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The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu on Friday doled out a N100 million business support grant to traders, artisans and farmers across Oyo State.

Adelabu, a 2027 All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo State said the empowerment was part of his ‘2025 Mega Empowerment and Economic Relief Program Series’ to alleviate suffering of the masses across the state.

He said empowerment became necessary as part of his efforts in giving back to society.

According to him, considering the current economic challenges across the nation particularly the state, there was the need for relief for traders, artisans and farmers in the state.

He said, ‘The empowerment is not about politics, I use it to thank God for his mercy on me, so, I’m giving back to society.’

He urged residents of the state and Nigeria at large to continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu so that Tinubu can be re-elected again as Nigeria’s President.

‘President Tinubu is God sent to Nigeria, he meant well for us, let us all support him and APC, though, things are somehow tough, but I can assure you that Nigerians will soon reap the gain of their pains.’

Dignitaries at the event include former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Moses Adeyemo; the Babaloja General of Oyo State, Alhaji Yekini Abass; APC Secretary, Alhaji Tajudeen Olanite; and Prince Gbade Lana among others.

Also, groups in attendance include All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Oyo State Chapter, members of Bayo Adelabu Foundation (BAF), traders, and artisans among others.

From the marble terraces of Maitama to the glimmering penthouses of Lekki and the tranquil enclaves of Asokoro, Nigeria’s elite enclaves pulse with quiet elegance. The air smells of fresh flowers and imported perfumes, generators hum like distant lullabies, and gates open to homes adorned with grace and gold. But beneath this tranquil surface lies a growing darkness – an invisible malaise gnawing at the soul of privilege.

In the quiet, manicured lanes of Abuja’s high-brow Asokoro district, Ilya, a security guard remembers the night he heard the crash.

‘I thought it was a burglary,’ he recalls softly. ‘But it was madam who had fallen. She was alone in the living room, and a bottle rolled from her hand.’

The ‘maiguard’ did not speak again of that night. In the homes of the powerful, silence is often part of the job description. But whispers travel.

Just recently, the stormy whispers surrounding billionaire Senator, Ned Nwoko and his actress wife Regina Daniels cracked open the hidden world of drug use in some affluent homes. Amid accusations of domestic violence came a counter-claim – that the young wife was allegedly battling substance addiction and had rebuffed attempts at rehabilitation.

It peeled back a layer of a growing, uncomfortable truth: substance abuse is quietly seeping into Nigeria’s affluent homes – hidden behind high walls, concealed by status, and worsened by stigma.

While the truth behind their personal turmoil remains contested, it has drawn national attention to a sobering reality: drug abuse has quietly climbed the walls of Nigeria’s mansions.

For the sake of current and future generations, all sections of society now have a challenge that requires being frontally tackled by all stakeholders

It is a growing, if hushed, epidemic. For years, the image of drug addiction in Nigeria has been confined to slums and street corners – young men clutching sachets of codeine-laced syrup or tramadol pills, the faces of unemployment and despair.

But psychiatrists, rehabilitation workers, and even domestic staff in upscale neighbourhoods across Nigerian cities say a different demographic is quietly emerging: wives of the wealthy, privileged teenagers, and middle-aged professionals whose lives, on the surface, glitter with success.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria remains Africa’s largest consumer of illicit substances, with over 14.3 million people estimated to have used drugs in the past year. That figure – about 14.4 per cent of Nigeria’s adult population – is nearly triple the global average.

While most reports focus on young, unemployed males, newer data from NDLEA and mental health clinics suggest a subtle but steady rise in prescription drug abuse among women in high-income brackets. Startlingly, women account for about 20% of UNODC’s estimates of 15 million Nigerians between ages 15 and 64 who use psychoactive substances – more than double the global average.

An earlier, 2018 report by UNODC noted that although men still outnumber women in overall drug use, women were accounting for nearly half of all amphetamine and prescription stimulant users in Nigeria, with one in every four drug users in the country being a female.

Other scholarly studies indicate that while Nigerian men are seven times more likely to use cannabis, the gender gap narrows sharply when it comes to opioids such as codeine, morphine, tramadol, and tranquilizers or cough syrups laced with codeine-substances increasingly found in the private drawers of the nation’s well-to-do homes.

According to Mr Daniel Onyishi who is Commander of the NDLEA in Anambra state:

‘The major concern is that women, especially young girls, are embracing substance abuse. One out of every four drug abusers is a woman and one out of five will suffer substance abuse disorder.’ A significant proportion of these are wives or daughters in affluent homes.

Another NDLEA officer in Abuja who promised to help arrange an elaborate interview with NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, acknowledged that drug use is no longer confined to the slums. ‘Drug abuse has moved from the ghettos to the sitting rooms of the elite. We are now arresting more people with manicured nails, designer clothes, and university degrees,’ he said.

In response to the work of a committee, which submitted a report into the widespread abuse of cough syrup that contain codeine, especially by women and girls in some northern states, the Federal Ministry of Health began efforts to curb the importation and sale of such medication.

In several southern states, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy headline the illicit market, but psychologists warn that the real plague lies in everyday prescriptions – painkillers, antidepressants, sedatives, and sleeping pills.

