The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2023 general election, Justice Prof. Peter Umeadi, has announced his resignation from the party and his withdrawal from all forms of partisan politics in Nigeria.
In a letter personally signed and dated November 24, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of APGA Ward 1, Nri, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mr. Onyekwelu Jideobi, Justice Prof. Umeadi expressed appreciation to APGA for granting him the opportunity to fly its flag in the last presidential election.
The letter titled “Resignation from Membership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)” read in part:
“I respectfully write to resign from my membership of Nri Ward 1, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). By the same token, I withdraw from all partisan politics in Nigeria.
I thank APGA for fielding me as its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections. The resignation of my membership from APGA and withdrawal from partisan politics in Nigeria takes effect from today. Accept the assurance of my warmest regards.”
Justice Prof. Umeadi, who ran on the Umeadi–Mohammed 2023 ticket, was the first jurist and law academic to emerge as a presidential candidate of a major political party in Nigeria. His campaign was anchored on the principles of rule of law, separation of powers, and due process, with a vision for social progress and equitable opportunity for all Nigerians.
He joined APGA on March 20, 2019, at Nri Ward 1, and clinched the party’s presidential ticket on June 1, 2022. His candidacy, widely regarded as a new chapter for legal professionals in Nigerian politics, emphasized integrity, fairness, and institutional reform.
Born on July 4, 1955, Justice Prof. Umeadi served as Chief Judge of Anambra State from 2011 to 2019. He is also a Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a Life Bencher, Patron of the Anambra Book and Creativity Network (ANBUKRAFT), and a member of the World Jurist Association (WJA).
With numerous awards and professional recognitions to his name, Justice Prof. Umeadi’s withdrawal marks the end of an era for one of Nigeria’s most respected legal minds to have ventured into partisan politics. (Vanguard)
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has warned against dragging market women in the kingdom into partisan politics, stressing that such interference undermines Benin’s traditional market structure and could lead to unrest.
This came amid controversy over the recent installation of Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele as the Iyaloja of Edo State by the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Tinubu.
A statement issued on Thursday by the Osuma of Benin, Chief Norense Ozigbo-Esere; the Secretary, Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Frank Irabor; and four other palace chiefs, said the monarch will meet with all Iyekes (market heads) across Benin markets to provide further clarification on the issue.
Although details of the meeting were not immediately disclosed, palace sources said it was convened in response to the tension generated by Ibhaguezejele’s purported installation.
During Tinubu-Ojo’s visit to the palace last Thursday, Oba Ewuare II had explained that the Iyaloja concept was alien to Benin culture, noting that each market in the kingdom is traditionally headed by an Iyeki—a woman chosen by traders and spiritually connected to the palace.
“In Benin, there is nothing like an ‘Iyeki-General,’ which this Iyaloja title seems to suggest,” the BTC statement clarified.
“Each Iyeki emerges from among the market women, is presented to the Palace for confirmation, and once approved, is installed by her peers. Every Iyeki is independent, culturally and spiritually tied to the Palace, and performs specific rituals for the well-being of the market.”
The palace strongly cautioned against the politicisation of market leadership or the use of trade associations as political tools.
“These twin factors are antithetical and inimical to the essence of our market tradition in Benin culture,” the statement read.
“We advise that the function of Iyeki should not be politicised. Any deviation from this age-old cultural system may lead to a breach of peace. The BTC therefore urges the state government to take cognisance of this warning to avoid a breakdown of law and order.”
The palace also warned politicians and market leaders to stop invoking the name of the Oba to legitimise their political activities.
“We hear comments such as ‘the Oba’s word is final’ in this Iyaloja saga. But were these words respected in the past when some leaders used market women as political pawns?” the BTC queried.
“The former market leader, Blacky Ogiemien, was once advised by the Palace to desist from such practices but continued despite warnings.”
Meanwhile, reacting to the ongoing controversy, Ogiemien said market women in Edo State are apolitical and would continue to support any government in power while remaining loyal to the Oba.
Speaking by phone on Wednesday, she said, “We work with any government in power. It was Lucky Igbinedion who handed us to Senator Oserhiemen Osunbor; when Osunbor left, we worked with Oshiomhole, and he later told us to work with Governor Obaseki. There’s a process for leadership selection, and no one can just appoint themselves coordinator.”
