… say senatorial district highest beneficiary of Mbah’s projects

Leaders of Enugu North Senatorial District, otherwise known as Nsukka Zone, have endorsed the Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, to continue in office beyond 2027, saying the governor has transformed the zone in less than two years of his administration.

The Nsukka leaders who convened at the Adada House, Nsukka, on Thursday, under the aegis of Enugu State Coalition for Progress, Enugu North Senatorial Zone Branch, comprised a cross section of socio-cultural groups, the academia, representatives of Traditional Rulers, captains of industry, businessmen and women, politicians, market men and women, farmers association, labour leaders, among other leaders drawn from the 6 council areas of the zone, expressed their unwavering support for the Mbah administration.

In an interactive session by a panel of discussants from the groups which was followed by a communique issued at the end of the discussion and signed by no fewer than 700 signatories including the former deputy governor, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, Senator Chuka Utazi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the deputy speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ezeani Ezenta, Dr. Dan Shere, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, Gen. Godwin Ugwuoke (rtd), Dr. Mike Ajogwu SAN, Chief Maxwell Ukuta, Prof Osita Ogbu, and Igwe Dr H.N Ukuta, they cited the litany of monumental infrastructural developments of the governor across the state, particularly in Nsukka Zone, as the reasons behind their endorsement.

In a resolution and vote of gratitude, the coalition commended the governor’s outstanding leadership and stellar performance since assuming office in May 2023, saying the only candidate the zone would support in 2027 is Governor Mbah.

They insisted that supporting Mbah to do 8 years in office was in the best interest of Nsukka people as his re-election would enable him finish the landmark projects initiated by his administration in the zone which were already opening Nsukka for economic development.

The coalition further praised the governor for providing peace and security in Enugu State, making it an attractive destination for investment, business, and tourism in Nigeria.

“In particular, we note with satisfaction, that the setting up of the Enugu State Command and Control Center by His Excellency at the Government House for tracking criminal activities across the state has become a model for other states of the federation. We applaud His Excellency’s holistic development agenda for Enugu State anchored on his disruptive innovation philosophy as a catalyst for positive change,” the communique read in part.

While underscoring that the senatorial district has 102 electoral wards constituting 39.2 percent of the 260 electoral wards in the state, the elated Nsukka leaders said with 102 Smart Green Schools and 102 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the six councils, the zone has become the highest beneficiary of Mbah’s stellar performance.

On the ongoing dualization of Enugu-Ugwogo Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road, the coalition described it as a critical infrastructure aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting economic activities, adding that the reconstruction of the 44.8 km Ama Ngwo-Eke-Oghe-Iwollo-Umulokpa road and the new 40 km Owo-Ama Nkanu-Ubahu-Mbu-Neke dual carriageway would open up a new traffic and economic corridor to the senatorial zone.

It also noted that Mbah’s administration has transformed Enugu State from a civil service state to a fast-emerging industrial hub, with an unimaginable annual internally generated revenue of over N600 billion by the end of 2025.

“The governor’s commitment to progress is evident in the rapid pace of development and transformation across various sectors, including roads, bridges, healthcare, security, tourism, entertainment, industries, and educational institutions.”

Throwing their weight behind the governor, Chief Ukuta said the people of the zone would not only queue behind him in the next polls, they also owed the governor apology for the herd mentality that almost led to the voting of wrong candidates.

Expressing confidence in the governor’s leadership ability, Senator Utazi said as an APC card-carrying member, he was at the meeting to particularly appreciate the good work of the governor, stressing that he deserved the unwavering support of the entire zone.

“I am a card-carrying member of APC starting from my ward in Nkpologu all the way to Abuja. I want to say that this gathering is not for PDP.”

“It’s a gathering for every well-meaning Nsukka indigene who is appreciative of the good job the governor of Enugu State is doing in Enugu State and especially in Enugu North senatorial district. In fact, when I came back to Enugu, starting from the airport, I saw nylon roads, the type only seen in Abuja.”

“When I visited the governor recently to discuss the police station I built there as a senator, the governor was immediately working to operationalize it, and is additionally working on the road from 9th Mile to Umulokpa.”

“He also told me severally the things he was doing in Nsukka zone and all of them are what people can see on ground. Let’s support him to continue with his job. I want to say frankly that Nsukka people are happy with him,” the senator added.

