Category: Lead

• •Critical stakeholders consulted, says Senate leader
• •‘How majority, minority principal officers were picked’

The Presidency and All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are in support of the principal officers of the Senate and House of Representatives announced yesterday, it was learnt.

This is contrary to the anger displayed by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu in a remark before he met with the governors at the party secretariat.

Adamu had chided the presiding officers for announcing the names of principal officers without getting clearance from him.

Those announced are Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy Leader David Umahi, Chief Whip Ali Ndume, Deputy Whip Lola Ashiru, Minority Leader Simon Mwadkwon, Deputy Minority Leader  Oyewunmi Olalere, Minority Chief Whip Darlington Nwokeocha and Deputy Minority Whip Rufai Hamga.

For the House of Representatives: House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, Deputy House Leader Abdullahi Halims, Chief Whip Usman Kumo, Deputy Whip Adewunmi Onanuga,

Minority House Leader Kingsley Chinda, Deputy House Leader Ali Madaki, Minority House Chief Whip Ali Isa and Deputy Whip George Ozodinobi.

It was also learnt that the National Assembly may present its principal officers to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today at the Aso Villa.

Investigation showed that the Senate leadership presented the list of principal officers to Adamu on Sunday for his support during a meeting with him on his farm in his hometown Keffi, Nasarawa State.

But his alleged delay in sending a notice to the National Assembly on the list of principal officers created tension.

It was gathered that for more than five hours on Monday, Senators and members of the House of Representatives were awaiting Adamu’s return to sign a notification letter to the National Assembly.

It was further learnt that when the party’s national chairman was footdragging, the APC caucuses in the two chambers proceeded to announce its list of consensus principal officers at plenary yesterday.

Adamu was, however, angry because the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass did not wait for him to sign an official letter on the lawmakers’ choices.

A top source said: “The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House consulted widely. The governors and respected party leaders were involved in designing the power-sharing formula.

“After building consensus, the Senate President on Sunday led the new principal officers to Keffi for Adamu’s information and blessing.

“We still have the evidence of the photos taken on the farm. We do not know where Adamu was coming from in criticising the decision at the secretariat yesterday when he had the opportunity to raise objections with the leadership of the 10th National Assembly. He didn’t make any observations on Sunday.

“The slow process of notifying the National Assembly resulted in suspicion and tension. The APC National Secretary Sen. Iyiola Omisore on Monday signed the notice to the lawmakers but the letter couldn’t be forwarded because Adamu was yet to counter-sign.

“To prevent the opposition from presenting its list of officers ahead of APC, the Senate and the House leadership opted to act faster by unveiling the principal officers.

“Adamu believed the National Assembly ought to respect him and work at his pace.”

Adamu was on his own because the National Assembly had gone far in selecting its principal officers.

It was confirmed that the presidency, APC governors and some party leaders participated actively in arriving at a “win-win” formula.

Another top source added: “The National Assembly has the backing of the Presidency and the Progressives Governors Forum on the harmonised list of principal officers.

“The APC caucuses in the National Assembly amicably agreed on the list of the principal officers and no one can stop it.

“Even when there were issues with Sen. Ali Ndume as the second-ranking Senator after Dr. Ahmad Lawan, Senators prevailed on the Borno South Senator to accept to serve under Sen. Bamidele. Ndume bowed to pressure and accepted to be Senate Chief Whip.

“As the party’s national chairman, Adamu cannot overrule the decision of the APC caucuses in the Senate and the House of Representatives. There is no provision in the APC Constitution giving him such power.”

On the way forward, the source added: “The National Assembly has resolved to present its new principal officers to President Tinubu on Wednesday (today).

Read Also: Cabals behind protest against subsidy removal – Senator Bamidele

“Adamu complained of inadequate communication but he shouldn’t have gone to the extent of overruling the National Assembly in public on the selection of the principal officers.”

