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Headies Disqualifies Portable Over “Link To Cultists”

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The organisers of The Headies have disqualified Habeem Okikiola, the controversial singer also known as Portable, from this year’s edition of its awards.

On May 24, Portable was nominated for the ‘Best Street Artist’ and ‘Rookie of the Year’ categories.

In the ‘Rookie of the Year’ category, he was expected to compete with Av, Fave, Magixx, and Ugoccie.

For the second category, he was pitted against Bella Shmurda, Mohbad, Naira Marley, and Goya Menor among others.

Shortly after the nominations were unveiled, Portable claimed his co-nominees at The Headies are no match for him.

He also threatened to kill anyone who wins any of the categories in his place.

In its reaction, organisers of the awards threatened to disqualify him if he failed to retract his statement and issue an apology on his social media pages.

Portable had initially taunted the award organisers, saying they “nominated a mad man musician”.

The singer thereafter apologised for his “unguarded utterance” which he said was harmless.

But in a statement released on Tuesday evening, the award organisers said Portable was disqualified because he is a subject of an investigation relating to criminal activities.

The organisers also cited a claim he made that he’s the founder of ‘One million Boys’, a suspected cult group in Lagos, as another ground for his disqualification

“We regret to announce that following numerous indicting statements made by Mr. Habeeb Okikiola popularly knowns as “Portable”, and the incessant negative attention that Mr Okikiola has garnered from the Nigeria Police and the general public in recent times, the organisers of the Headies have resolved to disqualify Mr Okikiola as a nominee at the forthcoming 15th Headies Awards,” the statement reads.

“The decision to disqualify him is accentuated by series of misdemeanours by Mr Okikiola via his social media platforms. On the 25th of May 2022, he threatened to kill, harm or cause harm to the other nominees in the same categories of awards he was nominated for, if he does not emerge the winner, precisely.

“Smooth Promotions Limited, the organisers of the Headies Awards is law abiding and responsible organization that abhors any form of violence, unlawful or activities ravaging our society.

“We shall not condone reckless and uncouth statements from artists and hereby disassociate ourself from any individual linked to such assembly or activities including Mr. Okikiola’s prospects as long as these acts are sufficiently linked to him as described.

“The music industry demands all-round excellence. It is extremely important for young artists being potential role models to exude professional responsibility, proper decorum and have respect for others.

“Being subject of an investigation relating to criminal activities, Mr. Habeeb Okikiola is hereby disqualified from both categories of awards Annual Headies Awards scheduled to hold later this year namely: Best Street Artist and Rookie of the Year.”

Since he came into the limelight, Portable has been in the news for controversial reasons.

The Ogun state police command had recently invited him for allegedly asking his team to brutalise a young man.

BIG STORY

Aso Rock Not A Party Office — Holding NEC Meeting There An Aberration — ADC To APC

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The African Democratic Congress has criticised the All Progressives Congress for conducting its national executive committee meeting at the State House in Abuja.

In a Friday statement, Bolaji Abdullahi, interim national publicity secretary of ADC, noted that the State House is neither a party office nor a private residence.

President Bola Tinubu presided over the APC NEC meeting on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the State House. During the session, the party named Nentawe Yilwatda, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, as its new national chairman.

Yilwatda replaced Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down from the position in June.

Abdullahi responded to the appointment by stating that the ADC hopes the “appointment” of Yilwatda “might trigger a shift in tone, temperament, and trajectory for a party that has too often equated governance with propaganda, and power with impunity”.

He also expressed the hope that the APC would demonstrate “greater tolerance” for opposing voices under Yilwatda’s leadership.

He added, “We hope Professor Yilwatda will channel his high education and experience towards improving the democratic credentials of his party and its government, which, so far, has been marked by intolerance and what has often appeared like a deliberate plan to eliminate all opposition parties and foist a one-party rule on the country.”

He said it was concerning that the National Executive Committee meeting “was held within the confines of the State House — a public institution, funded by the Nigerian people, not a party office or private residence.”

He described the APC’s decision to host a party meeting at the seat of government as “an aberration that underlines how far this government has strayed from the foundational norms of democratic accountability.”

He called on the new chairman to ensure the party “respects the line — now dangerously blurred — between party and state.”

Abdullahi also highlighted Yilwatda’s former role as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, saying, “This is no small credential. It comes with a deep understanding of electoral ethics, neutrality, and public trust.”

He continued, “We sincerely hope he will draw on this experience to promote the sanctity of our electoral processes, rather than using insider knowledge to game the system in favour of his party, as has often been the case under the APC’s watch.”

He concluded, “In closing, we pray for Professor Yilwatda that may his tenure be longer than those of his predecessors and his exit more honourable.”

This is not the first time an APC NEC meeting has been hosted at Aso Rock. The ruling party previously held a similar meeting at the presidential villa in 2020.

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BIG STORY

Over 4,000 Inmates Freed In Push For Justice Reform — Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo

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The federal government has announced the release of over 4,000 inmates from correctional facilities nationwide as part of its justice system reform efforts.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, made this known on Thursday during a meeting with Chinedu Ogah, chairman of the house of representatives committee on reformatory institutions, in Abuja.

He stated that the inmate population has decreased from over 86,000 to around 81,450 following a review process focused on cases involving minor infractions.

“The correctional service remains a key priority. We must uphold the dignity of even the most vulnerable citizens,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo praised the national assembly for backing the ministry’s reform initiatives and highlighted the importance of collaboration between the executive and legislative branches in achieving lasting changes.

Ogah remarked that the minister’s actions are in line with President Bola Tinubu’s broader goals for justice reform and national progress.

This federal initiative coincides with similar actions at the state level aimed at easing overcrowding in correctional centres.

In May, Halima Mohammed, chief judge of Gombe, authorised the release of 85 inmates from the custodial facilities in Gombe and Billiri.

That decision came after inspections by the state’s criminal justice and inquiry committee across four correctional centres.

The chief judge explained that the visits were intended to identify inmates qualified for bail or outright release.

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BIG STORY

PDP Will Finish Fourth In 2027 Elections — Many Leaders Have Been Eased Out — Fayose

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Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost its structure and may likely end up in fourth place in the 2027 general election.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Fayose explained that the opposition party has been weakened by internal strife and the exclusion of its key figures.

“You know the situation of our party today, and it is in my prayer that the PDP does not come fourth in the coming elections,” he said.

“When I came here, I said the party was already going into carcass.

“Pretenders can pretend, but you know that managing the party has become an issue; everybody in that party today is doing to your tent, o Israel.

“Today, I am telling you the PDP will come fourth in the general elections. In most states, they are already compromised.

“They have eased out so many leaders. It’s good for them, but let me remind you, I was part of the G5.”

Fayose added that the PDP has lost much of its strength, pointing to the departure of influential members.

“In the same PDP, the presidential candidate has left, the vice-presidential candidate has left, senators have left, and governors have left,” he said.

He noted that although he was invited to the party’s last national executive committee (NEC) meeting, he stayed away because he felt sidelined.

Fayose also suggested that President Bola Tinubu offers the quickest route for the north to regain power after his tenure.

He referred to a past conversation with the president where Tinubu described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the “shortest political link between the north and the south”.

“I recall he told me that the shortest distance between the north and the south is APC,” Fayose said.

“I could not understand at the time because he told me that after Buhari’s four years, anybody should be able to wait for another four years.

“So, zoning to the south by the PDP is good for them because today Tinubu is the shortest distance for power to return to the north.”

Fayose clarified that he has not left the PDP but remains open to working with any political party.

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