The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has disclosed that his government spent ₦500 million to send 204 postgraduate scholarship awardees to the United Kingdom (UK).

Naija News reports that Governor Nwifuru, on Saturday, sent 204 postgraduate scholarship recipients to the UK and 541 others to various universities in Nigeria for postgraduate programs.

Nwifuru said the scholarship was not just an investment in education, but an investment in the future of the State.

“It is an event that demonstrates our commitment to human capital development which occupies centre stage in our Government,” he said.

He urged the recipients to immerse themselves fully in their studies, embrace the cultures they encounter, and build networks that would be invaluable to their growth.

“But remember, your ultimate mission lies here at home. Upon completing your studies. For emphasis, we expect you to return to our State and channel your expertise into sectors that need your innovation, creativity, and leadership,” he advised.

Speaking on the cost of logistics for the awardees traveling to the UK, Nwifuru thanked Air Peace founder, Allen Onyema, for reducing costs for the government.

His words: “Let me thank Allen Onyema for showing a very great interest. For showing a very great interest. And I must thank him publicly and inform you about his contributions. I contacted Allen Onyema about two days ago and I told him, Allen, I am finding it difficult to transport my people from Nigeria to the United Kingdom. And he said, I have the solution. I said, what is the solution? He said, my aircraft is available. And if you had informed me earlier, Allen Onyema Foundation would have taken off all the resources and all the expenses. Would have paid it off. But since it is very prompt, there is nothing I could do. But I am going to give it to you in the price that you cannot find anywhere.

“And I want to inform you about it. We are sending 204 students. Total number ought to be 212. Three are heavily pregnant. Then the other three are being disqualified based on health issue.  Two are already in the UK. There are now remaining 204. And what is leaving today (Saturday) is 204.

“And Allen told me, the price for aircraft to UK is 6 million per one person. And you can go and get it out. It is not a difficult thing. But if you calculate 6 million by 209, because five officials are going, if you calculate 6 million by 209, it is about one something billion. And he said to me, Ebonyi Governor, Mr Francis, you know you are a very strong man, very unassuming. What do you want?

“I said, give me the bill. He gave me the bill. He reduced the price down to 766.5 million. I am saying this to all of you, especially many of you that are traveling abroad, so that you know how many people you are indebted to. So that you know how many people you are indebted to.

“Now, when I look at it, it says 766.5 million. It is still very heavy for me. He said, how much will you pay? I said, we will pay 500 million. He said it is okay, Francis, pay the 500 million. Now, what that shows is that we are in the very right track. And I want you to know very well that what Allen did to us is more than 60% of the total costs. What he paid is more than 60%. So we are also very grateful to him.“

Popular Nollywood actress, Ini Edo has shared the travails she encountered before she successfully had her child through surrogacy.

Ini Edo, who has a 3-year-old daughter named Light, disclosed that she had issues carrying pregnancy to term and had to opt for surrogacy.

The actress revealed that she had gone through IVF procedures to get pregnant and suffered six miscarriages before opting for surrogacy.

She opened up on her unique journey to motherhood after being questioned about her child’s paternity on the reality show Young Famous & African.

Her co-star, Luis asked Ini if she has a child and she said she has a baby girl.

“Are you married?” she asked.

“I’m not married,” Ini replied.

“Are you together with the dad?” Nadia questioned.

“No I’m not,” Ini said.

“Is he still alive?”

“Well, I don’t know,” Ini Edo replied to Nadia.

“Girl, is he dead or not? It’s a yes or no question,” Nadia insisted.

“He’s not dead. He doesn’t have anything to do with us. We’re just two people. Just me and my child,” Ini Edo replied.

During her confessional, Ini Edo said, “My journey is one that I have not really been wanting to talk about because it’s personal.”

“I’m raising her alone,” Ini finally told her co-stars. “I went through surrogacy.”

She added: “There was no man in my life at the time and I wanted to have a child. There are different ways to go about that.”

Later, Luis, is seen discussing the research he has done regarding surrogacy and his willingness to try having a child through said means.

However, Ini Edo was taken aback, and she asked why he was choosing surrogacy when he has a girlfriend.

“I don’t think surrogacy is something people just wake up and say that’s what they want to do,” Ini Edo said.

She added during her confessional: “I never thought I would be someone who had fertility issues. But I’ve had issues carrying pregnancies long-term.

“When it looked like it was not going to happen the way I wanted it to happen and I wasn’t getting younger, I said, ‘What are the option? What is available to me?’

