President Bola Tinubu is in a meeting with members of the defunct ‘G5 Governors’ at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The group made up of Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde; former Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Ifeanyi Ugwuwanyi (Enugu) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) are all members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The group is considered to have been friendly with President Tinubu and contributed to his electoral victory in February.

Although the reason for the visit is yet to be known, it is believed Makinde and the former Governors would be seeking to take advantage of their cordial relationship with the President to gain political capital.

Makinde and Wike have frequented the Villa a couple of times in the last few days

More to come…

The Nasarawa house of assembly complex has been sealed off by the police, following the election of two speakers for the seventh assembly.

Ramhan Nansel, the state police public relations officer (PPRO), said Maiyaki Mohammed-Baba, the commissioner of police, gave the directive after consultation with other security agencies in the state.

He said the action was taken to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

On Tuesday, the members-elect held two parallel proceedings resulting in the election of the different speakers for the assembly.

Ibrahim Abdullahi, the incumbent speaker, and Daniel Ogazi, member representing Kokona east constituency, were elected at the different proceedings.

While Abdullahi was elected at a sitting which took place at the ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs by 11 out of the 24 members-elect, Ogazi was elected by 13 members at plenary at the state assembly complex.

Earlier report had it that the inauguration of the 7th assembly, which was scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed by Ibrahim Musa, acting clerk of the assembly who cited security reasons.

Reacting to the development, Abdullahi said his re-election followed due process and constitutional provisions.

Abdullahi spoke while inspecting the level of damage done to facilities at the assembly complex following the leadership tussle.

“During my swearing in and that of the deputy speaker, Hon. Jacob Kudu, the clerk of the house was seated, the deputy clerk, sergeant-at-arm and his deputy as well as management staff were all present,” Abdullahi said.

“But sadly, very sadly, some people went into the hallowed chamber under the leadership of a grade level 8 officer to administer oath of allegiance and oath of office.

“As far as I am concerned, they are not inaugurated and they remain members-elect of the state house of assembly as their inauguration was illegal because it did not follow due process.”

He said any inauguration other than the one conducted by the clerk of the house is invalid.

The speaker urged the people to discard any suspension given by the Daniel Ogazi-led camp as invalid “because the group acted unlawfully”.

“How can you suspend members that are not part of your inauguration?” Abdullahi asked.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the former governor of Osun State, stressed on Wednesday that he is not at odds with anyone and is determined to work with everyone to bring the progressives back into power in the state.

According to him, the reports in some sections of the media that he blamed the devil and seeking for forgiveness is untrue and misleading.

The immediate past minister of interior said irrespective of what happened in the past, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must heal and jettison personal gains for the reinvigoration of the party.

He spoke at the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, at his homecoming reception after his tenure in the federal cabinet.

He called on stakeholders, true progressive, traditional, and social institutions who believe in the party’s development agenda to rally members for successive elections.

His words: “I hold no grudge with anyone in Osogbo or Osun. My hands are wide open to work and receive anyone. Anyone who has issues with me has their reasons, but I hold no grudge against anyone.

“It is never my desire to leave any of them, but now that they have gone the way they did, I beseech you, our royal father, to plead with them. I would always wish them well and always desire to work with them.

“Anywhere I am, please be rest assured that Osogbo and Osun interests are covered,” the former governor said.