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Nasarawa APC Stakeholders demand arrest of ex- LG Chairman Akala, call on remaining 10 members – elect to turn up for inauguration.

“… say there is no court order restraining Speaker Balarabe’s 14 members lead Assembly from sitting…”
The Nasarawa State Council of All Progressives Congress Stakeholders Forum, has demanded the arrest of Hon. Samuel Akala, the former Chairman of Karu Local Government, in order to ascertain the identity of the anonymous Chairman claiming to represent the All Progressives Congress stakeholders in the State.
Dr Kassim Muhammed Kassim the State Chairman, Council of APC Stakeholders Forum made the call in a Press Conference held in Lafia today.
According to Dr Kassim, We have noticed a string of press conferences held by this group, which is falsely using our name and forum for impersonation.
” I kindly request the apprehension of the Leader of the anonymous group responsible for perpetuating this Press conferences, as they continue to implicate the Governor unjustly., while their main mission is to create tribal and religious crises in the State.
” I challenge Hon Samuel Akala to come down to Lafia, the state capital to hold such malicious and mischievous press conference, and stop hidding in site light towns in Abuja to dish out press statement.
“I want to set the records straight that there is no group like Concerned Nasarawa APC Stakeholders known to any body in Nasarawa State, the only existing one known to everybody is the one headed by Dr Kassim, which is APC Stakeholders Forum.
” It is therefore inconceivable that any responsible and genuine APC stakeholder would endorse a proposed PDP Speakership candidate in an APC State like Nasarawa State as is done by the so-called APC Concern Stakeholders,” he said.
Hon Kassim said that the Concern APC Stakeholders was not recognize by either the party or the Government of Nasarawa State and they have no authority to speak on any issue in the state because, they are a faceless group.
” Their actions are solely aimed at causing unrest and defaming, and we urgently appeal for their apprehension, as there is no legitimate organization bearing that name in our State.
” It is essential to note that the alleged group, purportedly led by the aforementioned Concern APC stakeholders, comprises individuals who hold no official status or recognition in Nasarawa State. Their actions and statements should be regarded as nothing more than attempts to gain unwarranted attention and spread falsehoods.
Dr Kassim who is a former member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly said that the appointment of the state chief judge to be the Amirul Hajj has nothing to do with politics as anybody can be appointed to coordinate all Muslims travelling to Hajj.
” Furthermore, we feel compelled to address the baseless accusations and slanderous assaults directed at the Chief Judge and our esteemed Governor, which are evidently motivated by personal agendas rather than genuine concerns.
” It is not only APC members that travel to Hajj, there are PDP, LP, SDP and APGA members who are currently in Hajj and the argument that the State Chief Judge is appointed Amirul Hajj to influence a judgement does not hold water and is an attempt to stop her from practicing her religion,” he said
He said that Hon Daniel Ogazi group has only 10 members while urging the public not to be misled by the group that they are 13 members in Ogazi group.
” Further more, it is equally important to draw the attention of members of the public that the Hon Daniel Ogazi group has only 10 members
“The speculation that they are 13 is mischievous and attempt to mislead the public, while Rt Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe’s team consists of 14 members,” he added
The forum chairman also said that the fake and faceless so called Concern APC Stakeholders seems to be confused, either by their sponsors
“Because there is a case coming up this month at the Federal High Court in Lafia, filed by Hon Daniel Ogazi’s team.
” Another case is also pending on October 12, filed by the same team at the Federal high court Abuja.
” In all the courts proceedings both in Lafia and Abuja, there is no order banning the Balarabe team of 14 members from sitting, the Nasarawa Assembly, the Government of Nasarawa State and the APC as a party have not received such order,” he said .
On the issue of salaries, Hon Kassim said there is no authority or law that says members who are not inaugurated should be paid salaries
“And as far as the law is concerned, the 10 members elect led by Daniel Ogazi are not inaugurated yet and will not be paid untill they present themselves for inauguration before they can start receiving salaries,” he added
The forum Chairman advised the 10 members elect to stop wasting their time and present themselves for inauguration.
He said that the forum under his leadership was recognized and well-known for various APC assignments and activities, including support during the campaign for Sen Abdullahi Adamu, “APC National Chairman” in the last APC National Convention and campaigns for APC as a Party in the last general elections.
” As a former lawmaker and Chairman of this Forum, I can confidently state that the current conflict in the State House of Assembly is primarily a struggle for leadership.
” It is important to note that this matter is unrelated to the Governor, as the House of Assembly functions as a distinct branch of the Government. Any attempts to tarnish the Governor’s reputation will not be tolerated,” Hon Kassim said
He said that Daniel Ogazi cannot and will not be speaker under the current administration because the house was properly inaugurated by the clerk and Balarabe was returned as Speaker and normal legislative activities have since been going on.
” The state is peaceful, and legislative activities are proceeding normally, contrary to the claims made by these faceless individuals.
” We urge the Hon Daniel Ogazi led team to accept defeat and return to the Assembly for their constituents, who voted them in for effective representation and not for a leadership struggle,” Kassim said.
News
SERAP sues Akpabio over ‘failure to reverse unlawful suspension of Natasha Akpoti’

