Senate Majority Whip and former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has boldly declared himself as the most significant political figure from Nigeria’s South-East region, downplaying the influence of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Kalu dismissed suggestions that Obi had become the region’s foremost political leader.

When pressed on whether Igbos should align with Obi ahead of future national elections, Kalu avoided a deep dive, insisting he wouldn’t engage in a serious discussion about Obi unless both were in a live debate setting.

“I’m a member of the APC and I don’t want to discuss Peter Obi. Every time you mention him, I get uncomfortable. I’ve said it before, any time you want to talk about Obi with me, bring him here. Give us two hours, him on one side, me on the other, and we’ll settle it,” Kalu said.

Rejecting the notion that Obi now leads the South-East politically, Kalu asserted that his own record surpasses Obi’s in both impact and reach.

“He’s not my leader. I am the most important politician from that zone,” Kalu said.

He went on to cite his past political accomplishments, including leading the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to victory in two states and securing 4.9 million votes in the 2007 presidential election.

“We did well with PPA. We had ministers, ambassadors, and other key appointments under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua,” he added.

When asked about his future political plans, particularly regarding another presidential run, the senator said age would not be a limiting factor.

“If I’m healthy and God grants me life, I can still contest. Age is not the issue, it’s about competence. It’s about what’s in my brain and what I can deliver,” he said, referencing Donald Trump as an example of older politicians still pursuing leadership.

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has issued a warrant for the arrest and imprisonment of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for defying a court order.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi on Monday, September 29, 2025, came shortly before Yakubu formally stepped down from his role as INEC Chairman.

His successor, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, has since assumed the position in an acting capacity.

The contempt proceedings stem from Yakubu’s and INEC’s failure to comply with a court order directing the restoration of the Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive of the Action Alliance (AA) party to the INEC website.

The party had previously filed a suit, FHC/OS/194/2024, contesting what it described as the unlawful removal of its officials from INEC’s portal.

According to a certified copy of the court order obtained by Vanguard, the plaintiffs, Action Alliance and several of its state chairmen, requested that the court enforce its February 17, 2025 judgement, which mandated INEC to reinstate the names of the executive members.

The court order reads in part:

“The Inspector General of Police is hereby directed to effect the arrest of the Defendants, INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu, and initiate committal proceedings for contempt within seven days of this ruling.”

The plaintiffs are also seeking Imprisonment of Yakubu and INEC for contempt, Compliance with the prior judgement, including full recognition of the Omoaje-led NEC and Compensation for financial and reputational harm caused by INEC’s non-compliance.

Additionally, the court awarded ₦100,000 in costs against the defendants in favour of the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs in the suit include Professor Julius Adebowale, Engr. Olowookere Alabi, Barr. Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe and Araoye Oyewole, representing themselves and 30 other state chairmen of the Action Alliance.

Engr. Enyivigbo And Governor Mbah,

Hon. Engr. Johncross Enyivigbo, a former Labour Party candidate for the Enugu State House of Assembly has declared his full support for Governor Peter Mbah’s recent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a bold and strategic decision for the future of Enugu State.

Engr. Enyivigbo, who contested to represent Igbo Etiti East Constituency in the 2023 general elections, stated that the governor’s defection aligns with the broader interests of the state, especially in attracting federal presence and fostering developmental partnerships.

In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Wednesday, the former candidate lauded Governor Mbah’s leadership style and vision, noting that his decision to join the ruling party at the federal level was a necessary step to unlock greater opportunities for the people of Enugu.

“The move to the APC is not about politics as usual, it is about positioning Enugu State for greater relevance and benefit within the Nigerian federation,” Enyivigbo said.

“As a young leader committed to the progress of my constituency and the state at large, I stand solidly behind Governor Mbah.”

DAILY GAZETTE recall that Engr. Enyivigbo had earlier returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shortly after the 2023 elections in a show of support for Governor Mbah’s leadership and his commitment to inclusive governance.

Now, with the governor’s realignment to the APC, Enyivigbo says he is ready to mobilize grassroots support across Igbo Etiti East and beyond.

“We must rise above partisanship and embrace any platform that offers the best prospects for our people,”

“Governor Mbah has shown courage and I am confident that this new political chapter will bring accelerated growth and development to Enugu.” he added.

