The leadership and entire structure of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have formally merged with the Labour Party (LP), currently the ruling party in the state.

This merger was led by the NNPP’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Ukpai Iro Ukpai, who expressed his full support for Governor Alex Otti’s administration.

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Governor Otti, while receiving the NNPP members, assured them of equal rights and privileges within the Labour Party, emphasizing that the party operates without discrimination.

“Labour Party treats everyone equally, whether you are just joining today or have been here before,” Otti remarked.

The governor thanked Dr. Ukpai for his continued support and reaffirmed his administration’s focus on improving the welfare of Abians.

He announced that the government had begun settling outstanding salary arrears, amounting to nearly 18 billion naira, owed by previous administrations.

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Otti explained that 1.5 billion naira will be released monthly to clear these arrears within a year.

“We are paying back the debts from past governments. Our focus is on the welfare of the people, not on politicians or elites,” Otti stated firmly.

NNPP leaders in the state, including Dr. Ukpai Iro Ukpai and state coordinator David Urum, praised Governor Otti’s leadership and vision for Abia.

They explained that the decision to collapse the NNPP structure into the Labour Party was well thought out and driven by a shared commitment to progress in Abia State.

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Dr. Ukpai further declared, “This is not just a defection; it is a calculated move to join forces with Governor Otti to move Abia forward.”

The event saw the official presentation of the Labour Party flag to the new members, with many former NNPP candidates and officials in attendance.

It marked a consolidation of political power under Governor Otti’s leadership, with expectations that the merger will strengthen the Labour Party’s influence in Abia State.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has suspended Hon. Otonye Briggs, the Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, and appointed Hon. Bitebobo Nelson Amieye as his replacement.

A source within Government House, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the development but did not provide an official government statement.

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Governor Fubara also instructed Briggs to immediately hand over all council properties in his possession to the newly appointed CTC chairman.

While no official reason has been given for the sudden suspension, reports suggest that it may be linked to Briggs’ failure to implement the governor’s directive on local empowerment programs.

Sources claim that other LGAs have already initiated empowerment schemes, but the Akuku-Toru leadership under Briggs has been slow to act.

Governor Fubara had previously emphasized the importance of these programs in providing support for residents and empowering his political base across the state’s LGAs.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged caution regarding the proposal by the National Assembly to introduce diaspora voting in Nigeria, citing both constitutional and logistical concerns.

The Senate, following its October 2023 retreat in Ikot Ikpene, Akwa Ibom, announced its intention to amend the Electoral Act to enable Nigerians living abroad, particularly those serving in essential roles such as military, paramilitary, and embassy staff, to participate in presidential elections.

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While the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has expressed support for this move, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, highlighted the need for a thorough review of the legal framework.

Speaking on Tuesday, Basiru acknowledged the appeal of diaspora voting but emphasized the importance of adhering to Nigeria’s constitutional requirements.

Basiru pointed out that under the current law, to win a presidential election, a candidate must not only secure a majority of votes but also achieve at least one-quarter of the votes in two-thirds of Nigeria’s states.

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He questioned how votes from abroad would be assigned to specific states, warning that this issue requires careful consideration.

“The constitutional requirement is not just about securing the majority of votes but also about winning one-quarter of the votes in two-thirds of the states. So, how do you allocate diaspora votes to these states?” Basiru asked.

He further urged lawmakers to prioritize the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, which already faces significant challenges in ensuring credible elections within its borders.

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“We must critically evaluate the legal and logistical aspects before expanding voting to other jurisdictions. It’s an aspiration worth pursuing, but not at the cost of undermining the integrity of our elections,” Basiru stated.

Meanwhile, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had previously expressed optimism about the proposal, noting that a bill on diaspora voting had already been introduced in the 10th Senate, with plans for a second reading soon.

He emphasized the significance of this development, calling it a positive step forward in electoral reform.

Salihu Lukman, former National Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on Nigeria’s former military and civilian leaders to step in and rescue the country from what he describes as the “heartless and mindless policies” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement titled “Nigerian Democracy in ICU,” Lukman urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-military leaders General Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as former National Security Adviser Aliyu Gusau, to take urgent action to address the economic challenges facing Nigerians.

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He noted that the country’s economic woes have worsened under the current government, leaving even the working class struggling to survive.

Lukman expressed concern over the weakening of democratic institutions, pointing to the dysfunction of political parties.

He criticized the APC, describing it as a “private limited liability company” controlled by President Tinubu, while also noting that other major parties, such as the PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP, are embroiled in leadership crises. According to Lukman, these issues are denying Nigerians alternative political choices and meaningful opposition.

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“The absence of functional political parties, whose structures should meet regularly as outlined by their constitutions, is proof of the destruction of democratic frameworks. Meetings are not happening, and opposition parties are being manipulated into terminal crises,” Lukman said.

He further questioned whether the country’s former leaders, including Obasanjo, Babangida, Abdulsalami, and Gusau, could be the “doctors” to pull Nigeria’s democracy out of its current Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

While acknowledging that some of these figures have questionable democratic credentials, Lukman argued that their intervention is necessary given the manipulation of opposition parties by the presidency and the dominance of Tinubu over the ruling APC.

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“Although some of these leaders contributed to the current state of the nation, they have a duty to help fix it,” Lukman said, citing Obasanjo’s political practices and Babangida’s Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) as examples of policies that shaped Nigeria’s present challenges.