Unlike the stereotypical street-corner transactions in the city’s underbelly, the trade in illicit substances among Abuja’s privileged class is cloaked in urban polish. Here, dispatch riders – those ubiquitous bikers weaving through traffic with insulated boxes – have become the new couriers of addiction.

In a recent statement, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that three such riders were arrested for distributing illegal substances across the capital. The suspects – Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28 – were intercepted during intelligence-led stop-and-search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa.areas.

According to the agency, a total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud – a highly potent strain of cannabis – was recovered from the riders, who operated under the guise of regular commercial dispatch service providers.

Beyond the high walls of wealth, there is cause for increased concerns. For years, drug addiction wore a predictable face – the face of the street boy under the bridge, the commercial bus conductor, the forlorn youth of Ajegunle or Nyanya. But today, addiction speaks in polished English, drives a sleek SUV, and posts filtered photos of luxury vacations.

An addiction therapist in Abuja, who pleaded anonymity, shared this with The Nation:

‘Every month, we receive at least four new clients from elite homes. Some are women of status – wives of politicians, CEOs, or even church leaders. They come in quietly, often at night. Their biggest fear is not death or withdrawal – it’s scandal.’

Their drugs of choice? ‘Painkillers like Tramadol, codeine cough syrups, Diazepam, sleeping pills – the so-called ‘respectable’ substances,’ she explained. ‘And then there’s wine, always within arm’s reach. Many see it as harmless, until it becomes the only friend that listens.’

From the manicured courtyards of elite private schools to the dimly lit lounges and glitzy nightclubs of Abuja, a quiet epidemic wafts through the air – shisha smoke. What begins as harmless fun, a social ritual of scented clouds and laughter, often conceals a more sinister undercurrent.

Unbeknownst to many teenagers-and to the parents who trust they are simply ‘hanging out with friends’-these sessions can become the first step down a slippery slope. Increasingly, shisha is being laced with all manner of substances designed to heighten euphoria, turning a fashionable pastime into a potential gateway to addiction.

‘Hadiza’ (not her real name), 31, a fashion entrepreneur living in Abuja’s Garki area, sips herbal tea as she recounts her descent into dependency.

‘It started after my second baby,’ she says softly. ‘I couldn’t sleep. A friend gave me a pill – said it would help me relax. It did. But then I needed more. Soon, I couldn’t go a day without it. I would smile at clients in the day, and at night, I would crumble inside.’

She pauses, eyes misting:

‘Pople think comfort protects you. But sometimes, comfort becomes the cage – the one you decorate beautifully before you realise you are trapped.’

The psychology of privilege

Psychologists argue that the trappings of wealth often conceal deep emotional voids. Dr. Bidemi Olayinka, a clinical psychologist in Abuja explains:

‘Addiction in affluent homes is not about curiosity – it’s about coping. Many of these women are emotionally isolated. They cannot scream, cannot break down, cannot confide. Their lives are performances – and drugs become the backstage curtain where they can finally be human.’

Children, too, are not spared. Left to nannies and screens, they grow up amid abundance but starved of affection. When rebellion comes, it often arrives in coded form – vaping, codeine cocktails, or nights blurred by ecstasy.

‘A child who cannot find warmth in the home,’ Dr. Olayinka adds, ‘will find it in the haze of intoxication.’

From pharmacies to night parties: what they use and how they use it all yield some interesting insights. Across the glossy surfaces of Abuja’s lounges and other cities’ private clubs, substance abuse wears a new face. It is stylish, subtle, and often hidden in designer handbags.

Even in the outskirts of Abuja, in places like Lugbe where a strip club and other joints attract night crawlers who drive in from the city in sleek cars, drug abuse is part of the treacherous fun.

On Sunday nights in Abuja’s Central Area, where the city’s trendy youth gather to perform daredevil car stunts and flaunt sleek engines beneath the glare of headlights, a quieter spectacle unfolds in the shadows – the discreet indulgence in drugs.

Among many young people from affluent homes, substance use has taken on the appearance of sophistication. Codeine and Tramadol are stealthily stirred into fruit juice or tea; sleeping pills like Valium, Lexotan, and Rivotril are taken under the guise of ‘stress relief.’ At private parties, cocaine and methamphetamine are used not for rebellion but for ‘energy.’

Even cannabis has found new disguises – baked into brownies, infused into chocolates, served up as part of an initiation into a habit-forming culture. And beneath it all lies alcohol – the socially accepted companion that often conceals more dangerous dependencies simmering beneath the surface.

The glittering influence of social media appears to be part of the problem.

In today’s digital world, social validation fuels consumption. Scrolling through Instagram, one encounters the curated illusion of the ‘soft life’ – champagne breakfasts, smoke-filled selfies, cool clubbing and parties that stretch into dawn. Media analyst Adele hukwuma observes: ‘Addiction today is aesthetic. It’s packaged as fun, freedom, sophistication. Young people don’t see substance abuse; they see lifestyle branding. And when influencers sip or puff, millions watch and learn.’

The UNODC’s 2023 survey found that peer pressure and online influence were among the top five reasons for substance initiation among Nigerian youths.

