Senate President Godswill Akpabio has firmly dismissed mounting pressure for him to resign, following recent allegations and growing criticism from civil society groups and opposition leaders.

Akpabio is currently under fire over accusations of sexual harassment made by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as well as his alleged involvement in electoral malpractice during the 2019 general elections.

Several Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have called for his resignation, arguing that stepping aside would pave the way for a credible investigation and preserve the Senate’s institutional credibility.

Speaking during Thursday’s plenary, Akpabio defended himself, rejecting the allegations as baseless and stating his refusal to step down.

“I will not have answered you, but for the fact that you said those who would have asked you to step down. Who told you I was going to step down?” he said.

He drew a parallel with the American justice system, referencing racial injustices.

“You know, if you watch the colour of America, there are Black people who went to prison for false allegations. Some were there for 25 years,” he added.

“So, I’m not one of those people who will step down over false allegations. When it is eventually proven that the allegation is false, they will say, ‘Oh well… I’m not that bad.’”

“So if you had that in mind, please cancel it. I must thank you for the words you spoke today.” he concluded.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has pledged his full support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Soludo, the only governor from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), made this commitment during a historic visit by Tinubu to Anambra on Thursday, describing the event as both “historic and symbolic.”

This endorsement comes as President Tinubu, representing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has not yet officially declared his intention to run for re-election.

Soludo’s statement follows a similar declaration by Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who also expressed support for Tinubu’s second term.

This development has raised concerns about Nigeria potentially moving towards a one-party system as opposition forces weaken.

While addressing attendees at the event, Soludo emphasized the shared ideological foundation between APGA and APC, particularly their commitment to progressivism.

“In 2011, before I joined APGA in 2013, the party took an official position to support and collaborate with the political party and government at the centre.”

“That year, APGA adopted the then-sitting president as its presidential candidate. That policy has not changed,” Soludo explained.

“Coincidentally, Mr. President, the current government at the centre also professes progressivism. As Nigeria’s foremost progressive party, APGA is ideologically and strategically aligned with the centre. Those in the APC are our brothers and sisters,” he added.

Soludo, who is aiming for re-election in November, called for unity among all parties that support a progressive agenda.

“In preparation for this visit, some raised concerns about making it a partisan event. But I insisted the APC in Anambra be allowed to come out in their colours and welcome the president, all in the spirit of progressivism,” he said.

“We are progressives together. Here in Anambra, we know who leads the progressive movement.”

The governor also urged for greater cohesion among centre-left political groups under Tinubu’s leadership.

“Mr. President, it is time for all progressives, federalists, and social democratic-leaning parties to unite in advancing the cause of a united and progressive Nigeria.”

“We request you, as the leader of the largest progressive party, to rally us together in this ideological movement,” Soludo stated.

As part of the president’s visit, all 179 communities in Anambra bestowed upon Tinubu the chieftaincy title “Dike Simba Anambra”, recognizing his leadership and contributions to the state.

Soludo remarked, “This title, along with the overwhelming reception across the state, shows that Anambra people are solidly behind you, Mr. President.”

Prominent human rights activist and vocal supporter of the Labour Party, Aisha Yesufu, has taken issue with Peter Obi’s recent comments that appeared to criticize Nigerians who protested against former President Goodluck Jonathan over fuel subsidy removal in 2012.

Obi had made the remarks on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, during a memorial lecture and tribute event in Abuja for the late Niger Delta elder statesman, Pa Edwin Clark.

Reflecting on past protests, Obi questioned the silence of former protesters in the face of current economic hardship.

“Where are those who, in 2012/13, protested vigorously when increases in fuel, exchange rate, food, and transport prices were moderate and manageable under President Jonathan?” Obi asked.

“Where are those who called President Jonathan all sorts of names, ‘clueless,’ ‘corrupt,’ ‘ineffective,’ and ‘lifeless government’? Where are they now that the prices of everything have increased tenfold?” he said.

Yesufu, in a swift response, described Obi’s comments as misguided and contrary to democratic principles.

“First of all, I’m going to start with where Mr. Peter Obi said there was no need to protest during Jonathan’s time. I think that’s a very wrong allusion to have, like there’s no need to protest,” she said.

The activist, who has consistently advocated for civic action regardless of who is in power, highlighted that protest is a legitimate and continuous form of democratic engagement.

“Let’s look at Nigeria, for example, and let’s look at countries in other parts of the world where they are doing very well. People are protesting every day. There’s never a time where there’s no need to protest,” Yesufu stated.

