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Marriage of convinience in Imo as Okorocha, Araraume collapse support structures for PDP’s Anyanwu
In what is clearly self- preservation move, former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha and long time fighter for the governor’s office, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume has declared their willingness to team up with the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for November governorship election, Senator Samuel Anyanwu with the aim of wrestling power from Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Okorocha and Ararume have been sworn political enemies for years but each of the two politicians has suffered humiliation from Governor Uzodinma in the last three years and some months.
Okorocha who preceded Uzodinma as governor has been facing series of corruption related charges said to be instigated by the Governor who recently received a report by a committee he set up to probe Okorocha’s landed property deals while in office.
On his part, Ararume has equally taken enough doses of Uzodinma’s political head-butt including the reversal of his appointment as Chairman of the Board of the NNPC by then president Muhammadu Buhari, an action said to be the handiwork of Hope Uzodinma.
So, on Tuesday, when the Imo State Chapter of the PDP inaugurated its campaign council for the November 11 governorship election, Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, two APC bigwigs openly endorsed the PDP candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu against Uzodinma who is the candidate of their party.
At the event which took place in Owerri, the state capital, several members of Okorocha’s Rescue Mission Group and Araraume’s Destiny Group announced their endorsement of Anyanwu adding that he was the only candidate who could wrest power from Uzodinma.
The council was inaugurated by the party’s Chairman, Mr Charles Ugwu.
Speaking on the development, Ugwu revealed that the campaign will have Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, as Director-General, and Prince Marshal Okoroaforanyanwu as Secretary.
He charged all party members to work towards ensuring the party’s victory in the election.
The Party’s Gubernatorial Candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, during his speech, disclosed that he is in the race for the position of Governor to end killings and insecurity in the state, revamp the state’s health system and to restore the dignity of the workforce and pensioners alike.
He said that he would return tourism to the state and get the local governments working again. He charged the council not to be afraid, but to carry out its lawful duties and not be intimidated by any person or group.
“I will lead and I fear nobody. I want to stop the bloodletting and suffering in the land. Do not be afraid, I know where I’m coming from.
“I am your messenger and I will lead you right. My name is Samuel, God has spoken and I have heard”, he said.
Okoroaforanyanwu, secretary of the council said that the PDP’s choice of Anyanwu, who is from the Imo East senatorial district, favored the principle of equity.
He said the district had ruled the state for only seven months since the return of democratic rule in 1999.
15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Amaewhule disclosed the lawmakers’ decision during Friday’s plenary, attributing their defection to what he called a “clear division” within the PDP.
“Distinguished colleagues, very happily, let me announce that your Speaker has decided, and has indeed written to my ward chairman of my decision, to leave the PDP. APC is my new party,” Amaewhule said.
Amaewhule’s Deputy, Dumle Maol, is one of the 16 lawmakers that joined APC as well.
All the lawmakers, who have jumped ship, are core loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The Central Bank of Nigeria,has rolled out a new framework ito expedite handling of fraud accusations and refund victims.
Customers must report suspected fraudulent transactions within 72 hours under this draft guideline, and financial institutions have 16 working days to look into the matter and repay money.
The action comes in the wake of a dramatic increase in banking sector fraud.
According to data from the Financial Institutions Training Center, losses in the first quarter of 2025 increased to ₦3.29 billion, a startling 603 percent increase over the previous year. In the same time frame, reported cases also increased to 12,347.
The November 26, 2025, proposed regulations seek to improve bank accountability, expedite reimbursements, and boost prevention.
Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department Rita Sike signed the circular, which describes stricter regulations intended to prevent fraud before it occurs.
The apex bank’s ongoing fight against financial fraud has advanced with the adoption of this guidance. To enhance cooperation between operators, it established the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum in 2011.
It directed banks to establish specialized fraud bureaus four years later. By requiring BVN or NIN for account opening, it reinforced Know Your Customer checks in 2023.
Operatives of the Department of State Service have arrested a medical doctor treating wounded kidnappers inside the forest in different parts of Kwara State.
The suspect, whose name could not be ascertained at press time, was also involved in supplying drugs to kidnapping gangs operating in Kwara.
The DSS intercepted the medical doctor in the Jebba area after intelligence reports revealed that some couriers had been moving medical supplies from Sokoto to treat wounded bandits hiding in forests across the state.
A security official said many of the criminal groups have sustained gunshot injuries in recent encounters with forces.
The source said, “So, we are advising improved security measures in health facilities in thickly forested areas which the kidnappers may target.”
Confirming the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kwara State, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the arrest was another significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat banditry.
Ajakaye noted that the state government will continue to strengthen collaboration with security agencies to shut down all channels aiding kidnapping activities.
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