Inside many elegant homes, addiction is an unspoken war. Some of the women who once hosted parties now hide in their bedrooms, clutching a bottle of red wine like a lifeline. Some husbands who once prided themselves on family values now whisper to private doctors, desperate to reverse a saddening situation and also, avoid scandal.

A nurse at a private Abuja wellness centre revealed: ‘We have wives of very powerful men checking in for what they call ‘stress treatment’. That’s just detoxification by another name. They prefer to come in at night and leave before dawn.’

But silence has its costs. Many suffer panic attacks, breakdowns, and marital collapse. Some young men, girls and women overdose quietly, their deaths explained away as ‘cardiac arrest.’

For the entire society, the cost of denial is huge. Addiction erodes not only individuals but the moral fibre of society’s upper crust. As Dr. Tunji Yusuf, a governance scholar, warns:

‘When those in leadership – political, economic, or moral – are secretly battling addiction, society pays the hidden price. It weakens judgment, integrity, and compassion.’

The tragedy is not merely the fall of individuals, but the slow corrosion of collective values – the normalization of emotional emptiness behind designer smiles.

Through it all, healing and hope remain great possibilities. There are flickers of hope amid the gloom. The NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative continues to push boundaries, taking anti-drug messages to schools, religious institutions, and workplaces. But experts insist that rehabilitation models must adapt to the reality of elite addiction – confidential, discreet, and emotionally grounded.

In both formal discussions and informal circles, psychologists and medical experts continue to advocate a multi-pronged approach to addressing the growing wave of substance abuse among Nigeria’s elite. They emphasize the need for the establishment of more high-security, private recovery centres where clients’ identities are protected; emotional literacy programmes tailored for women within affluent social networks; and the promotion of faith-based and peer support groups that encourage empathy and openness rather than stigma. Equally vital, they insist, is the integration of mental health education into private schools and universities, where prevention must begin long before crisis sets in.

Churches and mosques also have pragmatic roles to play towards facilitating greeater empathy, encouraging openness and supporting rehabilitation while playing down the stigma that makes a recovering addict’s journey difficult.

As night descends on the city, the mansions of Abuja glow softly under the lamplight – serene, composed, and deceivingly perfect. Yet behind some of those ornate walls, tears mingle with perfume, and despair hides beneath silk sheets.

Drug abuse in affluent homes is not about moral failure. It is about human frailty wrapped in luxury. It is the cry for help of those who have everything, yet feel nothing.

Perhaps, in the end, the lesson is that comfort does not cure loneliness, and money cannot muffle the ache of the heart. Beneath the shimmer of wealth, the soul still hungers – for connection, for peace, for meaning.

Until we learn to treat addiction as a symptom of this deeper hunger rather than a scandal to suppress, Nigeria’s gilded cages will continue to echo with the same silent cries – muffled by privilege, sustained by shame.

Addiction, experts often say, wears many masks, and understanding its truths is the first step toward healing. For one, alcohol remains the most abused substance-its social acceptance masking the quiet devastation it leaves in its wake. Addiction itself alters the brain’s architecture, reshaping neural pathways and turning occasional indulgence into a compulsive need.

Psychologists stress that early intervention is far more effective than waiting for that fabled ‘rock-bottom’ moment. The longer dependence lingers, the harder recovery becomes. In managing addiction, empathy and communication often achieve what punishment and moral outrage cannot. A calm conversation, a listening ear, and the patient work of therapy reach far deeper than judgment ever could.

Yet, recovery is rarely swift. Many people require long-term or repeated treatment, cycling through hope, relapse, and restoration before finding balance again. Treatment works best when paired with counselling, addressing not just the body’s craving but the mind’s unhealed wounds. And when relapse happens-as it often does-it should not be seen as failure but as feedback, a signpost pointing toward what still needs mending.

Addiction, after all, is less a moral flaw than a human struggle; one that calls for compassion, understanding, and the courage to begin again.

The Premier League enters its tenth week, with title ambitions, survival battles and managerial pressure brewing.

League leaders, Arsenal, play at Burnley today at 4:00 PM. The match, as every other game of the weekend, will be live on DStv and GOtv. Mikel Arteta’s side sit top with eight consecutive victories and six clean sheets in all competitions. Scott Parker’s Burnley, buoyed by a 3-2 win at Wolves, will hope to frustrate the leaders at home. The fixture airs on SS Football (GOtv Ch. 61, DStv Ch. 205).

At the same time, Nottingham Forest host Manchester United. Sean Dyche’s Forest remain in the drop zone after a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, while Rúben Amorim’s United are on the rise after three consecutive league wins, capped by a 4-2 victory over Brighton.

The London derby at 6:30 PM sees Tottenham host Chelsea. Thomas Frank’s Spurs are flying high in third after a 3-0 win over Everton, although they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup following a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle. Chelsea, reeling from a 2-1 league loss to Sunderland, edged Wolves 4-3 in the Carabao Cup and will be desperate for a response to stay within reach of the top half.

Later at 9:00 PM, Liverpool face Aston Villa at Anfield in a pressure-filled encounter. Arne Slot’s champions have lost four straight league matches, the latest a 2-3 defeat to Brentford. They also suffered a 0-3 Carabao Cup loss to Crystal Palace in midweek. Villa, fresh from a 1-0 win over Manchester City, will back themselves to extend Liverpool’s slump.

