Gov. Aiyedatiwa Ends Tour, Rally Support For President Tinubu

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December 23, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress, (APC), has strengthened its base in Ondo State with the defection of key members of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party,(SDP) as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa concluded his Thank You on tour to 18 Local Government Areas of the state in Akure.

Defectors included Adekanmbi Oluwatuyi, a PDP member from Akure; Chief Falusi of the PDP from Akoko North-East; and Chief Kora Adebisi, an SDP member from Akoko North-West.

Others were Yusuf Lateef, who joined the APC alongside former 2016 local government officials, councillors, supervisors and advisers, as well as Ijanusi Olawale and his group from Akoko South-East.

However, the much touted defection of Agboola Ajayi, PDP governorship candidate during last year’s election did not take place.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Ebenezer Adeniyan stated that Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed them into the party and urged them to work for the success of the APC in 2027.

The Governor also cautioned party members against internal rancour as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

He warned that infighting would weaken the party, stressing that party supremacy would determine those who would fly the APC’s flags in future elections, noting that the party remained one and indivisible.

Governor Aiyedatiwa further called on the people of the state to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027, describing the President as irreplaceable.

The Governor thanked residents of Akure South for their continued loyalty to the APC, recalling that the local government delivered the highest number of votes among the 18 local government areas in the November 16 governorship election.

He expressed appreciation for the mandate given to him and his deputy, describing the support as decisive to the party’s victory.

Earlier, the state APC Vice Chairman, Atili Ikoto Agabra, said the party had no room for “joiners or partners,” stressing that relevance within the APC would be determined strictly by members’ contributions and commitment.

He urged the new members to work for the party at all levels and demonstrate loyalty through consistent participation in party activities

PDP Loses Two Rivers Senators To APC

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Adesina Soyooye

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December 23, 2025

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By Adesina Soyooye

Same day six Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Members of the House of Representatives dumped the Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, two Rivers Senators toed the same line.

Senators Allwell Onyesoh and Mpigi Barinada, representing Rivers South-east and Rivers South-west respectively on Tuesday, during plenary, dumped the PDP by handing over their defection letters to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who read it at plenary.

Their defection leaves only Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, Rivers State as the only PDP Senator from the State. She was Deputy Governor under Nyesom Wike when Wike was Governor of Rivers State.

16 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier defected from the PDP to the APC. Governor Siminalayi Fubara followed a couple of days later.

Edo: Police Command Decries High Rate Of Missing Corpses, Human Organs

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Ayodele Oni

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December 23, 2025

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Monday Agbonika - Commissioner of Police Edo State

By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Police Command has expressed concern over high rate of missing organs and corpses in mortuaries in the state.

Speaking on the current issues of missing corpses and alleged organ harvesting in the state, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, warned the perpetrators to desist from it or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.

“Permit me to use this opportunity to issue a strong warning against the disturbing trend of disappearance of corpses from some morgues within Edo State.

“Such acts are criminal, inhuman, a callous and gross violation of the sensitivity of the bereaved, and I assure the public that anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law without exception.

“I also advise families and those in need of mortuary services to patronize government-owned mortuaries where proper oversight and accountability are guaranteed.”

Speaking on some feats achieved by the command in the outgoing year, the police Boss revealed that a total of 821 suspects have been nabbed by operatives of the command for various criminal offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes between January and December 2025.

A breakdown of the 821 suspects is as follows: 39 for armed robbery, 171 for kidnapping, 117 for murder, 62 for rape/sexual offences, 239 for cultism, 36 for unlawful possession of firearms, and 157 for other unspecified offences.

In addition, operatives of the Command secured the release of 377 kidnapped victims, recovered 11 stolen vehicles, and seized 188 rounds of ammunition of different calibres.

Agbonika stated that the achievements were made possible through robust inter-agency collaboration involving the Nigerian Army Mechanised 4 Brigade, the NAF 107 Air Maritime Group, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), forest guards, local vigilante groups, and hunters.

“This joint approach underscores our collective resolve to confront and decisively neutralise security threats in the state.

“As we celebrate the Christmas season and prepare for the New Year, I wish the good people of Edo State a peaceful, safe, and prosperous festive period.

“I urge everyone to remain vigilant, law-abiding, and cooperative with security agencies,” Agbonika stated.

20 Persons Rescued, Chief Engr. Missing As Fire Guts Navy Vessel

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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December 23, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday December 23, 2025, announced the rescue of no fewer than 20 crew members aboard one of its vessels which was gutted by fire along the Calabar Channel.

But the Chief Engineer who was said to have jumped overboard out of fear of being engulfed by the raging inferno is, however, said to be still missing.

A statement from the Base Operations Officer in Calabar, Lt. Commander Kelechi Ahunaya, informed that the ill-fated vessel, a Motor Vessel MV Chimba Express enroute from Gabon to Calabar was carrying 21 persons, including 14 Nigerians ,and seven Cameroonians as at the time of the incident.

According to him, 20 persons were rescued, while one person – the Chief Engineer of the Vessel is still unaccounted for.

