Senate President Godswill Akpabio has praised former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a leader defined by integrity and self-discipline who never misappropriated public funds.

Akpabio made the remarks during an expanded Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held at the State House in Abuja on Thursday in honour of Buhari.

Reflecting on the former president’s time in office, Akpabio lauded his personal discipline and unwavering commitment to public service.

“President Buhari believed that discipline mattered. That integrity mattered. That leadership, even when lonely, must be anchored in something greater than power,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President, who once served as a minister under Buhari, said even those critical of Buhari acknowledged his principled stance and incorruptible record.

“He did not seek to ride waves of popular acclaim; he walked, with steadiness and often in solitude, along the ridge of national conscience,” he added.

Akpabio described the former president as a resilient leader who remained devoted to Nigeria under both military and civilian rule.

“Let us be honest, he was tough. He was a soldier who did not flinch under fire, a leader who did not flee from responsibility, and above all, a Nigerian whose loyalty to this nation was never up for sale,” he said.

“His toughness was born not of pride, but of patriotism, a fierce, unrelenting belief that Nigeria, with all its challenges, was still worth fighting for.”

Recalling Buhari’s decades of service to the country, Akpabio concluded:

“Whether in khaki or agbada, he remained firm in his belief that Nigeria was worth fighting for.”

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has declined the request by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to release his international passport, citing jurisdictional limitations.

At the resumed hearing of the money laundering case filed against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Justice Maryann Anenih ruled that the passport in question was not in the custody of her court but rather with the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite.

Justice Anenih explained that, under the circumstances, the FCT High Court could not entertain Bello’s request.

“The court would have considered the application for release of the defendant’s travel document if it were to be in its custody,” she stated.

The judge further clarified that even if the request had been granted, it would have no effect since the passport is with another court.

“Even if the request to retrieve the document were to be granted, it would be of no effect since the passport was not in the custody of the FCT High Court but with the Federal High Court,” she said.

Yahaya Bello, who faces separate charges at both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court in Abuja, had filed the application requesting the release of his passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.

His lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had earlier noted that the passport was no longer in the FCT court’s possession.

“A review of the court’s record revealed that the applicant had previously been ordered to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the registry of the court,” Daudu said.

Justice Anenih affirmed this position, adding:

“However, upon further enquiry and search conducted by the court, it was discovered that the said international passport was not presently in the custody of the court’s registry but with the Federal High Court.”

Following the ruling, the judge adjourned the case to October 8, 9, and November 13, 2025, for continued hearing.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed it is actively working to reintegrate Peter Obi, the former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, back into its ranks.

This confirmation came from the PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, during an appearance on Arise Television.

Abdullahi described Obi as a major political asset, noting the party’s desire to reabsorb him ahead of future electoral contests.

“Peter Obi is our product. We want to get him back, indeed, because he is a very, very great capital for any political party,” Abdullahi stated.

He praised Obi’s performance in the 2023 general elections, where he secured more than six million votes nationwide despite what Abdullahi alleged was widespread electoral malpractice.

“If he had not gone the way he did in the last dispensation and had not faced the institutional obstacles that were placed in his path, we are confident he would have performed even better. That he was still able to command over six million votes shows he is not a candidate to ignore.”

Obi, who left the PDP just before its presidential primaries to join the Labour Party, ultimately finished third in the election.

He trailed Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared the winner. However, Obi’s strong appeal particularly among young voters and urban populations has established him as one of Nigeria’s most influential opposition figures.

Abdullahi acknowledged that Obi’s defection to the Labour Party was a serious blow to the PDP, but emphasized that it had not erased the respect he still commands within the party.

“Every political party that gets the opportunity to have him will be at an advantage. And certainly, PDP is not giving up on that effort,” he said.

According to Abdullahi, the PDP is currently engaged in internal consultations and long-term strategic planning aimed at unifying opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said Obi’s return fits squarely into that broader plan.

“In the fullness of time, we believe we might get him back. It will be a big boost to the PDP,” Abdullahi added.

