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HURIWA Demands ICPC Clarify Probe Of Newly Appointed Sports Commission Chairman

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Amid Shehu Dikko’s recent appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to clarify the status of an investigation involving Dikko.

The NSC, which replaces the Ministry of Sports Development, will oversee key aspects of Nigeria’s sports administration, making the transparency of Dikko’s record a matter of public interest.

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In a statement, HURIWA’s National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko called on ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, to ensure full disclosure, referencing the alleged probe into Dikko.

“In the true spirit of open government and full disclosure, it is incumbent on the ICPC through the Executive Chairman to clarify publicly through a sworn affidavit on the status of the reported investigation in which the name of Shehu Dikko featured prominently, even though his legal representatives kicked against what they considered as an orchestrated media persecution of their client,” the statement read.

The call follows an incident in October 2022, when the ICPC announced it had seized Dikko’s Abuja property, claiming it was beyond what his earnings could reasonably justify.

The asset seizure was part of a larger anti-corruption investigation launched in 2019 that implicated multiple officials in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), including former president Amaju Pinnick.

At the time, Dikko, then vice-president of the NFF and chair of the Nigerian football league, denied wrongdoing.

His attorney, Mohammed Sani Katu, described the situation as “unfair media trial,” stating, “This unfair media trial has been going on since 2019 when the ICPC published notices in newspapers for seizure of my client’s and his colleagues’ assets without any court order to back the forfeiture of my client’s assets nor inviting our clients to explain.”

HURIWA, pointing to Dikko’s new position, insists that Nigerians have the right to know if the investigation is active or has been dropped.

“Nigerians deserve to know what has happened to the public notice by the ICPC on the said property of Shehu Dikko in the year 2022,” Onwubiko said, stressing that the update is critical for maintaining public trust.

“In as much as we are not accusing Shehu Dikko of any illegality, we believe that since the ICPC had taken out publicly advertised notices on the seizure of his Abuja property, now that Shehu Dikko is elevated to a prestigious national office, the good people of Nigeria should be adequately briefed on the status of that investigation which was dismissed as a witch hunt by legal counsels of Shehu Dikko.

“Moreover, since Nigeria has a freedom of information law, the ICPC is obligated to tell Nigerians all that they know on that matter and if it has been withdrawn then the ICPC should say so but apologise to Shehu Dikko,” HURIWA added.

HURIWA’s statement reflects its commitment to transparency and accountability, urging the ICPC to provide a conclusive update on the matter for the benefit of all Nigerians.

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Politics

2027: “Enough Is Enough” — Omo-Agege Dumps APC

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Former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress, citing unresolved political issues and recent developments within the party in Delta State.

Omo-Agege announced his departure in a statement released by his Media Adviser, Sunday Areh, after consultations with political allies, supporters, and stakeholders across Delta Central.

SEE ALSO: Fresh Crisis Hits APC as Senators, Aspirants Reject Primary Results Across 9 States

According to the former senator, the decision became necessary after realizing that remaining in the ruling party would no longer serve the interests of his people and supporters.

In his resignation letter addressed to the APC Chairman of Orogun Ward 2 in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Omo-Agege declared that he refused to remain politically inactive in a party where he could no longer effectively represent the interests of Delta Central and Delta State.

“I will not remain a sitting duck in a party where I cannot advance the interests of Delta Central, Delta State and Nigeria,” he stated.

The former lawmaker, who represented Delta Central Senatorial District and served as Deputy President of the 9th Senate, thanked the APC for the opportunity to serve under the platform in different capacities over the years.

He also directed that his name be removed from all party membership records and official communication channels of the APC.

Omo-Agege assured his supporters that his exit from the ruling party would not affect his commitment to the development of Delta State and Nigeria, stressing that he remains active in the political process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His resignation is expected to trigger fresh political alignments and reactions within Delta State politics as preparations for the next election cycle continue.

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2027 Presidency: Sokoto ADC Adopts Atiku as Preferred Candidate

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State has thrown its support behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential election.

The endorsement was announced on Sunday during a press briefing in Sokoto by prominent party stakeholders led by Alhaji Muktar Magori, a key ADC figure and former Chief of Staff to former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

SEE ALSO: Atiku Knocks FG’s ‘Sluggish’ Handling of South Africa Xenophobic Violence

Magori explained that the decision was reached after consultations among party loyalists and stakeholders across the state as preparations intensify for the ADC presidential primaries and the 2027 general elections.