The Vessel was said to be laden with scrap materials and other logistical items.

The intervention of the Naval Base ,Ahunanya noted followed the receipt of a distress call at about 13 hours on Monday.

“On arrival, a thick smoke was observed emanating from the Vessel, prompting immediate rescue operations.

“Crew members who had abandoned ship, as well as those stranded on deck, were rescued using life buoys. Twenty crew members were successfully rescued and administered first aid”, he added.

The Base Operations Commander, however, assured that the Base in concert with personnel from Forward Operating Base ,IBAKA ,and Navy Security Station 030 House boat have intensified efforts to locate and rescue the missing chief engineer who he said jumped overboard owing to fear of an explosion.

“When I Made My First One Million US Dollars, Wike Was Just Passing Out From Law School” – Gov Makinde

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Adesina Soyooye

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December 23, 2025

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By Adesina Soyooye

Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has mocked the much touted wealth usually associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Wike, since the end of his two-term tenure as the Governor of Rivers State, has always been touted as one of the richest politicians in Nigeria, and allegedly, one of the richest of President Bola Tinubu’s Ministers; the one who drives around in Rolls Royce in his State, atimes.

But Makinde is not moved by that.

At a televised Media Chat at Government House, Ibadan on Tuesday, December 23, 2024, Makinde declared that at the time he made his first one million US Dollars, Wike was just coming out of the Nigerian Law School. He said he made the one million dollars in 1997, at the age of 29 years, only. The FCT Minister graduated from the Law School in 1997.

On how he managed to make that huge amount of money at such a young age, Makinde explained that it was from the first major contract he secured form Mobil.

Makinde: “This is the first contract that Mobil awarded to Makun. Within that one year, I made $1 million. I was 29 years old in 1997, and perhaps at that time, he (Wike) had just left law school.”

The Governor, an Engineer, was born on December 25, 1967. He founded Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited (METS) in 1997 after having worked for sometime in the oil and gas sector.

By this public disclosure, Makinde seems to be saying, indirectly, that unlike Wike, he had long made his money before he became a politician.

Six Rivers State PDP House Of Reps. Members Dump Party, Defect To APC

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Adesina Soyooye

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December 23, 2025

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By Adesina Soyooye

The political drama unfolding in Rivers State continued Tuesday, December 23, when six Peoples Democratic Party members in the House of Representatives dumped the Party and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Those who defected are, allegedly, political allies of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. They are Honourables Solomon Bob, Victor Obuzor, Dumnamene Dekor, Cyril Hart, Blessing Amadi and Felix Nwaeke. Incidentally, the most loyal of the Rivers House of Representatives Members, who is also the Minority Leader in the House Honourable Kingsley Chinda did not defect.

The defectors followed the footsteps of 16 Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who, a couple of weeks ago, defected from the PDP to the APC. A few days later, the Governor, Siminalayi Fubara defected also, and was quickly declared the leader of the Party in the State.

It is not yet known how the game will play out. Will Wike decamp to the APC? Or, as is being alleged, encouraging his loyalists to defect to the APC in order to checkmate Fubara

Yuletide Traffic: LASG Directs Communities With Gated Streets To Open Them

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James Orji

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December 23, 2025

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The Lagos State Government has ordered the opening of all gated streets in the state from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. to alleviate traffic across the state during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The government issued the directive in a statement sighed on Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi.

The state usually witnesses severe vehicular traffic during the celebrations due to the many activities that are earmarked by residents during the period.

The state government, however, directed the communities in the state to ensure that all gated streets are opened to allow for free-flow of traffic.

The Babajide Sanwo -olu administration also warns owners of gates and other structures erected on public roads without approval from the Ministry of Transportation to remove them within a week.

Part of the statement: “The Lagos State Government has directed communities operating gated streets to ensure that such gates are opened daily from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. during the festive period to ease traffic flow across the State. heads?

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“The Government also called on owners of gates and structures erected on public roads without prior approval from the Ministry of Transportation to remove them within seven (7) days of this notice.

“According to the Ministry of Transportation, this directive is in line with established State guidelines and aligns with the THEMES+ Agenda of the current administration, which prioritises the free flow of traffic, safety of lives and property, and the enhancement of ease of doing business in Lagos State.”

There Are Plans To Arrest El-Rufai, Kwankwaso – Northern Youths

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The Source

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December 23, 2025

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By Gideon Njoku

There are plans by the Federal Government, using the anti-corruption agencies to arrest two former Northern Governors, a coalition of Northern Youths has alleged. . The former Governors who were also Federal Ministers, are Nasir El-Rufai and Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso.

This allegation was made by the coalition of northern youth groups on Sunday. It also alleged that the plot of arrest would extent to other prominent opposition figures especially from the North.

It further demanded for the immediate release Abubakar Malami, SAN, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, under the Government of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

Operating under the banner of the Coalition of Northern Youth Groups, they made the allegations at a press conference in Arewa House Kaduna, where they accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intimidate political opponents from the North.

