Chief Kenneth Udeze, National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), has firmly denied reports claiming that a Federal High Court in Osogbo ordered the arrest and imprisonment of former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Udeze dismissed the reports as entirely false and urged the public to disregard the misinformation.

“Some individuals are spreading untrue claims that a court ordered the arrest of former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. No such judgment exists. I advise Nigerians and our party members to treat these rumours with the contempt they deserve,” Udeze said.

Earlier reports had suggested that Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi had issued an arrest order for Professor Yakubu over alleged non-compliance with a ruling that required INEC to restore certain Action Alliance officials to its official website.

These claims stemmed from a legal action initiated by former party member Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and his group, who sought formal recognition from INEC as the legitimate leaders of the party.

However, Udeze categorically stated that these claims were being propagated by individuals who had already been expelled from the party.

He emphasised that the issue of AA’s authentic leadership had been conclusively resolved in his favour by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

“The courts have ruled in our favour regarding the leadership of Action Alliance. Omoaje and his associates, after repeatedly losing in court, are now resorting to desperate and illegal tactics, including securing what we believe is a fraudulent ruling from Osogbo,” Udeze explained.

He went on to describe the supposed judgment as “fraudulently obtained,” noting that the party’s legal team had been instructed to take appropriate action to nullify it.

“We’ve directed our lawyers to pursue all legal avenues to overturn this bogus judgment. I urge all AA members and supporters to remain calm and focused. We will not be distracted by these destabilisation attempts,” he added.

Udeze reaffirmed his position as the officially recognised National Chairman of Action Alliance and encouraged party members to stay united and law-abiding as the legal process continues.

A bill seeking to create a new state in Nigeria’s South-West region, Ibadan State, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Rep. Abass Adigun, who represents the Ibadan Northeast/Ibadan Southeast Federal Constituency, the bill proposes an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to carve Ibadan State out of the present-day Oyo State.

Leading the debate on the floor of the House on Thursday, Adigun argued that Ibadan, a former capital of the defunct Western Region, deserves statehood just as Kaduna and Enugu, former regional capitals, have since achieved.

“This bill represents a monumental step toward equitable development through federalism and fulfils the long-standing aspiration of the people of Ibadan,” Adigun said.

He emphasized that Ibadan possesses both the population and landmass to merit full state status.

In a comparison, he claimed that one local government area in Ibadan is larger than three combined LGAs in Bayelsa State, a remark that sparked objections.

Hon. Obuku Ofurji, representing Yenagoa/Opokuma Federal Constituency in Bayelsa, described the comparison as inaccurate and disrespectful, calling it irrelevant to the merits of the bill.

In response, Adigun issued an apology but stood by the factual basis of his claim.

The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the bill to the House Committee on Constitutional Review, which he chairs.

The National Assembly is currently in the process of amending the 1999 Constitution, with the review expected to be concluded by December 2025, according to Kalu.

Creating a new state in Nigeria is constitutionally complex and rarely achieved. Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution lays out stringent conditions:

1. A request must be supported by two-thirds of elected representatives (Senate and House of Reps) and two-thirds of members of the State House of Assembly and local government councils in the affected area.
2. A referendum must be held, approved by two-thirds of the population in the proposed area.
3. The results must also be approved by a simple majority of all Nigerian states through their Houses of Assembly.
4. Finally, a resolution must be passed by two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly.

No new state has been successfully created since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, despite numerous attempts and agitations.

The Ibadan State bill adds to the increasing number of proposals for new states across Nigeria, including movements for Ijebu, Anioma, Etiti, Oil River, Adada among others.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the latest World Bank report provides undeniable evidence that the government’s economic policies have worsened the lives of millions of Nigerians.

In a statement issued by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, the party said the October 2025 World Bank report, which revealed that 139 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line, is a damning indictment of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the ADC, this figure representing 61% of the population, shows a dramatic increase in poverty from 81 million people in 2019, underlining the severe impact of current economic decisions.

“These numbers tell a painful truth,” Abdullahi said.

“Under the Tinubu-led APC government, more Nigerians have fallen into poverty than at any other time in our nation’s history. In 2019, four out of ten Nigerians were poor. Today, it’s at least six out of ten.”

The party accused the federal government of misleading the public with “creative statistics” that paint a false picture of progress, while the reality for many Nigerians remains one of hunger, joblessness, and despair.

Referring to President Tinubu’s recent Independence Day speech where he declared that “the worst is over,” the ADC described those remarks as disconnected from reality and “a whitewash” aimed at obscuring the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

“Behind those glossy numbers are real stories of suffering, families skipping meals, children dropping out of school, and people selling what little they own just to afford food and basic medicine,” the statement said.

The ADC also highlighted the collapse of social protection systems, stating that safety net coverage has shrunk from 20% in 2019 to just 6% in 2025.

Government support to the poorest now accounts for only 0.14% of GDP, well below the global average of 1.5%, the party added.

On food inflation, the ADC painted a bleak picture, saying the cost of basic staples like rice has increased fivefold in just four years.

It noted that poor households are now spending around 70% of their income on food, leaving little to nothing for other essentials like rent, school fees, or healthcare.

