310111731000&d_imp=1&c=3005132&ga_cid=amp-VOsaRhZncu-boHWsXRc3qw&ga_hid=5132&dt=1698479105709&biw=375&bih=627&u_aw=375&u_ah=667&u_cd=32&u_w=375&u_h=667&u_tz=60&u_his=20&vis=1&scr_x=0&scr_y=4267&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanguardngr.com%2F2023%2F10%2Fbenue-robbery-one-hour-of-shooting-killings-madness-no-police-no-vigilante-witness%2F&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanguardngr.com%2F2023%2F10%2Fbenue-robbery-one-hour-of-shooting-killings-madness-no-police-no-vigilante-witness%2Famp%2F&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&bdt=1102218&dtd=41&__amp_source_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanguardngr.com
Residents still in shock
While residents of the town are still in shock and are yet to come to terms with how the bandits sneaked into the town and audaciously operated and pulled out seamlessly, not a few have gone into fervent prayers to have them arrested.
One of the witnesses, identified as Ene who said she owned a shop close to Zenith Bank and saw how it happened said that about 3:30pm “we suddenly started hearing sounds of gunfire and explosion.
“People started running in different directions. Nobody knew what was happening. It was like what we used to see in the movies. Young men numbering about 20, carrying guns marched into the bank and started shooting, ransacking the bank.
“From that bank, they moved to another until they visited the five banks. The operation lasted about an hour. The people of Otukpo town were held hostage for an hour. There was no police or vigilante to come to their rescue.
We did not know that before the attack on the banks, the gang had already demobilized the police. They earlier attacked Otukpo Police Station, disarmed them and locked up the gate of the station.
Police station was attacked first
“Not knowing what happened, we thought that the police ran and locked their gate. We did not know that they were the first to be attacked by the criminals.
After successfully robbing the bank, we even learned that they threw some of the loot into the street as they confidently drove past and headed towards Taraku-Aliade Road.
“But shortly after, we learned that some military personnel and the police had gone after them and two of the robbers were gunned down while others escaped into the forests. Our prayer is for every one of them to be arrested and punished accordingly.”
Traditional ruler of Oturkpo reacts
The traditional ruler of Otukpo, Och Otukpo Odu, HRH John Eimonye who was also saddened by the attack on his domain described the incident as highly condemnable and evil.
He appealed to his subjects to be vigilant and security conscious and always report strange movements in their neighborhoods to law enforcement agencies.
By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South; Sam Oyadongha; Jimitota Onoyume; Egufe Yafugborhi; Chioma Onuegbu; Ochuko Akuopha; Steve Oko & Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo
NIGERIANS have risen in condemnation of the National Assembly’s decision to import 360 Special Utility Vehicles, SUVs estimated at N57.6 billion for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, saying it was thoughtless and dishonorable of them.
Chairman of the Committee on Senate Services, Senator Sunday Karimi, who justified the decision, while speaking with reporters, Tuesday, in Abuja, wondered why Nigerians were picking on the lawmakers when ministers drive four official cars.
His words, “Somebody that is a Minister has over three Land Cruisers, Prado and other vehicles and you are not asking them questions, why us? “These vehicles that you see, go to Nigeria roads today, if I go home once to my senatorial district, I come back spending a lot on my vehicles because our roads are bad. “I said the decision that we took on using a Land Cruiser is for the cost and durability. Before they came up with this, it was not the senators’ decisions alone; we did an analysis before arriving at land cruisers. “It was based on a comparative analysis of the cost of technical issues and durability on Nigeria roads,” he explained.
Nigerians did not find Senator Karimi humorous, and came hard on the entire lawmakers for being inconsiderate and hard as nails given the prevailing financial quandary.
Lawmakers should resign–Ambakederimo, Convener, SSRG
The Convener, South- South Reawakening Group, SSRG, Elder Joe Ambakederimo, said: “Those who were governors, some few years back, are the ones now complaining of bad roads across the country, after claiming to have constructed world class roads while they held sway in their various states.
9ja Update 