Adding his voice, Dr. Ajogwu said the coalition had already spoken the minds of Nsukka people which was to support the governor for another term.

On his part, Hon. Ezeani, who led lawmakers from the zone, said the governor would continue to enjoy cordial relationship with the House of Assembly to ensure the continuation of the good governance in the state.

He described the Mbah administration as business unusual where new projects were springing up daily with many already completed across the state, adding that they had already declared unalloyed support and endorsement for his candidacy beyond 2027.

Lending his voice, Dr Shere lauded the governor for the transport infrastructure project which has the Nsukka Central Terminal Station, the Holy Ghost utra-modern terminal stations, Abakpa and Gariki stations in addition with the recently delivered CNG buses ordered by state government.

“You don’t need to be told that in Nsukka, we are all adopting governor Peter Mbah to complete the job he has started here. Nsukka is now looking beautiful because of what he’s contributing to our economy, infrastructure, education and transport sectors. Look at the Enugu Air, it’s a game changing moment for the state.”

“The investment prospects will impact all the nooks and crannies of the state. Again, the International Conference Centre, the ongoing 5 star hotel, the Hotel Presidential and the 300-bed international hospital in the state will make Enugu the hub of medical tourism where robotic surgery will be conducted and thousands of jobs created,” he said.

Moving a motion for endorsement of the governor for 2027, Chief Itanyi insisted that the ongoing 43.7 km dualisation of the Penoks-Ugwogo Nike-Opi-Nsukka road was the single most costly project in the state.

The motion was unanimously affirmed by voice votes by the members coalition who filled the hall.

The European Union (EU) has called on Nigeria to strengthen its electoral system by ensuring that leaders emerge through the ballot and not by court rulings.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, made this call in Abuja on Thursday during the official launch of a report titled “From Ballot to the Courts: Analysis of Election Petition Litigation from Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections”, produced by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

Speaking through Ruben Alba, the acting Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mignot emphasised that overreliance on courts to determine election outcomes undermines the credibility and effectiveness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He pointed out that INEC faces significant logistical challenges, and the unpredictability of conflicting court decisions often hampers the electoral body’s ability to administer elections effectively.

“The critical role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democratic process has been confirmed by various judgments with great impact on the country’s democratic process. The courts have, through several groundbreaking decisions, strengthened and deepened democracy in Nigeria,” Mignot noted.

“In other words, the role played by the judiciary in the electoral process has, no doubt, given rise to positive and crucial transformation in the development process of Nigeria, but we still have a lot to work on,” he added.

The EU envoy underscored the importance of the judiciary in upholding democratic principles but stressed the need for balance and transparency in how electoral justice is dispensed.

“It is also equally important to note that an effective judicial system is a collective responsibility, while the judiciary has a significant role to play in ensuring a timely, efficient and transparent dispensation of justice,” he said.

Mignot urged Nigerian citizens to be more informed about their constitutional rights and to engage the system in a manner that holds it accountable.

“Citizens must also remain inform of their rights as enshrined by the Constitution, and this is also to hold the system accountable. With electoral judiciary, there needs to be adequate information that forces compliance with the free spirit of the legislation so that cases are not just dismissed based only on technicalities,” he said.

He also highlighted concerns over inconsistent court rulings on similar cases, warning that such discrepancies could erode public confidence in the electoral and judicial systems.

“The conflicted decisions in respect of the same set of facts is also weighing heavily on the quality of the country’s democratic experience and the trust of voters,” he cautioned.

“And as it was mentioned before, leaders should be elected through the ballot and not by the courts.”

In his remarks, Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of PLAC, said the newly launched report provided an in-depth review of judicial decisions arising from petitions filed after the February and March 2023 general elections.

He explained that the report evaluates the impact of rulings from Election Petition Tribunals, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, offering insights into how electoral justice was administered in the aftermath of the polls.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has submitted a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting an investigation into an alleged assassination plot against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In the petition, dated April 3, 2025, Akpabio denied the serious accusations and demanded the prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation.

The petition, which was also forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), follows Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public statement on April 1, 2025, in which she accused Akpabio of allegedly directing former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to have her assassinated in Kogi State.

She claimed that the assassination was intended to falsely implicate her constituents in her death.

Akpabio strongly denied the accusation, calling it a “heinous lie” and an intentional attempt to damage his reputation.

