Nigeria’s political landscape was thrust into fresh turmoil on Friday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio instituted a ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, escalating a controversy that has gripped national attention for weeks.

In court filings before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Akpabio alleges that a series of interviews granted by Senator Akpoti, aired on television and circulated widely online, constituted a deliberate attempt to portray him as a sexual predator.

His lawyers argue that the allegations, amplified across social and mainstream media, subjected him to “national humiliation, ridicule, and severe reputational damage.”

Akpabio is seeking extensive reliefs from the court N200 billion in damages, removal of all digital content repeating the allegations and mandatory public apologies broadcast repeatedly on national TV, radio, and online platforms.

Court documents also reveal that after unsuccessful efforts to deliver the suit to Senator Akpoti directly, a judge authorised substituted service through the Clerk of the National Assembly on November 6, 2025, paving the way for the legal process to advance.

Reacting on Friday after confirming receipt of the suit, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said she welcomes the courtroom showdown.

She noted that the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges had earlier refused to hear her petition, citing a supposed ongoing court case, a move she insists was designed to protect the Senate President from parliamentary scrutiny.

With the matter now officially before the judiciary, Senator Akpoti declared she finally has the chance to present her evidence.

“I’m ready to prove everything,” she said, vowing to establish that she was sexually harassed and subsequently targeted with “sustained political intimidation and retaliation.”

Her message to Akpabio was unequivocal: “See you in court, Godswill Akpabio.”

The case is now moving toward full trial, with both parties preparing extensive documentation, witness testimonies, and media records.

Beyond the personal clash between two high-profile senators, the lawsuit is expected to test how Nigeria’s political system confronts and adjudicates allegations of sexual misconduct involving top officeholders.

All eyes now turn to the FCT High Court as one of the most anticipated political and legal battles of 2025 begins to unfold.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed that he remains a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) despite the recent mass defection of lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Wike made the clarification on Friday in Abuja after inspecting ongoing road projects, reacting for the first time to the defection of 16 PDP lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

During Friday’s plenary, the Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, alongside 15 other lawmakers, officially announced their move to the APC.

Amaewhule claimed that internal divisions within the PDP influenced their decision, adding that he was ready to work with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he said “means well for the country.”

Responding, Wike noted that although the lawmakers did not inform or consult him before leaving, they were exercising their constitutional freedom of association.

“I am still in the PDP, and it is not everybody that has left,” he said.

“I believe 16 or 17 have left out of 27. We still have about 10 members, and we will continue to work together.”

He stressed that those who left were free to take their decision just as those who stayed were free to remain committed to the party.

Wike described the development as “unfortunate,” attributing it to the ongoing factional crisis within the PDP.

According to him, the party’s constitution acknowledges that members may leave when the party becomes deeply divided.

He recalled warning the PDP leadership to address the internal crisis earlier, saying:

“I advised the leadership of the party to put the house in order. At the end of the day, if nothing is done, it is the party that suffers.”

Wike added that efforts were underway to unify the remaining PDP members in the Rivers Assembly to ensure the party remains functional and relevant as an opposition force.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified its former National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, along with six other aspirants, from participating in the party’s governorship primary ahead of the Osun State election.

Others barred from the race include Babatunde Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki, and former Senator Babajide Omoworare.

Only Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji were cleared to contest in the primary scheduled for December 13.

The disqualifications were contained in a report released by the APC Osun Governorship Screening Committee led by Obinna Uzoh.

According to the committee, the affected aspirants failed to meet key mandatory criteria, particularly the requirement to submit sponsorship endorsements from at least five fully registered, financially up-to-date APC members in each local government area of the state.

“The issues raised were weighty, substantial and germane to the integrity of the screening process. In the interest of fairness and transparency, the concerns could not be applied selectively. Every aspirant was subjected to the same scrutiny,” the report stated.

Uzoh emphasized that the screening adhered strictly to Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution, as well as Paragraph 6(c) of the party’s guidelines.

“The rules of the party are binding on all members without exception. Where an aspirant falls short of such a fundamental requirement, the committee has no choice,” he said.

He added that the screening followed a petition filed by the Osun APC Renewal Group, which alleged that some aspirants did not meet the required nominator threshold.

“Rather than apply the petition to only two individuals, we extended the same verification to all nine. That is the only way internal democracy can stand,” Uzoh noted.

The National Executive Committee of the Accord Party has dissolved the outgoing Osun State leadership and appointed a new Caretaker Committee headed by Victor Akande.

The announcement was contained in a statement released on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe.

The NEC meeting, held in Abuja, had in attendance 36 state chairmen, members of the National Working Committee, and observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Alongside the appointment of Akande, the party’s NEC also ratified the electoral guidelines for the 2026 Osun governorship primaries and constituted an Electoral Committee to oversee the process.

Omorogbe noted that the party remains confident of its competitiveness in the coming election.

He also revealed that Accord has granted a general waiver to new members interested in contesting elective offices and has established Women and Youth Directorates across all levels to strengthen grassroots mobilisation.