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The group argues that the suspension is unlawful and violates her fundamental right to freedom of expression.
SERAP is seeking a court order compelling Akpabio to reverse the six-month suspension, reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, and restore all her legislative privileges. The organization also wants an injunction preventing the Senate from imposing further disciplinary actions against her for expressing her views.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended after she reportedly spoke without permission and rejected a new seat assignment in the Senate chamber. As part of her suspension, her salary and allowances have been withheld, and she has been barred from identifying as a senator.
In its suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP contends that the suspension deprives Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents of political representation. The organization also argues that penalizing a senator for exercising free speech creates a chilling effect on other lawmakers.
“No one should ever be punished for speaking without permission,” SERAP stated. “The Senate should uphold the rule of law and protect human rights, not suppress them.”
The group cites constitutional provisions and international human rights treaties, including Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
SERAP maintains that the Senate Standing Orders cannot override constitutional guarantees of free speech. The lawsuit emphasizes that restricting a senator’s expression undermines democracy and violates Nigerians’ right to receive information and participate politically.
No date has been set for the hearing of the case.
News
Market associations, women groups knock el-Rufai, rally support for Tinubu, Gov Sani

Ahead of the 2027 elections, hundreds of members of market associations and numerous women groups in Kaduna state at the weekend, occupied Kaduna metropolis in a peaceful demonstration where they reiterated their loyalty and support to the administration of
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The protesters who alleged that they had bitter experiences during the El-Rufa’i administration, said they would remain where Governor Uba Sani stood and advised the citizens of Kaduna not to be deceived by doing the contrary.
They recounted their ordeals during the 8 years of the previous administration, alleging that hundreds of market shops belonging to individuals were either seized, demolished or confiscated, a situation that triggered ill health in many traders and business owners leading to paralysis and multiple deaths of their colleagues.
“We’ve been in the market for over 40 years and have never experienced the kind of set backs we suffered under the previous Governor.”
“A lot of lives were lost,a lot of finances were ruined by reason of his kind of policies. We are here to speak with one voice and say that anything that would kind of revive such kind of philosophy in Kaduna market, we don’t want it,” Daniel Audu Maigari, a stakeholder of the Kaduna Market associations, has said.
He explained that “this incumbent Governor began by healing the wounds, the wounds that were really severed by the former Governor. Governor Uba Sani has been doing so,so very well and that’s why we’ve been with our leader, Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, who like Governor Sani,has been charting the right course, ensuring programmes and plans that will heal these wounds .”
He said there was never been a time they are having the impact of leadership in Kaduna market, like they are having now.
” Now we’ve lots of incentives, lots of policies that are driving us to progress .We are now standing with one voice to denounce anything that would reverse this,” he said.
Alhaji Daiyabu Ismail Mai Gwanjo, Chairman Stakeholders of the Kaduna State Market Traders associations, said on behalf of their leader,Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, his EXCO and all trader leaders in the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, they have gathered to unilaterally declare an unalloyed support to Governor Uba Sani who had taken care of them and protected their interests.
According to him,” we have to say so,haven had the harrowing experience in the hands of the past administration. The scar still remains and many are yet to recover.”
“But when Almighty Allah sent Governor Uba Sani to us,he declared he would not do anything bad to traders because the world thrives on businesses.All the most cherished countries like China, Canada, UAE, India,are very proud of and supportive to their traders and other business persons.”
“Unfortunately, we found ourselves during the previous administration that neither showed empathy nor sympathy to traders. An approximate number of 36 markets were demolished at that time.None of these markets was completely rebuild ,till date,and we are suspicious of the collaboration between the previous administration and the market developers.”
“We are therefore calling on Governor Uba Sani, our Governor of sympathy and understanding, to look at this issue with a view to resolving it.We are with Uba Sani a hundred percent, ” he added.
Hajiya Hadiza Abdulaziz,a woman leader of the market association,said they have gathered in multitudes to reiterate their support to the APC and Governor Uba Sani who has tremendously supported the market men and women in Kaduna State.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.
She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.
“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.
The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.
She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.
“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.
The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
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