Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Prince Ned Nwoko, has declared that the creation of Anioma State is practically finalized, assuring stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of strong progress.

Speaking on Saturday at his hometown of Idumuje-Ugboko in Aniocha Local Government Area, Senator Nwoko emphasized that significant strides had already been made in the Senate towards the realization of Anioma State.

“We are on course. The technical committee will be inaugurated in Asaba, to help me to work towards actualising the creation of Anioma state,” he said.

Nwoko stated that 75 senators are backing the bill and confirmed that the process had moved past the Senate committee stage.

“If you were at Agbor during APC stakeholders gathering, you heard when the National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Umar Ganduje said the creation of Anioma State is a done deal.

“We have moved from the committee stage of the process to public hearing coming up in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Thereafter, we will come back to the Senate for third reading of the bill for the creation of Anioma State,” the senator assured.

Also lending his support, APC chieftain Chief Emma Ejiofor called on stakeholders to remain united in pursuit of the state creation goal.

He cautioned that any lawmaker from Delta North who refuses to back the initiative could face consequences.

“Any member of the Delta State House of Assembly from the senatorial district who fails to support the cause would face recall by constituents,” he warned.

Adding his voice, Hon. Nicholas Ossai, a former member of the House of Representatives, stressed the importance of collective support for the initiative.

“We must support Senator Ned Nwoko to achieve this feat because when we have our state, we will have more local government areas created, and many other benefits in the new state. Anioma State should be supported by everybody.”

Meanwhile, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei, called for reconciliation and unity within the APC, especially in the build-up to the 2027 elections.

“We are not having a party to divide us. We are having a party to unify and unite everybody. We must unite the party, particularly in Delta North,” Ochei stated.

Honourable Professor Paul Sunday Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency, has pledged his unwavering dedication to people-focused leadership, asserting that his goal is to “redefine governance through quality representation.”

Representing a constituency that spans both rural and urban areas in Enugu State, Prof. Nnamchi acknowledged the substantial challenges his people face, including poverty, deprivation, limited federal presence, and worsening insecurity.

“Some communities, such as Eha-Amufu and Ikem, have been ravaged by banditry attacks, affecting their livelihoods with several of the inhabitants displaced from their ancestral homes and their life-savings destroyed,” he noted.

To confront these difficulties, he said his approach involves collaboration and strategic planning.

“I need to build bridges, engage in compromises, to come up with initiatives and programmes to empower my constituents,” he emphasized.

A core focus of his legislative mission, Prof. Nnamchi revealed, is investing in youth development, particularly through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

He explained that he has launched several training programs to equip young people with relevant digital skills that can empower them economically.

These programs, he said, aim to make youths self-reliant and entrepreneurial in a changing job market where formal employment is increasingly scarce.

In addition to skill acquisition initiatives, Prof. Nnamchi highlighted his commitment to education by awarding over 200 tertiary education scholarships to students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Through these efforts,” he said, “I have continued to encourage the youths to take charge of their own futures and create opportunities for themselves and others.”

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, he praised the current 10th National Assembly as an institution focused on results.

“The 10th National Assembly is an impact-driven legislature that has refined representative governance as a continuous service to the people and not a one-off political exercise,” he observed.

He further stressed that lawmakers are being encouraged to sponsor bills and motions that foster governance, accountability, economic growth, and uphold public trust.

Addressing the recurring issue of post-election defections, Prof. Nnamchi pointed to deeper systemic flaws within the political landscape.

“When parties focus solely on capturing power rather than cultivating principles, loyalty becomes transactional and governance loses its moral anchor,” he said.

According to him, this absence of ideological depth and political education in party structures leads to instability and public disillusionment.

“This failure erodes public trust and reduces politics to a game of convenience, not conviction,” he warned.

Prof. Nnamchi called for a new perspective, one that prioritizes the meaning of each vote rather than just the voting process itself.

“We must begin to listen not just to the ballots,” he stated, “but to the voices, the hopes, and the mandates that gave them life.”

He emphasized that Nigerian citizens are becoming more politically conscious and are increasingly demanding that their mandates be honored.

