Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) was briefly detained by immigration officials at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while preparing to board a flight to the United Kingdom.

Her detention came as the Senate concluded its legislative session until September 23, 2025, bringing an end to another year of activity.

Akpoti‑Uduaghan, traveling with her husband to attend her stepson’s graduation ceremony abroad, was reportedly told that her name had been placed on a watch list.

“She was told that the leadership of the National Assembly requested that she be considered a flight risk and placed on a watch list,” a family member explained on condition of anonymity.

“We are wondering why they treated her that way, given there is no court order restricting her movement and she has never missed any of her court appearances.”

The incident unfolded amid escalating tensions between the senator and the National Assembly leadership. She is currently challenging her suspension from the Senate, a consequence of her outspoken protest over changes to her designated sitting position.

The senator subsequently accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a charge he firmly denies.

Eyewitnesses say Akpoti‑Uduaghan visibly protested the travel ban and made urgent calls to senior immigration officials and government contacts.

After nearly an hour, she was permitted to board her British Airways flight.

Immigration authorities have yet to issue an official statement. Spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi promised to “revert once he obtains details of the incident.”

According to Dayo Fadugba, a lawyer and policy analyst based in Abuja, Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan’s own Notice of Appeal supports the position that the Senate was under no court-mandated obligation to reinstate her before her six-month suspension ended.

Fadugba pointed to “Ground 23 of the 30‑ground appeal,” stating it “affirms that the trial judge only observed the suspension to be excessive, without issuing a pronouncement nullifying it.”

Meanwhile, Senate President Akpabio has called on all standing and ad-hoc committees to use the two-month recess to finalize pending reports and prepare them for presentation when legislative business resumes.

He also urged senators to conduct constituency oversight visits, especially to inspect road projects in their jurisdictions.

Former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of sidelining Northern Nigeria in the distribution of national resources.

Speaking on Thursday during a Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment hosted by the Kano State government, Kwankwaso voiced strong concerns about what he described as an imbalanced allocation of the national budget.

“From the information available to us, it’s like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country,” Kwankwaso stated.

He criticised the Federal Government under the All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he said was a clear focus on development in the South, while the North continues to grapple with underdevelopment.

“That is why we have insecurity, we have poverty and so on. It is happening here mainly, but like a desert, it would go everywhere,” he warned.

Highlighting the dilapidated state of infrastructure in the North, Kwankwaso lamented: “Most roads in the northern region remain in a deplorable condition, whilst the APC government continues to allocate lump budgetary provisions for infrastructural development in the southern region.”

He called on the Tinubu administration to prioritise fairness and equity in the management of national resources, stressing that balanced development is essential to national unity and stability.

Former Minister of Transportation and one-time governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has made a dramatic return to the political spotlight this time under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Arriving at the Port Harcourt International Airport to an enthusiastic reception, Amaechi confirmed his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his new role as a key figure in an emerging opposition alliance.

Addressing supporters, Amaechi said the ADC would lead a new era in Rivers State politics, one defined by credible elections and an end to what he described as a deeply entrenched practice of electoral manipulation.

“This culture of ‘writing results’ must stop,” he said.

“We will not allow a repeat of the past in 2027. Enough is enough.”

He emphasized that the ADC was not just a platform for protest, but a viable alternative committed to restoring electoral integrity and holding those in power accountable.

Amaechi also raised concerns about Nigeria’s national direction under President Bola Tinubu, warning that a second term for the incumbent could worsen the country’s challenges.

“The road we’re on is dangerous. Another four years under this leadership would be catastrophic,” he cautioned.

The House of Representatives has advanced a legislative proposal aimed at addressing Nigeria’s long-standing issue of abandoned and inflated public projects.

The bill, which passed second reading, seeks to establish the National Independent Project Monitoring Agency (NIPMA), a body that would independently oversee the implementation of capital projects funded by the federal government.

Sponsored by Hon. Chinedu Martins, the bill intends to fill a critical gap in project oversight by ensuring transparency, accountability, and timely execution.

