Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to remain humble and steadfast despite the privileges of his high office, assuring that power will not alter his principles or values.

Fubara made this declaration on Tuesday while receiving leaders, elders, and key stakeholders who visited him at the Government House in Port Harcourt to celebrate his 50th birthday.

The governor emphasized his dedication to fulfilling the promises he made to the people of Rivers State, focusing on transformational projects that would benefit the state.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara said, “I want to say that I will still be the Fubara that you know; power will not change me. I will continue to hold dear my belief in God and my respect for people.”

“Power will come, power will go, but I will remain the same. With your support, we will achieve the Rivers State of our dreams. Even if we don’t complete everything, we will lay a strong foundation that will guide us toward that vision.”

The governor, who expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love on his milestone birthday, added, “This morning is not for politics but for joy. I am grateful to celebrate my Golden Jubilee. It means I have joined the league of the old men.”

Former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, praised Fubara for his leadership, describing him as a deliverer of the state and its people from forces that sought to undermine Rivers’ progress.

Similarly, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, urged all stakeholders to support the governor, noting, “Once a king is crowned, the kingmaker must step aside to allow the king to lead effectively.”

The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal resumed in Abuja on Tuesday, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) facing criticism over its failure to present witnesses for the ongoing proceedings.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, expressed frustration at the PDP’s inability to make full use of the judicial time allocated to the case.

Only one witness, who had previously testified in Edo State, was available to give evidence.

Justice Kpochi remarked, “What you are telling us is unacceptable. Why did we ask the other petitioners to reschedule their hearings if there were no witnesses ready to testify today?”

Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), counsel for the PDP, explained that logistical challenges had delayed the arrival of witnesses from Edo State to Abuja.

He assured the tribunal that the witnesses would be prepared to testify on the next scheduled date.

“We undertake to bring as many witnesses as may be convenient for the tribunal on the next date,” Oyeyipo said.

He further explained that some of the witnesses were still recovering from travel disruptions and were not in the right frame of mind to testify.

One witness, Mr. Oseyili Anenih, the PDP’s Director of Research and Strategy, testified that the party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, were challenging results from 765 polling units out of 4,519 in the state.

However, under cross-examination by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), counsel for Governor Monday Okpebholo, Anenih admitted that he did not have access to physical copies of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used during the election.

Instead, he relied on screenshots of the data, which were tendered as evidence.

The PDP and its candidate, who contested the September 21, 2024 governorship election, are challenging the victory of Governor Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging irregularities in the process.

The tribunal adjourned the hearing to Thursday to allow the PDP to present its remaining witnesses and continue its case.

The Ondo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged inflated overhead costs in the 2025 state budget, describing the document as a “budget of looting.”

In a statement issued by PDP spokesperson Kennedy Peretei, the party expressed concern over the allocation of a massive N11.5 billion security vote to the Ministry of Finance.

The PDP questioned the rationale behind this allocation, pointing out that it is incomprehensible for a security vote to be designated to a ministry rather than the office of the governor, which traditionally receives the security vote.

Peretei further criticized the budget for its extravagant allocations, such as N200 million for the maintenance of vehicles for lawmakers and N280 million for the Speaker of the Ondo State Assembly’s phone expenses.

Meanwhile, vital sectors like education and healthcare were not sufficiently funded, receiving only N77.024 billion and N46.016 billion, respectively.

The PDP condemned these allocations, alleging that they were designed to enrich public officials at the expense of the people, while the state’s crucial sectors languish.

The party argued that such financial mismanagement undermines any potential progress and development in Ondo State.

“The 2025 Appropriation Act, signed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has nothing to do with recovery but everything to do with looting the state treasury. The allocations are brazen, and it’s clear that the funds are being siphoned for personal gain,” the statement read.

The PDP called on the EFCC to conduct a thorough investigation into these alleged misappropriations, stating that the people’s trust had been violated by officials entrusted with public funds.

It emphasized that no state can progress when its leaders engage in such reckless financial practices.

The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has made it clear that he is not interested in any coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Obi, focusing on Nigeria’s critical issues, including poverty, insecurity, and the decline of public institutions, emphasized that his priority is not political power but the nation’s future and governance reforms.

Obi’s stance comes amid a new controversy within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Loyalists of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum have called for a meeting with South-East stakeholders in Abuja to rally support for National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, who is entangled in a legal battle concerning his removal.

The meeting, which reportedly excluded some influential leaders in the region, has sparked significant backlash and raised doubts over its legitimacy.

At the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria, Obi expressed his concerns over the country’s political focus, which he believes often shifts from urgent national challenges to power struggles.

“We should be discussing Nigeria’s future—how do we secure Nigerians, how do we care for the common people, and how do we ensure our children receive quality education? That should be the focus right now,” he said.

He also criticized the rampant use of financial inducement in politics, noting that such practices lead to the theft of public funds and undermine governance.

“We need to stop financial inducement in politics because it encourages corruption and the stealing of public money,” Obi stressed.

Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the PDP, weighed in on political reforms, recommending that politicians who defect to other parties should be compelled to vacate their seats to ensure accountability.