Tomorrow’s action concludes with Manchester City hosting Bournemouth at 5:30 PM. Pep Guardiola’s side will aim to recover from their defeat to Villa and maintain pressure on Arsenal, having beaten Swansea in the Carabao Cup earlier in the week. Bournemouth, the surprise of the season in second place, will relish the challenge of facing the champions at the Etihad.

All other Premier League fixtures air live on SS Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203).

A veteran broadcaster and media consultant, Mrs Ronke Kolawole has rallied support for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s second term bid.

Speaking with some journalists shortly after a private tour of the facility in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Wednesday, the veteran broadcaster, who is an indigene of the town, described the visible transformation that has taken place in the community as really breathtaking.

According to her, the Ilawe Ekiti community has never had it so good as far as infrastructure and socioeconomic development is concerned.

‘This is real dividends of democracy at work. I’m impressed and proud to witness this breathtaking transformation that I have seen around here.’

Specifically, Kolawole, who until recently was the Deputy Director News at the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, said one of the marvel of Ilawe Ekiti is the new look General Hospital, which had hitherto been consigned to a mere consulting clinic because of its dilapidated state over the years.

‘The last time I visited the Ilawe General Hospital, it was in a sorry state, totally decrepit. You could tell that the place just existed in name only because things had gone pretty awful. Poor facility, unmotivated workforce, low patronage and totally moribund, just name it.

Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have dismantled an illegal refinery in Obe-Jedo and Obe-Adun communities.

The Commander of the FOB, Navy Captain Aliyu Usman, who confirmed the operation on Friday, said seven suspects were arrested at the scene, while locally made guns and machetes believed to have been used to resist the Navy’s intervention were recovered.

Usman explained that the raid followed credible intelligence on economic sabotage and maritime crimes in the area.

He revealed that during the operation, about 3,000 litres of refined diesel stored in jerry cans and multiple cooking ovens used for processing stolen crude oil were discovered.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested suspects were secondary actors in the illegal operation and had since been released.

He, however, declared the primary suspects wanted to ensure they face prosecution for economic crimes against the nation.

The Navy Commander disclosed that the anti-crude oil theft team initially faced violent resistance from a group of hired youths and women who attempted to shield the illegal activity.

‘The team later returned in the early hours of the following day and discovered that the stolen crude oil and refined products had been moved to a nearby bakery and makeshift structures used as storage facilities.

‘The illegal refinery was subsequently deactivated in line with directives from Defence Headquarters and established operational procedures,’ he said.

Following its recently released half-year financials, Africa’s Global Bank – United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced its audited results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025, where it recorded strong and impressive growth across all its key indicators.

As in the first two quarters of the current fiscal year, the bank’s gross earnings grew by 3.0 per cent to N2.469 trillion up from N2.398 trillion recorded in September last year, while its net Interest income which stood at N1.103 trillion at the end of the third quarter in 2024, rose by 6.2 per cent to N1.172 trillion in the period under consideration.

The bank’s financial report filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday also indicated a slight drop by 4.1 per cent in Profit before Tax (PBT) to N578.59 billion compared to N603.48 recorded at the end of the third quarter of 2024, while profit after tax rose by 2.3 per cent from N525.31 billion recorded a year earlier to N537.53 billion at the end of September 2025.

As in the preceding two quarters this year, UBA continues to maintain a very strong balance sheet, with Total Assets rising to N32.492 trillion, representing a 7.2 per cent increase over the N30.323 trillion recorded at the end of December 2024, just as total deposits rose by 7.7 per cent from N24.651 trillion at the end of last year to N26.54 trillion in September 2025.

UBA shareholders’ funds remained very strong at N4.301 trillion rising by 25.8 per cent from N3.418 trillion recorded in December 2024 again reflecting a strong capacity for internal capital generation and growth.

Commenting on the result, UBA’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, said the bank continues to demonstrate the strength, resilience, and diversification of its business in a dynamic operating environment.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and his supporters in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) launched into a strategic meeting yesterday in Abuja moments after securing victory at the Federal High Court against the mainstream of the party.

Justice James Omotosho had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard the outcome of the November 15/16 National Convention of the party until the needful is done.

Wike called the judgement a well-deserved victory in a determined fight against impunity and arrogance.

But the PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba vowed that nothing will stop plans for the national convention.

He said the PDP would challenge yesterday’s verdict at a higher court, while party members across the federation were asked to go ahead with plans for participation in the convention

Wike at the meeting with his supporters applauded all those who stood against death threats and other forms of intimidation in the fight against alleged manipulated process and a skewed national convention.

He said it was unfortunate that some people were still unaware that over the years, certain methods of doing things in Nigeria’s political system have given way to following due process.

In attendance were PDP National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu, former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, former governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, Hon Micah Jiba, Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule, some BoT members, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and others.

Also there were legislators from the Southeast, South South and North Central.

His words:’On our part, it is a struggle against impunity; the key thing for all of us is that we overcame impunity; we expected that by now, we would all be working together for the interest of our party .

‘In 2017, the party in power did everything through a former governor of Borno State to undo our party but some of us, as state governors, stood very firm and resisted it and everyone was able to see the result.