She cautioned Obi against any expectation of protest-free leadership if he ever assumes office.

“And if Mr. Obi thinks he’s gonna get into office and think people will not protest no matter how good he is, then he should drop that.”

Addressing the context of the 2012 Occupy Nigeria movement, Yesufu explained that citizens then reacted to what they were facing in real time.

“What Peter Obi needs to understand, and what everybody needs to understand, is that at that time, people were protesting against ₦120.”

“The ₦900 of today was in the future. Nobody protests for the future,” she argued.

Concluding her remarks, Yesufu maintained that the 2012 protests were justified and timely.

“If there was any time a protest should have happened, it was during Jonathan,” she added.

All three serving senators from Kebbi State elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The senators; Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), confirmed their switch on Friday following a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The trio was accompanied to the meeting by the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, underscoring the importance the ruling party attaches to the realignments taking place ahead of future political contests.

The defection is part of a broader wave of PDP defections to the APC in recent weeks, signaling renewed political maneuvering across party lines.

Also in attendance at the high-level meeting were Kebbi State Governor Dr. Nasir Idris, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu.

Governor Sanwu-olu,

Ahead of the July 12 local government elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has urged chairmanship aspirants across all 57 local government areas and local council development areas (LCDAs) to adopt consensus in Saturday’s primaries.

At the party’s Stakeholders Meeting held Wednesday at its secretariat on ACME Road, Ogba, Ikeja, leaders emphasized the importance of unity and peace in the build-up to the elections.

The event, however, took an unexpected turn when the Chairman of Bariga LCDA, Kolade Alabi, collapsed shortly after delivering an address, causing a brief disruption.

The atmosphere at the venue was tense from the start, with security personnel initially barring many, including journalists, from entry.

The gates were later opened after sustained pressure from attendees.

The combination of intense heat and overcrowding likely contributed to the health incident.

Alabi slumped while seated, just moments after speaking, as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, prepared to deliver his remarks.

The meeting paused as efforts were made to revive Alabi, who was eventually taken for medical care.

Reacting to the incident, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hazmat, who had earlier addressed the gathering, brought the meeting to an early close.

He expressed concern and empathy.

“One of us just fell. We must stop this. We must respect him, we thank God that evil did not befall us, it’s a lesson from God. We all came here with our legs because we’re healthy. God will not take our health from us,” he said.

On the party’s stance regarding the primaries, Hazmat added, “A lot has been said as much as possible, and consensus is key; that’s how we do it in our party. We are the only party in Nigeria.”

“The umbrella (the PDP) has been torn. So for that reason, we must not shame our fathers, our fathers have spoken and shared their experience with us. Let’s embrace consensus, we are one party.”

Supporting the call for consensus, Chief Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council in Lagos, pointed to the large number of aspirants as a rationale for the approach.

“It has become imperative for all of us to support and cooperate with the party. Five people cannot occupy a single seat,” Olusi said.

“We have in some places where 12 aspirants are contesting for a councillor seat. We should take things easy, talk to ourselves, and concede to one another.”

“We should seek continuous peace and progress of the party. Conceding to one another is not new in our party. We should embrace it.”

Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), also weighed in, urging key party figures including Hazmat and Obasa to encourage aspirants to embrace consensus.

“What is at stake is very much. Our Presidency is at stake. Our party’s image is at stake. Lagos is seen nationwide as a key sector.”

“In fact, don’t be surprised that other states are just waiting to see the outcome of these primaries to learn from it. So, I am conscious of that and will not let you down. We will not let the President down,” Ogala stated.

He reassured stakeholders of the committee’s transparency and adherence to party rules, noting, “Let me assure you that in carrying out this task, we have tried to be very fair. We have put integrity into place and we have been very thorough.”

On the election format, Ogala clarified that both consensus and indirect primaries were legitimate and recognized methods.

“Consensus is a clearly recognisable democratic process, just as the indirect primaries is a clearly recognisable process and direct primaries,” he explained.

Ogala further revealed that chairmanship primaries would take place at the state party secretariat for logistical reasons, while councillorship primaries would be conducted in respective wards.

He announced that 57 committees had been constituted to oversee the councillorship primaries and assured fairness. “It will be fair and open,” he said.

Only candidates and one accredited agent each will be allowed into election venues, Ogala added, warning that “the committee would disqualify any aspirant found flouting the guidelines.”

In his earlier remarks, Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelahi, appealed to stakeholders to place the party’s interests above personal ambition.