He noted that party members believe Atiku possesses the experience and political capacity needed to lead the country.

“This decision is in preparation for the party’s forthcoming presidential primaries and the 2027 general elections,” Magori stated.

Several influential members of the party attended the briefing, including former Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Dahiru Maishanu; former Head of Service, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad; and the Sokoto State Chairman of the ADC, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu.

The development is expected to further shape early political alignments ahead of the 2027 presidential race as political parties begin strategic consultations nationwide.

 

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Fresh Crisis Hits APC as Senators, Aspirants Reject Primary Results Across 9 States

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Fresh crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress following widespread rejection of the party’s senatorial and National Assembly primary election results by aggrieved aspirants and party stakeholders across nine states.

The controversy, which trailed the APC primaries conducted ahead of the 2027 general elections, has sparked protests, petitions and allegations of manipulation, imposition of candidates and violation of internal democratic processes in Ekiti, Ondo, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kwara, Plateau, Kaduna, Delta and Benue states.

In Ekiti State, former senator Ayo Arise and fellow aspirant Dare Owolabi rejected the outcome of the APC senatorial primary in Ekiti North Senatorial District, where the incumbent senator, Cyril Fasuyi, was declared winner.

SEE MORE: Shock in Ogun APC as Aspirant Withdraws, Declares Support for Party Choice

While the APC election committee announced that Fasuyi polled 14,179 votes to defeat his rivals, Arise insisted he won the election based on ward results in his possession.

He alleged that the process was disrupted in several wards after it became obvious he was leading.

Arise described the exercise as being riddled with irregularities, intimidation and fraud, vowing to challenge the outcome before the national leadership of the party.

Owolabi also faulted the exercise, alleging that supporters were harassed and chased away from voting venues across several wards.

However, Fasuyi dismissed the allegations and maintained that the primary election was conducted in line with APC guidelines.

In Ondo State, former deputy governor and senatorial aspirant, Agboola Ajayi, also rejected the outcome of the Ondo South senatorial primary, describing the announced results as fake.

Ajayi’s campaign organisation claimed the figures declared by the senatorial collation officer did not reflect the actual results collated by its agents across the wards.

In Zamfara State, several aspirants criticised the adoption of consensus arrangements by party leaders instead of direct primaries.

Former governor and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, had announced that consensus candidates had emerged across the state following agreements among aspirants.

But aspirants including Tijjani Kaura, Dr Sani Shinkafi and Hajiya Lubuna Gusau denied participating in any consensus arrangement and accused party leaders of attempting to impose candidates.

Shinkafi further accused party leaders of misleading President Bola Tinubu by claiming he directed aspirants to step down for incumbent lawmakers.

In Nasarawa State, APC members under the platform of Concerned APC Members staged a peaceful protest over alleged irregularities during the National Assembly primaries.

The group accused the election committee of poor coordination, late arrival of election materials and favouritism towards certain candidates.

Similarly, APC stakeholders in Kwara State petitioned the national leadership of the party over the conduct of the House of Representatives primary election in the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin/Irepodun Federal Constituency.

The stakeholders alleged that no voting exercise took place in some areas and accused local party leaders of releasing unauthorised election results.

In Plateau State, Plateau North Senatorial District aspirant and serving senator, Pam Dachungyang, rejected the APC senate primary, describing the process as a sham that failed to meet democratic standards.

According to him, party officials failed to appear in several areas where voting was expected to take place.

The crisis also spread to Kaduna State, where aggrieved aspirants staged protests across Kaduna metropolis over the outcome of the senatorial primaries.

The protesters alleged that the APC abandoned the approved direct primary system and instead adopted an unauthorised delegate arrangement.

The protest followed the emergence of Sunday Katung, former governor Ramalan Yero and Shehu Sani as winners of the APC senatorial tickets.

In Delta State, the Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primaries Appeal Committee, Chukwuemeka Ujam, confirmed that the panel had received five petitions from aggrieved party members challenging the conduct of the primaries.

Meanwhile, in Benue State, two aspirants challenged the victory of Blessing Onuh in the APC House of Representatives primary for Otukpo/Ohinmini Federal Constituency.

The aspirants alleged that election materials were hijacked and claimed the votes allocated to Onuh exceeded the number of registered party members in the constituency.

The growing wave of protests and petitions has further exposed deepening cracks within the APC as the ruling party prepares for the 2027 general elections.

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