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| THE CABLE | 3 FEB 2025 | "Ned Nwoko left PDP over fear of losing 2027 senatorial ticket," indigenes react to Ned's defection | Fred Oghenesivbe, director general of the Delta state orientation and communication bureau, says Ned Nwoko resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over fears that he would not secure the party’s senatorial ticket in 2027. The senator representing Delta north, had in a letter dated January 30, 2025, notified his ward in Aniocha north LGA of his decision to quit the party. The lawmaker said his resignation from the PDP is due to “deep divisions and factionalisaton within the party”. The senator added that the crisis in the party has not allowed him to deliver on his promises to constituents. Speaking during an interview with TVC news at the weekend, Oghenesivbe said Nwoko’s defection was “about 2027 politics and securing a ticket to run”. Oghenesivbe, an aide to Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta governor, described the reasons stated in the lawmaker’s resignation letter as “laughable”. “We all knew it was only a matter of time before he (Nwoko) defected. This is about the politics of 2027 and his chances of securing the ticket to run,” he said. “As of today, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is the leader of the PDP in Delta state, and Senator Nwoko has not been aligning with the governor or working closely with PDP leaders in the state. “So, Nwoko is somehow scared that he may not get the PDP ticket (senatorial) in 2027 because he has misrepresented our party at the national assembly. “What I meant by he has misrepresented the party is that the issues that he raised concerning delivery of the dividends of democracy to his people is at variance with what we believe in the PDP. We believe in procedure, we believe in obeying laws. “There is this issue of Okpai step down transformer, which is a joint venture of the federal government, the NNPCL, and the federal government. “And I think one of the parties in that agreement failed to perform their responsibility, by way of supplying about 20% of the light generated in that area to immediate communities. And that is not the business of the state government. “But Ned Nwoko went ahead to say that the governor of the state should bring the money to step down the power. And we said in a joint venture agreement which is legally binding, for you to bring another party into the agreement, then all the stakeholders must come to a roundtable to discuss the possibility of bringing in Delta state government. “But because Ned wanted to play politics, he felt he could just use that as a leeway to find his way out of the party by saying the governor did not bring out the money.” Nwoko, 64, has been a member of the Nigerian senate on the PDP platform since 2023. | NED NWOKO; DEFECTION; 2027 ELECTIONS; PDP; DELTA | CABLE | ||||
| VANGUARD | 3 FEB 2025 | PDP NEC member berates the PDP Governors Forum for fueling crisis | A member of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Umar Abdullahi, has berated the party’s Governors Forum for allegedly acting in a manner capable of exacerbating the crisis over the position of National Secretary. Abdullahi who spoke in Abuja, on Sunday, said this in response to the Communique issued by the PDP Governors Forum after its meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Friday. The PDP Governors threw their weight behind Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye, one of the claimants of the position. They based their decision on the judgments of an Enugu State High Court which was upheld by a Court of Appeal. However, the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who claims to be in possession of a stay of execution order from an Abuja Appeal Court, insists he remains the bonafide occupant of the office. While reacting to these developments, Abdullahi faulted the party’s governors describing the statement contained in their Communique as “inflammatory.” He said, “The use of communique in addressing a conflict within the Party is not an appropriate step for such a dignified forum. “The Governors are supposed to deploy all internal conflict resolution mechanisms before resorting to public pronouncement. The forum holds a place of honour and should discharge their duties in a fatherly manner. “Again, disregarding the legal position of the matter in issuing a public statement of such nature, the Governors appear to be exercising authority beyond their constitutional powers. “Their opinion counts but cannot override the decision of the court of competent jurisdiction and that of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party which is a statutory organ of the party. Related News Current crisis will make PDP stronger - Zamfara Gov Crisis: PDP will come out stronger, says Zamfara Governor Stop blaming Wabara, PDP Govs for your woes, group replies Anyanwu “It was understood that, the Board of Trustees (BoT) resolved in their last meeting of January 29, to set up a committee headed by Turaki, SAN to look into the matter and advise the Party appropriately but two days later the Governors issued a counter statement in their communique recognizing Ude Okoye. “The decision of the Governors is not an appropriate step to achieve peace more-so when the appeal is pending in court for determination. “It is quite unfortunate that the PDP Governors’ Forum decided not to wait for the fact-finding Committee set up by the PDP Board of Trustees to complete its assignment, before issuing an advisory that has escalated the crisis. “The Governors’ Forum could have set up their own independent committee to look into the matter, in the best interest of the party. “In the petition to the security agencies, Sen. Anyanwu alleged that a certain group of persons forged the PDP constitution/Electoral Guidelines which they used in misleading the court in delivering judgement against him. “This is something that should be taken up seriously before anybody can back up the judgement. “An issue of forgery involving PDP document is a serious criminal offense which the Governors are expected to fight against. “A crime of such magnitude is not what the Party should treat with sentiment or levity. “There is reason for the Governors to retrace their actions as critical leaders of the Party and the nation to ensure that due diligence is followed in resolving this crises rocking the party. “Towing the part of the Board of Trustees (BoT) by setting up an independent committee to review the case is the right thing to do to avoid making someone a victim of mischief or creating an environment for crises.” | PDP; NEC; NORTHER GOVERNORS' FORUM; | VANGUARD | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 3 FEB 2025 | Telcom operators say implementation of the 50% tariff hike begins in March 2025 | Telecoms operators have said they are preparing new tariffs to reflect the 50 per cent hike approved by the Federal Government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) . Although the NCC has said the 50 per cent tariff hike granted the operators on January 20, 2025 should commence this February, the service providers said it would commence the full introduction of the new tariffs in March. The operators, which addressed journalists, content creators and other stakeholders in Lagos, at the weekend, said the hike was to sustain the sector, stressing that it was not about profitability to them. This is coming as the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have called for massive protest, tomorrow, February 4, to force a downward review of the 50 per cent hike to about five per cent. But leading the telcos discussion, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said the operators would issue their tariffs differently and were currently filing, reviewing and obtaining approvals from the regulator. “So, we are now following what is called the regulatory requirement, regulatory steps of filing, reviewing and obtaining approvals. As soon as those approvals come through, different players will introduce new rates as the time comes. I’ll say over next week, we start seeing some improvement in the prices,” he stated. Adebayo stressed that the tariff adjustment was essential for the survival of the telecommunications sector, stressing that the government should not rely on the sector to subsidise others. “The other side of it is that the sector cannot be the subsidy for other sectors. Our cost should be reflective of the economy. Telecoms can’t be used as palliative. “So, you can’t say because the costs of garri, pepper and okro have gone up, we now have to subsidise peoples’ living by providing services that are sold at lower than cost. It’s a matter of time before we start seeing the negatives . “I think it is important that we need to charge rates that are sustainable, and we can’t stand as a subsidy for the problems of people in other sectors, which is not the problem caused by the operators,” he stated. On investments, the Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Femi Adeniran, said telecoms operators had never stopped investing; however, he noted that the 50 per cent hike would enable operators to invest more in the service. Director of Product Innovation and Business Development at 9mobile, Kenechukwu Okonkwo, said issues of tariffs were best left to market forces, stressing that he hoped that things improved greatly in the country to avoid further hike. Regarding the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt with banks, Adebayo confirmed that progress was being made towards a final resolution. | TELECOM TARIFF HIKE; NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION | GUARDIAN | ||||
| PUNCH | 3 FEB 2025 | Edo Assembly files suit to secure a declaration by the court that it has the power to suspend the State's 18 LG chairmen | The Edo State House of Assembly has urged the state high court to affirm the suspension of the chairmen of the 18 local government areas of the state. In a suit marked B/34/2025 and filed on January 28, 2025, the House seeks “A declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 20 (b) of the Local government Law, 2000, Edo State, the 1st claimant (Edo State House of Assembly) has the power to suspend a chairman and/or vice chairman of a local government council in Edo State.” The House had on December 17, 2024, suspended all the LG chairmen and their deputies for what it described as insubordination to Governor Monday Okpebholo. The legislative action followed a petition to the House by Okpebholo, who complained that the LG chairmen shunned his directive that they should provide their councils’ statement of accounts. The embattled LG chairmen and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, however, faulted the suspension of the LG chairmen, contending that the governor lacks the power to demand LG account statements in view of the LG autonomy recently declared by the Supreme Court. All the chairmen and their deputies have since been impeached, which the chairman and their deputies are also challenging in court But in the suit filed through its lawyer, C. O. Edosa of C. O. Edosa and Co, the Assembly wants the court to determine whether the decision to suspend the chairmen and their deputies violated Section 20(b) by undermining the democratic structure of local government councils in the state. Another issue raised is whether, under Sections 11(3) and 14 of the law, the legislative arms of the councils were properly constituted by democratically elected members. Additionally, the claimants seek to clarify whether, in the absence of a chairman and vice chairman, the legislative arms of the councils have the authority to manage and control the affairs and funds of the local government councils. The claimants request declarations affirming that the Assembly’s actions have not dismantled the democratic structure of the councils and that local government administration remains intact. They also seek a declaration confirming that, under Section 20(b) of the Local Government Law, 2000, the Assembly has the legal authority to suspend local government chairmen and vice chairmen. Furthermore, the claimants argue that, based on Sections 11(3) and 14 of the law, the leaders of the legislative arms of the local government councils are duly elected officials. The defendants have been instructed to enter an appearance, either personally or through legal representation, within 42 days of being served. “If the defendants fail to enter an appearance within the specified time and at the designated place, appropriate orders may be issued, and proceedings may continue as the Judge deems just and expedient,” the summons states. | EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY; LOCAL GOVERNMENT; | PUNCH | ||||
| CHANNELS TV | 3 FEB 2025 | FG mulls plans to increase electricity tariffs in a few months | The Federal Government says Nigerians should brace up for fresh electricity tariffs in months. President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said this in an interview in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, according to Bloomberg. Verheijen was in Tanzania attending a World Bank-backed conference where Nigeria presented a $32 billion plan to boost electricity connections by 2030. Private investors are expected to contribute $15.5 billion and the rest will come from public sources, including the World Bank and African Development Bank. The energy adviser said Nigeria’s power prices need to rise by about two thirds for many customers to reflect the cost of supplying it. Higher electricity tariffs, which need to be balanced by subsidies for less-affluent consumers, are required to fund the maintenance needed to improve reliability and to attract private investors into power generation and transmission, said Verheijen. “One of the key challenges we’re looking to resolve over the next few months is transitioning to a cost-efficient but cost-reflective tariff,” Verheijen said. This is needed “so the sector generates revenue required to attract private capital, while also protecting the poor and vulnerable,” she said. The move to raise tariffs comes amid mounting pressure from Nigeria’s debt-burdened electricity distribution companies for tariffs to be cost-reflective so they can improve their finances. Nigeria’s privatised generation and distribution in 2013, yet prices set by the government’s Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission don’t cover the suppliers’ costs. Government subsidies cover some of the difference, but profitability is hard to achieve. Nigeria’s power industry needs significant investment to achieve its development aims, Verheijen said. Of the country’s 14 gigawatts of installed power, only 8 gigawatts can be transmitted around the country and just four or five gigawatts can be directly delived to homes and businesses, she said. Siemens AG is working with the government on a $2.3 billion project to improve transmission and distribution, while more than 7 million Nigerians in rural areas have been given access to power via decentralized renewable projects. “Your energy policies have to be closely linked with your own ambition for your country,” Verheijen said.“ Our own ambition is to be a $1 trillion economy in five years and to move to an upper-middle income country in 25 years.” Nigeria’s gross domestic product is currently just under $200 billion, according to the International Monetary Fund. | ELECTRICITY TARIFF; FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| THISDAY LIVE | 4 FEB 2025 | NLC shelves planned nationwide strike over telecoms tariff hike, moves to collaborate with the FG | The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended the planned nationwide strike billed to commence today (Tuesday) over the recent 50 per cent increment in telecommunication tariff by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). NLC President, Joe Ajaero, announced the suspension after an extensive meeting with a delegation of the federal government led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, last night. He said labour and the federal government had agreed to have a larger 10-man committee, evenly split between both parties to look at the entire tariff structure and model and come up with realistic and all inclusive recommendations. He added that the committee is expected to come out with a report after two weeks. Ajaero explained: “That will determine the next line of action and the process of engagement.The symbolic action of submitting the letters tomorrow (today ) will be put on hold until the outcome of such a committee. The outcome of such a committee is what will determine our next line of action in terms of protest, in terms of boycott, in terms of withdrawal of services, which are the three issues put on line. “But we are going to use the subject of this meeting to put in our displeasure on the arbitrary tariff and the tax that is killing the workers now.The tax regime which is unbearable. So, those are actions that are still on course until they are addressed.” Also briefing journalists after the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who spoke on behalf of the federal government, said the meeting, which was at the behest of the SGF, was aimed at maintaining industrial harmony and protecting the interest of Nigerians. He said that the purpose of the meeting was to look into the study carried out by the NCC which led to the 50 per cent increment on telecommunications tariff. The minister said the parties agreed to set up a 10-man committee made of representatives of the federal government and NLC to review the study by the NCC and submit its report within two weeks. “So, the summary of it is that Labour and the Nigerian Labour Congress specifically and the delegation of the federal government have set up a committee of five each. We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks. And at the end of the second week, we will now come up with a recommendation that we will give to the government and the organised Labour for final consideration. “The crux of the matter is that there is already a study that was conducted by the NCC that led them to arrive at this 50 per cent increase. Now, we are discussing this with labour. Labour has agreed that they will look at that study. “We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks. Now, I think what has happened here has effectively taken out that position.Both of us have agreed. In fact, it is an attempt to put a stop to that that led us to make this meeting to happen today. And so this meeting has happened. “Both the organised Labour, the NLC in particular, the government people have sat down here and agreed on this position. So, there won’t be any protest tomorrow by the Nigerian Labour Congress. There will be some form of report that will come up in about two weeks from now to consider the study and other considerations by both parties,” Idris said. Present at the meeting were Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijanni; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida; Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi; Minister of Budget and National Planning,Atiku Bagudu, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, among others. | NLC; TARIFF HIKE; TELECOM TARIFF; FEDERAL GOVERNMENT | THISDAY | ||||
| VOICE OF NIGERIA | 4 FEB 2025 | FG sets up 10-man Committee to review hike in telecom tariff. The Committee is made up of 5 members from the FG and 5 from NLC | The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have constituted a 10-member committee to review the recent 50% increase in telecommunication tariffs. The decision was reached following a stakeholder meeting to ensure industrial harmony and safeguard the interests of Nigerians. Speaking on behalf of the federal government, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said that the meeting’s purpose was to investigate the study carried out by the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, which led to the increment. He said the 10-man committee, comprising five members from the federal government and five from the NLC, is expected to review the study by the NCC and submit its report within two weeks. | NLC; TARIFF HIKE; TELECOM TARIFF; FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; NEC | VON | ||||
| THISDAY LIVE | 4 FEB 2025 | Tinubu swears in eight new Permanent Secretaries, 21 RMAFC Commissioners | President Bola Tinubu yesterday administered oath of office on eight newly appointed federal permanent secretaries and 21 commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). The brief ceremony took place inside the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, before the commencement of the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in 2025. The swearing-in of the new Perm Secs, which was done in two batches of four each, was anchored by the Director of Media in the Office of the President, Abiodun Oladunjoye, who read the citations of the appointees. The new permanent secretaries included Onwusoro Ihemelandu (Abia State), Ndiomu Philip (Bayelsa State), Anuma Nlia (Ebonyi State), Ogbodo Nnam (Enugu State), and Kalba Usman (Gombe State). Others are Usman Aminu (Kebbi State), Oyekunle Nwakuso (Rivers State), and Nadungu Gagare (Kaduna State). President Tinubu also swore in 21 newly appointed federal commissioners of the RMAFC, alongside a federal commissioner for the Federal Character Commission and a member of the National Population Commission. The RMAFC commissioners, whose appointments were confirmed by the Senate in August 2024, included Linda Oti (Abia), Akpan Effiong (Akwa Ibom), Enefe Ekene (Anambra), Prof. Steve Ugba (Benue), Chief Eyonsa (Cross River), Aruviere Egharhevwe (Delta), Nduka Awuregu (Ebonyi), Victor Eboigbe (Edo), Wumi Ogunlola (Ekiti), Ozo Obodougo (Enugu), and Kabir Mashi (Katsina). Others were Adamu Fanda (Kano), Dr. Kunle Wright (Lagos), Aliyu Abdulkadir (Nasarawa), Bako Shetima (Niger), Nathaniel Adejutelegan (Ondo), Saad Ibrahim (Plateau), Modu-Aji Juluri (Yobe), Bello Garba (Zamfara), and Mohammed Usman (Gombe). Also sworn in was a member of the Federal Character Commission, and a member of the National Population Commission. Also, former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Kayode Oladele, was sworn in as a member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), representing Ogun State. Mrs. Olukemi Victoria Iyantan (Ondo), took her oath of office as Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC). In his speech, Tinubu urged the newly inaugurated permanent secretaries and commissioners to uphold diligence, innovation, and commitment in the discharge of their duties, emphasising the importance of their roles in advancing the administration’s governance and development agenda. The swearing in ceremony was followed by the commencement of the FEC meeting. Before the meeting commenced, members of Council observed a minute of silence in honor of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jeremiah Useni, who died on January 23, 2025. Present at the FEC meeting were Vice President Kashim Shettima; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and cabinet Ministers. | RMAFC; PERM SEC; TINUBU; APPOINTMENT | THISDAY | ||||
| THISDAY LIVE | 4 FEB 2025 | Righting the wrongs of the past? Tinubu Signs Bill to establish a Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni, Rivers State | President Bola Tinubu on Monday signed into law a bill establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, Ogoni, in Rivers State. The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Mr Daniel Bwala, who disclosed this in a tweet on his verified X handle, @DanielBwala, described the move as a testament to the administration’s commitment to addressing historical injustices and fostering inclusive national development. According to Bwala, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu prioritizes equity and the establishment of institutions that prevent regional neglect in developmental projects. The new university in Ogoni follows the president’s recent approval of another federal university in Southern Kaduna, underscoring his administration’s push for balanced educational opportunities across different regions. President Tinubu’s approach, Bwala noted, reflected his belief in national unity and inclusivity, emphasizing that “there are no minority ethnicities in Nigeria”. Bwala’s tweet read in part: “I am pleased to inform Nigerians that Mr. President @officialABAT has assented to the bill establishing Federal University of Environmental Technology, Ogoni, in Rivers State. “It’s important to highlight that the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu is all about righting the wrongs of the past and putting in place institutions to guard against future segregated developments. “You will all recall that recently, in similar fashion, Mr. President graciously approved the establishment of another federal university to be sited in the Southern Kaduna district of Kaduna State. “To Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, there are no minority ethnicities in Nigeria. He believes in the opening stanza of our national anthem, which says that though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood, we stand. “Congratulations to the good people of Ogoni land. “The president is fulfilling the mandate.” The establishment of the Federal University of Environmental Technology is expected to enhance educational access in Ogoni land, a region historically known for its environmental and socio-economic challenges. | FEDERAL UNIVERSITY; OGONI RIVERS STATE; | THISDAY | ||||
| VANGUARD | 4 FEB 2025 | Edo Governorship Tribunal: SDP withdraws case against Gov. Okpebholo’s election. PDP & 4 other parties continue contesting the election. | The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, dismissed the case the Social Democratic Party, SDP, lodged to nullify Governor Monday Okpebholo’s election. The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel tribunal terminated further proceedings on SDP’s petition against Governor Okpebholo after the party withdrew it. At the resumed sitting on the matter, the petitioner informed the tribunal through its counsel, Mr. Jackson Ehiavhie, that it was no longer interested in pursuing the case to its logical conclusion. Mr. Ehiavhie told the tribunal that he had received instructions from the National Secretariat of the SDP to withdraw the matter. Following a no-objection stance by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Governor Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress, APC, the tribunal’s chairman, Justice Kpochi, dismissed the petition in a short ruling. It will be recalled that the SDP was among six political parties that approached the tribunal to invalidate the Certificate of Return issued to Governor Okpebholo of the APC as the winner of the governorship election held in the state on September 21, 2024. INEC declared the APC candidate winner of the election with 291,667 votes to defeat 17 other candidates, including his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 247,274 votes. Aside from the PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, other parties that also filed petitions to challenge the outcome of the poll were the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP; Action Democratic Party, ADP; Accord Party, AP; and the Allied Peoples’ Movement, APM. In the petition it withdrew, the SDP maintained that the election was held in fundamental breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of the Election, which were issued by INEC. Insisting that no valid winner would have emerged from a flawed electoral process, the SDP further alleged that INEC’s failure, through its Presiding Officers, to electronically transmit collated votes at polling units as required by law rendered the votes allocated to the second Respondent, APC, invalid. It prayed the tribunal to hold that INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo of the APC as winner of the gubernatorial contest amounted to a nullity. | EDO 2024; APC; PDP | VANGUARD | ||||
| BUSINESS DAY | 4 FEB 2025 | Misinformation: FG denies 65% price hike, offers clarification on planned rate adjustment | The Federal Government, through Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, has clarified that following the increase of Band A tariffs, current tariffs now cover about 65 per cent of the actual cost of supplying electricity, with the FG continuing to subsidise the difference. She said earlier reports suggesting that the electricity tariff would soon be jerked up by two-thirds to strengthen the power sector is misleading. Verheijen made this known in a statement published on her X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday. She said: “It has become necessary to clarify media reports suggesting an imminent 65 per cent increase in electricity tariffs. “This is a misrepresentation of what I actually said in a recent press interview. I highlighted the fact that, following the increase in Band A tariffs in 2024, current tariffs now cover approximately 65 per cent of the actual cost of supplying electricity, with the Federal Government continuing to subsidise the difference.” Verheijen said that while the government was committed to ensuring fairer pricing over the long term, the immediate focus is on taking decisive action to deliver more electricity to Nigerians, ensure fewer outages and guarantee the protection of the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians. In line with these, she stated that the FG’s power sector priorities include working towards a targeted subsidy system to ensure that low-income households receive the most support. “Today, the Federal Government spends over N200 billion per month on electricity subsidies, but much of this support benefits the wealthiest 25 per cent of Nigerians rather than those who truly need assistance. “To address this, the Federal Government is working towards a targeted subsidy system to ensure that low-income households receive the most support. This approach will make electricity more affordable and accessible for millions of hardworking families,” she said. On the fear that unmetered customers would be made to pay for services not enjoyed if the tariff is increased now, she stressed that the FG would address this through the Presidential Metering Initiative. “One of the most significant steps in this reform is the Presidential Metering Initiative, which is accelerating the nationwide rollout of 7 million prepaid meters, starting this year. This will finally put an end to the practice of estimated billing, giving consumers confidence in what they are paying for and ensuring transparency in electricity charges. “Metering will also improve revenue collection across the sector and will attract the investments needed to strengthen Nigeria’s power infrastructure,” she said. Verheijen stated that the FG is addressing one of the major roadblocks to improved service: the mounting debts owed to power generation companies. “For years, these debts have prevented investments in new infrastructure and hampered efforts to improve electricity supply. “By clearing these outstanding obligations, the government is ensuring that power companies can reinvest in better service delivery, stronger infrastructure, and a more stable electricity supply for all Nigerians,” she said. | FG; ELECTRICITY HIKE; TARIFF ADJUSTMENT; SUBSIDY | BUSINESSDAY | ||||
| THISDAY LIVE | 5 FEB 2025 | Acquitted in 2 months: Court acquits Femi Fani-Kayode of medical forgery and money laundering, says EFCC failed to prove case | An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday discharged and acquitted former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, of medical forgery charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Delivering her ruling on the no-case submission filed by Fani-Kayode’s counsel, Mr. Wale Balogun (SAN), Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe stated that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant. Justice Abike-Fadipe explained that the prosecution did not establish any connection between Fani-Kayode and the alleged offences, failing to present key evidence, such as testimonies from the defendant’s associates or the lawyer who allegedly handled medical reports for the Federal High Court. She noted that extrajudicial statements, which were presented as evidence, could only serve to contradict their makers when they testified in court. “I have carefully examined the prosecution’s evidence and cannot find any indication that the defendant committed the alleged offences,” the judge declared. “The prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case, which would have required the defendant to present a defense.” The judge also mentioned that the defendant was free to seek a private action report for any potential costs. Fani-Kayode was charged by the EFCC in November 2021 with a 12-count indictment, including charges of procuring false documents, use of forged documents, and fabricating evidence. The EFCC called seven witnesses, but their testimonies were insufficient to substantiate the charges. Fani-Kayode filed a no-case submission on December 7, 2024, asserting that the prosecution failed to prove its case. Similarly, in a separate case, the Federal High Court in Abuja, on January 15, discharged Fani-Kayode of money laundering charges brought by the EFCC. Justice John Tsoho ruled that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence linking Fani-Kayode to the alleged offences. Justice Tsoho’s ruling echoed the 2015 decision by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, who had also acquitted Fani-Kayode of money laundering charges. Fani-Kayode’s legal team has consistently argued that the charges were politically motivated. Fani-Kayode’s legal troubles began in 2016 when he was first arraigned by the EFCC on a 6-count charge, which was later amended in 2023. The EFCC alleged that he received and used N26 million in 2014 for a media campaign purportedly on behalf of the Federal Government and the office of the President. | EFCC; MONEY LAUNDERING; FEMI FANI KAYODE | THISDAY | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 5 FEB 2024 | House of Reps Committee summons FCT Director to answer to allegations of land grabbing. Wike challenges anyone alleging same to come forward with evidence | The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has invited Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the Director of Lands in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to appear before it on Thursday over a petition bordering on corrupt practices and gross abuse of office. This is coming as some residents are accusing the FCT Minister of allegedly grabbing people’s lands and relocating them to his cronies. This allegation the minister has denied, calling on anyone with proof of land grabbing against him or his administration to come forward. Chooks Oko, the Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker/Head, Media, in a statement, said the invitation was based on a petition by the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency to the House, alleging that Nwankwoeze owns and runs several private offices, involved in land racketeering, money laundering and false declaration of assets. Relying on Sections 88 and 89 of the constitution of the country, the committee warned that should the respondent fail to appear in person, the committee will go ahead with the hearing. “Ours is to give every Nigerian right to fair hearing, whether you are the petitioner or the respondent. We strive to give justice to those deserving of it based on facts presented to the committee”, Mike Etaba, chairman of the committee, said. Accusations against the minister Some property owners had accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of seizing their property and allocating same to his cronies. Some of the residents accused the FCT Administration of hurriedly publishing their plots in the newspapers and giving them two weeks’ notice or risk revocation. One of them, a rights activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, alleged the revocation of the ownership of a property belonging to her late husband, Col. Paul Ogbebor (rtd), in Abuja, pleading with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the minister to order. Lori-Ogbebor said the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had issued a notice to quit on November 22, 2024, and went ahead to reallocate the property on December 9. She added that her findings at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) indicated that the estate was reallocated to a company that has a three-time member of the House of Representatives, as director. Lori-Ogbebor said a Certificate of Ownership was issued three weeks after the notice was issued to the management of the estate. She said it was unjust to revoke the property, which was rightly acquired by her late husband, who she said fought for the unity of the country and whose company, Paulosa, was among the leading firms that constructed prominent infrastructure in the FCT. | LAND GRABBING; CORRUPTION; ABUSE OF OFFICE | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 5 FEB 2025 | Tinubu rejects bill to establish a Federal University in Adamawa over land authority and degree provision issues | President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declined assent to a bill for the establishment of Federal University of Education, Numan, Adamawa State. He conveyed the decision in a letter addressed to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Abbas Tajuddeen, read by his Deputy, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary on Tuesday. President Tinubu, while explaining his reasons for declining assent to the bill, stated, among others, that, Section 22 of the bill accords the authority on the disposal of land to the governor and not the President as it ought to be by law in respect of land belonging to a Federal Government entity in the case of universities. Kalu added that President Tinubu also said in the letter that, the proposal on the Award of Degree by the proposed institution was omitted in Section 25(b). The House had passed a Bill for the Establishment of Federal University of Education Numan in Adamawa State last year and forwarded it to the President for Assent. | ADAMAWA FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION; ASSENT; TINUBU | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 5 FEB 2025 | Anambra 2025: Labour Party schedules governorship primary for April 5 | The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Labour Party (LP) has approved April 5 for its governorship primary in Anambra. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Ifoh said that the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, had published this in a timetable and schedule of activities for Anambra 2025 gubernatorial primaries. According to him, the timetable indicates that the sale of expression and interest/nomination forms will commence on Feb. 10 while the sale of the delegate’s form will start on March 20. The national publicity secretary urged all interested aspirants to visit the party’s national headquarters for collection of the guidelines for the governorship primary and other necessary information | NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTON; LABOUR PARTY | GUARDIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 5 FEB 2025 | Anambra 2025: APC considers indirect primary ahead of Anambra governorship election | Ahead of the November 8 Anambra governorship poll, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is considering the conduct of the party primary to select the candidate of the party through the indirect mode. APC’s National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, made this known yesterday when the Iyke Madu-led members of the Booth 2 Booth with Bola Tinubu paid him a courtesy visit at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja. Ganduje, who assured the party’s resolve to conduct a free and fair primary, pledged that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party would deliberate on the matter and come up with a final decision on whether to apply the direct or indirect mode in the end. Underscoring the role played by Anambra State towards the sustenance of democracy in the country, he called on stakeholders of the party to set aside their differences in ensuring the success of the party. Ganduje said: “Anambra State should assist in providing a conducive atmosphere. As a party, if we are to have a good primary in the state, our stakeholders are supposed to be born again. All of them have education, yet several court orders and litigations. We told them that this time around, business should not be as usual. Let us support the system. “We know they are very rich; they have a lot of money, and they will use the money to build the state, not to scatter the state. If they use the money to build APC, it will succeed. I will be highly interested if they can produce a candidate based on consensus; I will give them an award if that happens.” MEANWHILE, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP) has approved April 5, 2025, for the party’s gubernatorial primary to elect its standard bearer for the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election. The party’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, said this in a statement in Abuja yesterday. According to him, the timetable and schedule of activities for the Anambra State 2025 gubernatorial primaries also indicate that the sale of expression and Interest/Nomination forms will commence on Monday, February 10, 2025, while the sale of delegates’ forms will begin on March 20, 2025. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, also spoke on the development, enjoining that “all interested aspirants are advised to visit the party’s National Headquarters for the collection of the guidelines for the party’s primary and other necessary information.” The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced, last year, that Saturday, November 8, 2025, would be the date for the Amambra State governorship election. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this announcement while speaking during the fourth regular consultative meeting with party leaders. HOWEVER, the INEC boss has expressed worries over the spate of vote buying and delegate manipulation during party primaries. Yakubu called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to start paying attention to primary elections the same way they focus on secondary elections.Yakubu made the call during the first INEC regular quarterly consultative meeting with CSOs yesterday in Abuja. The meeting, which brought together leaders of CSOs and INEC officials across the country, was to update the groups on the level of INEC’s preparedness for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council election set for February 21, 2026. | NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTON; APC | GUARDIAN | ||||