On the Oba’s planned meeting and the directive against politicisation, she added, “We are all one. Anytime the Oba wants us, we will be there. If the Oba says we should not be involved in politics again, there’s no problem about that.” (Punch)
Norman Tebbit, the former Conservative cabinet minister and one of Margaret Thatcher’s most loyal supporters, has died at the age of 94.
Tebbit represented the constituencies of Epping and Chingford as an MP for 22 years before receiving a life peerage, making him Lord Tebbit of Chingford. He retired from the House of Lords in 2022.
During his long political career he served as employment secretary, trade and industry secretary, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster and chair of the Conservative party.
His death was confirmed by his son, William, who said in a statement: “At 11.15pm on 7 July 2025 Lord Tebbit died peacefully at home aged 94. His family ask that their privacy is respected at this time and a further statement regarding funeral arrangements will be made in due course.”
Former Conservative prime ministers led tributes to the Tory grandee. Rishi Sunak said Tebbit was a “titan of Conservative politics”. Sunak said his “resilience, conviction and service left a lasting mark on our party and our country”.
David Cameron said Tebbit was a man of “great conviction” and “profound self-belief”, adding: “They don’t make ’em like Norman any more.”
“A man of great conviction, profound self-belief and with a direct and sometimes abrasive tone, he generated strong reactions from all sides,” Cameron said.
“I was sometimes on the hard end of that, but there is no doubting the tremendous impact he had on our country and my party. A staunch believer in self-reliance, hard work and enterprise, as secretary of state for employment he reformed our outdated and ineffective trade union laws, and thus transformed industrial relations in Britain for good.
“But for all his caustic tongue and sharp wit, he was also privately a kind and thoughtful man. The way he stepped aside from public life to care so tenderly and devotedly for his beloved wife, Margaret, after the Brighton bomb speaks to his compassion and the importance he placed on family, above all.”
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said Tebbit “was an icon in British politics and his death will cause sadness across the political spectrum”.
Downing Street said Keir Starmer’s thoughts were with Tebbit’s family and paid tribute to the “great strength he showed” in the face of the Brighton bombing. “He will be missed by many,” a Number 10 spokesman said.
As employment secretary, Tebbit took on the trade unions, and as chair of the Conservative party from 1985 to 1987 he helped Thatcher secure her third general election victory.
He sustained serious injuries in the 1984 Brighton bombing, which left his wife, Margaret, paralysed from the neck down.
Badenoch said: “He was one of the leading exponents of the philosophy we now know as Thatcherism and his unstinting service in the pursuit of improving our country should be held up as an inspiration to all Conservatives. As a minister in Mrs Thatcher’s administration, he was one of the main agents of the transformation of our country, notably in taming the trade unions.
“But to many of us it was the stoicism and courage he showed in the face of terrorism which inspired us as he rebuilt his political career after suffering terrible injuries in the Brighton bomb, and cared selflessly for his wife, Margaret, who was gravely disabled in the bombing – a reminder that he was first and foremost a family man who always held true to his principles. He never buckled under pressure and he never compromised.”
Tebbit was a prominent figure in the Thatcher era with a reputation as a political bruiser unafraid of confrontation as he helped drive forward the economic and social changes that characterised the 1980s.
After inner-city riots in Handsworth, Birmingham, and Brixton, south London, in 1981, he made comments that led to him being called “On yer bike” by critics who felt he was a symbol of Conservative indifference to rising unemployment.
Rejecting suggestions that street violence was a natural response to rising unemployment, he retorted: “I grew up in the 30s with an unemployed father. He didn’t riot. He got on his bike and looked for work, and he kept looking till he found it.”
In 1990, in response to concerns over integration of migrants, he set out the “cricket test”, suggesting the side British Asians supported in internationals should be seen as an indicator of whether they were loyal to the UK, leading to accusations of racism.
He was memorably described by Labour’s Michael Foot as a “semi-housetrained polecat”, and was also nicknamed the “Chingford skinhead” in reference to his east London constituency, while his puppet on the satirical TV show Spitting Image was a leather jacket-clad hardman – an image Tebbit enjoyed because “he was always a winner”.
The former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi said: “Rest in eternal peace, great man. Norman Tebbit was a giant of Conservative politics and Conservative ideals. A man who looked after his beloved wife beautifully after the horrific terror attack by the IRA. A man who nurtured and befriended young conservatives like me.”
The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, said on X: “Norman gave me a lot of help in my early days as an MEP and was a great man. RIP.” (Guardian)
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