President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially submitted the nomination of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, for confirmation as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The request was conveyed in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Tuesday’s plenary session.

Dr. Udeh currently serves as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State. President Tinubu described him as a nominee of “proven integrity and competence.”

In the letter, the President wrote:
“I am pleased to forward to the Senate the nomination of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), for confirmation as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While I trust that this request will receive the Senate’s usual expeditious consideration, please accept, Mr. Senate President, and distinguished senators, the assurances of my highest regards.”

Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.

Dr. Udeh, a respected legal scholar and advocate, is expected to contribute his extensive experience in law and public administration to the federal cabinet if confirmed.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of five new Permanent Secretaries to fill existing vacancies in the Federal Civil Service, strengthening the leadership of Nigeria’s public service.

The announcement was made by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, through a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Eno Olotu, on Monday in Abuja.

The new appointees are:

Ibrahim Ozi – Federal Capital Territory

Ezemama Chidiebere – Imo State

Garba Usman – North Central Geo-Political Zone

Mohammed Ishiyaku – North East Geo-Political Zone

Ukaire Chigbowu – South East Geo-Political Zone

According to the statement, the appointments followed a rigorous and transparent selection process, reflecting the administration’s commitment to meritocracy and excellence in the Civil Service.

“The new Permanent Secretaries bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles, which will further strengthen the delivery of public services and support the government’s development agenda,” the statement said.

Mrs. Walson-Jack commended President Tinubu for prioritising transparency, professionalism, and merit-based appointments.

She noted that these selections demonstrate the administration’s dedication to building a competent, results-driven Civil Service that meets the needs of Nigerians.

PUNCH Online reported on September 15, 2025, that the Office of the HOSF had begun the process of appointing five Permanent Secretaries following Tinubu’s approval.

The vacancies included two positions created by recent retirements in Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as three zonal vacancies for North-Central, North-East, and South-East arising from the creation of new ministries.

To be eligible, candidates must be Grade Level 17 officers, have spent at least two years on the grade, and be cleared of any disciplinary issues by their respective Permanent Secretaries, Walson-Jack explained.

“These appointments reflect our determination to maintain a professional and effective Civil Service capable of advancing Nigeria’s development goals,” she added.

Former Ekiti State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Ayodele Fayose, has described the PDP in Ekiti as “dead,” claiming that all its governorship aspirants are merely “fooling themselves.”

He, however, praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), predicting a decisive victory for him in the June 20, 2026 governorship election.

Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Fayose said the PDP in the state lacked a functional structure and had lost its relevance.

“In the first place, where is the PDP in Ekiti? Where are the party members? Where are the PDP meetings being held? The party is completely moribund, just like at the national level,” Fayose said.

He added that while there are four aspirants in the PDP, pursuing the governorship under the party’s current state is self-deception.

“The saddest thing for anyone is fooling themselves. Tell me where you have seen a credible PDP gathering in this state. I am a major stakeholder. Most of those contesting today, I brought them up. The party is dead in Ekiti for now,” Fayose said.

Despite remaining a PDP member, Fayose expressed his support for Oyebanji, commending his performance since taking office.

“Oyebanji is doing well. I am not a member of the APC and will never be, but I will not condemn what is good simply because I’m in the opposition,” he said.

“Oyebanji is the man the people of Ekiti want till 2030, and I stand by that.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Ekiti governorship election for June 20, 2026.

Oyebanji has secured the APC ticket, while four candidates are contesting for the PDP nomination: Dr. Wole Oluyede, Mrs. Funmi Ogun, Mr. Funso Ayeni, and Peter Obafemi.

Reacting to Fayose’s comments, Ekiti PDP Chairman Tunji Odeyemi called the claim “unfortunate,” insisting the party remains strong and prepared for the election.

“It is unfortunate for a former governor to make such statements against the party that made him governor twice. The four PDP aspirants are credible, the primary will be fair, and we will produce a strong candidate,” Odeyemi said.

The PDP, APC, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) remain the leading parties in the upcoming Ekiti governorship race.

Members of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a key bloc that merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, have set conditions for backing President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

They are demanding that the APC cede its 2031 presidential ticket to the ANPP bloc as a prerequisite for their support.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday after a leadership meeting at the Agura Hotel, the Association of Former ANPP Members accused the APC leadership of sidelining its members from political appointments and influence since the merger.

The group’s National Chairman, Prof. Vitalis Ajumbe, said fairness and equity require that the ANPP bloc be considered for the presidency after Tinubu’s tenure.

“Since the formation of the APC, the CPC bloc ruled for eight years under the late President Buhari, while the ACN bloc is currently in power. President Tinubu should hand over power to the ANPP bloc in 2031,” he said.

Ajumbe also decried the continued exclusion of former ANPP members from key positions, including ministerial roles, ambassadorships, board chairmanships, and leadership of agencies and parastatals.

He added that the office of the Vice President should remain “sacrosanct” for the ANPP bloc, the second-largest contributor to the APC merger.

Despite their demands, the former ANPP members pledged to actively support Tinubu’s 2027 campaign, promising to mobilise grassroots structures across 774 local government areas and organise a major rally in Abuja to demonstrate solidarity.