| THISDAY LIVE | 5 FEB 2025 | Senator Akpabio reshuffles Senate Committees, removes Natasha from Local Content to Diaspora & NGO Committee. Orji Kalu gets Chairman of South East Dev. Commission | "President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, yesterday announced a shakeup in the chairmanship of the Senate Standing Committees and the creation of new ones. Senators Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Abdul Ningi, among others, were affected in the new arrangement. During a brief plenary, Akpabio announced the signing into law of five bills passed by the National Assembly including the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) Bill, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In the minor reshuffle of committees Akpabio appointed Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (APC – Delta South) as the new chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content. He redeployed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP – Kogi Central), its former chairman, to head the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations. Akpabio also named Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC – Abia North), as chairman, of the newly created Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), with Senator Kenneth Eze as vice chairman. He named Senator Titus Zam as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on North Central Development Commission (NCDC), with Senator Isah Jibrin as vice chairman. Senator Zam was hitherto the chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business. The Senate President made Senator Hussiani Babangida chairman of the Senate Committee on North West Development Commission, with Senator Muntari Dandutse as vice chairman. Senator Abdul Ningi, who was formerly the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population was redeployed to chair the Senate Committee on FERMA. Similarly, Akpabio redeployed Senator Victor Umeh who was the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to chair the Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population. Akpabio also announced the appointment of Senator Musa Garba Maidoki as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, formerly headed by Senator Kawu Suleiman. Kawu who represents Kano South on the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) was earlier reappointed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) by Akpabio late last year. Akpabio also appointed Senator Austin Akobundu as the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Airforce, and directed him to preside over the budget defence session of the Nigerian Air Force in the absence of its substantive Chairman, Senator Godiya Akwashiki. During the plenary, the Senate President announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to some Bills passed by the National Assembly. They included a Bill to establish the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, North Central Development Commission Bill, a Bill to establish the Federal Polytechnic Rano, Kano State, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (amendment) Bill and a Bill to establish the Federal University of Health Sciences Tasfe in Zamfara State.” Akpabio commended Tinubu for assenting to the five bills and commended his colleagues for their hard work. “You have all been working hard to put the 2025 budget together. I attended some sittings, and those I did not attend, I watched on television. We will get the budget to him (Tinubu) as soon as practicable,” Akpabio said. Also yesterday, President Tinubu transmitted the nomination of Captain Chris Najomo for confirmation by the Senate for appointment as the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Akpabio who read Tinubu’s letter of nomination during plenary, referred the nomination to the Senate Committee on Aviation for “expeditious consideration” and to report back to Plenary." | SENATE; AKPABIO; RESHUFFLE | THISDAY | ||||
| THISDAY LIVE | 5 FEB 2025 | Adams Oshiomhole: "No foreigner can steal Nigeria’s solid minerals resources without local connivance." | Former All Progressives Congress (APC) national Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday doubled down on his accusation of the connivance of certain influential elements in Nigeria with foreigners to illegally exploit the country’s solid mineral resources. Speaking on Arise Television last night, the former Governor of Edo state, who clarified that he did not accuse all retired generals of joining hands with foreign forces to steal Nigeria’s resources, argued that some countries rely exclusively on solid minerals to survive. “ It is absolutely impossible for anyone, particularly foreigners, far away outside the African continent, coming to Nigeria, locating a site, not being geologists and they go straight to where they can find particular solid minerals. “And they start mining it and they take it away. So, it may be correct to say the government is not able to harvest what accrues from solid mineral exploration and that the illegality is being done and people know who are behind it,” he pointed out. But he argued that at no time did he say that all retired generals, among whom he has many friends and never had any political exposure, are involved in a particular crime. “It’s not sensible to say so. That would be a reckless, sweeping generalisation. That is not what I said. I said the problem is that some, and I still believe it to be so, I know it to be so. I said some retired generals are involved. And somehow, we are not deploying the same force as a nation that we deploy to protect our oil in the Niger Delta,” he maintained. Repeating the story of a retired general who relayed how Nigeria’s solid minerals are stolen and how he narrated the matter to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Oshiomhole stated that there’s no way he would hear that kind of sordid tale and not tell the president at the time, especially as the chair of the ruling party. “There is no way I can comprehend this story because I have no military training or secret training. And I pleaded with him to do a summary, not more than two, maximum three pages, that I will submit as chairman of the ruling party at that time, that l will submit to the president, who incidentally is a retired general before becoming the president of Nigeria. “So he will understand the issues clearer and I advised him to put his phone number so that the president can call him if he so wished and he can give him this detailed security dimension. Because he warned me that if that thing is not checked, what is happening in the Northeast will be a child’s play. “And so I took this letter, as I promised him, because I saw a patriotic officer, though retired, but not tired of his loyalty to Nigeria. And I gave it to the then president Buhari. “And I said, so, and I said, sir, go through it, it is self-explanatory. My advice, I can only advice the president. My advice is that you can call him and he can give you more graphic details of what he saw and what he know and his fears about what will happen if this is not nipped in the bud,” he noted. According to the former labour leader, there’s no way smuggling of that multitude takes place without anybody seeing it. “So you can’t have that scale of illegal activity without men and women in power and resources,” he reiterated. Stressing that it cannot be a civilian chopper carrying arms, dropping them where there is gold, he argued that some retired generals and powerful other non-generals were fully involved in the illegal trade. Highlighting that government is a continuum, Oshiomhole pointed out that the Bola Tinubu government is currently tackling the problem, especially with the recent setting up of marshals to police Nigeria’s mining sites. “We can’t be here, and people are carting away our natural resources…I would like to see the government deploy the same amount of force in protecting our solid minerals, and dealing with those who are involved in illegal mining, just like illegal bunkering,” he argued. | APC; OSHIOMHOLE; CORRUPTION; SOLID MINERALS | THISDAY | ||||
| PREMIUM TIMES | 5 FEB 2025 | Court jails another Nigerian professor for election fraud. Recall that his colleague was jailed 3 years ago for falsifying senatorial district election results to favour Sen. Godswill Akpabio in 2019. | A State High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday, sentenced a Nigerian professor to three years in prison for perjury and publishing false election results. Mr Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo, was prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on charges of perjury and announcing and publishing false results during the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency, where he served as the returning officer. His conviction and sentencing came four years after his colleague, Peter Ogban, a professor of Soil Science at the University of Calabar, was jailed for three years for a similar offence. Mr Ogban, who has served his three-year sentence, was the INEC returning officer for the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District election in 2019 in which Godswill Akpabio, who is now the Senate President, was defeated by Christopher Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom. Mr Ekpenyong was the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the poll, while Mr Akpabio was the All Progressives Congress candidate. Mr Ogban was convicted and jailed for falsifying the election result to help Mr Akpabio in the election, but the Senate president has repeatedly disowned the professor. Mike Igini, a former INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, initiated both suits and secured Mr Ogban’s conviction before his (Igini) retirement from INEC in 2022 after serving his last five years as REC in Akwa Ibom. Backstory, judgment Mr Uduk was first arraigned in December 2020 after an arrest warrant was issued on him a previous month over repeated failures to appear in court for the commencement of his trial. The professor had pleaded not guilty to the three charges slammed on him by Nigeria’s election commission. The case witnessed a series of delays because of several factors, including a change of defence counsel and the defendant collapsing in the dock during cross-examination by the prosecution counsel. Also, the defendant, at one point, accused the judge of bias and asked the judge to recuse himself, a relief the judge granted. The judge returned the case file to the state chief judge, who reassigned the matter to the same judge for continuation. The judgment was scheduled for 29 January but was adjourned till today (Wednesday, 5 February) after the defendant and his lawyer failed to appear in court on health grounds. The judge, Bassey Nkanang, revoked the professor’s earlier bail and issued a fresh arrest warrant on him, following the prosecution counsel’s request. Decked in brown cassock, Mr Uduk was brought into the court in a wheelchair shortly before the prosecution and defence counsels announced their appearance. | ELECTION FRAUD; INEC; SENATORIAL DISTRICT ELECTION; SENATOR GODSWILL AKPABIO | PREMIUMTIMES | ||||
| PREMIUM TIMES | 6 FEB 2025 | Electoral Fraud: Senate approves Tinubu’s request to sack INEC RECs | Suspended Sokoto Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Nura Ali, received a $150,000 bribe from politicians to manipulate the 2023 general elections in the state, a report from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the State Security Services (SSS) disclosed. Mr Ali is one of three electoral commissioners suspended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2023 over allegations of electoral malpractice. The other affected commissioners are Hudu Yunusa-Ari (Adamawa) and Ike Uzochukwu (Abia). On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu requested the National Assembly’s approval to remove them from office. THE REPORT The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, presented security reports that implicated Mr Ali in the bribery scandal as part of his motion to invoke Section 157 of the Nigerian Constitution, empowering President Tinubu to formally remove the suspended electoral officers from office. Mr Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, told the Senate that Mr Ali confessed to receiving the bribe during interrogation by the SSS. “Senate notes from security reports from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services (State Security Service) that Dr Nura Ali was indicted for compromising in 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections through acts of incompetence and corruption, whereby he reportedly confessed to having received the sum of $150,000 from politicians upon investigation by the DSS,” he said. Senate votes to remove suspended electoral officers During Wednesday’s plenary, more than ⅔ of the Senate voted to terminate the appointments of the suspended electoral commissioners following President Tinubu’s request. The president’s request, in line with Section 157(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, required a ⅔ majority of the Senate to approve the removal of the electoral officials. At the time of the debate, the Senate chamber was scanty as majority of the senators had left. However, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Tahir Monguno, confirmed that 94 senators, including principal and presiding officers, signed the attendance register when the plenary commenced, surpassing the constitutional requirement for the vote. Motion Mr Bamidele, while presenting his motion, also emphasised that the suspended RECs were accused of compromising elections and abandonment of duty without cogent reasons. He, therefore, urged his colleagues to support the motion in order to sustain the ideals of morality and the tenets of corporate governance in Nigeria. | ELECTORAL FRAUD; TINUBU; INEC; ELECTION; BRIBE | PREMIUMTIMES | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 6 FEB 2025 | Tinubu increases the 2025 Budget from N49.7trn to N54.2trn | President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, increased the appropriation bill for the 2025 fiscal year from N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion. Tinubu announced the increment in separate letters, which he forwarded to both the Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday. Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, explained that the increment was to allow for the approval of more revenue to strengthen the Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry. Bagudu said the increase was also to support the administration’s diversification programme by putting more money in the solid minerals sector as well as infrastructure projects. However, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, faulted the procedure for the increment. Chinda said the presentation from the executive should not have come in the form of a letter. Tinubu’s letter was read during plenary in the Senate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and in the House of Representatives by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. Tinubu attributed the N4.53 trillion added to the appropriation bill to an increment in revenues recorded by some revenue-generating agencies of the federal government. He said the increase arose from N1.4 trillion additional revenues made by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); N1.2 trillion made by the Nigeria Customs Service; and N1.8 trillion generated by some other Government-owned Agencies (GOEs). The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development was the highest beneficiary of the additional revenues, as it got N1 trillion. The ministry, which has Mr. Dele Alake as minister, initially had N6 billion envelope from the Budget Office for the 2025 fiscal year before the National Assembly joint committee on Solid Minerals increased it to N9 billion. The president of the senate after, reading the letter, consequently, directed the request to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for expeditious consideration. Akpabio also declared that the budget consideration would be concluded and passed before the end of February. Tinubu wrote in the letter, “I am writing to inform you of the availability of additional revenue amounting to N4,530,479,970,637 and to propose its allocation within the 2025 Appropriation Bill to enhance the budget’s responsiveness to the nation’s most pressing priorities and aspirations. “This additional revenue, sourced from key agencies, represents a pivotal opportunity to address Nigeria’s critical challenges and advance its development agenda” He said GOEs generated additional revenues of N1,823,879,970,637 while the FIRS raked in N1,497,600,000,000 Tinubu stated that the federal government’s 52 per cent share of the increase in revenue rose from N22.1 trillion to N25.1 trillion and put that of the NCS at N1,209,000,000,000 The federal government’s 52 percent share of the increase in revenue rose from N6.5 trillion to N9 trillion. | TINUBU; BUDGET; HOUSE OF REPS; SENATE; | THISDAY | ||||
| CHANNELS TV | 7 FEB 2025 | House of Reps Committee on the Constitution Review receives legislative proposals to create 31 more states | The House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of 31 additional states in the country. Advertisement Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu who presided over plenary on Thursday read a letter from the committee containing the proposed states. If approved, this will increase the number of states in Nigeria to 67. READ ALSO: [2025 Budget] NASS To Cut JAMB From FG Grant, Criticizes Spending The letter read: “This is to inform members that the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), has received legislative proposals for the creation of states and local governments in the following order: Advertisement NORTH-CENTRAL 1. BENUE ALA STATE from the present Benue State. 2. OKUN STATE from the present Kogi State 3. OKURA STATE from the present Kogi State 4. CONFLUENCE STATE from the present Kogi State 5. APA-AGBA STATE from Benue South Senatorial District 6. APA STATE from the present Benue State. 7. A 37th state, namely FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA NORTH-EAST 8. AMANA STATE from the present Adamawa State. 9. KATAGUM STATE from the present Bauchi State. 10. SAVANNAH STATE from the present Borno State. 11.MURI STATE from the present Taraba State. NORTH-WEST Advertisement 12.NEW KADUNA STATE and GURARA STATE from the present Kaduna State. 13. TIGA STATE from the present Kano State. 14. KAINJI STATE from the present Kebbi State. 15. GHARI STATE from the present Kano State SOUTH-EAST 16. ETITI STATE as the sixth (6th) state in the South East geopolitical zone. 17. ADADA STATE from the present Enugu State of Nigeria. 18. URASHI STATE as the sixth (6th) state in the South East geopolitical zone. 19. ORLU STATE from the South Eastern Region of Nigeria. 20. ABA STATE from the South Eastern Region of Nigeria. SOUTH-SOUTH 21. OGOJA STATE from the present Cross River State. 22. WARRI STATE from the present Delta State. 23. BORI STATE from the present Rivers State 24. OBOLO STATE from the present Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Advertisement SOUTH-WEST 25. TORU-EBE STATE from the present Delta, Edo, and Ondo States. 26. IBADAN STATE from the present Oyo State. 27. LAGOON STATE from the present Lagos State. 28. IJEBU STATE from the present Ogun State. 29. LAGOON STATE from the present Lagos State and Ogun State 30. IFE-IJESHA STATE from the present Oyo State. 31. OKE-OGUN from the present-day Ogun, Oyo, and Osun states. The request for states’ creation can only materialise if at least “the third majority of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives (National Assembly) and the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area is received by the National Assembly”. | HOUSE OF REPS; CONSTITUTION REVIEW | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 7 FEB 2025 | #Edo2024: INEC closes case without calling witness in defence; Okpbebholo set to open defence on Monday, 10 Feb 2025 | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday closed its case defending the September 21 governorship election in Edo State without calling a single witness. The electoral umpire had on Wednesday tendered documents relating to the election with a promise to call five of its witnesses in defence of its declaration of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as winner of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State. However, when the matter was called on Thursday, INEC through its lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court that it has reviewed the case and think it would be sensible to close its defence. “After we left you yesterday, we gave more thoughts to the matter and came to the conclusion that the sensible thing to do is to close the case of the first respondent, which we hereby do,” the senior lawyer said. Agabi claimed that the first respondent did justice to the case during the cross-examination of witnesses of the petitioners. Responding, Mr Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), who represented the petitioners — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo — said he was not surprised by the action of the electoral umpire and as such would not be objecting to the closure of the case without calling witnesses as earlier promised. | INEC; EDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION; | THISDAY | ||||
| VANGUARD | 7 FEB 2025 | Tinubu sacks UniAbuja VC, dissolves Governing Council and appoints new Acting VC | President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced major leadership changes at several federal universities, including the University of Abuja, now renamed Yakubu Gowon University. These changes are effective immediately. At the newly-renamed Yakubu Gowon University, President Tinubu dissolved the entire governing council and relieved Professor Aisha Maikudi of her duties as Vice-Chancellor. To replace her, President Tinubu appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as the Acting Vice-Chancellor for a six-month term. Disclosing this in a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy said Manko will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position when it becomes available. Senator Lanre Tejuoso, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, was also appointed Pro-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University. He will be succeeded in Makurdi by Senator Joy Emordi, now appointed Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education. UNN, Lokoja, Awka Further leadership changes took place at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where President Tinubu removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor ahead of his tenure’s expiration on February 14. Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been named the new Acting Vice-Chancellor for six months, with the same restriction of ineligibility for the permanent position. The restructuring at UNN also saw a change in the role of Pro-Chancellor, with Gen. Ike Nwachukwu reassigned to Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo. Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo was appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN, having previously held similar positions at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti. Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, the current Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, will now succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja. Senator Sani Stores has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, taking over from Senator Joy Emordi. Additionally, Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at UNN, has been appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State. All appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately, with President Tinubu emphasizing that these changes are part of his administration’s broader effort to revitalize Nigeria’s higher education system. The restructuring is aimed at strengthening governance, ensuring academic excellence, and promoting accountability across the nation’s tertiary education sector. | UNIABUJA; YAKUBU GOWON UNIVERSITY; | VANGUARD | ||||
| VANGUARD | 10 FEB 2025 | Protracted Rivers crisis: Supreme Court dismisses appeal as Fubara withdraws suit challenging Amaewhule-led Assembly, orders N4m cost against Fubara | The Supreme Court, on Monday, dismissed an appeal that Governor Siminalaye Fubara filed to challenge the Court of Appeal judgement that affirmed Hon. Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly. A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed the appeal marked SC/CV/1071/2024 after it was withdrawn. Though the matter was originally fixed for hearing, however, when it was called up, Governor Fubara, through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Yusuf Ali, SAN, announced his decision to withdraw the appeal. Ali, SAN, told the court that his client’s decision was based on the fact that the matter had been overtaken by events. Whereas Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who appeared for the Amaewhule-led Rivers State lawmakers, did not oppose the withdrawal, he, however, demanded the cost. Likewise, Mr. J. B. Daudu, who appeared for the 3rd to 12th defendants, also asked for costs, even though he did not object to the notice of withdrawal. The defendants further persuaded the apex court to dismiss the matter instead of striking it out, stressing that they had already exchanged processes with the appellant. Consequently, in its ruling, the Justice Abba-Aji-led panel dismissed the appeal, even as it awarded N4 million costs against Governor Fubara. It will be recalled that the Appeal Court in Abuja had, in a unanimous verdict it delivered on October 10, 2024, validated the Amaewhule-led members of the Assembly as bona fide lawmakers for the state. A three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Joseph Oyewole, while dismissing an appeal that was lodged by Governor Fubara, upheld a judgement the Federal High Court delivered on January 22, 2024, which nullified the 2024 budget of Rivers State on the premise that it was not presented before members of the state assembly that were known to the law. According to the appellate court, Fubara shot himself on the foot when he voluntarily withdrew a counter-affidavit he filed to challenge a legal action the Amaewhule-led lawmakers instituted to be recognised as valid members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The court held that Governor Fubara’s decision to present the 2024 Rivers State Appropriation Bill to only four out of 31 members of the Assembly amounted to a gross violation of section 91 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and an act of “executive recklessness.” The appellate court held that the absence of any document from Fubara to contradict all the claims the Amaewhule-led lawmakers made in their suit meant that he admitted all the facts they stated in the matter. It accused Fubara of surreptitiously attempting to set aside orders of the trial court through the appeal, saying the mistake he made by withdrawing his counter-affidavit to the originating suit could not be redeemed by brilliant advocacy. Maintaining that Fubara’s loss was “self-inflicted,” the appellate court held that since the counter-affidavit was withdrawn, “the Appellant is deemed to have admitted the rather weighty facts that were presented by the Respondents.” It will be recalled that the Rivers State Assembly was fractionalised owing to the frosty relationship between Governor Fubara and his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike. In the heat of the fracas, Governor Fubara sidelined the Amaewhule-led 26 members of the House that were loyal to Wike and presented the state’s N800 billion 2024 budget before the four lawmakers led by Hon. Edison Ehie, who had emerged as a factional Speaker of the Assembly. The Ehie-led faction, which had also declared seats of the Amaewhule-led pro-Wike lawmakers vacant for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party, promptly passed the budget, which was quickly assented to by Governor Fubara. Meanwhile, following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, both Fubara and Wike signed a peace pact that included the restoration of Amaewhule as the bona fide Speaker of the State Assembly. The factional Speaker, Ehie, who had approached the court and was joined as an interested party in the suit, subsequently withdrew all the processes he filed before the court and equally rescinded both his seat and his membership in the Assembly. While Governor Fubara, in line with the terms of the peace deal, also withdrew all the processes he filed to challenge the suit, the pro-Wike lawmakers only withdrew an impeachment notice they served on him while they declined to terminate their legal action. While deciding the suit, Justice James Omotosho of the high court held that the budget was invalid as it was not properly presented before the Rivers State House of Assembly as required by the law. He held that Governor Fubara acted like a tyrant when he demolished the Rivers State Assembly complex and withheld funds standing to the credit of the legislative house. The court also described as unconstitutional the redeployment of the clerk and deputy clerk of the Rivers State Assembly by Governor Fubara. Justice Omotosho stressed that the governor lacked the statutory rights to interfere with the operations of the Assembly, adding that he acted in contempt of a subsisting order that barred the parties from taking any steps to overreach the matter that was pending before the court. Besides, the court held that National Assembly could not take over the legislative affairs of the state in the absence of the preconditions that were listed under section 11 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Therefore, the court, among other things, nullified all actions the Rivers Assembly took without the participation of the Amaewhule-led members of the House, among which included the presentation of the state’s appropriation bill. It issued an order of injunction, restraining Governor Fubara from impeding or frustrating the operations of the Assembly under Amaewhule’s leadership as its speaker. It ordered the governor to release all funds standing to the credit of the Rivers State House of Assembly. While upholding the verdict of the lower court, the appellate court held that Fubara conceded to the Amaewhule-led lawmakers when he withdrew all the processes he filed against their suit. It held that the orders of the trial court were appropriate in view of the circumstance of the case, saying the appeal Fubara filed before it amounted to an academic exercise. Accordingly, it ordered Fubara to pay a cost of N500,000 to each of the Respondents in the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024. | RIVERS CRISIS; FUBABRA; AMAEWHULE; SUPREME COURT | VANGUARD | ||||
| THE CABLE | 10 FEB 2025 | Federal High Court adjourns Nnamdi Kanu's case indefinitely, directs parties to give report on status of the case | A federal high court in Abuja has adjourned the matter of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), indefinitely. The matter was adjourned for parties in the suit to give a report on the status of the case. Kanu has been in detention since he was brought back from Kenya on June 19, 2021. The IPOB leader was subsequently re-arraigned on an amended 15-count charge. On April 8, the trial court struck out eight of the 15 counts. The court of appeal later quashed the remaining seven counts on October 13. Delivering judgment in the appeal, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Hanatu Sankey held that the federal government flouted the terrorism act in violation of international conventions and treaties, hence, breaching the rights of the respondent. The court further held that having illegally and forcefully renditioned the appellant, the trial court is stripped of jurisdiction to continue to try Kanu. However, the federal government is yet to release the IPOB leader. Instead, it filed an appeal before the supreme court to challenge the appeal court judgment. It also filed an application seeking to stay the execution of the judgment of the appellate court. Ruling on the application, the court of appeal granted the government’s request. At the court session on Monday, Mike Ozekhome, counsel to Kanu, told the court that there are appeals pending before the supreme court. “The position, therefore, is that the appeal on this matter has been entered at the supreme court,” he said. “I humbly urge this court to adjourn this matter sine die to await the judgment of the supreme court.” Mohammed Abubakar, prosecution counsel, agreed with Ozekhome’s position. Ruling on the application, Binta Nyako, presiding judge, said, “I’m also in agreement that the case should be adjourned sine die pending the outcome of the appeal.” Meanwhile, the federal government has also filed fresh charges against the IPOB leader. When the matter was mentioned in court, Ozekhome said he had not been served with the fresh charge. “We have not even been served this charge. We only read it on social media. It was when we came to court that we saw that it was listed,” he said The senior advocate added that the fresh charge “constitutes an abuse of court process”, considering the appeal court decision delivered on October 13. The judge also held that the suit should also be adjourned indefinitely until the determination of the appeals before the supreme court. | IPOB; NNAMDI KANU; FEDERAL HIGH COURT | CABLE | ||||
