The Honourable Minister of State for the Federal Ministry of Works, Muhammad Bello Goronyo, has appointed Comrade Salihu Dandata Mahmud as his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

The appointment, which takes effect from 1 May 2025, was announced on Thursday in a statement signed by the Minister’s Chief of Staff, Nafiu Hussaini Gobir.

“I am pleased to inform you of your appointment as Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Works,” the statement read, highlighting Mahmud’s “competence, experience, and commitment to media and public service” as the basis for his selection.

The statement read, “ will be responsible for managing and coordinating media relations for the Minister of State, developing and implementing publicity strategies, crafting official press statements and speeches, and liaising with media stakeholders to ensure accurate and positive coverage of the Ministry’s activities.

“You will also provide strategic advice on media and public engagement, aimed at boosting the Ministry’s visibility and public perception.

“Your appointment is tied to the tenure of the Honourable Minister of State and may be subject to termination at the discretion of the appointing authority.

“You are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and integrity in line with the Public Service Rules of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The internal leadership dispute within Nigeria’s Labour Party has taken a dramatic turn. Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa has boldly stepped forward to proclaim himself the Acting National Chairman of the party. This declaration, made during a press conference in Abuja, comes in the wake of a crucial Supreme Court judgement, which Apapa believes reinforces his authority to lead.

On Wednesday, Apapa addressed the media, stating that a Supreme Court verdict delivered on April 4, 2025, under Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1217/2024 and Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, has fundamentally changed the party’s leadership structure. He argued that the ruling invalidates all actions and leadership decisions taken by Barrister Julius Abure since April 2023.

Apapa didn’t mince words as he dissected the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision. According to him, the court firmly criticised the lower courts for meddling in matters beyond their jurisdiction, particularly issues related to the internal leadership of political parties. He claimed the apex court’s conclusion reinforced the long-standing principle that such matters are non-justiciable meaning they should not be decided by the judiciary.

Apapa interpreted this legal victory as a green light for his assumption of leadership. Referring to Article 14(2)(a)(b) of the Labour Party’s Constitution, he asserted that, as the most senior Deputy National Chairman, he has the constitutional right to take over as Acting National Chairman.

In his statement, Apapa also named Alhaji Farouk Umar Ibrahim as the Acting National Secretary, further solidifying the leadership changes within the party. He assured party members and the public that these appointments are in strict alignment with constitutional provisions and party regulations.

As part of this transition, Apapa revealed that the National Working Committee (NWC), reconstituted in 2022, will meet on Monday, April 14, 2025. This session will focus on outlining a fresh strategic direction for the party. One of the pivotal proposals includes the zoning of the National Chairmanship to the Northern region and the Secretary position to the Southern region.

Apapa emphasised that this new phase will prioritise genuine internal democracy. In what appears to be a direct critique of the previous leadership, he called for the immediate revival of the Board of Trustees (BoT), which he described as dormant for far too long. According to Apapa, reactivating the BoT is a vital step towards strengthening party governance and transparency.

Additionally, he announced a roadmap for conducting fresh congresses at every level from wards to the national tier. In an effort to uphold accountability, he clarified that only financial members will have the right to vote or be voted for in the forthcoming party elections.

On the same day as Apapa’s press conference, a rival faction aligned with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, held a National Executive Council meeting.

Jubilation erupted among the Esther Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee on Wednesday, when Governor Alex Otti announced that they had officially received the Certified True Copy of last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment on the Labour Party’s leadership crisis.

While presenting the 48-page CTC before the Labour Party Stakeholders Engagement in Abuja, Otti emphasised that the document has put an end to the debate of misinterpretation of the verdict.

He said, “I want to say that we welcome the Supreme Court judgment of last Friday, which Certified True Copy just arrived a few minutes ago. The 48-page document was very clear in saying that it is all of you seated here that constitute the leadership of the party. I also want to make a point that we are law-abiding people.

“We sat on the 4th of September 2024 in Umuahia, where we unanimously elected a 29-man caretaker committee. Shortly after that exercise, our brothers, on the other side, went to court and got a judgment that pronounced them the leaders of the party.