The PDP’s overtures come as calls grow louder from political commentators and civil society organizations for Nigeria’s opposition parties to form a grand coalition ahead of the next presidential election.

Many believe that only a united opposition can effectively challenge the APC, which has held power since 2015.

Governor Peter Ndubisi Mbah of Enugu State has submitted a list of six new commissioner-nominees to the Enugu State House of Assembly for confirmation.

The development coincides with the resignation of Adaora Chukwu, daughter of former governor Sullivan Chime, from the State Executive Council.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, made the announcement in a statement on Thursday.

According to Onyia, the nominees include:

Osita Okoh

Ben Collins Ndu Jr.

Dr. Samuel Ogbu-Nwobodo

Franklin Ogbonna

Prof. Benedeth Okoli

Prof. George Ugwu

The SSG did not disclose the portfolios for the nominees.

In addition to the nominations, the governor has appointed Godwin Anigbo as the new Head of Service for Enugu State.

“This appointment takes effect immediately,” Prof. Onyia said in the statement.

The new nominations come amid a cabinet shake-up.

Adaora Chukwu, who served as Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment, announced her resignation on Thursday via her Instagram page.

“I wish to officially inform the public that I have resigned from my role as Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry in Enugu State,” she wrote.

Ms Chukwu expressed gratitude to Governor Mbah for the opportunity to serve but did not provide reasons for her departure.

Sources told DAILY GAZETTE that although Ms Chukwu submitted her resignation on Wednesday, she was allegedly asked to step down.

A lawyer by profession, she is the daughter of former Governor Sullivan Chime, a known ally of Governor Mbah, though Chime is now a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Earlier, Aka Eze, then Commissioner for Information, also resigned to contest and win the Udenu Local Government Chairmanship election.

When Governor Mbah assumed office in 2023, he appointed 20 commissioners.

By 2024, he added Chimaobi Okorie as Commissioner for Lands, increasing the count to 21.

With the resignation of Aka Eze and Adaora Chukwu, the number dropped to 19.

If the assembly confirms the six new nominees, the total number of commissioners will rise to 25.

This would exceed the 24 commissioners appointed by former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in 2015 and even the 20 he maintained during his second term.

There are ongoing speculations that more resignations may follow in the coming days, potentially leading to further cabinet changes.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for a comprehensive forensic audit of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries before any steps are taken toward their sale.

The party alleges that over $20.8 billion in public funds have been squandered on repeated rehabilitation efforts that yielded no results.

In a statement signed by Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, the ADC expressed alarm over recent statements by the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) indicating an intent to fully privatise the refineries.

The ADC described the proposed sale as “premature, suspicious and potentially criminal,” especially coming on the heels of government claims that some of the facilities had resumed partial operations.

“It is deeply troubling that after spending over $18 billion across successive All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations, and an additional $2.8 billion under the present government, there is still no tangible improvement in refining capacity. Now, the same government wants to quietly sell off these assets. Nigerians deserve to know: what exactly is being sold – scrap or sovereign assets?” the party stated.

The ADC raised concerns about the Bola Tinubu administration’s transparency, warning that such moves risk undervaluing national assets and transferring them to allies or insiders under the guise of reform.

“The approach could lead to the undervaluation and sale of national assets to cronies or even to themselves under the guise of reforms,” the statement continued.

The opposition party accused successive governments of using the guise of Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) to perpetuate corruption and mismanagement.

It labelled the refineries as “a black hole for public funds.”

Referencing recent remarks by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, the ADC highlighted his skepticism about the functionality of state refineries and pointed to his private refinery as the only viable refining operation in the country.

“If the goal was always to privatise, then the billions of dollars spent were either wasted or were part of a long-running scam,” the ADC declared.

In light of these developments, the ADC is calling for a full forensic audit, financial, technical, and structural of all funds allocated for refinery rehabilitation from 2010 to date.

The party also demanded an independent technical assessment of the current condition and operational viability of all refineries.

Furthermore, the ADC insists that the findings be made public in a legislative hearing, with the participation of civil society groups, anti-corruption agencies, and industry experts.