| CHANNELS TV | 10 FEB 2025 | Speculations over closed-door meeting as Atiku, Tambuwal, Imoke meet with Obasanjo | Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday led a delegation to meet with his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo at the hilltop residence of the former Nigerian leader in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The former vice president was accompanied by former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke; Senator Abdul Ningi; and Senator Aminu Tambuwal who is a former governor of Sokoto State. The agenda of the meeting was not known as of press time but it comes amid plans by opposition politicians to map out strategies to trounce the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and win the 2027 presidential election. tiku deputised Obasanjo from May 1999 to May 2007. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, came second after President Bola Tinubu of the APC who won the poll. Atiku, 78, has been in the race to become Nigeria’s president for at least three decades. | ATIKU; OBASANJO; IMOKE; TAMBUWAL; APC; 2027 | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| THISDAY LIVE | 10 FEB 2025 | #Edo2024: Okpbebholo opens defence today, 10 Feb 2025 | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday closed its case defending the September 21 governorship election in Edo State without calling a single witness. The electoral umpire had on Wednesday tendered documents relating to the election with a promise to call five of its witnesses in defence of its declaration of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as winner of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State. However, when the matter was called on Thursday, INEC through its lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court that it has reviewed the case and think it would be sensible to close its defence. “After we left you yesterday, we gave more thoughts to the matter and came to the conclusion that the sensible thing to do is to close the case of the first respondent, which we hereby do,” the senior lawyer said. Agabi claimed that the first respondent did justice to the case during the cross-examination of witnesses of the petitioners. Responding, Mr Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), who represented the petitioners — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo — said he was not surprised by the action of the electoral umpire and as such would not be objecting to the closure of the case without calling witnesses as earlier promised. | EDO 2024; APC; PDP | VANGUARD | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 11 FEB 2025 | #Edo2024: Okpebholo closes defence, APC to open defence tomorrow, 12 Feb 2025 | Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, yesterday, closed his defence of his victory at the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, after calling just one witness. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, had since challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Okpebholo as governor. According to INEC, Okpebholo secured a total of 291, 667 votes to emerged winner, while Ighodalo came second with a total of 247, 655 votes. But, the petitioners disagreed with INEC alleging over-voting and wrong computation of results at the collation centers. In prove of their allegations, the petitioners tendered several documents and called in 19 witnesses, beside the 153 Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) machines tendered by INEC on the orders of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. Also, the tribunal had last week adjourned to February 10, for the governor to come up and defend allegations against his victory, after the electoral umpire opened and closed its defence last week without calling a single witness. However, when it was the turn of the governor yesterday, his lawyer, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, after the end of cross-examination of their first witness announced that the governor, who was the 2nd respondent in the case would be closing his defence. The witness, Usman Majek, who claimed to be a Polling Unit (PU) agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was led by Ikpeazu to adopt his written statement as his testimony before the tribunal. However, under cross-examination by Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, representing the petitioners, the witness agreed that there was over-voting in his polling unit. He also affirmed that in his unit, accreditation and voting took place simultaneously. Majek told the tribunal that he complained to the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about the result he entered on the result sheet after he signed it. When Oyeyipo confronted the witness with exhibit PBA40; a copy of his PU results, the witness acknowledged it and admitted signing it. At the end of cross-examination, Ikpeazu informed the court that the 2nd respondent would like to close his defence. The petitioners, however, did not object to the request, which was accordingly granted by the chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Wilfred Kpochi. However, before adjourning the matter, the tribunal had ordered the 3rd respondent, APC, to open its defence on February 12. Meanwhile, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Dennis Idahosa, has dismissed PDP’s petition over alleged over-voting in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State. Speaking after the tribunal session, in Benin City, Idahosa, who is from Ovia South West LGA, criticised the PDP for filing petitions without verifying facts. He stated that results from areas affected by over-voting were already cancelled, making the opposition’s claims baseless. “In Unit 4, Ward 7, Usen, the results were cancelled due to over-voting, as required by law. Yet, PDP petitioned against these results without knowing they were never included in the final tally,” he explained. The Edo Deputy governor, pointed out that the APC witness confirmed in court that cancelled results were not computed, so, “Why would PDP challenge results that do not exist? It shows they do not understand the process,” Idahosa said. According to him, the Electoral Act 2020 (as amended) clearly stated that over-voting leads to automatic result cancellation, eliminating the need for further disputes. “The onus is on PDP to prove their case, but their witnesses have contradicted themselves in court. Our legal team may not even need to call any witness,” he added. Idahosa accused PDP of treating the tribunal like a media campaign, rather than focusing on legal facts. He maintained that the party’s case lacked merit and expressed confidence in the judiciary to uphold the election of Okpebholo as duly elected in the September 21, 2024 governorship election. | EDO 2024; APC; PDP; EDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION; INEC | THISDAY | ||||
| CHANNELS TV | 11 FEB 2025 | Ondo PDP calls for the sack of State Finance Commissioner, questions outrageous N11.5bn security vote, N250m sitting allowance in 2025 budget | The Ondo chapter of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) has called for the immediate sack of the state Commissioner for Finance Omowuunmi Isaac for allegedly padding the state’s 2025 budget. This demand was made in a statement issued by the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state Kennedy Peretti. “The N11.5bn security vote in the Ministry of Finance captured in the 2025 approved budget has not been explained to the people of the state, in spite of the public outcry,” the statement read. “The provision of N250m as honorarium and sitting allowance in the Ministry of Finance is another padded item in the budget for the enjoyment and pleasure of the commissioner. He added: “Perhaps, the most insensitive of the items is the procurement of 1 No Toyota Prado SUV Jeep for the Honorable Commissioner for Finance at a princely sum of N230m. “In view of the above approved Budgetary allocations, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ondo State Chapter believes that Mrs Isaac Omowunmi, the Ondo State Commissioner for Finance must be sacked immediately, for criminally abusing her office. “Her claim of being a UK-trained Accountant falls flat on its back if all she can do is to fleece the people’s treasury. The supposed gatekeeper of our treasury.” “If Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa fails to relieve the commissioner of her duties, having failed the people of the Sunshine State, steps will be taken to prove that, what is at stake is the people’s funds.” The PDP equally expressed dismay at what it called the huge infrastructural deficit, a collapsed healthcare delivery system, and unacceptable falling educational standards in the state. | ONDO; PDP; STATE FINANCE COMMISSIONER; SECURITY VOTE; | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 11 FEB 2025 | Police retirement crisis festers as court fixes 18 March 2025 to hear case against Police Service Commission | The simmering crisis in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is beginning to fester as senior officers who have clocked 60 years of age and those who have served 35 years in the force have refused to exit more than one week after they were ordered to retire. Findings by our correspondent at the weekend showed that the affected officers were still banking on the case instituted against the Police Service Commission (PSC) at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria where they are currently challenging the commission’s directive. Some of the affected officers, who spoke to this newspaper on Sunday, submitted that they would not have considered a legal option against the PSC’s directive had it been the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was not extended. “It is not today people started retiring from the police force, ours would not be the last, but what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Some people may want to argue that the position of IG is political, the truth is that all of us are in the service. “It is not that Mr Egbetokun had exited the force before he was appointed. Look at the position of PSC chairman, that one is purely political but the position of IG should also follow civil service rules in order to allow other officers to grow,” one of the affected officers said. When asked to clarify whether they were challenging the IGP’s tenure extension in court, the affected officer said they weren’t challenging the top cop’s extension for now but the PSC’s directive that ordered them to retire. It would be recalled that the PSC at a meeting in Abuja earlier this month ordered the immediate retirement of all senior police officers who have either exceeded 35 years in service or are above the age of 60. The spokesman of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, recalled that the Commission at its 24th Plenary Meeting of 27th and 28th September 2017, approved that the Force Entrants should have their date of appointment in the Force against the date of their enlistment. “The Commission has passionately revisited their decision and has come to the conclusion that the said decision in its intent and purpose contradicted the principle of a merger of service in the public service, and it is in violation of Public Service Rule No 020908 (i & ii) which provides for retirement on the attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age. “Accordingly, the Commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held today, Friday, 31st January 2025, approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age,” Ani had said. But the force headquarters in a wireless message from the office of the Force Secretary and dated February 5, 2025, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Trust, directed the affected officers to stay action pending further directive. The signal partly read, “INGENPOL strongly directs all officers affected by the PSC’s directive to stay action, pending further directive. This directive should be strictly complied with.” FHQ compiles officers’ names above 60; IGP sets up disciplinary c’ttee However, a new twist came into the matter at the weekend as the police high command began compilation of names of the affected officers with a view to submitting the same to the police service commission for further action. It was learnt that the names were being compiled by a disciplinary committee set up by IGP Egbetokun. Sources familiar with the developments confided in our correspondent that the committee, which was expected to commence sitting yesterday, at the Louis Edet House, which houses the Force Headquarters, Abuja, has already summoned some top officers. A highly-placed official, who doesn’t want his name in print, listed those summoned as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, two Commissioners of Police and a senior police lawyer. “The committee formally sent letters to the invited officers. They are expected to appear before the committee in their neatly dressed kits,” the source told Daily Trust. The committee is expected to end its sitting on Thursday, according to officials of the force. Court fixes March 18 for case against PSC In the meantime, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has adjourned the case of some police officers, who are contesting their retirement to March 18. The claimants in the suit include; Egong Egwu Egong, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP); Edwin Okoro also a CSP and three others. They claimed that the PSC relied on a controversial circular to calculate their years of service from their initial date of entry into the police force, rather than from when they entered the Police Academy. Their counsel, Adeleke Agbola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to ensure that the status quo remains, pending the determination of committal proceedings to ascertain whether the judgment had been violated. “The judgment of the court is that the date is when the policemen got into the Academy. There is no appeal against the judgment,” he said. He pleaded with the court to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the committal proceedings to determine if there has been a breach on the basis that the judgment of the court must be obeyed. Exit NPF honourably, Retired AIG counsels In a telephone interview with Daily Trust, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, advised the affected officers to exit the force peacefully. Inalegwu explained that the PSC has powers constitutionally to “hire and fire” as well as promote police officers from a lower rank to that of Deputy Inspector-General of Police. The retired senior cop stressed that it was the prerogative of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Force to appoint the IGP, and as such it should not be equated with other ranks. “The president has the powers to appoint the IGP, not the other officers. Those agitating to stay in the force after 60 years should just go home honourably,” Inalegwu said. CISLAC urges police force, PSC to comply with public service rules Also commenting on the issue, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) said the impasse threatens the rule of law, undermines accountability, and erodes public trust in Nigeria’s governance and security institutions. In a statement, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Executive Director of CISLAC, reaffirmed the statutory authority of the PSC under Sections 6 and 7 of the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2001. He noted that the PSC is mandated to appoint, promote, dismiss, and exercise disciplinary control over Nigeria Police Force personnel (excluding the Inspector General of Police). This mandate is further reinforced by Paragraph 30 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, granting the PSC oversight authority on police appointments and discipline. “Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii) mandates the compulsory retirement of public officers, including senior police officers, who have served for 35 years or reached the age of 60. This regulation is designed to uphold the integrity and efficiency of security institutions by enabling leadership renewal and preventing tenure manipulation,” Rafsanjani said. CISLAC condemned the alleged directive by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), instructing senior officers who have attained the mandatory retirement threshold to remain in service pending further directives. According to Rafsanjani, “this action constitutes a clear violation of the PSC’s statutory authority, undermines the principle of separation of powers, and fosters unnecessary institutional conflicts.” He further criticized the amendment to the 2020 Police Act, which grants the IGP a fixed four-year tenure regardless of age or service years. “This amendment contradicts existing public service regulations,” he stated. We’ are not aware of any failure to comply with directive – PSC When contacted to find out the next line of action regarding those officers who have refused to exit, the spokesman of the PSC, Ani, said they were not aware that the affected officers were yet to leave. Ani said the IGP was yet to formally notify the commission about the development as it ought to be, arguing that action could not be taken against the officers based on what was reported in the national dailies. | NPF; PSC; RETIREMENT; | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 11 FEB 2025 | In view of retirement, FG begins appointment process for new Auditor-General, 2 Permanent Secretaries | The federal government has commenced the process of appointing a new Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) as well as two federal permanent secretaries as approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) said this on Monday night in Abuja in a statement. She said that to ensure the appointment of only qualified, credible, and competent individuals, the appointment process will follow a structured and multi-tiered evaluation, as approved by the President as a measure of reaffirming its commitment to a transparent, merit-driven, and rigorous selection process. According to her, the two vacant positions of permanent secretary arise from the recent retirement of the permanent secretary from Oyo State and an impending vacancy in the North-West Geopolitical Zone. “Additionally, the position of Accountant-General of the Federation will become vacant upon the retirement of the incumbent in March 2025,” Walson-Jack said in the statement signed by Mrs Eno Olotu, Director, Information and Public Relations in her office. Daily Trust had reported that President Tinubu in December last year, in what appears as a policy reversal, directed the outgoing Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to continue in office till 7 March 2025. This followed the controversy that trailed the announcement of Mr Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi as the new AGF by President Bola Tinubu. Our correspondent had also reported that there was tension in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation(OAGF) Abuja, following the appointment of Mr Ogunjimi as the new acting AGF by the President. Ogunjimi’s appointment was announced by Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga in a statement on Tuesday, December 10th, 2024, as a result of the pre-retirement leave of the incumbent AGF, Dr. Madein which commenced on December 7th. However, in a letter from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Mrs Madein was asked to reverse her pre-retirement leave notice and continue in office till March 2025. The appointment process is open to all serving Grade Level 17 officers in the mainstream Federal Civil Service who have held their current position for at least two years and have expressed interest in participating. Candidates must meet several eligibility criteria, including screening and confirmation by their respective permanent secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure they are not under any disciplinary procedures. The circular said that the list of eligible candidates will undergo verification screening by a Committee of Permanent Secretaries, under observation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), to ensure eligibility. The candidates will also undertake an asset declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). To further ensure the selection of individuals with impeccable ethical standing, candidates will undergo anti-corruption clearance by the DSS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the ICPC. “The process will include a written examination conducted at a top Federal Government security agency. “The setting of the examination questions and marking will be overseen by a body of serving and retired permanent secretaries, with observers from credible civil society organizations, the organized private sector, professional associations, DSS, and ICPC. “In the subsequent phase of the selection process, candidates will be tested for ICT proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. ICPC and DSS will also observe this stage. “The final appointment will rest with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who will consider the best-performing candidates based on their performance throughout the selection process,” the circular reads in parts. | FG; AUDITOR GENERAL; PERMANENT SECRETARIES; | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 11 FEB 2025 | Ekiti 2026: Brothers fall out as Fayose drums support for Oyebanji while junior brother, Otunba Fayose, expresses confidence over victory | A governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Otunba Emmanuel Fayose, has declared that his ambition to unseat Governor Biodun Oyebanji in next year’s election is a divine mandate. He insisted he would win the election with or without the support of his elder brother, former Governor Ayodele Fayose, who has openly endorsed Oyebanji, the incumbent governor from the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, Otunba Fayose urged the PDP leadership to rally behind him in rescuing Ekiti State from what he described as bad governance under the APC-led administration. He criticised his brother, Ayodele Fayose, for backing an opposition candidate, accusing him of working against the PDP. “I am still at a loss as to why a PDP chieftain would endorse a governor elected on another platform. “This is nothing but bad faith and a betrayal of trust, considering all that the PDP has done for him. Instead of building the party, he is destroying it,” he said. Despite the internal party crisis, Otunba Fayose expressed confidence that the PDP would emerge victorious in the 2026 governorship election, citing the alleged failures of the APC government in the state. | EKITI; FAYOSE; PDP; OYEBANJI | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| PREMIUM TIMES | 12 FEB 2025 | PDP NWC says Wabara’s purported suspension is unconstitutional, null and void. Recall the PDP Abia SWC suspended him yesterday. | The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has described the purported suspension of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, as unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect. The NWC said this in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Tuesday in Abuja. The State Working Committee (SWC) of PDP in Abia was, on Tuesday, reported to have suspended Mr Wabara during a meeting presided over by the State Chairman, Abraham Amah. Mr Ologunagba said the purported suspension was not consistent with the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and the party’s laid down rules. “For emphasis, no state working committee has the power to suspend or take any disciplinary action against a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party without due recourse to the NWC, as clearly provided for under Section 57 (7) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) “Section 57(7) is unambiguous in providing this. “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no executive committee at any level, except the national executive committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the national executive committee, deputy governors or members of the National Assembly, ” he said. Mr Ologunagba said that the explicit import of the section was that the Abia chapter had no power whatsoever to take any disciplinary action against Mr Wabara, being a member of the party’s NEC. “The PDP, therefore, condemns the purported suspension of Sen. Wabara as reckless and unconstitutional. “The party cautions those behind this act in defiance of the PDP Constitution to retrace their steps, as the NWC will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary actions to preserve the stability of our party and the sanctity of its constitution,” he said. Mr Ologunagba also called on all PDP leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters in Abia, the Southeast zone and, indeed, across the country to disregard Mr Wabara’s purported suspension. | PDP; NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE; STATE WORKING COMMITTEE; ADOLPHUS WABARA | PREMIUMTIMES | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 12 FEB 2025 | House of Representatives ask FG to suspend telecom tariff hike | The House of Representatives has called on the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani and the Nigerian Communications Commissions (NCC), to suspend the impending hike in telecommunications tariffs until their service improved. The call followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Obuku Offorji at the plenary on Tuesday. Presenting the motion, he recalled that the minister had, after a stakeholders meeting on Wednesday, 8th January, announced that telecommunications tariffs would soon be increased by the telecom operators in the country. According to the minister, consultations are ongoing as there have been agitations from some of these companies to increase tariffs to as high as 100 percent. He however said it would not be a 100 percent increase and that the NCC would approve the new tariffs and announce them in due course. However the lawmaker faulted the arguments of the telecommunications companies for the hike which include, the cost of investment, better networks, increasing demand for digital services across sectors such as education, banking and healthcare. Offorji said, “The telecommunications companies have been advocating for the hike for the last 11 years, according to the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). They argued that the telcos need cost-reflective tariffs in the face of adverse economic reality like a record inflation of 34.6 percent in November 2024 and losses resulting from foreign exchange fluctuations. “The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has rejected the proposed increase in tariffs, describing it as insensitive and a further burden on consumers already grappling with economic hardship, and poor network service delivery. “It is imperative that the telecommunications companies improve on their service delivery, which Nigerians have been yearning for, before embarking on the increase in their tariffs. “The far reaching effects of these price hikes will deepen financial struggles for the average Nigerian, threaten the country’s vision of leveraging technology to drive economic revival, exacerbate poverty and widen existing inequalities, hitting lower income families the hardest. “Affordable connectivity is a must for progress in critical sectors like digital banking, education, healthcare, agriculture and e- governance. Informal sector workers who depend on affordable mobile data to access gig work opportunities may find it harder to stay connected.” | HOUSE OF REPS; TELECOM TARIFF HIKE; NCC | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 12 FEB 2025 | House of Representatives set to begin debate on Tax Reform Bills today | The House of Representatives will today begin debate on the tax reform bills presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for consideration and approval. The House had on the 30th of November last year suspended its planned debate on the bills indefinitely following opposition to sections of the bills by overwhelming members from the northern part of the country. As at then the northern states governors were equally vehemently opposed to sections of the bills, which they said were inimical to the interests and wellbeing of the people of the North. However, a member from one of the states in the North West Geopolitical Zone confided in our reporter yesterday that legislative work on the bills has been scheduled to resume, and is the main subject on the Order Paper of the House of Representatives for legislative proceedings today, Wednesday. According to the lawmaker, though the governors of the 19 northern states appear to have backed down from their stiff opposition to the bills, members of the House of Representatives from the region have resolved to ensure that no section of the pieces of legislation which is inimical to the interests of the people of the North is passed by the green chamber of the National Assembly. “We in the Northern Caucus (of the House) met today (yesterday), with all leaders of the zonal caucuses in our own part of the country, including the Speaker (Abbas Tajudeen) in attendance, and we have resolved to ensure proper scrutiny of the tax reform bills. “The House (of Representatives) will begin debate on the (tax reform) bills tomorrow (today), and we have agreed to work collectively and follow the proceedings diligently to ensure that we vigorously scrutinse all the bills so that no section that is harmful to the interests of our people is allowed to be passed into law,” the lawmaker said. The Rep listed the zonal caucus leaders in attendance at the meeting as Ahmed Idris Wase (North Central), Mukhtar Betara (North East), and Sada Soli Jibia (North West), and that the Chairman of the Northern Caucus, Alhassan Ado Doguwa presided over the meeting. According to the Rep, “though our governors (in the North) were said to have endorsed the revised bills, we believe that there are still sections that are antithetical to the interests of our people in the North, and we will follow through from the debate that is starting today up to the public hearings to be conducted by the Finance Committee, to make sure that every aspect the bills is not toxic. “Also, when the clauses in the bills are being passed after the public hearings, we will painstakingly follow the deliberations to ensure that those toxic elements do not scale through that process,” the lawmaker stated. It would be recalled that in a memo he circulated late last year, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, announced the suspension of debate on the tax reform bills by the House. The memo suspending the debate dated November 30, 2024 was titled, ‘Rescheduling of Special Session on Tax Reform Bills.’ It read: “I am directed by the House leadership to inform all Honourable Members that the special session, initially scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, 2024, to discuss all the tax reform bills, has been postponed to a later date. “This rescheduling is due to the need for further and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders. A new date and venue for the session will be communicated in due course. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding”, it said. However, after a seeming truce between the governors of the 19 northern states and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) announced on the 17th of last month that governors of all the 36 states have agreed and endorsed a modified version of the bill. The announcement followed a meeting held the same day with the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. Among other alterations, the governors proposed allocating 30% of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue based on derivation, instead of the initially proposed 60%, as part of efforts to address the concerns surrounding the tax reform bills. They also suggested a revised sharing formula, with 50% of VAT revenue shared equally among states and the remaining 20% based on population, to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources. Initially, the tax reform bill had proposed a 60% VAT revenue share based on derivation, meaning states would receive funds proportional to the VAT generated within their territories. This had led to significant pushback from governors and lawmakers, particularly from the northern region. Following the compromise, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State stated that the governors would now seek the support of their legislators to ensure the bills’ passage in line with the agreed-upon consensus. President Tinubu had on September 3, 2024 transmitted four tax reforms bills to the National Assembly for consideration following the recommendations of the Oyedele-led presidential committee. The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which aims to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes. Others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, expected to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service as well as the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman. | HOUSE OF REPS; NASS; DEBATE; TAX REFORM BILLS | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| VANGUARD | 12 FEB 2025 | AGF Lateef Fagbemi inaugurates National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) ministerial committee to tackle public & private sector corruption | The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Tuesday inaugurated a National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) ministerial committee to check the widespread corruption in both the public and private sectors. Speaking during the inauguration, Fagbemi described corruption as one of the formidable challenges to the attainment of the country’s national development goals. “The scourge which has undermined trust in public and private institutions needed to be curbed significantly in order to enhance effective and efficient service delivery. He said the committee was set up in line with the anti -corruption stance of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which aims at eradicating corruption, whilst strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of various Anti-Corruption Agencies. He noted that confronting the issue of corruption requires a collaborative approach in order to guarantee any meaningful impact. “The committee’s role is not only fundamental to achieving the NACS objective, but to also safeguard the country’s democracy, strengthen governance and promote sustainable economic growth of the nation. “The move is part of government’s determination to galvanize stakeholders to tackle corruption, through operationalization of the NACS 2022 – 2026. “It is also part of efforts to ensure implementation of Nigeria’s international obligations, particularly the ECOWAS Protocol on the fight against Corruption which Nigeria signed in 2001, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) signed in 2003, and the UN Convention against corruption,” he said. Fagbemi stressed that the Framework for the NACS and its action plan implementation will focus on five pillars which would serve as the driving force with its scope covering both National and sub-national levels of government. “These pillar are prevention of corruption, public engagement, campaign for ethical re-orientation, enforcement and sanction, and recovery and management of proceeds of crime. “The NACS action plan was developed, validated and adopted by relevant stakeholders on the 26th March, 2018. “At the expiration of the NACS 2017-2021, in November, 2022, FEC considered and approved the extension of its implementation for another period of four (4) Years i.e NACS 2022 – 2026. “Our role as a committee is of immense importance and essential to the achievement of the NACS vision and mission. “In other to ensure successful implementation, NACS has adopted the top to bottom approach, allowing the Heads of relevant Agencies to be drivers of the policy within their sectors and to also allow for cross-evaluation of implementation,” the minister said. The committee is headed by Fagbemi, with Finance Ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Information, Women Affairs and Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy as members. Other are the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Chairman, Senate committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Chairman, House committee on Anti-corruption and Financial crimes and Representative of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not below the rank of Permanent Secretary. | CORRUPTION; MINISTER OF JUSTICE; | VANGUARD | ||||
