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Economy

Ex-rep Reveals Why Some PDP Governors Defect Over Internal Crisis

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PDP, APC

Ex-rep Reveals Why Some PDP Governors Defect Over Internal Crisis

Ex-rep reveals why Some PDP governors defect over internal crisis. Tajudeen Yusuf, a former member of the house of representatives, says some governors in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are deliberately fuelling internal crises to justify defection.

Yusuf, a PDP chieftain, spoke on ‘Sunrise Daily,’ a Channels Television programme, on Thursday.

He said the party’s problems worsened after it failed to uphold its zoning principle ahead of the 2023 presidential election. “In 2023, we deviated from our fundamental principles of zoning presidency,” the former lawmaker said.

“If you remember, in 2014, the agitation was that Yar’Adua didn’t complete his term and Goodluck Jonathan had taken over, and to a lot of people, he was eating into the time of the north.

“Five governors led by Atiku Abubakar and everybody walked out of a convention in Eagle Square — that was the beginning of PDP’s crisis.”

He said most of those who left returned by 2019, noting that the party chose to zone its presidential ticket to the north to avoid another fallout.

“Atiku emerged in line with that principle. By 2023, it was natural the ticket should have gone back to the south, but some interests who felt they had the capacity to sway the mission made sure there was no zoning,” he said.

“I was at the meeting — I remember saying, ‘If we don’t zone, we will regret this.”
The former lawmaker, who represented the Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu constituency in Kogi for 12 years, said ethnicity and religion still shape political decisions in Nigeria.

“For now, politics in Nigeria cannot be separated from religion and ethnicity. We might get there later when those two take back seats, but not now,” he said.

He recalled that in 2019, all PDP presidential aspirants came from the north, but by 2022, contenders also came from the south — a shift that, according to him, signaled internal divisions.

“So, we find ourselves where we are now. What you’re seeing is that, after the election, those interests began to regroup for the next election,” he said.

“If you observe, PDP governors are now coming together regularly to hold meetings. But I can tell you—they’re not funding the party.”
He said some aspirants exploit the delegate system by banking on bloc support from certain regions.

“Because primary elections are done by delegates, and because of the number of states in some regions, it’s easy for someone to pick the ticket,” he said. “From 2015 to 2019, people worked for this party — someone came and picked the ticket.”

Yusuf described the PDP’s current state as its worst phase in opposition.
He criticised the controversy surrounding the party’s national secretary, saying the issue was avoidable.

PDP, APC

PDP, APC

“It is clear — the secretary of the party is elected at the convention. If you want to remove him, wait for the convention or find a legal route,” he said.

“The supreme court came with a clear position. But governors met and said they do not recognise him. Maybe what happened yesterday in Delta is connected.

“Some of the governors consciously allowed this crisis to continue — just to find a justifiable ground to move.

“Any time I look at it, I ask, how could you, after a supreme court judgment, direct the national working committee to ask the deputy secretary to act? So, by implication, you are extending the frontier of the crisis.”

On Wednesday, Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta state, defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We came to the inevitable conclusion that moving out of the PDP is very, very necessary for us to be able to collaborate with our kith and kin and build that state that every Deltan will be proud of,” Charles Aniagwu, Delta state commissioner for information, announced.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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