Atiku, who is also advocating for stronger political parties, highlighted the need for reforms in key areas like judicial integrity and political party compliance, to restore public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.

Atiku also emphasized the importance of coalition-building in strengthening opposition forces to challenge the dominance of the ruling party.

“Through coalition-building, opposition parties can unite and effectively contest entrenched power,” he suggested.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Vice President of Ghana, delivered the keynote address at the conference, highlighting the importance of strong democratic institutions.

He warned that weak institutions, including electoral bodies and the judiciary, pose a grave threat to democracy in Africa.

Bawumia also expressed concern over the rising poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, and how it undermines faith in democratic systems.

“Democracy must deliver on the basic needs of the people. If the majority cannot afford basic necessities, they will not appreciate democratic progress,” he concluded.

In the midst of these political developments, the PDP is also facing internal strife.

Acting National Chairman, Damagum and his allies have convened a meeting with South-East stakeholders in Abuja to back Samuel Anyanwu amid his ongoing court battle.

However, key PDP figures have raised concerns over the exclusion of important leaders from the gathering, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the meeting.

Chief Ali Odefa, the expelled PDP’s National Vice Chairman for the South-East, distanced the region from the purported meeting, emphasizing that the South-East had already made its decision on the PDP National Secretary position in a recent Zonal Committee meeting in Enugu.

The rift within the PDP has exacerbated tensions, particularly as the party navigates internal power struggles while attempting to mount an opposition against the ruling APC.

This turmoil adds another layer of complexity for the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

In other news, the Arewa Youth Leaders and Professionals Forum (AYLPF) has strongly criticized Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for opposing President Tinubu’s economic reforms.

AYLPF’s National President, Abdulahi Bilal Mohammed, accused both leaders of selfish motives, claiming their opposition to the reforms was rooted in a desire to preserve corrupt practices that had previously benefited them.

The group argued that their actions were divisive and did not represent the true voice of the northern region, which, according to AYLPF, is built on values of fairness and justice.

The AYLPF called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s reforms, despite the challenges they may bring in the short term, stressing that the long-term benefits would ultimately benefit the nation’s growth and prosperity.

“Those opposing these reforms are only trying to protect the flawed systems that have kept them in power,” they added.

The Ondo State government has earmarked N462 million for the maintenance of vehicles used by the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and the 24 other members of the Ondo State House of Assembly.

This allocation comes amid the country’s ongoing economic challenges.

According to the state’s 2025 approved budget, which is dubbed the ‘Budget of Recovery,’ the Speaker’s office is allocated N77 million for vehicle maintenance, while the Deputy Speaker’s office and the entire House of Assembly are assigned N35 million and N350 million, respectively, for similar purposes.

This budget allocation follows the previous year’s presentation of brand-new SUVs to the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, and his Deputy, Abayomi Akinruntan, by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Further scrutiny of the budget shows that a total of N791 million is set aside for the travel and transportation expenses of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and the entire legislature, with the Speaker receiving N181 million, the Deputy Speaker N90 million, and the House N520 million.

Additionally, the budget includes N235 million for telephone services, with N200 million allocated for the legislature, N28 million for the Speaker, and N7 million for the Deputy Speaker.

The Speaker’s office is also granted N25 million for non-security document printing, while the Deputy Speaker’s office receives N6 million for the same purpose.

Other notable provisions in the budget include N300 million for welfare packages for all the lawmakers, with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker receiving N26 million and N11 million, respectively.

Electricity bills for the Speaker’s office are allocated N33 million, N8 million for the Deputy Speaker’s office, and N300 million for the entire House.

Furthermore, N20 million has been set aside for hotel accommodation for the lawmakers, while N50 million is designated for their refreshments and meals, with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker receiving N25 million and N10 million, respectively.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, expressed concerns on Monday that some politicians are attempting to influence the Cash Transfer Register.

These individuals are reportedly trying to manipulate the list of low-income citizens enrolled in the social register to benefit from the government’s conditional cash transfer program.

Yilwatda revealed that, while there are 19.8 million Nigerians listed in the social program, the government has only successfully verified the identities of 1.2 million so far.

He emphasized that the cash transfer program operates on strict conditions and cannot be swayed by political influence.

“Some people want us to allow governors or states to simply create and send their own lists. However, it’s a conditional transfer; there are criteria for qualifying,” the minister stated during a press briefing.

“We won’t be swayed by political pressure. Poverty is not tied to any political party, tribe, or even language. A poor person remains a poor person, regardless of these factors.”

Yilwatda further explained that the process will be fully digital this time, and civil society organizations (CSOs) will play an active role in verifying payments and ensuring transparency.

“Currently, we have 19.8 million people on the social register, but not all are validated. We’ve only confirmed 1.2 million individuals so far,” he said.

He added that it is essential to verify the entire register to identify those truly eligible for assistance, confirm their locations, and map their residences using GPS.

The minister also highlighted that poverty is measured using various social indicators such as access to water, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, all of which will be taken into account when selecting beneficiaries.

The government recently announced plans to resume direct cash transfers to the country’s most vulnerable citizens.