The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to collaborate with the National Assembly in the ongoing constitution review process. Senator Akpabio made this call during a courtesy visit by the NBA leadership to his office in Abuja on Wednesday. Senator Akpabio expressed delight at the visit, emphasizing the potential benefits of the lawyers’ input in the review process. He highlighted the need to update laws that are outdated and not aligned with current realities, describing some existing laws as “analogue.” Furthermore, the Senate President urged the NBA leadership to take steps to eliminate…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has scheduled April 22 for parties to present their final briefs of argument in the case filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, challenging the outcome of the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial poll in the state. The tribunal, led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, approved the matter for the adoption of addresses after Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Lawrence Awhrujakpo, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were cited as respondents, concluded their defense. Each respondent presented a witness who testified before the tribunal and submitted several electoral…
Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged for a thorough investigation into the allegation of budget padding to the tune of N3.7 trillion raised by suspended Bauchi Central senator, Abdul Ningi. In a post on X, the former Vice President stated that Ningi’s suspension cannot silence the allegation of fiscal corruption in the Senate. He emphasized that the denial of the allegation is unacceptable and called for transparency in the investigation process. Atiku highlighted the importance of the 2024 Appropriation Act in the nation’s annual planning and development, noting that allegations questioning its…
Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has reiterated his allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite facing threats of expulsion from the party. Wike’s rift with the PDP leadership stemmed from disagreements during the 2023 presidential election, where he advocated for the party to adhere to its internal power-sharing formula by zoning the presidential ticket to southern Nigeria. His stance led him to work against the PDP’s candidate, aligning himself with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and supporting the emergence of President Bola Tinubu. During a media parley…
After about one and a half years of construction, the main hallowed chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives are nearing completion, prompting lawmakers in both chambers to prepare to vacate the temporary chambers and relocate back to the main chambers next month. The upgraded and reconfigured hallowed chambers, being handled by Visible Construction Company Nigeria Limited, are in the final stages of completion. All state-of-the-art chairs for federal lawmakers have been fixed, and sitting terraces have been extended. Tajudeen Olanipekun, the Project Engineer of the construction firm, assured journalists last week that the finishing stages of work…
In a significant political move, members of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom State have defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. The defectors, including chapter chairmen and state officers of YPP, hail from all 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom. During a ceremony at the Ibom Hall ground in Uyo, the state capital, the former National/State YPP Youths Caucus, represented by Prince Kini Ikpeme, handed over the entire leadership and structure of the party to the state PDP Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan. Ikpeme stated that the decision to join PDP was…
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is experiencing heightened anxiety as the Federal High Court in Abuja is set to commence sitting on a suit brought before it by Dennis Idahosa, the self-proclaimed governorship candidate of the party. Idahosa is seeking to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting any other candidate besides himself. The situation is further complicated by a deadlock over plans to include a governorship aspirant from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, as the running mate to Senator Monday Okpebholo within the APC. Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the…
Arua Goodluck Egwu, the 2023 Young Progressives Party (YPP) House of Assembly candidate for Ohafia South constituency in Abia State, has defected to the ruling Labour Party (LP) in the state. His defection comes on the heels of another high-profile switch, as former Abia State House of Assembly member Jerry Uzosike recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the LP after a meeting with Governor Alex Otti. In a resignation letter addressed to the YPP Chairman of Ebem Ward in Ohafia local government area of Abia State and issued to newsmen on Tuesday, Mr. Egwu cited wide consultations with…
In a development highlighting growing tensions, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, have found themselves at odds regarding the service of an impeachment notice on the deputy governor. During a plenary session on Monday, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku claimed that the deputy governor had refused to acknowledge the impeachment notice. Consequently, the Speaker ordered that the notice be published in the State-Owned Nigeria Observer and other national dailies. In compliance with the Speaker’s directive, the impeachment notice was published on Tuesday in the Nigerian Observer and the Vanguard…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are at odds over the security alarm raised by Governor Ademola Adeleke regarding alleged plans by hoodlums to attack schools and farm settlements in the state. Governor Adeleke, citing intelligence reports, revealed plans to attack schools and carry out abductions, as well as target farm settlements. He emphasized that he had convened a security council meeting to address the situation. In response, the APC, through its state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, accused the governor of creating a false panic regarding security in the state. Lawal expressed disappointment in the governor’s…