‘Leadership is very important; it is not about arrogance or for some people to think that they are above every other person. We resolved to stay inside and fight for justice but some people think that because they have huge resources that they are not using to further develop their states, they can sway everything and everybody.

‘It is unfortunate that the party’s convention cannot hold but why will they be printing just one form for one position or that someone will have the form 8 in his pocket or his house for people to come and beg for it?

‘Why blame people for your problems? Who forced you to break the rules or disregard the nation’s Electoral Act?

‘The constitution and the Electoral Act specify that both the Chairman and the Secretary must sign the letter to notify INEC of a proposed elective convention but you went to say that it is mere party affairs and that you can do whatever you want.

‘Let me be clear: nobody, and I mean nobody, will use us to negotiate for anything. We are part of this party; we have sacrificed for it. But we will not allow anybody to trade us off for personal gain,’ he said in a veiled reference to allegations that a southern governor might be seeking PDP’s presidential 2027 ticket to negotiate with the APC for the purpose of being allowed to produce his successor.

He said it was an irony that some of the governors who used to accuse him of working for the ruling party have dumped the PDP to join the APC while he has remained strong in PDP.

Wike described his mood as one of mixed feelings.

‘On one hand, I am happy because justice has prevailed. On the other hand, I am sad because it hurts to see our great party being destroyed from within.

‘Those of us fighting today are not doing so for ourselves. We are doing it because we want the PDP to stand for something, for due process, fairness, and respect for law,’ he stated.

The minister criticized what he described as arrogance and insensitivity among some of the party’s leaders, accusing them of disregarding the roles played by others in sustaining the PDP over the years.

Wike berated governors and party officials who, according to him, have failed to unite the PDP at a time when Nigeria needs a strong and credible opposition.

‘There can be no credible opposition that operates with impunity. If you say you want to take power from the ruling party, then you must first show Nigerians that you can obey your own rules.’

He also took a swipe at those who believe political power could be bought with money.

‘Some think money will solve everything. No, it won’t. There are still people who cannot be bought, no matter how much you offer. We will continue to fight for what is right,’ he said.

Wike thanked the PDP members who filed the suit ,and said: ‘Many people give up once they are threatened. But these men and women stood their ground. They said, ‘No, we will not allow injustice.’ I salute their courage.’

He wondered why some party leaders resorted to alleged illegality in zoning positions.

‘A few people sit in their homes and decide where positions will go. They even pocket the funds meant for the process. It has never been this bad in the PDP,’ he said.

Wike urged PDP governors to use the resources available to them to develop their states and strengthen the PDP, rather than ‘use the money to kill the party.’

‘The funds available to states today are more than ever before. That money should be used to build infrastructure and reduce unemployment – not to weaken our party. We will not agree to that,’ he declared.

Wike pledged that his group remains open to genuine dialogue but warned that they would not be blackmailed into submission.

‘We are open to peace, but we will not be blackmailed. We will continue to stand for truth and fairness until justice prevails in the PDP.’

Judgement crucial step towards sanitising political system

In a communiqué at the end of the meeting, the group – PDP Concerned Stakeholders- described the judgement as a crucial step towards sanitising Nigeria’s political system by reasserting the necessity of lawful, transparent and accountable political processes and the rejection of impunity.

It commended the courage of the judiciary in affirming the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.

Former Abia state Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who read the communiqué restated the group’s commitment to the principles of fairness, justice, equity and inclusivity.

He said: ‘our observations are that today’s judgment has affirmed the supremacy of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Electoral Act, the INEC electoral guidelines and the PDP constitution and has clarified the lawful rules and boundaries of party officers in the management of his affairs.

‘That the judgment conclusively affirmed that Chief Dan Osi Orbih remains the authentic National Vice Chairman South South of the Peoples Democratic Party and the purported appointment of Chief Emmanuel Ogidi is null and void.

‘That by affirming the expulsion of Ali Odefa, the court has restored integrity and discipline in the administration of the party, while emphasising that persons expelled from the party have no locus standi to stand or litigate on his behalf.

‘That the court further reaffirms that all external correspondence to INEC must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary, while the National Secretary remains the principal signatory to all official correspondences of the party.

‘The court further emphasised that no valid national convention of the party can hold until all due processes as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Electoral Act, INEC electoral guidelines, and the PDP Constitution are fully complied with.

‘That this judgment further establishes that plaintiff’s action was not an interference in the party’s internal affairs, but a patriotic effort to ensure that INEC performs its constitutional duties in enthroning internal democracy in political party administration in Nigeria.

‘That decision marks a crucial step towards sanitising Nigeria’s political system by reasserting the necessity of lawful, transparent and accountable political processes and the rejection of impunity.

‘Our resolutions include that we will abide by the judgment of the court in its entirety. We commend and affirm our faith in the Judiciary. As loyal and committed party leaders, our doors are open to reconciliation, inclusion and collective rebuilding.

‘We invite all members of Goodwill across the country to join hands with us in restoring our party to its founding ideals. We call on all faithful members and leaders to stand for truth, justice and the rule of law, the very values that define our great party and its promise to Nigeria.’