“The Tinubu government celebrates record revenue collection and talks about stability, but what good is revenue when people cannot afford to eat?” the party asked.

ADC called on the government to stop masking failure with manipulated data and instead prioritise the welfare of Nigerians through urgent actions focused on food security, job creation and robust social safety programs for the nation’s most vulnerable.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court, presided over by Justice Maryann Anenih, has adjourned further hearing in the ongoing money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to November 12 and 13, 2025.

The case resumed on Thursday with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting its fifth and sixth witnesses.

The fifth witness, Victoria Oluwafemi, a Compliance Officer with Polaris Bank, testified about financial transactions linked to the case.

She disclosed that the account under scrutiny received multiple credit inflows, mainly in tranches of ₦10 million, with total deposits for November 2021 amounting to ₦450 million.

However, under cross-examination by defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN), Oluwafemi admitted she was not the account officer or relationship manager for the accounts in question and lacked details on how the transactions were executed.

Another defence lawyer, A.M. Aliyu, pointed out that the name Abdulsalam Hudu  linked to the allegations, did not appear in the submitted exhibit. The witness confirmed this.

The EFCC then called its sixth witness, Mshelia Arhyel B, for cross-examination.

Defence counsel Daudu (SAN) noted that he was already cross-examining the same witness in a similar case before another judge and had not concluded that session.

But the court held that the matter before it was independent, and it was up to the defence to proceed or not.

The prosecution attempted to tender a set of documents through Mshelia.

Defence lawyers Daudu and Aliyu objected, citing Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act, which deal with the admissibility of documents.

They reserved the right to elaborate on their objections later.

Despite their protest, the court admitted the document, a 218-page bank statement of Alusha Services, signed by the witness, as Exhibit P1.

Prosecuting counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) also asked Mshelia to verify multiple transactions on various dates between 2016 and 2022, including large cash withdrawals made in ₦10 million batches, which the witness confirmed were within permitted limits.

By January 31, 2018, the total withdrawals were recorded at over ₦707 million.

Additionally, Mshelia confirmed foreign currency transactions in May 2022, including $2,500 and $5,000 transfers, as well as N202 million in payments from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service in December 2016.

Due to time constraints, Justice Anenih adjourned the proceedings at 3pm setting November 12 and 13 for the continuation of the cross-examination of the sixth witness.

At a previous session, the third prosecution witness, Williams Abimbola, a Compliance Officer with UBA, stated that none of the transactions in question violated any banking regulations and confirmed he was not the account manager for the Kogi Government House account.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dissolved its Enugu State executive committee following persistent internal disputes and factional rivalries within the chapter, DAILY GAZETTE reports.

This decision was reached during the party’s 179th National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.

Speaking to the press, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, explained that the move is part of broader efforts to restructure and stabilize the party’s operations in the state.

He also revealed that the party is finalizing arrangements ahead of the expected defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, into the ruling APC.

As part of the leadership shake-up, the NWC appointed Dr. Ben Nwoye, a former state chairman, to serve as caretaker chairman.

Additionally, Dr. Eugene Odoh, a former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, was named caretaker secretary.

Other members of the caretaker committee include: Ambassador Fidelia Njeze, Comrade Petercash Chime Member, Dr Mrs Oby Ajih, Dr Chidoze Nwafor and Engr. Emma Eke.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified Engr. Kayode Ojo from participating in its upcoming Ekiti State governorship primary election, scheduled for October 27, 2025.

This announcement was made on Thursday by the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, during a press briefing in Abuja.

According to Meseko, only two aspirants, incumbent Governor Abiodun Oyebanji and Omolayo Oluremi, have been cleared by the party’s National Working Committee to contest in the primary.

This development comes ahead of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed for July 20, 2026.

No specific reasons were given publicly for Ojo’s disqualification as of the time of filing this report.

President Bola Tinubu has revealed that his decision to nominate Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was informed by the professor’s apolitical disposition, integrity, and distinguished service record.

Speaking during Thursday’s meeting of the National Council of State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu described Amupitan as a “jurist of impeccable character,” adding that he is the first nominee for the INEC top job from Kogi State, located in Nigeria’s North-Central region.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the nomination was unanimously endorsed by members of the Council, which includes current and former national leaders.

Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State praised the nominee, stating: “Amupitan’s career reflects a deep commitment to justice, knowledge, and service to the nation.”

With the Council’s approval, Tinubu is expected to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation as required by the constitution.

Born in 1967 in Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State.

He currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the institution and also doubles as Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Master of Laws (LLM), and a PhD in Law from the University of Jos.

Prior to that, he studied at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and rose through the academic ranks over the next three decades.

Recognized as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014, Amupitan is highly regarded in legal and academic circles.

His areas of expertise include company law, corporate governance and evidence law.

Amupitan has also held numerous leadership and advisory roles outside academia.

These include service on the boards of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education.

Between 1996 and 2004, he served on the board of Riss Oil Limited in Abuja.

Known for his quiet but impactful leadership, Amupitan is married and a father of four.

Pending Senate confirmation, he is set to become Nigeria’s 15th INEC Chairman, succeeding Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose two-term tenure ended earlier this week.