APC governors disagreed with the party chairman, saying that the announcement of principal officers by Senator Akpabio and Abbas at plenaries enjoyed their support.

During a meeting with members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) led by its Chairman, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Adamu alleged that the National Working Committee (NWC) was not carried along.

Adamu said: “I am just hearing as a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“The national headquarters of the party and the NWC have not received any such information or communicated its choice of officers.

“Until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions.

“So, whatever announcement is done by either the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is not from this secretariat.”

A Northcentral governor said the chairman was carried along, adding that the decision on the zoning of principal officers was reached after wide consultations with critical stakeholders of the party, including the NWC and the presidency.

A Northwest governor also cautioned Adamu, saying that the chairman’s pronouncement was capable of causing a crisis between the National Assembly and the party leadership.

Also, a governor from the Northwest urged the party leadership to work towards uniting the party by closing ranks with some aggrieved members.

He stressed the need for unity among the various party organs and hierarchies.

Uzodimma, who spoke with reporters, faulted the national chairman’s position, maintaining that the National Assembly leadership enjoys the support of APC governors.

“If there is any way that there is a communication gap anywhere, we will make it up and we have our internal mechanism of resolving such things.

“The National Assembly leadership enjoys the support of the Progressives Governors Forum and our party. We don’t have any problem at all.”

Other governors at the meeting were Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdulrahman AbdulRasak (Kwara), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Rev. Hyacient Alia (Benue), Diko Rada (Katsina), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Francis Ogobona Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), and Umar Namadi (Jigawa).

By Yusuf Alli, Jide Orintunsin, Tony Akowe, Nicholas Kalu, Abuja; Kolade Adeyemi, Jos and Emmanuel Badejo

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday expressed confidence that his administration is on the pathway to success in spite of the enormous challenges facing the country.

He stressed that Nigeria has no reason to fail the rest of Africa.

The President spoke when Bank of America officials visited him at the State House, Abuja.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, President Tinubu said his administration was committed to instituting reforms that would engender sustainable growth and development. 

“We believe we are on the right track so far, but we need all the help we can get,” he said.

The President asked the bank’s management for support and partnership that would advance mutual benefits for Nigeria and the financial institution.

President Tinubu said governance and development challenges facing the country cannot be addressed without fiscal and institutional reforms.

“Twenty-first-century actions on climate change, finance and innovation are intertwined. 

“Having a good platform and believing in innovation will help in undertaking reforms and tackling the issues.

“This is the largest economy and democracy in Africa and if we cannot do it, nobody will do it for us,” he said.

Read Also: NASS will back Tinubu to change anti-development policies – Akpabio

Affirming that no one can do it alone, President Tinubu made a case for Bank of America and other willing financial institutions to help the country.

This, he said, they can do by partnering to ensure Nigerian gas competes favourably in the global market as a viable source of alternative revenue.

President of International for Bank of America, Mr. Bernard Mensah, expressed excitement about the initial steps taken by the new administration, which, he said, is taking Nigeria back to its rightful place on the global stage.

He said the bank was willing to assist the country to address its immediate and longer-term challenges not only in the area of financing but also contributing with ideas.

“We’re looking to see how we can help, how we can partner and we have a lot of global resources that we think we can help with the Nigerian economy.

“So we’re excited for the initial direction of the government. We operate on such a global basis. We’re a huge international firm; we touch so many things. 

“We think we can help think through the markets; we can help think through the financial architecture and structure.

“We can also help think through things like new technology applications. We can think about the whole global debates around climate and how we can bring resources to bear so that Nigeria can also really take a seat on the global stage on these issues,” Mensah said.

In company with Mr. Mensah were the Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Mrs. Yvonne Ike Fasinro, and the Head of Investment Banking, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Chuba Ezenwa.