Martins said the agency would not only track and report on all federally funded projects nationwide but also detect inflated costs early, saving the country billions of naira each year through rigorous and real-time monitoring.

Leading debate on the bill’s general principles, Martins criticized the existing structure where ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are responsible both for awarding contracts and monitoring their implementation.

He argued that such an arrangement is flawed and fosters corruption and inefficiency.

“You will agree with me that, year after year, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria presents an Appropriation Bill to this Honourable House, detailing capital expenditures running into trillions of naira for the execution of developmental projects across the country,” Martins said.

“These projects are domiciled in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and implemented by contractors who are issued letters of award in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Public Procurement Act of 2007.”

Despite these massive budgetary allocations, he said, the visible results are disappointing:

“The reality on ground paints a distressing picture. Across the country, we encounter the scars of abandoned, substandard, or poorly executed projects by MDAs. This is not only wasteful; it is unacceptable.”

Martins pointed to the absence of a “credible, transparent, and independent monitoring system” as one of the main reasons projects fail. He emphasized the inherent conflict of interest in the current system:

“Mr. Speaker and Honourable Colleagues, you will agree with me that the same MDAs that award these contracts are also the same MDAs responsible for monitoring the execution of the same projects. This arrangement is inherently defective. As the saying goes, you cannot be a judge in your own case.”

“This model of self-supervision breeds inefficiency, fosters compromise, and enables contractors to cut corners, which is a major reason for the numerous abandoned projects, while billions of naira remain unaccounted for.”

The proposed NIPMA would serve as a statutory body solely focused on monitoring, tracking, and reporting the implementation status of federally funded projects, thereby addressing the governance vacuum currently plaguing public infrastructure delivery.

Martins also emphasized the economic benefits of creating such an agency:

“Effective monitoring will detect inflated project costs early and ensure value for money, saving the nation billions of naira annually. Citizens will regain trust in government when they see that public funds are being transparently and judiciously utilized.”

He added that the agency would also generate employment for various professionals such as engineers, quantity surveyors, auditors, and data analysts, while also stimulating local economies in project host communities.

“When infrastructure projects are properly implemented, they catalyze commerce, attract investment, and promote national development, thereby expanding the economy and reducing poverty.”

Martins clarified that the proposed agency would not conflict with existing institutions:

“Should this Bill be passed into law, the National Independent Project Monitoring Agency will not conflict with existing institutions such as the Bureau of Public Procurement or the Office of the Auditor-General. Rather, it will complement them by addressing the urgent need for real-time, on-the-ground monitoring of capital projects.”

Calling for broad support from his colleagues, he concluded: “This Bill is timely, necessary, and ultimately in the best interest of the Nigerian people. Therefore, I respectfully urge this Honourable House to lend its full support to this vital legislative proposal to be allowed to be read the second time, to ensure that resources appropriated by this House genuinely serve the people of Nigeria.”

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural group has called on Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, to reconsider his political ambitions for 2027.

The group urged Obi to abandon his bid and instead support President Bola Tinubu’s second term in the interest of equity, national unity, and political stability.

The appeal comes amid deepening internal crisis within the Labour Party, as rival factions continue to interpret the Supreme Court’s April 4 ruling differently, leading to growing divisions regarding party leadership and loyalty to Obi.

Speaking in Abakaliki, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy National President of a faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, advised Obi to shelve his presidential ambition, arguing that it would be extremely difficult to unseat the incumbent president.

He reminded Obi that support from the South-East alone would not suffice to secure victory.

He cautioned that the fractured opposition, particularly the rivalry between Obi and Atiku Abubakar, poses a strategic risk:

“Obi and Atiku would share the opposition vote, which will ultimately pave the way for Tinubu’s re-election,” he said, warning that should this unfold, “the repercussions would undoubtedly fall heavily upon the South-East.”

The statement added: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo fully acknowledges Obi’s constitutional right to contest the presidency in 2027.

