The Executive Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Hon. John Ogbodo, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for nominating Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, the Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a congratulatory message issued on behalf of the government and people of Nkanu West, Hon. Ogbodo described Dr. Udeh’s nomination as a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding service, intellect, and commitment to excellence.

According to him, Dr. Udeh’s meteoric rise in public service “mirrors the unflickering resolve that has become the identity of the people of Nkanu West,” noting that his brilliance, humility, and integrity have continued to distinguish him in every role he has undertaken.

“We have watched him carefully weave the threads of hard work, honesty, humility, and loyalty into his duties as Attorney General,” Ogbodo said. “His dedication to every task convinces us of his ability to excel in larger responsibilities. We are extremely proud of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, all that he represents and his attainments, and we trust him to represent us so well.”

The council boss also used the opportunity to extol the visionary leadership of the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whom he described as “a man ahead of time.” He applauded the governor for his commitment to excellence and for identifying capable and credible individuals like Dr. Udeh to serve both the state and the nation.

“His Excellency’s vision does not lie in words and projects alone, but in his ability to discover and appoint square pegs in square holes,” Ogbodo stated.

“As a people, we acknowledge his attention to detail in ensuring that our state and local government reclaim their rightful place at the center. We continue to assure His Excellency of our rock-solid support for his administration.”

Chief Ogbodo congratulated Dr. Udeh, whom he affectionately referred to as Okaibe, describing his nomination as “a collective victory for Nkanu West and Enugu State at large.”

“Congratulations once again, Okaibe,” he wrote. “Our Tomorrow is Here.”

A heated session erupted at the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers clashed over which committee should investigate alleged irregular sales and allocations of federal government assets at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.

The uproar followed a motion of urgent public importance by Hon. Ademorin Kuye, who urged the House to probe the alleged illegal sale of government assets at the complex. Kuye proposed that the House Committee on Public Assets handle the investigation.

However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, argued that the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce, sparking back-and-forth debates.

Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau) insisted that since the Trade Fair Complex is a federal property, the Committee on Public Assets had oversight, citing House Standing Rules. Conversely, Hon. Mark Esset (PDP, Akwa Ibom) maintained that the complex is a commercial entity, which places it under the Committee on Commerce.

Efforts to form a joint committee were proposed but failed to gain consensus. Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP, Nasarawa) suggested Public Assets take the lead with Commerce supporting, while Deputy Chairman of Commerce, Hon. James Shaibu (PDP, Taraba), noted that his committee had already conducted oversight visits, warning against duplication of efforts.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu intervened to restore order, clarifying that the probe concerns the allocation of premises, not commercial operations.

He proposed an ad hoc committee with members from both committees to conduct a joint investigation, but the plan was blocked by lawmakers.

The motion was eventually put to a voice vote and rejected, escalating the rowdy session further.

Kalu ultimately dissolved the House into an executive session to resolve the dispute.

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) has expelled Hon. Peter Uzokwe, the House of Representatives member for Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, citing alleged anti-party activities and gross misconduct.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Martins Egbeola, confirmed the decision on Monday following an emergency meeting of the YPP National Working Committee (NWC) at the party’s Abuja secretariat.

Uzokwe’s expulsion comes after a viral video showed him openly supporting Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the November 8 Anambra governorship election. In the video, Uzokwe reportedly said:

“YPP is not contesting any election. Did you hear me? I am the leader of YPP, and my supporters are here. In my constituency, I have told them to collapse it for His Excellency Chukwuma Soludo… Only APGA and Soludo are running for this election.”

The YPP condemned his remarks, describing them as false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to sabotage the party.

Egbeola stated that the NWC ratified Uzokwe’s expulsion for violating multiple provisions of the party constitution, including Section 36(7), Articles (b, f & o) on offenses and sanctions.

Egbeola also clarified that Uzokwe’s claim of being YPP leader was false.

The position became vacant after the late national leader, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He further criticized Uzokwe’s appearance at an APGA rally, calling it “an act of desperation by a man whose political relevance has waned.”

The NWC described Uzokwe’s actions as gross indiscipline and deliberate deception, urging YPP members to ignore his statements and remain loyal to the party.

Indigenous residents of Abuja have renewed calls for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be granted state-like status, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement a recent Court of Appeal ruling affirming this.

They are also demanding that the FCT have a democratically elected governor by 2027, proposing that the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, be designated as Sole Administrator until such an election takes place.

The demand was made by a coalition of indigenous groups and long-term residents, organized under the FCT Senior Citizens Forum, during a press briefing in Abuja titled “Fulfilling the Democratic Status of Abuja.”

Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, the forum’s coordinator, emphasized that the Court of Appeal ruling is legally binding and should guarantee residents the right to elect their own governor and members of a State House of Assembly.

“For too long, citizens of Abuja have been treated as second-class voters, participating in presidential elections but denied the right to elect their own chief executive and legislature.

This democratic deficit must end now,” Elder Dara said.

The group also urged Professor Joash Amupitan, the newly appointed INEC Chairman, to begin preparations for the FCT governorship election, while maintaining stability through Wike’s temporary role as Sole Administrator.

This, they argued, would allow ongoing projects to continue and give INEC sufficient time to organize a fair election.

Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Executive Director of CHRICED, also supported the push for statehood, stressing that the FCT is large enough to accommodate a state where indigenous residents can manage their own affairs.

Speaking at a journalists’ training in Abuja, he highlighted the historical neglect of Abuja Original Inhabitants (AOIs), who remain largely landless and stateless nearly five decades after the federal government acquired their lands.

“Whenever development occurs, bulldozers and military personnel demolish homes and erase communities, treating the land as if it was uninhabited. The AOIs have yet to receive promised compensation or legal recognition,” Dr. Ibrahim explained.

Since its creation, the FCT has been administered by a minister appointed by the president, unlike Nigeria’s 36 states with elected governors.

Advocates argue that this system denies the territory’s residents full democratic representation and perpetuates their marginalization.

The House of Representatives has suspended plenary for one week following a protest by local contractors who blocked access to the National Assembly Complex on Tuesday over unpaid contract fees for projects executed since 2024.

Daily Trust reports that the indigenous contractors staged the demonstration to demand settlement of outstanding payments from the federal government.

Lawmakers said the suspension was necessary due to the difficulty in accessing the National Assembly Complex amid the protest, which they said could continue for a week.

The House also noted that the break would provide time for its leadership to engage the executive branch and ensure contractors are paid, preventing further disruption of parliamentary activities.

The suspension followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, who highlighted the “dire plight” of contractors.

He explained that the protest was triggered by the government’s failure to implement President Bola Tinubu’s directives for the Ministers of Finance and Budget to pay local contractors immediately.

Chinda said,

“Our local contractors, our brothers and sisters, besieged the National Assembly today, protesting that they have not been paid for jobs completed under the 2024 budget. This non-payment has caused untold hardship to our people, and it is our duty as Parliament to take a stand.”

The House resolved to give the Ministers of Finance, Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and the Accountant-General of the Federation seven days to settle all outstanding payments and fully implement the 2025 budget.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who presided over the session, put the motion to a vote, and it was unanimously adopted.

Drama ensued when Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu Mai-Palace (Zamfara State) moved a follow-up motion urging the House to suspend plenary sessions for a week until the executive responded to the ultimatum. He stated,

“The urgency and sensitivity of this matter demand that we suspend our sittings for one week so that the leadership can engage the executive to find a lasting solution.”

Supporting the motion, House Committee on Rules and Business Chairman Francis Waive explained that the decision was practical given that the protesting contractors had vowed to continue demonstrations for a week, obstructing access to the Assembly.

“Members came late today because the roads were blocked by the protesters. It’s sensible to step back and allow the executive to act,” Waive said.

With unanimous approval by voice vote, Kalu ruled that all plenary activities would be adjourned until next Tuesday, pending the outcome of leadership consultations with the executive branch.

The House also mandated its leadership to ensure strict compliance with the resolution and report back within a week, warning of “further drastic legislative action” should the executive fail to act.

A minor drama unfolded at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Tuesday when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confronted Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officials who had seized her passport.

The lawmaker, who went live on social media, explained that she was traveling abroad after concluding events marking her second year in office. Last week, reports circulated that Natasha had invited colleagues, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to her celebrations.

At the airport, officials reportedly attempted to prevent her from leaving. In a viral video, the senator could be seen protesting the seizure:

“Why are you withholding my passport? Hello, fellow Nigerians. I have completed the celebration of my second year in office and decided to take a week off. My passport is being withheld again. I have committed no offense, and there is no court order preventing me from traveling.”

She further alleged that during a previous incident, an officer told her the Senate President had instructed the withholding of her passport, claiming her international media interviews “smeared the country’s image.”

A female official behind the counter apologized, prompting Natasha to reply:

“Sorry is not enough. Can you please let me have my passport? You can’t keep doing this to me all the time.”

The senator noted that during the earlier incident, she had to call an influential figure to secure her passport and stated that President Bola Tinubu had directed the termination of politically motivated cases against her.

Shortly after her protest, a male officer handed back her passport, allowing her to proceed with her travel.