• •14 documents comprising U.S. letter on APC candidate admitted in evidence

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s witnesses will today begin their oral evidence in his defence at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

The court yesterday admitted in evidence 14 sets of documents tendered by his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

The President opened his defence in the petition by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The documents include President Tinubu’s educational records from the Chicago State University, certified by the Associate General Counsel, Office of Legal Affairs, Chicago State University, Jamar C. Orr.

Also admitted was a February 3, 2003 letter from the Police to the United States Embassy in Nigeria, requesting information about any criminal records about Tinubu in the U.S.

The court also accepted the reply of the US Embassy, dated February 4, 2003, signed by the Legal Attache, Michael Bonner.

The Embassy stated in the response that there were no records of a criminal conviction, arrest or warrants on Tinubu.

Also tendered are certified true copies (CTCs) of documents on immigration and visa records of trips made to the U.S. by President Tinubu between 2011 and 2021.

A copy of the “Report of the Committee on the Location of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)” and CTC of the originating summons of the suit marked: SC/CV/354/2023 filed on February 28, 2023, at the Supreme Court by the Attorneys General of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Sokoto states were also tendered.

Olanipekun also tendered a copy of Form EC8D (summary of results from local government areas collation at the state level) for Kano State; a copy of Form EC8D (A) (summary of results from states collation at the national level) and six copies of newspaper publications. 

The newspapers are The Nation, Thisday, Nigerian Tribune, Sunday Sun, and The Punch.

The petitioners’ lawyer, Nella Rabana (SAN), raised an objection to the admissibility of all the documents and promised to adduce reasons in final written addresses, the court admitted them in evidence.

Olanipekun sought an adjournment till today.

Also yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opened and closed its defence in the petition by Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP).

INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), announced the closure of the first respondent’s case after the conclusion of the testimony of its sole witness, Dr. Lawrence Bayode, a Deputy Director in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department of INEC.

Read Also: Enugu tribunal refuses Edeoga’s application to interrogate Mbah

Mahmoud also tendered some documents in evidence.

The witness, under cross-examination by Olanipekun, agreed that the foundation and authenticity of any election are rooted in the recordings of results in Forms EC8A and EC8E.

Bayode said that even when blurred documents are downloaded from INEC’s IREV portal, they cannot affect the physical results as recorded in Form EC8A which are not blurred.

He also said the images of Forms EC8A captured with BVAS and transmitted to IREV are not relevant for the collation of results.

The witness told the court that the glitch recorded during the last presidential election did not affect the collation of results.

Bayode recalled that the e-naira application launched by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 18, 2021, has not had its application successfully activated due to some technical challenges.

Under cross-examination by the lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Bayode said it was the physical Form EC8A that was used for the collation of results during the election.

He said the glitches recorded did not affect the collation of the results, adding that even when results downloaded from IREV are blurred, information can be obtained from the physical copies.

Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, who was accused by the Joint Administration and Matriculation Board (JAMB) of forging her result to emerge the highest scorer, is not seeking legal redress, her father Romanus Ejikeme said yesterday.

Mr. Ejikeme refuted media reports that his daughter had dragged JAMB to court, demanding N20 billion for alleged misrepresentation of facts.

He insisted that the 362 score presented by Mmesoma was her authentic result, and rejected any other score from the exam body. 

Describing JAMB’s conduct in the allegation as unfortunate, Ejikeme insisted that his family had left the matter to God who alone could grant them justice.

He added that his family was not interested in vengeance; rather all it wanted was for the exam body to come clean.

“They should stop defending themselves and tell the whole world the truth,” Ejikeme told The Nation.

The erstwhile student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi in Anambra, was accused by JAMB on Sunday evening of manually inflating her UTME score.

JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement, said Mmesoma claimed to have scored 362 in the 2023 UTME, but actually scored 249.

A section of the media was awash with a claim on Monday that Mmesoma was also seeking an injunction barring JAMB and its personnel from issuing any further comments on the alleged forged results till further notice.