In a decisive move, the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill on Wednesday that would compel TikTok to divest from its Chinese owner or face a ban in the United States. The bipartisan vote saw 352 lawmakers in favor of the proposed law and 65 against it, showcasing a rare moment of unity in the politically divided Washington. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise praised the passage of the TikTok bill, dismissing concerns that targeting the popular app could impact Republicans in the upcoming November elections. He emphasized the need to protect young people’s data, stating that many are…
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to bolster security measures and improve infrastructure in Abuja, assuring residents of a safer and more developed capital city. Wike made this commitment during a media briefing after a closed-door session with senators at the National Assembly in Abuja. The Senate had invited the minister and the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, to discuss security strategies for the territory. According to Wike, the meeting was productive, with senators acknowledging the significant improvement in security in the FCT. He highlighted the ongoing development projects in Abuja, describing the city…
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has expressed his support for suspended Senator Abdul Ningi, praising the lawmaker’s integrity amid controversies surrounding him. Governor Mohammed, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reiterated his support for Senator Ningi during a Bauchi State Executive Council meeting. He emphasized the importance of allowing dissent in politics without resorting to punitive measures. “I stand firm in our support for Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi of Bauchi Central,” Governor Mohammed affirmed. The governor commended Senator Ningi’s performance, heritage, uprightness, and integrity, describing him as one of the best-performing senators. Senator Ningi recently made headlines with…
The North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has extended an invitation to Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State to join the party, emphasizing that his contributions and achievements would be better recognized within its ranks. The call was made on Wednesday by the Forum’s Chairman, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, in Jos. Zazzaga, a member of the Presidential Campaign Council in the last election, praised Governor Mutfwang for his progressive governance, stating that joining the APC would further enhance his impact. Zazzaga highlighted the benefits of Governor Mutfwang aligning with the APC, stating that it would align him with President Ahmed…
In a significant political move, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Ishielu/Ezza North federal constituency, Obinna Nwachukwu, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State. Accompanying him in this switch are his 2,000 loyalists. The defection ceremony, held at the APC state party secretariat in Abakaliki, saw Nwachukwu commending Governor Francis Nwifuru for the various ongoing projects in the state. He expressed gratitude to the APC state Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, for receiving him and his supporters into the party. Highlighting the importance of unity and collaboration, Nwachukwu urged all stakeholders…
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, a contender for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Ondo State, has stated that the ruling party must open its ticket for the upcoming poll. This statement comes ahead of the APC primary for the November 16, 2024, Ondo State Governorship Election. Ibrahim, who represents Ondo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, expressed his readiness to contest against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who declared his governorship bid on Tuesday. He made these remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme. When asked about Aiyedatiwa being given a chance of first refusal, Ibrahim responded, “What are you…
Crisis Deepens as Shaibu, Ojezua Drag INEC, PDP, Ighodalo to Court Over PDP Governorship Candidacy in Edo The crisis over the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State has taken a new turn as the embattled deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, and Anselm Ojezua have filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, and Asue Ighodalo at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Shaibu and Ojezua, among the 10 governorship aspirants who protested against the conduct of the ward delegates congress and local delegates congress…
The Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has returned 15 seized trucks of grains to their rightful owners. The announcement was made on Tuesday in a statement by Abdullahi Abubakar, the Public Relations Officer of the command. Abubakar mentioned that this development followed orders from President Tinubu, who had directed the Customs to return all seized food items at the border to their owners. The condition was that the items should be sold in Nigerian markets to help increase food availability. The Controller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that Tinubu’s decision was made out of generosity towards Nigeria,…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his remarks at the funeral of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, and son over the weekend. Chief Tony Okocha, the chairman of the seven-man Caretaker Committee of the APC in the state, made this statement while briefing journalists at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. During his speech at the funeral, Governor Fubara called out the political class, questioning the reasons for their struggle and the desire to kill and bury. He reflected on Wigwe’s life, impact…
The Nigerian government has indefinitely postponed the launch of the Student Loan Scheme, which was earlier scheduled to take place on Thursday. Akintunde Sawyer, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), revealed this in an interview with Arise News on Tuesday. Sawyer explained that the launch was postponed due to the need for corrections to be made around the launch itself. He did not provide a new date for the launch but emphasized the government’s commitment to the project, stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is eager to see it rolled out as soon as possible. InfoStride…