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Three of five Tinubu’s ministers defeated at APC primaries

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By Bonaventure Phillips Melah

If the just concluded primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is to be taken as referendum on the performance of some ministers appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then the verdict is less than impressive.

According to public opinion, only about five out of the over 40 Ministers and Ministers of state serving in the current administration, have justified the confidence reposed in them by the President.

The performing Ministers are, that of FCT- Nyesom Wike, Aviation and Aerospace Department- Festus Keyamo, Works- Dave Umahi, Interior- Tunji Ojo and Communications- Bosun Tijani.

Following the directive of President Tinubu earlier in the year that political appointees wishing to contest elective positions in the 2027 general election should resign from his cabinet, three  ministers and two minister of state took a bow to pursue their political ambition.

The President’s directive that they should resign was in line with the Electoral Act 2026.

Consequently,ministers that resined were Yusuf Tuggar- Foreign Affairs, State for Humanitarian Affairs,-Yusuf Sununu; Transportation- Saidu Alkali: State for Labour and Employment- Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and Power- Adebayo Adelabu.

Following the conduct of the primaries by their party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, only Onyeagocha and Sununu were able to get ticket to contest the elections while Adelabu and Alkali have been trashed as the faith of  Tuggar remains uncertain.

Onyejeocha clinched the APC ticket for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia after emerging as an unopposed candidate.

Sununu also secured the APC ticket for Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency after withdrawing from the Kebbi South senatorial race.

Adelabu, who resigned after the deadline set by the President, had hoped to secure the party’s governorship ticket in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.

The former minister was, however, defeated in the contest by Senator Sarafadeen Alli who polled 578,143 votes to defeat Adelabu with 19,193 votes.

Following the outcome of the exercise, Adelabu alleged manipulation in the primary process, insisting that the election did not reflect the true wishes of party members.

He vowed to challenge the outcome of the election, adding that his team was preparing to petition the party leadership at the national level.

Speaking to journalists during the exercise, the ex-minister said, “In some wards, our people were prevented from voting; they were intimidated, they were chased away violently. And in some wards, voting did not take place at all, but they recorded numbers for them.

“All these kinds of misconduct are not good at this stage of our democracy in Nigeria and something has to be done about it. We are going to write serious petitions against all these things that took place.”

For Alkali, the former transport minister, his ambition to contest the office of Gombe state governor was botched after he boycotted the primary process over alleged irregularities.

Alkali lost to Jamilu Gwamna, who is backed by the incumbent, Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

Gwamna emerged winner of the primary after polling 247,161 votes to defeat Alkali, who polled 11, 612 votes and the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, who scored 12,120 votes.

He also alleged that the exercise lacked the basic hallmarks of a credible democratic process.

While Adelabu and Alkali have lost out in their political bids, the fate of Tuggar hangs in the balance while his supporters have threatened to leave APC if he is not given the party’s flag.

The Director of Media, Tuggar Foundation, Ibrahim Malam, said members of the movement would not remain in a party where internal democracy was allegedly being undermined.

According to him, the position being canvassed was that of members of the movement and not that of Tuggar himself.

“Regarding this narration of somebody becoming the APC flag bearer who is not competent, somebody who lost an election, we can’t remain in the party where democracy is not practised.

“I’m saying this on behalf of my team, not on behalf of the former minister Yusuf Tuggar. But this is our collective mind with the people coordinating his social media. We cannot support a party where democracy is not being practised,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Final year university student found dead

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Sarah Ojodomo Idoko, a final year  student of the Federal University Lokoja has been found dead along the Felele–Lokoja Road in Kogi State.

The body of the lady, a final year student, was reportedly found on Saturday night near the Crusher area along the busy Felele axis after she was allegedly dumped there by unknown assailants.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that a vehicle was seen stopping briefly near the location at about 8 p.m. before speeding away. Shortly afterwards, passers-by reportedly discovered the victim’s body by the roadside and alerted authorities.

Initial reports suggested that Sarah was a student of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, after an identity card bearing her name and academic details was recovered at the scene.

The card indicated that she was enrolled in the Higher National Diploma (HND) programme in the Department of Office Technology Management for the 2024/2025 academic session.

However, the Kogi State Police Command later clarified that the deceased was actually a student of the Federal University Lokoja.

 

 

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Davido to perform at FIFA World Cup fiesta

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World football governing body, FIFA has announced that Afrobeats star Davido is  one of the performers for this year’s Countdown Concert scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, United States, on June 10.

FIFA announced this on Tuesday as part of activities leading up to the commencement of the expanded World Cup, which the United States, Canada and Mexico will jointly host.

According to the global football governing body, Davido will share the stage with Major Lazer, the music project led by American DJ and producer Diplo, during the Los Angeles leg of the concert series.

The event is part of a synchronised live entertainment programme that will connect audiences across the three host nations through music, football and cultural performances ahead of the tournament.

“Los Angeles will play host to a high-energy celebration, featuring Diplo’s Major Lazer and Davido, the first artists announced for what promises to be an unforgettable night of music, football and culture,” FIFA said in a statement.

The concert will take place at the Crypto.com Arena, with doors opening at 5 p.m. local time and the live show expected to begin an hour later.

FIFA said performances from Los Angeles will be linked with simultaneous events in Toronto and Mexico City, creating a unique cross-border celebration ahead of the competition.

 

 

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How gunmen kidnapped ex- miniter Adelabu’s sister, her two children

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Gunmen on Wednesday, kidnapped the sister of the former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress 2027 governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, and her twin children. The incident happened in Ibadan, the state capital.

The abduction occurred in the Challenge area of Ibadan South West Local Government Area of the state.

Confirming the incident in a statement, one of the media aides to Adelabu, Femi Awogboro, said, “The family of Adebayo Adelabu, former Minister of Power and leading governorship aspirant of APC in Oyo State, wishes to formally confirm the unfortunate kidnapping of his younger sister, Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, alongside her twin sons, Peter and Paul, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

“Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, aged 43, was reportedly abducted by armed gunmen at about 7:30 a.m. while on her way to drop her children at school in Ibadan. The abductors also forcefully took away her 12-year-old twin sons, who were with her at the time of the incident.

“Mrs. Adegoke John-Paul is the youngest of the five children of Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu. Until her voluntary retirement last year, she had served meritoriously at both the Central Bank of Nigeria and First Bank Pension Custodian.

“Following her retirement, she relocated to Ibadan with her children while making preparations to eventually join her husband, Mr. John Paul, who had earlier relocated to the United States of America.”

“Mrs. John-Paul, aged 43, was reportedly abducted by armed gunmen at about 7:30 a.m. while on her way to drop her children at school in Ibadan. The abductors also forcefully took away her 12-year-old twin sons, who were with her at the time of the incident.

“Immediately the incident was reported, all relevant security and law enforcement agencies were duly contacted. We are pleased to confirm that security operatives have swung into action and preliminary investigations have commenced in earnest. Efforts are currently ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of those responsible for this heinous crime.

“Adebayo Adelabu and the entire family are deeply distressed by this tragic development but remain hopeful and confident in the capacity of the security agencies to secure the safe release of Mrs. John-Paul and her children,” the statement read.

 

 

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