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Bayelsa Guber polls: Another setback for APC as Lokpobiri settles Wike, Diri Rift
… Sylva still in trouble water
Another setback has hit the Bayelsa State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) following report that the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has smoothened the frosty relationship that existed between Governor, Senator Douye Diri and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyensom Wike.
Investigation revealed that Lokpobiri was the architect of the reconciliation between Diri and Wike.
Diri and Wike fell apart after the PDP presidential primary which produced former vice president Atiku Abubakar. It was alleged that Diri supported Atiku against Wike .
According to Concerned APC stakeholders in Bayelsa , Lokpobiri is leveraging on his friendship with Wike to settle the rift between in order to support Diri for the November 11 polls.
The group alleged that Lokpobiri’s intervention and reconciliation of the feuding politicians was part of his strategies to garner support for the re-election of the governor in the November 11 governorship election in the state.
The move , it gathered was meant to ensure that Sylva of APC fails in the forthcoming poll.
Wike was said to be livid that Diri despite that the assurance that Bayelsa delegates would support him at the primary but allegedly swayed the delegates to Atiku.
In a press statement by its coordinators, Mr. Nimi Benigha-Amange and Kopiamu Arikibai, they alleged that Wike, who is still unhappy with Diri had resolved to back the candidate of APC, Sylva, before he was persuaded to forgive and throw his weight behind the incumbent governor by the oil minister.
They stated : “In furtherance of his intention to frustrate the election of Sylva, Lokpobiri has brought former Governor Wike and Diri together in reconciliation on order to support Diri .
“Former Governor Wike has been unhappy with Diri before now but Lokpobiri has succeeded in reconciling them to enable him to foster and achieve his interest of ensuring Sylva fails in the election.”
“People like Lokpobiri, David Lyon and some serving and formers members of the state and national assemblies, especially those from Sylva locality are said to be playing along with APC, they are all known to be working with PDP to deliver Diri on November 11.”
“These prominent politicians do not hide their hatred for Sylva and they openly say it everywhere that Sylva cannot fly and that he is not going to anywhere.
“We are watching. The outcome of the election in their areas will show their political values. It will show what political value you have and people will judge you mainly by your results”.
In the meantime, the political pressure group has urged the National Working Commitee (NWC) of APC to sanction erring members and leaders of the party in the state.
“We seize this opportunity to call on our indefatigable National Chairman, His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje and members of the NWC of our esteemed party to wield the big stick against the saboteurs in our party in order to ensure victory for our candidate, Chief Timpreye Sylva, come November 11th,” the statement added.
By Abubakar Yunusa
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has slashed its ex-depot price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N825.
Esan Sunday, head of media relations and branding communications at Dangote Group, announced the reduction in a statement on Wednesday.
The development comes more than three weeks after the refinery reduced petrol price from N950 per litre to N890.
The new price means that the refinery has significantly cut the ex-depot price by N125 from N950 per litre in January.
“This recent price reduction will also ensure that Nigerians pay between N860 and N865 per litre for petrol at the pump in Lagos,” the statement reads.
“This strategic price adjustment is designed to provide essential relief to Nigerians in celebration of the Ramadan season, while also supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic recovery policy by alleviating the financial burden on the Nigerian populace.
“It is important to note that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently lowered the prices of petrol and other refined petroleum products to the benefit of Nigerians.
“This marks the second reduction of PMS prices in February 2025, following a previous decrease of N60 earlier in the month.
“Additionally, in December 2024, during the yuletide period, the refinery reduced the price of PMS by N70.50, from N970 to N899.50 per litre, as part of its commitment to easing the cost of living and providing relief to Nigerians during the holiday season.”
The oil firm refinery also said previous reductions have positively impacted the overall cost of living, benefiting various sectors of the economy.
Dangote refinery added that its high-quality products, which have become a favourite in both domestic and international markets, will remain available nationwide, particularly through its key partners — MRS Holdings, AP (Ardova Petroleum), and Heyden — at market-friendly rates.
The organisation assured the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand and a surplus for export, thereby boosting the country’s foreign exchange (FX) earnings.
The refinery also called on marketers to support the initiative, ensuring that Nigerians remain the primary beneficiaries of its effort
Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the ruling party had a debt of N8.9 billion when he assumed office.
Ganduje took over from Abdullahi Adamu, who was the national chairman of the APC until his resignation in July 2023.
Speaking during the APC’s NEC meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Kano governor said the expenses were incurred during pre-election legal battles, election cases, and appeals for legislative, governorship, and presidential elections.
“The current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8,987,874,663, arising from various legal engagements,” Ganduje said.
However, the APC chairman said Kareem Kana, the national legal adviser, has been working to reduce the debt burden.
“We still passionately appeal to the national executive committee to intervene accordingly,” he said.
Earlier today, the chairman said the party is making efforts to mend internal divisions and bring aggrieved members back into the fold.
Ganduje explained that the APC had initiated high-level discussions among party leaders and stakeholders to address lingering disagreements and strengthen party unity.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.