The South-West lost the opportunity of producing the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who was the shoo-in candidate of the governors, was accused of abandoning the party at the time of the crisis instigated by the face-off with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

Barring any last-minute miracle, Prince Uche Secondus was set to emerge as the winner in the contest for the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last night.

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were last night bracing themselves for fallouts from the most competitive elective convention in the party’s 18-year history with about 92 persons jostling for 21 positions.

Journalists and supporters of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar were, yesterday, shocked after the former vice-president came out from a meeting with former President Ibrahim Babangida with a long face reflective of a red card shown to his 2019 presidential aspiration.

The National Judicial Council, NJC, said yesterday that it had at the end of its 84th Meeting in Abuja, recommended Justices Adeniyi Ademola and O. O. Tokode for retirement from the Federal High Court Bench.

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, made a practical return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, with a courtesy call on the national leadership of the party and called on former party members, who left the party with him, to return. Without referring to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku affirmed that no government had performed up to half of what the PDP achieved in its time in government.

President Muhammadu Buhari is not moved by the defection from the All Progressives Congress, APC, of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and will not take his bait to pre-empt the 2019 presidential campaign, high-level Presidency sources have affirmed.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, returned to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, declaring that his former party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has failed in its promise of positively changing the country.

Following the perceived dominance of governors who owe workers’ salaries representing Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, in the 30-man committee inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari to fashion out a new national minimum wage, there are fears that the road to a fresh wage regime may not be easy.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr. Magaji Abubakar, yesterday, admitted before the House of Representatives’ Adhoc Committee investigating the disappearance, reappearance and reinstatement of embattled former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, that his mistake led to reinstatement of the ex-pension boss.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government was hoping to evacuate identified stranded Nigerians in Libya back to Nigeria and rehabilitate them.

Senators yesterday began debate on the general principles of the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N8.612 trillion presented before the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, ordered the 36 governors of the federation to pay workers their salaries before Christmas, so they could have a beautiful celebration.

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairmanship aspirant, Chief Bode George, said, yesterday, that the resignation of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, from the All Progressives Congress, APC, was not the end, saying many more APC chieftains were on their way to the PDP.

The All Progressives Congress, APC was yesterday moving to fortify unity in its ranks after one of its leading members and Nigeria’s former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar left the party in response to what he described as the clampdown of democracy in the party.