The National Assembly Service Commission has appointed Mr. Andrew Ogbonnaya Nwoba as the new Clerk of the Senate, effective December 11, 2024.

The announcement was made in a statement by the Commission’s Executive Chairman, Emmanuel Anyigor, following a meeting on December 4, 2024.

Prior to this appointment, Nwoba served as the Secretary of the Directorate of Legislative Budget and Planning. Dr. Obasi D. Ukoha has now assumed his previous position.

In addition to Nwoba’s appointment, the Commission approved the promotion of several other senior officials within the National Assembly bureaucracy.

Mr. Emmanuel Oda has been appointed Deputy Clerk (Administration), Senate, while Vivien N. Njemanze will now serve as Deputy Clerk (Administration), House of Representatives.

Further changes saw Mr. Rawlings Agada being reassigned from his role as Deputy Clerk (Administration), Senate, to Deputy Clerk (Legislative), Senate.

Similarly, Florence Kehinde A. was moved from Deputy Clerk (Administration), House of Representatives, to Deputy Clerk (Legislative), House of Representatives.

The Commission also confirmed the appointments of Ogundayo Mofoluwake Olufunmilayo as Secretary of the Directorate of Special Duties, Alkali Umar Abubakar as Secretary of the Directorate of Human Resources & Staff Development, and Essien Eyo Essien as Secretary of the Directorate of Zonal Liaison Offices.

Leaders of the Ndokwa and Ukwani Elders Forum (ULNEF), along with other key stakeholders, have firmly rejected any proposal to merge the Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency in Delta State with the proposed Anioma State in the South-East.

This opposition follows the introduction of a bill by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing the Delta North Senatorial District, which seeks to create Anioma State.

In a communiqué issued after a meeting in Ashaka, Ndokwa East, signed by Chief (Dr.) Dele Omenogor and Francis Otunuya Idigbe, Chairman and Secretary of ULNEF, the leaders from Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, and Ukwani local government areas expressed strong disapproval of the proposed merger.

They reaffirmed the position of the General Mike Ndubisi-led Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), which has opposed the creation of Anioma State within the South-East and insists that any such state should be located within the South-South geopolitical zone.

The leaders stressed their firm resistance to any attempt to merge the Ndokwa/Ukwani people with the South-East, citing concerns about the potential loss of their unique cultural and regional identity.

They emphasized that the people of Ndokwa/Ukwani have no interest in being incorporated into Anioma State, as proposed by Senator Nwoko’s bill.

“We stand by the NNU declaration,” the statement read.

“Our people will never be part of any state in the South-East. If Anioma State is to be created, it must be within the South-South zone.”

They further called on Senator Nwoko to withdraw the bill if it includes Ndokwa as part of the proposed Anioma State.

The leaders also appealed to key political figures, such as Senator Jibrin Barau, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, and Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, to reject any plans to incorporate Ndokwa into a state outside the South-South.

Additionally, they urged the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and other relevant security agencies to address individuals allegedly attempting to misrepresent the Ndokwa people for political gain, warning that intimidation or manipulation would not change their position.

Reaffirming their commitment to the South-South, the leaders declared that only the NNU, which represents the collective will of the Ndokwa people, has the authority to speak on their behalf regarding the creation of Anioma State.

In conclusion, the leaders called on President Bola Tinubu to oppose any bill that seeks to include Ndokwa/Ukwani in Anioma State, emphasizing the importance of preserving their cultural identity and heritage within the South-South.

They vowed to use all lawful means to resist any such move.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reiterated that the ultimate decision on who will become Nigeria’s president in 2027 lies with the Nigerian people, not political elites.

Atiku’s statement was in response to remarks made by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s second term in 2027 was already assured.

Akume had argued that, for reasons of equity, it would be fair for Tinubu, a southerner, to complete a second term, given that the north had already had its time in leadership.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Atiku’s Special Adviser on Media, Paul Ibe, challenged Akume’s assertion, asking, “Where does true equity and fairness lie?”

He pointed out that, by 2027, the South would have held the presidency for 17 years—eight years under Olusegun Obasanjo, five under Goodluck Jonathan, and four under Tinubu.

In contrast, the North would have been in power for just 11 years, with Umaru Yar’Adua serving three years and Muhammadu Buhari serving eight. Ibe highlighted this six-year disparity as an imbalance in the distribution of power.

Ibe concluded by stressing that the decision to re-elect the current administration rests entirely with the Nigerian people.

He questioned whether the Tinubu government had demonstrated its worthiness for another term, suggesting that the answer was clear: “God forbid!”

The United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) has expressed its official support for the creation of Anioma State, calling on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action on the matter.

In a statement titled “United Igbo Elders Council, UNIEC, Worldwide Continues to Advocate for the Creation of Anioma State,” the council emphasized that while it supports the creation of other states within the South East, Anioma State should be prioritized.

The statement was signed by Justice Alpha Ikpeama, Director General of UNIEC, Prof. Obasi Igwe, Director of Media and Publicity, and 11 other council members.

The council stated, “While we support the creation of states such as Aba, Adada, Etiti, Njaba, Orashi, Orlu, and others in the Southeast, we strongly advocate for the prioritization of Anioma State above all others.”

The statement also highlighted the historical marginalization of the Igbo people within the Nigerian political system, stressing that the creation of Anioma State is crucial to addressing the region’s unique challenges.

“We urge His Excellency, the President, to listen to the call of the Anioma people and the broader Igbo nation for the creation of Anioma State,” the council added.

“This call was publicly endorsed during the Asaba Stakeholders Summit on August 31, 2024.”

UNIEC believes that the establishment of Anioma State will not only address the developmental needs of the region but also contribute to the creation of two major development hubs within the zone and across Nigeria.

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 Lagos State governorship election, has revealed his intention to contest the position again in 2027.

In an interview with Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo on the Gold Room, Rhodes-Vivour expressed his determination to remain an active force in Lagos politics and to address the pressing issues facing residents of the state.

“By God’s grace, I will run for governor again in 2027. We are working hard, learning from our past experience, and identifying areas where we can improve,” he said.

The LP candidate criticized the tendency of opposition parties to fade into the background after elections, promising to break this pattern.

“The biggest mistake in Lagos politics is that the opposition disappears after elections. That will not be the case this time,” he said.

He highlighted various initiatives he is currently involved in, such as health outreach programs and a micro health insurance plan, which offers free medical treatment worth up to ₦6,000 to Lagosians.

Rhodes-Vivour also emphasized his commitment to holding the current administration accountable.

He called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and transparently, especially given the hardships many residents are facing.

“With the suffering that Lagosians and Nigerians are going through, there is a dire need for accountability and transparency in government spending,” Rhodes-Vivour stated.

He concluded by emphasizing the importance of a strong opposition in keeping the government in check for the benefit of the people.

The Edo State High Court in Benin was thrown into chaos when armed thugs attempted to disrupt a pre-hearing session concerning the validity of the September 21 governorship election results, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The session, which was being attended by supporters from seven political parties challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was interrupted when unidentified individuals attacked those gathered outside the courtroom.

In response to the disturbance, security forces quickly intervened, blocking the court’s entrance and setting up roadblocks along the path leading to the building to prevent further escalation.