In the petition, the Senate President referred to the allegation as politically motivated, accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of trying to stir political unrest and tarnish his image.

He pointed out that the claim was made without any evidence to support it.

Akpabio emphasized the negative impact the false allegation has had, especially considering the wide media coverage it received across radio, television, and social media platforms.

He called for the matter to be treated with the seriousness it warrants by law enforcement.

Akpabio’s petition read: “I am writing to formally request an immediate investigation and prosecution of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation, following a malicious and false statement she made against me on April 1, 2025. This statement was widely broadcasted on radio, TV, and social media.

“During her speech in Kogi State, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely claimed that I instructed the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to assassinate her in Kogi State instead of Abuja, intending to make it appear that her constituents were responsible for her death.”

“This statement is not only a grievous lie but also a deliberate and reckless attempt to damage my reputation, jeopardize my safety, and incite political unrest. It is entirely false and politically motivated, and the public accusation was made without any credible evidence.”

The Senate President further accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of attempting to manipulate public sentiment, malign his character, and destabilize his office.

“She clearly intended to incite the public and tarnish my image and office, both domestically and internationally,” Akpabio said.

Given the wide attention the allegation garnered, Akpabio urged law enforcement agencies to treat the issue with urgency and thoroughness.

He called for an “immediate investigation into the inciting allegation” and for Akpoti-Uduaghan to be prosecuted under the law for criminal defamation, incitement, false accusations, and conduct likely to disturb public peace.

Akpabio stressed the need for accountability among public officeholders, especially when their statements threaten the stability of democratic institutions or seek to destroy the reputations of elected officials.

This petition follows a previous incident where Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, which led to her suspension by the Senate for alleged misconduct.

The ongoing dispute between the two senators continues to stir political debate across the country.

Buba Galadima, a prominent figure in the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and a former ally of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has asserted that Buhari actively worked to prevent Bola Tinubu from succeeding him as president.

Galadima, who was once a close associate of Buhari, reminded Nigerians that Buhari never supported Tinubu’s rise to the presidency.

“Buhari never wanted President Tinubu to succeed him. But because Tinubu has a large heart, he has refused to talk about it,” Galadima said, recalling his past relationship with Buhari before the latter’s presidency.

Galadima further elaborated on Buhari’s actions leading up to the 2023 general elections, highlighting the former president’s efforts to block Tinubu from contesting.

This was particularly evident in Buhari’s decision to nominate Ahmed Lawan, the former Senate President, to run in the APC primary elections, rather than support Tinubu.

“It was open that Buhari never wanted Tinubu to succeed him,” Galadima stated.

According to Galadima, Tinubu was fully aware of Buhari’s efforts to undermine his political ambitions.

However, in a display of magnanimity and statesmanship, Tinubu chose not to address the issue publicly.

Galadima shared an anecdote about his own experience with Buhari, revealing that during his time in the APC, Buhari had caused a subcommittee to be formed to “reinvigorate” the party’s constitution.

Galadima explained that the subcommittee was set up after Buhari ordered that the secretaries of merging parties like CPC and ACN should be included in the APC’s Board of Trustees (BOT) and National Working Committee (NWC) due to their institutional memory.

“Tinubu saw into what Buhari was trying to do. As I speak to you, the committee has not sat, it hasn’t submitted any report, and the constitution has not been amended. And that was part of why even Buhari never wanted him to be the president – because he refused to take me out,” Galadima revealed.

He also pointed out that for over 12 years, the APC’s BOT had not convened, and the NWC only met a handful of times during Buhari’s tenure.

Galadima attributed these issues to Buhari’s apparent desire to distance himself from him, which ultimately led to his departure from the party.

When asked again about Buhari’s efforts to block Tinubu’s succession, Galadima responded, “Is there anybody who doesn’t know? Tinubu himself knows. Because he’s being magnanimous as a statesman, he doesn’t want to say his mind.”

The leadership turmoil within the Labour Party (LP) continues to escalate, akin to a persistent issue that refuses to be resolved, despite what was believed to be the final ruling on the matter.

The conflict reached a critical point yesterday when three factions asserted control over the leadership following a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the Appeal Court’s decision, which had confirmed Julius Abure as the national chairman.

The Supreme Court ruled that the lower court did not have the authority to handle the case.

While the Abure-led faction insists that there is no leadership void in the party following the Supreme Court’s verdict, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party met yesterday and approved the formation of a transition committee under Nenadi Usman to begin rebuilding the party from the ground up.