He argued that these leaders now have the responsibility to assist in reviving the country’s democracy by restoring functional party structures and encouraging internal political competition.

Lukman warned that without strong political parties, Nigerian democracy would remain fragile, with party leaders too weak to hold elected officials accountable.

He called for a revival of political parties with leadership structures that can compete with those of elected officials.

“If these leaders are serious about rescuing Nigerian democracy from its ICU, they must engage with opposition political leaders to rebuild party structures and restore internal competition,” Lukman said.

He stressed that this would be essential for regaining the trust of Nigerians and ensuring elected leaders remain accountable, rather than allowing the current government to continue with its “impulsive and undemocratic policies.”

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reaffirmed their decision to recognize Siminalayi Fubara as the rightful leader of the party in Rivers State, despite the ongoing power struggle with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Fubara, the current governor of Rivers State, has been locked in a battle with Wike over control of the party’s structure in the state.

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During a recent meeting in Taraba State, the PDP Governors’ Forum expressed their unwavering support for Fubara.

In a communique released after the meeting, the forum condemned the use of court rulings to determine the outcomes of party congresses in Rivers and pledged to work with the National Working Committee (NWC) to correct the situation.

“The Forum notes the political impasse in Rivers State where court judgements are employed to determine the outcome of party congresses,” the communique read.

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“The PDP Governors’ Forum stands firmly with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and will engage the NWC to ensure that he assumes his rightful leadership position within the party in Rivers State.”

Wike, clearly angered by the governors’ stance, threatened to retaliate by causing unrest in their states, particularly singling out Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed.

In a heated response, Wike warned that governors meddling in Rivers State politics would face consequences in their own territories.

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“I don’t care if you’re from Bauchi or anywhere else,” Wike said. “If you try to interfere in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt, and you’ll never have peace in your state.”

In response, Governor Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, maintained that the forum would stand by its decision to recognize Fubara as the leader of Rivers PDP.

He made this clear during a press briefing after meeting with members of the NWC, led by the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).

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“We had a very productive meeting with the NWC delegation, and they fully support our position that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the rightful leader of the PDP in Rivers State,” Mohammed said. “This is in line with the established practice of the PDP, where sitting governors are recognized as party leaders in their respective states.”

Mohammed further stressed that efforts were being made to resolve the rift between Wike and Fubara, acknowledging their mentor-mentee relationship.

He expressed hope that the two would eventually reconcile for the good of the party.

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Addressing the broader issue of PDP leadership, Mohammed also noted the constitutional irregularity of having a National Chairman from the North East, a position traditionally reserved for the North Central.

He cited the party’s constitution, which mandates that leadership positions return to the region where they were originally allocated.

“The North Central has been vying for this position, and we are working with the NWC and the party to ensure they get the opportunity to assume the responsibility,” Mohammed said, referencing a past instance where the North East benefitted from a similar constitutional arrangement.

Mohammed expressed confidence that the PDP remains strong and capable of producing Nigeria’s next president.

Governor Bala Muhammad of Bauchi State, who also serves as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has confirmed that efforts are underway to return the party’s national chairmanship to the North Central region.

This follows consultations between the PDP Governors’ Forum and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), including acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaludden Ajibade (SAN).

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Speaking with journalists in Bauchi after a meeting with the NWC, Governor Bala noted that the acting chairman’s current position is a “constitutional anomaly,” as the national chairmanship was originally zoned to the North Central.

He emphasized that, per the party’s constitution, leadership vacancies should be filled by individuals from the region where the position was initially allocated.

“The North Central has long aspired for this leadership role. We are working closely with the NWC to ensure the chairmanship returns to this region,” Bala said.

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He further recalled a precedent from the North East, where former Governor Ahmadu Muazu stepped in as National Chairman after Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s resignation, arguing that this was a similar constitutional arrangement.

However, acting National Chairman Umar Damagum has argued that there is no explicit requirement in the PDP constitution mandating that the national chairmanship must always remain in the North Central.

He explained that the deputy chairmen of the party are positioned to maintain regional balance—one for the North and one for the South.

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“The constitution only states that if a chairman leaves, the deputy from that region takes over,” Damagum clarified

On Tuesday night, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, engaged in a private meeting with the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Senator Adolphus Wabara.

The BoT had reached out to Wike in August, requesting a meeting to address ongoing issues within the party, particularly those affecting Rivers State.

This request followed a previous meeting with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

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The meeting, which is still in progress, was closed to the media, and no details have been released as of the latest update.

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has announced its decision to boycott the local government elections scheduled for September 21 in Imo State.

IPAC’s state chairman, Ichie Levi Ekeh, criticized the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) for failing to adhere to the election guidelines, claiming that the commission has not published candidate and voter lists, nor provided necessary forms in time.

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Ekeh, who also leads the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the state, expressed frustration with ISIEC’s handling of candidate registration and the imposition of non-refundable fees.

He alleged that candidates were charged N200,000 for chairmanship positions and N51,000 for councillorship positions without proper communication with the political parties.

In response, Chief Charles Ejiogu, ISIEC Chairman, countered IPAC’s allegations, asserting that the commission has followed all guidelines and is well-prepared for the election.

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Ejiogu defended the fee structure and stated that training for electoral staff is on track, with 15,000 ad hoc workers set to support the election across 305 wards and 4,758 polling units.

IPAC’s boycott reflects ongoing concerns about fairness and transparency in the electoral process.