But Ejikeme said although Mmesoma was inconsolable that not only was her result allegedly altered, but she was also being falsely accused for what she did not do, nevertheless, the court rumour was untrue.

Ejikeme said: “I’m a commercial motorcyclist but majorly a musician. We moved to Nnewi three years ago from Oba. But my daughter did her primary school in Ogbunike Central School where she was topping her class till she moved over to Oba where she still maintained first position.

“When we relocated to Nnewi and had to transfer her to her present school, her teachers and classmates in Oba school were calling her, crying that her absence was affecting the school because she used to represent the school in various competitions.

“The principal even called me requesting to be paying for my daughter’s transport to and from Nnewi to be attending her school. But I declined the offer. That’s to tell you the extent they cherished my daughter due to her extraordinary performance.”

According to him, Mmesoma was not only brilliant but also modest.

He said: “Meanwhile, she doesn’t take pride in her performance because it’s not anything to her. Mmesoma has always been a hardworking and studious student who doesn’t joke with her studies. She entered the present school from SS1 (Senior Secondary 1) after writing her Junior WAEC (West African Examinations Council exam) in Oba. Her results are there for anyone to see. It’s a public school.

“The 362 score she got is what she saw in the SMS sent to her by JAMB, after sending her code to the portal. That’s the same score she had been parading with for over two months before this controversy came up.”

Describing JAMB’s delay in releasing “the authentic results” of the highest scorer as deliberate, Ejikeme urged the exam body to come clean.

He said: “I’m surprised that JAMB kept quiet all this while, until now that they came up with another result. But what I’ve discovered as a father is that JAMB deliberately delayed coming up with the allegations so as to come up with something they would use to defend themselves.

“The new score they’re claiming my daughter got is not her result. Unfortunately, the same people that were supposed to offer her an award for coming out tops are pulling her down.

“My daughter has been weeping all these while and we’ve been consoling her that nothing is too hard for God to do. She’s not happy that her result was not only altered but she’s being falsely accused of what she did not do.

“How can they accuse my daughter of such allegations when she doesn’t work with JAMB? When journalists come to interview her, one of the questions I ask them is, does the person you’re interviewing look fraudulent? For me, it’s only a dullard that can engage in such a crime.”

He described Mmesoma as studious.

Ejikeme added: “My daughter studies so hard that even when you ask her to go to bed late at night, she will insist on reading more. Because she wants to study Medicine and Surgery, she rarely sleeps, especially during exams. So after all the stress, someone will say her result was forged.

“On what we intend doing, there’s nothing else we can do than to insist JAMB should tell us the truth. They should stop defending themselves and tell the whole world the truth. Even if my daughter is asked to sit for this exam repeatedly, I’m sure she will still come out best. She’s my daughter. She has never taken second in class.

Read Also: Charly Boy to JAMB: provide Mmesoma’s paper for re-mark

“Besides, all my children, two girls and boys, are all brilliant. You can go and inquire from their teachers if you so wish. Just that we don’t make noise about it, just like I earlier said. Even the (Governor Charles) Soludo panel set up should go ahead with the investigation. I’m not ready to engage the services of lawyers; let justice be done.”

But JAMB doubled down on its position saying Nigerians would be shocked if it revealed details of the alleged forgery.

Its Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, said the result paraded by Ejikeme was the template for a student who sat for UTME two years ago.

In an interview with Premium Times, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin said: “If you scan the code, the candidate’s result will show.

“So I can say emphatically that the girl is parading a fake result. It is either she is being duped, or she is part of a syndicate manufacturing purported JAMB results.

“There are security features on our results, so I can emphasise that the girl is just trying to deceive the public. Her result is completely fake. Her claim that she printed the result from our site is a lie, and totally incorrect.

“If we should reveal all that we know, people will be shocked. So, if people are looking for shortcuts to achieve an end, that is what would happen.”

JAMB said the matter had nothing to do with its system, saying nobody hacked into its system and that the result did not emanate from its system.

