The Nigerian Senate has been thrown into mourning following the death of the lawmaker representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Barinada Mpigi, who passed away at the age of 64 after a brief illness.

Sources within the National Assembly confirmed that the senator died on Thursday, bringing a somber mood to the chamber during legislative proceedings.

Until his death, Mpigi served in the 10th Senate and chaired the Committee on Works, a strategic body responsible for oversight of federal road infrastructure and related projects nationwide.

He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2011 and returned for another term before moving to the Senate in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

During the 9th Assembly, he also led a joint Senate committee mandated to investigate crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, at a time the country faced revenue losses and widespread pipeline vandalism.

News of his passing filtered into the Senate chamber during committee sessions, prompting tributes from lawmakers.

Senator Mohammed Onawo described the late legislator as committed and dedicated to national service, while colleagues observed a minute’s silence in his honour.

Tributes also came from members of the House of Representatives, including Works Committee Chairman Akin Alabi, who praised Mpigi’s contributions to legislative work and national development.

His death comes just months after the passing of another serving senator, Okey Ezea, highlighting a string of losses within the current Assembly.

Mpigi’s demise has once again left the Senate grieving one of its active members, with colleagues recalling his role in infrastructure oversight and national policy engagement.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has appointed Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie as Special Adviser on Public Engagement and Advocacy.

The appointment was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, who said the move was aimed at strengthening communication and public interaction around government policies and programmes.

According to the statement, the governor approved Johnson-Okojie’s appointment in recognition of her influence, grassroots appeal, and experience in public advocacy.

The communiqué noted that she is an accomplished actress, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist with a career spanning nearly two decades and appearances in over 200 films.

It also highlighted her work through the Mercy Johnson Okojie Foundation, where she has supported initiatives focused on women empowerment, child welfare, education, and healthcare outreach.

Ikhilor added that Johnson-Okojie is expected to deploy her visibility and engagement capacity to improve communication between the government and citizens across the state.

Her husband, Odianosen Okogie, represents Esan North East/South East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Members of the South-East chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students have announced plans to raise funds to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The students also pledged to mobilise more than 20,000 youths across the region for a second-term endorsement rally, citing what they described as the administration’s impact on the education sector and youth development.

The declaration was made during a meeting held at the Education Trust Fund Hall of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam campus, Anambra State, where the South-East NANS leadership gathered with student representatives.

Speaking at the event, the regional coordinator, Okoye Okpala, said the students’ primary concern had always been welfare, academic advancement, and protection of their interests.

He noted that recent policies affecting education financing informed their support for the President.

According to him, the current administration’s initiatives, particularly the intervention through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, have provided relief to many students who previously struggled with tuition and upkeep.

He stated that the zero-interest loan policy had enabled hundreds of thousands of students to remain in school and pursue their academic ambitions, describing it as a practical demonstration of inclusive leadership.

Okpala also referenced comments attributed to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi regarding the future of the student loan programme, arguing that such policies should be protected to sustain access to education.

He maintained that the students’ position was based on what they described as measurable impact rather than sentiment, stressing that policies that keep students in school and reduce financial burdens would always earn their support.

The coordinator added that students in the South-East would continue to rally behind initiatives that promote opportunity, strengthen education financing, and secure the academic future of young Nigerians ahead of the next election cycle.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the National Democratic Party (NDP) as a political party, following a ruling that the association satisfied all legal requirements.

Delivering judgment, Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court held that the plaintiffs, led by NDP National Chairman Ada Frederick Okwori, complied with constitutional and statutory provisions guiding party registration.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2796/2025, asked the court to compel INEC to recognise the association after it allegedly failed to act on its application.

In his ruling delivered on February 16, 2026, Justice Umar affirmed that the group met the conditions outlined in Sections 222–224 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s regulations for political parties.

The court declared that the association had fulfilled all requirements necessary for registration and that the electoral commission had a legal duty to grant it recognition.

Justice Umar also nullified INEC’s letter dated December 18, 2025, which declined or failed to approve the application, describing it as invalid and without legal effect.