Nothing will stop our November convention – Ologunagba

Responding on behalf of the PDP leadership to yesterday’s verdict, Mr. Ologunagba,said the party was appalled by it all

‘The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appalled by the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by Honorable Justice Kolawole Omotosho today (yesterday),’ he said.

The judgement,according to him,’ does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new National Officers to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years.’

He recalled the recent judgement of the Supreme Court which affirms the supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs.

Continuing, he said:’The PDP therefore charges its members, Chapter and Organs to remain steadfast and focused on preparations towards the holding of the National Convention of our Party.

‘Nevertheless, the PDP as the leading opposition Party in Nigeria committed to the Rule of Law has accordingly directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal this judgment in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country.’

It’s dangerous for our democracy, says Bode George

Also reacting to the judgement,a former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, said it was shocking and dangerous for Nigeria’s democratic stability, and capable of setting a troubling precedent.

He said political parties must be allowed to manage their internal affairs without undue judicial interference, except in clear cases of constitutional breach.

‘This judgment will consume this country’ George said in a statement.

The PDP chieftain called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to address what he termed an unjustifiable intervention capable of triggering disorder.

‘Judges are not politicians. Their duty is to interpret the law, not to meddle in party administration,’ he added.

George questioned the basis of the ruling, insisting that INEC monitored all PDP congresses nationwide and did not raise objections or report irregularities.

‘INEC is not complaining. The judge did not invite INEC officials. So why is he complaining? Does he have political interest?’ he queried.

He noted that the PDP, which has existed since 1998, has a long tradition of following due process in its internal operations, including congresses and conventions.

According to him, the decision undermines party autonomy and risks weaponising the judiciary against political stability in Africa’s largest democracy.

Court bars INEC from recognizing PDP’s national convention’s outcome

Justice James Omotosho, in his judgment, held that the PDP failed to comply with relevant conditions under its constitution and laws stipulating the necessary steps to be taken before conducting such a convention.

Justice Omotosho also held that evidence supplied to the court by INEC and some of the respondents showed that congresses were not held in some states of the federation in breach of the law.

He said that the signing of notices and correspondence of the PDP by its National Chairman, without the National Secretary, violated the law and consequently made such notices and correspondence a nullity.

The judge stated that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21-day notice of meetings and congresses to enable INEC carry out its mandatory duty of monitoring such meetings and congresses.

Besides, he said the failure of the PDP to comply with the laws put the planned convention in jeopardy.

He asked the PDP to take the appropriate steps before going ahead with the election.

He restrained INEC from receiving, publishing or recognising the outcome of the convention until the law is complied with.

The judgment was on a suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 filed by three aggrieved members of the party.

The plaintiffs – Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) – said they were unhappy with the manner the national chairman has been running the affairs of the party.

Defendants in the suit were INEC, the PDP, its National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

By an order of the court, made on September 14 pursuant to applications by PDP’s National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum and two other key officials – Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi – Justice Omotosho joined the three as defendants in the suit.

In yesterday’s judgment, Justice Omotosho noted that Article 36(1) (a) and (b) of the PDP Constitution empowers the National Secretary of the party to handle the correspondence of the party and issue notices of meetings, congresses and conventions.

The judge said it was wrong for the leadership of the PDP to exclude its National Secretary from its activities, preparatory to the convention.

Justice Omotosho referred to the cases witnessed by the PDP in Cross River and Kebbi states, where the party’s notice of congress was signed only by the National Chairman, and said the document was dated September 25.

The judge held that the action of the PDP’s National Chairman in signing notice of congress as well as the postponement notice, was invalid and as such INEC could not accord the congress to be conducted thereto, any recognition.

The court also invalidated the October 15 National Executive meeting of the PDP because the party failed to issue notice which deprived INEC the opportunity to monitor.

Omotosho said non-compliance with the laws and regulations of political parties, if allowed ,would open the floodgates of disobedience to the Electoral Act and will be detrimental to democracy.

He said although INEC might not be able to stop political parties from conducting their meetings, congresses and conventions, the Electoral Act empowers it to ‘invalidate such deficient meetings, congresses and conventions’, to serve as a punitive measure to check abuses.

The judge added that the signing of notices by the Chairman alone is an act which contravened the Electoral laws as well as the party’s regulations and guidelines.

The judge further held that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21-day notice of meetings and congresses to enable INEC carry out its mandatory duty of monitoring such meetings and congresses.

He added that the failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the planned convention in jeopardy, and subsequently advised the PDP to do the necessary before going ahead with the election.

He held that INEC was under the obligation to ensure strict compliance with the law.

The judge admonished the PDP to issue appropriate notices for the conduct of congresses for states and zones where congress did not hold or were postponed.

He said such notices must be signed by both the PDP’s National Chairman and National Secretary to make them valid.

Omotosho said: ‘INEC is not expected to give recognition to any convention not done in line with the law. INEC should not accept the results of any convention in breach of the law.’

The judge also restrained INEC from posting on its website any action done in breach of the Electoral Act or any other laws.

Earlier in the judgment, Justice Omotosho struck out the submissions made by Chris Uche (SAN) and Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) on behalf of the PDP, and its organs.

The judge held that by the evidence before the court, both senior lawyers were not the proper lawyers to represent the PDP and its organs.

