A heated confrontation broke out in the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday following the nomination of Hon. Ojie Eugene Inegbeboh as Minority Whip by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The commotion began after the Speaker, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, read a letter from Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, the state PDP caretaker committee chairman, putting forward Inegbeboh of the Igueben Constituency to replace Hon. Yekini Idaiye, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Agbebaku noted that the PDP had carried out necessary consultations before nominating Inegbeboh.

Attempts by some legislators to oppose the move were quickly dismissed by the Speaker.

Tensions reached a boiling point when Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Addeh Isibor Emakhu, challenged the legitimacy of Aziegbemi’s authority.

He argued that, based on existing court rulings, the rightful leader of the party in the state is Dan Orbih, the PDP South-South zonal vice chairman.

He asserted that “no illegitimate officer” should be recognized to influence the composition of both APC and PDP representation in the House.

In a sharp rebuttal, Minority Leader, Hon. Charity Ighodalo accused Emakhu of spreading falsehoods within the chamber.

She cautioned: “Misinformation is an offence.”

The exchange led to a noisy scene, forcing the Speaker to call the House to order.

He sternly urged lawmakers to maintain discipline.

“This is indiscipline in the chamber. Please respect the gavel,” Agbebaku stated.

“Anyone aggrieved should go to court. I have no business with PDP affairs because I am in the APC.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southeast Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) has issued a strong warning to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), insisting that it must affirm Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary or risk losing the support of the zone.

This warning came in a communique released after a meeting of the Southeast ZEC held on Wednesday at the Government House, Enugu.

Signed by the Zonal Chairman of the PDP in the Southeast, Chief Ali Odefa, the communique stated that failure to honour the zone’s right to present a nominee for the office zoned to it would force the Southeast PDP to reconsider its relationship with the party.

According to the communique:
“The South East Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met at the Government House, Enugu, Enugu State, today, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, to deliberate on the issue of the Office of the National Secretary of the Party.”

It referenced the Supreme Court’s March 21, 2025 judgment, which dismissed the legal battle over the National Secretary position, affirming that such matters fall under the internal affairs of the party and are beyond the jurisdiction of the courts and INEC.

“Following the consideration of the report of the panel it set up to review the Supreme Court judgement, the PDP Governors’ Forum, at its April 14, 2025 meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, recommended that the South East PDP should nominate a candidate who would serve out the remaining tenure of the National Secretary of the Party zoned to the region.”

The communique further noted that the National Working Committee (NWC), at its 600th meeting on April 29, 2025, upheld the Governors’ Forum’s recommendation and directed the Southeast ZEC to nominate a candidate.

“Today’s meeting was therefore convened in accordance with this directive. Rising from the meeting, the ZEC resolved to issue the following communique:
‘The South East ZEC exhaustively deliberated on the directive of the NWC and came to the conclusion that it offered a sure pathway to peace, unity, stability, and progress of our party. Consequently, the ZEC unanimously recommended Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.’”

In addition to reaffirming its earlier decisions, the ZEC also urged the NWC to ensure that the Deputy National Secretary continues in an acting capacity until the NEC formally ratifies Udeh-Okoye’s nomination.

“We also urge the NWC to uphold its decision at its 600th meeting on April 29, 2025, by ensuring that the Deputy National Secretary of the PDP functions as the Acting National Secretary pending the ratification of the nominee for the Office of the National Secretary by NEC in line with the recommendations of the PDP Governors’ Forum as adopted by the NWC.”

The communique expressed frustration over the repeated process the Southeast has undergone to fill the position.

“The South East ZEC further noted that the zone has had to go through this process for the umpteenth time, unlike what obtains in the filling of vacant national offices by other zones. It is recalled that the South East ZEC met in October 2023 and nominated Rt Hon. Udeh-Okoye to serve out the remaining term of the National Secretary. This position was reaffirmed during the February 20, 2024, meeting of the PDP South ZEC. We also reiterated this during the meeting of ZEC in Enugu on Friday, January 25, 2025.”

The ZEC emphasized the Southeast’s long-standing loyalty to the PDP.

“The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In its near three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the party. Currently, while the party has been losing key members post-2023 general election, the South East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the party by rallying major opposition figures into the PDP fold.”

“In Enugu State, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party is back in the PDP. Two members of the House of Representatives are equally back in the PDP from the Labour Party. Furthermore, PDP seats in the Enugu State House of Assembly have grown from 10 at the inception of the Assembly to 20 today.”

They urged the national leadership to respect the zone’s decision and act without delay.

“Therefore, we hope that this time around, the position of the South East PDP regarding the Office of the National Secretary is accorded the honour and immediacy it deserves.
This would bring to a closure the needless lingering dispute over the matter. However, in the event that our position is not promptly implemented by the party, the South East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward.”

The Department of State Services (DSS) has instituted legal action against Prof. Pat Utomi, former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over his declaration to set up a shadow government in Nigeria.

Filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, the DSS accuses Utomi of planning a parallel structure aimed at causing instability. The suit names Utomi as the sole defendant.

According to the DSS, the move represents “a grave attack on the Constitution,” and is “intended to create chaos and destabilise the country.”

The legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Akinlolu Kehinde, maintains that the plan violates democratic norms and the supremacy of the 1999 Constitution.