“Nigerian people are no longer passive observers of power plays; they are increasingly concerned with where their mandate is best protected, where it is translated into real service, and where it is not betrayed for personal ambition,” he concluded.

“In this era,” Prof. Nnamchi affirmed, “the legitimacy of leadership will rest not in party lines, but in the ability to faithfully steward the will of the people.”

The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has expelled its State Secretary, Kelvin Umoh, citing alleged gross misconduct, blackmail, and actions said to be detrimental to the party’s peace and integrity.

The decision was announced in a communiqué released after a general meeting of the party held on Sunday in Uyo, the state capital.

The meeting, chaired by the Acting State Chairman, Elder Wisdom Udoka, also named Mr. Moses Antigha as the new Acting Secretary.

According to the communiqué signed by Udoka and 125 executive members, the expulsion followed consultations with relevant party organs and was in line with the YPP constitution.

It stated that Umoh had allegedly held “secret meetings with selected members to perpetrate violence during general meetings,” a move seen as a disruption to the party’s progress and internal unity.

The party further accused Umoh of undermining its image by contradicting official decisions in unauthorized media appearances.

“The meeting expressed disappointment with Umoh for publicly contradicting official party decisions through unauthorised media appearances, thereby allegedly bringing the party into disrepute,” the communiqué stated.

Another key issue was Umoh’s alleged refusal to cooperate on critical financial procedures.

“It also frowned at his refusal to sign essential financial documents, including a cheque for the remittance of 10% of funds generated from nomination form sales after the 2024 Local Government Elections, until compelled.”

These actions were described as a breach of party regulations, especially Section 36.7 of the YPP Constitution, which prohibits public disclosure of internal matters, forming parallel structures, and disobedience to party directives.

“In light of these developments, the Young Progressives Party has appointed the Deputy State Secretary, Mr. Moses Antigha, as the Acting Secretary of the YPP Akwa Ibom State Chapter and directed Ambassador Kelvin Umoh to return all party documents and property in his possession to the YPP State Secretariat within 24 hours,” the communiqué added.

Reaffirming his leadership, Udoka called on members to remain steadfast in their commitment to the party’s values and mission.

He described the meeting as “a defining moment in the party’s history, a moment of rebirth, a renewed sense of purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the core ideals of social democracy, inclusive governance, and accountability, which form the foundational pillars of the YPP.”

Former Governor of Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, has opened up about a dark chapter in his life, revealing that he once contemplated suicide following a false allegation in 2011 that he had slapped a Catholic Reverend Father.

Speaking at an interactive session with youth in Owerri, Ohakim recounted the emotional toll the allegation took on him and how the public reaction intensified the pressure.

“When I first heard the rumour, I dismissed it. But when it started gaining traction in the media, including television stations, I became overwhelmed. At some point, I actually contemplated suicide,” he shared.

Ohakim clarified that he had physical evidence showing he wasn’t even in Imo State on the day the alleged incident occurred.

“I can show you an air ticket for that day, I wasn’t even in Imo State when the rumour broke,” he said.

The former governor revealed that the truth eventually came to light when the Reverend Father involved admitted to another cleric, Father Ejike Mbaka, that the allegation was baseless.

“When Father Mbaka mounted the pulpit, he said if you accuse someone falsely and later find out the truth, you should apologize.

He did, and I forgave everyone involved,” Ohakim said, recalling the moment of public vindication.

Reflecting on the 2011 governorship election in Imo State, Ohakim claimed he had won overwhelmingly but was removed from office through what he described as a democratic betrayal.

“In 2011, I won an election clean and clear, but there was a civilian coup,” he alleged.

Despite this, he said he chose not to dwell on the outcome with resentment.

Ohakim also spoke about the legacy of his administration, particularly its Clean and Green programme, which he described as a comprehensive initiative targeting health, education, and environmental sustainability.

He credited the programme with transforming Imo State into an attractive destination in the South-East.

The former governor concluded with a message to young people, urging them to develop vocational skills.

“As I sit down here today, I am a welder, sheet maker, fabricator, a carpenter, and artist. You must acquire a skill that can fetch you something because any human being without a skill in the 21st century is like an animal in the bush.”