“And then, this option came up, so I took it.”

“And I’m very happy with my decision,” she told her co-stars.

A former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has strongly criticized those calling for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

In a post on his X account, Ahmad referred to Kanu as a terrorist and condemned any efforts to secure his release, labelling such advocates as enemies of Nigeria.

“Anybody advocating for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, a terrorist and the leader of the proscribed terrorist organization IPOB, should be considered a sworn enemy of this country,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, a former Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mike Ejiofor, has urged President Bola Tinubu to unconditionally release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

During an interview on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Thursday, Ejiofor called for the prioritization of security challenges in Nigeria.

The former DSS Director said Tinubu’s administration should consider a political solution to resolve the insecurity challenges across the Southeast.

According to him, President Tinubu should release Kanu and see if the insecurity in the region will stop because unknown gunmen killing innocent people in the Southeast claim to be fighting for the IPOB leader.

Kanu, a vocal proponent of Biafran independence, was apprehended by the Nigerian government for his secessionist activities, which include calls for Nigeria’s breakup.

Despite court rulings discharging and acquitting him, Kanu remains in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In June 2021, Kanu was rearrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria through an extraordinary rendition process to face ongoing legal proceedings.

His trial has since faced delays, particularly after Kanu demanded that Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court recuse herself.

The judge complied, referring the case to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.

Additionally, Kanu has lodged a formal complaint with the National Judicial Council (NJC), accusing Justice Nyako of misconduct in handling his trial.

Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic emphasizes that the club maintains a positive atmosphere as they gear up for their upcoming match against Como at Sinigaglia, despite the ongoing investigation involving Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye related to betting irregularities.

Maduka Okoye, 25, is currently under investigation by the Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office following unusual betting patterns associated with a yellow card he received during a Serie A match against Lazio in March 2024.

Runjaic stated, “Our primary focus is on the upcoming game against Como. While I’m not aware of specific conversations among the players, I remain engaged in discussions about our formations and tactics. The atmosphere in the locker room is very good, and the team spirit is strong as we continue to work diligently and with intensity.”

Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that betting agency Sisal detected unusual betting activities, particularly concerning wagers placed on Okoye receiving a booking during the match. He was cautioned for time-wasting in the 64th minute of Udinese’s 2-1 victory.

The investigation has also brought another individual into the spotlight, Diego Giordano, a 40-year-old pizza restaurant owner in Udine. Allegations suggest that a verbal agreement regarding the betting related to Okoye was made at Giordano’s Biffi pizzeria before being finalized at a Sisal betting outlet shortly before the match.

Should Okoye be found guilty under Article 24 of the Italian Code of Sports Justice, which bars professional athletes from gambling on events organized by FIGC, UEFA, and FIFA, he could face a suspension ranging from seven months to four years. However, Okoye’s legal team has firmly rejected the allegations, asserting that there is insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims.

This situation arises as Okoye is recovering from wrist surgery, which has sidelined him from play. To ensure adequate coverage in the goalkeeping position, Udinese has signed Norwegian goalkeeper Egil Selvik.

Since joining the club in 2023 after a stint at Watford, Maduka Okoye has made 37 appearances across all competitions and has established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at Udinese before his injury.

Egyptian club, Zamalek ended Enyimba’s CAF Confederation Cup journey with a 3-1 win in their final Group A match at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday.

Having already secured the top position with 11 points, the Egyptian side demonstrated their strength against Enyimba, who were aiming for a victory to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.

Mostafa Shalaby opened the scoring for Zamalek with a well-placed header in the 29th minute, followed by Seifeddine Jaziri doubling the lead shortly after halftime.

Enyimba responded in the 57th minute when Ifeanyi Ihemekwele scored, bringing a flicker of hope for a comeback. However, Jaziri’s second goal just three minutes from full time sealed the match for Zamalek.

In the other match in the group, Al Masry advanced with a solid 3-1 win over Black Bulls Maputo, highlighted by Fakhreddine Benblewssef’s impressive first-half hat-trick.

This result meant Enyimba finished outside the qualification spots, ending their ambitions of expanding their impressive collection of continental titles, which includes two CAF Champions League trophies.

As the eight-time Nigerian champions shift their focus to the Nigeria Premier Football League, which resumes on January 23 with a critical match against former champions Kano Pillars, there is an opportunity to channel their experiences from this competition into their domestic performance.

Nearly half of Nigerians seeking to visit Europe’s Schengen Area over the past two years were denied visas, data obtained by The PUNCH shows.

Out of 192,741 visa applications from Nigerians in 2022 and 2023, 89,344 were turned down, translating to a rejection rate of 46.35 per cent.

Official data from the European Commission and the Henley Global Mobility Report indicate that the rejection rate made Nigeria one of the top 20 countries with the most visas denied to their choice destinations. The country ranked 11th on the list.

In 2022, Nigerian passport holders lodged 86,815 Schengen visa applications, with 46,404 denied. The following year, 105,926 Nigerians applied, with 42,940 rejections.

Although the reports suggest a gradual rise in the share of Schengen visas issued to Nigerian travellers over the years, the denial rate has continued to climb.

The Schengen visa is a short-stay permit allowing travellers to move freely across 27 European countries that make up the Schengen Area—an arrangement designed to simplify cross-border travel and promote regional integration.

First introduced in 1995, it eliminates internal border controls among member states, so holders typically undergo passport checks only upon entry to the Schengen zone.

Depending on the type of visa granted, a traveller may stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for purposes like tourism, business, or visiting relatives.

Applicants must show proof of sufficient funds, travel insurance, a precise itinerary, and other documents confirming their intent to return home.

While it streamlines travel for many nationals, the permit has proven challenging to secure for individuals from regions with higher perceived overstay risks or security concerns, resulting in relatively high rejection rates for certain nationalities.

Experts say push factors such as harsh economic realities continue to fuel thousands of applications from Nigeria annually as more citizens take the Japa route—a term meaning “escape” often used for emigration.

For instance, the inflation rate in Nigeria increased to 34.80 per cent in December 2024. The rate is expected to be 32.00 per cent by the end of Q1 2025, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts’ expectations.

The Nigerian passport fell by 32 places in Henley’s global ranking in the last 20 years, from 62nd in 2006 to 94th in 2025.

According to Henley’s report, six of the top 10 countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates are in Africa.

The Comoros led with a 61.3 per cent rejection rate, followed by Guinea-Bissau with 51 per cent, Ghana with 47.5 per cent, Mali with 46.1 per cent, Sudan with 42.3 per cent, and Senegal with 41.2 per cent.

Also, three Asian countries—Pakistan with 49.6 per cent, Syria with 46 per cent and Bangladesh with 43.3 per cent—were on the top list.

Though an EU member and part of Europe’s Schengen area, Greece held the second-highest rejection rate at 56.4 per cent.

While the top 10 African countries in terms of rejection submitted only 2.8 per cent of global Schengen visa applications, they faced a rejection rate of 44.8 per cent as half of the 277,792 applicants from the top 10 countries were denied visas.

On visa trends, Prof. Mehari Maru—a scholar at the School of Transnational Governance and the Migration Policy Centre at the European University Institute, and a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies—highlighted the structural challenges facing African applicants.

In the Henley Global Mobility Report released in January 2025, he noted “Applicants from African countries often contend with rigorous documentation requirements and heightened scrutiny.

“There are economic, security, and geopolitical dimensions at play, which collectively push up the rejection rates.”

Maru argued that while Africans are receiving more approvals than in specific previous years, their rejections continue to outpace many other nationalities, especially those from regions like North America or Western Europe.

“Global travel freedom has nearly doubled from 58 visa-free destinations in 2006 to 111 in 2025, but the gap between the most and least mobile nations has reached unprecedented levels.

“Africans face consistently higher rejection rates than their Asian and global peers.

“In 2023, despite submitting half as many applications as those from Asia, African applicants were twice as likely to be rejected, with rates 14 percentage points higher than Asian applicants,” Maru added.

However, the rejections are not unique to West Africa. Northern African countries—such as Algeria, Morocco and Egypt—regularly top the list of Schengen denials, suggesting that applicants from across the African continent experience disproportionately high rejection rates.

Regarding the reason for denials, consulates typically cite incomplete documentation, doubts about return intentions, and previous immigration violations, among others. Last December, Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed that Nigeria returned about 10,000 of its citizens detained for sundry migration offences across Europe and America in 2024 alone.

A former Nigerian Ambassador to Singapore, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, told our correspondent that the inclination to leave the country largely stems from Nigeria’s struggling economy, with many citizens taking the Japa route.

He argued that such trends are likely to persist unless there is a significant improvement in the nation’s economic performance.

“The urge to travel out of the country is in itself, primarily, a function of the performance of our national economy.

“The economic doldrums have pushed compatriots to get into the Japa mode.

“The trend may, unfortunately, increase until there’s a turnaround in the performance of the national economy,” the ex-diplomat noted.

He said while the statistics on the visa application denials are worrisome, there is also evidence of an increase in the number of approved visa applications by Nigerians seeking to travel to Schengen member countries.

Amedu-Ode added, “Even then, the simultaneous increase in approvals and rejection is a function of the spike in the number of our compatriots applying to travel to that zone of the world.”

The youth wing of the apex-Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on the new President General of the body, Chief John Azuta-Mbata, to prioritise the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as one of his key assignments.

The call was made by the National Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Chika Adiele, who described the move as a critical step towards uniting the Igbo nation.

He said: “One of the most important tasks before him now is to bring all segments of Igbo leadership together on the same page. The youths expect him to take the issue of Nnamdi Kanu’s release seriously.

“That would be a monumental achievement for him. If he can champion the release of our brother Nnamdi Kanu, who was illegally renditioned to Nigeria and has been detained for so long, it would be a huge win not just for him, but for all of us.”

Beyond Kanu’s release, Adiele expressed confidence in Azuta-Mbata’s ability to address the challenges faced by Igbo youths, including unemployment, lack of empowerment and insecurity.

He stressed the urgent need to engage young people constructively to address the root causes of unrest in the South East.

“Igbo youths have suffered so much under our leaders. There’s a lack of jobs, no incentives, no empowerment. Today, we see pockets of insecurity across the South East, and when you look closely, you’ll find that most of the non-state actors causing this insecurity are young people.”

He called on the new leader to engage the youth in meaningful dialogue and find sustainable solutions to their challenges.

“We need him to sit down with the youths, have an honest conversation, and figure out how to pull us out of the bushes and bring us back to the centre. This is how we can salvage Alaigbo. It’s a big part of what we expect from him,” Adiele explained.

Recent developments in the long-standing investigation into Tupac Shakur’s murder have brought renewed attention to Sean “Diddy” Combs, the renowned music mogul.

Newly released legal documents, which include a transcript of a police interview, named Diddy in connection with the infamous case.

These documents emerged against the backdrop of ongoing legal challenges faced by the billionaire entertainer, who has been in prison since his arrest in September 2024.

The allegations suggest that Diddy may have offered substantial amount for the murders of both Tupac Shakur and Death Row Records’ founder, Suge Knight.

Notably, Diddy’s name appeared 47 times within the newly surfaced transcripts from a 2009 interview with Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who is currently awaiting trial for Tupac’s murder.

In the covertly recorded interview, Keefe D refers to Diddy as the “boss” and mentioned his association with three Southside Crips gangs that allegedly played a role in the murder.

When asked directly about Diddy’s involvement, Keefe responded affirmatively, stating, “Yeah,” and elaborated on what he described as Diddy’s intense hatred towards Knight, indicating that Diddy was willing to go to great lengths for revenge.

Diddy has however denied involvement in Shakur’s death, calling the allegations “completely ridiculous” and“pure fiction.”

Recall that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was arrested in New York few months ago.

The arrest followed a grand jury indictment, with Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, expressing disappointment and criticism towards the US Attorney’s Office for pursuing what he considers an unjust prosecution.

Agnifilo highlighted Sean Combs’ voluntary cooperation with the investigation and his decision to travel to New York in anticipation of the charges.

Despite being one of the most recognized names worldwide, historians and linguists assert that “Jesus Christ” was not the original name of the central figure of Christianity.

Scholars suggest that Jesus would have been known as “Yeshua” or “Yeshu,” based on linguistic and historical evidence.

The Aramaic Connection

Aramaic, the language Jesus likely spoke in his daily life, holds the key to his original name. Professor Dineke Houtman explains, “Given his background in Nazareth, we can assume his day-to-day language was Aramaic,” as quoted by DailyMailUK.

According to Aramaic texts and inscriptions, “Yeshua” was derived from the Hebrew “Yehoshua,” which translates to “God saves.”

A Journey Through Languages

The name evolved as it passed through different languages. Greek transliterations changed “Yeshua” to “Iesous” due to the absence of certain Hebrew and Aramaic sounds. This became “Iesus” in Latin before the introduction of the letter “J” in the 16th century transformed it into “Jesus” in English.

“Christ” As A Title, Not A Surname

Contrary to popular belief, “Christ” was not Jesus’ surname. Instead, it was a title derived from the Greek word “Christos,” meaning “Messiah” or “God’s anointed one.”

