No fewer than 100 indigenes of Kogi Central are set to benefit from the resumed rollout of Electric Motor Vehicles (EMVs) initiated by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing the constituency.

The disclosure was made in a statement on Saturday by her Special Adviser on Media, Mike Idoko.

The senator explained that the programme, initially paused, has now resumed to ensure full compliance with regulatory standards and maintain public confidence.

“The temporary suspension was necessary to put the right institutional and legal frameworks in place. Empowerment must be transparent, accountable, and sustainable. Public trust is not negotiable,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said.

During the pause, the EMV management company was formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and electricians and technicians were trained to ensure proper maintenance and long-term functionality of the vehicles.

The senator confirmed that CAC registration has been completed and vehicle registration is ongoing.

Once documentation is finalized, the locally assembled electric vehicles will be deployed to beneficiaries, especially women and youths, for commercial use.

“Our goal is to empower our people with dignity, create sustainable livelihoods, reduce transportation costs, and prepare Kogi Central for a cleaner, greener future,” she added.

Akpoti-Uduaghan described the EMV initiative as a landmark intervention combining economic empowerment with environmental responsibility.

She also announced the establishment of a Trust Fund to oversee the EMV programme alongside other constituency assets, including the SNAU Foundation Maternity Centre and modern markets in Okene and Ihima.

Applications have also commenced for the Electric Motor Vehicle Technical Training Programme under the Operate & Own Model.

The programme will train 100 eligible residents in operating and maintaining electric and solar-powered tricycles. Successful participants will gain technical skills and opportunities to own and operate the vehicles for sustainable income generation.

“This is empowerment with purpose—creating jobs, promoting innovation, and equipping our people to thrive,” Akpoti-Uduaghan concluded.

Members of the Labour Party (LP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday staged a protest at the National Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the inclusion of their candidates in the upcoming Area Council elections in Abuja scheduled for February 21.

The protesters described their exclusion as a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise the party, despite a subsisting court order in their favour.

They vowed to occupy INEC’s premises until the commission complied with the court directive.

Addressing the protesters, INEC National Commissioner Abdullahi Abdul Zuru acknowledged the challenges posed by conflicting court orders but assured that the commission would act in accordance with the law.

“I am here on behalf of the commission to speak to you regarding the court order you have presented. I will personally hand it over to the chairman, and the commission will act on it,” he said.

Protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “INEC, Upload Labour Party Candidates,” “Obey Court Order,” and “No Labour Party in the Ballot, No Council Election in FCT.”

Eyisi Okey Nwoke, LP Publicity Secretary in the FCT, insisted that Julius Abure remains the recognised national chairman of the party. “We are here peacefully.

INEC has excluded Labour Party candidates from the February Area Council elections, despite a court order instructing otherwise. This is an attempt to stifle our popularity, but it will not succeed,” he said.

Nwoke added that detractors had tried to infiltrate LP to create divisions, but the party resisted.

“In the FCT, it is Labour Party. There are no factions here,” he said.

Princess Licia Igbe, Chairman of LP in the North Central Zone, called on INEC to comply with the court order.

“We are exercising our constitutional right to protest. Labour Party candidates must be uploaded to the ballot. INEC cannot disenfranchise Nigerians or undermine democracy,” she said.

The spokesperson noted that INEC, as a commission, has never deliberately disobeyed a court order.

“Challenges have arisen due to conflicting court orders, but the commission acts on the prevailing order,” he explained, adding that decisions are taken collectively by the commission and not unilaterally.

As Enugu State approaches the 2027 gubernatorial election, one figure stands out with resounding affirmation from both the electorate and the custodians of tradition. That man is His Excellency, Governor Dr. Peter Mbah.

His leadership journey, underscored by integrity, humility, and a commitment to transformative governance, received a profound endorsement recently from the royal fathers of Nkanu land, signaling strong continuity for his administration.

The occasion was the 50th coronation anniversary of HRM Igwe Fidelis Ogbu Nwatu, the revered traditional ruler of Ihuokpara in Nkanu East Local Government Area.

Amidst the pomp and celebration of half a century of dedicated service, Governor Mbah was presented with the Ofo staff, a potent symbol of Igbo authority, truth, and justice, by the Nkanu royal fathers, led by Igwe Nwatu and supported by HRM Igwe Samuel Asadu, Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council.

In accepting this rare and weighty honor, Governor Mbah reflected on the deeper cultural and spiritual significance of the Ofo.

“This is not an ordinary honour. This is trust, authority, and it has been conferred on me by no other but by my people,” he declared.

His words captured the essence of the relationship between governance and tradition in Enugu, in the sense that legitimacy flows not merely from electoral processes, but also from the approval of the people’s elders and ancestral representatives.

The governor’s acknowledgment of this responsibility was immediate and profound.

He assured the royal fathers and the people of Enugu that their confidence would not be misplaced, vowing to serve with every fiber of his being, humility, and unwavering dedication.

This pledge resonates strongly with the Nkanu endorsement, which was not ceremonial but a clear affirmation of Governor Mbah’s track record in leadership, landmark projects, and transformative policies.

As Igwe Nwatu noted, “Enugu State has never had it so good,” a testament to the governor’s ability to marry development with justice and service.