| THE CABLE | 12 FEB 2025 | Senate Panel asks police to account for 3,907 missing firearms, adjourns to resume probe on Monday | The senate committee on public account has queried the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over the alleged missing of 3,907 rifles from its armoury. The missing firearms are contained in the 2019 audit report of the office of the auditor-general of the federation (AuGF). During the committee’s sitting on Tuesday, Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), nominated Suleiman Abdul, an assistant inspector-general (AIG), to field questions from the senators about the report of the missing firearms. Subsequently, the senators asked the police to account for the missing firearms and other issues raised in the AuGF report. However, the explanation offered by the police representative was not satisfactory to the senators. Consequently, Abdul sought an executive session, which was rejected by the majority of the lawmakers. Peter Nwaebonyi, deputy chairman of the committee, said the sitting would not be held behind closed doors. “This is a public accounts committee that has no room for closed-door sessions. In the United States of America, proceedings of the public accounts committee are televised live,” the lawmaker said. “So, whatever response the AIG wants to make on the missing assault rifles should be done in the full glare of all, particularly the journalists.” Also speaking, Adams Oshiomhole, the senator representing Edo north, said the police are known for arresting and parading suspects in public and should also account for the missing firearms. “The AIG should let Nigerians know the steps that had been taken by the police on the missing assault rifles over the years, who and who were involved and level of recovery made,” Oshiomhole said. Following hours of debate, the committee asked the police leadership to reappear on Monday for the continuation of the probe. | SENATE; NIGERIA POLICE FORCE; INSECURITY; MISSING FIREARMS | CABLE | ||||
| PREMIUM TIMES | 12 FEB 2025 | JUST IN: The House of Representatives has passed the Tax Reform Bills for second reading | The House of Representatives has passed for a second reading the four tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu, after a long debate on the floor of the House. The four tax reform bills – the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2024, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, and the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 – are collectively aimed at overhauling the Nigerian tax system. They were transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu last year. Leading the debate on Wednesday, the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, addressed many of the concerns raised about the bills, adding that the issues had been resolved through the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). Mr Ihonvbere stated that the House had held several meetings with different caucuses to address their concerns. He also highlighted some of the benefits of the bills, including tax exemptions for low-income earners. After a debate lasting over four hours, the bill was subsequently passed for a second reading when it was put to a vote by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. The bills were later referred to the House Committee on Finance for further legislative action. Tax Bills The tax reform bills, drafted by the Presidential Committee on Tax Reforms and Fiscal Policy, aim to overhaul the existing tax laws in Nigeria. However, the bills have faced stiff opposition, mainly from the northern parts of the country, particularly from northern governors who have described them as “anti-North.” The debates on the bills have escalated into a North vs. South issue, particularly over the VAT sharing formula. The National Economic Council (NEC), a body composed of governors and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, urged the president to withdraw the bills for further consultations. However, the president refused, stating that all concerns should be addressed in the National Assembly. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State recently claimed that the reform would only benefit Lagos State – the president’s home state. However, the NGF has supported the bills on the condition that certain changes be adopted. | HOUSE OF REPS; TAX REFORM BILLS; SECOND READING | PREMIUMTIMES | ||||
| VANGUARD | 13 FEB 2025 | Nigeria Police deny reports of 3,907 missing firearms, say they are 'unaccounted' for, not missing | The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims that 3,907 firearms are missing from its armouries, stating that the allegations are misleading and inaccurate. In a statement on Thursday, the Force Headquarters acknowledged challenges encountered during civil unrest, including the killing of police officers, attacks on armouries, and the looting of arms. However, it emphasised that efforts have been made to recover and account for the lost weapons. According to Force Public Relations Officer ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, “Every effort has been made to account for the arms taken, and many have already been recovered and returned to the force’s armouries.” It reads, “The Nigeria Police Force expresses surprise and deep concerns regarding recent news alleging that 3,907 arms are missing from the Nigeria Police Force. “These allegations are misleading and inaccurate. “The Force wishes to clarify that this report appears to stem from an assessment of the report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, AuGF dating back to 2019, likely reflecting records compiled prior to the current Inspector-General of Police’s tenure. “In the report, according to Issue 3b, Sub (iii), it is stated that 3907 arms were unaccounted for and not “missing” as speculated by the news. “It is important to acknowledge the challenges faced by the police during periods of civil unrest, during which several Police Officers were killed and their arms carted away, and some attacks and looting of police facilities and armories, resulting in the loss of arms. “However, every effort has been made to account for the arms that were taken, while many have been recovered back to the arms holding of the force at the moment. “We also note that when auditors conduct visits to our armories, they may not find all arms present at the time due to the issuance of weapons to personnel for operational purposes, many spanning to months depending on the nature of such operations. “Consequently, this may lead to misconceptions regarding the accuracy of audit reports. | NIGERIA POLICE FORCE; FIREARMS; INSECURITY | VANGUARD | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 13 FEB 2025 | Criticisms mount as Niger Governor appoints Former APC State Chairman as Chairman of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission | The Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has appointed former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr Mohammed Jibrin Imam, as chairman of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC). Bago had announced the appointment of Imam alongside other APC stalwarts in the state who had held critical positions at the party level. They are Barr M. A. Liman, former state secretary of the APC, who has been appointed Permanent Commissioner 1; Nasiru Ubandiya, former contestant for the state chairmanship of the APC as Permanent Commissioner 2; Capt. Mohammed Baro, the immediate past council chairman of Agaie LGA on the platform of the APC, as Permanent Commissioner 4, and Barrister Amina Musa Guar, former Focal Person and Special Adviser to immediate past governor on Social Investment Programme (SIP) as Permanent Commissioner 6. The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Bago, Bologi Ibrahim, disclosed in a statement that the appointments were subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly. Ibrahim quoted the governor as saying the appointees would conduct the local government elections in the state if cleared by the state assembly, adding they were appointed based on their track records. He said the governor had earlier sent an Executive Correspondence to the State House of Assembly on composition of the state electoral commission. But opposition parties and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have condemned the appointments, saying the state electoral body had been turned into a family affair of the APC. Condemning the act, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Yahaya Idris (aka Yahaya Designer), told Daily Trust that, “With the exception of Yahaya Idirs Abara, all others are prominent APC stalwarts. In other words, NSEIC is an appendage of APC.” Also speaking, Yahaya Ability, State Vice Chairman and Zonal Chairman Niger North (Zone C) of Niger State PDP asked the governor to reverse the appointment to allow a level-playing ground in the coming local government elections. ‘The PDP Niger State chapter disagrees with the insensitive appointment of the chairman of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission and other seven permanent commissioners who are all APC stakeholders. The newly appointed chairman of the commission is a former APC state chairman. “Therefore, this appointment cannot be accepted because if he is allowed to head this honourable commission, other parties will be marginalised and oppressed in the forthcoming elections,” he said. Also reacting, Muhammad Alfa Muhammad, Speaker of the Accountability Ambassadors, a Civil Society Organisation, said appointing APC members to head the State Independent Electoral Commission was an attempt to subvert the well-celebrated local government autonomy through imposition. “These appointments are contrary to the principles of fairness and rule of law. Some of these appointed officials have even been indicted and arraigned for financial misappropriation while serving as APC officials. Bago should reverse these appointments to allow neutral ground,” he said. | NIGER; APC; PDP; NIGER STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION; | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 13 FEB 2025 | Tax Reform Bills: House of Reps call for inclusion of interpretation clauses, striking out of contentious sections | Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday called for removal of contentious clauses from the tax reform bills as the proposed legislation scaled second reading at the Green Chamber. This is as the lawmakers also raised concerns over conflicts in some of the clauses with the 1999 Constitution and lack of interpretation of some of the wordings in the proposed reform law. They voiced their concerns during the debate on the general principles of the tax reforms bills sent to the House by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The House later passed the tax reform bills for a second reading after adopting the revised position of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on VAT sharing formula and other key aspects that generated controversies in the proposal. The passage followed the consolidation of the four reform bills and extensive debates on the general principles of the bill led by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere. Concerns over contentious clauses, lack of interpretation Lawmakers, especially, those from the North, raised concerns over contentious clauses in the bills and lack of clarity in some of the provisions of the bills. Rep. Sada Soli Jibia (APC, Katsina) in his debate, said while the bill will enhance efficiency, ensure compliance, and harmonise tax collection within the three tiers of government, there were several inconsistencies and challenges in some clauses of the bill that must be addressed. He said among the inconsistencies is the conflict between some of the clauses with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Some of these challenges are constitutional and jurisdictional concerns, particularly in Section 141, which deals with the supremacy clause which contradicts some of the positions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Then, there is the issue of overlap on the existing laws, particularly, the Personal Income Tax Act, Company Income Tax Act and the FIRS Tax Act. “There is the practical issue of this law in Section 122; in Section 95 to Section 119,” he said. Similarly, Rep Abubakar Hassan Fulata (APC, Jigawa) who also raised concern over some of the provisions of the bills said all proposals, with the exception of the one dealing with tax administration, have no interpretation clauses. He noted that a bill without an interpretation clause is subject to abuse and to the whims and caprices of whoever is going to interpret the bill. He said, “Therefore, we must ensure that there is an interpretation clause on the other three bills”. Rep. Fulata added that the clause dealing with the systematic phasing-out of TetFund, NITDA and NASENI should be completely deleted. The lawmaker further added that all the clauses with inconsistencies should be removed. He cited examples of some of the sections with inconsistencies to include Sections 197, 198, 199, 200, 2001, and 2002, which he said should be removed. He also faulted the aspect of the bills which seek to amend 40 Acts, saying, the said Acts were not brought before the parliament. He said, “Those 40 Acts should be placed before us so that we compare against those bills. About 40 Acts are being repealed and phased out by these Acts that we are dealing with. “Then, I am also putting it forward that Section 38 presents a position of double taxation. If you are buying a property, the buyer will pay tax, also, the seller will pay tax. This amounts to double taxation.” Lawmaker opposes inheritance tax On his part, Rep. Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) in his debate on the bill expressed reservations and rejected the idea of inheritance tax as proposed in the bill, saying such is against Islam, Christian and traditional religion. He said, “And at the risk of sounding selfish or immodest, I totally reject the issue of inheritance tax as may be imputed in the family income tax. Not only in Islam, in all religions including our traditional religion, nobody takes for granted the estate of a deceased. “So either in Christianity or in Islam or even in traditional religion, people protect with high sense of responsibility and obligation the estate of a deceased person when and wherever the need arises. “Particularly in Islam, you are not allowed to take even a packet of pure water out of inheritance and give it to somebody that is not the heir or entitled to that particular inheritance,” he said. He said there was a need to look into that aspect of the bill at the public hearing. House adopt govs’ position on VAT Earlier, the lawmakers in passing the bill for second reading, aligned themselves with the position of the NGF, which had in January adopted a revised VAT sharing formula of 50% based on equality, 30% based on derivation, and 20% based on population. This is against the earlier proposal of the Taiwo Oyedele-led Tax Reform team, which had proposed 20% based equality, 60% based on derivation and 20% based on population. The House also agreed with the governors that there should be no increase in the VAT rate or reduction in Corporate Income Tax (CIT) at this time to maintain economic stability. The lawmakers further aligned with the governors that there should be no terminal clause for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in the sharing of development levies in the bills. | TAX REFORM BILLS; HOUSE OF REPS; SECOND READING; INTERPRETATTION CLAUSE | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| CHANNELS TV | 13 FEB 2025 | PDP NWC affirms Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary. Recall that the Court of Appeal had affirmed him as National Secretary in Dec 2024 but the erstwhile secretary, Samuel Anyanwu relied on a court order to perpetuate stay in the position. | The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed a former National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, as the party’s National Secretary. Advertisement The party disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. Signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP NWC said that it is bound by the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the matter. According to the statement, the opposition party would send its resolution affirming Udeh-Okoye as the PDP National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies for recognition, in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s judgment. “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, extensively considered the memo dated 11th February 2025 presented by the Acting National Chairman on the issue of the National Secretary of the PDP,” the statement read. “The NWC, in considering the memo thoroughly examined the attached documents namely; the declaratory judgment of the High Court of Enugu, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division which pronounced and declared Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP; the legal opinion and advice by Dr. Kabiru T. Turaki SAN as well as that of the National Legal Adviser of the PDP. “After due consideration of the memo and the attachments, the NWC overwhelmingly recognises, acknowledges and confirms Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full compliance with and obedience to the judgment of the Court of Appeal, recognising that there is no subsisting or superseding judgment or order from any court of superior authority or hierarchy. “The NWC has commenced the transmission of its resolution/decision affirming Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the PDP National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies for recognition in line with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.” Advertisement The opposition party also commended its leaders, members, and stakeholders for their loyalty, respect for the rule of law, and support. It also said that the party will remain committed to its Constitution, the rule of law, and its founding vision for stability, growth, democracy, and the well-being of Nigerians. | PDP; NWC; NATIONAL SECRETARY; IMPLOSION | CHANNELSTC | ||||
| PUNCH | 13 FEB 2025 | Abia PDP defies NWC order, insists on Wabara's suspension for endorsing LP Governor Otti, cites section of PDP constitution that says all levels of the Party have power to take disciplinary action against any member engaged in antiparty activity | There is no end in sight to the crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, as the Abia State chapter, on Wednesday, insisted that the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, remain suspended. Countering the party’s National Working Committee’s declaration of the suspension as illegal, the Abia PDP leadership insisted that there was no going back. The Abia State Working Committee of the party had on Tuesday announced Wabara’s suspension for allegedly endorsing Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, a member of the Labour Party, for a second term in office. The state PDP termed Wabara’s endorsement of Otti as an anti-party activity, thereby suspending him. But in a swift reaction, the NWC, in a statement in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, rejected the suspension, which it declared illegal. However, pushing back on Wednesday, the Abia PDP, in a statement by its chairman, Elder Abraham Amah, insisted that Wabara’s suspension was legal. Amah said the Abia chapter noted “ the statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of our great Party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, purportedly dismissing the suspension of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara. “We categorically state that the decision of the Abia State Executive Committee to suspend Senator Wabara met every constitutional requirement of the party and cannot be invalidated by a mere statement from the National Publicity Secretary, which is not a by-product of any official resolution of the National Working Committee. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Abia State PDP, in taking this decision, relied on the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017). “Section 58(1)(b) & (h) – This section provides that a member of the Party may be sanctioned for engaging in anti-party activities or any conduct likely to bring the Party into disrepute. The endorsement of a sitting governor from another political party, as done by Senator Wabara, clearly constitutes a violation of this provision. “Section 59(3) explicitly states that the Board of Trustees is not immune from disciplinary actions, where necessary. As such, the decision to sanction Senator Wabara is well within the powers of the Abia State PDP. “Section 59(4) affirms that the party can take disciplinary actions against any member whose conduct contravenes the principles of the PDP, further reinforcing the legality of the SEC’s decision.” Amah said while Ologunagba referenced Section 57(7) of the party’s constitution, “he conveniently ignored Section 57(6), which provides that the power to take disciplinary action against any member is vested in the relevant executive committees at all levels of the Party, subject to due process.” He stated, “The Abia PDP has acted within this legal framework. Furthermore, we affirm that only a competent court of law or the National Executive Committee of the PDP has the authority to overturn the decision of the Abia State Executive Committee. Until such a competent authority pronounces otherwise, the suspension of Senator Wabara remains in full effect.” The Abia PDP chairman, therefore, urged the National Publicity Secretary to “exercise restraint and avoid issuing statements that lack constitutional basis or mislead the public.” “ The PDP, as a party, must uphold discipline and accountability at all levels, and no individual, regardless of position, is above the Constitution of the party. “As a state chapter, we shall not hesitate to seek appropriate judicial redress should any attempt be made to subvert the decision of the Abia PDP SEC through unconstitutional means.” | ABIA; PDP; NWC; LP; ANITIPARTY ACTIVITY | PUNCH | ||||
| THE CABLE | 14 FEB 2025 | Federal Government moves to establish National Paramilitary Academy for young Nigerians | Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, says the federal government has approved the establishment of a national paramilitary academy. Tunj-Ojo spoke in Abuja on Wednesday when Ali Ali, the managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), led a delegation on a courtesy visit to his office. He said President Bola Tinubu at Monday’s federal executive council (FEC) meeting approved the establishment of the institution. The minister said there is a need to establish a degree-awarding institution where young citizens can be trained in paramilitary engagement. He said such an institution, like the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), would train young Nigerians after securing admission through the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). “When they come out, they come out as officers, properly trained to contribute their quota to national security,” he said. The minister further said the president approved the employment of 50 doctors and 100 nurses to cater to the medical needs of inmates in correctional centres across the country. He added that there was also presidential approval for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to post medical doctors to correctional centres for the service year. | FG; NATIONAL PARAMILITARY ACADEMY | CABLE | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 14 FEB 2025 | South West Governors lament operations of ISWAP, resolve to establish Joint Security Surveillance | The Southwest Governors’ Forum on Thursday resolved to establish a joint surveillance and monitoring team to coordinate security operations across the subregion. The forum said the move is a response to the emerging threats of ISWAP and other criminal groups whose activities are inimical to the peace and stability of South West. This is contained in the communique issued at the end of the forum’s meeting held at the State House in Lagos. The meeting hosted by the forum’s chairman and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was attended by governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun). Daily Trust reports that there have been concerns in the subregion following the alarm raised by Makinde in January that bandits being dislodged from the North West of Nigeria are infiltrating his state. The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, had urged governors in the South West region to urgently address the growing security threats posed by bandits. Also, Afenifere said Makinde’s comment should not be treated with levity going by the nature of the threats. At the governors’ meeting on Thursday, they acknowledged the threat posed by ISWAP activities in parts of South West and “strongly condemned any threat to the subregion’s security.” The governors urged enhanced collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and local security outfits, urging them to remain vigilant. “The forum also commits to taking necessary actions to counter these threats,” Sanwo-Olu, who read the resolution, said. The governors agreed “to establish a Joint Surveillance Monitoring Team to oversee and coordinate security efforts across the South West subregion.” As part of the resolution, the forum also expressed its commitment to deploying advanced technology, including aerial surveillance systems to enhance security operations. | SOUTH WEST; ISWAP; INSECUIRTY | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| PUNCH | 14 FEB 2025 | Katsina SIEC distributes sensitive materials ahead of LG elections holding tomorrow, 15 Feb 2025 | Ahead of Saturday’s Katsina State Local Government election, the state police command has announced the restriction of human and vehicular movement from 6 am to 4 pm of the same day within the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, in a statement made available to newsmen late Thursday, said the measure was aimed at maintaining law and order before, during and after the poll. He said, ”In light of the upcoming local government election, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 15, 2025, there will be restrictions on the movement of individuals and vehicles from 0600 hrs – 1600hrs within the state. “This measure has been put in place to maintain law and order, as well as the security of the electorate to enable them to cast their votes without interference. “The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Allyu Abubakar Musa, psc+, urges residents and all stakeholders in the state to comply with these movement restrictions in the interest of promoting a peaceful and transparent electoral exercise. “Adequate security arrangements have been made to enforce the restrictions and to ensure the safety of all voters and election officials.” He further called on eligible voters to come out and participate in the election and exercise their civic responsibility in a peaceful and orderly manner. Meanwhile, earlier, the Chairman, Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission, Lawal Alhassan, told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday that the commission has commenced the distribution of sensitive electrical materials to all the 34 local government areas of the state. He said the commission will start the distribution of especially far-reaching local government areas for early access as well as to avoid late arrival of materials. He said, “I wish to let this all-important gathering know that, adequate arrangements were made by the commission and other security agencies to transport these materials to their respective destinations intact and safely. “I equally want to inform you that all necessary arrangements were made for a hitch-free conduct of the exercise. Already the commission had recruited and trained over 20,000 ad-hoc staff who will undertake the exercise in all the designated Polling Units across the state, as non-sensitive election materials were distributed last week. “The commission had this time planned to make the distribution of the sensitive election materials early in order to enable the timely distributions to all the designated centres across the 34 Local Government Areas, 361 political wards and 6,652 polling units in the state. “On behalf of the commission, I therefore, call on the electorate to be rest assured that this time around, there will be no issue of late arrival of sensitive election materials to all the polling centres. I also want to let this gathering know that dedicated mobile telephone lines will be made public for genuine complaints to the commission on election day.” | INEC; KATSINA; LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS | PUNCH | ||||
| PREMIUM TIMES | 14 FEB 2025 | Senate amends North-central Development Commission Act to provide for representation across geopolitical zones in line with the federal character principle | The Senate on Thursday, amended the Act establishing the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to provide for representation across the geopolitical zones in line with the principles of the federal character. It also amended the law to ensure that the funding sources of the commision comply with constitutional requirements. The amendments were effected to address those who will occupy top and strategic positions in the commission and the funding inconsistencies to align the commissions with the provisions of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as mandated by the constitution. They were considered by the Committee of the Whole after the majority of the senators supported it. The bill for the establishment of the NCDC was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly in July 2024 and was assented to by President Bola Tinubu in February. However, the president has yet to appoint the board of directors for the commission. The amendments were initiated after a legislative review discovered inconsistencies in certain clauses of the Act and constitutional provisions regarding public funds. The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, led the debate on the proposed changes, emphasisng the need to correct Clause 14 of the Act, which conflicted with Section 162 of the constitution. “The bill seeks to amend the North Central Development Act 2025 to provide for representatives from the six geopolitical zones of the federation in line with the principles of federal character as enshrined in Section 14 of the Constitution. | SENATE; NORTH CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION; | PREMIUMTIMES | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 17 FEB 2025 | PDP Implosion: Court orders probe of alleged forgery of Election Guidelines | The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new dimension as a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrate Court presided over by Hon. Fatima I. Bukar has ordered the FCT Police Command to investigate the allegations of forgery of the party’s primary election guidelines levelled against the national officers of the party. THISDAY gathered that following the court order, the FCT police have quizzed the National Vice Chairman of the party (South-east), Ali Odefa; factional National Secretary, Chief Sunday Ude-Okoye; and some members of staff of the national secretariat of the party. However, the official printers of the party, Abiodun Olu Printers Limited, who were expected to appear last Wednesday, pleaded that they were not in town and would appear at a later date for questioning. This is just as the South-south Zonal Executive of the party has suspended its Zonal Secretary, Chief Felix Omemu. THISDAY gathered that the directive of the FCT Magistrate Court followed a petition filed by a member of the party, Mike Iheanaetu, alleging that the documents used by the High Court in Enugu and the Court of Appeal to deliver the judgments that affirmed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party were forged. Conveying the court’s directive to the police, the Principal Registrar of Abuja Magistrate Court, Yusuf Tambaya, had in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, stated that: ”I am directed by the presiding Magistrate 1, Her Worship, Hon. Fatima I. Bukar sitting at Magistrate Court Wuse Zone 6, FCT, Abuja to write to your office to investigate the above-mentioned case and report back within two weeks from the date of the receipt of this if a prima facie case has been established against the defendants, the defendants should be brought on FIR for trial. ”Thanks for your cooperation, find attached a copy of the criminal complaint. Accept her worship’s assurance of the highest esteem and warmest regards,” the letter read. The petitioner was said to have claimed that the original guidelines for the PDP primary election were signed on February 17, 2022, by the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyochia Ayu; and the embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, while the alleged fake guidelines used to secure victory for Ude-Okoye were not dated and signed. The petitioner also insisted that Section 47, subsection 5 of the PDP Constitution does not stipulate that a party official seeking to contest a public election should resign. However, in the alleged fake primary election guidelines, it is stated that: “Pursuant to Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022, any aspirant who is a political appointee shall resign his appointment before the purchase of Expression of Interest (EOI) and nomination forms. “Pursuant to Section 47 (5) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended) which mandatorily requires resignation of any elected officer of the party vying for elective office; any aspirant who is a party office Holder/Executive Committee Member at any level shall resign his or her office or appointment seven days before the purchase of the Expression of Interest Form and shall provide, Proof of Resignation along with his or her completed EOl Form before being allowed to procure the nomination form. Failure to adhere to this provision shall be grounds for automatic disqualification of such an aspirant.” The complainant alleged that it was this purportedly forged PDP election guidelines that the Enugu State High Court and Court of Appeal relied on to deliver their judgments in favour of Ude-Okoye. Iheanaetu’s lawyer, Kalu Kalu, therefore prayed the court to ”Kindly cause a Writ of Criminal Summons to be issued against the defendants at the instance of the complainant for the forgery of particulars of the PDP election guidelines.” According to the lawyer, “We are the solicitors to the complainant in the complaint and we have the instruction of our client to state as follows: That our client is the complainant in this case, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and a Nigerian citizen who resides at Utako, FCT, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court.” Among other claims, the lawyer alleged that “the said forged election guidelines have created a lot of crises amongst members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). | PDP; FORGERY; ELECTION GUIDELINES; | THISDAYLIVE | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 17 FEB 2025 | PDP dismisses allegations of forgery of Primary Election Guidelines, blames APC | The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba, has refuted allegations of forgery in the primary election guidelines, blaming it on the handiwork of certain individuals, who were agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This was as the National Secretary of the party, Sunday Ude-Okoye, has dismissed reports of his alleged arrest and detention by the Nigeria Police Force over accusations of forging the party’s documents. According to Ologunagba, ”The PDP states in clear and unequivocal terms that its Primary Election Guidelines as approved by the Party have not by any means whatsoever been compromised by forgery as being peddled in the said reports. Ologunagba, said the party was aware that the misleading reports were at the instance of certain resentful individuals who, as agents of the APC, were seeking ways to create a scandal, discredit the integrity of PDP’s internal processes and bring the party to public ridicule. ”Our party is shocked by the level of desperation being displayed by these individuals reportedly with the backing of a particular top official in the APC administration, who had on several occasions vowed to destroy the PDP to enable the APC entrench a totalitarian and oppressive one-party system in our nation to the resentment and detriment of Nigerians. ”The PDP has also been made aware of the involvement of these disgruntled individuals in inducing disagreements in some chapters as well as the intimidation, threats and police harassment of some officials, staffs and members of the Party. ”Our party is appalled by the scandalous and reprehensible attempt by these desperate individuals to drag the police and a magistrate court in Abuja into the party’s internal affairs despite pronouncement of various Courts of higher hierarchy including the Supreme Court stating that issues touching on the nomination of candidates for elections are strictly internal affairs of political parties over which the courts have no jurisdiction,” he stated. Meanwhile, while Ude-Okoye, has dismissed reports of his alleged arrest and detention by the police, the Southeast National Vice Chairman of the party, Ali Odefa, has also told THISDAY that he was not under any arrest, and arrived in Abuja. Some reports (not THISDAY) had claimed that Ude-Okoye and Odefa, were arrested for allegedly altering the party’s primary election guidelines in the Imo State governorship primary. A PDP chieftain, Mike Iheanaetu, had petitioned the police, alleging that documents presented in court, leading to Ude-Okoye’s affirmation as National Secretary, were forged. Speaking from his base in Enugu, Ude-Okoye refuted the allegations, stating, “I am not in any detention. I am in my house in Enugu and am not under any form of arrest. “I am not involved in any forgery of a document, and I will not get involved in forgery of any document. I did not tell anybody to forge any document, and nobody forged any document for me. | PDP; FORGERY; ELECTION GUIDELINES; | THISDAY | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 17 FEB 2025 | Alleged ₦96bn Fraud: Edo Panel indicts Obaseki alongside impeached LG Chairmen for misappropriation of State funds. | Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has received the report of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry set up on the 18th of December, 2024 to investigate the financial dealings of the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State from 4th September, 2023 to November, 2024 and has vowed to petition the EFCC over its findings. Advertisement The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. He said the Chairman of the panel, Solomon Imohiosen, while submitting the report and recommendations to Governor Okpebholo over the weekend disclosed that findings and forensic investigations uncovered that huge sums amounting to ₦96 billion were either mismanaged and/or diverted to private accounts. | EDO STATE; CORRUPTION; LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| THE CABLE | 17 FEB 2025 | Lagos Assembly Brouhaha: Lawmakers pass vote of confidence in Meranda, adjourns plenary indefinitely. Earlier today, security operatives sealed the Speaker’s office as speculation grew over her possible resignation. | Members of the Lagos state house of assembly have passed a vote of confidence in Mojisola Meranda, the speaker, following rumours of her possible resignation. Oladipo Ajomale, member representing Oshodi-Isolo constituency 2, moved the motion, affirming the assembly’s trust in Meranda’s leadership during Monday’s plenary. The motion was seconded by Gbolahan Ogunleye, who represents Ikorodu Constituency 1. Following this, Temitope Adewale, the majority leader, moved a motion to adjourn plenary indefinitely, which was unanimously approved by the house. Earlier in the day, security operatives sealed the speaker’s office as speculation grew over Meranda’s possible resignation. Police and task force officers were stationed in vehicles around the complex, with some patrolling the premises to maintain order. Meranda became the first female speaker of the Lagos assembly on January 13, after Mudashiru Obasa was removed while he was out of the country. On his return, Obasa challenged the process, arguing that due procedure was not followed and insisting that he remained the legitimate speaker of the house. | LAGOS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY; VOTE OF CONFIDENCE; PLENARY | CABLE | ||||
