Politics
I’m No Longer A Member of APC, Onochie Tells Senate Committee
Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, on Thursday denied membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) three times.
This followed her being grilled intensely by Senators to determine her suitability for appointment as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Onochie, who appeared before the Senate Committee on INEC, said she parted ways with the APC and stopped her volunteer work with the Buhari Support Organization (BSO) since 2019.
Onochie, whose nomination has continued to generate uproar, said people and groups are only after her because of her ‘due process stance’ and belief in the rule of law.
President Muhammad Buhari had, on October 12, nominated Onochie (Delta), Professor Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina), Professor Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti), Saidu Babura Ahmad (Jigawa), Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam (North Central) and Dr. Baba Bila (North East) as National Commissioners of INEC.
In her opening remarks, the presidential aide said she was aware of series of petitions against her membership of the APC and the fact that someone from her state was already on the board of the INEC
She however admitted being part of the Buhari campaign organisation in 2015 before her appointment as Special Assistant on Social Media.
She also admitted having sworn to an affidavit at a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja that she was a member of the APC.
She claimed she stopped being a member of the party immediately after the 2019 elections.
Onochie said: “I have learned over the years to stand with the constitution and due process but not on partisanship or sentiments.
“Since 2019, I have not had anything to do with any political organisation, including Buhari support groups.
“When APC was doing re-validation of party members, I did not take part in that exercise.
“As I’m sitting down here, I’m not a member of any political party in this country. I’ve no partisanship in my blood.”
On petitions urging the Senate not to clear her for the job, Onochie said: “I have seen many petitions against my nomination not only from the PDP, but also from some APC members.
“I’m not partisan. They know. It is about the law. No one has any reason to fear for my nomination as INEC commissioner representing Delta.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m madam due process. That’s why all the attacks. I follow due process, I follow the law.”
However, an affidavit she swore to at an FCT High Court, dated 30th June, 2021 and attached to one of the petitions against her, contradicted her claims.
She deposed to the affidavit at the High Court of the FCT in a case involving her as Plaintiff and Emeka Ugwuonye (Defendant).
Paragraph three of Onochie’s witness statement on oath, reads, “That | am also engaged in active politics and a member of Neighbourhood Watch and has elso contested the Local Government Elections under the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom.
“| am also a member of the All Progressives Congress and a volunteer at the Buhari Support Organisation.”
Onochie further told the Committee that Mrs May Agbamuche, a serving INEC National Commissioner from Delta State, is actually representing Cross River on the board of the electoral umpire.
Senators Ifeanyi Ubah, Seriake Dickson, Istifanus Gyang and Ike Ekeweremadu, in their separate questions asked Onochie again to confirm her membership of the APC.
Onochie, three times denied her membership of the ruling APC and told the Committee that she stopped being a card carrying member of APC in 2019 as soon as Buhari was re-elected for a second term in office.
However, a suggestion by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele that Onochie be put on oath after she denied her membership of the APC, was supported by Senator Lawal Gumau (Bauchi South).
The suggestion was however opposed by Senator Ekeremadu and Senator Dickson,who argued Senate Rules do not support any nominee being placed on oath during screening.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya, overruled the suggestion so as not to breach the provisions of the Senate Standings Orders on screening of nominees.
Gaya said the panel’s report would be submitted to the Senate at plenary next week for consideration and possible approval after he adjourned sitting.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Ngozi Odu, issuing them a seven-day notice to respond to allegations of gross misconduct.
The Assembly cited eight specific allegations of gross misconduct as the basis for the move.
This is the third time Fubara and Odu would be facing impeachment proceedings from the Assembly since coming to office in 2023.
Attempts to impeach them in 2023 and 2025, amid political feuds between the Governor and his predecessor and erstwhile political god-father, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had been halted by presidential intervention.