Prominent attendees included Senators Aliyu Sani and Dahiru El-Katazu, Chief Igaga Ogbonna, Dr. Ibrahim Modibbo, Shuayb Kano, Prince Adebola Ogunleye, Mustapha Ringim, Princess N. Dickson, Chief Geoffrey Yilleng, Ichie Mike Ejezie, Dr. Francis Egu, Hon. Emma Ibediro, and Comrade Benedict Godson.

Reacting to the demand, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East) Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu acknowledged the ANPP bloc’s contributions but advised patience, stressing that the party should focus on the 2027 elections.

Likewise, Deputy National Organising Secretary Nze Duru described the call as premature, emphasizing that internal negotiations would happen at the appropriate time.

The ANPP, one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties in the Fourth Republic, produced prominent figures such as the late Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.

The party merged with the ACN, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, and the new PDP in 2013 to form the APC, ending the PDP’s 16-year rule with Muhammadu Buhari’s election in 2015.

Since then, members of the ANPP have consistently expressed concerns about being marginalised in political power-sharing and federal appointments, despite their contributions to the merger.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has accused immigration officials at a Nigerian airport of preventing her from travelling abroad by withholding her passport.

Speaking during a live broadcast on her Facebook page on Tuesday morning, the senator questioned the legality of the officials’ actions.

“Have I committed any offence? Why are you withholding my passport?” she asked, visibly frustrated.

The incident reportedly occurred shortly after the senator celebrated her second year in office.

“Having completed my second-year celebration, I decided to take a week off. I’m at the airport, and my passport has been withheld again,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan recalled a previous instance when her passport was allegedly seized on the instructions of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

She claimed that the officer told her, “Senator Akpabio instructed us to prevent you from travelling because each time you travel, you smear the country’s image through international interviews.”

The Kogi lawmaker rejected this explanation, noting that all pending federal government cases against her had been terminated following the intervention of the President, who she said recognized the cases as politically motivated.

“There is no reason why my passport should be withheld at the international airport. None whatsoever,” she said.

At the time of filing this report, neither Senate President Akpabio nor the Nigerian Immigration Service had issued a response to the allegations.

Angry and visibly upset, Akpoti-Uduaghan threatened to pursue legal action against the officials.

“You have no right to withhold my passport or deny me exit from my country. I have committed no offence, and this must stop. I think I have to sue you for continuously embarrassing me,” she said.

The senator also stressed that she had complied with all court proceedings related to her ongoing legal cases.

“I have attended all my court sessions. I am not a flight risk. I am not a threat to my country. So why are you treating me like a criminal?” she asked.

Minutes after the confrontation, one of the officials returned her passport.

“Can I have my passport, please? Thank you very much. Sometimes you just have to be a rebel to get things right. If I had not gone public, would you have given me my passport?” the senator remarked, as apologies from officials were audible in the background.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently facing separate cases of alleged criminal defamation and cybercrime at the FCT High Court and Federal High Court, Abuja.

Her cybercrime trial, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, has been adjourned to 24 November. She faces a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Abubakar.

The senator recently returned to Senate plenary after a six-month suspension for alleged misconduct, a move that attracted public criticism.

Her office, which had been sealed during the suspension, was reopened on 23 September, allowing her full return to legislative duties.

Ahead of the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election, political parties and their candidates have signed a peace accord, pledging to maintain non-violence and respect the outcome of the polls.

The signing, organised by the Kukah Centre under the National Peace Committee, chaired by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) and Bishop Matthew Kukah, took place at the International Convention Centre, Awka.

It brought together INEC officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, and candidates from major parties including APGA, APC, PDP, Labour Party, ADC, Accord Party, and others.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, reaffirmed the commission’s readiness to conduct a credible and transparent election.

He stated that logistics had been fully addressed, with all election materials expected to reach polling units by 7 am, and voting scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m.

“We have engaged security and transport agencies to ensure smooth deployment of officials and materials across the 21 local government areas. Voters should expect significant improvements in logistics and result management,” Amupitan said.

INEC has approved a final register of 2,802,790 voters, deploying 24,000 personnel across 5,718 polling units, 326 ward collation centres, and 21 LGA collation centres.

Results will be collated transparently in the presence of party agents and aligned with BVAS records.

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DIG Ben Okoro, assured security across all LGAs, warning that any attempts to disrupt the election, by political actors or groups like IPOB or ESN, would be met with decisive law enforcement action.

A total of 45,000 police personnel and 10,250 NSCDC officers will be deployed.

Chief Ugwoji, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, urged transparency and voter discipline, emphasizing the need to prevent inducement or violence.

Bishop Matthew Kukah called on candidates to demonstrate sportsmanship and fully implement the accord.

On behalf of candidates, Governor and APGA candidate Prof. Chukwuma Soludo pledged adherence, stressing that peaceful conduct was essential for a credible election. Other candidates echoed the commitment, urging supporters to act responsibly.

Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, encouraged voters to exercise their civic rights freely, shun vote buying, and vote according to conscience, while also calling on the Federal Government to continue addressing poverty and insecurity.

Anambra REC, Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, provided an operational update, confirming that all non-sensitive materials had been deployed, BVAS devices tested, and generators provided to ensure uninterrupted power during collation.

“Every step has been taken to guarantee a smooth, credible, and technology-driven election,” Agwu said.