In what it described as a move made “in the spirit of oneness and progress,” the NEC lifted earlier suspensions placed on some Osun members.

It also passed a vote of confidence in the National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, reiterating that the party has no factions at any level.

Members were urged to remain united and avoid distractions from “reactionary forces” as preparations ramp up for upcoming elections.

Speaking at the meeting, Mgbudem maintained that Accord remains one cohesive political family despite recent attempts to sow disunity.

“Accord has no faction anywhere, nationally or at the state level. We remain a united, indivisible family guided by our ideology of oneness and progress,” he said.

He highlighted the successful conduct of the Edo and Ondo primaries as evidence of Accord’s commitment to transparency and internal democracy, saying even temporary misunderstandings were quickly resolved.

According to him, several recent court judgments have further strengthened the party’s leadership structure and validated its internal processes.

Mgbudem cautioned members against actions that could undermine party cohesion, stressing that discipline remains central to the Accord Party’s political culture.

“Accord will not tolerate any individual whose behaviour threatens the harmony and unity of the party. Discipline is a core value, and we will enforce it when necessary,” he said.

He also disclosed that preparations for the 2026 FCT council elections are progressing smoothly.

Friday’s resolutions come three weeks after the party leadership nullified the purported suspension of Mgbudem announced by a splinter group in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The group, linked to former presidential candidate Chris Imumolen, whom the party says was long expelled, attempted to install him as national chairman, accusing Mgbudem of anti-party activities.

Omorogbe dismissed the move as “laughable,” describing its promoters as “political jobbers.”

He noted that INEC continues to recognise Mgbudem as the authentic national chairman, a position reinforced by a July 17, 2025 judgment by Justice Fatima A. Aliyu, which struck out Imumolen’s suit against the party.

Ten members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have pledged continued loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the mass defection of several lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a resolution issued after the defections, the minority lawmakers formally adopted the auditorium of the Legislature Quarters as the legitimate and recognised chamber of the House.

The move underscores their resolve to maintain legislative continuity amid rising political tensions in the state.

According to a report by TVC on Friday, the 10 lawmakers also selected new officers and administered the oath of office for the positions of Minority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.

Those who remained are as follows;

1. Hon. Mrs. Emilia Lucky-Amadi – Obio/Akpor
2. Hon. Justina Emeji – Emohua
3. Hon. Ignatius Onwuka – Etche 1
4. Hon. Mrs. Barile Nwakor – Khana 1
5. Hon. Mrs. Ezekwe Nkemjika – Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni II
6. Hon. Queen Owuma Tony-Williams – Ahoada East 1
7. Hon. Lemchi Nyeche – Ikwerre
8. Hon. Sylvanus Nwankwo – Omuma
9. Hon. Iderima John Dominic – Abua/Odual
10. Hon. Mgbar Bernard – Tai

The lawmakers vowed to continue discharging their constitutional duties and urged supporters of the party to remain calm as the political situation develops.

A potential governance crisis is emerging in Rivers State as the House of Assembly voices growing concern over Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s continued delay in submitting names of commissioner nominees for screening.

Lawmakers raised the issue during Friday’s plenary session, highlighting the urgency for functional leadership across key ministries.

Following the suspension of emergency rule in September 2025, the Assembly had previously urged the governor to present a list of commissioner nominees to ensure effective administration.

Since the political crisis, Fubara has dismissed all commissioners appointed during the period, citing their lack of approval by the constitutionally recognized Assembly, as affirmed by a Supreme Court ruling.

However, he retained previously screened and approved commissioners, with some reassigned to other ministries.

Currently, several critical ministries, including Education and Communication, operate without appointed commissioners, leaving permanent secretaries to manage essential functions.

The governor has yet to provide any explanation for the delay.

The Assembly has adjourned plenary to Monday, January 26, 2026, signaling possible delays in the presentation of the 2026 budget, originally expected in December 2025.

Recent developments suggest that the fragile peace between Governor Fubara and the House may be unraveling.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Ikuinyi O. Amaewhule, criticized the deteriorating state of public schools, blaming the governor for neglecting the sector despite repeated warnings from the Assembly.

He described the situation as “a sad commentary” on the state of education in Rivers, calling for urgent intervention.

Amaewhule highlighted the severe shortage of teachers in public schools and accused the government of abandoning the 10,000-job recruitment initiative started under the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike.

“When it is time for protest, funds are available, but when it is time to employ teachers, there is nothing,” he lamented.

He added, “How can anyone believe that in 2025, a teacher will manage two classrooms under one roof?” He stressed that the House would not allow such indifference to continue.

The Speaker also raised questions about the alleged over N600 billion left in state coffers by the former Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, questioning why these funds have not been deployed to improve public education.

In response, Governor Fubara stated that employment in the state would be based on actual needs rather than political considerations.

During a meeting with the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council on Monday, he noted that the public school system was already in poor condition before he took office and assured that the 2026 budget would prioritize education.

Fubara further approved the formal employment of 1,000 teachers who completed the recruitment process in 2023 but had yet to receive appointment letters.

However, he did not comment on the status of funds reportedly left by Ibas.