Justice Omotosho noted that, as against the respondents’ contention, the case of the plaintiffs extended beyond the purview of the internal affairs of the PDP.

According to him, issues relating to the internal affairs of political parties constitute ‘a no-go area for the court,’ but observed that the plaintiffs were not contending the party’s leadership.

He said the plaintiffs, going by their filings, were concerned with the need for INEC to perform its statutory duty of ensuring that political parties abide by the electoral laws, guidelines and regulations on meetings, congresses, primaries and conventions.

He said: ‘a suit challenging the executive decision of INEC is not an internal affair of a political party,’ adding that the electoral body ‘is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring, making regulations and guidelines for the conduct of party’s primary, congresses and conventions.’

In dismissing the defendants’ notice of preliminary objection, Justice Omotosho held that his court could not turn its eyes away from the glaring breach of the Constitution and electoral laws by the PDP, which claimed that its actions were within the internal affairs of the political party.

The judge noted that his court would be supporting illegality should it close its eyes and ears to PDP’s conduct.

Justice Omotosho overruled the defendant’s challenge of the plaintiffs’ right to initiate the suit, noting that the plaintiffs’ grievance was with INEC’s conduct and not the PDP

The judge noted that the suit was a civil case, intended to sanitise the political system and ensure that parties comply with the laws and their own constitution.

Sule Lamido loses bid to stop convention

In a separate ruling yesterday in a suit by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, Justice Peter Lifu, of the Federal High Court,Abuja rejected an ex-parte motion by the plaintiff to restrain the PDP from proceeding with the national congress.

The motion was argued by his lawyer, Jeph Njikonye (SAN).

Justice Lifu ordered the PDP and INEC, listed as defendants in the suit to appear before him and show cause why the ex-governor’s prayers should not be granted.

The judge said: ‘I have also averted my mind to Order 26 Rules, 8(c) of the Rules of this court and the need to exercise my discretion judicially and judiciously.

‘Consequently, considering the entire gamut of the entire suit, it is my considered view that Order 26 rule 8(c) of the 2019 Rules of this court be invoked to enable this court balance the scale and equities of the parties.

‘In that wise, the respondents in this suit are herein ordered to show cause within the next 72 hours effective from the date and time of service of this order on them why the prayers of the applicant should not be so granted.’

Justice Lifu then adjourned further hearing to November 6.

Lamido, in suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, is among others, challenging the manner the party’s leadership was proceeding with its plans to hold a national convention to elect a new crop of leaders.

One of the country’s most successful polo teams, Kaduna El-Amin, stole the show once again in Kaduna when it emerged winner of the 2025 Georgian Cup. Led by patron, Mohammed Babangida, El-Amin led from start to finish, winning its 16th title after beating Kaduna Makarfi by a whopping 12 goals to 4.

The victory was the sixteenth on the stable of the Kaduna-based team, and with it, it sets a new record as the team with the highest number of wins. The win also coincided with the 30th anniversary celebration of El-Amin.

Satisfied by its dominance of the coveted Cup, Babangida gave kudos to the sponsors of the Cup, FirstBank, saying that without their partnership, it would have been impossible for his team to make history.

‘We cannot be here without FirstBank, we must appreciate what FirstBank have done for polo. We celebrated our 100-year anniversary together with FirstBank. FirstBank is the lifeline of everything you’ve seen here over the past weeks’, Babangida sounded with high notes of appreciation.

Reacting, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to sponsorship of the Georgian Cup.

‘We will continue to sponsor the Georgian and remain committed the same way we are committed to all other sports sponsorship that we are engaged in, especially sporting initiative that engages our youths’, he said.

Donated by FirstBank in 1918, the Georgian Cup is the oldest trophy in West Africa and one of the longest-running sports sponsorships in the world.

Apart from Polo, FirstBank has a long history of supporting sports; the Elephant Boys play in the Nigeria Nationwide Football League, the Elephant Girls, its Basketball team was the Africa Champion, there is the Lagos Open Golf Championship, the OBJ Golf tourney in Abeokuta, and many more.

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the European Union, through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), have signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to strengthen healthcare distribution, supply, and local manufacturing in Nigeria.

Frontlined by an MoU signed between German Pharmaceutical Giant, Bayer, and Nigeria’s ChroMedix to establish a reproductive health products manufacturing facility in Anambra State, the MoUs signed between the European Union and the Federal Government ensure enhanced distribution of pharmaceutical products for the public market in Nigeria; local manufacturing capacity development for essential reproductive health products in Nigeria and articulated technology transfer of selected technologies and/or manufacturing steps to Nigeria.

The agreements were formalised during the Nigeria-EU Health Investment Forum in Abuja, themed ‘Made in Nigeria, Made for Health,’ where Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of PVAC, stated that the partnerships would significantly enhance local production of healthcare products, tapping into a market currently valued at $46 billion.

Vice President Kashim Shettima and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are due in Yenagoa on Monday to formally receive Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri into the ruling party.

Diri had resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15 ahead of his defection.

Functionaries of the APC are said to be working round the clock to ensure a successful event.

But some APC members in the state are displeased with the circumstances surrounding the governor’s defection.

