Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has taken a swipe at former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, following his recent political setbacks.

In a post on X on Sunday, Odinkalu said Omo-Agege could not have anticipated his current predicament when he was involved in the controversial removal of the Senate mace in 2018, an incident widely linked to the political tensions surrounding his support for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to Odinkalu, Omo-Agege suffered multiple political losses within a week, including his exit from the APC and defeats in senatorial primary elections in two different political parties.

Odinkalu added that despite the setbacks, Omo-Agege played a significant role in strengthening the APC’s political fortunes in Delta State.

He further argued that the developments serve as a reminder of the fleeting nature of political power, saying many politicians who have benefited from Nigeria’s power structure are now facing unexpected outcomes.

“Leadership is a voluntary thing and there is no joy when those who do or seek it for the right reasons get denied repeatedly. But that is when they seek it for the right reasons.

“When @OvieOmoAgege burgled the mace of @SenateNGR to prove his readiness to do anything for @OfficialAPCNg, he hardly reckoned with a week like this past one.

“In one week, he has been constructively booted out of the #APC & lost 2 Senate primaries in 2 different parties – one to a man; another to a woman.

“The irony of it all is that Omo-Agege is arguably the person who gave the APC a credible change in Delta State.

“For many who have grown fat on the humbug of #Nigerian power, the #TinubuSystem is handing out rewards indiscriminately. It is a rude reminder of the transience of power,” Odinkalu wrote.

DAILY POST reports that Omo-Agege reportedly suffered a setback in his bid to secure the National Democratic Congress, NDC, ticket for the Delta Central Senatorial District.

The former Deputy Senate President had defected from the APC to the NDC after losing the APC senatorial primary election to former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to say “no thank you” to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, factional presidential ticket.

Keyamo explained that the PDP faction that gave Jonathan the presidential ticket is not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Recall that the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP had announced Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

However, Keyamo urged Jonathan to reject the gesture for the sake of his global image.

Posting on X, Keyamo wrote: “This is some kind of bizarre comedy taken too far by supposedly grown adults and some names that were actually in the corridors of power at some point in this country.

“Giving a whole Presidential ticket to an ex-President and statesman by proxy and by a bunch of people not even registered on INEC’s website.

“And they don’t give a hoot, dragging such a revered figure into their charade that is certainly a journey to nowhere. Quite sad.

“For the sake of his global image, President Goodluck Jonathan must immediately issue a strong ‘no, thank you’ statement, lest Nigerians begin to recall the ‘clueless’ campaign that got him out of power – first sitting President to be so ousted.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, says no one can get any elective position in Rivers State if he is not in the Rainbow Coalition.

Wike made the assertion in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at a luncheon for candidates of the coalition.

He expressed gratitude to the 2023 All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the state, Tonye Cole, for withdrawing from the Rivers APC governorship race and joining his camp.

The minister said, “If you want to be relevant in the politics of Rivers state, come and join the rainbow coalition. 

“If you’re not in the rainbow coalition, you can’t get any elective position in Rivers State from the Governor, to the Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, and Local Government Chairmanship.

“Let me also thank Tonye Cole. He’s not here, but I spoke to our leader, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, that he should be in attendance at our next leadership meeting.”