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Ex-Lagos PDP Chairman, Tunji Shelle Joins ADC

On Saturday, a former Lagos State PDP Chairman, Tunji Shelle, announced his resignation from the party and officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Shelle was received alongside other PDP stalwarts and some Labour Party members at an affirmation ceremony in Lagos, where he accused the PDP of being plagued by “gross indiscipline and endless crises.”

Among those who defected with Shelle were a former PDP Board of Trustees member, Abimbola Ogunkelu; another ex-state PDP Chairman, Muritala Ashorobi; PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos East), Tai Benedict; former Youth Leader, Niyi Adams; and ex-South West Secretary, Rahman Owokoniran.

They were formally welcomed into the ADC by the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and other leaders.

Speaking on the reasons for his defection, Shelle said PDP leaders had failed to address what he described as the destabilising activities of some national figures. He specifically accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) while still claiming PDP membership.

“Wike cannot hijack the party, and the rest of us continue to look as if we are helpless or we are no human beings. I don’t take it. I don’t like being subjected to such ridicule. One man cannot say he is working for APC while on the other hand keeps holding PDP to ransom. I think the leaders are compromised,” Shelle said.

He declared that his defection, along with other top leaders, had further weakened the PDP in Lagos.

“PDP is now empty with all its leaders moving to ADC in Lagos,” he added.

The former Lagos PDP boss described the ADC as a party filled with “tested and trusted politicians” capable of challenging the ruling APC in 2027.

“There are no distractions in ADC. The party leaders are not people anyone can buy over. ADC has all it takes to save the situation in Nigeria and give the people the country of their dream,” Shelle stated.

He expressed confidence in the leadership of David Mark, the Interim Chairman, and Rauf Aregbesola, noting that both men had the capacity to steer the party to victory.

Other defectors echoed Shelle’s sentiments. Former South West PDP Secretary, Rahman Owokoniran, said: “PDP has lost track. PDP is gone, there is nothing there. ADC is the only opportunity to challenge the ruling APC.”

Similarly, PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos East), Tai Benedict, remarked that many more party members were set to dump the PDP.

“We are emptying PDP members in Lagos State into ADC. Others are on the way; they want to take their last supper before coming,”he said.

Former PDP Youth Leader, Niyi Adams, claimed that more than 5,000 members had already defected across the 20 local government areas of Lagos.

According to him, the defectors were determined to work “assiduously to ensure victory for ADC in the 2027 general elections,” stressing that he did not believe PDP could resolve its crises even after its planned national convention in November.

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NDLEA Arrests Nigerian Widow For Using Fake Pregnancy To Traffic Cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 50-year-old widow and fashion designer, Mrs. Ifeoma Henrietta Ezewuike, for attempting to smuggle 1.3 kilograms of cocaine while posing as a pregnant woman.

Ezewuike, who runs a fashion outfit, Golden Star Creation, in the Okota area of Lagos, was apprehended at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, on Friday, August 22, 2025, while attempting to deliver the drug consignment to customers in Abuja.

A statement released by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said a follow-up operation at her residence in Ago Palace Way, Okota, led to the recovery of 200 grams of cutting agent used in processing cocaine.

Babafemi said in her statement to investigators, Ezewuike, a mother of one, claimed she inherited the drug trade from her late husband, who died two years ago, despite being in the fashion business for over 20 years.

“A 50-year-old widow and fashion designer, Mrs. Ifeoma Henrietta Ezewuike, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to traffic 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, using fake pregnancy as a façade to escape scrutiny and detection.

“The widow who is a mother of one and proprietress of Golden Star Creation, a fashion outfit in Ago palace way, Okota, Lagos, was arrested at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba area of the state on Friday, 22nd August 2025, while attempting to move the cocaine consignment to customers in Abuja.

“A follow-up operation at her house in the Ago palace area led to the recovery of 200 grams of cutting agent used in the production of a strain of cocaine. In her statement, Ezewuike claimed she inherited the criminal trade from her husband, who died two years ago, while she has been in the fashion business for 20 years,” the statement partly read.

In related operations, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives intercepted 90 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 48.6kg, concealed in three cartons of kitchen sinks imported from the United States.

He said the seizure was made at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 19

“Not less than 90 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 48.6kg, imported from the United States of America and concealed in three cartons of kitchen sink were intercepted at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, 19th August by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation,” Babafemi said.

In Adamawa, he said NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Friday, 22nd August, raided the home of a notorious drug dealer, Idris Garba, who scaled the fence to escape arrest while one of his associates, Boniface Nnaji, 55, who attempted the same, was caught in the act at Rumde Baru area of Yola South.

“Recovered from the premises include a black Toyota Thundra jeep marked FST-885-CZ driven to Yola by Nnaji to supply Garba 354,480 pills of tramadol 225mg, 250mg and others as well as a Toyota Yaris car with registration number DSA 776 AA”, he added.

