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PDP Convenes NEC Meeting Following Police Blockade

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday convened its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza in Abuja, following an earlier police blockade of the premises.

The meeting had in attendance members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Assembly members, governors, and other members of the NEC.

The Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, in his opening remarks, noted that the gathering was the NEC meeting, and the decision was taken after the meeting with the governors.

According to him, this NEC would deliberate on only one agenda — to discuss when a proper NEC, that would discuss issues relating to the PDP convention, would be held.

He, therefore, urged members of the party to stop “demarketing” the party.

At the end of the meeting, members fixed July 23 for another NEC meeting to discuss other matters affecting the party as well as the convention.

It was also agreed that Samuel Anyanwu should continue to serve as the National Secretary.

The NEC meeting followed a closed-door meeting by the governors elected on the platform of the party at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

The meeting had in attendance Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, as well as former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

 

 

Speaking to journalists, Governor Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, addressed the earlier police presence at the secretariat.

He described the blockade as necessary to “prevent miscreants” from hijacking the meeting.

Channels Television reports that the party had relocated its Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting from Wadata Plaza to the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja’s Central Business District, citing security concerns.

“The meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier scheduled to hold by 10 am at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja has been moved to Yar’Adua Centre, Central Business District, Abuja,” the party had announced via its official handle on X (formerly Twitter).

PDP officials criticised the police deployment to Wadata Plaza, calling it an act of harassment.

Several BoT members, including Maina Chiroma and Bode George, were reportedly denied access to the premises.

A former national secretary of the PDP, Umar Tsauri, told Channels Television that the police claimed they were acting on an “order from above”.

The FCT Police Command, however, denied sealing off the secretariat.

In a statement, its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said officers were only deployed to maintain law and order, stating, “At no time was the Secretariat sealed off by the police.”

The events of Monday came amid lingering internal crises within the PDP, particularly concerning the party’s leadership and the position of National Secretary.

Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, had last week announced a postponement of the PDP’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, but the National Working Committee (NWC) rejected the move, insisting the meeting would proceed as scheduled on 30 June 2025.

The NWC argued that only the NEC had the power to postpone such meetings.

A major point of contention remains the position of National Secretary, claimed by both Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye.

Damagum had announced Anyanwu’s reinstatement last week, a decision the NWC also opposed.

The dispute has resulted in multiple legal battles.

Although the Supreme Court issued a judgment in March, both factions continue to interpret the ruling in their favour.

Another lawsuit on the matter is set to be heard at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 22 September 2025.

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Update: El-Rufai To Be In Custody Till June

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Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the bail hearing of former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, to the first week of June, 2026.

 

El-Rufai was arraigned last week on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office, filed by the Independent Corupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

He appeared before the court last Tuesday for hearing of his bail application.

However, the presiding judge, Darius Khobo, adjourned ruling on the application to Tuesy April 21, 2026.

The former governor was, last week, granted bail by a Federal High Court in Kaduna in another corruption case instituted against him by the ICPC.

Justice Rilwanu Aikawa admitted El-Rufai to bail in the sum of N200 million.

The judge had ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

As part of the conditions, the defendant was barred from making public comments on the case and must attend all court sittings.

However, speaking after the court session on Tuesday, counsel to the former governor, Ukpon Akpan, said the bail application had been adjourned.

He kicked against the lingering adjournment, saying it is politically motivated.

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5 Key Players Barca Will Let Go This Summer

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Barcelona are set to let five key players leave the club this summer, as they plan a squad overhaul, according to reports.

 

The Blaugrana are currently sitting nine points clear at the top of LaLiga, and are set to romp to a second consecutive title ahead of rivals Real Madrid.

However, after more disappointment in the Champions League, in which they were dumped out by Atletico Madrid, Hansi Flick and the board at Barcelona are preparing to rebuild their squad at the end of the campaign.

Spanish media outlet Marca are reporting that there are five players who have ‘completed a cycle at the club’ and will likely be moved on come the summer.

Marcus Rashford is one of those players. Barcelona can buy the 28-year-old, who is on loan from Manchester United, for £26million under the terms of the deal, but reports have emerged that they are not willing to exercise that option.

The 28-year-old has contributed 12 goals and 13 assists this season to help the Catalan giants run rampant in LaLiga, and as recently as last week, it was believed that Barca would like to keep him.

However, they have made a failed bid to renegotiate the £26m fee with United, who are refusing to budge on the clause which expires on June 15 – four days after the World Cup kicks off in North America.

It means there is a strong chance that Rashford will be forced to return to his boyhood club following England duty if he is selected for the tournament this summer.

Another attacker who seems set for the exit door is none other than Robert Lewandowski.

The Pole, who joined Barcelona from Bayern Munich in 2022, is out of contract in the summer, and there has been little indication that he will sign a new deal at the club.

It is believed that both Lewandowski’s ‘age and recent physical problems’ have thrust his future at Barca into doubt.

Barcelona are said to be looking at freeing up some financial legroom, and for that reason, they want to offload stars on big wage packets.

One of those players is Frenkie de Jong, who is understood to be on just under €400,000 (£348,000) per week, and Marca suggest that he could be sold to ‘ease the financial burden’ on the Spanish giants.

Former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen and La Masia graduate Marc Casado are also said to be on the proverbial chopping block.

Christensen played 161 games in six seasons with the Blues before making the move to Catalonia in 2022 on a four-year deal. That deal is now set to expire, and there are no plans for an extension at this moment in time.

Casado, however, still has two years left on his contract, but due to a lack of minutes, could be forced to find a new club.

The defensive midfielder has failed to break into the team ahead of Pedri, Eric Garcia, and Gavi, and has started only one of the last eight LaLiga games.

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Genocide: Minister Accused Of Attempted Bribery By US Official

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Kimberly Daniels, a United States Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives for District 14, has alleged that Nigeria’s minister of state for defense, Bello Matawalle, attempted to bribe a US official to deflect the narrative of the United World Congress of Diplomats, UN-WCD, report.

 

The lawmaker made the claim in a viral video released on her official Facebook account on Monday.

She said Matawalle’s alleged move was to cover up the UN-WCD report on Christian genocide in Nigeria, which indicted him.

Daniels insisted that no amount of pressure can silence her stand against the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

“A US elected official was offered money by Nigeria’s minister of state defense, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN-WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report,” she said in the viral video.

Recall that Daniels, who doubled as the chairperson of UN-WCD, had called for President Bola Tinubu to remove Matawalle over alleged complicity in the killings in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and other parts of Nigeria.

Matawalle is yet to officially reply the US lawmaker.

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