One of them is Yekini Nabena,a former deputy national publicity secretary of the APC who, yesterday, sought to downplay the coming of the governor.

Nabena alleged moves to ‘destroy’ the existing leadership of the APC ahead of the governor’s defection.

He told reporters in Abuja that while he was not opposed to Diri joining the APC, it would be wrong of him (Gov) to ‘destroy some people and the existing leadership of the APC in Bayelsa state because he wants to take full control of the party.’

He said: ‘We have traced the recent happenings in Bayelsa state to Governor Douye Diri’s camp, especially the arrest rumours of NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku (PhD).

‘The plan is to destroy the existing organs and prominent members of the party before he (Governor Diri) formally decamps APC on Monday.

‘But up till now, we have not found an answer to the question of what Governor Douye Diri is bringing to the APC. This is a Governor that his Deputy is not defecting with him. Hence, he is plotting to impeach the deputy governor.

‘This is a governor that even some State House of Assembly members have rejected. About 90 percent of the serving National Assembly members, including Senator Dickson and other high profile lawmakers are not on the same page with him.

‘This is a governor who is not in control of his local constituency, not to talk of his entire Senatorial District. We ask Governor Douye Diri again to tell Nigerians who is running after him or what he is running after?’

Diri is the fourth PDP governor to defect to the APC in the last few months, following in the footsteps of Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu).

Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas is also on the verge of joining the APC.

Kefas, at a meeting with APC youth stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday confirmed that he was on his way to the APC.

Rikwense Muri, the Taraba State APC Youth Vanguard’s publicity secretary quoted the governor as saying at the meeting that Taraba could no longer afford to remain isolated from the mainstream of national politics.

He said his decision to realign politically was driven by the higher goal of ensuring greater development, improved security, and increased federal presence in the state.

He added: ‘I am guided by the need to put Taraba first. Our state must take its rightful place in national development, and that can only happen when we work hand in hand with the centre.’

Court sacks Zamfara Rep for defecting from PDP to APC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked Rep Abubakar Gummi, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

Gummi, represents Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara in the House of Representatives,

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, restrained House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, from recognising Gummi as member representing Gummi/ Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.

Justice Egwuatu also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission. (INEC) to conduct a fresh election to fill the vacancy for the constituency within 30 days from the day of the judgment.

The suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its state’s Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, as 1st and 2nd plaintiffs.

The duo, in the originating summons dated Nov. 28 but filed Nov. 29, 2024, by Ibrahim Bawa, SAN, had sued Hon Abubakar Suleiman Gummi; Speaker of the House of Representatives and INEC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

The plaintiffs had set out four questions for determination and sought nine reliefs for determination.

They asked whether, having regard to the provision of Section 68 (1) (9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), it was not unconstitutional for Gummi to retain his seat as member in the House.

They said he defected from PDP which sponsored him for the election to Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency to APC, when there was no division in the party, among other questions.

One of the reliefs sought was a declaration that it was unconstitutional for the Speaker to refuse/fail to declare Gummi’s seat vacant.

Gummi, in his response through his lawyer, filed a notice of preliminary objection and a counter affidavit.

The lawmaker, in his argument, argued that his decampment was due to the crisis within the PDP.

He said contrary to the deposition of the plaintiffs, the lingering unresolved internal and external crisis both at the national level and in his constituency is the reason for his defection from the party to APC.

Gummi said the crisis degenerated into a situation where he could no longer represent his constituents properly and ensure that they all benefit from shared distribution of the dividends of democracy within the bounds of law, and without undue interference from anyone or anything.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Egwuatu granted all the plaintiffs’ reliefs.

The judge condemned the attitude of some politicians who see defection as a normal culture.

‘Before I take my fingers off the keyboard, let me just add that politicians should respect the wishes of the electorates that elected them into office.

‘A situation where the electorates have made their choices between different political parties and their candidates based on the manifestos and marketability of such a political party, it is legally and morally wrong for such a politician to abandon the party under which platform he or she was elected into office and move to a rival party without relinquishing the mandate of his or her former party.

‘If a person must decamp, don’t decamp with the mandate of the electorates.

‘Don’t transfer the votes garnered on the platform of one party to another party.

‘A politician has no such rights to transfer votes of a political party to another political party.

‘The law must punish such moves by taking away the benefits bestowed upon the decampee politician by the electorates.

‘And that is what Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution has done.

‘Political prostitution must not be rewarded.

‘In total, I resolve all the issues in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants,’ Justice Egwuatu said.

The judge, therefore, ordered that Gummi, having defected from PDP to APC ‘before the expiration of the period the House was elected, automatically loses his seat as member of the House of Representatives.

He made an order restraining Gummi from further receiving monies as salaries, allowances or howsoever called in his capacity as member representing the constituency.

He also made an order directing the lawmaker to refund to the Federal Government all monies collected as salaries, allowances or howsoever called as member representing the constituency from Oct. 30, 2024 to the date of judgment.

‘An order is made directing that the evidence of the refund of all monies collected as salaries, allowances or howsoever called be filed in the registry of this court within 30 days of the judgment of this court,’ he said.

Justice Egwuatu consequently awarded a fine of N500, 000 in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants.