News

Defection: South-East Governors May Defect To APC And Here Is Why

As the country prepares for the 2023 general elections, there are concerns that we may have only one party at the polls without strong opposition. This concern is fuelled by the defections that have seen prominent politicians cross-carpet from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

From the National Assembly to the various State Houses of Assembly, there has been movement from the opposition PDP to the ruling APC. Only recently, the governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, who was elected on the platform of the PDP switched to the APC – and was welcomed with so much fanfare.

In May 2021, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, formerly of PDP also defected. And now there are reports that PDP governors in the South-East have decided to switch camps too.

According to Daily Independent, governors from the South-Eastern part of the country who belong to other parties have come to an agreement to join the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) so that the region will not be left out in the scheme of things.

Of all the five states (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo) that make up the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, only Imo and Ebonyi states are of the ruling party APC, with Ebonyi state, having joined the party in November 2020, when its governor, Engr. Dave Umahi decamped from the nation’s opposition party, PDP.

Abia and Enugu states with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi respectively have remained in the opposition party – PDP – while Anambra state is ruled by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with Governor Willie Obiano at the helm.

South-East Governors

Be that as it may, plans have already been reached by all governors to position the region to attract benefits from the center by aligning under the leadership of the ruling party.

A member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) from the South-East who spoke with Daily Independent, said the defection of the remaining South-East governors to the APC will happen sooner rather than later. He said:

“Governor Ikpeazu is almost 80 percent out of the PDP. Ugwuanyi is also on his way out and we are patiently waiting for the direction the Anambra governorship election will take. With the crisis in APGA, I won’t be surprised if Willie Obiano declares for APC tomorrow.

“I know the South-East governors have always complained that APC has done more for them in less than six years than what PDP did in 16 years. And they have also decided to join the party in bloc so as to attract more developments to the region in all the five states.”

Although the above is the reason they have given for their decision, it has been discovered that there are more personal reasons for the decision to abandon the PDP family at this time, after all, politics, they say, is a game of interest.

For Enugu, the personal issues and power play between the Enugu state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is of the PDP and seeks to replace the incumbent governor in 2023 is the major reason for the decision.

While Governor Ugwuanyi would want to push his own anointed candidate into power as his successor, Senator Ekewremadu, who wields so much power in the State’s PDP is also eyeing the governorship seat come 2023. So moving to the ruling party seems to be the only card on the table for the Enugu state governor.

The case of Abia state seems to be a concluded issue already despite the issues between the incumbent governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and former governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. The decision on who becomes the party leader in the state (a position currently held by the latter) when the governor eventually decamps is the only thing holding an announcement from being made.

However, according to Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, who is also a member of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, “Abia State governor will formally be received into our party any moment from now.”

In Anambra, the crisis rocking APGA has made it almost clear that the party is losing the state in the next governorship elections. APC at the moment remains the surest party to take over the state, come November 6 and so aligning with the ruling party for Willie Obiano seems like the most logical thing to do if he intends to remain relevant in politics after he leaves office.

Entertainment

$20K, ₦400m mansion, other lavish gifts Peller and Jarvis received for wedding

The wedding of TikTok stars Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, and Elizabeth Amadou, better known as Jarvis, was filled with memorable moments. Beyond the glamorous outfits, celebrity guests, and cultural displays, it was the extravagant gifts presented to the newlyweds that became one of the biggest talking points.

Even before the wedding day, gifts had already started pouring in, while several admirers promised to present theirs during the ceremony. Peller’s longtime TikTok supporter, Gregory, kicked off the celebrations with a generous wedding gift of $20,000.

Gregory travelled to Nigeria specifically for the wedding and expressed excitement about being part of the occasion. Speaking during the event, he also revealed his interest in investing in Nigeria. “I can’t relocate, but Peller and Peller are going to work on some investment opportunities in Nigeria. One of the things that I really wanna do is open a school here. Hopefully we can do it; that would be my dream

One of the biggest surprises of the day came from Delta based billionaire Mohammed Ochacho, who presented the couple with a mansion worth ₦400 million in Lifecamp, Abuja.

While announcing the gift, the businessman explained that his children encouraged him to make the presentation. “On behalf of my children, I am presenting a brand new house for you worth ₦400 million in Lifecamp, Abuja.”

The gesture came just days after Peller met Ochacho at music executive Soso Soberekon’s event. During that meeting, the billionaire introduced the content creator to some of his associates and had earlier promised him 10 cows as part of his wedding gifts. Peller later jokingly called him out for not fulfilling that promise before the mansion was eventually unveiled.

In June 2026, Peller proposed to Jarvis during a private beachside ceremony at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Ghana

Just weeks later, he paid her bride price during a traditional introduction ceremony in Edo State, after which they had a court wedding.

News

Bishop Oyedepo Takes A Swipe at Tinubu over worsening insecurity, economy

General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide, a.k.a Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu over the worsening insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria.

In a viral video shared online, Oyedepo alleged that the Tinubu administration was failing to take decisive action to address the challenges bedeviling Nigerian people.

The cleric expressed anger over the persistent attacks and killings across the country, issuing a note of warning that Nigerians who have endured the situation for a long time may no longer remain silent.

The General Overseer, however, condemned those behind the attacks and killings of armless Nigerians, stating that victims should not be expected to show sympathy towards the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

“The president needs to act now and stop pretending. You can’t slaughter members of my family and expect me to pray for you. I will pray against you and your household.

“The government is pretending like they don’t know what to do. I have been quiet for a long time, but the bubble is about to burst,” he fumed.

He equally accused the government of appearing unaware of the severity of the security crisis, saying leaders had failed to demonstrate the urgency required to protect citizens and restore confidence

Entertainment

Court dismisses N5bn copyright suit, confirms Sinach as sole owner of ‘Way Maker’

A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a N5 billion copyright suit filed against acclaimed Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Joseph Egbu, popularly known as Sinach, affirming her as the sole author and copyright owner of the globally celebrated song Way Maker.

Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, who delivered the judgment on July 24, 2026, ruled that music producer Michael Oluwole failed to establish claims of co-authorship and co-ownership of the award-winning song.

Oluwole had approached the court in March 2024, seeking legal recognition as a co-author and co-owner of Way Maker.

He also demanded a share of revenues generated from the song and requested N5 billion in damages, alleging infringement of his performer’s rights.

However, the court held that the producer’s involvement was limited to mixing and mastering an already existing work for commercial release after being contracted and paid for his services.

According to the judgment, “Evidence before the court showed that Sinach had created and performed the song before engaging Oluwole’s services”.

The court noted that she had performed Way Maker internationally prior to its studio production.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa stated that copyright ownership belongs to the individual responsible for the original creative content of a work, including its melody, harmony, lyrics, or arrangement.

He stressed that “Technical contributors such as producers, engineers, and sound technicians do not automatically become authors unless they contribute original expressive content”.

The judge described the suit as unmeritorious and dismissed all claims brought by the plaintiff.

The court further reaffirmed that Sinach, as the creator of the song, holds exclusive rights over its reproduction, distribution, performance, and licensing under Nigeria’s copyright laws.

Reacting to the judgment, Sinach and her husband, Joseph Egbu, who chairs Slic Inspire Ltd. and Gosgem Records, expressed satisfaction with the outcome.