The decision was made during the NEC meeting, which saw the participation of key figures such as Governor Alex Oti of Abia State, Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate, Nenadi Usman, and Joe Ajaero, NLC President, represented by Ibrahim Umar, the former NLC President, among others.

However, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, issued a statement asserting that the Supreme Court ruling did not imply the end of Abure’s leadership or that Usman’s National Caretaker Committee (NCC) had been authorized to take over.

Ifoh emphasized that any meetings convened without following the party’s constitutional procedures were illegal and any decisions taken would be invalid.

The Abure faction dismissed the claims of the NCC, stating that Usman’s committee and its supporters had no reason to celebrate since, according to them, the Supreme Court judgment had reaffirmed Abure’s position as party chairman.

During the NEC meeting, Obi and Oti displayed their support for the Usman-led NCC, presenting a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court ruling.

The leaders declared that the ruling affirmed Usman’s committee as the rightful leadership of the party, and they argued that the decision restored confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.

Following the NEC meeting, Obi, Oti, and other leaders visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters, requesting recognition of Usman as the LP chair.

They were received by INEC’s Acting Chairman, Sam Olumekun, and other national commissioners.

INEC later confirmed the visit on its Twitter handle, stating that Governor Oti had presented the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment regarding the party’s leadership.

The commission emphasized that the meeting aimed to foster clarity and alignment concerning the LP’s current structure.

Olumekun reiterated INEC’s commitment to neutrality, transparency, and the rule of law.

There was some concern regarding the absence of INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who was reportedly in The Gambia attending the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions meeting.

This led to rumors about President Bola Tinubu allegedly sacking him, a claim which was clarified by INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi.

In the midst of the ongoing leadership struggle, Lamidi Apapa declared himself the national chairman of the Labour Party, citing the Supreme Court ruling as justification.

Apapa, who had been asserting his claim to the leadership since 2022, reaffirmed his position as party chairman at a press conference in Abuja, adding a new layer to the crisis.

Apapa, who had clashed with Obi in the run-up to the 2023 elections, had also attempted to derail the case Obi and the party filed to challenge the victory of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Apapa renewed his claim to the party’s leadership on Wednesday, announcing that the National Working Committee (NWC), as constituted in 2022, would meet on April 14.

He declared all decisions made by Abure since April 4 null and void and appointed Farouk Umar Ibrahim as interim National Secretary.

Apapa stated: “Following the decision of the Supreme Court on setting aside all judgments that recognize the leadership of Abure as National Chairman, I, Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, the most senior deputy national, and in consonance with our party constitution, Article 14 2(a)(b), hereby take over the running of the affairs of our great party with effect from today, Wednesday, the 9th day of April 2025, in an acting capacity, and Farouk Umar Ibrahim as National Secretary.”

He continued, “My leadership hereby calls on all members of the Labour Party that the National Working Committee of our party as of 2022 will meet next week, Monday, 14th April 2025, to announce our plans, which will include zoning the position of National Chairman to the North and National Secretary to the South. My leadership will also take proactive steps to resuscitate the moribund Board of Trustees and make it functional.”

Meanwhile, Obi expressed his concerns over the increasing hardship in the country during the NEC meeting and an expanded stakeholders’ summit in Abuja.

He remarked, “The numbers are clear; the indices are clear; people are getting poorer daily. Those that would call me to come and eat and drink with them, now see me and ask to bring something.” Obi added,

“Do not fear anybody. Those who were afraid yesterday didn’t do any better. We must speak out when things are going wrong. Nigeria is collapsing.”

Obi also emphasized that the LP would address past mistakes by ensuring that only credible and qualified candidates represent the party in the 2027 general election.

“Anyone seeking to contest under our party must be a committed member, not just someone passing through. They must be competent,” he stated.

Obi further called for an inclusive approach: “Let’s do the right thing, let’s go from ward to local government to state, to zone and nationally; everybody is free to contest. We will ensure fairness, and we want to build a party that will be fair and just, and people can look at and say, ‘This is how this party is.’”

“We want to go into the next election knowing fully well that we are offering Nigeria the best of people for House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governors, and every form of election. We want to correct the mistake we made in the past; we will be sure that whoever wants to contest must be a Labour Party member and not on transit,” Obi concluded.