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Pat Utomi Forms Shadow Govt • It’s an Abberation – FG

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said, “At a time when our nation is set to celebrate 26 unbroken years of presidential democracy, the idea of a so-called “shadow government” is an aberration

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Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was named head of the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio.

Prof. Pat Utomi, has inaugurated a shadow government composed of members from various opposition parties.

A shadow government is individuals or an organization providing counsel to government officials without being publicly accountable.

Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was named head of the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio.

Others appointed to the policy delivery unit include Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo, and Obi Ajuga.

Other members of the shadow cabinet include Dr. Adefolusade Adebayo, Dr. Peter Agadah, Dr. Sadiq Gombe, Chibuzor Nwachukwu, Salvation Alibor, Bilkisu Magoro, Dr. Victor Tubo, Charles Odibo, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Eunice Atuejide, Gbenga Ajayi, and Dr. Mani Ahmad, as well as Peter Oyewole and Dr. Omano Edigheji.

Utomi said that the “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government,” launched virtually on Monday evening, will function as a credible opposition force, highlighting the failures of the Bola Tinubu administration while offering ideas for better governance.

Utomi, however, justified the move, arguing that policy missteps by the current Federal Government had worsened poverty, driven multinational companies out of the country, and intensified terrorism in Benue and Plateau states, alongside rising insecurity and corruption nationwide.

The political activist expressed concern over what he described as the government’s resort to propaganda and the suppression of opposing views.

“The recent spate of defections to the All Progressives Congress provides further evidence that all is not well with democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

“The imperative is that if a genuine opposition does not courageously identify the performance failures of incumbents, offer options, and influence culture in a counter direction, it will be complicit in subverting the will of the people.”

He said the shadow cabinet—made up of figures drawn from several opposition parties—was created to respond to what he called a national emergency.

“Today, I bring to this pioneer body the desperate cries of a people troubled by how their reality seems bound for serfdom.

I challenge you to awaken these people who wrongly believe that everything is fine as long as they can manage a share of what little still trickles down from crude oil sales,” Utomi said.

Utomi stated that the shadow government would hold weekly cabinet meetings to assess government policies and propose practical alternatives.

He identified immediate priorities as the stimulation of production, the formulation of a coherent economic growth strategy, decentralisation of security, and constitutional reform.

The cabinet, he said, would also focus on providing alternatives in healthcare, education, infrastructure development, law and order, and policy monitoring.

However , in a swift reaction, the Federal Government kicked against the move, describing it as an aberration in a federal system of government.

In an interview with the Punch, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said, “At a time when our nation is set to celebrate 26 unbroken years of presidential democracy, the idea of a so-called “shadow government” is an aberration.”

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Politics

Lagos Emerges as APC E-Registration Epicenter

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Lagos State has emerged as a major force in the ongoing nationwide electronic membership registration exercise of the All Progressives Congress (APC), rapidly closing the gap with frontrunner Delta State and positioning itself to take the lead within days.

Party leaders disclosed this development on Tuesday following a high-level national strategic stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, where performance reports from across the federation were reviewed by the party’s national leadership.

After returning to Lagos, Comrade Prince Ayodele Adewale, APC E-Registration Coordinator and APC Lagos State Organising Secretary, praised party members across the state for their unprecedented grassroots mobilisation and remarkable surge of political energy.

“The reports before us are highly encouraging. The energy on ground is visible and it is clear that the grassroots is awake, active and fully engaged,” Adewale said, noting that real-time data shows Lagos steadily building strong organic membership numbers in the highly competitive exercise.

According to him, Lagos State currently occupies second position on the national registration table, despite commencing its exercise only eight days ago, on Monday, 5 January 2026.

By contrast, Delta State, which currently leads, has been registering members consistently for the past 3 months.“With a little extra push, Lagos is clearly on the move.

This is a competitive race and the gap is closing rapidly,” Adewale stated.

He stressed that the window for consolidation remains open, with six hours left in the day and 18 days remaining in January 2026 before the registration exercise concludes, and urged party members to intensify mobilisation efforts across wards and local government areas.

“This is not the time to relax. Victory is not something we drift into; it is something we work for, deliberately and consistently, until the very end,” he added.

Adewale further revealed that he returned to Lagos on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, alongside the APC Lagos State Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, after participating in a national strategic meeting convened by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda.

The Abuja meeting was chaired by the National Chairman and attended by the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, PhD, some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), some APC State Chairmen, State Organising Secretaries, E-Registration Coordinators and other critical stakeholders.

The forum provided an opportunity for the party to review operational challenges, assess nationwide progress, and align strategic action plans aimed at strengthening the APC’s organisational structure ahead of future electoral engagements.

Based on current projections and the pace of mobilisation in Lagos, party leaders expressed confidence that the state is on course to overtake Delta State by Wednesday or, at the latest, Saturday, 17 January 2026.

Observers say the Lagos surge underscores the state’s organisational depth and its historic role as a political mobilising hub for the APC.Concluding his remarks, Adewale urged party faithful to remain calm, disciplined and focused, noting that landmark achievements are built through sacrifice and persistence.

“Great victories are never built in comfort. There is always joy at the end of every struggle,” he said.

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Politics

‎Breaking News‎‎: FHC Sacks Wole Oluyede, Ekiti PDP flag bearer

‎In his ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Babs Kuewumi upheld the concerns of irregularities raised by Funso Ayeni during the exercise.

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A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State has sacked Wole Oluyede as the governorship flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ordered a rerun of the party’s primary election.

‎‎‎In his ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Babs Kuewumi upheld the concerns of irregularities raised by Funso Ayeni during the exercise.

Recall that Ayeni had challenged the process, citing questionable manipulation of the approved delegate list on the day of the election.‎‎

The court found that the gross abuse of process, disregard for electoral guidelines, and violation of the fundamental principles governing the Peoples Democratic Party were inconsistent with both party rules and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which binds all individuals and institutions without exception and ordered a rerun of the party’s primary election.‎

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Politics

Wike: The Minister Who’s Not Afraid of Tinubu’s Sack

“If my appointor believes that I cannot offer anything again, he has the right. It’s not that you should tell him,” said Wike.

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Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, declared that he is not afraid to be sacked by President Bola Tinubu from his cabinet.

This was his reaction to some of his critics including a coalition of leaders within the All Progressives Congress (APC), operating under the APC Leaders Forum (ALF), calling for his removal as a nonmember of the ruling party cum his recent hostility towards the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, following his recent defection to the APC.

The coalition cited alleged insubordination, anti-party activities, and threats to national unity as grounds for removing Wike from office.

While speaking during a “thank you” visit to Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Wike clapped back at his critics, insisting that Tinubu can sack him if he desires.

“If my appointor believes that I cannot offer anything again, he has the right. It’s not that you should tell him,” said Wike.

The minister added that the reason his name is on the lips of many, including his critics, is due to the commendable works he is executing as minister.

“I am proud, and Rivers people are proud,  and we can tell Nigerians that we have not disappointed them as far as FCT is concerned. 

I said it yesterday in port harcourt. and i want people to know this clearly. if you are not doing well, nobody will talk about you. but because we are doing well, people must talk about us.”

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