| CABLE | 17 FEB 2025 | Winner Takes All: APC wins all chairmanship, councillorship seats in Katsina LG polls | The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all 34 chairmanship and 361 councillorship positions in the Katsina state local government election. On Saturday, the Katsina state Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC) conducted the election in all the 34 LGAs. Lawal Faskari, chairman of the commission, who announced the election results on Sunday, said the APC won all the positions with wide margins. Faskari said the outcome of the election could have been announced on Saturday, noting that 10 LGAs did not submit their results by midnight. He said five political parties—Accord Party (AP), Booth Party (BP), African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Party (ADC), and All Progressives Congress (APC))—contested the election. The KTSIEC chairman said the election was free, fair, and credible while commending the voters for their peaceful conduct. Meanwhile, the Katsina chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has commended the political parties that participated in the election. The IPAC, in a statement by Salimu Lawal, its chairman, and Babangida Kado, secretary, urged all the stakeholders in the state to continue to embrace peaceful coexistence. “To our esteemed candidates who contested in the election and lost, I salute your courage, determination, and commitment towards serving our great state,” the IPAC said in a statement. “I also commend your faith in conceding defeat in the system and your desire to contribute to the development of the state. “As we move forward, let us not forget the values that unite us as a people. “They include peaceful coexistence, respect for one another, and the pursuit of the common good.” | APC; KATSINA; LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS | CABLE | ||||
| PUNCH | 17 FEB 2025 | Police Service Commission appoints Moshood Jimoh as new Commissioner of Police for Lagos State. Jimoh was the Force Public Relations Officer from 2017-2019 | The Police Service Commission has appointed Moshood Jimoh as the new Commissioner of Police for Lagos State Command. Jimoh served as the force spokesman from January 2017 to January 2019. He later held various positions, including Deputy Commissioner of the Airport Police, Deputy Commissioner of Finance and Administration, Deputy Commissioner of General Investigation, and Commissioner of Police for the Ports Authority, Eastern Ports. A statement released on Monday by the PSC’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, stated: “The Police Service Commission, on Monday, February 17, 2025, approved the appointment of Moshood Jimoh as the Commissioner of Police for Lagos State Command.” “Jimoh, who hails from Kwara State, was a former Force Public Relations Officer. He later served as Deputy Commissioner of the Airport Police, Deputy Commissioner of Finance and Administration, and Deputy Commissioner of General Investigation. Before his appointment, he was Commissioner of Police for the Ports Authority, Eastern Ports.” “He has undergone several professional training programmes, including: Combat Operations Course at the Mobile Training College in Maiduguri; African Union Mission in Darfur, Sudan; Weapons of Mass Destruction Countermeasure First Responder Training at the United States Institute; Social Construction and Management Reform at the China Executive Leadership Academy, Pudong, China; Maritime Rescue and Salvage for Developing Countries at the China Maritime Academy in Ningbo, China; Anti-Hijacking Techniques and Tactics for Developing Countries at Yunnan Police College in Kunming, China; and Police Training at the Police Training Institute, Seoul, South Korea. “CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh is also a recipient of the Presidential Award for Public Relations Personality of the Year, recognising his sterling qualities and outstanding contribution to the development and use of Public Relations, awarded by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations.” Ani confirmed that CP Jimoh appeared before the Commission today. | POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION; NPF; LAGOS STATE | PUNCH | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 18 FEB 2025 | Pa Edwin Clark dies at 97. Before his death, Edwin Clark was the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). He also served as the Federal Commissioner for Information in Nigeria's First Republic and as a senator in the Second Republic. | Foremost nationalist and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, died on Monday at the age of 97. The Federal Commissioner for Information in the First Republic who also served as senator in Second Republic, would have been 98 years on May 25. The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, announced the late Senator’s death in the early hours of Tuesday. A statement by Prof. C. C. Clark, on behalf of the family and Mr. Penawei Clark for the children, explained that burial details would be announced later. “The Clark family wishes to announce the passing of Chief (Dr.) Sen. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark OFR, CON on Monday 17th February , 2025. “The family appreciates your prayers at this time. Other details will be announced later by the family,” the statement added. | PANDEF; EDWIN CLARK; | THISDAYLIVE | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 18 FEB 2025 | Osun LG Crisis: Ex-Council Chair killed in violent exchange; IGP reacts | The crisis rocking Osun State over the leadership of local governments escalated yesterday as several people were killed following attempts by the sacked All Progressives Congress’s council chairmen to resume at their respective secretariats. A chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) and former chairman of Irewole Local Government Area of the state, Remi Abbas, was among those killed during the crisis. The APC claimed that the Court of Appeal’s judgement delivered on Monday reinstated the sacked council chairmen and councilors elected during the tenure of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola; while the state government alleged their elections had been nullified by the Federal High Court in Osogbo in another case. Governor Ademola Adeleke had, at the weekend, alleged that Oyetola, who is the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, was planning to cause mayhem in the state ahead of the February 22 local council election in the state. Katsina Accidental airstrike: Air Force breaks silence Court restrains CBN, others from withholding Kano LG allocation The state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had on Sunday asked its members at local governments to withdraw their services. The sacked chairmen attempted to resume at their secretariats but were resisted by members of the PDP. There were pockets of violence around Osogbo, Boripe, Irewole and Ola-Oluwa LGAs and others. Governor Adeleke orders shutdown of LG secretariats Governor Ademola Adeleke yesterday shut down all local government council secretariats in the state to prevent further breakdown of law and order. Adeleke, according to a statement by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, directed Osun residents, including politicians across political divides, to stay away from the local government secretariats to protect public properties and avoid further bloodshed. The statement read, “In a reaction to the current illegal APC takeover bid of local governments in Osun state, the governor affirmed that since the local government workers are on strike, only security agencies should be allowed to man the secretariats. “I therefore direct all law abiding Osun residents to stay away from the council secretariats especially as they are expected to be under lock and key. “I equally condole families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs. PDP lost five members with several others wounded. Two of those members are from Iragbiji, Boripe local government. Another two were killed at Ola Oluwa Local Government. Another one was lost at Ikire. We must stop the bloodshed”. The governor assured residents of their safety and protection of lives and properties, saying that he had directed security agencies to take charge of all local government secretariats. PDP’s hoodlums killed our members – APC Addressing a press conference yesterday at the Ilerioluwa Campaign Office, Osogbo, the APC’s chairman in the state, Tajudeen Lawal, alongside the Executive Director, Federal Housing Authority, Remi Omowaiye; former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Adebayo Adeleke and former Special Adviser on Education, Jamiu Olawumi, alleged that PDP’s hoodlums killed his members. He accused Governor Adeleke of setting the state on fire and “arrogantly” refusing to obey the court order that reinstated the sacked APC elected council chairmen and councilors. Lawal confirmed the killing of the chairman of Irewole LGA, Remi Abbas and others. Omowaiye said: “They are killing our people. A lot of our people are missing as of this moment. We have received information across the Local Government Areas and we have the record of those that were killed and maimed. Our people are brutally attacked. It is unfortunate that Governor Adeleke forgot that Osun is not his property. “Just few minutes ago, PDP’s thugs waylaid me and my team from Ilesa while coming to Osogbo and the thugs were led by the PDP House of Assembly member, Olawale Akerele popularly called “Water.” And they have gone to attack my campaign office in Ilesa. My vehicle was shot as the driver was almost killed. The gunshot can be seen on my vehicle. “Situation is similar in other places. The hoodlums were led by Amotekun Corps and I am calling on the Inspector General of Police to proscribe Amotekun in Osun. They have turned to PDP’s thugs, killing and maiming Osun citizens. I am an appointee of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am i a council chairman, so, why were they running after me? Please ask them. “We call for immediate arrest of those that perpetrated this massacre. The law must take its due course.” APC’s thugs killed our 5 members – PDP The state chairman of the PDP, Sunday Bisi, in a statement, alleged that “the brutal and coordinated attacks” were carried out by APC’s thugs “led by Asiri Eniba and backed by armed security agents.” He stated: “These attacks, which began as early as 7 a.m. today, have resulted in the deaths of five PDP members and left over fifty others injured across various local government areas in Osun State. “These heinous acts were committed under the false pretext of enforcing a misinterpretation of a recent Appeal Court ruling, which in no way reinstated the illegally sacked APC local government chairmen. In a desperate bid to unlawfully seize control of local governments, the APC resorted to violence, causing widespread mayhem.” He said the worst-hit areas included Boripe, Olaoluwa, Isokan, and Ilesa West Local Government Areas “where heavily armed APC thugs, led by known political figures, unleashed terror on innocent PDP supporters. “In Boripe Local Government, particularly in Iragbiji and Agba, two PDP members were gruesomely murdered. Over twenty PDP members sustained serious injuries while gathering in preparation for the grand finale of our local government election rally, which was to be graced by Governor Ademola Adeleke. These attacks were clearly orchestrated to instill fear and suppress the democratic rights of the people of Boripe, the home local government of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.” “Eyewitness reports confirm that APC thugs moved in coordinated groups, targeting PDP strongholds, disrupting activities, and attacking innocent party members. These attacks involved the reckless use of firearms, with thugs shooting indiscriminately at peaceful PDP supporters. The scenes of horror in Boripe Local Government left families devastated, struggling to comprehend why their loved ones were subjected to such brutality simply for supporting the PDP.” “We strongly condemn the actions of the APC and its violent enforcers in Boripe. Their resort to bloodshed is a testament to their desperation and rejection by the people. We call on security agencies to investigate these crimes and ensure that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.” “In Olaoluwa Local Government, another two PDP members were gunned down in cold blood, while several others barely escaped with gunshot wounds. Similarly, in Isokan, APC thugs attacked our members, wounding party leader Prince Wahab, while others narrowly escaped gunfire from these violent operatives.” “The violence escalated in Ilesa West, where APC thugs, led by former Osun State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Oluremi Omowaye, and the APC chairmanship candidate, Mr. Tobi Famurawa, stormed the venue of a peaceful PDP gathering and opened fire indiscriminately. This reckless display of violence resulted in severe injuries to PDP chieftains Hon. Tunde Ẹjẹ and Hon. Kasali, as well as an innocent young woman selling bread by the roadside.” We’ll fish out perpetrators-IGP The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday said he had ordered a tactical squad to restore peace in Osun State. Egbetokun, in a statement by the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, also vowed that those who killed and maimed would be brought to book, saing the Force would not tolerate any act of hooliganism, lawlessness and anarchy in the state. The statement read, “In response to the ongoing violence in Osun State, the Nigeria Police Force has condemned, in strong terms, the incidents that have disrupted peace and safety in the state, and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. “These violent actions had disrupted the peace, leading to the destruction of property, and the unfortunate loss of innocent lives. “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has taken decisive action by ordering the deployment of additional tactical squads to Osun State to bolster security and restore law and order. “The Police recognizes that violence undermines the democratic process and threatens the wellbeing of the citizens, and hereby affirms its commitment to identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of these acts and caused them to face the full weight of the law. “The IGP issues a stern warning to those who threaten the peace and stability in Osun State, as the Force will not tolerate any act of lawlessness, hooliganism and anarchy in the state. “The perpetrators of these criminal acts will be fished out and be caused to face the consequences of their unwarranted ill-fated acts. Citizens must remain calm as normalcy is being restored. “Osun indigenes, leaders and stakeholders are hereby urged to shun violence and go about their legitimate businesses. “The judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter of all electoral disputes and political actors must respect and abide by its rulings, upholding the rule of law and democratic principles. “Citizens are advised to go about their lawful business. The Force reiterates its commitment to clamping down on any violent actors who bent on creating brouhaha and breakdown of law and order in any part of the country. “The situation in Osun will be closely monitored, and measures will be enforced to ensure a safe environment for all residents.” | OSUN; LOCAL GOVERNMENT; IGP | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 18 FEB 2025 | Court restrains AGF, CBN, RMAFC from withholding Kano LG allocation | A Kano High Court, yesterday, issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government from tampering with the monthly statutory allocation of the 44 council areas in the state. It specifically restrained the Attorney General of Federation (AGF); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and others from withholding the council funds as sought. The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Kano State chapter had sued the Federal Government and its relevant revenue agencies seeking to refuse any eventuality and or, possible attempt to deny its members their sources of income. The applicants, through their counsel, Bashir Muhammad, had filed a motion ex parte dated November 1, 2024, praying the court to restrain the respondents from withholding or delaying allocations essential for local governance in the state. Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, in his judgment, held that the applicants had established their case beyond reasonable doubt, and therefore, granted all reliefs as sought. He declared that the respondents were under obligations to release and disburse the monthly allocation belonging to all sub-federating units of the country. Counsel to the 44 Local Councils, Ibrahim Isa-Wangida, who held brief for Eyitayo Fatogun (SAN), did not oppose the plaintiff’s application, adding that the disbursement of LG allocations should not be truncated. However, counsel to CBN, Ganiyu Ajape, had filed notice of preliminary objection dated November 14, 2024, pursuant to Order 8, Rules (1)(2) of the fundamental rights. The CBN lawyer had urged the court to strike out the name of his client for lacking jurisdiction to entertain the matter, and not to grant the applicants’ relief. | KANO HIGH COURT; WITHHOLDING TAX; LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS | GUARDIAN | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 18 FEB 2025 | APC kicks as Zamfara Government bans political gatherings | The Zamfara State government has banned all political gatherings, including rallies, in the state. According to the government, the ban, which affects all political parties and takes immediate effect, was to ensure peace and stability in the state. Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, the Senior Special Assistant to Zamfara State Governor on Broadcast, Media, and Public Affairs, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, said the decision followed a political conflict that ensued in the Maru Local Government Area of the state. He said, “Thenceforth, all political gatherings and rallies capable of causing unrest have been banned. The government is mourning an incident in Maru Local Government, which claimed lives and led to the burning of some fortunes.” He added that the ban was, however, not indefinite but temporary, aimed at preventing further tension. He stressed that the action was not to suppress or humiliate anyone but to address the concerns of the people. But the leading opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has faulted the development, insisting that their members were law-abiding and would therefore go about their party gatherings since they were not holding any campaign rallies. The spokesperson for the APC in the state, Malam Yusuf Idris Gusau, claimed there was no law that permits the prohibition of political gatherings, describing the state government’s decision as laughable. “There is no law that permits banning of political gatherings. And he didn’t ban political gatherings. It is the APC function held on Saturday in Zamfara that frightened the government, and that’s what prompted them to issue this directive. “The government can’t stop us from holding political gatherings because our party is a registered national party. “Our members are law-abiding citizens who will not do anything that will cause tension in the state.” Gusau added. | ZAMFARA; BAN; POLITICAL GATHERING | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 18 FEB 2025 | Amid Osun LG crisis, OSSIEC unveils voting materials, says it’s set for February 22 LG election | Amid lingering local government crisis, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), yesterday, unveiled voting materials for Saturday’s council election across the 30 local government areas of the state. Chairman of OSSIEC, Hassim Abioye, stated at a press conference that the commission was ready for the exercise. Abioye said, “We are fully ready for the upcoming local government elections on February 22nd, 2025, and we are unveiling the electoral materials.” He urged all stakeholders in the political circle to maintain peace before, during and after the election. You Can’t Return to Office, PDP Tells Sacked Council Chairmen, Councillors The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautioned sacked Osun State local government chairmen and councillors to perish the thought of forcing themselves back into office, as such would have dire consequences. PDP also charged All Progressives Congress (APC) to accept the reality and end its resort to self-help, misrepresentations, vituperations, violence and killing with the aim of triggering crisis and destabilising the state, having realised that it had lost. PDP said the fate of the ousted local government chairmen and councillors was sealed by the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the unconstitutional attempt by then Governor Gboyega Oyetola to plant them as council officers. National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said, “Having been roundly rejected by the people of Osun State in the Saturday, July 16, 2022, governorship election, the then Governor Oyetola and the APC ought to have known that attempting to side-step the laws and manipulate the process to illegally foist APC members and apologists as local government chairmen and counsellors was an exercise in futility, which was bound to fail ultimately. “The APC is the architect of its misfortune. It should have known that disregarding and refusing to comply with the provisions of the constitution and the Osun State Local Government Election Laws with respect to the requirement on notices, processes and procedures of conducting local government election is destined to be fatal and irreparable.” Osun Boils as One Reinstated Chairman, Two Others Killed, Six Sustain Gunshots Tension, yesterday, enveloped Osun State, as gunmen invaded local government secretariats following an attempt by both All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take over control in accordance with the decision of the appeal court. The development became fatal after one of the reinstated APC local government chairmen Hon. Remi Abass, was killed in Irewole Local Government Area. At Boripe, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs and Protocol, Hon. Ajeigbe Korede, informed journalists that two PDP members were also feared dead while six others, who received gunshots, were at the hospital for treatment. THISDAY learnt that in the early hours of Monday, APC members moved to the various council secretariats in a bid to take over control, but they were resisted by some gun-wielding hoodlums. APC also attempted to take over all the 30 local government areas, but Boluwaduro local government was resisted by hoodlums while both APC and PDP members were prevented by police from gaining access to the council secretariat in Olorunda Local Government Area. Executive Chairman, Ife-Central Local Government Area, Hon. Olayera Elugbaju, resumed office in accordance with the Court of Appeal judgement. PDP N’Assembly Caucus Condemns ‘Criminal’ Takeover of LGs’ Secretariat Osun State Caucus of Peoples Democratic party in the National Assembly, condemned the alleged criminal take-over of the local government secretariats across Osun State. The caucus, led by Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Lere Oyewumi, while addressing a press conference in Abuja, said having observed the breakdown of law and order in the state in the last few hours, it was necessary to address the people. Oyewumi stated, “We use this medium to condemn the brazen effrontery of the sacked local government council officials to return to office notwithstanding the yet-to-be-set-aside decision of the Court of Appeal, Akure, against their return to the office. “Today (Monday), the people of Osun woke up to a criminal take-over of the local government secretariats across Osun State by these sacked officials, who forcefully broke into the premises of the councils, aided by thugs and hooligans who have been shooting sporadically, wreaking havoc on the people of the state, thereby breaking law and order. “Sadly, this is being perpetrated with the support of some security personnel, relying on a different court judgement, despite a subsisting court judgement, which upheld the nullification of their purported election.” | OSUN; OSSIEC; | THISDAY | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 19 FEB 2025 | PDP Implosion: Samuel Anyanwu refuses to concede defeat, appeals to the Supreme Court to decide who the National Secretary is. | The Supreme Court has adjourned until March 10 for further hearing in the appeal filed by embattled National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu. A five-member panel of justices presided by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa fixed the date on Tuesday while delivering a ruling in the motion for accelerated hearing brought by Anyanwu. The Court of Appeal in Enugu had last December upheld a high court decision that sacked Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the PDP. The appellate court subsequently upheld Chief Ude Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the main opposition party. In the lead judgement delivered by Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, the Court of Appeal held that Anyanwu‘s appeal was incompetent and lacking in merit. According to the appellate court, the appellant violated the PDP’s constitution by laying claim to the National Secretary position having contested and emerged as the PDP candidate in the 2024 governorship election in Imo State. Dissatisfied, Anyanwu last month approached the apex court to set aside the judgement of the two lower courts and recognize him as the authentic National Secretary of the PDP. He also filed a motion for accelerated hearing as well as an abridgement of time on grounds of the crucial role of the office of National Secretary. In its ruling in the motion on Tuesday, the apex court granted the application and ordered service of the court processes on the respondent, Aniagu Emmanuel, who must file his reply brief within three days of service. Anyanwu, on the other hand, was given two days to reply on the point of law. Further, the apex court did not hear the motion for a stay of the execution of the appellate court judgment. | PDP; SUPREME COURT; | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| VANGUARD | 19 FEB 2025 | Benue House of Assembly approves the request to remove Benue Chief Judge over gross misconduct and abuse of office. | The Benue State House of Assembly has recommended the removal of the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, from office over alleged gross misconduct, and abuse of office The House maintained that his removal would pave the way for the National Judicial Commission, NJC, to investigate the allegations leveled against the Chief Judge. The Assembly in a resolution Tuesday also recommended the swearing in of the next Judge in the line of seniority in order to fill the vacuum that would be created by his removal. The resolution of the House followed a correspondence from Governor Hyacinth Alia and read on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tersee. The correspondence alleged that the Chief Judge violated the ethical standard of the judicial system. The Chief Judge was alleged to have overturned the Benue State Electoral law that was duly passed by the State Assembly and signed into law by the State Governor. Justice Ikpambese was also accused of allegedly misappropriating the 2024 budgetary allocation of the Judiciary. He was accused of undue favouritism, engaging with politicians and also being indirectly involved in the industrial action by judicial workers against the government. The Chief Whip of the House, Peter Ipusu said the Chief Judge erred by tampering with the electoral law made by the State Assembly. Calling for the matter to be put to vote, the lawmaker representing Gboko East, Becky Orpin moved a motion for members to vote on the matter. Her motion was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Blessed Onah. | BENUE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY; CHIEF JUDGE; MISCONDUCT | VANGUARD | ||||
| VANGUARD | 19 FEB 2025 | Goodluck Jonathan faults deployment of military for elections, says election should primarily be managed by the Police, INEC | Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday faulted the deployment of military personnel for election duties in Nigeria, arguing that it overstretched the military, whose primary responsibility lies elsewhere. He noted that in many other countries, particularly developed ones, officers of the air force and army are only used to transport election materials to high-risk areas, rather than providing security at polling units, as is done in Nigeria. Jonathan made the remarks at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, during the launch of books on internal and election security written by former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase. He stressed that elections should be primarily managed by the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not the military. “Having been the president of this country before, when you talk about internal security, it’s an area that touches my heart. And especially when you talk about election security, again, it’s an area that touches my heart. One gets worried when it comes to Nigerian elections. “In fact, here we overstretch the army. In most other countries, the military doesn’t get involved in the day-to-day management of elections. Some countries use them to manage strategic systems, such as transporting election materials to dangerous areas. “But manning polling booths and staying around polling stations, military personnel are never used for such duties,” he stated. Jonathan cited examples from Botswana and Senegal, where elections are conducted with minimal security interference, allowing voters to cast their ballots without intimidation. The former president added “We talk about technology, yet despite the technology, we still have problems. But in Senegal, they use the simplest form of voting.” Jonathan, however, stated that politicians would adjust once society starts demanding that the right things be done. “We Nigerians celebrate the wrong things. But I believe that one day, the country will reach a point where people reject bad behaviour. And when that happens, these issues will no longer exist. “The day we all collectively say we no longer accept the wrong thing; the political class will behave properly. People must reject us if we act wrongly,” he said. Expressed hope that Nigeria would evolve into a nation where bad political behaviour is condemned. Jonathan added: “Maybe one day, we will have two big buildings in Abuja where we will display pictures of people—whether dead or alive—who have messed up this country, so their grandchildren will know their forefathers were part of Nigeria’s problems.” | MILITARY; ELECTION SECURITY; POLICE; INEC | VANGAURD | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 19 FEB 2025 | Aiyedatiwa shuns court order, insists that Ondo’s 33 LCDAs have come to stay | Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has insisted that the 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) created by the state government have come to stay despite a court ruling nullifying them. Recall that the late former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, signed the bill creating the 33 LCDAs from the existing 18 constitutionally recognised LGAs on September 9, 2023. The bill was presented to him by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State. On June 21, 2024, Justice A. O. Adebusuoye ruled that the LCDAs were unlawfully created, stating that it was unconstitutional for a governor to sign a law outside the state. But speaking at the inauguration of the newly elected council chairmen in Akure on Tuesday, Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the LCDAs. “The 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) have come to stay. They are a creation of law to further bring government closer to the people of Ondo State,” he said. “We have a collective duty to ensure their survival. At all times, they must enjoy mutual trust and inclusivity from the parent local governments,” he added. The LCDAs’ creation had sparked controversy, with some communities protesting the delineation. The court had earlier advised the parties involved to seek a political resolution to the dispute. | LCDAs; ONDO; COURT ORDER | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| CHANNELS TV | 19 FEB 2025 | Bill to provide death penalty for kidnappers passes second reading in Edo State House of Assembly | The Edo State House of Assembly has passed a bill amending the Kidnapping Prohibition Amendment Law of 2013 and addressing related matters during its second reading. The bill prescribes the death penalty for kidnappers and mandates the confiscation and demolition of properties used in the commission of kidnapping. It was approved following the review by the Committee of the Whole. The Majority Leader, Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, emphasised the necessity of the bill, noting that kidnapping has escalated into a significant issue. He urged his colleagues to support the passage of the executive bill, describing kidnapping as a heinous act that has claimed many innocent lives and caused immense suffering to families and the community. Other lawmakers, including Hon. Donald Okogbe, Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu, and Hon. Eric Okaka, also expressed their support for the bill. They referenced religious texts and constitutional sources to reinforce their arguments in favour of prescribing the death penalty for kidnappers, given the severity of the crime. They highlighted that the death penalty could deter kidnappers who demand ransoms from their victims and often go on to kill them. They stressed the importance of the executive arm ensuring that death penalties are signed and enforced without leniency. Following the debate, Speaker Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku directed those clean copies of the passed bill be sent to the state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his assent. Additionally, the House passed a bill to repeal the Edo State Electricity Law of 2022, which aims to establish the Edo State Electricity Market, the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Edo State Electrification Agency, the Edo State Electricity Transmission Company, and other related purposes. Also at plenary, the House confirmed Kenny Okojie as the Chairman of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency. Okojie, a native of Esan North East and an experienced health practitioner was approved after the Committee of Rules and Business recommended her confirmation, found her qualified for the position. | KIDNAPPING; EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY; DEATH PENALTY | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| THISDAY LIVE | 19 FEB 2025 | The Police Service Commission has elevated three Commissioners of Police to Assistant Inspectors General of Police and 16 Deputy Commissioners of Police to Commissioners of Police. | The Police Service Commission (PSC), has approved the promotion of CP Garba Ahmed, CP Yobe State Command; CP Nemi Edwin Osigoboka Iwo, CP Border Patrol and CP Salman Garba Dogo, CP Kwara State Command to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs). A statement by Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said that Ahmed from Katsina State was former Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Enugu State Command and Oyo State, respectively. Iwo, he said, was former CP CTU, Force Headquarters, CP Force Intelligence and CP Edo state Command. He also said that Dogo was former CP General Intelligence, Force CID, CP Armament and CP Kano State. Ani averred that the 16 Deputy Commissioners promoted to substantive Commissioners of Police were Audu Umaru who was promoted and retired. “Others were Cyriacus Enechukwu; Gombit Bangs, Eloho Okpoziakpo, Mamman Giwa, Rosemary Akpan, Umar Kabir and Usman Jibrin. “Naziru Abdulmajid, Osadolor Olaye, Modi Filiya, Sani Omolori, Hassan Saleh, Hammed Sule, Ayodele Adeyemi, and Justine Oranwusi, Director of Works, Force Headquarters were also promoted to substantive Commissioners of Police,” he said. The promotions, he said were the highpoints of an extraordinary Meeting of the Commission presided over by Commission Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd. He stated that the candidates for promotion were subjected to written examination and oral interview. Argungu used the occasion of the interactive session to warn the officers to stay clear of civil matters such as land, marital issues, debt collection etc and allow the courts to adjudicate on such matters. He said the Commission will deal decisively with any of them caught engaging in such matters. He said the Commission will continue to monitor them and support them to give off their best. | POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION; ASSISTANT INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE; NIGERIA POLICE FORCE | THISDAY | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 20 FEB 2025 | Lagos House of Assembly denies rumours of mass defection of its members to LP. Meanwhile, LP insists lawmakers are wooing the party from behind. | Lagos State House of Assembly has refuted the claims that 27 of its members are planning to defect to the Labour Party (LP), labelling the reports as “malicious and unfounded.” In a statement, yesterday, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, dismissed the allegations as “entirely false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.” He said that the recent removal of former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and the subsequent election of Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as the new Speaker were purely internal matters conducted in accordance with Nigeria’s constitution, and did not signal any intention for members to leave the ruling party. The Assembly, which attributed the falsehood to agents of destabilisation seeking to create tension and division, reassured party leaders and supporters of their unwavering commitment to the ruling party and pledged to resolve any internal disagreements through peaceful and democratic means. The House also called on the media to uphold journalistic ethics by verifying information before publication and avoiding the dissemination of unverified reports. It also urged media practitioners to refrain from spreading reports that “could mislead the public.” But the LP has accused the Assembly of attempting to suppress the democratic rights of its members following reports that 27 lawmakers plan to defect to the LP. In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Dr Arabambi Abayomi, the party described the Assembly’s denial as “a desperate attempt to suppress the truth and undermine the democratic rights of lawmakers to freely associate with any political party of their choice.” The LP said that several members of the Assembly had approached the party expressing interest in joining its ranks. Meanwhile, Meranda has said that she remains the Speaker of the Assembly. Meranda, who spoke through her Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, said: “I’m in the office. It is a lie from the pit of hell. There is no truth in the story. The Speaker has not resigned and there is no plan for that.” HOWEVER, a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs), Womanifesto, has expressed its unwavering support for Meranda. The group, which gave the assurance, yesterday, during a media briefing where its Convener, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, called on the Lagos State government to uphold the legitimacy of Meranda’s position, condemned the actions of the Department of State Services (DSS). Akiyode-Afolabi described the security forces’ actions as a gross violation of the rights of lawmakers and an unacceptable form of interference in any democratic process. The coalition urged all stakeholders to respect the constitutional position of the Speaker, the interest of the state, and the aspirations of women and girls. It also called for adherence to the rule of law and the principles of fairness and justice as outlined in Nigeria’s Constitution. | LAGOS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY; LABOUR PARTY; | GUARDIAN | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 20 FEB 2025 | FG set to bar 60,000-litre fuel tankers from Nigerian roads effective March 1, 2025. NARTO warns FG that this move will cost the economy N300b worth of investments | The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced a ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on Nigerian roads, effective March 1, 2025, to mitigate truck-in-transit incidents, some of which had resulted in infernos and several deaths. The agency also explained that no truck with over 45,000 litres in capacity will be allowed to load products by the fourth quarter of 2025. