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Veteran Actress, Iyabo Oko, Bedridden; Colleagues Solicit For Funds

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Kudirat Eluyemi - Iyabo Oko

By Akinwale Kasali

Veteran Actress, Kudirat Eluyemi, popularly known as Iyabo Oko, has been off the radar. She took a sudden break from the acting scene.  This medium has gathered that her absence is a result of a stroke.

Reports say she lost her voice, weight and mobility. It was an unexpected illness as she suddenly discovered that she couldn’t talk any longer.

The once vibrant actress in the Yoruba movie industry became a shadow of herself.

She was at the Military Hospital, Yaba where she eventually regained her voice, but when she returned home, she lost it again.

One of her children took her to the U.K for treatment, where he employed a therapist who helped her to get her voice back, she later travelled to India where she got further treatment. She spent seven months in India and was adjudged okay. As a result of this ailment, Iyabo Oko spent 2 years away from the movie scene.

But now, her situation has worsened leading to her colleagues rallying around her, soliciting for help among themselves and well meaning Nigerians to bring her back to her feet.

Foluke  Daramola Salako, one of her colleagues in the Nollywood Industry, the Yoruba Group, took to her official social media handle to share photos and videos of Iyabo Oko.

Foluke wrote that the health condition of the veteran Actress has deteriorated.

She said she has been ill for over 5 years. And her family and a popular foundation have been fighting so hard to save her life.

Foluke solicited funds so that she can be given better treatment. She pleaded with fans and families to assist with the little they have so that Iyabo Oko can be healthy again.

She said, “She has been ill for over 5 years. Her family members, children and PARA foundation have been doing everything for her to get back on her feet, now the illness has relapsed. Her children even flew her abroad some months ago. Please we need your support. God bless you and your loved ones”.

Zamfara: Military Debunks Mass Graves Reports

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed trending pictures and videos portraying that people allegedly killed by soldiers fighting arm bandits in Zamfara state were buried in mass graves in the state.

Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, a popular Islamic cleric had recently accused the Nigerian armed forces of killing innocent people rather than the bandits. The Islamic leader who had negotiated the release of many abductors in the past said, women and children are being killed by soldiers in the guise of neutralising the bandits in Zamfara and others states in the north where the bandits are in full operation.

The  military rebuttal also came amidst the state governor, Bello Matawalle’s resolve not to dialogue with bandits who are kidnapping people in the state for ransom.

The Governor said the military should go ahead to crush the criminals, even as security agencies make gains in the battle against the bandits whose activities almost crippled the state. There is no second chance of amnesty, the governor said after the initial dialogue with the bandits to lay down their arms failed.

The Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Sawyerr, dismissed the videos and pictures with the caption, “Alhamdulillah, Zamfara Must Secure” trending in several social media posts purportedly emanating from the ongoing military operations in the North-West and North-Central parts of the country.

Sawyer said in a statement, in Abuja on Sunday, that it has become necessary to put the record straight in the face of  false and malicious report which tend to portray the military in a bad light.

He said the report is capable of undermining the gains the Armed forces have made against the bandits recently, noting that the operations were being conducted in line with best practices and professionalism the armed forces are known for.

Sawyer said “these operations are conducted in strict compliance with the rules of armed conflicts, utmost professional manner, strict adherence to rules of engagement and respect for fundamental human rights and dignity.

“The viral pictures being circulated have nothing in common with the ongoing operations.

“This callous action of linking ongoing operations with falsehood is deliberate and thus seeks to tarnish the good image and reputation of the AFN,” he said.

The military spokesman stated that the military had been carrying out periodic media briefings where pictures of the operations were usually displayed to complement achievements in the ongoing operations.

He urge the public to disregard the gory pictures, assuring that the military would continue to perform its constitutional mandate of ensuring that the nation remained safe and peaceful for all law abiding citizens.

VAT: Former Deputy Senate President Warns NASS

By
Bayo Bernard
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By James Orji

Senator Ike Ekweremadu has advised the National Assembly not to intervene in the legal battle between Rivers and federal government over the collection of the Value Added Tax, VAT. He said the legal tussle which is now at the Court of Appeal should be allowed to run its full course.

Ekweremadu, a former Deputy Senate President said any intervention by the lawmakers would be prejudicial.

He said this on the crest of the Court of Appeal ruling directing parties in the issue to maintain status quo ante.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers stste, had a fortnight ago accused the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS which collects VAT on behalf of the federal government of secretly writing a letter to NASS to amend the tax law to enable it have exclusive powers on collection of VAT.

If this is done, FIRS through the Tax Tribunal will have exclusive power to determine issue relating to tax collection.

Reacting to the issue, Ekweremadu who once served as the Chairman, Constitution Review Committee, CRC warned the NASS against undue intervention when the legal battle is already at an advanced stage at the appellate court.

He supports the Rivers and Lagos states which have already passed the law giving them powers to collect VAT in their respective states.

According to him, the legal tussle will settle the issue of equitable sharing of resources among states and federal government, adding that ‘the feeding bottle’ mentality where states depend mostly on federal allocation for survival must stop.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his media adviser, Uche Anichukwu, the senator representating Enugu said only  judiciary can reshape Nigeria’s federalism.

Ekweremadu said “I commend Governors Nyesom Wike and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as well as the Rivers and Lagos Houses of Assembly for their courageous moves. It is by so doing that our Constitution or laws can be tested and our federalism strengthened.

“In April 2012, I delivered a lecture at the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Canada, entitled ‘Nigerian Federalism: A Case for a Review’ wherein I forewarned that Nigeria would surely run into stormy economic weather unless we reinvented our federalism, steering the country away from a military-imposed ‘feeding bottle federalism’ to one predicated on self-reliance, hard work, enterprise, and resourcefulness to catalyse national development and economic prosperity.

Many others have also made related calls. Unfortunately, few people were interested in what we were talking about.

“Although we achieved a number of successes, perhaps my worst experience at the helms of the constitutional amendment process was in the Seventh Assembly. We recorded the most elaborate amendments to our Constitution, including the rearrangement of the legislative lists to devolve more powers to the sub-national governments by moving certain items like aviation, railway, power, and stamp duty, among others to the Concurrent Legislative List. Unfortunately, the amendments were denied assent by the President,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mike Ozhekhome said the court of appeal ruling was misinterpreted to mean that it stopped Rivers state from collecting VAT. The senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN said contrary to suggestions, what the appellate court means by its ,’status quo ante’ ruling is that the state should go ahead to collect VAT in line with the Federal High court, Port Harcourt earlier ruling, pending when a superior ruling is made on the issue.

State Of The Nation: Sule Lamido Says The Country Bleeds

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has decried the pathetic state of security in the nation.

Lamido lamented that the spate of insecurity in the nation under the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress, APC, administration is worrisome. The nation is bleeding, he said.

The Two term Governor of the North West State made this submission after meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) residence, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

In a statement made available to the media, the Special Assistant on Media to the former President, Kehinde Akinyemi on Sunday, said that Obasanjo and Lamido are still committed to ensuring that Nigeria is out of the doldrums.

Lamido said, “How do we remain safe is the biggest problem and challenge now in this country, because now, nobody is safe again. Imagine, kidnapping three workers of Baba, a former President of the country? Who is safe again? He queried.

He disclosed that he had come to visit “his father and leader and my everything” after a very long time and I met him in a very high spirit and good health

“But, he told me that he’s now ageing and I responded that he’s not because we still need him in this country.

“And he said, Sule, I will do anything for Nigeria. That is very inspiring. That is why I like him and this reinforces my faith in my country, Nigeria.

“We discussed a number of issues, particularly on Nigeria, that he so loved. Honestly, no matter how down we go, we’ll rise again. But, obviously, it is bleeding now. It is bleeding,” Lamido lamented.

COVID-19: FG Relaxes Restrictions On Foreign Travellers

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Boss Mustapha

By Akinwale Kasali

The  Federal Government has relaxed the restriction on foreign travellers without evidence of payment for their COVID-19 PCR test.

For months now, travellers have been mandated to produce their COVID-19 PCR test before being allowed to board at the International Airport, but this has become history following the decision of the Presidential Task Force Committee on COVID-19 led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha to scrap it

In a memo by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, foreign airlines were asked to board passengers without evidence of payment for day seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate paid QR code/permit to fly.

The memo dated September 11, 2021, and issued by Director-General of NCAA, Musa Nuhu, was titled “Permission for airlines to board passengers travelling to Nigeria who are unable to show evidence of payment for day seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate paid QR code/permit to fly”.

Nuhu said the decision was taken in view of the challenges some travellers to Nigeria are experiencing while trying to fill their Health and Travel history into Nigeria’s International Travel portal.

Earlier, foreign travellers were required to show proof of payment for their COVID-19 PCR test before they were boarded.

He, however, said such passengers would be required to make payment for the repeat day-7 COVID-19 PCR test at their destination airport in Nigeria.