Here are the allegations below:
1. Reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds
2. Unconstitutional misappropriation of public funds
3. Hindering the Rivers Assembly from performing its constitutional duties
4. Illegal appointments of persons without screening by the House of Assembly as provided by the Constitution
5. Seizure of salaries and funds meant for Assembly members
6. Seizure of salaries of the clerk of the Rivers House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi
7. Refusal to implement provisions of the Constitution on financial autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary
8. Withholding of funds meant for the running of the Rivers House of Assembly Service Commission and hindering its activities
Lilian Adebayo, the wife of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, has said that the party will unseat the ruling All Progressive Party at the 2027 election if Nigerians are true to themselves.
Mrs Adebayo made this assertion known on Wednesday during an interview with journalists after an event in Abuja.
According to her, the opposition party has overcome its crisis after the expulsion of its former chairman, Shehu Gabam and others.
She said Nigerians should vote the APC out in the 2027 general election due to the hardship the party has plunged citizens into.
“There is always a crisis in the party; the SPD has been able to handle its own. The problems in the party have been resolved.
“He has a great chance of winning the election if Nigerians are honest with themselves. If Nigerians think that the ones they consistently vote for would move the country forward, they live in denial,” she concerning the husband.
Recall that SDP recently expelled Gabam and other party executives.
The party’s state chairmen on Wednesday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the police to investigate Gabam over alleged misappropriation.
In a significant political move, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Mbah announced his decision during a televised broadcast in Enugu after weeks of speculation.
He said, “Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress.”
Mbah explained that his decision to join the PDP was informed by the need to reshape Enugu and reorganise the politics of the state.
“Today, I stand before you to announce a break from the past and to share a decision that will shape the road ahead. This concerns our values, how we organize ourselves politically and how we secure the future of our project and our people.
“Leadership sometimes demands painful decisions in the service of higher principles and goals. And there comes a time, when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.”
Ahead of the governor’s defection, all members of his cabinet had on joined the ruling party.
Governor Mbah’s Senior Media Aide, Dan Nwomeh, confirmed the mass defection in a video posted on his social media handles on Monday. In the video, several government officials were seen openly declaring their allegiance to the APC, chanting praises for President Bola Tinubu and affirming their commitment to the new party.
“Enugu State Cabinet Members join the APC with full chest along with Governor PN Mbah,” Nwomeh stated.
The officials, including commissioners and top aides, could be heard in the video declaring, “We are now in APC; tomorrow is here; it is APC all the way; it is Jagaban all the way; from top to bottom.”
The collective defection marks a significant political shift in Enugu State, which has been a PDP stronghold since 1999.
How Rivers Women Spread Wrappers For Wike’s Motorcade During Port Harcourt Visit
Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara, Deputy Still Active – Rivers Assembly
Your Second Coming Was A Chance To Avoid These Political Mistakes – Fayose To Fubara
Corruption Battle: Dangote Drags Ex-NMDPRA Boss To EFCC After ICPC Withdrawal
Rivers Crisis: Full List Of 8 Misconduct Allegations Against Governor Fubara
Panic In Ibadan As Rising Kidnap, Robbery Threats Trigger Official Red Alert
Wizkid Becomes First African Artist To Enter Spotify’s 10 Billion Streams Elite
Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Becomes West Africa’s All-Time Box Office King
Rivers Assembly Formally Serves Impeachment Notice To Gov. Fubara
NCC, CBN Set To Roll Out Refund Framework For Failed Airtime And Data Transactions
-
News2 days agoPanic In Ibadan As Rising Kidnap, Robbery Threats Trigger Official Red Alert
-
Politics2 days agoRivers Crisis: Full List Of 8 Misconduct Allegations Against Governor Fubara
-
Breaking News2 days agoCorruption Battle: Dangote Drags Ex-NMDPRA Boss To EFCC After ICPC Withdrawal
-
News1 day agoImpeachment Proceedings Against Fubara, Deputy Still Active – Rivers Assembly
-
News1 day agoYour Second Coming Was A Chance To Avoid These Political Mistakes – Fayose To Fubara
-
News19 hours agoHow Rivers Women Spread Wrappers For Wike’s Motorcade During Port Harcourt Visit