Politics
IPAC gets new chairman
By Abubakar Yunusa
The national secretariat of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Monday,elected the National Chairman of Allied People’s Movement (APM), Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, as its new national chairman.
Dantalle, who until Monday’s elections was the national secretary of IPAC, defeated the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Engr Yabagi Sani, who is also the outgoing IPAC national chairman by two votes.
While Dantalle who won garnered 10 votes, Sani recorded eight votes while one vote was voided.
The Chairman of the electoral committee of IPAC and national chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, while declaring the results of the election held at the National Secretariat of the ZLP in Abuja also said that date of swearing-in would be announced in a later date.
Addressing the media shortly after his election, Dantalle thanks members bof IPAC for trusting him to lead the council.
He pleaged to discharge his responsibility with the law guiding the council while working with all party leaders.
He sought the collaboration of all polity leaders, pledging to also work with the women.
“I want to assure women that IPAC under my leadership will have something greater and better.
“If I have the mandate of the assembly I will seek to establish the directorate of women affairs to ensure women inclusivity is taking to a greater level under my leadership.
“Secondly, I want to try as such as possible within the next three months of our administration to ensure that IPAC is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC),” Dantalle said.
He also sought the forgiveness of anyone he might have offended in the cause of the electionering.
On his part, Sani congratulated Dantalle for emerging victorious, saying democracy has come to play.
“We are supposed to demonstrate maturity and humility. We are supposed to demonstrate love for our democracy.
“This is one of the things that defines democracy from any other form of government, which is having elections.
“Results have shown that Dantalle eventually won the election I have congratulated him already. I wish that in the years to come I will have reasons to be proud of whatever he does to take IPAC to the higher level than we met it,” he said.
Also elected were Dipo Olayoku as Deputy National Chairman (unopposed); Martins Egbeola, National Organizing Secretary; Maxwell Magbuden, National Secretary; Obed Agu, National legal Adviser; Mariam Babel, National Treasurer, and Ibrahim Suleiman, National Financial Secretary.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to immediately remove the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, citing a breach of constitutional procedure and defiance of President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
In a statement provided to Elanza News on Thursday, Falana referenced the official Federal Government Gazette, which outlined the terms governing the Sole Administrator’s operations.
According to the document, “the Sole Administrator shall operate on the basis of such Regulations that may, from time to time, be issued by me,” President Bola Tinubu stated.
However, Falana noted that “it is common knowledge that President Bola Tinubu has not issued any Regulation for the operation of the Sole Administrator.”
Despite this, the appointed Sole Administrator has proceeded to make appointments and remove officials who were earlier appointed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Describing the development as unlawful, Falana said: “By treating the orders of President Bola Tinubu with contempt, the Sole Administrator has compounded the illegality of his appointment.
The Sole Administrator ought to be removed without any further delay.”
The legal luminary’s position comes amid a broader political crisis in Rivers State, where the legitimacy of key appointments and the balance of powers between the state and federal government continue to generate intense debate.
The Northern Nigeria Youths Union (NNYU), has promised to garner over two million votes for President Bola Tinubu during the 2027 General Elections.
The Chairman of the union, Abubakar Aliyu, discussed this on Wednesday shortly after the conclusion of a major meeting held in Jos, Plateau.
“We are speaking after the conclusion of a large gathering of young men and women who have committed themselves to contributing to the journey of Tinubu.
“This is after seeing how he is implementing a myriad of developmental projects across the country, especially in the Northern parts of Nigeria,” Aliyu said in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
The chairman, who is also the Galadiman Takai, cited Tinubu’s recent inauguration of the construction of the Abuja to Kaduna to Kano Highway.
Aliyu said, “This is a road that has three lanes on each side, which will attract more developments to the North and the entire country.”
He also referenced the phenomenal decline in the prices of food stuffs during just-concluded Ramadan’ fast, averring, “everyone glaringly witnessed this feat.
“The prices of various goods had also nosedived and even the price of fuel had reduced significantly.
“We in our organisation, the Northern Nigeria Youth Union, assure the president that when the election comes, we will give him more than two million votes.”
Aliyu stated that the union had registered members, Muslims and Christians, all volunteers in each of the 19 Northern states.
He added, “It is is not that we were given money from somewhere, we are just volunteers with patriotism.
“Considering our large membership, when the elections are held, we will also attract the attention of many people to cast their votes for Tinubu.
” Therefore, with a large membership of over 65,000 people, and the efforts we will make to get people with voter’s cards, will ensure that we generate the votes for Tinubu.
“This is a guarantee that this will indeed be done.”
The chairman, however, called on Tinubu to ensure that all his political appointees were closely monitored.
“This call becomes necessary so that the people could be properly cared for as per the constitutional provisions,”Aliyu explained.(NAN)
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has announced a ban on night grazing and restricted the use of motorcycles across the state following incessant attacks.
In a state broadcast on Wednesday, Mutfwang described the attacks as “coordinated acts of terror” aimed at displacing residents and undermining their right to exist peacefully on their ancestral lands.
The governor also prohibited the transportation of cattle by vehicles after 7pm.
He said the directives take immediate effect, with the restriction on motorcycle use in place from 7pm to 6am across the state until further notice.
“The tragic echoes of Dogo Na Hawa, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and the Christmas Eve massacres in Bokkos remain vivid. The cycle continues, but it must not endure. Enough Is Enough,” the governor said.
“As your governor, I stand resolved — Plateau shall not be overrun by fear, nor shall we accept this culture of bloodshed as the new normal.
“My administration is intensifying efforts to protect our people and enforce the rule of law across all local governments.
“I hereby announce the following measures, effective Wednesday, April 16: Night grazing of cattle is strictly prohibited; transportation of cattle by vehicle is banned after 7pm.
“The use of motorcycles is restricted from 7pm to 6am across the state until further notice.”