The memo reads: “The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has been made aware of challenges some travelers are experiencing while trying to fill their Health and travel history into the Nigeria International Travel Portal.

“Airlines are thereby permitted to board any traveller to Nigeria who is unable to either pay for the repeat Day Seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate the paid QR code/ permit to fly.

“Such passengers will be required to make payment for the repeat Day Seven COVID-19 PCR test at their destination airport in Nigeria.

“Holders of Diplomatic passports and Children aged 10 years and below who are unable to complete NITP are to be allowed to board the flight.

“Their health declaration and travel history will be captured by the Port Health Services (PHS) at the destination airport.

“Airlines are to bring this information to the knowledge of the passenger and ensure strict compliance with above-stated conditions.”

Nigeria Demands Justice For Nigerian Lady Slain By Italian Husband

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Pierangelo Pellizzar

By Akinwale Kasali

The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has demanded for the immediate investigation and prosecution of Italian National, Pierangelo Pellizzar, who killed his Nigerian wife, Rita Amenze.

Dabiri-Erewa alongside the Nigerian Ambassador to Italy, Amb Mfawa Abam and the Nigerian Community in Italy, are perturbed by the sad event, and called for justice.

Giving an update on the sad event that happened over the weekend, the former House of Representative Memeber said that though the estranged husband of the late Nigerian, Pellizzar, has been arrested, but thorough investigations need to be carried out by the Italian Security agency.

In a statement in Abuja on Sunday signed by Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa said that the alleged killing of the housewife by her husband due to the fact that she filed for divorce was quite unfortunate and sad.

In the same vein, Nigerian Ambassador to Italy, Mfawa Omini Abam, said the death of the Nigerian was so pathetic, promising that the Embassy will ensure that a proper investigation is carried out.

It was gathered that the late Rita had filed for divorce which angered her embittered husband to carry out the heinous act of killing her.

Pellizzar, 61-years,  allegedly shot  31-year-old Rita four times in front of her colleagues in the parking lot of MFMushroom, a company where she worked on Friday morning, in Noventa Vincentina at about 7:30am until she died.

Imo, Buhari’s Visit: You Misrepresented Mr President

By
The Source
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Buhari-in-Imo

By Gideon Njoku

President Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed as mischievous, those who he said deliberately misrepresented what he said in Owerri.

The President was on a one-day visit to Imo State on Thursday, September 9, 202!. Since then, the opposition has been awash with all kinds of stories to discredit the visit, and run Governor Hope Uzodimma down.

For instance, it has been alleged that Buhari commissioned uncompleted  projects. It has also been alleged that the Governor spent the sum of N700m to import people from Ebonyi and Kogi States to Imo to come and welcome President Buhari.

The latest is the  statement by the President after thanking the Governor. He had told the Governor that: “When you invite me next time, I will be more careful.”

That has been interpreted by the opposition to mean that the President was dissatisfied with his visit to Imo State. This has gone viral, with the opposition mocking the Governor.

But the President, on Sunday, September 12, denounced that interpretation as false, saying it was a complete misrepresentation of what he said.

In a statement signed by Femi Adesina, Buhari’s Adviser on Media and Publicity, the President said his statement was deliberately “contorted and twisted out of context.”

Following is the full text of the statement.

WHAT PRESIDENT BUHARI SAID (DIDN’T SAY) IN IMO STATE

“We have observed that President Buhari’s concluding remarks at the meeting with South East Leaders during his one day visit to Imo State is being deliberately contorted and twisted out of context.

“The purveyors of disinformation want Nigerians to believe that the President bluntly told Governor Uzodinma, ‘I’ll be careful with your future invitations.’

“They have adduced different meanings to the phrase, contrary to the context wherein the President spoke during his successful dialogue with leaders of thought from Igbo land.

“When he arrived at the banquet hall of Imo State Government House for his last assignment in Owerri, the President was welcomed by over 50 leaders from the South East who had waited patiently for him for a Town Hall engagement, after commissioning strategic projects in the State.

“The President began his extempore speech by acknowledging the caliber of personalities present at the dialogue including the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor, former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (Rtd),  former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former Military Governor in old Imo State, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, Deputy Governors of Abia, Anambra and the SSG of Enugu State, who represented the Governor, the Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Province, Most Rev David Onouha and his brother Bishop of Enugu, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo,  just to mention but a few.

