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Tag: Deputy Minority Leader

  • PDP nominates Lau as Senate Deputy Minority Leader

    PDP nominates Lau as Senate Deputy Minority Leader

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nominated Sen. Shuaibu Lau (PDP-Taraba) as the new Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate.

    This is contained in a letter by the PDP National Chairman, Mr Iyorcha Ayu, read at Tuesday’s plenary.

    Ayu said that Lau would replace Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha who has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Following the defection of Sen.Emmanuel Bwacha to the ruling APC, the PDP Senate caucus has nominated as his replacement, Sen. Shuaibu Lau.

    “Lau is from Taraba in the North East geo-political zone of the country, where the position has been zoned.

    “The PDP Senate caucus has duly informed the National Headquarters of the party, in view of which we so communicate to you.We believe that Lau will be an asset to the leadership of the Senate.

    “Thank you and accept the assurances of our highest regards,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Bwacha at plenary formally defected to APC, bringing the number of APC Senators to 70, while the PDP has 38 and Young Progressives Party (YPP) has only one.

    The Senator said that his decision to leave the opposition party was conveyed sequel to a point of order raised during plenary.

    “In view of my desire for equal competition, and about my desire to enjoy the full operations of my fundamental human rights, Mr President.

    “I want to announce this day, that as King Solomon said, there’s a time for everything; now is a time for me to leave the PDP.

    “Mr President, I say I have opportunity to breathe freely because of a deliberate isolation and huge division and factionalisation in the party in my state.

    “Mr President, I had to leave because I seek to breathe better. This day, I announce henceforth my exit from the PDP, and to join the governing party because of the visible presence of the party in my Senatorial District,” he said

    Bwacha added:“I say this without fear of contradiction that my constituents are happy about this movement because of what they have seen on ground in Taraba South Senatorial District.

    “So, we make bold to pay the PDP back by ensuring that better days are ahead for the party in Taraba.”

  • BREAKING: Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Bwacha dumps PDP

    BREAKING: Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Bwacha dumps PDP

    Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Senator Bwacha joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and was welcomed into the party by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Bwacha was welcomed into the APC by President Buhari at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.

    He was led to the State House by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, who is the Chairman of the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

    Senator Bwacha represents Taraba South Senatorial District of Taraba State in the Senate.

     

  • Kidnapped sister of Oyo Deputy Minority leader regains freedom

    Kidnapped sister of Oyo Deputy Minority leader regains freedom

    Mrs Jumoke Babalola-Oludele, sister of the Deputy Minority Leader, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Sunkanmi Babalola, has regained freedom from her abductors.

    Recall that Babalola-Oludele was kidnapped on December, 21 around Oniguguri junction, beside Lion of Judah, Iyana Church, Monatan area, Ibadan.

    The victim was allegedly kidnapped by three unknown gunmen who drove in a white Toyota Camry.

    The kidnappers had earlier demanded for N20 million ransom for her release.

    Confirming the release of the victim on Saturday in Ibadan, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, said the victim had regained freedom and united with her family.
    Fadeyi said Babalola-Oludele was released through the collaborative efforts of the security agencies and other stakeholders in the state.

    The police spokesman further said that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the case while investigation was still ongoing.

    The victim’s brother, Babalola, representing Egbeda State Constituency in the state Assembly, who also confirmed his sister’s release, said that no ransom was paid to her abductors.

  • Gunmen kidnap Oyo Deputy Minority leader’s sister, demand N20m ransom

    Gunmen kidnap Oyo Deputy Minority leader’s sister, demand N20m ransom

    Mrs Jumoke Babalola-Oludele, sister to Oyo State House of Assembly Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola, has reportedly been kidnapped by unknown gunmen who are demanding N20 million ransom for her release.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that Babalola-Oludele was kidnapped on Monday night around Oniguguri junction, beside Lion of Judah, Iyana Church, Monatan area, Ibadan.

    Babalola who, represents Egbeda State Constituency in the state Assembly, said the family had informed the security agencies about the abduction.

    He said that he was informed by an eyewitness that his sister was kidnapped at about 8:20 p.m by three gunmen who drove in a white Toyota Camry.

    “I was told the abductors shot into the air twice and forced her from her car into theirs.

    “I have not heard anything, but we are still hoping to get positive response from them; they contacted a member of the family and demanded N20 million but the terms and conditions are yet to be agreed upon.

    “I’m appealing to the state government and security agencies to please rescue my sister. This is a festive period, they need to beef up the security of the state and police should please get back to work.

    “On behalf of the good citizens of Oyo State, I’m appealing to the police to get back to work fully because their absence has been causing a lot of panic in the state,” he said.

    Speaking to NAN on Thursday, on the incident, in a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, said he has not heard information about the kidnap.

    “I don’t have any information about the incident, maybe they did not report the incident to the police. I don’t think they reported it to the police, but I will find out,” Fadeyi said.

  • Pandemonium in National Assembly as official ‘slaps’ Deputy Minority Whip

    There was pandemonium on Monday at the new wing of the Senate complex in Abuja after a National Assembly official physically assaulted the senate deputy minority whip, Abiodun Olujimi.

    The incident happened shortly before the commencement of a public hearing of the committee on petroleum (downstream) which the Deputy Minority Whip was a member.

    According to a report by Premium Times, trouble started when an official of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) rode in the same elevator with the lawmaker.

    Lifts in the assembly are installed in pairs, one reserved for lawmakers (Senators and House of Representatives members), and another for other users.

    The senator was on her way to the petroleum committee public hearing while the PASAN member, who was not immediately identified, was to attend a meeting of his association.

    Investigations further revealed that the PASAN meeting was in preparation for a strike action.

    A witness said when the lawmaker saw the PASAN staff in the elevator reserved for lawmakers, she demanded to know why he used the same lift with her.

    The witness said the lawmaker directed her aide to “slap” the legislative official, who immediately responded in kind.

    The PASAN staff however slapped the senator and not her aide.

    Neither the senator, her aide nor the PASAN staff gave further details of the incident as journalists inquired.

    Mrs. Olujimi left the elevator and challenged the PASAN official, who was immediately shielded by his colleagues.

    The PASAN staff refused to apologise, and it took the intervention of National Assembly security officials to rescue her from the scene.

    Other PASAN members declined comments and refused to give the name of the official involved.

    The senator thereafter attended public hearing.

    In a chat with some journalists after the hearing, she vowed to take up the case with the National Assembly security.