He subsequently ordered the commission to register the NDP without delay and grant it all rights and privileges accorded to recognised political parties, including the issuance of a certificate of registration and related documents.

The court further ruled that if INEC fails to carry out the directive, the NDP would be deemed duly registered by operation of Section 75(4) of the Electoral Act 2022.

By Dr. Malachy Chuma Ochie,

In his recent Lenten message to Ndi-Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah did more than offer seasonal piety! He articulated a philosophy of leadership that fuses faith with function, spirituality with statecraft, and prayer with purposeful governance.

Lent, in the Christian tradition, is a season of reflection, sacrifice, and renewal. Yet in the governor’s message, it became something more profound. It became a moral compass for public leadership and collective responsibility.

For Mbah, spirituality is not a retreat from governance; it is its ethical foundation. He called on Ndi-Enugu to embrace sacrifice, discipline, and compassion, virtues that resonate deeply in a society striving for transformation.

But unlike empty religiosity that often populates political rhetoric, his message was anchored in pragmatic optimism. He linked personal introspection with societal progress, urging citizens to internalize the values of integrity, hard work, and hope as prerequisites for building a prosperous state. In doing so, he reframed Lent from a purely ecclesiastical observance into a civic call to action.

This blend of spirituality and pragmatism reflects a leadership style that understands the psychology of the people. Enugu is a land of deep faith, where the sacred and the secular constantly intersect. By invoking Lenten ideals, Mbah situates governance within the moral imagination of the people.

Yet his administration simultaneously drives forward with ambitious infrastructural renewal, security reforms, educational transformation, and economic expansion. The message is clear: prayer must walk hand in hand with productivity; faith must translate into measurable progress.

Indeed, the governor’s appeal underscores a critical truth about contemporary leadership in Nigeria, and that relates to the fact that development cannot be sustained without moral capital. By encouraging Ndi-Enugu to embody forgiveness, unity, and sacrifice, he strengthens the social cohesion necessary for reforms to take root.

By emphasizing renewal, he mirrors the broader transformation agenda of his administration. The spiritual metaphor becomes a governance strategy. Just as Lent prepares believers for resurrection, disciplined reforms prepare a state for rebirth.

In Gov. Peter Mbah, therefore, we witness a rare synthesis. He neither exploits religion nor divorces governance from moral reflection. Instead, he demonstrates that visionary leadership in a plural and faith-driven society requires both a soul and a strategy. His Lenten message stands as testimony that true progress is not merely engineered in policy documents but cultivated in the hearts of the people.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai is currently in its custody in connection with an ongoing investigation.
ICPC spokesperson John Odey disclosed that

El-Rufai remained with the commission as of the close of work on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, noting that the detention relates to issues under investigation, although further details were not provided.

The development follows a series of allegations and engagements between the former governor and security agencies.

Earlier, El-Rufai had acknowledged receiving an invitation from the ICPC and confirmed through his lawyer that he would honour the summons.

His situation comes days after he interacted with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial improprieties linked to his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023.

Previously, the Kaduna State House of Assembly had accused him of diverting ₦423 billion in public funds and recommended that anti-corruption agencies investigate the matter.

The unfolding case also intersects with separate allegations involving claims that the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was intercepted.

The Department of State Services (DSS) subsequently filed charges alleging cybercrime and unlawful interception of communications.

Prosecutors said the alleged actions contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

El-Rufai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has yet to publicly respond to the latest confirmation of his detention by the ICPC, and no date has been fixed for his arraignment.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has halted impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.

The decision was reached on Thursday during plenary at the Assembly’s resumed sitting in Port Harcourt, with lawmakers moving a motion to suspend the impeachment process.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, presided over the session where the proceedings were formally halted.

The development comes after the Assembly, at its first sitting of 2026, initiated impeachment steps against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct.

The accusations included the demolition of the state assembly complex and expenditure without legislative approval, among other claims.

Stay tuned for more details…