The story that linked the convoy of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to the death of a nine years old girl in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Thursday, has been described by the Police as fake.

The first lady was in Ondo State to launch the Renewed Hope Initiative Health Programme and to distribute 10,000 professional kits. comprising Crocs and scrubs, to midwives in the South-West zone.

In a statement, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, clarified that the claim, published by an online reporters, was entirely baseless and misleading.

“The attention of the Ondo State Police Command has been drawn to a false and misleading report published by Sahara Reporters on April 17.

“It alleged that the convoy of the first lady, Sen. Oluremi, was responsible for the tragic death of a young girl in Akure,” the statement read.

“Eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations conducted by the command confirm that the incident was caused by a hit-and-run driver operating an unregistered white Lexus vehicle.”

According to command’s spokesperson, a witness ,who observed the hit-and-run incident pursued the fleeing vehicle on a motorcycle immediately after the crash, which occurred in the Oba-Ile area of Akure.

The witness accounts were corroborated by several individuals at the scene, as well as by the victim’s parents.

“Furthermore, Sahara Reporters inaccurately claimed the deceased girl was nine years old.

According to her parents, the child was actually seven years old, highlighting the publication’s disregard for factual accuracy, even in a matter as sensitive as this,” the statement added.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has dismissed claims by Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s group that members of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, bloc of All Progressives Congress, APC, had ruled out defection and endorsed President Bola Tinubu for 2027 elections.

Malami, who spoke through his media aide, Muhammed Bello Doka, said the CPC bloc, which was former President Muhammadu Buhari’s platform, said the bloc was the only entity that could speak on whether or not it was leaving the APC and not Al-Makura’s group.

“When you say CPC bloc, one needs to know who they are referring to. Is it the likes of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Adamu Adamu, Masari and Faruku Adamu Aliyu who, a few months ago had been throwing Buhari under the bus, in desperate attempts to gain relevance that should decide for the bloc? Malami queried.

He described their decision as personal, with no connection with CPC bloc, adding that it was for them to gain relevance in the APC for personal benefits.

On his rumoured defection to the Social Democracy Party, SDP, Malami dismissed it as figments of the imagination of those peddling the rumour.

“Malami is a prominent figure in Nigeria, therefore, cannot defect to any party in secret, he is still in APC but in a broad consultations with different platforms. Until the consultations are over, it is premature to talk about defection or declaration of interest.”

He, however, said he remained in active politics and would make his position known when the time wast ripe to do so.

‘’Malami has right to belong to any political party and to contest any position in Kebbi State,’’ the aide said.

The Ebonyi state chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chukwudi Nwankwo, has responded to the recent social media statement attributed to the immediate past governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Nweze Umahi, that here is no opposition to the current administration at the national level and Ebonyi state as a blatant falsehood.

He said Umahi, the Minister of Transportation is a person well known careless remarks.

Hon. Nwankwo, said Umahi’s position that APGA is on the verge of collapse in Ebonyi and across was utterly ludicrous, contending that current developments in the country and Ebonyi State in particular signals the approaching end of the APC government, both nationally and in Ebonyi State, as a result of its damaging effects on the people.

In a statement released through Comrade Chris Emmanuel, the Media Director of APGA in Ebonyi State, the APGA state leader voiced strong disapproval of individuals like Engr. Nweze Umahi and asserted that, given the prevailing conditions in the country under the current administration, Umahi and his likes should feel a sense of shame.

The APGA leader emphasized the widespread hardship, agony, and sufferings endured by the populace. He questioned why, instead of tackling these pressing issues, Engr. Umahi was prioritizing elections that are still two years away. The APGA leader suggested that Umahi should instead apologize to Nigerians on behalf of his party, APC over the distress his party is inflicting upon the citizenry.

“Nigeria is currently in a state of uncertainty, yet individuals are already campaigning for elections that are two years away. Former Governor Umahi is deceitful, and we are alerting the public to his unfavorable disposition towards the Igbo people and anyone associated with him. Umahi’s actions have been driven by pure selfishness, and he has never championed any beneficial cause for the people of Ebonyi State or the Southeast region. I urge everyone to disregard his assertion that there is no opposition in the Ebonyi State current administration.

He accused Umahi of deliberately entrusting the leadership of Ebonyi State to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, allegedly knowing he would fail to perform. Furthermore, Hon. Nwankwo alleged that the current governor has been in office for two years without commissioning a single project, fostering no maintenance culture, and achieving nothing in Ebonyi State. He attributed these shortcomings to the excessive and undeserved praise from figures like Umahi.