“An elated President Buhari made it clear that he was expressly overwhelmed by the reception and galaxy of personalities that travelled from the five South Eastern States to have a heart-to-heart discussion with him in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

“His words were clear:

‘I am overwhelmed by this reception, overwhelmed in the sense that when I accepted the invitation by the Imo State Governor, who wants to justify investments the government has done to the people of Imo State, I thought I would see the bridges, the  roads and a few renovations.

‘He didn’t tell me he was going to get the whole Igbo leadership here. So in the future when he invites me, I’ll know what to do. But I think he has done what the military didn’t like. He has achieved surprise. He has surprised me beyond description.’

“Later, in his concluding statement at the same event, the President made reference to his earlier remarks on the ‘‘surprise’’ action pulled by the Governor. On a lighter note, he quipped:

‘Governor of Imo State, cannot thank you enough, but I will be careful with your future invitations.’

“The President’s historic visit to Imo State was very successful and the Igbo leaders who met him shared the same enthusiasm that his coming to the Eastern heartland would bring peace, foster unity, encourage good and better understanding among the citizenry.

“Archbishop David Onuoha, who is the Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, must have summed up the mood in the words of the prayer offered at the event:

‘‘Thank You dear Lord for our nation Nigeria and her people with diverse backgrounds, nationalities and cultures. Surely You did not make any mistakes in bringing us together.

‘‘Your purpose is for us to harness our potentials/strength to build a strong and virile nation. May this purpose never be defeated.

‘‘Glory be unto You for bringing Your servant and our dear President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, safely to this State. Blessed be Your name for his life and the giant strides he is taking for the wellbeing of our nation.

‘‘Thank you for the huge infrastructural development that is taking place in various parts of the country.

‘‘Lord, Nigeria is a great nation with numerous challenges. We pray that you endue our President with heavenly wisdom, grace and strength. In his resolve to serve this nation, he will not fail, fall or falter. He will end his tenure strong and well to the glory and honour of your name and the good of our people.

‘‘May his visit today bring peace, foster unity, encourage good and better understanding among the citizens of this great nation; may it bring prosperity and restoration.”

Taliban Prohibits Co-Education, Bans Men From Teaching Women

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Taliban fighters take control of Afghan presidential palace after the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Zabi Karimi)

By Akinwale Kasali

The Taliban rule in Afghanistan has declared that henceforth gender-segregated education will be the norm at Afghanistan Universities.

Making this prohibition of Co-education in the country, the Taliban said co-education is un-Islamic and against the country’s national and traditional values.

The Taliban Higher Education Minister, Shaikh Abdul Baqi Haqqani, at a Press Conference Sunday, September 13, in Kabul, Afghanistan’s Capital, said that, “Co-education conflicts with the principles of Islam and, on the other hand, it is in conflict with national values and is against the customs and traditions of Afghans”.

Haqqani added that If the Universities have the capacity, campuses should be segregated by gender, if that is not possible, the Universities should establish alternate class timing or ensure a partition between male and female students in the classrooms.

The group wants to hire female lecturers for female students, but if that was impossible, men will be allowed to teach women as long as the classes follow sharia rules, he added.

He explained that they had fought in the past two decades for the establishment of the “Islamic system.”

Observers of Afghanistan  as well as the nation’s female population, have been nervously waiting to hear what the Taliban’s new education policy would be.

SCOAN: TB Joshua’s Wife, Evelyn, Appointed New Leader

By
Akinwale Kasali
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TB Joshua Wife - Evelyn

By Akinwale Kasali

After much tussle over who takes over the leadership of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, after the sudden death of Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, popular as TB Joshua, four months ago, his Wife, Evelyn, has, officially, been announced as the Leader of the Church.

In a statement by the Church, it said the wife of the deceased, Evelyn Joshua, was the new leader, and the Church activities would be under the guidance of God and her leadership.

In a statement on its verified Facebook page, SCOAN urged members and followers to pray for Evelyn as she takes on her new role.

According to the statement: “Good Morning. We thank you for all your prayers and your love for the ministry since the glorious home call of our dear father, servant of the Most High God, Prophet T.B. Joshua.

“We thank you for keeping the faith. It is now God’s appointed time, to the glory of God, for The SCOAN to soldier on with the divine assignment under the guidance of God and the human leadership of Mrs. Evelyn Joshua.

“We urge you all to join us in prayers as we wish for God’s guidance and divine wisdom in her new God ordained role. Mrs. Evelyn Joshua will shortly address the teeming members of The SCOAN and Emmanuel TV Partners who have waited so long for this new phase in the Great Commission.”

There have been rumors and allegations from different quarters that Evelyn has been threatening and victimizing the ‘Wisemen’ so that he would be the Leader of the Church.