Ibrahim Mohammed, the Coalition’s Secretary who addressed Journalists said: “What we are witnessing is not an anti-corruption war but a calculated attempt to weaken and silence Northern opposition leaders through selective investigations and intimidation.

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso — **Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.**

“The continued probe and detention of Malami, as well as reported pressure on members of his family, amount to abuse of state institutions.

“Targeting family members and associates is unacceptable in a democracy and only deepens public distrust.”

According to the coalition, the fate of Malami is being planned against other Northern political figures, including El-Rufai, Kwankwaso and former Adamawa state governor, Jibrilla Bindow.

It noted: “There is a clear attempt to dismantle an emerging opposition bloc ahead of future elections”, the Coalition insisted.

Makinde: Tinubu Asked For My Support For 2027, I said No; Why Wike Is Angry

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James Orji

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December 23, 2025

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More revelations are coming out over the clash between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and why they went there separate ways politically.

The governor and the minister, a former Governor of Rivers states were once political ally until recently when their political interests clashed, the duo now controls different factions of the party.

According to Governor Makinde, the 2027 presidential election and how to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is re-elected into office is at the middle of the dispute.

The Minister has declared his support for the president re-lection bid, even though he’s a member of the PDP while the president belongs to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Wike, who has been accused of being at the middle of the leadership crisis rocking the PDP has also accused Governor Makinde of trying to hijack the opposition political party, saying he would not allow that to happen as one of the foundation members of the party.

But speaking on Tuesday at a media chat in Ibadan the Oyo state capital, the state helmsman said President Tinubu had a meeting with him and Wike, where he requested that they support him for the 2027 election.

He explained that while the FCT Minister agreed to “hold the PDP” for Tinubu, Makinde said he turned down the request, saying he was shocked that Wike made such commitment in spite of being a member of the PDP.

He stressed that Wike is free to support the president in 2027 “but I will not.”

“I was in a meeting with President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, and others when Wike volunteered to hold the PDP for Tinubu against 2027, and I was in shock,” Makinde said.

The governor claimed that President Tinubu asked him if he could take control of the APC in his state for him. Makinde responded: “I said, no, sir, I can never help you organise the APC in Oyo state because I am of the PDP.

He added that Wike is angry with him because he refused to tow his line of supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying the minister cannot compel him to make his political choice, adding that he took the decision because he wants the survival of the PDP.

His action, Makinde also said is predicated on ensuring that democracy survives in the country.

Makinde: “The real issue is that Wike would like to support the President for 2027. That’s fine; it is within his rights. But some of us want to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria, and that PDP survives as well. he should allow us to make our own choices.

“I tried to engage him through a mutual friend, but when he did not back off, I confronted him directly. From that day, I made it clear I would never be part of this. Wike can support him, but it is also within my right to decide who I will support or what I will do in 2027. This explains the current conflict within the PDP.”

“It is within his right to do that. But also, it is within my own right to decide within the political space who I will support or what I will do in 2027.

“Some of us want to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria, we don’t drift into a one-party state. And we want to ensure that PDP survives. It should also allow us to do our own thing,” the governor stated.

In 2023, the magazine recalls, Makinde and Wike were members of the G5 Governors, made up of five PDP governors who refused to support their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar during the election.

Backed by the G5 Governors, Tinubu defeated Atiku in that historic election.

2027: Makinde Exposes Wike, Reveals He Promised To Hold PDP For President Tinubu

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Ayodele Oni

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December 23, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has declared that he won’t be supporting President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Makinde also rapped the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to allow others make their political choices, rather than teleguiding them.

The governor spoke on Tuesday during a media chat in Ibadan, Oyo State, with Channels Television, where he explained that Wike cannot dictate political choices to others.

Makinde, who recalled a meeting between him, Tinubu, and Wike, claimed that the former Rivers State governor told the president he would “hold the PDP” for him in 2027, expressed surprise at the minister’s comment.

“I was in a meeting with President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, and others when Wike volunteered to hold the PDP for Tinubu against 2027, and I was in shock. Wike can support the president in 2027, but I will not.”

The governor asked Wike to “allow us to make our choice” and said his immediate goal is to ensure that “PDP survives”.

Wike and Makinde, as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), supported Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections.

Both were members of the ‘G five’ which comprised five PDP governors as of then — Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers

The group supported Tinubu after the then-PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, failed to step down for a southerner to replace him.

They argued that since Atiku Abubakar, the party’s candidate for that election, is from the same region as Ayu, it was right for the Benue-born to step aside.

But after the election, which was won by Tinubu, Wike’s relationship with Makinde has deteriorated.

In fact, the PDP held its convention a few months back in Oyo and suspended Wike and other high-ranking members of the party, such as ex-governor Ayodele Fayose.

The group, which enjoys Makinde’s backing, accused the former Rivers governor of anti-party activities.

Despite the move, Wike has insisted he remains a member of the PDP and has repeatedly said he would back Tinubu in the next presidential election.

Makinde is currently a second term governor, whose tenure will terminate in less than two years.