Labour Party Denies Allegations of Partnership with Tinubu Ahead of 2027 Elections
The Labour Party has dismissed allegations of collusion with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, labeling the claims as baseless and defamatory. In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party expressed concern over a circulating video in which lawyer Deji Adeyanju made claims of a supposed partnership between the Labour Party and the APC. The party described the accusations as unfounded and harmful to its reputation. According to the Labour Party, the allegations contradict its role as the leading opposition in Nigeria, with its National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, consistently criticizing the current administration. The party emphasized its ongoing efforts to challenge systemic failures and advocate for electoral reforms. Recent initiatives spearheaded by the Labour Party include the establishment of an Electoral Reform Committee to promote credible elections and a Political Education Committee aimed at fostering political awareness among Nigerians. Additionally, the party has launched an e-membership registration drive to enhance participatory democracy, with thousands of Nigerians already joining. The party challenged Adeyanju to substantiate his claims with evidence or withdraw his statements and issue a public apology. It described the comments as a “criminal defamation” and a deliberate attempt to damage the party’s reputation. The Labour Party reaffirmed its commitment to holding the government accountable and denied any collaboration with President Tinubu or the APC, urging its supporters to disregard the rumors. READ ALSO: NIGERIAN AIRFORCE STRIKE IN KATSINA CAUSES COLLATERAL DAMAGE
EFCC transfers Bobrisky to Abuja for interrogation
Controversial social media personality and crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, who was re-arrested on Thursday night, will face interrogation on alleged bribery and corruption in Abuja. The Bobrisky saga has become a major distraction for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as it plays the ostrich while major financial crimes against the Nigerian state slips through its unstable grips. Examples include the Binance heist and the allegation of the theft of N80billion of Kogi State money by the former governor which prosecutions the EFCC seem to continually mismanage thereby necessitating diplomatic intervention in the case of the former. READ ALSO: YAHAYA BELLO AND THE EFCC SAGE Bobrisky, according to an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, would be flown to Abuja today (Friday). The embattled crossdresser was stopped and removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and detained by immigration officers late Thursday night while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom. The popular cross-dresser posted on his Instagram page to alert followers about the arrest, stating that he had sustained injuries during an altercation with the immigration officers. Bobrisky alleged that the EFCC was responsible for his detention. He wrote, “Nigerians help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.” However, according to sources, his arrest was due to his failure to honour several invitations by the commission following his allegations against the EFCC. Bobrisky had, in a voice note shared by a controversial social critic, Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, allegedly said he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him. Although the EFCC denied the allegations, it set up a committee to investigate the matter. At a press briefing on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, had hinted that Bobrisky could face a fresh charge from the commission if the allegations against the EFCC were false. Uwujaren stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission. However, a top source in the commission said on Friday that Bobrisky was picked up to prove his allegations against the EFCC. The source said, “We have arrested him in Lagos today and will be flown to Abuja today. He accused us of bribery and corruption; we invited him severally, but he did not show up. He who alleges must be ready to prove. Those allegations are too weighty to allow slide. “Also, remember that he has also refused to show up at the National Assembly on the matter. We are left with no other choice than to pick him up so that he can substantiate his claims. And that is what we have done. “ When contacted on Friday morning, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed Bobrisky’s arrest. “Bobrisky is on his way to Abuja as we speak,“ he added.
Whistleblower, Isaac Bristol granted bail
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Whistleblower, Isaac Bristol, also known as PIDOMNIGERIA, bail. This was announced by the 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, in a short post on his X handle. Recall that the court had, on the 11 of September 2024, postponed his bail hearing to the 27th of this month. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju had confirmed the postponement in a WhatsApp message. “The court granted bail to the protesters, but moved Bristol’s bail application to the 27th of this month,” Adeyanju said. Bristol, after his arrest by the police in August 2024, was charged with nine counts, which included terrorism, money laundering, cybercrime, and evidence tampering. The charges are in connection with his whistleblowing activities, where he was alleged to operate the X handle of “@PIDOMNigeria,” where exposes alleged misccountry of public officials and regular Nigerians.