“The result she is holding is completely fake because we are able to track everything printed from our system,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Uchekwukwu Edum, Principal of Anglican Girls Secondary School (AGSS), Nnewi, where Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme is studying, expressed surprise at the announcement discrediting her score.

She said the school was awaiting the outcome of a detailed investigation by the Department of States Services (DSS) when the news of the alleged forgery was broken on Sunday.

Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said the matter had not been reported to the police in the state.

“We are not aware of the case. So, I can’t comment on the issue”, Tochukwu stated.

When The Nation visited the Anglican Bishop’s court, Diocese of Nnewi, which owns the school, Education Secretary, Ven Henry Ndukuba, declined comment, disclosing that the church had scheduled a press conference today where the matter would be duly addressed.

Also yesterday the National Association of Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) condemned JAMB’s decision to bar Mmesoma from sitting the UTME for the next three years, saying the body did not

carry out due diligence before taking the step.

The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, called for the composition of a ‘Common Committee’, to resolve the controversy over the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) of Mmesoma’s result.

According to the ASUU boss, the board would not have found itself in this current situation if it had restricted itself to just conducting the examination and forwarding the results of candidates who subscribed to the respective institutions of higher learning.

Also, Prof Bola Oboh, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research) University of Lagos, told NAN that there was a need for an in-depth investigation.

But a one-time Education Minister, Prof. Chinwe Obaji described the development as disturbing, stating that JAMB may be right with its position on the matter, judging from past antecedents.

For the Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, JAMB can put the matter to rest by testing Mmesoma with another examination

A civil society group, The Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) also weighed in, describing the controversy as a national embarrassment.

But the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) chided JAMB for accusing Mmesoma of manipulating her UTME result, saying the accusation had undermined the pupil’s reputation and disregarded her rights as a child, as outlined in the Child Rights Act of 2003.

Also, a legal practitioner, Johnmary Maduakolam asked JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede to apologise to Mmesoma or face legal action, for allegedly failing to discharge its duty to the girl child under the Child’s Right Act.

Meanwhile, Deeper Life High School yesterday celebrated the “JAMB best candidate”, Miss Nkechinyere Umeh and other students of the school that scored 300 and above in the 2023 UTME organised by JAMB.

JAMB, on June 24, confirmed Umeh came top in the 2023 UTME with a cumulative mark of 360.

There were discordant tunes between the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Governors of the party over the new principal officers of the National Assembly announced at the two Chambers on Tuesday.

The Chairman, in a meeting with members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) led by its Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma, told the Governors the National Working Committee (NWC) was not a party to the announcement of principal officers by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

Adamu said: “I am just hearing a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“The national headquarters of the party and the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of offices.

“And until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions. So whatever announcement is done either by the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is not from this secretariat.”

Read Also: Lukman accuses Adamu, Omisore of running<br>APC without approved budget

But at the closed-door meeting with the Governors, The Nation gathered the chairman’s position did not go down well with them, most of whom were caught aback by what they called an “unwarranted” outburst.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Uzodimma faulted the national chairman’s position on the Principal officers of the National Assembly, maintaining that the leadership of the legislative houses enjoys the support of APC Governors.

“Chairman never said that they are on their own. The National Assembly leadership belongs to our great party and they are members of our party, they are members of our party and they enjoy our support.

“If there is any way that there is a communication gap anywhere, we will make it up and we have our internal mechanism of resolving such things. The National Assembly leadership enjoys the support of the Progressives Governors Forum and our party. We don’t have any problem at all,” he said.

Governors at the meeting include Hope Uzodimma (Imo); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Abdulrahman AbdulRasak (Kwara); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti); Rev. Hyacient Alia (Benue); Diko Rada (Katsina); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Francis Ogobona Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Umar Namadi (Jigawa) and Umar Mohammed (Niger).

Others are Deputy Governors of Kaduna Haidza Balarabe and her Nasarawa counterpart Dr Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe.

