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PDP, APC Bicker Over Gov Alia’s Visit To Dongban-Mensem

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Benue State chapter, has raised suspicions over the visit of Governor Hyacinth Alia to Shendam, Plateau State, the country home of the President of Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Donogban-Mensem.
Alia, last Saturday, had attended the one year remembrance Mass in honour of late Prince Paeke Shepnaan, son of the President of Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, in Shendam, Plateau State.
PDP, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom,  said it viewed “The frolicking of Governor Alia around the Court of Appeal President with deep suspicion for the fact that the governor is having his election challenged by the party before the Benue State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal (BGEPT) sitting in Makurdi.”
The party said it was aware that the President of the Court of Appeal appoints the judges who sit on the vari-ous election petition tribu-nals, and that while the party has no reason to doubt the integrity of Dongban-Mensem and the judges, the same cannot be said of the Benue Governor.
The party warned the gov-ernor against any act that may seek to tamper with the course of justice at the tribunal, saying  any attempt by Alia to tamper with justice at the tribunal will be stoutly resisted through every lawful means  available to the party.
Reacting, the state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) called on the opposition PDP not to think of getting justice through the back door.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomun, said Governor Alia was free to attend any event he is invited.
“PDP is just suffering from the defeat of March 18, 2023, as people of the state freely gave their mandate to the governor and our party, we will continue to defend the mandate and work towards the betterment of the people of the state. Governor Alia won the election free and fair and it is on record that no governorship election in the state has recorded such a huge margin, which is 250,000 votes difference.
“PDP should wake up from their slumber and accept the reality that it cannot get justice through the back door. Court deals with facts and reality on ground. Governor Alia and the party (is) poised to uplift the lives of people of the state which PDP had destroyed in the past years,” Ihomun said.
Similarly, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, has asked former Governor Samuel Ortom and the PDP to “spare Alia of their desperation and confusion.”
Kula in response to the PDP allegation said “the insinuation contained in yet another vile attack on the judiciary for allowing Alia to attend a memorial mass for the late son of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem is unfortunate. The memorial service in honour of late Prince Paeke Shepnaan, the son of the President Court of Appeal, was attended by prominent Nigerians including four serving Governors, former Governors as well as Senators.
“Governor Hyacinth Alia was at that event to also represent the Progressive Governors’ Forum just like Sayi Makinde represented NGF. Should we say Wike and Makinde were also there to frolic with the President of the Appeal Court on behalf of Ortom and the Benue PDP? It is laughable how the PDP has now shifted its hopes to the Tribunal, even after they were roundly defeated at the polls.
“Governor Alia and the judiciary must be spared this form of crude desperation and confusion. The law profession and the Judiciary arm of government are noble.”

 

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Gov Alia Appoints TuFace As Adviser

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Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”

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Oborevwori, Okowa Dump PDP For APC

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Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Speakers Conference Tasks FG, Governors On Wanton Killings

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The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.

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