The leadership tussle had led to the eviction of some disciples of the late Prophet from the Church premises.

APC Crisis: Former Military Governor, Joe Orji, 41 Others Expelled

By
Akinwale Kasali
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APC Party
APC Party

By Akinwale Kasali

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State has taken a turn for the worse. The Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in the State, Ben Nwoye, has announced the expulsion of former Military Governor, Joe Orji and 41 others.

Nwoye, at a Press Briefing on Sunday, September 13, announced the expulsion of the members. He said it is a consequence  of an alleged violation of the provision of the Party’s constitution.

Those affected include a former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo, a former Deputy Governorship candidate of the party in the State, Prince Chikwado Chukwunta, Gen. J.O.J Okoloagu, a former Reps member, Chukwuemeka Ujam and several others.

Nwoye said the members self-expelled themselves from the party by filing a suit in Court without first exhausting the internal mechanisms as provided in the APC Constitution.

Article 21 (D), Section V of the APC Constitution provides that, “any member who files an action in court of law against the party or any of its officers on any matters relating to the discharge of the duties of the party without first exhausting the avenues for the redress provided for in this Constitution shall automatically stand expelled from the party on filing such action and no appeal against expulsion as stipulated in this clause shall be entertained until the withdrawal of the action from court by the member.”

It was gathered that the party members dragged Nwoye before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja seeking his removal from office.

In the suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2107/2021, they had sought an ex parte order to stop Nwoye from parading himself as the chairman of the party.

However, the vacation judge, Justice Sylvanus Chinedu orji refused to grant the interlocutory injunction. Instead, he ordered that the motion on notice and the entire case be assigned to a regular court at the end of vacation for full determination of the matter.

The Judge held that, “The Defendants/Respondents shall be put on notice of the application for injunction. The orders sought in the ex parte application No. M/5317/2021 are refused.”

Speaking on the development, Nwoye said the 41 members who filed the suit had automatically expelled themselves from the party.

According to him, “I arrived at my home and I found a copy of a lawsuit pasted on my door, within that lawsuit is an order sought by the applicants but was denied by the Court.

“One Prince Gilbert Chikwado Chukwunta and 40 others filed a claim against me; they sought an ex parte order before an FCT High Court, seeking to remove me as the chairman of the party in Enugu State.

“They sued me and alleged among other things that I was suspended by certain persons, who they attached their signatures, but the learned jurist denied giving the order. He directed them to serve me, but instead of serving me as ordered by the court, they pasted it on my door.

“But what is important is that for those who said that Ben Nwoye has been removed, the removal of Ben Nwoye is now a subject of court, and the court has refused to remove me. I wasn’t there but the learned judge refused to remove me.

“The other point is that the petition which they signed, they forged numerous people’s signatures; one of the people they forged their signature is Mrs. Kate Offor, she never signed a petition seeking to remove me.

“We also had many other people claiming to be members of State exco, and one of such persons are Eugene odo. Enugu State APC is no longer running on SEC; it is a caretaker committee, so being a former Speaker does not make Eugene Odo a member of APC caretaker committee. Gen. J.O.J. Okoloagu is also not a member of the caretaker committee, so also the former member of the House, Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam, who they alleged signed, he has never been and is not a member of state exco, we also have one Anayo Ene, we also have Group Capt. Orji, Dr. Mrs. Chukwuani, Hyacinth Nsude, are not members of APC caretaker committee.

“If indeed these individuals did not sign it, those who filed this suit have committed forgery. But if those individuals say that they actually signed it, they have committed fraud because they are not members of APC caretaker committee and that includes Chikwado Chukwunta.

“Recall that Chikwado Chukwunta ran for Deputy Governor of Enugu State in 2019. After he lost, he went away, he never received a waiver before he ran, so, resigned his position. And when the exco was dissolved, Chikwado Chukwunta was never sworn-in as a member of APC caretaker committee.

“These are facts Senator Ken Nnamani and others are hiding to be deceiving the public. Having said that, the status of my chairmanship is now before the court, no one can interfere in my chairmanship, the court has already ruled by denying them the attempt to remove me.

“The next thing is that they have now all expelled themselves from the party; they were deceived into dragging an officer of the party to court.

“All these individuals by the operations of the constitution have expelled themselves from the party because they did not exhaust the internal alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

“They are 41 persons and Chikwado Chukwunta put up an affidavit that he has their consent to file the suit. All of them are now expelled from the party.”

The APC in the State is fictionalised into three.

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