Politics
PWDs visit APC headquarter to appreciate party, Buhari for free nomination forms
Persons with Disabilities (PWD) on Friday stormed the National headquarters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to thank the party for making nomination forms to contest for positions under the party’s platform free for PWDs.
They also said they came to the party headquarters to thank President Muhammad Buhari for giving them a voice by creating a Commission for them as well as the disability law that makes it compulsory for 5% of PWDs to be employed in any government agency.
The group who gathered in their numbers at the entrance gate of the party also drummed support for Governor Yahaya Bello’s ambition to contest for the presidency.
They said the Governor had domesticated the disability law in Kogi State hence they expressed the confidence that if he wins the Presidency, PWDs matter would be his priority.
The chairman Kogi State disability board, Hon Ibrahim Daniel Arome, said the board he chairs was established by Kogi State Governor
“We want to let everybody know that the inclusion we have been yearning for can only be found in the party APC under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari who made it possible for us to have a voice.
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“Also in Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello has domesticated the disability law and today though on a wheel chair I live a free and fulfiled life like any other person.
“So many of us that have been so neglected by the society, APC has given us a voice, Gov Yahaya Bello who we are expecting to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari has also given us the same voice in Kogi State.
“You are seeing us in our numbers to attest to the fact that Bello believes in people like us. He is the only man who has PWD as the national coordinator of his campaign council in the history of all those aspiring to be President.
“This is the only Governor who has given automatic ticket for Ankpa 1 State Constituency to a PWD after pleading with able bodied men that were contending with him and they understood why the PWD should be in the law making business and today we have a PWD who will fly the APC flag during the next election.
The deputy speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly Rt Honorable Ahmed Muhammed commended governor Bello for making the issues of People With Disabilities a priority. He also thanked the party for giving an opportunity to a PWD to represent Ankpa 1.
“It is a great joy for myself as a member representing Ankpa 1, he is going to take over from me in 2023. I want Nigerians to know that the Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello is for all. A man that is practical about the inclusion of PWDs “Look at Arome though on a wheelchair but Bello made him the State chairman of the board on PWDs.
“I proposed this disability bill sometimes two years ago and because of the Love Bello has for PWDs, what I labored for has come to reality.
“I have been doing a lot in my constituency, I have built houses for PWDs and I am so happy today that my constituency is going to be the first to benefit from my Labour, I appreciate APC and Yahaya Bello.
The executive secretary of the Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs
Barr. Zacchaus Dare Martin said they came to the APC party headquarters to appreciate the leadership of the party for harkening to their agitation to make nomination forms for People Living With Disability, PWD free of charge.
“We made a national protest asking for APC to declare forms free for PWDs and as a listening party they obliged us the request.
“Today, that has in no small measure brought major PWDs who are highly educated and politically agile to showcase their leadership capacity across the states.
“They are contesting for Senate, House of Reps and State Assembly seats because the forms are free.
“We want them to succeed. Nigeria will never go back to Egypt. Under His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Adamu as the National Chairman, APC will coast home to victory in all our elections.
“Another reason why we are here this morning is to appreciate the man I will describe as an angel sent to us for a special mission, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the governor who over the years has given listening ears to the voice of PWDs.
“He gave them appointments as special advisers, senior special advisers, board members and more importantly, he gave them assignments, not in area of disability.
“There is a visually impaired person who is Special Adviser on Media. He does this to show that he believes in their capacity to showcase their potentials.
“More importantly, His Excellency recently established Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs. It is the first of its kind, in the history of Kogi State no agency, no commission, no board has been in charge of PWDs for inclusiveness, but Bello has changed the narrative.
“He gave an agency today that is saddled with the responsibility of taking care of PWDs in Kogi state.
He said Bello has directed that 39% should be reserved for PWDs in the forthcoming employment of teachers in the State.
He said there are many of the PWDs are graduates in different fields, but because of stigmatisation, they are not given jobs.
“As we speak, the only PWD who aspired to go to Kogi State House of Assembly was given automatic ticket by Governor Yahaya Bello to run.
“He has also promised to give him all the support he needs to ensure he wins.
“It is a good omen.
Among all the presidential aspirants, Yahaya Bello is the only one that has a directorate for PWD. It means if he is finally elected Nigerian president, a new chapter will be opened in the lives of this vulnerable people with potentials. “He believes there is ability in disability.
We are here today to thank him and appreciate him for all he has done and what he is yet to do for us.
“We want to use this window to endorse him for President. We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to help us garner support for him because if he is elected Nigerian president he will give attention to the needy in society as he has demonstrated as a governor.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has explained that the persistent crisis and legal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party compelled him to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
The governor’s defection was formally announced on Monday by his deputy, Mani Mummuni, after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the move was described as a necessary step taken in the interest of the state and supported by political stakeholders across Zamfara.
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According to the statement, Governor Lawal had remained committed to the PDP despite the ongoing leadership crisis and had made several efforts to reconcile factions within the party.
However, attempts to achieve peace and unity reportedly failed, leading to prolonged legal battles.
The development followed a judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP challenging an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
The earlier judgment had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The governor was said to have informed political stakeholders during a series of meetings that he would make a final decision about his political future after the appellate court delivered its ruling.
Following the judgment, Lawal concluded that joining the APC would better position him to continue what he described as the “Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild Mission.”
His defection marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Zamfara State and could influence political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has handed a significant setback to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, dismissing his appeal challenging a Federal High Court ruling that questioned his eligibility to contest the upcoming governorship election.
A three-member panel delivered a unanimous judgment on Monday, affirming that the trial court acted correctly when it allowed Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, the plaintiff, to amend his originating summons.
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Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who read the lead judgment, said the governor failed to show that the High Court’s decision caused any miscarriage of justice or denied him a fair hearing.
The appeal was therefore dismissed for lacking merit, and the court awarded ₦2 million in costs against Aiyedatiwa.
The ruling reinforces the November 24, 2025, Federal High Court decision in Akure, which granted Egbuwalo permission to challenge Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility for re-election.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal also rejected an application by Aiyedatiwa to set aside a January 27, 2026, order staying proceedings in the case before the Federal High Court.
The appellate court clarified that the stay was a lawful exercise of its jurisdiction aimed at protecting the integrity of the proceedings.
The panel further emphasized that attempting to overturn its own order would be akin to sitting on appeal over its own decision.
The governor’s remaining option, the court noted, is to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court. Another ₦2 million in costs was awarded against Aiyedatiwa.
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party has deepened following a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja which upheld a ban on the party’s proposed national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A three-man panel of the appellate court on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by a faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear a suit concerning the controversial convention.
The Turaki-led faction had approached the Court of Appeal after a Federal High Court barred the party from holding its planned national convention scheduled for November 14 and 15, 2025.
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The lower court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or validating the proposed convention.
However, delivering judgment, the appellate court ruled that the Federal High Court had the authority to entertain the case, rejecting the argument that the matter was purely an internal affair of the party.
According to the court, the appellants could not present what it described as a clear violation of the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as merely an internal party issue.
The panel subsequently dismissed the appeal and awarded a cost of N2 million against the appellants.
The ruling is part of judgments delivered in nine harmonised appeals filed by the Turaki-led faction over the dispute surrounding the convention.
The latest court decision is expected to further intensify the internal wrangling within the opposition party as it continues to grapple with leadership disputes and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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