Heavy security presence has been reported at the Lagos State House of Assembly as security personnel have restricted access to the premises, preventing journalists from covering Monday’s plenary session.

The session, scheduled for 1 PM, has been shrouded in uncertainty as officers from the police, civil defense, and Lagos State Neighbourhood Security Corps have taken positions around the complex, heightening tensions.

This development follows the controversial return of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa to the Assembly last Thursday.

Obasa, who was impeached on January 13, 2025, by over 30 of the 40 lawmakers, has continued to insist that he remains the rightful Speaker.

His removal led to the election of Mojisola Meranda as his replacement, but the crisis has since deepened, fueling speculation about possible power struggles within the House.

The presence of security operatives suggests an attempt to prevent any disruption as the political battle within the Assembly unfolds.

As of the time of filing this report, the situation remains tense, with lawmakers and staff facing restricted movement within the premises.

Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing internal betrayal, anti-party activities, and a lack of discipline within the party.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos, the former PDP governorship candidate said his decision followed months of reflection and consultations with his family, political allies, and supporters.

He expressed deep disappointment in the party’s leadership at both the state and national levels, accusing them of working against the interests of dedicated members.

Jandor recalled that his 2023 governorship campaign was met with resistance, not just from rival parties but also from within the PDP itself.

He claimed that some party leaders viewed his candidacy as a threat to their personal influence, leading to internal sabotage.

Despite facing multiple attacks during his campaign, he noted that the party leadership failed to condemn the incidents or stand by him.

He specifically criticized Chief Olabode George, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, for openly supporting a rival candidate, and accused Lagos PDP Chairman, Philip Aivoji, of misleading voters with false claims of an alliance that never existed.

Jandor further pointed to Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat’s revelation that several PDP leaders secretly worked against their own candidate, yet no disciplinary action was taken against them.

His frustration deepened when Chief Olabode George was later appointed Vice Chairman of the PDP’s Disciplinary Committee, a move Jandor described as an insult to loyal party members.

He stated that he could no longer remain in a party that rewards disloyalty and undermines internal democracy.

While he did not disclose his next political move, Jandor assured his supporters that his political career was far from over.

He pledged to continue working for the progress of Lagos, promising to consult widely before making any decisions about his future.

“This is the beginning of a new chapter,” he declared. “One that will be defined by sincerity, progress, and true service to the people.”

The Rivers State House of Assembly has directed Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-submit the 2025 budget within 48 hours.

The directive was issued during the House’s plenary session on Monday in Port Harcourt.

This development follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that reinstated an earlier judgment barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from disbursing statutory monthly allocations to the state.

Meanwhile, heavy security presence was observed at the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters in Port Harcourt on Monday, as lawmakers gathered for their sitting.

Multiple squads of police officers and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) were deployed to the area.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, had earlier issued a notice for the sitting on Monday morning.

While the full agenda of the plenary remains unclear, sources indicate that discussions on local government administration in Rivers State may dominate proceedings.

This comes just days after the Supreme Court ruled that Amaewhule and his colleagues should resume legislative activities, following a prolonged political standoff in the state.

Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has called on Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State to neutralize the political influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, before the 2027 elections.

Adeyanju made this statement on his X handle while reacting to the Supreme Court’s recent judgment that outlawed caretaker committees in local governments and halted federal allocations to Rivers State.

Blaming Wike for the ongoing political crisis in the state, Adeyanju urged Fubara to take decisive steps to make the former governor politically irrelevant.

“Since Wike has chosen to act against the collective interest of Rivers people, he must be dealt with accordingly,” Adeyanju said.

“His influence must be curtailed, and his opposition to progress should be met with the full weight of Governor Fubara’s authority.”

He expressed confidence that by 2027, Fubara would emerge stronger and fully capable of defeating any political resistance from Wike.

The Supreme Court’s ruling also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold allocations to Rivers State until Fubara ensures governance aligns with constitutional provisions.

The court further ruled that legislative activities in the state must continue under Martin Amaewhule’s Speakership.

A former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections, Charles Udeogaranya, has stated that former military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s recent remarks on the January 1966 coup have set the stage for an Igbo presidency in 2027.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, Udeogaranya commended Babangida’s clarification, describing it as a significant step toward correcting historical misconceptions that have long been used to marginalize the Igbo people in Nigeria’s leadership.

His reaction comes after the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, called on the Federal Government to apologize for decades of exclusion and political sidelining of the South-East.

Speaking at the launch of his book A Journey in Service, Babangida emphasized that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo-led conspiracy—an assertion that has often been used to justify the region’s lack of access to the presidency.

Udeogaranya, a committed follower of Nnamdi Azikiwe’s political ideals, argued that justice demands the presidency be zoned to the South-East in 2027.

“For decades, false narratives have been used to deny Ndigbo the opportunity to lead Nigeria. Babangida’s statement invalidates these claims and paves the way for an Igbo president in 2027,” he said.

He urged the APC, PDP, and Labour Party to prioritize Igbo candidates in the next presidential election, stating that such a move is essential for national reconciliation and economic progress.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has dismissed concerns over a possible impeachment following the Supreme Court’s ruling, which reaffirmed the authority of 27 lawmakers loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike.

The Supreme Court, in its ruling on Friday, ordered the Federal Government to halt financial allocations to Rivers State until Fubara submits the state budget to the pro-Wike lawmakers, led by Martins Amaewhule.

The ruling also nullified the local government elections conducted by Fubara’s administration in 2024.

Despite the judgment, Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, dismissed any fear of impeachment, stating that the governor remains focused on governance and the will of the people.

“The governor is not afraid. He has the mandate of the Rivers people. We are proceeding with the inauguration of projects, and the Supreme Court did not remove him—it only placed a temporary hold on state allocations,” Johnson said.

Asked whether Fubara would comply with the order to present the budget before the pro-Wike lawmakers, Johnson explained that the government would study the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before making any decision.

Meanwhile, the Rivers Elders Forum has cautioned against any undue pressure on the governor to seek reconciliation with Wike.

Speaking on behalf of the group, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe stated that Rivers people would not succumb to intimidation.

“Rivers State will not beg anyone. We will not allow the state to be taken over by external forces,” Sara-Igbe said.

In a statewide broadcast on Sunday, Fubara directed all 23 local government chairmen elected under the annulled poll to vacate their offices by Monday.

He instructed the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to take charge pending new elections.

“Given the Supreme Court’s decision, I hereby direct the Heads of Local Government Administration to assume control of the councils until fresh elections are conducted,” Fubara stated.

He acknowledged disagreement with the judgment but emphasized that his administration would comply with the law while reviewing its legal options.

Tensions remain high in Rivers State amid speculations that the former LG chairmen may attempt to reclaim their positions.

Some, like Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, have indicated that they will await further directives from the pro-Wike lawmakers.