Marko Marina clarifies, “In the ancient world, most people didn’t have last names as we understand them. Instead, they were identified by parentage, origin, or characteristics. Jesus was often referred to as ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ to differentiate him from others named Yeshua.”

One Of Galilee’s Most Common Names

Professor Candida Moss notes that “Yeshua” or “Yeshu” was one of the most common names in first-century Galilee. “Most scholars agree that his name was Yeshua or possibly Yeshu, reflecting the cultural and linguistic context of his time,” Moss says.

The transformation of “Yeshua” into “Jesus” demonstrates the practice of transliteration—adapting sounds from one language to another. Greek’s lack of certain Hebrew and Aramaic sounds led to “Iesous,” which later became the Latinized “Iesus” before evolving into the modern English “Jesus.”

While “Jesus Christ” is universally recognized today, the historical figure likely introduced himself in Aramaic as “Yeshua of Nazareth.”

Despite the changes his name underwent across centuries and cultures, the meaning of “Yehoshua” — “God saves” — remains central to his identity.

The crisis of confidence within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be far from being over, as the schism within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) gets worse with two different power   blocs issuing contradictory press releases on crucial party matter.

No sooner had a bloc within the NWC represented by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba addressed a press conference announcing the party’s acceptance of the Appeal Court’s ruling sacking Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary and enthronement of Sunday Kelly Enemchukwu Udeh-Okoye in his stead than the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi held a separate press conference to declare that Senator Anyanwu remained in his position pending the final resolution of the national secretaryship dispute by the Supreme Court.

Accusing Ologunagba of being driven by sentiments and interest, Abdullahi claimed he acted at the behest of the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum to counter the National Publicity Secretary.

The court of Appeal, Enugu Division had on December 24th sacked Anyanwu and declared Udeh-Okoye as the authentic National Secretary of the party following a suit by the latter which had sought to remove Senator Anyanwu from that position having emerged the party’s candidate for the November 2023 Imo State governorship election.

Udeh- Okoye, a former PDP National Youth Leader who was nominated by the South-East chapter of the party as Senator Anyanwu’s replacement had argued that he (Senator Anyanwu) lost his position as National Secretary when he vied for and secured the PDP ticket for the Imo guber election.

Following Senator Anyanwu’s emphatic declaration that he had “resumed” office despite the Appeal court ruling and the Ologunagba’s group acceptance of his sack by the appellate court, keen followers of the unfolding drama had predicted the situation signposted darker and more troubling days for the party.

Briefing journalists on the court judgement, Ologunagba had maintained that the party recognised Okoye as the authentic National Secretary of the party in obedience to the appeal court ruling.

“There were two court orders, and on Dec. 24, 2023, after consultation with the PDP National Legal Adviser, it was confirmed that we had received the judgment of the appeal court affirming Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party.

“We are a rule of law-compliant party; we believe in this finality of the judicial process. We have always respected judicial pronouncements and we will always abide by that culture. The position of the party has not changed regarding that.

“In accordance with our position in the past as a rule of law-compliant party, we are obeying the court’s order. We will follow the process and ensure full compliance with the pronouncement of the court of appeal.

“We have received the judgment of the court of appeal that affirmed Ude-Okoye as National Secretary of PDP, and as a party, we are bound by that judgment”, Ologunagba said.

However, when Senator Anyanwu stormed the PDP national secretariat in defiance of the Appeal court judgement, he dismissed Ologunagba’s position on the matter as his personal opinion, insisting that he remained the authentic National Secretary of the PDP pending the final determination of the case by the Supreme Court.

Hon. Geoffrey Ekong, a member of the party in Akwa Ibom State is concerned that Senator Anyanwu’s defiance of the Appeal Court ruling and his rubbishing of Ologunagba’s press briefing, which announced the PDP’s National Working Committee’s acceptance of the ruling will inevitably result in a fresh round of rancour, factionalization, suspension and counter suspension within the NWC.

According to him, “agents of the APC masquerading as members and leaders of the PDP are doing everything humanly possible to wear out the party and destroy it before moving to the APC just before the commencement of the 2027 general elections. That is their agenda, that is their plan and all these are all about the 2027 presidential election. They don’t want a united and formidable PDP to present a strong candidate to challenge the incumbent president and his party.”

He further said that “the schism within the NWC is still there and even widening; the Ologunagba faction that announced the acceptance of the Appeal Court ruling and the Umar Damagum/Anyanwu faction that defied the ruling are likely to suspend each other once again just as they did in October and this is not good for the stability of the party, not good for a party that hopes to upstage the ruling party in two years’ time.