“This structure, styled as a ‘shadow government’, if left unchecked, might incite political unrest, intergroup tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist entities to replicate similar parallel arrangements, all of which pose a grave threat to national security,” the suit reads.

The DSS is urging the court to declare Utomi’s “shadow government or cabinet” unconstitutional, asserting it amounts to “an attempt to create a parallel authority not recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

Furthermore, it seeks a declaration that “under Sections 1(1), 1(2) and 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, the establishment or operation of any governmental authority or structure outside the provisions of the Constitution… is unconstitutional, null, and void.”

An order of perpetual injunction is also being sought to restrain Utomi and his associates “from further taking any steps towards the establishment or operation of a ‘shadow government’, ‘shadow cabinet’ or any similar entity not recognised by the Constitution.”

The DSS cites Section 1(1), which establishes the Constitution’s supremacy over all persons and authorities in Nigeria, and Section 1(2), which prohibits governance outside its provisions.

As at the time of filing this report, the case had not yet been assigned to a judge.

However, the action by the DSS has drawn counter-reactions.

Professor Anthony Kila, political economist and Director of the Commonwealth Institute for Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS), expressed support for the initiative.

Utomi, who leads the Big Tent Coalition, unveiled the shadow cabinet earlier in May, calling it a “national emergency response” to deteriorating economic and security conditions under the Tinubu-led administration.

Reacting during the Cambridge African Round Table (CARt), Prof. Kila said: “Not only did I not see anything wrong with the idea, but I fully support it.”

Governor Otti,

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prepares for his scheduled visit to Abia State on May 23, 2025, a faction of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged Governor Alex Otti to take a bold political step by backing Tinubu for reelection, just as Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has done.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Deputy National President of the Ohanaeze faction, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, emphasized the strategic importance of Otti’s public endorsement of President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He noted that, “The adoption of Mr. President by Gov Otti is very crucial, especially now Southeast is benefiting immensely not because he has done well for the zone but to also affirm our commitment to his leadership in the forthcoming elections.”

Isiguzoro praised Otti for delivering on the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road project, describing it as both a significant achievement and a timely opportunity to align with Tinubu’s national agenda.

“In light of Governor Otti’s commendable accomplishment in completing the Port Harcourt Road project, which had suffered neglect for over 15 years, Ohanaeze Ndigbo extends heartfelt congratulations,” he said.

He continued: “This achievement represents not only a victory for the governance of Abia State but also serves as a pivotal opportunity for the Governor to embrace President Tinubu’s national vision and policies.”

Drawing a parallel with Governor Soludo’s recent move, Isiguzoro added: “We earnestly urge our Governor, Alex Chioma Otti, to draw inspiration from the recent commendable actions of Anambra State’s Governor, Charles Soludo, who adopted Tinubu during his visit to Anambra.”

He stressed that aligning with the president should not be seen as mere political calculation but as a way to boost federal presence and investment in the Southeast.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo unequivocally advocates for a similar stance from the leadership in Abia State, encouraging Governor Otti to align strategically with President Tinubu.”

“Such alignment is not merely a political maneuver; it is an opportunity to foster deeper connections with the federal government, thereby augmenting the potential for development and investment in our region.”

As President Tinubu’s visit draws closer, Isiguzoro called on the people of Abia and the wider Igbo community to demonstrate unity and hospitality.

“We call upon all Abians and esteemed members of the Igbo community to rise in unison and extend a rousing welcome to President Tinubu upon his visit on May 23, 2025, and at this occasion serve as a powerful symbol of our collective aspiration for progress, unity, and national development.”

He concluded with a call for strategic political engagement: “In conclusion, let us seize this opportunity to not only welcome President Tinubu with open arms but to also affirm our commitment to his leadership in the forthcoming elections. The time for decisive action is now, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo stands ready to champion a united front for the benefit of Abia State and the entire Igbo Nation.”

Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed concern over the present state of governance in Nigeria, asserting that the situation would have met stiff opposition if he and Sule Lamido were still in power as governors.

Amaechi made this statement on Tuesday in Abuja during the public launch of Lamido’s autobiography, Being True to Myself.

Reflecting on their time in office and their influence within the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), which he chaired, Amaechi noted that their leadership style was one marked by boldness and confrontation.

“I asked you (Lamido) this morning, what is going on currently in the country, in Nigerian politics, would it have happened when we were governors? You said no. And the answer is no,” Amaechi said during his address at the event.

He went further to underscore the assertiveness of the governors during that period, noting, “We would have confronted the government, confronted the president. That’s how radical you were. That’s how our Governors Forum operated. That’s how determined we were to change things.”

Amaechi also took a trip down memory lane, recounting his political collaboration with Lamido during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Their shared political vision, however, eventually diverged.

“We were quite good friends in government. We had our bad times when we disagreed.”

“I made the mistake of assuming he was as radical as I was. So, he was one of the governors I clung to when it came to radical decisions,” Amaechi admitted.

He recalled a pivotal moment that led to their political split: “The last one before we broke ranks was when we all agreed to go against President Jonathan. We formed a committee of governors and others. At the end of the day, he went to find a new party, the SDP. We said, ‘If we go to the SDP, we will lose the election. Let’s hang on to this one called the APC.’ He disagreed and left us. That’s where we parted ways.”