PREMIUM TIMES has vowed to take legal action against Robert Ngwu, spokesperson for former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over what it calls a false and defamatory bribery allegation.

Ngwu, during an appearance on Channels Television on Tuesday, accused the newspaper of receiving a ₦100 million bribe from the Enugu State Government to run an investigative report exposing the former minister’s alleged certificate forgery.

However, Musikilu Mojeed, Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer of PREMIUM TIMES, has strongly denied the claim, describing it as a desperate attempt to discredit credible journalism.

“We are not a newspaper that anyone can malign. We have built our integrity for close to 15 years,” Mojeed said on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

“Our work is grounded in truth and accountability. Neither Robert Ngwu nor Uche Nnaji can destroy that.”

Mojeed said the newspaper’s legal team had begun reviewing Ngwu’s comments and would demand he prove the allegation in court.

“He will have to present evidence of how the money was given, who received it, and when. We won’t let this slide,” he said.

During the Channels TV segment, Ngwu admitted he had no concrete evidence to support his claim.

When pressed repeatedly by anchors Kayode Okikiolu and Bukola Coker, Ngwu resorted to vague claims and phrases like “allegedly paid” and “we have our sources.”

Asked directly who paid the alleged bribe, Ngwu named the Enugu State Government but failed to provide documentation, saying only that he received verbal confirmation.

The Enugu State Government has since denied any involvement in PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation.

The bribery allegation surfaced just days after PREMIUM TIMES published a two-year investigation revealing that Mr. Nnaji forged both his university degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, credentials he used to gain ministerial appointment in 2023.

The report showed that, at the time Nnaji claimed to have graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), he was still corresponding with the school about a failed terminal course.

This investigative work ultimately led to Nnaji’s resignation from office on Tuesday evening.

“We were tipped off by a whistleblower in 2023,” Mojeed said.

“Our team in Enugu and Abuja followed up, filing FOI requests and digging through records. It was slow, and at one point, UNN ignored our FOI request. But we persisted.”

A breakthrough came when UNN’s new leadership in August 2025 officially confirmed the institution had never issued Nnaji a degree.

“Just today, the university registrar affirmed it again,” Mojeed said during the TV interview.

Following the report, PREMIUM TIMES published further evidence, including letters from Nnaji himself contradicting his graduation claims.

The scandal has sparked national outrage, with many Nigerians demanding tighter scrutiny of public office appointments.

Nnaji’s camp, however, chose to deflect with unsubstantiated counterclaims.

At a press conference called by the ministry (which the ex-minister did not attend), aides, including Ngwu, repeated the bribery allegation without proof.

PREMIUM TIMES says it will not only pursue legal redress against Ngwu, but will also continue to report on matters of public interest without fear or favour.

“This kind of attack is designed to silence watchdog journalism,” Mojeed said.

“But it won’t work. We will continue to hold the powerful accountable.”

During Wednesday’s plenary session, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally requested Senate approval for a new $2.3 billion external loan to support key fiscal and debt management initiatives.

The request was conveyed in a letter read aloud by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the Senate floor.

According to the president’s letter, the loan is intended to fund part of the 2025 Appropriation Act, refinance maturing Eurobonds, and diversify Nigeria’s borrowing options by including Islamic finance products among others.

He stated that the approved 2025 fiscal strategy anticipates $9.27 billion in total new borrowings to bridge the budget deficit, with $1.84 billion to be sourced externally.

The assumptions include an exchange rate of ₦1,500 to the US dollar.

“The external borrowing will be raised through Eurobonds, syndicated loans, bridge financing, or direct funding from multilateral institutions,” Tinubu explained, emphasizing that the approach is aimed at cost optimization and risk management.

A major component of the loan plan is the refinancing of a $1.118 billion Eurobond, originally issued in 2018 at an interest rate of 7.625%, which matures in November 2025.

The president noted that refinancing maturing debts through capital markets or loan syndicates is a standard international practice.

“This ensures continued access to capital, enhances investor confidence, and supports sustainable debt management,” he wrote.

Tinubu stressed that managing upcoming obligations efficiently is crucial to maintaining Nigeria’s fiscal reputation and creditworthiness.