In Kano, Babafemi said the duo of Buhari Ibrahim, 25, and Mansur Musa, 24, were nabbed at Zangon Ungogo, with 5,850 capsules of pregabaline on Tuesday, 19th August, while a total of 452,070 pills of opioids were recovered from the home of a suspect Rabilu Mukhtar, who is at large, at Rangaza, Ungogo LGA, just as Buhari Idris, 35, was arrested at Tashan Rami area of the state with 140 litres of codeine syrup, both on the same Tuesday.

“Fewer than 7,000 capsules of tramadol were seized from Adamu Yusuf, 29, along Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora area of the state on Saturday, 23rd August”, he added.

In Abuja, he said two dispatch riders were arrested for distributing illicit substances.

According to the statement, similar crackdowns were recorded in Taraba, Edo, Delta, Ondo, and Ekiti states, where NDLEA teams destroyed large cannabis farms and warehouses.

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They Both Belong To Us – Akwa Ibom Gov Pledges Support For Comfort Emmanson, Ibom Air

Pastor Umo Eno, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, has pledged support for Comfort Emmanson, the embattled passenger involved in a confrontation with Ibom Air.

The governor equally pledged support for the airline, which is owned by Akwa Ibom State government.

Emmanson is also an indigene of Akwa Ibom.

Eno, who did not disclose the nature of the planned support, said Emmanson and the the airline “belong to Akwa Ibom State hence should be supported”.

Recall that Emmanson following her altercation with the crew members was remanded and later pardoned by the aviation minister, Festus Keyamo.

She claimed in an interview that she had been traumatized and unable to move around and interact with people any longer as her body had been unduly exposed .

Speaking during a grand reception held for him at his home local government area – Nsit Ubium – on Saturday, Eno advised that Akwa Ibom people should not join the fray in apportioning blames either to the airline or the passenger, who he said might have made mistakes.

He said, “We will continue to support our flagship airline , the Ibom Air. Every Akwa Ibom person should be proud of the airline which has flown our colours.

“Our money is invested in Ibom Air, so you should be proud of the airline. If there was any crisis, do not join issues with others who are spoilers because they don’t love good things.

“Whatever had transpired, we will solve the problem. It was a small mistake, both parties belong to us. The lady is our daughter. When two people fight, there is always the third person to separate the fight.”

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UNIZIK Reacts Following The D3ath Of Diabetic Law Student At University Medical Centre

Nnamdi Azikiwe University has released the findings of its investigation into the de@th of a 100-level law student.

Miss Isabella Chioma Ajana died on July 9, 2025, three days after she was rushed to the school’s medical centre with complications arising from her diabetic condition.

According to Ms. Ajana’s roommates at Elmada hostel, they had lost their room key and approached the hostel mistress for a spare key but the mistress allegedly insisted they paid N120,000 to get the spare, meaning, the three roommates had to pay N40,000 each.

The girls said they did not have the money so they pleaded that Ms. Ajana desperately needed her insulin medication but the hostel mistress “did not budge.”

This they said, led to the decline of Ms. Ajana’s health and it ended in her de@th days later at the University Medical Center.

Reacting, Nnamdi Azikiwe University released a statement on Friday evening  August 22, announcing that the medical personnel at the University Medical Centre who handled Ms. Ajana’s case have been suspended for three months by which time investigation would have been concluded and their fate decided.

As for the hostel mistress, Unizik stated that Elmada is a jointly owned hostel but is privately managed.

The institution demanded that the management of Elmada hostel should sack her “as a matter of urgency”. Unizik added that they will re-evaluate their partnership with the hostel going forward.

See the full statement below…

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2027: PDP Governors In Closed-Door Meeting

Nigerian State Governors elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are reportedly holding a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

Although the detailed agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed, the meeting is widely expected to address pressing national issues, the party’s internal strategy, and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Discussions are also anticipated to focus on the forthcoming PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) convention, scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.

The meeting comes at a time of heightened political activity across Nigeria, with major parties positioning themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle.

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For the PDP, which lost the presidency since 2015 to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), internal cohesion has been a recurring challenge.

The planned NEC convention in November is expected to play a significant role in addressing factional divisions and setting the tone for the party’s campaign machinery.

Analysts say the choice of Zamfara for the gathering is also symbolic, as the PDP currently controls only a handful of northwestern states.

Strengthening the party’s presence in the region is seen as key to regaining national influence.

The PDP Governors’ Forum, which serves as a coordinating body for all PDP governors, has traditionally played a major role in shaping party direction and policy. ,

Its resolutions often influence decisions taken at the national level, particularly in times of internal crisis.

As the closed-door session continues, Nigerians and party faithful alike await details of the communique expected at the end of the meeting.

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NDLEA Arrests 27-Year-Old With N10m Worth Of Cannabis In Kano

The Kano Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 27-year-old suspect, Umar Adamu-Umar, for allegedly being in possession of 9 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa (Colorado) valued at over N10 million.

This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Kano by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari.

He said that the suspect, a resident of Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State, was arrested on August 6, along the Zaria–Kano Road by the operatives of the NDLEA attached to the Kiru Area Command of Kano.

According to him, the suspect was intercepted while conveying 19 parcels of the illicit substance from Lagos to Kano.