Beyond the symbolic presentation of the Ofo, Governor Mbah took the opportunity to highlight his administration’s commitment to strengthening traditional institutions.

Beginning January 2026, traditional rulers in Enugu State will experience significant improvements in welfare and institutional support, including the provision of vehicles for principal officers of the Traditional Rulers Council.

This initiative reflects an administration that not only acknowledges the role of culture and tradition but actively invests in its preservation and operational efficiency.

Governor Mbah’s presence at the golden jubilee celebration of HRM Igwe Nwatu was more than ceremonial; it was a powerful display of unity between modern governance and traditional authority.

The event, which also featured the launch of a book titled “Leadership as Service: A Portrait of Stewardship, Justice and Peace” authored by Igwe Nwatu, brought together prominent national figures, from former Senate President Ken Nnamani to leading political and industrial personalities, underscoring the broad-based respect and admiration for the governor’s leadership.

As the 2027 elections draw nearer, the endorsement by Enugu’s traditional rulers, particularly from Nkanu land, sends a clear message: Governor Peter Mbah is a leader whose vision, integrity, and capacity to deliver development are widely recognized and deeply trusted.

The confidence of the traditional institution, long considered the moral compass and cultural anchor of Igbo society, augurs well for the continuity of governance that prioritizes justice, progress, and service to the people.

In a political era often marked by fleeting promises and transactional loyalty, Governor Mbah’s 2027 trajectory is distinguished by the weight of tradition, the validation of performance, and the deep respect of those who embody the state’s collective memory and values.

His reelection, under the watchful eyes of both the electorate and the revered custodians of Enugu culture, appears not just plausible, but culturally and politically affirmed; a testament to leadership that resonates across generations.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced a cabinet reshuffle that resulted in the removal of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the appointment of new officials into key positions.

The changes were announced on Monday in a statement issued by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

According to the statement, Governor Makinde relieved Professor Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo of her duties as Secretary to the State Government with immediate effect.

The governor subsequently appointed Professor Musibau Adetunji Babatunde as the new SSG.

As part of the reshuffle, Barrister Temilolu Seun Ashamu was redeployed from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

Governor Makinde also named his Senior Special Assistant on Public Works, Ademola Aderinto, as a commissioner-designate. Aderinto is expected to be forwarded to the Oyo State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

In addition, the governor approved the appointment of Honourable Abiodun Adedoja as Special Adviser on Energy Security, while Kolawole Elijah Akanmu was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Budget and Economic Planning.

The newly appointed SSG, Professor Babatunde, is a distinguished economist and academic from the Department of Economics, University of Ibadan.

He previously served as Chief Economic Adviser to Governor Makinde during the governor’s first term and later as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning.

Professor Babatunde holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, as well as Master’s and PhD degrees, from the University of Ibadan.

He earned his doctorate in Economics in June 2007 and joined the university as an Assistant Lecturer in November 2006.

He is currently a Professor in the Department of Economics.

In 2005, Babatunde received the World Trade Organization Doctoral Internship Visiting Scholar Support Award in Geneva, Switzerland.

He also emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student in the Master’s degree programme in Economics at the University of Ibadan and won the African Economic Research Consortium PhD Scholarship Award in Nairobi, Kenya.

His international exposure includes serving as Director in courses on Industrial Policy in Africa and Domestic Resource Mobilisation for Investment for African policymakers at the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning in Dakar, Senegal.

Professor Babatunde has consulted on several national and state-level economic projects, including studies on the impact of the Economic Partnership Agreement on Nigeria’s economy, export supply constraints, and output market initiatives.

He has also served as Chief Consultant on the Niger State Economic Development Strategy and Coordinating Consultant on the Niger State Vision 3:2020 and Local Governments Vision 3:2020 documents.

Imo State lawmaker, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has officially defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action People’s Party (APP).

Making the announcement in his country home at Akokwa in Ideato North Local Government Area on Wednesday, Ugochinyere said his decision followed repeated failed efforts to revive the PDP in the state.

Recalling the challenges he faced within the party, including multiple court cases initiated against him by fellow PDP members, the lawmaker said, “From the day we started with PDP to this afternoon, we are still in court with our party in a bid to retain a seat they had never won in over fifteen years until we brought victory to them.”

“After surviving these ordeals in the past three to four years, why risk it again?”

He described the party’s treatment of him as insulting, noting that as the only federal lawmaker PDP had in Imo, he faced opposition from within.

“We want to build and earn every vote. That is why we moved to a political party we can develop from scratch, filled with the energy of young people. APP gives us the platform to achieve what we intend to do,” he added.

Ugochinyere also addressed recent controversies involving the Minister of the federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, urging him to refrain from making disparaging remarks about the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

He warned that any insult directed at the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Senator Azuta Mbata, should be considered an affront to the entire Igbo nation.

“To attack the President General of the Igbo nation is to attack the Igbo people everywhere. Igbos will not tolerate such actions for any reason,” he said.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to caution Wike and ensure he refrains from denigrating the Igbo.

Ugochinyere noted that the President General, Senator Mbata, has the respect of the Igbo worldwide, describing him as a figure fit to lead the race globally.

The lawmaker also expressed dissatisfaction with the police for inaction regarding individuals arrested over attacks on his residence, some of whom reportedly made confessional statements.