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, said the decision was made in response to the increasing number of road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers. He said, “The first stakeholders’ technical committee met today to drill down and put timelines for about 10 resolutions that had been taken on how to drive down the significant increase that had been observed in relation to trucks and transit incidents and fatalities.” According to him, following deliberations involving key agencies including the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), it was agreed that from March 1, 2025, any truck with an axle load of more than 60,000 litres of hydrocarbon will not be allowed to load at any depot. “The important thing about this is that, for the first time, consensus was built amongst all stakeholders, and we are continuing to encourage that we will work together cohesively to deliver a safe transportation of petroleum products across the country,” he said. Reacting to the rising number of fatalities, he said, “We noticed in 2023, what we thought was a significant increase in trucks and transit incidents. But in 2024, what we thought was an increase in 2023 was, sadly, much more. “Last week when we hosted another stakeholders meeting, we even pointed to the fact that the January occurrences are threatening to even exceed or catch up or exceed the 2024. And so, we must draw a line and say, this can no longer continue. There were about 10 interventions that were determined that will mitigate this.” Compliance will cost tanker owners N300bn – NARTO Recall that in the wake of the meetings, the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) had expressed fear over the federal government’s plan to ban 60,000 litres capacity tankers. NARTO President, Yusuf Othman, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the move would cause a loss of N300 billion worth of investments by the tanker owners. Othman, however, said the cause of the accidents was not the usage of 60,000 litres tanker capacity but could be attributed to the condition of the roads, the condition of the vehicles and the drivers. He said that 2,000 trucks with 60,000 litres capacity worth N150 million each, amounting to N300 billion investments were involved in the transportation of petroleum products nationwide. Othman explained that some of these investments were financed by the commercial banks, while some were personal investments of the tanker owners. He appealed to the federal government to consider a buy-back policy to help the investors, if it wishes to phase out completely the usage of 60,000 litres tanker capacity in the distribution of petroleum products. 172 oil trucks accidents, 1,896 deaths reported since 2009 The latest oil tanker explosion, which killed nearly 98 people in Niger State, brought attention to the alarming death toll from such incidents since 2009. A data analysis by Anadolu revealed that these accidents have resulted in approximately 1,896 fatalities over the past 16 years. Until October 2024, it was 2019 that had the highest number of oil tanker accidents and fatalities, according to a study published in the Nigerian Research Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences. However, a catastrophic explosion on Oct. 15, 2024, in Majia, a town in the Taura Local Government Area, Jigawa State, claimed 181 lives. This incident made 2024 the deadliest year on record, with a total of 266 fatalities. Between January 2009 and January 2025, Nigeria recorded 172 oil tanker fires and explosions, which caused 1,896 deaths. The study identified several key factors contributing to these accidents, including individuals collecting spilled fuel, tanker crashes in crowded areas, vehicle collisions, and human errors. More than 100 incidents were linked to human-related factors, according to research. Since May 2023, Nigeria has reported 28 oil tanker accidents, resulting in 468 deaths. These incidents account for over 15% of all accidents and nearly 25% of the fatalities recorded since 2009. | FG; TANKER EXPLOSION; NARTO; NMDPRA; DEATH | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 20 FEB 2025 | Senate fixes public hearing on Tax Reform Bills for Monday & Tuesday, Feb. 24-25, 2025 | The Senate will begin a two-day public hearing on the four tax reform bills presented by President Bola Tinubu to improve the nation’s tax administration. Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Sani Musa, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday. Sani after a closed session with members of the committee said that the public hearing would hold on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25. “We intend to take on two of the bills on each day of the session for the press to be fully abreast with what we intend to do. “The bills are: Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024; Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill. The bills, according to him, will overhaul the tax administration and revenue generation in the country, as many of the provisions contained in them are landmark in nature. This, he said, would put Nigeria on the same pedestal with advanced economies, saying that infrastructure, education, agriculture and other sectors of the economy would be adequately taken care of with enough funds. Sani said that the committee members had studied the bills and had a robust engagement with several stakeholders before deciding to hold the public hearing. He expressed the belief that the public hearing would go on well, adding that President Bola Tinubu had repeatedly assured that he would not interfere in any of the processes on the tax reform bills. “It is our duty as legislators to do the needful for the good of this country. We are all representatives of different tribes, religions, geography and we are Nigerians. “What we will work towards giving Nigerians are laws that will put us on track economically. And by the grace of God, we will succeed,” he said. He listed those invited to the public hearing to include: the Federal Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, the Minister of Trade and Investment and the Attorney-General of the Federation. “We have also invited the Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Services and the Statistician-General of the Federation so that he will be able to come and give us his own submission,” he said. Sani assured that the National Assembly would, at the end of the day, produce legislations on tax administration that would be acceptable to Nigerians. | SENATE; TAX REFORM BILLS; PUBLIC HEARING | GUARDIAN | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 20 FEB 2025 | "Illegal removal of elected council officials is treasonable," Fagbemi warns Governors as Adeleke accuses IGP of fueling chaos. | Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has warned governors and their Houses of Assembly against unlawful removal of democratically elected local government council officials, saying such acts are not only treasonable but also have consequences. Fagbemi, who sounded the warning at the Nigerian Bar Association’s State of the Nation Discourse, pointed out that the consequences would be in spite of the immunity clause shielding the governors. But Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, at a meeting with top British diplomats, accused the Inspector of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, of executing and imposing illegality on local councils in the state. This followed a forceful takeover of local government secretariats in the state by former APC council chairmen and councillors claiming to be acting based on a court order. Earlier, the House of Representatives called on Fagbemi to properly advise all parties to the dispute over the control of local governments in Osun State on the true position of the law. Nonetheless, no fewer than 20 local government secretariats were taken over by the purportedly reinstated chairmen and councillors in Osun State from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Immediately they resumed at their desks, the council chairmen and councillors ordered the freezing of the various council accounts. But Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Olumide Egbedun, called on Egbetokun to act swiftly and decisively to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all illegal occupants of the local government secretariats. An Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, warned the federal government and the ruling APC against the forceful take-over of the Osun State government, stressing that such attempts would only lead to unimaginable chaos and anarchy. Speaking at the NBA State of the Nation Discourse, Fagbemi said the administration of President Bola Tinubu, taking into consideration the crucial role of local government councils in the development of any nation, had last year approached the apex court to ensure the autonomy of the local governments as the third tier of the government in the country. He lamented, “Despite the judgement of the Supreme Court, outlawing the illegal removal of democratically elected local government councils by governors, it is quite unfortunate that a few states have continued to flagrantly carry on with this illegality. “Let me state in unequivocal terms that this act is tantamount to treason and must be treated as such.” Fagbemi, who was represented by Director, Civil Appeals in the FMOJ, Gazali (SAN), stated that while “Section 308 of the constitution grants the governor immunity from prosecution…flagrant disobedience to the Supreme Court judgement will have unpleasant consequences for the state as a whole, should it persist.” He also took a swipe at lawyers and state attorneys-general for failing to advise their respective clients and governors properly. According to Fagbemi, “There is a worrisome trend in the legal profession these days where lawyers, including the state Attorneys-General, allow their clients and political leaders to dictate the law to them when it should be the other way around. “This is quite unbecoming of gentlemen of the bar and it must be addressed and reversed immediately. We must all remember that we owe a duty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria before our political allegiances. “Every state in Nigeria has an attorney-general, therefore, the failure of states to the local government structures in their states, in my opinion, can be attributed to the complete dereliction of duty by the attorneys-general to the rule of law they swore to uphold.” He added that lawyers must be courageous enough to always give the correct legal advice to politicians, who believed they had the right to breach the sacred provisions of the constitution, regardless of the repercussion. While acknowledging that as servants of the law the primary duty of lawyers was to defend the constitution always, Fagbemi called on everyone present at the occasion to lend their support to the complete actualisation of the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria, in line with the mandate of Tinubu. He stated, “Most importantly, local governments must also wake up to their constitutional duties by being accountable to the citizens, constantly improving themselves in areas of administration and capacity building of their staff and constant community engagement to improve trust and transparency. “There is no room for babysitting the third tier of the government any more. There must be concerted efforts by ALGON to continue to improve the technical capacities of local government workers across Nigeria to be able to rise up to the humongous task ahead of them. “Local government councils must be seen to be alive, with a reformed civil service structure and executing more impactful projects that will bring respite to the people in the grassroots, for whose sake this fight was won.” Adeleke at Meeting with British Diplomats, Accuses IGP of Executing Chaos in Councils Adeleke during the meeting with top British diplomats accused Egbetokun of imposng illegality on local councils in the state. Chairman, Osun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Sunday Bisi, alleged at a press conference that Egbetokun had mapped out plans to assassinate Adeleke. Bisi said the governor’s instruction to restore peace and order, as chief security officer of Osun State, was flagrantly violated. Adeleke told the British diplomats, led by the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jonny Baxter, “It is unfortunate and a disservice to democracy that the Inspector General of Police is colluding with the APC to enforce a non-existing court order. “This is a serious threat to democracy in Nigeria.” Adeleke, who reaffirmed his readiness for peace, free and fair elections on Saturday, said Osun faced a combined assault of the security forces, who, rather than protect rule of law, were busy aiding and abetting violations of the democratic process. The governor stated, “You are in my state at a critical juncture in our political life. We face existential threat to our democratic life from those who should protect democracy. “We have made the best of efforts to guarantee peace on the unfolding local government question. I directed members of the political class to stay away. “But the opposition, supported by the police, went ahead to break into the local government secretariats. Security men openly supported them to enforce illegality. “Nonetheless, our local government election is holding on Saturday. Our people are ready for elections. We will not allow democracy to be destroyed.” Adeleke said, “We call on the diplomatic community to take judicious note of the rape of democracy ongoing in Osun State. We particularly call attention to the negative role of security agents in the crisis. All stakeholders must abide by rule of law in a democracy. There is no room for self help.” British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter, in his remarks, stressed the importance of democratic processes and the rule of law. Baxter urged all political actors to prioritise peace and dialogue over conflict. Baxter stated, “Nigeria is a key partner to the UK, and we encourage all stakeholders to uphold democratic values, ensure peaceful governance, and respect legal institutions. “It is vital that law enforcement remains neutral and that political disputes are resolved through lawful channels.” Baxter was accompanied by Katherine Fernandes, Second Secretary (Political) and Wale Adebajo, Senior Political Adviser. The PDP state chairman said, “Osun State has been thrown into the cloudy side of the news in recent days, no thanks to the surreptitious activities of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to destabilise the state with orchestrated violence obviously hatched in active connivance of his office and the opposition All Progressives Congress, banking on a non-existent court order as being brandished by the defeated APC in the state. “Mr Egbetokun’s deliberate deployment of Special Forces under him to escort some miscreants into the local government councils in the state was nothing but a blatant coup and obviously one out of the many mapped out plans to assassinate the governor of our dear State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, whose instruction to restore peace and order, as the chief security officer of Osun State, was flagrantly violated by Mr Egbetokun. “We understand that Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has been interfacing with Egbetokun, with the sole aim of ensuring peace after the fatal fracas on Monday, occasioned by forceful attempts by the sacked chairmen and councillors purportedly elected on the platform of opposition APC before the advent of PDP administration in the state. “The whole world must warn and prevail on Mr Kayode Egbetokun to desist from being an enabler of orchestrated attempts on the life of our governor. This plans, we want to emphasise, have being on the cards of the APC in Osun State, since the good people of Osun State voted them out of office in 2022.” The party chairman was referring to Oyetola. House Seeks Law’s Position on Situation, APC Takes over Councils, Freezes Accounts The House of Representatives called on the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to properly advise all parties to the dispute over control of local governments on the true position of the law. The House also encouraged aggrieved parties to seek judicial enforcement of rights rather than use of force It condemned any resort to self-help, violence, killings and harassment by individuals and political interests in the state. The resolutions of the House followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Bamidele Salam, and six others at the plenary yesterday. Moving the motion, Salam expressed worry that the sacked officials were breaking the gates of their respective local government secretariats to forcefully take over the local government without any court order. The House, in the resolution, “Condemns any resort to self-help, violence, killings and harassment by individuals and political interests in Osun State, “Calls on the Inspector General of Police, DG DSS and other security heads to ensure normalcy and order is restored to all local governments in Osun State “Urges the Attorney General of the Federation to properly advise all parties to the dispute in the control of local governments in Osun State as to the true position of the law and encourage aggrieved parties to seek judicial enforcement of rights rather than use of force.” Meanwhile, no fewer than 20 local government secretariats had been taken over by the purportedly reinstated chairmen and councillors from APC in Osun State. Adeleke had directed residents, including politicians across political divides, to stay away from the local government secretariats. Similarly, the leadership of APC had directed its members, particularly council chairmen and councillors, to stay off their respective council secretariats until further notice. But the local governments taken over were Atakunmosa West, Ilesa West, Obokun, Ilesa East, Ife East, Ifelodun, Orolu, Ejigbo, Oriade, Iwo, Ayedire, Boripe, Ife Central, Ife North, Ila, Ede South, Odo-Otin, Ola-Oluwa, and Atakumosa East A top leader of APC, Senator Mudashiru Hussein, was alleged by Osun State chapter of PDP to have disclosed that security agencies had been directed by the presidency to accompany his party to take over local government secretariats. But Hussein denied the allegation, saying he has no power to do so. PDP alleged that in a leaked audio message to members of the party, Hussein had said APC members were to assemble at the police station in each local government where security agents would lead them to take over the councils. The PDP state chairman, Bisi, reiterated Adeleke’s directive to PDP members to stay away from the council secretariats. He also raised alarm about clandestine attempts to arrest PDP members ahead of the Saturday local government elections. But following their resumption, the council chairmen and councillors immediately ordered the freezing of the various council accounts. They warned Adeleke and others in charge of the council resources to steer clear of public funds, saying, “Any form of illegal transaction will have consequences.” They also cautioned the state government and chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to shelve the planned local government election as there was no vacancy in any of the 30 councils for them to fix. Addressing a press conference at Ilerioluwa Campaign Office, Osogbo, Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Area, Hon. Abiodun Idowu, applauded President Bola Tinubu for his exemplary leadership and strict adherence to the rule of law. Idowu hailed the high sense of professionalism and commitment exhibited by the security agencies in the state. Idowu, who is the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON Chairman, assured of their readiness to ensure good governance at the grassroots. “Having returned to office, we want to reaffirm our commitment to serving our people more and our social contract to create job and wealth for the teeming youth of the state will be implemented without compromise.” Osun Speaker Seeks Arrest, Prosecution of Illegal Occupants of Osun LG Secretariats Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Olumide Egbedun, called on Egbetokun to act decisively to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all illegal occupants of the local government secretariats in the state. Egbedun also made it cleared that local government elections scheduled for Saturday remained sacrosanct, and called on all eligible voters in the state to come out en masse to freely exercise their democratic right to vote for their preferred candidates. The speaker stated that the arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the unlawful invasion were important. He said the IGP should hold accountable any police officers, who facilitated or failed to prevent the illegal acts. He stressed that Egbetokun should help restore public confidence in the neutrality of the Nigeria Police and prevent further escalation of violence and political intimidation. He said failure to act would only embolden those who sought to undermine democratic institutions. Egbedun said, “The responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force is to serve and protect all Nigerians, not to take sides in political disputes. The people of Osun State demand and deserve fairness, impartiality, and professionalism from the security agencies.” An Abuja-based legal practitioner and rights activist, Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, warned the federal government and APC against forceful take-over of local government secretariats, stressing that such attempt would lead to unimaginable chaos. Olajengbesi’s warning was predicated on move by APC to take over affairs at the Local Government Area Councils in the state; which resulted to the death of some persons. Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Olajengbesi faulted the forceful takeover of the local governments in Osun by some groups linked to APC in the state. The activist, who described the move as a coup, argued that even if the actors had judgement in their favour, it was completely wrong for them to take the laws into their hands under the guise of enforcing Court of Appeal judgement. He insisted that there were procedures for judgement execution in the country, adding that the way the actors in the Osun local government crisis acted was in breach of laws and a usurpation of functions of those empowered to enforce court judgement. | ATTORNEY GENERAL; OSUN; IGP; TREASON | THISDAYLIVE | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 20 FEB 2025 | Governor of Kebbi drums up support for Tinubu, launches campaign ahead of 2027 general election, berates PDP | The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State on Wednesday launched its campaign for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Nasir Idris ahead of the 2027 elections. The mega rally, tagged “We Stand with Tinubu and Kauran Gwandu,” took place at the township stadium in Birnin Kebbi, drawing prominent political figures, including Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu; Governor Nasir Idris; James Faleke; Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Tanko Sununu and several others. Speaking at the event, Bagudu said both Tinubu and Governor Idris deserve a second term based on their performances in less than two years in office. “The Tinubu administration has done so much to improve Nigeria. The president has fulfilled his campaign promises to Kebbi, and I am proud to be associated with him,” Bagudu said. “In less than two years, the federal government has initiated several people-oriented projects in Kebbi State.” NIGERIA DAILY: How Tuition Fee Poses Threat To Female Education Nigerian farmers have been victimised — Obasanjo He highlighted key federal projects in the state, including the Natsini-Kangiwa-Kamba Road awarded at N35 billion, the Malamfari-Ngaski-Warah Road, and ongoing work on the Sokoto-Kebbi-Badagry Superhighway and the Koko-Mahuta-Dabai Road. Bagudu also announced the donation of N450 million to the state’s 225 wards for the procurement of food items ahead of Ramadan. He urged Kebbi residents to continue supporting the APC-led governments at both state and federal levels, citing their commitment to improving lives. In his address, Governor Nasir Idris reaffirmed the state’s support for President Tinubu, praising his administration’s contributions to Kebbi’s development. “The people of Kebbi are solidly behind President Tinubu because he has brought progress and development to our state. We can point to many achievements under his leadership. When the time comes in 2027, we shall see if anyone claims to have more supporters than Tinubu in Kebbi,” Idris said. Earlier, the Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Usman Zuru, declared that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) no longer holds influence in the state. “Those who mattered in the PDP have all returned to the APC for the progress and development of Kebbi. The only party left in the state is the APC,” he stated. As part of the campaign launch, Governor Idris announced the distribution of 21 vehicles to each local government in the state to facilitate mobilisation efforts. | APC; PDP; KEBBI; TINUBU; 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 21 FEB 2025 | IBB admits Abiola won June 12, 1993 election, blames Abacha for leading the cabal opposed to election. | The late Bashorun MKO Abiola once predicted that truth would eventually triumph over falsehood. Thirty-two years later, former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida, has proved him right. Babangida, who annulled the June 12, 1993, presidential election, has admitted that Abiola won convincingly. Reflecting on his controversial decision, Babangida described it as a regrettable chapter orchestrated by a cabal within his administration. “To suddenly have an announcement made without my authority was, to put it mildly, alarming. I remember saying: ‘These nefarious ‘inside’ forces opposed to the elections have outflanked me!’ I would later find out that the ‘forces’, led by General Abacha, annulled the elections. There and then, I knew I was caught between ‘a devil and the deep blue sea’. From then on, the June 12 elections took on a painful twist for which, as I will show later, I regrettably took responsibility,” he explained. Speaking during the presentation of his autobiography ‘A Journey in Service,’ the former president said: “Undoubtedly credible, free and fair elections were held on June 12, 1993. However, the tragic irony of history remains that the administration which devised a near-perfect electoral system and conducted those near-perfect elections could not complete the process. “That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled to expect my expression of regret. As a leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch.” He added: “And June 12 happened under my watch; mistakes, oversights and missteps occurred in quick succession. But as I say in my book, in all matters, we acted in the supreme national interest so that Nigeria could survive. “Our nation’s march to democracy was interrupted; a fact I deeply regret. But Nigeria and democracy are still alive, a testament to commitment.” The journey to the annulment of the June 12 election, however, began two days before the election when a judge granted an injunction stopping the electoral commission from proceeding with the polls. A group known as the Association for a Better Nigeria (ABN), led by Arthur Nzeribe, had filed the lawsuit. Babangida admitted in his autobiography that Nzeribe was close to him but denied supporting the activities of ABN. “From out of nowhere, on June 10, two days before the presidential election, the same shadowy group, ABN, which had been campaigning for an extension of military rule, approached the Abuja High Court of Justice Bassey Ikpeme for an injunction to stop NEC (National Electoral Commission) from conducting the elections.” “Unknown to me at the time, Justice Ikpeme, who was relatively young at the Bench, had worked in the chambers of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Clement Akpamgbo. Strangely, Justice Ikpeme, in the dead of night, in clear violation of Decree 13, which barred any court from interfering with NEC’s conduct or scheduling of the elections, granted the ABN an injunction stopping NEC from conducting the June 12 elections. There was confusion everywhere.” Babangida said he quickly convened an emergency meeting of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), the country’s highest governing body, to discuss the way forward. He said, “On Friday, June 11, as the NDSC meeting was going on, I learned that a Lagos High Court had ruled that NEC should go ahead with the elections. The NDSC meeting on Friday, June 11, only hours before the scheduled elections, was one of the stormiest meetings I ever conducted as President. Strangely, the Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Akpamgbo, who was the nation’s chief law officer and who ought to know that the Justice Ikpeme court order violated an extant law (and was tacitly supported, it turned out, by some of my topmost military officers), advised that the elections be postponed in compliance with the Abuja court order. “Professor Nwosu insisted, to the dismay of my top military colleagues, that he had enough powers under the law to proceed with the elections. The arguments went on for hours in a tense atmosphere, populated by some who wanted the elections postponed, among them the Chief of Defence Staff, General Sani Abacha, Lt-General Joshua Dogonyaro, and a few Service Chiefs. But I had my views bottled inside me! Even before Professor Nwosu presented his compelling argument, I decided that the elections should proceed, backed firmly by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Salihu Ibrahim.” Babangida said he looked across the room and said to Nwosu: “Go ahead with the elections. Go to your office, hold a world press conference and tell everyone the elections will be held tomorrow as planned.” He added that on June 16, Nwosu suddenly stopped the announcement of the election results, even though the voting had been peaceful and orderly. “And then, on June 16, without my knowledge or prior approval, NEC Chairman, Professor Nwosu, announced the suspension of the June 12 election results ‘until further notice’. I knew instantly that certain fifth columnists were at work and that there was a need for extra care! Even after that suspension of the announcements of results, ABN obtained another ‘strange’ court order from Justice Saleh’s court in Abuja, stopping the release of the results of the elections,” he wrote. On June 23, Babangida left Abuja for Katsina to commiserate with the Yar’Adua family over the death of their patriarch, Musa Yar’Adua, former minister of Lagos affairs and father of Umaru, the late Nigerian president who died in office in 2007. Babangida narrated: “The funeral had taken place, and as I got ready to leave, a report filtered to me that the June 12 elections had been annulled. Even more bizarre was the extent of the annulment because it terminated all court proceedings regarding the June 12 elections, repealed all the decrees governing the transition and even suspended NEC! Equally weird was the shabby way the statement was couched and made. Admiral (Augustus) Aikhomu’s press secretary, Nduka Irabor, had read out a terse, poorly worded statement from a scrap of paper, which bore neither the presidential seal nor the official letterhead of the government, annulling the June 12 presidential elections. I was alarmed and horrified. “Yes, during the stalemate that followed the termination of the results announcement, the possibility of annulment that could lead to fresh elections was loosely broached in passing. But annulment was only a component of a series of other options…” THE keenly contested election was between Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the candidate of the National Republican Party (NRC), Alhaji Bashir Tofa. It will be recalled that after the historic poll, described as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history, counting had been completed before Babangida stopped the official release of the results by Prof Humphrey Nwosu, the chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC). In a nationwide broadcast on June 23, 1993, Babangida announced that the election had been cancelled by the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), the highest organ of state during his regime. However, it was already public knowledge that Abiola polled 8,341,309 votes (58.36 per cent), while Tofa, who lost his Kano State to Abiola, garnered 5,952,087 votes (41.64 per cent) of the total votes cast. In fact, celebrations of Abiola’s victory had begun in Lagos and many states before the unexpected annulment, which dashed the hopes of many Nigerians for democratic governance. Peaceful protests across the country greeted the military action to cancel the election, while Abiola and his supporters approached the court for the revalidation of the election process. Indeed, some members of the Senate in the aborted Third Republic, led by the current president, Bola Tinubu, sponsored motions at the National Assembly to compel Babangida and his military cabal to officially release the election result and inaugurate the winner, but to no avail. When all the legal and democratic efforts to persuade the military to de-annul the election failed, and the military resorted to arresting pro-democracy activists, peaceful protests turned violent. In the heat of the nationwide protests, Babangida “stepped aside” on Thursday, August 27, 1993, and handed over power to the late Chief Ernest Shonekan as Head of the Interim National Government (ING). Babangida had reasoned that, since Shonekan was from Abeokuta, Ogun State, like Abiola, the protests for the revalidation of the June 12 election would subside. Besides, Shonekan was a technocrat who was not involved in politics. However, he was wrong. By November 17, 1993, less than three months after Shonekan was sworn in, the maximum ruler, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, ousted him and took over the reins of power. The country descended into a full dictatorship, with Abacha becoming ruthless in suppressing protesters and those demanding the restoration of June 12. On June 12, 1994, following his Epetedo, Lagos, declaration the previous day, Abiola declared himself the President of the country. He was subsequently arrested. Security operatives arrived at his residence on Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, around 2:30 a.m., in the presence of many journalists and protesters who had joined him earlier in the afternoon for a rally that moved from Surulere to his residence. Abiola was whisked to Abuja and placed under the watch of Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, Major Hamza al-Mustapha. His arrest and incarceration gave rise to several pro-democracy groups, notably NADECO, which coordinated their activities in response. Some members were killed or imprisoned, while others escaped Abacha’s killer squad and fled to the UK and the United States, from where they continued to fight for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. However, Abacha died on June 8, 1998, at a time when he had concluded plans to transform himself into a civilian president. All five political parties he adopted for the election during his transition period had endorsed him as the sole presidential candidate. Curiously, a few days after Abacha’s death, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who succeeded him, promised to return the government to civilian rule and appealed to NADECO members to return to the country. While negotiations for Abiola’s release were said to have been concluded, he was announced dead on July 7, 1998, in a controversial manner. MEANWHILE, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has called for the immediate posthumous declaration of the late Chief Moshood Abiola as a former president of Nigeria, following the validation of his victory by Babangida. CUPP’s National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, made the appeal yesterday, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action to formally recognise Abiola’s mandate. Ameh described the annulment of the historic election as a turning point that plunged the nation into political chaos and left a lasting impact on Nigeria’s democratic and developmental trajectory. Speaking in Abuja, Ameh said: “The unfortunate annulment orchestrated by Babangida has had far-reaching consequences, perpetuating electoral theft and undermining the country’s democratic growth. The validation of Abiola’s victory at the launch of Babangida’s autobiography on Thursday underscores the importance of upholding democratic principles and the rule of law.” He emphasised that the annulment not only disrupted the country’s democratic process but also weakened trust in the electoral system, adding: “The consequences of this annulment have been profound. Nigeria’s development and growth have been hindered by the persistence of electoral theft and undemocratic interference. The country’s democratic institutions have been weakened, and the people’s trust in the electoral process has been eroded.” “In light of these circumstances, it is imperative that we recognise Abiola’s rightful place in Nigeria’s history. Declaring him posthumously as the former President of Nigeria would be a significant step towards healing the wounds of the past and promoting national reconciliation,” he said. He further urged Nigeria’s leadership to learn from the experience of June 12 and work towards building a more democratic and just society, noting: “Recognising Abiola’s presidency posthumously would promote national healing, reconciliation, and democratic growth.” | ABACHA; ABIOLA; 1993 ELECTION; NEC | GUARDIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 21 FEB 2025 | AGF Lateef Fagbemi tells Adeleke to suspend Osun LG election, says it will be invalid since the court has reinstated sacked APC chairmen | The Federal Government has asked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to suspend the council elections scheduled for tomorrow. Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, stated this while commenting on the ongoing crisis in the state. In a statement, yesterday, Fagbemi said the position of the law was clear on the development creating friction between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Fagbemi said: “Any such election that may be held would not only be invalid since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgment of the Court of Appeal would still be running until October 2025, it would also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which the governor has sworn to uphold. Governor Adeleke should toe the path of law in this matter and not instigate unnecessary violence in Osun State. “Nobody benefits from violence. It is, therefore, of utmost importance for Governor Adeleke to advice Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to shelve the idea of proceeding with any council election now.” Meanwhile, the governor, yesterday, in a statewide broadcast declared that peace had returned to the state after the face-off over forceful takeover of local council secretariats by the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councilors. Also, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor condoled with the families of those who lost their lives and those who sustained injuries during the forceful takeover of the secretariats, saying: “The incident reminds us that abiding by the rule of law remains the best path for a peaceful Osun State.” “I particularly appreciate and commend our people for complying with my directives to stay away from local council secretariats. The compliance saved our state from further confrontations and casualties. It has returned the state of the living spring to its peaceful and loving nature.” | AGF; OSUN; VIOLENCE; LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS; OSSIEC | GUARDIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 21 FEB 2025 | Edo State Development: Okpebholo praises himself, scores administration high after 100 days in office | The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has outlined his administration’s achievements in his first 100 days in office. In his address at an event commemorating the administration’s first 100 days, held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, the governor said he has laid a strong foundation for progress across critical sectors in the state. Noting that he met a state full of potential but facing challenges, Okpebholo said the focus and goal of his administration were clear from the first day – “to restore hope in leadership, create opportunities and set Edo on the path of lasting progress.” He noted that there is so much to be done, and his administration is taking steps to turn its vision into reality. The governor recounted his administration’s successes in the areas of security, infrastructure, natural resources, agriculture, and education, assuring the people that more benefits are in the offing. He said: “We have taken significant steps in strengthening our economy by increasing our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by N10 billion, as we took our drive to corporate bodies. “We have done away with wasteful consultants, and invested resources in strengthening public efficiency and our commitment to job creation is evident in the growth of the public service, as well as our talent development programme where the best minds contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Edo State. “Our administration understands that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the bedrock of our economy and so, we launched an interests-free loans scheme for market women, farmers and artisans which will benefit over 5,000 people in collaboration with the World Bank. “We have disbursed grants to over 400 small business owners, ensuring resilience in the face of economic challenges.” While highlighting his achievements in food, security and agriculture, the governor said his administration had banned market unions that were responsible for price inflation in all the markets to make food readily available for the people. MEANWHILE, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Umar Ganduje, and former Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, have expressed satisfaction with the performance of Okpebholo in just 100 days in office, saying the current administration has demonstrated practical governance within the period under review, as there are evidence to show for its achievements. Ganduje commended the governor for his developmental strides in the state, saying Okpebholo is a progressive and a performer. Oshiomhole, who spoke on the theme, ‘Practical Governance: A New Edo Has Risen’, said the state is truly rising, as the Okpebholo administration is working hard to fix the state. Oshiomhole added that the administration is working without signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or hiring consultants to help develop the state. | EDO; OKPEBHOLO; 100 DAYS IN OFFICE | GUARDIAN | ||||
| BUSINESS DAY | 21 FEB 2025 | Lawmakers' views differ in the argument between Akpabio and Akpoti over seating arrangement. | A dramatic confrontation unfolded in the Senate on Thursday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) clashed over a seating arrangement dispute. The altercation began when Senator Natasha discovered that her seat had been reassigned upon resumption of the session. Refusing to comply with the new arrangement, she challenged the decision, sparking a heated exchange. Tahir Monguno, Chief Whip raised a point of order, referencing sections of the Senate rule book to justify the reassignment. Read also: Senate to begin public hearing on tax reforms bills Monday He stated that the changes were necessary due to a shift in the Senate’s composition following the movement of some opposition members to the majority wing. According to Monguno, such adjustments fall within the constitutional prerogative of the Senate President. “Failure to comply with the new seating arrangement,” Monguno warned, “could lead to penalties, including being barred from participating in Senate discussions.” Quoting Senate rules, Monguno further emphasized, “Any senator who refuses to comply with a seat reassignment will not be recognized or allowed to contribute to discussions.” Upholding Monguno’s position, Akpabio ruled in favour of the order. However, when Senator Natasha raised her hand to speak, she was denied recognition for not addressing the chamber from her newly assigned seat. Unrelenting, she protested loudly, directly confronting the Senate President, “I don’t care if I am silenced, I am not afraid. You have denied me my privilege. “Mr Senate President, ever since the night-club incidence, you have deliberately silenced my voice. “My bills have not been able to scale through to second reading. “I am not afraid of being silenced, but I will do so in honour.” She added, “As a senator duly elected by my people, I chose to remain on this seat, come what may. “The worst you can do is to suspend me from this sitting and that will not stop me from contributing my quota to my constituency, the Senate and Nigeria as a whole.” Pointing her finger at Akpabio, she said, “Mr Senate President, I have taken a lot from you. “If you don’t want me to speak publicly, I will let the whole world know how you have discriminated against me, maligned me, dehumanized me. “Your choice of words have embarrassed me, Mr President, do what you may, I will not leave this seat.” As she continued voicing her objections, Akpabio instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms to intervene. He said, “Please take her out, so that we can continue with today’s activities.” However, instead of removing her, the Sergeant-at-Arms merely stood by as Natasha refused to vacate her previous seat. Coming under Order 42, Senator Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), the most senior senator from Kogi State, attempted to mediate, offering an apology on behalf of Natasha. “What you did in terms of the seating arrangement is within your power, and the reasons for it are genuine,” Jibrin acknowledged. “We are here guided by law, and everyone must be subject to the rule. On behalf of the senators from Kogi State, we plead with you to allow us to guide her and not escalate the matter further.” | SENATE; GODSWILL AKPABIO; NATASHA AKPOTI; SEATING ARRANGEMENT | BUSINESSDAY | ||||
| THE CABLE | 21 FEB 2025 | Adeleke shuns AGF’s advice, insists Osun LG poll will hold tomorrow, 22 Feb 2025 | Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, says the local government election in the state will hold as scheduled. The governor’s directive comes after Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, appealed to Adeleke to suspend the February 22 poll. On Thursday, Fagbemi said ousted LGA chairpersons must be reinstated since the court of appeal had dismissed the judgment of the lower court that sacked them. In a statement on Friday, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke’s spokesperson, said democracy is hinged on the rule of law and that nobody can assume the authority of the courts. “My advice to all parties, including local and national stakeholders, is to abide by democratic norms,” the statement reads. “As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self-help. “Election is going to hold and the outcome will be a fast-tracked development at the local level. I urge our people to remain peaceful. “Osun is a truly peaceful state.” BACKGROUND On Monday, violence broke out at some LGA secretariats in Osun after supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed. Bullets were fired during the clash as many residents scampered for safety, with at least six persons shot dead. The crisis in the state stemmed from the judgment of the court of appeal on sacked council chairpersons and councillors — who are members of the APC. The PDP claimed that the February 10 judgment of the court of appeal in Akure, Ondo state, did not reinstate the sacked chairpersons and councillors, while the APC insists that they were reinstated. In November 2022, the Osun governor directed the heads of local government areas and council development areas to take charge of their councils. The governor had said the decision was in compliance with a federal high court judgment that declared the LGA election that brought the chairpersons and councillors into office illegal. | AGF; OSUN; LOCAL ELECTIONS; | CABLE | ||||
| THE CABLE | 21 FEB 2025 | Anambra 2025: Former LP Governorship aspirant Valentine Ozigbo joins the APC less than 24 hours after quitting the LP. Ozigbo was also the 2021 PDP governorship candidate and lost to Charles Soludo. | "Valentine Ozigbo, a governorship aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) in Anambra state, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ozigbo joined the APC on Thursday alongside Nze Afam Okpalauzuegbu, the former Labour Party (LP) secretary, at their ward in Amesi area of the state. Ozigbo, who is aspiring to contest the Anambra governorship election, resigned his membership of the LP on Wednesday. The former chief executive officer (CEO) of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, said his decision to quit the party is in line with his “unwavering commitment” to the greater vision for the state." He contested the 2021 governorship election in Anambra on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lost to Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). When he declared his intention to run for the governorship seat in Anambra in 2024, Ozigbo said he was in the race to “save the state from collapse”. Reacting to the development, Bashir Ahmad, former special assistant on digital communications to Muhammadu Buhari, predicted that opposition party structures in the country will crumble before 2027. “We welcome Valentine Ozigbo to our great party, the All Progressives Congress. It is now clear that even before the time of the actual battle, all the formations of the opposing sides will disappear,” Ahmad wrote on X. The governorship election in Anambra has been slated for November 8 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). | LABOUR PARTY; ANAMBRA; APC; PDP; PETER OBI | CABLE | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 24 FEB 2025 | Osun State Crisis: Adeleke swears in new LG Chairmen as APC directs 'reinstated' Chairmen to resume work at Scretariat | Despite warnings from the police and the federal government, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, swore in the newly elected council chairmen in the state, who in turn inaugurated their councillors at their respective local governments. But the APC, has urged its reinstated chairmen and councillors to resume for duty today, and debunked fake news that the leadership of the APC in Osun, had directed their elected council chairmen and councillors not to resume. In the same breath, the national leadership of APC, has described the swearing-in of the ‘newly elected’ local government officials by Adeleke as provocative and a threat to peace and safety of the state. This was as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has said the conduct of last Saturday’s local government elections in Osun State was proof that in a democracy, power resided with the people. At the same time, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has warned the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, not to turn the state into another “wild wild west” of the Second Republic, and called for rule of law and counseling against resorting to self-help. Meanwhile, a public policy expert, Mallam Sulayman Nafiu, has decried the just concluded council polls, describing it as a “shameless mockery of democracy population census and a blatant affront to the rule of law.” Adeleke, who told the cheering chairmen and their supporters that, “We are on the side of the law within the context of rule of law and the constitution,” reeled off how the journey started. “We are all aware of the journey to where we are. The state is today rounding off a process that started a year or so ago. The state electoral body had issued due notice of election a year ago. “I know the commission had complied with all extant rules and procedures which led to the emergence of new local government chairmen and councillors. “We are equally aware of the legal controversies that dogged the holding of the election. It is however a thing of joy that the facts are out in the public domain and we are satisfied that we are on the side of the law within the context of rule of law and the constitution. “I congratulate all newly elected council chairmen and councillors. You have the mandate to deliver on good governance in your respective local governments. “I charge you to develop plans of action within the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As our government is transforming the state for the better, I call on you to be agents of change, community developer and deliverer of dividends of democracy. “To the good people of Osun State, I use this occasion to express my gratitude for your steadfast support for our administration. Osun people demonstrated courage and passion to exercise their voting rights and they did so by massively supporting our party despite all the constraints. We will not fail you. People’s welfare will continue to be our watchword. “Our thanks also goes to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission for discharging its mandate professionally and with all sense of responsibilities. We also commend security agencies and state officials who made the election a reality. “I should not end this address without acknowledging the contributions of Mr President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am most grateful to Mr President for rejecting efforts by some forces to plunge Osun into chaos. “I assure Mr President of our commitment to the rule of law and the constitution for conflict resolution and governance process,” the governor noted. He, however, directed the elected chairman and councillors to stay away from the local government secretariats to avoid any clash with those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats. “An Osun State High Court had affirmed the vacancies in both the Chairman and Councillors positions in all of Osun State Local Governments before your election on the 22nd February 2025. | OSUN; LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION; APC; PDP | THISDAY | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 24 FEB 2025 | Leaders of Ogoni Community insist on state creation as condition for oil exploration | The Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State has said that state creation is the only thing that can assuage their grudges of neglect, marginalisation and part of the conditions for the resumption of oil exploration in the area. They have, therefore, called on the Federal Government to expedite moves to create “Ogoni State” with the capital in Bori town. About 20 communities in Gokana Local Council made the call during a town hall meeting held in the council at the weekend. The people requested the implementation of the Ogoni Bill of Rights, including political autonomy, control over Ogoni economic resources, adequate representation in Nigerian institutions, protection of the Ogoni environment, and the development of Ogoni culture and language. They also demanded self-determination for the Ogoni people amid severe exploitation and environmental degradation, primarily caused by oil companies operating in the area. Kattey said that the town hall meeting is a crucial part of a series of grassroots consultations the committee has diligently planned. He said: “We are here to ensure that the voices of the people of Gokana, and all of Ogoni resonate loudly and clearly in the ongoing dialogue with the Federal Government. Your insights, experiences, and aspirations are vital to shaping our collective future.” ALSO, the monarchs and entire indigenes of Ilaje nation, Ondo State, have made an appeal to the Federal Government against moves that will adversely affect the existing inter-state relationships between Ondo and Ogun. The President-General, Egbe Omo Ilaje World-Wide, Prince Iwamitigha Raphael Irowainu, who appealed during a press briefing, at the weekend, in Lagos, said Ilaje people have rejected their rumoured inclusion in the proposed Ijebu State. Irowainu also begged the Federal Government to ensure that Ilaje towns and villages, merged with the present Ogun State in 1976, are returned to their kith and kin in Ondo State, as advised by the Irikefe panel on the creation of states and boundary adjustment in 1975. He said: “As far as we are aware, the move to include Ilaje land or any part of Ilaje local council area in the proposed Ijebu State does not enjoy the support of any section or kingdom in Ilaje land. In the ongoing state and local council creation proposed before the National Assembly, we made bold to confirm that there was never any request to include Ilaje land in the proposed Ijebu State. “If we had wanted such a demand, we could have submitted such desire to the committee on the proposal of state and local council areas creation at the National Assembly.” While affirming that their consent was not sought on such a far-reaching political decision and arrangement, Irowainu noted that for the avoidance of doubt, they shall under the law resist, vehemently, any attempt to include Ilaje land in the proposed Ijebu State or any other proposed state of whatever name called. | OGONI; STATE CREATION; OIL EXPLORATION | GUARDIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 24 FEB 2025 | Ogoni People accuse National Security Adviser of manipulating consultation on oil exploration, petitions Tinubu to wade in. | The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has petitioned President Bola Tinubu over the alleged selective approach by the consultative team set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to interface with all facets of Ogoni society for possible oil resumption. MOSOP President, Fegalo Nsuke, in a petition signed on Sunday in Abuja, said the team was avoiding the Ogoni Masterplan prescribed by the association, which stated the operationalisation of the Ogoni Development Authority (ODA). Nsuke accused the NSA’s group, which comprises mainly “political appointees,” of seeking to set aside a unanimous decision of their Central Committee on September 27, 2020, and the Congress decision of November 30, 2024, which endorsed the ODA as the acceptable pathway to resolving the problem before oil resumption. He added that the team has never discussed development; rather, “they want to manipulate people to achieve a predetermined goal,” saying the NSA’s oil resumption campaigners are politicians who are afraid to speak the truth and are sitting on both sides of the table to bring confusion to the process. The MOSOP President, therefore, urged Mr. President to intervene in the situation immediately to forestall any conflicts that could arise between the local people and the manipulative tendencies of the allies of the NSA group. He added, “We want Tinubu to intervene and ensure that the trust of the people is not eroded to the point where they become resistant. So, the President’s intervention is necessary to forestall any possible crises that could trigger and to ensure that the process succeeds with the alignment of the people. “When people are oppressed, it is absolutely right and natural for them to seek justice and to resist such oppression. However, such resistance must be conducted peacefully. Mr. President, as a father of the nation, deserves the truth at all times. “However, all of them have an interest in one oil company or the other that they plan to project for oil drilling when the time comes. But Ogoni people will definitely resist them because they don’t have any good plans for the people.” Nsuke frowned at the current approach of the NSA’s team, describing it as repressive and coercive. He alleged that some members of the NSA’s team have issued threats against civil society activists, warning that such threats were not healthy for a society that has been the harbinger of human rights struggles. | MOSOP; NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER; OGONI | GUARDIAN | ||||
| PEOPLES GAZETTE | 24 FEB 2025 | Happening NOW: Lucky Aiyedatiwa gets inaugurated as the Executive Governor of Ondo State. | Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa pardoned 43 convicts on Monday to celebrate his swearing-in as governor. Mr Aiyedatiwa will be sworn in on Monday as the seventh elected governor of the state after winning the November 16, 2024, governorship election. This was disclosed in a statement by his spokesperson, Ebenezer Adeniyan. The government said the pardon follows the recommendation by the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the attorney general and commissioner for justice, Kayode Ajulo. “As part of this initiative, the governor has ordered the outright release of eight individuals who were previously incarcerated. “Additionally, 15 condemned inmates who were sentenced to death by hanging have had their sentences commuted to various prison terms, while 20 other convicts serving life imprisonment have also had their sentences adjusted to more lenient terms. “This momentous decision was made to commemorate Governor Aiyedatiwa’s swearing-in today, reflecting his commitment to reformative justice and humane governance,” the statement said. The governor’s action, it added, aligns with his ongoing efforts to address issues within the penal system and to promote the reintegration of individuals into society as productive members. | ONDO; LUCKY AIYEDATIWA; | PEOPLESGAZETTE | ||||
| THE CABLE | 24 FEB 2025 | APC calls on the Federal Government to withhold LG allocation from new Osun chairpersons. | The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the federal government to allocate federal funds to only “democratically elected” and “judicially certified” local government officials in Osun. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the 30 LGAs and 332 wards in the controversial election held on Saturday. BACKGROUND The buildup to the election was marred by violence, controversies, and litigations, as sacked APC chairpersons sought to return to their offices on the basis of a court ruling. The PDP claimed that the February 10 judgment of the court of appeal in Akure, Ondo state, did not reinstate the sacked chairpersons and councillors elected in 2022, while the APC insisted it did. On February 20, Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, advised Ademola Adeleke, Osun governor, to direct the state electoral commission to halt the process. Fagbemi said the ousted LGA chairpersons must be reinstated since the court of appeal had dismissed the judgment of the lower court that sacked them. However, Adeleke insisted the election would proceed as scheduled. The APC and Labour Party withdrew from the vote ahead of polling. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) also called for the suspension of the LG election over a likelihood of violence and security threats. The Osun state high court in Osogbo would later order the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to conduct the election. In November 2022, the Osun governor directed the heads of LGAs and council development areas to take charge of their councils. The governor said the decision was in compliance with a federal high court judgment that declared the LG election that brought the chairpersons and councillors into office as illegal. OSUN LG POLL A CONTEMPT OF COURT, SAYS APC In a statement, Felix Morka, APC national spokesperson, said Saturday’s election was a “disgraceful sham — illegal and unconstitutional”. Morka described the poll as a “wanton disregard” for the rule of law and a subsisting appeal court judgment. The APC spokesperson said his party respected the federal high court’s ruling, exercised restraint, and diligently pursued an appeal. He added that the APC did not resort to violence or self help. The ruling party also wondered why it was difficult for Adeleke, who swore an oath to uphold and defend the constitution, to abide by a valid order of the court of appeal reinstating the sacked local government officials. “Why is the Governor and his PDP vehement on taking matters into their own hands in disregard of a valid judgement of the Court of Appeal? Why is Governor Adeleke so desperate and determined to incite anarchy in Osun state with impunity?” the statement reads. “And why is the Governor so unaffected by the already tragic loss of lives of innocent citizens of the state in reckless breach of his duty to protect lives and property of all citizens in the state?” The APC spokesperson described the election as a “reckless waste of public funds, and an irresponsible incitement to further violence in the state”. “Governor Adeleke is under constitutional responsibility to respect and uphold the laws of our land, including giving effect to binding court judgements notwithstanding his personal or partisan political wishes or preferences,” the statement added. “As he was quick to issue an executive order sacking the local government officials based on the Federal High Court judgment of 2022, Governor Adeleke is under clear constitutional obligation to similarly comply with the Court of Appeal judgment reinstating the same officials. “In keeping with the rule of law, it is our expectation that the federal government make federal allocation for local governments available only to democratically elected and judicially certified local government officials in Osun state.” The APC added that local government workers in Osun state should carry out their duties peacefully, respecting the authority of the “judicially reinstated chairmen and councillors”. | APC; PDP; OSUN CRISIS; LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN | CABLE | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 25 FEB 2025 | APC holds caucus meeting today while its NEC is set to meet tomorrow, 26 February 2025 | The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has scheduled its National Executive Committee meeting for Wednesday, February 26, the first in the last one and half years. Adedayo Akinwale writes. If the notice issued by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is anything to go by, the ruling party will hold its National Caucus meeting on Tuesday, February 25, while the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 18 months after the last meeting was held. The National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, in a notice issued last Friday said the Caucus meeting is billed to hold at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa by 6 pm on Tuesday, while the NEC meeting will take place at the party’s national secretariat on Wednesday in Abuja. The notice read: “Notice is hereby given for the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party. Note that the National Executive Committee (NEC) is one of the organs of the Party under Article 11 of the party’s constitution.” While the party indicated that all arrangement for the party’s NEC meeting has been concluded, party chieftains are cautious considering the last-minute cancellation of the caucus and NEC meetings scheduled to hold on September 11 and 12, 2024. The last time the ruling party held NEC meeting was on August 3, 2023 when its former chairman, Senator Abdulahi Adamu and Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore were forced to resign their positions, with Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje and Basiru drafted in to pilot the affairs of the party. The ruling party’s constitution stipulates that: “The National Executive Committee shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the National Chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two-thirds of the members of the NEC provided that not less than 14 days’ notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.” “Without prejudice to Article 25(B)(i) of this Constitution, the NWC may summon an emergency NEC meeting at any time, provided that at least seven days’ notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.” But in clear violation of its constitution, the ruling party has not held the NEC meeting for 18 months. Expectedly, the failure of the party leadership to organise NEC meetings in the past 18 months has created bad blood within the party considering the fact that the NEC meeting is supposed to be held every quarter according to the party’s constitution. This development was one of the reasons why the former National Vice Chairman North-West of the party, Dr. Salihu Lukman resigned his membership, while the immediate past governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai recently launched attacks against the party for the same reason. While some chieftains of the party have voiced their frustration over the inability of the leadership of the party to organise NEC meetings, others preferred to grumble. El-Rufai recently said the affairs of the ruling party was being directed by illiterates, semi illiterates and cunning people as leaders. “I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show. You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today,” he had said. Responding to El-Rufai’s claim on national television, APC National Secretary maintained that the opinion expressed by the former governor was based on fiction and outright fallacies. Basiru explained that the party has about nine organs including executives at the unit level, ward level, local government, state, zonal level, NWC, NEC, national caucus, National Advisory Council and the convention. He was of the opinion that the fact that the national caucus and NEC have not met for about two years should not be used as a barometer to say other organs of the party are not functioning. The national secretary said, “That is not true. I was elected at the NEC of our meeting held on August 3, 2023. Is 2023 August 3, up to two years? The answer is No!. So to say that NEC has not met in the past two years is to fit into the falsehood of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. “I wouldn’t want to get distracted with the fallacious statement of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. We are focused on winning the election in Anambra, on retaining power in Ekiti state, and, of course, sensing the marauders in Osun. That’s the focus, I will not let anybody distract us from our objective as a political party.” Nevertheless, analysts believe that while there was no doubt that the leadership of the party has flagrantly violated the party’s constitution, they were of the opinion that no date for NEC or caucus meeting could be fixed by the NWC without a green light from the President, who is the leader of the party. With the caucus meeting of the ruling party on the cards on Tuesday, one of the issues expected to be considered is to fix a date to organise a non-elective convention in accordance with the party’s constitution. For emphasis, Article 25(A)(i) of the APC Constitution specifies that, “The National Convention of the party shall be held in two years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee (NWC) and approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC), subject to giving statutory notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and at least, 14 days’ notice given to members eligible to attend.” Checks revealed that the proposed non-elective convention, which is one of the issues to be discussed during the National Caucus meeting on Tuesday may have laid to rest speculations and uncertainty about the future of the current national officers of the party. Ever since President Tinubu appointed members of the NWC of the party into the boards of federal government agencies, there had been rumours that their days in office may be numbered. But the agenda for the caucus meeting appeared to have put that to rest. Other issues for consideration and adoption at the NEC meeting include the party’s financial and audit reports for the 2022/2023 fiscal year, the budget proposal for 2025, and more importantly, the up-to-date payment of check-off dues by the National Assembly members and federal appointees, who are members of the ruling party. Besides, NEC members at the meeting would also be briefed on the concluded off-cycle gubernatorial elections held since the 2023 general elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo, Edo, and Ondo states, as well as the run-off elections, and preparation ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship poll in Anambra State. The agenda for the Caucus meeting also include the issue of the standing committees, a presentation on the establishment of The Progressive Institute (TPI), membership e-registration and a report from the national legal adviser over the various litigations involving the ruling party still pending before the court of law. According to the constitution of the party, those expected at the caucus meeting include the party’s national chairman, who will lead other nine NWC members, comprising deputy national chairman for North and South, national secretary, legal adviser, treasurer, organising secretary, women leader, youth leader, and leader of persons living with disabilities. Others expected are former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Jubril Barau, past and incumbent state governors and former national chairmen and secretaries of the ruling party. | APC; NEC; NWC; | THISDAY | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 25 FEB 2025 | National Census: Tinubu moves to set up committee for realistic census budget | Nigeria took a step closer on Monday to conducting a new national population and housing census with biometric and digital components. The nation last held a census in November 2006. President Bola Tinubu, at a meeting at the State House, Abuja with officials of the National Population Commission (NPC), disclosed that he would set up a committee to align the census budget to the government’s present financial realities. He also directed that the National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) must be part of the review. His words: “We should work on our financial muscle well in place to lift our burden before we go and meet development partners for the census. We should work out the figures before discussing the role of development partners. “This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So we better have a definite path. I will set up a committee for you to look at the issues critically and do a source and application of resources. Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on proclamation?” According to him, “We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture and food sovereignty. So many problems come up without accurate data.” He reiterated his commitment to ensuring accurate and reliable figures from the national census to strengthen development planning and improve Nigerians’ living conditions through more efficient social security. The NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, and some other members briefed the President. President Tinubu noted that government incentives, such as the sale and distribution of fertilisers, could be easily improved with more reliable data and demographics. The president told the delegation that biometric capturing should be central to the process, with multiple identification features, including facial and voice recognition. On his part, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said the census data would be central to future planning and resource distribution. “At a retreat for the ministers in 2023, Mr President, you reiterated your commitment to the census, so there is no doubt about your desire and commitment to have the census. In fact, at the last Federal Executive Council meeting, you asked me what the problem was, and I told you it was simply an issue of lack of ability to fund the census. “Even today, before this meeting, I called the NPC Chairman and restated your commitment to the census. However, the commission and all of us in the team need to agree on the minimum amount we can source to support Mr President in making the final decision. “The NPC indicated that 40 per cent of the funding for the 2006 census came from development partners,” Bagudu stated. He noted that the enumeration done by NPC so far has been helpful. “Mr President, we have been having ecosystem meetings to link the identity agencies, even the geo-spatial chaired by the ministry, because of our mandate as the supervising ministry of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). So the NPC, NBS, NIMC, Ministry of Digital Economy, passport, social register, voters register, and even telecoms data have been meeting with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to see how much is available to the government regarding data and how much optimisation can take place,” Bagudu further said. Earlier in his presentation, NPC chairman, Kwarra, said the last census took place in 2006, and 19 years later, the figures were no longer relevant in planning, particularly for key sectors that directly impact the population. He said 760,000 tablets had been acquired and stored with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), assuring the commission would engage with development partners to seek support whenever President Tinubu proclaimed the new census. | CENSUS; TINUBU; BUDGET | THISDAY | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 25 FEB 2025 | In commemoration of his inauguration, Aiyedatiwa pardons 43 inmates | Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been sworn in as the seventh elected civilian governor of the state. He was sworn in alongside his deputy, Olayide Adelami, yesterday, at the Akure Township Stadium. Chief Judge of the state, Olusegun Odusola, administered the oath on Aiyedatiwa and Adelami amid the presence of the people of the state and dignitaries who thronged the state. The duo, while taking the oath of office as the number one and number two citizens, vowed to uphold the constitution, work within its dictates, and ensure the well-being of the people of the state. Meanwhile, the governor has pardoned no fewer than 43 inmates serving different jail terms across the various correctional centres in the state. The pardon by the governor was made as part of activities commemorating his inauguration as well as his efforts in sustaining and enhancing reformative justice in the state. According to Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in a statement made available to The Guardian, the move by Aiyedatiwa was hinged on the recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy headed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the state. IN another development, the United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRFP) has petitioned the Ondo State government over the deteriorating condition of the Akure Township Stadium. The group called for urgent intervention to restore the facility and address the challenges faced by Sunshine Stars FC and their supporters. It expressed disappointment over the prolonged neglect of the stadium. In a petition, signed by its National Coordinator, Olaseni Shalom, the group said that the facility’s poor state had forced Sunshine Stars FC to play their home matches outside the state, particularly at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State. It described the development as unacceptable, saying that playing home matches in another state will deprive the team of the morale-boosting support of their home fans. | ONDO; SWEARING IN; AIYEDATIWA; APC | GUARDIAN | ||||
| CABLE | 25 FEB 2025 | Constituent files action, seeks court to declare Ned Nwoko's seat vacant for defection. | A suit has been filed before the Abuja federal high court seeking to declare the seat of Ned Nwoko, the senator representing Delta north, vacant after he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The case, marked FCH/ABJ/CS/325/2025, also urged the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election within 60 days of delivering judgment to fill the seat, which would be made vacant. The plaintiff, Marvis Ossai, a constituent and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argued that Nwoko’s continued stay in office after leaving the opposition party violates the constitution. He maintained that there was no division within the PDP at the time of Nwoko’s defection, making his switch to the APC unconstitutional. “That the ideology of the 1st defendant’s new party, All Progressives Congress (APC), to which the 1st defendant now fully subscribes, does not bear any similarity or represent the political philosophy of the People’s Democratic Party (which is the basis upon which the plaintiff resolved to cast his vote for and elected the defendant in 2023),” the plaintiff averred. | NED NWOKO; NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; DEFECTION | CABLE | ||||
| CHANNELS TV | 25 FEB 2025 | NNPP suspends Senator representing Kano South alongside three others over alleged anti-party activities | The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has suspended Senator Kawu Sumaila, who represents Kano South Senatorial district, over alleged anti-party activities and his association with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje. Advertisement Senator Kawu was suspended alongside three other party members—Ali Madakin Gini, Sani Abdullahi Rogo, and Kabiru Alhassan Rurum. The decision was announced by the NNPP leadership in Kano State on Sunday. Addressing journalists at a press conference in Kano, the chairman of the NNPP’s Kano State chapter, Hashimu Dungurawa said the suspended members had violated party principles by engaging in actions contrary to the party’s ideology. “These individuals were elected into the National Assembly under the NNPP platform, yet they have chosen to betray the trust placed in them by the party,” Dungurawa stated. “Their actions contradict the principles and tenets of our party, and as such, we are left with no choice but to take disciplinary action.” Dungurawa specifically condemned Senator Kawu’s alleged disloyalty, pointing out that the NNPP had granted him and the others complimentary tickets during the last elections. He expressed disappointment that despite this support, they had aligned themselves with figures from the opposition party. “What is even more shocking is that key members of the APC were invited to Senator Kawu’s daughter’s wedding, as well as the commissioning of some of his projects in Sumaila Local Government Area. This is a clear indication of where his loyalty lies,” Dungurawa added. However, the NNPP chairman left room for reconciliation, stating that if the suspended members acknowledged their mistakes and sought forgiveness, the party might reconsider its decision. “If they realize their errors and come back to the party with genuine remorse, we will consider reinstating them,” he said. | NNPP; KANO SOUTH; ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITIES | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| VANGUARD | 26 FEB 2025 | INEC publishes notice of FCT Area Council elections. Recall that Section 28 of the Electoral Act mandates the Commission to publish a notice of election not later than 360 days before the day appointed. The election comes up on 21 Feb. 2026 | The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has published the “Notice of Polls” for the Saturday, February 21, 2026 Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja. In the notice published on Wednesday, INEC said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS shall be used for the exercise and that no one will be able to vote without his or her Permanent Voter Card PVC. The notice states; “This is to inform the general public that the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC will conduct election in the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory FCT as follows; Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026 Time: 8:30am Venue: All Polling Units in the Federal Capital Territory FCT “Note that eligible voters shall vote at polling units where they are registered. “Only persons whose names appear on the register of voters and have valid Permanent Voter Cards would be allowed to vote “The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS shall be used. No PVC, no voting”. | ELECTION; ELECTORAL ACT; AREA COUNCIL ELECTION; | VANGUARD | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 26 FEB 2025 | Senate refers Natasha to disciplinary Committee over seating arrangement dispute | The Senate has unanimously voted to refer Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review, following her recent seating arrangement dispute. The Kogi Senator had engaged in a shouting match on February 20 after discovering that her seat had been changed without her consent. The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to report back on its findings. The decision was reached following a voice vote after lawmakers revisited the controversy surrounding the recent altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership over seat allocation, with lawmakers underpinning the need to uphold parliamentary rules and decorum. In a motion raised under Order 1(b) and 10, condemning what he described as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” during the Senate session on February 20, Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, revived the saga on the floor, stating that “from that Thursday, the media was awash with this issue and I had to work on mending the perception of the 10th Senate. The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight functions.” He urged the Senate leadership to enforce discipline, warning that “Where there is sin, there must be a penalty.” Supporting Adaramodu, the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, also weighed in, reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to its rules and internal order. According to him, “There is no one who does not have an opinion on this issue, but we are unified by our rules. Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable.” Advertisement He dismissed claims that the dispute was rooted in gender bias or discrimination, citing examples of senior senators who had accepted seat changes without protest. In response, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to review the entire incident and report back to the chamber. Akpabio recalled that the Senate rules allow members to sit anywhere, but contributions must be made from their designated seats. He suggested that unfamiliarity with Senate procedures may have contributed to the altercation. He stated that “the first day she was sworn in, she stood up to contribute, and I was worried if she had even read the rule book. There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure.” Advertisement Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of Senate rules, he underscored that all senators must conduct themselves with decorum, including prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking water or being disruptive during sittings. “The rules empower the Senate President to suspend a senator for infractions for at least 14 days. It’s not me who made the rules, it’s in the rule book.” | AKPABIO; NATASHA; ETHICS AND PRIVILEGES; | GUARDIAN | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 27 FEB 2025 | APC NEC Meeting: Members pass vote of confidence in Tinubu as he charges NWC to set up reconciliatory committees to settle grievances. Ganduje says NWC inherited over N8bn debt. Buhari, Osibanjo absent. | President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, received a major nod to seek re-election in 2027 as members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) passed a confidence vote in him amid shouts of “no vacancy in Aso Rock”. This endorsement followed after the standard “on your mandate we shall stand” song, which rented the air immediately Tinubu arrived at the meeting venue. Tinubu, who smiled for the whole time the meeting lasted, while the mandate song from party members also subsisted, later took over proceedings, but did not stop the song or make any attempt to. The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, moved the motion for a vote of confidence to be passed in Tinubu, and it was seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State. The vote of confidence in Tinubu, however, marked the highlight of the meeting by party members for his administration’s good performance. Speaking after the frenzy of ‘no vacancy in Aso Rock’, Tinubu declared that the country was already on the path of economic recovery, citing crash in prices of foodstuff as a critical indicator. The president, who spoke in Abuja at the NEC meeting of the ruling APC, the first in two years, expressed his determination to work harder for the greater good of Nigeria. Equally, at the NEC meeting, Tinubu directed the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to set up committees to reconcile aggrieved members of the party. National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, who spoke on the state of the party, revealed that the NWC under his leadership inherited a debt of N8,987,874,663 when he assumed office. National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, while addressing the recent attacks on the party and the Tinubu administration by former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, urged the ex-governor to respect his status. Similarly, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, has commended Tinubu for extending Ganduje’s tenure as APC national chairman. Pledging to continue to work diligently, with other arms of government, to ensure the greater good of Nigerians, Tinubu commended APC governors and party executives for their continued commitment. He stated, “I’m grateful to all Nigerians for the electoral successes recorded from one state to the other. “Governors, you have embraced these changes, and I thank the leadership of our party. I also thank members of the National Assembly for expeditiously considering the budget. “We can only build the party on a progressive platform to deliver good service to Nigerians.” The president said the vote of confidence in him from the party’s highest decision-making organ was a call for more work, and promised not to fail the party and Nigerians. He said, “I am happy with your vote of confidence, and I accept it. The vote is a challenge to do more work. We will vigorously pursue our sovereignty in food security, investment and development. “I am happy with food prices coming down, especially as Ramadan approaches. The sun is high, and the sky is bright outside. While the rest of the world unravels, we see growth in Nigeria. We are seeing a gradual return to stability. We are seeing improvements. I thank you, governors. “Everywhere in the world, especially in Europe, we have economic shocks and we are doing everything possible.” Tinubu thanked Nigerians for their continued belief and trust in APC. He called for measures to end some of the crises in APC states. He stressed, “The National Working Committee is doing a very good job. I am pleased with them. However, there are a few conflicts in the various states. “Let’s set up committees to look into the lingering problems in the states and appeal to these party leaders in various states to, please, be calm and be collaborative. “In all the various states let us set up reconciliatory committees to liaise with these aggrieved leaders. I am appealing to them, please, be calm. “I am grateful to all Nigerians for the electoral successes that we have from one state to another and I am also happy for the various people joining us in the National Assembly.” The president challenged the NEC to find a way to celebrate the progressive ideals of his administration, while assuring the governors and Nigerians that he would sustain the progressive change. Earlier, in his address, Ganduje thanked members for their steadfastness in the face of challenges and assured them that the party would continue to deliver on its electoral promises. “Though the journey has been very challenging for us as a ruling party, given the big task we have at hand and the expectations from Nigerians, we can sufficiently submit that we have collectively risen to the occasion and challenges,” he said. Ganduje said the ruling party had embarked on massive reconciliation of aggrieved party members. He said the move was gradually yielding desired positive results for the party. According to him, “Through dialogue, we have initiated high level discussions among party leaders and other stakeholders with a view to resolving lingering differences between our members. “The conflict reconciliation committee, which you are about to approve, will build on this.” Ganduje stressed that another promise NWC was fulfilling was the improvement of the membership base of the party. He said, “Today, we have in our fold the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, who led prominent politicians from other political parties to join us. Notable among them are former Labour Party governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Edwin Nkwegu, Senator Obinna Ogba, Senator Uche Ekwunife from Anambra State, and thousands of their supporters.” Ganduje, however, disclosed that NWC, which he led, inherited a debt of N8,987,874,663 when he came into office. He added that the inherited debts were expenses incurred during pre-election legal battles, election cases, and appeals for legislative, governorship, and presidential elections. “The current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8,987,874,663, arising from various legal engagements,” he said. He stated that the National Legal Adviser, Professor Abdul Kana (SAN), had been working to reduce the debt burden through dialogue and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Ganduje appealed for the intervention of NEC. “We still passionately appeal to the National Executive Committee to intervene accordingly,” he said. President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting Tinubu in lifting the country from its economic and development woes. “The senate will expeditiously pass bills that would enhance our national development, improve the economy and redirect our national pathway,” he said. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, commended the president for his vision and courage in making unpopular but essential decisions, saying the decisions are pivotal for Nigeria’s development efforts. The motion for indefinite adjournment was moved by a member of the House of Representatives, Patrick Ndubeze, at 2:26pm. It was seconded by Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi. Some of the NEC members in attendance were the governors of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo; Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Benue State, Hyacinth Alia; Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji; Kaduna State, Musa Sani; Nasarawa State, Abdulahi Sule; Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; Kogi State, Usman Ododo; Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; Niger State, Mohammed Bago; and Jigawa State, Umar Namadi. Former governors in attendance included Senator Abdulaziz Yari; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Yahaya Bello; and Bello Matawalle. At the meeting, too, were Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu; former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; and other principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, and others. But former President Muhammadu Buhari, his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, Chibuike Amaechi, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and others, were absent.As statutory members of the party’s NEC, they were expected to attend the meeting. Their absence might not be unconnected with the cracks within the ruling party. El-Rufai had been up in arms against the leadership of the party, especially criticising their refusal to hold NEC meeting for 18 months. The former governor had also launched attacks on the policies of the Tinubu administration. Addressing journalists at the end of the NEC meeting, Morka, said NEC had ratified the zoning of the party’s chairmanship position to the North-west He added that a seven-member committee to be chaired by Buni was assigned the task of bringing more members into the party’s NEC. Morka urged El-Rufai to respect his status as a former minister and former governor. He said contrary to El-Rufai’s claims, all organs of the party were functional. Morka stated, “All organs of the party are working. What the former governor of Kaduna State said, there is a difference between party men and people who speak because they have a grievance. “Grievance-driven commentaries are not to be taken seriously. It was clear from all the comments that the former governor has a an axe to grind. “But for today’s meeting, I was prepared to respond to the former governor and to suggest to him that some of his recent engagements are unnecessary for someone, who occupies the position that he has occupied in this country. “Men who are respected must also continue to justify the respect they get. It is not a good idea that once you are dissatisfied, especially when it comes to personal experiences, then you want to visit your personal grievances on the system of a political party. “El-Rufai is just one person. Yes, he is a former minister and former governor, he has been up there but at the end of the day he is just one person in the party scheme. “He is a highly respected citizen but my advice and counsel to him is that he needs to speak in a manner that is befitting of his status. Otherwise, if he continues to engage, people have a right to reply.” On the absence of some leaders, he said, “As far as I know, I have never known a caucus meeting of our party or NEC meeting of our party attended a hundred per cent by all members of NEC or caucus, and I am not sure that there is really any political party where you have 100 per cent attendance for such meetings.” Morka said the party held its NEC at the convenience of the president whose itinerary was crowded. He stated, “Rest assured that every member of Caucus and NEC was invited. The list of members today was comprehensive. As a matter of fact, we enlarged the list for the meeting today. We had more members invited than we did previously.” Meanwhile, Ata has commended Tinubu for extending Ganduje’s tenure as the APC national chairman. In a statement in Kano by the minister’s aide, Seyi Olorunsola, Ata said the extension of Ganduje’s leadership reflected the party’s unwavering confidence in the national chairman of the ruling party. The minister stated, “This decision, ratified during the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held on February 25, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reflects the party’s unwavering confidence in Dr. Ganduje’s leadership. “Since assuming the role of National Chairman on August 3, 2023, Ganduje had demonstrated exceptional leadership, steering the APC to remarkable successes in various elections.” Ata maintained that under Ganduje’s guidance, the party achieved significant victories in off-cycle governorship elections, notably in Edo, Ondo, Kogi, and Imo States. | APC NEC MEETING; VOTE OF CONFIDENCE; NWC; 2027 ELECTIONS | THISDAY | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 27 FEB 2025 | PDP holds South-East Zonal Congress, re-elects Odefa as National Vice Chairman | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reelected Chief Ali Odefa as the Southeast National Vice Chairman of the party. Odefa’s reelection followed the nullification of his purported expulsion by an Ebonyi State High Court sitting in Obiozara and presided by Justice Gladson Ugbala, which ordered that Odefa was qualified and eligible to contest for a second term. Odefa was declared winner during the zonal Congress held at Okpara Square in Enugu State yesterday. Declaring the results, chairman of the Electoral panel, Hon. Funkeke Mye Solomon, said all the zonal officers emerged unopposed, adding that the congress was free, fair and credible. Other Zonal officers, who won were Ugwu James Okechukwu, Secretary; Uchebo Regina, Treasurer; Ugwu Cornelius, Organising Secretary; Igwe Augustine, Publicity Secretary; Kenneth Okoro, Financial Secretary, Dominic Nwankwo, Legal Adviser; Ezeanya Augustine, Auditor; Arodiogbu Ifeanyinwa, Women Leader and Nwanoruo Godswill, Youth Leader. In his acceptance speech, Odefa appreciated all the delegates and promised that he would use the fresh mandate to right all the wrongs in the past. “We want to appreciate our leader in the zone, Governor Peter Mbah despite the enormity of the work you are doing in Enugu State, you still find ways of giving us the much you have given to us. “We want to also appreciate on the delegates that voted for us today and repose their confidence in us. It is our promise and pledge that we will not let you down and we will make you proud. “We have a fresh mandate of four years and within these periods, we will right all the wrongs we have made in the past. I also equally want to use this medium to appeal to our brothers and sisters who may feel aggrieved with this process or the outcome to shield their swords. “Let us come together to build a party all of us can be proud of. It is better we are fighting inside the government house or inside the villa than to be fighting outside of power. “When we fight outside of power, there is nothing to share. But when we come together and put the government in place then there are patronage that can happen,” h said. He further appealed to other stakeholders from the zone to support the efforts and sacrifices of the leader of the party. | SOUTH EAST ZONAL CONGRESS, PDP | THISDAYLIVE | ||||
| THE CABLE | 27 FEB 2025 | Chairman of the House of Reps Committee on Disability Matters calls for tax exemptions for PWDs | Bashiru Dawodu, chairman of the house of representatives committee on disability matters, has called for tax exemptions for people living with disabilities (PWDs) and tax incentives for businesses supporting them. Speaking during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) among PWD organisations, Dawodu harped on the need for greater government commitment to protecting disability rights. The lawmaker said the committee would present its position at the public hearing of the tax reform bills. He advocated for tax credits and waivers for companies manufacturing disability equipment, scholarships for special education teachers, and a disability trust fund. The legislator also spoke about tax relief for companies with PWDs on their payroll. He criticised the slow pace of implementation of the 2018 Disability Act, citing the five-year moratorium and lack of enforcement by government agencies and the private sector. He confirmed that the house is working on amendments with stricter penalties. Dawodu highlighted the act’s provisions for accessibility in public spaces, education, and healthcare, lamenting that only 22 states have domesticated the law. He urged the remaining states to follow suit and criticised the “paltry” N2 billion budgetary allocation to the disability commission, calling it a reflection of the government’s lack of commitment. The committee chair said government needs to improve collaboration with NGOs in a bid to improve the lives of Nigeria’s estimated 35 million PWDs. | HOUSE OF REPS; PWDS; TAX EXEMPTION | CABLE | ||||
| THE CABLE | 27 FEB 2025 | House of Reps move to establish Security and Intelligence Trust Fund as bill passes 2nd reading. | The house of representatives is considering establishing a security and intelligence trust fund. The bill has passed first and second reading in the lower legislative chamber. Speaking on Tuesday at a public hearing organised for the bill, Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, said the proposed legislation intends to boost the capacity of Nigeria’s security and intelligence architecture. “As you are aware, the security of life and property is a very vital nation-building tool. It is the most effective instrument in attracting investment and ensuring even development of a country,” Abbas said. “Therefore, the importance of security cannot be over-emphasised especially in a country like ours that is pulling all the necessary plugs to attract investment and create opportunities for jobs and employment of our youths.” Abbas said security has been a major challenge in the country, and Nigerians cannot “gloss over” the loss of human lives and properties arising from banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, oil and solid minerals theft, insurgency among others. “These have had the combined effect of scaring investors and creating humanitarian challenges through the displacement of families,” he said. “They have also created issues with food security arising from desertion of farms by farmers. It is therefore imperative that we use the instrumentality of the law to address these challenges effectively.” The speaker said despite these challenges, security forces have continued to work hard to maintain security of lives and property. He said the trust fund would help increase the funding of the security agencies and enhance their capacities for intelligence gathering, training, and equipment with the overall aim of nipping security challenges in the bud. Ahmad Satomi, chairman of the committee on national security and intelligence, said the fund will primarily be deployed to the training and retraining of personnel of Nigerian security agencies. He said it would also be used to procure state-of-the-art security and intelligence equipment and other necessary infrastructure/related facilities for the enhancement of the technical competency and readiness of the nation’s security personnel in all areas of their operations. “The fund will ensure the upgrade and maintenance of the training institutions to global standards, make resources available for research and development, including the utilisation of the outcome of such research to bring the intelligence agencies, the armed forces, and relevant paramilitary agencies at par with world best security agencies in this digital age,” he said. “Over the years, Nigerian intelligence agencies have been grossly underfunded. Rather, more resources have been devoted to kinetic responses to our nation’s security challenges. “The truth which is globally recognised is that kinetic operations cannot sustainably guarantee the provision of peace and security in any country. “At best, the contribution of kinetic response to sustainability of peace and security cannot exceed 30 percent at the most. “Therefore, it is time to lay more emphasis on intelligence gathering, intelligence sharing, collaborative deployment and utilisation of actionable intelligence if we must drastically reduce the menace of insecurity and its devastating impact on the Nigerian economy. “It is expected that the funding deficit experienced by this critical sub-sector will be substantially addressed with the passage of the bill.” Satomi added that there are provisions in the bill to ensure that resources are not abused and the legislative intent driving the bill is not compromised. | HOUSE OF REPS; SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE TRUST FUND; SECOND READING | CABLE | ||||
| VANGUARD | 27 FEB 2025 | Lagos State Assembly Brouhaha: Pressure mounts on Meranda as personal security attachments get withdrawn | The ongoing crisis at the Lagos State House of Assembly has taken a dramatic turn following the withdrawal of all security details assigned to Speaker Mojisola Meranda. The development, which comes amid a leadership tussle within the Assembly, has left the Speaker vulnerable to potential attacks. An aide to the Speaker, speaking in confidence to Vanguard, confirmed that security personnel, including police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), were withdrawn on Thursday morning without any replacement. “In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn. This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” the aide disclosed. The aide further appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the state’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order. The crisis escalated further on Wednesday, when Olalekan Onafeko, the former and suspended Clerk of the House, attempted to resume duty at the Assembly complex. However, he was politely turned away by security personnel. Onafeko, who was removed alongside former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, allegedly arrived at the complex around 9 a.m., accompanied by his lawyer, two security personnel, and unidentified DSS operatives, in an attempt to reclaim his office. “He, the suspended clerk, was politely told by the lawyer of the State Assembly to leave the complex peacefully as the matter is already in court,” an eyewitness revealed. A viral video captured Assembly staff booing and jeering at Onafeko, chanting unfavorable slogans as he was escorted out of the premises. | LAGOS STATE ASSEMBLY; APC; MERANDA; | VANGUARD | ||||