Connect with us

News

PDP Vows to Drag Oborevwori, Others to Court Over Defection

Published

on

Spread the love

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to initiate legal action against Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other prominent members who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Following a six-hour closed-door meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, the PDP leadership directed its National Legal Adviser to begin legal proceedings aimed at reclaiming what it described as the party’s “stolen mandate” in Delta State.

In a communiqué released after the meeting, the party emphasized its commitment to holding the defectors accountable and maintaining its political foothold in the state.

To stabilise the party’s structure in Delta, the PDP appointed South-South Zonal Chairman, Emma Ogidi, to oversee affairs and lead a reorganisation effort. The party also dissolved existing structures in the state, citing mass defections as the reason.

Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said: “We have instructed our National Legal Adviser to recover the mandate taken away from us. The party’s fortunes cannot be left in the hands of adversaries. Legal steps will be taken to retrieve those mandates.”

“We’ve dissolved all party structures in Delta as most members have defected. The zonal caretaker committee has now been tasked with overseeing the state’s affairs,” he added.

Beyond addressing the immediate wave of defections, the NWC also adopted key proposals from the PDP Governors’ Forum. The committee scheduled the party’s next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for May 28 and announced that the National Convention will take place from August 28 to 30, 2025.

Mass Defections Shake Delta PDP

On April 23, Governor Oborevwori, his deputy, Monday Onyeme, and a broad coalition of allies—including commissioners, local government chairmen, and grassroots party members—formally joined the APC.

They were welcomed by top APC leaders, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum.

Also joining the APC was former Delta State Governor and PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa. The high-profile defections have been widely described as a political upheaval, effectively ending the PDP’s longstanding dominance in the oil-rich state.

The APC lauded the move as a “movement,” portraying it as a significant realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

International News

Transfer: Real Madrid , Cucurella Reach Verbal Agreement 

Published

on

Spread the love

 

Chelsea reliable defender, Marc Cucurella may join Spanish giant, Real Madrid before the end of the current transfer window.if information from transfer journalist, Fabrizio Romano are anything to go by.

 

Romano In a latest transfer update, said Real Madrid has reached verbal agreement to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.

“Verbal agreement in place between all parties, player too — he’s the left back wanted by Mourinho” the update read.

Continue Reading

News

Hakimi, Vinicius Barred From Speaking Spanish At World Cup

Published

on

Spread the love

 

FIFA has come under scrutiny after several high-profile players, including Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior, were discouraged from speaking Spanish during media engagements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

 

The issue first surfaced ahead of Morocco’s Group C clash with Brazil when a Spanish-speaking journalist attempted to question Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi in Spanish.

Despite Hakimi, who grew up in Madrid and speaks the language fluently, indicating he was comfortable answering in Spanish, event officials reportedly insisted that questions be asked in English.

Hakimi attempted to reassure organizers that language would not be a barrier, but officials maintained that no Spanish translator was available for the session. A compromise was eventually reached, with the reporter asking the question in Spanish while Hakimi responded in English.

The controversy intensified during Brazil’s media session when Vinicius Junior was also interrupted while responding to a question in Spanish.

The Real Madrid forward, who is more comfortable speaking Portuguese or Spanish than English, was reportedly asked by organizers to switch languages.

Rather than continue in Spanish, Vinicius opted to answer in Portuguese before turning his attention back to Brazil’s World Cup preparations.

The incidents sparked widespread debate among journalists and fans, many of whom questioned why Spanish—a language spoken by millions across North America—was effectively restricted at a tournament being hosted largely in the United States.

According to Spanish media outlet El País, FIFA only provides Spanish-language translation services at World Cup press conferences involving Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

For all other teams, questions and answers are expected to be conducted either in English or the official language of the participating country.

The policy has generated criticism online, with many supporters arguing that multilingual communication should be encouraged at a global event like the World Cup.

The backlash was particularly strong in Vinicius’ case, as the Brazilian forward appeared visibly uncomfortable being asked to communicate in English.

The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a highly anticipated encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

With the issue now drawing international attention, FIFA may face increasing calls to review its media language guidelines as the tournament progresses.

Continue Reading

News

It’s Illegal’…Falana’s Bombshell Indicts Govs, FG.

Published

on

Spread the love

 

Human rights advocate, Femi Falana, has warned federal and state governments against negotiating with and rewarding terrorists.

 

According to Falana, the practice is illegal.

He stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026.

Falana claimed it is public knowledge officials of the Federal Government and some State Governments have been holding meetings and negotiating with terrorists and bandits, which has led to thousands of ‘repentant’ criminals being forgiven and given cash gifts of undisclosed sums of money.

Asserting that the “satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Falana insisted that “their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”

Highlighting the legal consequences, he quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 TheColumn NG