“As leaders, I expected the Damagum/Anyanwu group to respect the rule of law instead of making mockery of it. Defiance of a court order, in this case, the second highest court in the land, is a bad omen. This is regrettable”

Meanwhile, while Senator Anyanwu insists that “I have appealed the Appeal Court judgment and filed for a stay of execution, until these matters are resolved, I remain the National Secretary,” Ologunagba, maintained that Ude-Okoye remains the recognised National Secretary of the PDP on the strength of the Appeal Court ruling, which he noted, is declarative in nature, and therefore, cannot be stayed.

Ologunagba further posit that “the PDP has not received any notice of motion or stay of execution. Anyanwu’s actions are unfortunate. This is a party of law and order, and we will continue to abide by court judgments. Those who resort to self-help are not acting in the party’s interest.”

The PDP image makers also suggests that some elements within the party are in bed with the APC and are fuelling the crisis rocking his party.

Although the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Daily Sun learnt, was instrumental in preventing the Anyanwu-Ude Okoye feud from dangerously degenerating, its chairman and former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara is of the view that Senator Anyanwu should give peace a chance by abiding by the Appeal Court ruling.

“The judgment affirming Ude -Okoye as PDP National Secretary is a welcome judgment. It further lends credence to the decision of the South East PDP on the issue. We had always contended that the party’s constitution must be obeyed, and the Appeal Court judgment has just affirmed that.

“Since PDP is a party that obeys the law, and believes in constitutionality, we should obey this court order. As the BoT chairman of the party, I want to request of the NWC of our party to obey that judgment. If at sometime in the future, there is a counter court judgment, we won’t have any option but obey it. Such counter-judgment must come from a superior court, and the Supreme Court in this circumstance.

“I want to make it very clear; I have consulted widely on this and found that the issue of stay of execution does not come in here. One can only challenge the judgment but not stay the execution because that judgment is a declaratory judgment. In law, the execution of a declaratory judgment cannot be stayed. It can only be challenged in a higher court.

“You cannot stay action on declaratory judgment. I will, therefore, advise those going to court for a stay of execution not to waste their money on that. They should apply their money appropriately towards the Supreme Court, and not to cause problem here and there, thinking that once you appeal against a judgment, it is automatic stay of execution. That does not apply here because declaratory judgment does not entertain stay of execution.”

Political analysts and watchers of the unfolding drama in the PDP are of the view that the dispute between Senator Anyanwu and Ude Okoye over the Secretaryship of the party may lead to its final amputation. They further submit that the dispute could create a leeway for broader schism in the party resulting in the emergence of parallel or factional NWC, a situation that could provide an alibi for some governors of the party as well as National Assembly members who are already allegedly in defection talks with the ruling APC to quicken their exit.

For example, an impeccable PDP source disclosed that “despite the denial by Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori’s aides about his impending defection to the APC, he is in fact in the final stages of his plans to leave the PDP; he will move soon and will be citing the crisis in the PDP and its inability to function properly as an opposition party as reasons for leaving.

“The truth is that the governor is concerned about his second term, he feels that the PDP is in a bad shape and lacks the steam to guarantee him second term. He also wants to enjoy the cover and assistance the so-called federal might gives to ruling party candidates during elections. Besides, given the influence his kinsman and former Governor, Chief James Ibori still wields in the state, Governor Oborevwori is desirous of belonging to the same political party and political camp as Ibori; as you know, Chief Ibori is now an APC chieftain and calls the shots in Delta chapter of the party,” the source added.

Daily Sun further gathered that because of his alleged defection moves, Governor Oborevwori has lately been intolerable of criticisms against the APC and its leaders.

“ It may interest you to know that contrary to the charges of incompetence levelled against the erstwhile commissioner for information, Ifeanyi Osuoza as a reason for his sack, he was actually fired because of his harsh criticism of the Delta APC and acerbic rebuttal of Governor Oborevwori’s alleged defection plans; a rebuttal where the commissioner had assured that ‘they (APC) will suffer even more disgraceful de-feat in 2027’ it is like saying that Governor Oborevwori will suffer disgraceful defeat in 2027.

“Recall too that in November, Governor Oborevwori had dissociated himself from a scathing criticism of President Bola Tinubu by his Executive Assistant on New Media, Mr Felix Ofou. Remember that the Governor, in distancing himself from Ofou, urged Deltans to support the President as his (Tinubu) failure also meant his failure,” the source added.