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Jega, Utomi, Donald Duke, Others Team Up Against APC, PDP, Unveil New Party October 1st

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Prominent Nigerians including a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, and a political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, will on October 1 unveil a mega political movement.

It was gathered that the mega-group, which would later transform into a political party, would challenge the country’s dominant parties, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

This came to the fore on Wednesday as INEC told newsmen that 95 groups had applied to it to be registered as political parties.

But for the new mega group planned for October 1, it was learnt that talks had reached an advanced stage for the merger of some existing opposition political parties as part of the new movement.

A source privy to the development, who spoke to one of our correspondents in confidence, explained that the focus of those involved in the new group was to push for electoral and political reforms.

The source said, “By God’s grace, we will be unveiling our movement on October 1 to coincide with Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary. We cannot call it a political party for now because talks are still ongoing.

“I’m aware that talks between leaders of the Peoples Redemption Party including Professor Attahiru Jega, those of the African Democratic Congress including its National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, and the Labour Party, have reached an advanced stage.

“The proposal being considered is the collapse of the structures of existing political parties involved into one strong one. We recognize the fact that forming a political party from the scratch is both cumbersome and capital intensive.

“It will involve getting offices across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja and going through all kinds of hurdles before being registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission and we know time is of the essence.

“To avoid this, we are looking at first agreeing on terms of engagement. We will adopt a name, hold our conventions where structures will be collapsed into one then we will approach INEC for a change of name to reflect our new identity.”

In response to a question on what was holding the body from fully identifying itself as a political party, the source said, “With the current Nigerian political structure, we don’t want to just join the fray. We need to make a difference that is why we are first pushing for electoral reforms. We will be working with like-minded people to push for the electronic transfer of election results and changes in Nigeria’s constitution to make it truly representative of ‘we’ the people.’’

There was confusion over the status of a group, Rescue Nigeria Project, which was unveiled by a former presidential adviser and diplomat, Dr Usman Bugaje, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

A section of the media had reported that Tuesday’s meeting was the unveiling of a political party. Some of those listed as attending were Jega, Utomi, a former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; a former Kwara State Governor, Abdelfattah Ahmed; Senator Lee Maeba and Professor Tunde Adeniran among promoters of the new party.

However, several persons, who attended the event said nothing of the sort was discussed. Attempts to get clarification from the convener of the event were futile. Calls to his mobile telephone number were neither picked nor returned. A response to a text message sent to him on the subject was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

However, a former Minister of Education and retired politician, Adeniran who attended the event, explained that the gathering discussed good governance and what was required to move the nation forward.

He told newsmen, “I have since retired from partisan politics. However, I have made myself available to give advice as well as guidance in order to continue to contribute my quota to national development. I am certainly not forming any political party.

Another attendee, who is a leading member of the PDP in Rivers State, Senator Lee Maeba, dissociated himself from the formation of a new political party.

Maeba, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Wednesday, said the Rescue Nigeria Project event he attended in Abuja, on Tuesday, was not for the formation of a new party but for the advancement of good governance.

He said, “The majority of us there are PDP members. In fact, some of us who were there were agitating that we should close early because they are members of PDP zoning committee and that a meeting was ongoing then.

“I have been a PDP member since 1998 and I don’t have another party. If I have not joined the APC, what is the need of forming another one?

“I did not discuss anything about the formation of a new party. That was the first time I attended the meeting. When I saw the names of those involved, I was attracted to talk on good governance. I am an advocate of good governance.

“It was a seminar and the theme was good governance. Even the organizer, Usman Bugaje, did not talk about political parties. What they talked about was good governance and how to strengthen political parties to ensure good governance, that’s all. Nobody mentioned the party.

“There are ways of forming a political party. The organization will apply to INEC. It has to submit signatures. Is my signature on any paper? There was nothing like that.

“We believe that the place was infiltrated because how can a talk about good governance become a talk of the formation of a party?

“I did not enter a meeting with anybody to form a political party because I am a satisfied member of the PDP. The party is doing well in my state and the governor is doing very well. So why will I go and start forming another party?”

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension

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The Rivers State House of Assembly has reconvened after the expiration of a six-month emergency rule declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu lifted the emergency rule on September 17, directing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the assembly to resume their official duties on September 18.

Thursday’s plenary session was presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule and held at the conference hall within the assembly quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Since the assembly chamber at the Moscow Road complex was razed and later demolished by the state government, lawmakers have been using the conference hall as their temporary chamber.

The reconstruction of the assembly complex, which was overseen by the outgone sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not be completed before his exit.

On March 18, Tinubu had declared emergency rule in Rivers State following a protracted political crisis triggered by the rift between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

More to come…

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Six More Deaths Confirmed In Afriland Towers Fire

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At least six more people have been confirmed dead following the fire outbreak at Afriland Towers, a six-storey commercial complex located on Broad Street, Lagos Island.

The latest victims were employees of United Capital, an investment and financial services company that occupied the third and fourth floors of the building.

The confirmation comes only hours after the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) announced the deaths of four of its staff members in the same incident on Wednesday evening.

The fire, which reportedly broke out in the inverter room at the basement around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, generated thick smoke and caused widespread panic among occupants. Witnesses said some individuals attempted to escape through windows as emergency teams fought to contain the blaze.

Operatives of the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and other first responders evacuated at least nine people from the tower. Five of them were resuscitated, while four remained unconscious at the time.

“A total of nine victims have been rescued. Five individuals have been resuscitated. Several others escaped unhurt, while efforts are ongoing to revive the remaining four,” the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said in an earlier update, raising fears of possible casualties.

In an official statement released on Thursday morning, United Capital confirmed that six of its staff had died in the incident. The new figure brings the total number of confirmed deaths from the Afriland Towers fire to 10.

“It is with profound grief that the Management and Staff of United Capital Plc announce the passing of six of our dear colleagues, following the tragic fire at Afriland Towers on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

“Our departed colleagues were an integral part of our company and family. Their painful loss leaves an immeasurable void. We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones, and we continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers, as well as provide all the support we can to them during this most difficult time.

“We are making preparations for an appropriate memorial service to honour their lives and mark their passing with dignity and solemnity. We thank the emergency services and all those who responded for their valiant assistance at the time of the incident.

“In this moment of untold grief, we stand together in solidarity, drawing strength from one another as we navigate this period. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” the company stated.

Authorities earlier confirmed that several occupants were rescued from the inferno, which was suspected to have been triggered by an inverter explosion. However, no official casualty figure has yet been issued.

Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) were unsuccessful as of press time.

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BIG STORY

NAF Airstrikes Kill Scores Of Terrorists, Destroy Hideout In Borno

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says recent air interdictions carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai have killed several terrorists and destroyed their hideout in Borno State.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.

Ejodame explained that the airstrikes took place on Wednesday at about 10:50 a.m. in the Bula Madibale and Gezuwa general areas of the state.

He said intelligence and surveillance had earlier confirmed unusual activity at the location, where about 45 terrorists were seen gathering, with some arriving on motorcycles and bicycles from different directions.

According to him, reconnaissance also showed two terrorist flags raised at the site, indicating it was being used as a stronghold and rallying point for insurgents.

“Acting on this credible intelligence, the Air Component launched precision strikes, eliminating several terrorists, while the flagged structure and other hostile assets were destroyed,” he said.

Ejodame added that the operation disrupted the insurgents’ ability to regroup, reinforce, or launch fresh attacks on communities in the North-East.

He reaffirmed that the Armed Forces remain committed to restoring peace and stability in the region.

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