“However, we must confront the stark reality that, despite his considerable social media following, the potential for betrayal looms large.”

“Such betrayal could yield dire consequences, with the Igbo people once again bearing the repercussions, as we did in the elections of 2019 and 2023. In 2019, Mr. Obi was the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, and the joint ticket ultimately cost the South-East an additional sixth state, a promise made by former President Muhammadu Buhari to Igbo leaders contingent upon their support.”

Meanwhile, the Labour Party remains embroiled in internal disputes. While Senator Nenadi Usman’s faction claims legitimacy based on the court ruling, it has rejected suggestions of a plot to expel Peter Obi as false and “mischievous.”

Ken Eluma Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to Usman, condemned the allegations, accusing unnamed actors of trying to sabotage Obi’s efforts to form a broader political coalition:

“Their antics are laughable, illegal and desperate,” he said.

He insisted that “only communications from the Acting National Chairman’s office should be trusted,” adding that Obi’s coalition efforts were fully backed by the party’s leadership, citing a statement issued on May 25 in support of his alliance-building initiatives.

In contrast, the faction led by Julius Abure refuted Usman’s interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling. In a counterstatement, Obiora Ifoh, the LP National Publicity Secretary, clarified that the judgment simply reaffirmed that the judiciary had no jurisdiction over internal party matters, without endorsing any specific leadership.

“Serious aspirants are already engaging with us,” Ifoh stated. “Let the wailers keep wailing; we’re moving forward.”

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, Obi’s running mate in the 2023 election, has also weighed in on the ongoing dispute.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme, Datti acknowledged Abure as the legitimate national chairman, based on INEC’s continued recognition.

“When INEC raised issues about the tenure of Abure that necessitated the responses in Umuahia, Abia State, and we did so clearly and legitimately, and I was part of it,” Datti explained.

“The Supreme Court gave a ruling which we interpreted again in favour of the Usman group. Afterwards, INEC continued to relate with the Abure faction. We are law-abiding citizens.”

“Members of LP are being remote-controlled and played with by some powerful forces out there. But they can’t continue to do this forever. Very soon it will end, and what you see going on now is what the authorities at that time said.”

On Monday, Datti participated in a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Abure-led faction in Abuja, where he officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.

“There are two key individuals I have tremendous respect for; one is Peter Obi. I welcome him openly. LP welcomes him to come and retain the ticket and contest in 2027 with or without me. And the ADC is welcome to adopt a southern candidate,” he concluded.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has appointed Mr. Joachim Achor as the new Accountant General of the state.

The announcement was made on Thursday through a statement issued in Awka by the Governor’s Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, who highlighted that Achor emerged as the most qualified candidate following a competitive and transparent selection process.

Originally from Abia State, Achor’s ties to Anambra began during his university days, and he later served in the state under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), where he earned the State Merit Award as the best corps member.

Impressed by his performance, the then military government in the state offered him automatic employment in the Anambra civil service.

Over the years, Achor rose through the ranks, holding various leadership roles including Director and Permanent Secretary, before being appointed to his new position.

The government emphasized that the selection was based solely on merit. According to the statement, “the process included computer-based tests, a rigorous screening exercise, and a final interview with the governor.”

It further noted that unlike in the past when senior appointments were often influenced by political connections, ethnic favoritism, or personal discretion this decision reflects a deliberate effort to promote professionalism, fairness, and inclusivity in public service.

“Historically, appointments to senior civil service positions in Anambra were often subject to political patronage, ethnic considerations, or gubernatorial discretion. This appointment seeks to institutionalise fairness, professionalism, and national integration within the state’s administrative architecture,” the statement read.

Highlighting the significance of appointing a non-indigene to such a strategic role, the government stated:

“It sends a clear political message that Anambra belongs to all Nigerians who are willing to serve with excellence.”

“We are building a government anchored on merit, diversity, and service delivery,” it added.

Governor Soludo congratulated Achor on the appointment and urged him to serve with integrity, professionalism, and dedication in advancing the interests of the state.