Governorship flag bearer of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State, Professor Greg Ibe, has denied signing any agreement with the party for alleged monthly returns of N2.2 billion if elected Governor in 2023. Ibe dismised the claims made by one of the APGA governorship aspirants, Chief Chikwe Udensi, who lost to him at the primaries as untenable cheap blackmail. According to Ibe the “ridiculous allegation” is only the figment of the imagination of the peddler who he described as “a drowning political desperado”. The governorship hopeful in a press statement by the Head of his Media Team, Sleek Ogwo, urged members of the public to disregard the misleading claims. It read in part:”Our attention has been drawn to a false and misleading online publication, unfortunately credited to Chief Chikwe Udensi, having as caption,”N2.2 billion monthly settlement of APGA Leadership with Abia Money: Emergence of Ichita vindicates Chikwe Udensi”, through which the promoter deliberately deployed canard and mendacity to attempt to denigrate and disparage the person of Prof Gregory Ibe, the Abia state candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for 2023 general elections, and sought to generously award some modicum of validity to his dwindling political profile, while aiming to misinform and thereby deceive the the public. “Our immediate response to this desperate attempt by Chief Chikwe Udensi, who after coming a distant fourth at the governorship primary election of 29 May 2023 seems to tarry too long at licking his wounds, would have been to maintain silence while focusing on the weightier matter of preparations for the 2023 general elections, but for the purpose of setting the records right, we hereby state as follows: “That contrary to the deluding information contained in false publication, Prof Ibe didn’t enter into any form of agreement, neither before, during or after the said election, to remit the sum of #2.2M to the leadership of APGA or any other group for that matter. “That this apparently baseless, libelous and malicious accusation is at best a figment of the warped imagination of the anonymous author of the article. “That Prof Ibe’s motive in offering himself for the job of Abia state Governor is to volunteer quality service aimed at transforming the state, leveraging his vast experience as a globally acclaimed technocrat, human capital resource expert, international development consultant and renowned academic, and not to indulge in the ignoble act of ‘sharing’ state funds. “That, Chief Udensi, who remains a BOT member of APGA should show leadership and desist from acts reminiscent of the callousness displayed by the wicked mother in the bible, who desired King Solomon to deploy the sword in dividing and sharing her neighbor’s living child into two parts just because she lost hers in the course of the night, out of her own careless disposition. ” That Abians, and indeed the general public, are once again enjoined to discountenance this baseless accusation and rather remain resolute in their determination to ensure that old things do pass away even as a brand new Abia begins to emerge with Prof Gregory Ibe at the helm of affairs.

  Benue State Governor Dr. Samuel Ortom has said that senator Ademola Adeleke’s victory at the Saturday’s gubernatorial election suggests that the takeover by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun. The governor in a congratulatory message on Sunday praised Senator Adeleke for his steadfastness, hard work and commitment to the welfare of the people that earned him the victory, saying “ the people have spoken”. Governor Ortom also praised the people of Osun state, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), the media , civil society organizations (CSOs) and the security operatives for ensuring that the will of the people prevailed. He said: “On behalf of myself, the government and the PDP family in Benue State, i congratulate Senator Ademola Adeleke on his election as the Governor-elect of Osun State. I am convinced that you will provide an enduring leadership for the people in appreciation for the massive support they have given you by your election.” “The victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate; Senator Adeleke in the Osun election is a measure of trust and confidence of the citizens on him and the party “, Ortom stated. He however counselled Senator Adeleke not to take the trust and confidence for granted, just as he urged him to carry everybody along. The Governor noted that the people expect him to change the narrative by bringing positive changes to the state of Osun. The governor said the election of Adeleke, “is a precursor to the sweet round of victories awaiting the PDP as we begin to take back all the states in our resolve to rescue Nigeria from the destruction meted to it by the clueless APC-led federal government.” The Benue leader urged Adeleke to sustain and improve his family reputation of excellence, dignity and leadership so that Osun state can regain her glory under his administration. While congratulating the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu and the National Working Committee of the PDP, Governor Ortom also expressed confidence that the victory of the party in Osun State will further change the political map of the South West as the PDP is ready to rescue the country from its undertakers in the APC.

  The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, on Sunday, visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The duo met with Obasanjo in company of the Labour Party (LP) National Chairman, Julius Abure, and the Senior Pastor,  Death’ comment Baba-Ahmed disclosed this and equally shared pictures of the meeting with Obasanjo on his Twitter handle. He, was, however silent on issues discussed at the meeting. “Earlier today (Sunday), myself and H. E. #PeterObi in the company of other #NgLabour chieftains consulted with the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo,” he posted. Our correspondent gathered that the visit was part of the LP’s candidate consultation on his presidential bid.

  Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has congratulated Ademola Adeleke on winning the Osun governorship election. Adeleke, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured over 400,000 votes, and defeated Gboyega Oyetola, incumbent governor of Osun, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The result of the election was announced on Sunday morning. In a statement on his Twitter page, Obi also congratulated the candidates of the LP in Osun for their efforts, but urged his supporters to remain committed to the vision of seeing a better Nigeria. “I extend my warmest personal congratulations to Sen. Ademola Adeleke on winning the Osun State Gubernatorial elections,” the statement reads. “I also congratulate the candidate of our @NgLabour, Rt. Hon Lasun Sulaimon Yusuff and his running mate, Adeola Adekunle Atanda, for a hard fought battle and their spirit of reslove and sportsmanship, despite the outcome. “To the Obidient Movement Family and our supporters nationwide, the outcome of this particular election is not a verdict on our exponentially growing strength nationwide, especially when viewed against the fact that we are barely one month old in the party and we had to contend with forces that have been entrenched in the state for the last two decades. “However, within this very short period of only a few weeks, the Labour Party has made its presence and political impact felt nationally. “We must strengthen our collective resolve not to relent in our noble march to take back our country. “Much work remains to be done, hence we must focus the totality of our efforts now on the forthcoming 2023 General elections. “In the fullness of time, our message of rescue and recovery will resonate throughout the length and breadth of the Nation and most Nigerian electorate will buy in into our mission to take back Nigeria, for the purpose of rescuing it from continued decline, shift the national psyche from consumption to production and from sharing dwindling resources to creating wealth and frontally combating poverty.”