“The suspect confessed to being involved in the illegal drug trade and had been under surveillance by the command for some time,”Muhammad-Maigatari said

He explained that the interception dealt a major financial blow to the trafficking network as it denied traffickers substantial revenue, disrupted their supply chain and reduced funds available for further criminal activities

“Removing this quantity from circulation also helps protect vulnerable communities from the social and economic harms associated with the trade in narcotics,” he added.

The spokesperson said the Strategic Command under the leadership of Mr Abubakar Idris-Ahmad would intensify patrols and intelligence‑led operations to curb drug trafficking in the state.

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EFCC Invites CBEX Crypto Scam Victims To Lagos, Ibadan Offices To Assist Investigation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged Nigerians who lost funds to the fraudulent online trading platform Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) to visit its Ibadan and Lagos offices to assist with investigations into the alleged multi-million-naira scam.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency disclosed that three suspects — Adefowoara Abiodun Olanipekun, Otorudo Avwerosuo, and Ehirim Justice Chukwuebuka — are already facing prosecution over their alleged roles in the scheme.

The EFCC said CBEX lured unsuspecting Nigerians with promises of mouth-watering returns on cryptocurrency investments but eventually collapsed, leaving many victims stranded and devastated.

According to the Commission, the fraudsters operated through offices in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Idimu, Lagos, where several victims invested funds they could no longer retrieve.

“The scheme led to serious financial losses for Nigerians who invested their funds with the promise of unrealistic returns on investment.

“In view of the foregoing, and the need to assist the Commission in its ongoing investigation, the EFCC is inviting victims who invested their funds through individuals linked to the CBEX offices in Ibadan and Idimu, Lagos, to report to its Ibadan Zonal Directorate and Lagos Zonal Directorate 2,” the statement partly reads.

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Why Nigeria’s Judiciary Is Deeply Compromised – Obasanjo Speaks

On Friday, former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo voiced concern that Nigeria’s judiciary is now “deeply compromised.”

Obasanjo noted that corruption among judges has turned Nigerian courts into “court of corruption rather than courts of justice”.

The ex-President made the assertion in his new book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’, published by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

The former Nigerian leader lamented what he described as the “steady decline of the judiciary’s integrity”.

“The reputation of the Nigerian judiciary has steadily gone down from the four eras up till today. The rapidity of the precipitous fall, particularly in the Fourth Republic, is lamentable,” he wrote.

The former military Head of State equally stated that justice had become commodified in Nigeria, with dangerous consequences for the nation’s stability.

“The great fear of most well-meaning Nigerians and good friends of Nigeria is that where ‘justice’ is only available to the highest bidder, despair, anarchy, and violence would substitute justice, order, and hope.

“I went to a state in the North about ten years after I left public office. Next to the government guest house was a line of six duplex buildings.

“The governor pointed to the buildings and stated that they belonged to a judge who put them up from the money he made from being the chairman of election tribunals,” Obasanjo said.

He accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, of undermining the electoral process since 2015.

“No wonder politicians do not put much confidence in an election which the INEC of Professor Mahmood Yakubu polluted and grossly undermined to make a charade,” he added.

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They Want To K!ll Me – Sunday Igboho Speaks On DSS Raid

Sunday Adeyemo, the Yoruba freedom fighter, who is popularly known as Igboho, has claimed that the Department of State Services (DSS) invaded his home in an attempt to k!ll him.

Igboho was declared wanted after confronting Fulani herders accused of k!lling farmers in the South-West, as well as for championing the Yoruba Nation agitation.

On July 1, 2021, DSS operatives stormed his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, in an effort to arrest him.

During the raid, the activist evaded capture and later fled to Benin Republic, where he was arrested at the airport while attempting to travel to Germany. He subsequently faced trial there before being released following interventions by Nigerian leaders.

Igboho, however, claimed that the operatives fired multiple shots at him during the invasion but that divine intervention saved his life.

Speaking at the palace of the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, he said: “When my house was invaded, they wanted to k!ll me but failed. Some said my intestines were shattered, others said my leg was broken, but there was nothing of such.

“They fired guns at me very well, but the prayers of you, my fathers, on me were answered.”

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2027: I’ll Run With Peter Obi – Datti Baba-Ahmed Says

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential running mate, said on Friday that he is open to contesting alongside Peter Obi again in 2027.

Baba-Ahmed stated that he would consider running with Obi if Nigeria’s electoral system improves.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he said: “If Nigeria is still around and there is an electoral system to follow, my love for Nigeria is undying, mark that.

“I will appropriately associate with groups and individuals I think are like minded.”

On the possibility of still running with Peter Obi, he said: “Absolutely, if you had heard what I was saying on air two months ago, there are two individuals that I would succumb to.

“The first has not said, so I won’t say it on his behalf, and the second one is Peter Obi and always Peter Obi until he decides not to.”

When asked if he would consider running with Rotimi Amaechi, he said: “The first person is not Rotimi Amaechi. Amaechi is a good guy. By the way, why do you think that I have to be a deputy? Don’t keep looking at me like a deputy.”

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