“Until these conditions are met, any attempt to privatise the refineries must be deemed illegitimate and resisted,” the party warned.

For the ADC, the issue transcends fiscal responsibility, it is a matter of public trust.

“If the government truly believes in reform, then it must begin with the truth. What we are witnessing is not a policy decision; it is a cover-up,” the party said.

A South-West socio-political group, Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, and the apex Igbo cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo have shared their perspectives on whether former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi can unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Akin Malaolu, president of Yoruba Ronu, heralded Atiku’s recent resignation from the PDP as “bold and strategic,” suggesting it positions him to exploit the perceived failures of the Tinubu government and the worsening economic situation.

He said “Tinubu squandered the goodwill he inherited from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s northern support base and the so‑called 12 million ‘block votes.’ Atiku is now strategically positioned to step into that vacuum and reap what Tinubu failed to consolidate in 2023.”

He criticised Tinubu’s policy approach as applying a “Lagos and South-West mindset” to national politics, which he believes alienated northern stakeholders, including Nasir El‑Rufai and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Malaolu added:

“Atiku’s exit from PDP is the final piece that could dismantle Tinubu’s hold on power. … The economic hardship, growing discontent in the North, and Atiku’s likely alliance with the ADC, backed by support from the South‑South and Southeast, create a strong front that could sweep Tinubu out in 2027.”

Still, he allowed that Tinubu retains “a narrow window to reclaim public confidence,” provided he effectively tackles insecurity and the economic crisis.

In an Abakaliki statement, Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s Deputy National President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, advised that attention should shift to Peter Obi rather than Atiku.

He asserted that Obi “still commands overwhelming influence in the South-East” and predicted a repeat of the 2023 voting pattern in 2027 if Tinubu fails to resolve insecurity in the region and release detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.

Isiguzoro reflected on the changed political terrain following Muhammadu Buhari’s death, stating:

“The political ascendancy of Mr Peter Obi presents a formidable challenge that the Presidency must address with renewed vigour and strategic recalibration.”

He warned; “Failure to adapt and respond effectively to the pressing needs of the nation particularly in the realms of economic policy reform, national restructuring, infrastructural development, security enhancement, food security and mostly release of Kanu will severely undermine President Tinubu’s prospects and give Obi an edge if he becomes a presidential ticket.”

He also emphasised Igbo community aspirations like the creation of a sixth South‑East state, reopening the Calabar seaport, completing federal roads, modernising railway infrastructure, and releasing Nnamdi Kanu.

Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s presidential candidate, accused some coalition figures of corruptly “hijacking” the party. He claimed that state chairmen are being offered up to ₦20 million to resign. He warned:

“This fake coalition is staging events in different parts of the country, where they pay poor Nigerians to say they are decamping from other parties to the ADC.”

He challenged the coalition’s intentions, noting:

“Our constitution still doesn’t allow you to assume those offices. … If you succeed in paying off all the ADC party officials … what next?”

He further alleged that former Vice President Atiku has orchestrated this attempt:

“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar … orchestrated this charade for his personal benefit. … He almost truncated President Obasanjo’s return for a second term … After eight years of late President Buhari … Atiku believes it was morally right for him to be the presidential flag bearer of the PDP …”

Kachikwu insisted ADC was not for sale:

“The ADC is not for sale and is not an old people’s home. We are a party that believes Nigeria needs fresh faces, fresh ideals and fresh ideas. This current political war is the war of the old for the old; it is not our fight.”

Samuel Ortom, former Benue State governor and member of the PDP’s G5 bloc, explained his opposition to Atiku in 2023, stating that the G5 believed the presidency should rotate to the South after Buhari’s eight-year term. On Arise TV, Ortom said:

“I acted as I did because we had expected the PDP to uphold equity, fairness, and justice … When the majority of PDP members supported a northern candidate, we deemed it unjust.”

As chairman of the PDP’s zoning committee, he said “I presented the committee’s report as it was, and the NEC made the final call. I couldn’t override the collective decision.”