President Bola Tinubu has tendered copies of his educational records from the Chicago State University before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) as he opened his defence in the petition by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Also tendered by his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) is a 2007 letter from the United States Embassy in Nigeria, absolving Tinubu of any criminal liability in the US, and the letter of request from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to the US Embassy.

Read Also: 2023 Women’s World Cup : Oluremi Tinubu urges Falcons to dazzle the world

The academic records from the Chicago State University, 12 documents in all, were certified on June 28, 2023 by Jamar C. Orr, the Associate General Counsel, Office of the Legal Affairs, Chicago State University.

Also tendered are six copies of documents relating to immigration and visa records of trips made to the US by Tinubu between 2011 and 2021, among other documents.

Details shortly…

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from the new principal officers announced by the presiding officers of the National Assembly.

A gulf between the party and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly emerged on Tuesday over the zoning of the principal positions of the two chambers.

The National chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, while hosting members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) distanced the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party from the arrangement.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the emergence of new Principal Officers on Tuesday. The announcement was in line with agreements by the caucuses of the majority and the minority parties.

Read Also: JUST IN: APC Govs., NWC in crucial meeting

Addressing the Governors, Adamu said the party had no input in the names of lawmakers making rounds as principal officers of the National Assembly.

According to the chairman: “The election of the principal officers of the Senate by the Senate President and Deputy Senate President. The election of the speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives have been determined and announced and their responsibilities. 

“The remaining offices will be determined by the two chambers is yet to be done. I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his Deputy. The following which was Sunday, I received the visit by the Speaker and his Deputy Speaker coming to me for Sallah’s homage. 

“But, I am just hearing as a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives. 

“The national headquarters of the party of the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of offices. 

“And until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions. So whatever announcement is done either the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is not from this secretariat.”

Details Shortly…

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is holding a crucial meeting with the leadership of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja.

Sources within the party said the meeting will be discussing the agenda for the party’s forthcoming National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) slated for Monday and Tuesday respectively.

The meeting, which is at the instance of the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC, will be the first with the new leadership of the PGF following the emergence of Governor Hope Uzodimma as the new chairman of the forum.

Read Also: APC governors , NWC meet on NEC agenda

At the ongoing meeting, the National chairman of the party, Senator Adamu led the NWC members, which include National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore; Deputy National Chairman (North); Senator Abubakar Kyari, Deputy National Chairman(South); Emma Enukwu, Deputy National Secretary Barr. Festus Fanuter;  National Vice Chairman(North East) Salihu Mustapha; National Vice Chairman(North West)Lukman; National Legal Adviser, National Youth Leader Dayo Israel; National Women Leader Betta Edu and National Leader (PWD) Tolu Bankole

Governors at the meeting include: Uzodimma (Imo); Yahaya Bello (Kogi);  Abdulrahman AbdulRasak (Kwara); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti); Rev. Hyibcent Alia (Benue); Diko Rada (Katsina); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe). 

Details Shortly…

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has named Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) and Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) as the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House. 

The Nation reported on Monday that the former Secretary to the Edo State Government is likely to emerge as the House Leader. 

Read Also: BREAKING: Akpabio names Mwadkwon as Minority Leader

The Speaker also named Usman Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe) as the Chief Whip of the House. 

Chinda and Kumo headed the Joint Task 10th Assembly that worked for the emergence of Abbas as Speaker. 

Other Principal Officers named by the Speaker include Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims (Kogi, APC) as Deputy majority leader and Hon. Adewumi Onanuga (Ogun, APC) as Deputy Majority Whip. 

He also announced Hon. Ali Isa JC (Gombe, PDP) as Minority Leader;  Hon. Ali Madaki (Kano, NNPP) as Deputy Minority Whip and Hon. George Ozodinobi (Anambra, LP) as Deputy Minority Whip.

Details Shortly…