Heavy security has been deployed at the Edo State Government House (Osadebe Avenue) amid reports that Philip Shaibu is attempting to resume his position as Deputy Governor.

Shaibu was impeached by the Edo House of Assembly during a turbulent period in his relationship with Governor Godwin Obaseki.

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He subsequently challenged the impeachment in court, claiming that he was not given a fair hearing.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice J. K. Omotosho, annulled the impeachment and ordered Shaibu’s reinstatement.

However, the state government has not complied with the ruling, stating that it has filed for a stay of execution.

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On Monday morning, civil servants and visitors were seen trekking long distances to their destinations after having to park their vehicles at a distance, as only security vehicles were allowed unhindered access to Osadebe Avenue.

A civil servant, who requested anonymity, expressed surprise at the heavy security presence around the government house.

On Sunday, Crusoe Osagie, the spokesperson for Governor Obaseki, issued a statement alleging that Shaibu had devised plans to invade the Government House to enforce his “purported” reinstatement, despite the pending stay of execution appeal.

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Osagie urged the Inspector General of Police and concerned citizens to intervene and prevent Shaibu’s alleged “devious plot,” warning that it could lead to chaos.

“We wish to alert the Inspector General of Police regarding intelligence about a planned move by Shaibu to forcibly enter the Edo State Government House in an attempt to enforce Justice J. K. Omotosho’s ruling,” Osagie stated.

He added, “The stay of execution is still pending at the Court of Appeal, and we implore the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the state does not descend into anarchy due to one man’s ambition. The last time Shaibu attempted this, it resulted in the death of a police officer—a tragedy we must prevent from happening again.”

In response, Shaibu’s spokesperson, Mr. Ebomhiana Musa, dismissed the allegations, asserting that Governor Obaseki has yet to realize that they have been rejected by the people of Edo State.

Musa stated, “Let it be clear that, unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki, Philip Shaibu is a peace-loving individual who believes in the rule of law and would never resort to violence. In the eyes of the law and the people of Edo State, Philip Shaibu remains the de jure and de facto Deputy Governor. We do not need to fight or struggle for what is rightfully ours.”

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has stressed the importance of enacting supportive laws to ensure genuine local government autonomy.

He made these remarks during an interactive session with journalists in Kano over the weekend while attending a constitutional review committee retreat.

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Ndume highlighted that various issues must be addressed to make local government autonomy a reality, reiterating his strong support for the initiative.

He reflected on his experiences from his school days when local governments were more empowered, recalling their role in constructing roads, providing electricity, and building primary schools.

He pointed out, however, that many local governments today struggle financially, stating, “If you say to them, go your independent ways, they wouldn’t be able to pay their staff, teachers, health workers, and others.”

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He cautioned against implementing “blank autonomy,” warning that some local governments in his state lack the financial capability to meet their salary obligations.

This necessity for financial support is where the idea of a joint account arises, allowing for the pooling of resources to assist struggling local governments.

During the constitutional review discussions, Ndume emphasized the need to make local governments practical, efficient, and viable.

On the subject of local government elections, Ndume advocated for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to oversee these elections, arguing that INEC is currently underutilized.

He opposed the establishment of separate local government election commissions, expressing concern that such commissions would be ineffective, functioning only briefly before being inactive for long periods.

He stated, “If INEC can conduct presidential, National Assembly, state governor, and state assembly elections, why not local government elections as well?”

Ndume criticized the idea of creating new commissions for local elections, suggesting it would only complicate the electoral process further.

He urged lawmakers to focus on creating legislation that ensures votes count and embraces technology for more transparent elections, suggesting that innovations could allow citizens to vote via their phones and that INEC should utilize technology for election monitoring.

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He concluded by lamenting the current state of electoral processes in Nigeria, attributing the issues to a lack of sincerity, honesty, and integrity.

Amidst jubilation, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Monday swore-in Hon. John Ogbodo as the new Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area.

The event, which took place at the Government House, brought together dozens of party members and supporters from across political divides.

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Hon. Ogbodo, a seasoned politician and former Deputy Chairman of the council, was declared winner of the election held on Saturday by the state electoral body, ENSIEC, securing a mandate to lead the local government for the next three years.

Governor Mbah, while congratulating Chief Ogbodo, urged him to prioritize transparency, accountability, and the well-being of the people.

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He highlighted the importance of grassroots governance in driving the state’s development agenda and ensuring the people of Nkanu West experience real progress under his leadership.

An Abuja-based court has issued an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the 2023 voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) ahead of the upcoming local government elections on October 5, 2024.

This ruling follows a directive from a Port Harcourt High Court, instructing RSIEC to use the 2023 voters’ register for the local government polls.

The court order was given by Justice I. Igwe on September 4, 2024, in a case filed by the Action People’s Party (APP) against RSIEC, the Rivers State Government, and the Governor of Rivers State.

However, on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that INEC could not release the voters’ register to RSIEC.

The court also barred the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the election.

Justice Lifu’s decision came after the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenged the election process in a suit brought before the court.

The judge noted that RSIEC had erred in scheduling the October 5 elections for the 23 local governments without adhering to the necessary legal procedures.

He cited the failure of RSIEC to publish the required 90-day notice, a breach of election conduct laws, and ruled that the update and revision of the voters’ register should have been completed before an election date could be legally confirmed.

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As a result, Justice Lifu ordered INEC not to provide the certified voters’ register to RSIEC until all legal requirements were met.

Additionally, the court prohibited RSIEC from accepting or using the voters’ register for the October 5 local government elections.

Senators on the Constitution Review Committee have concluded their two-day retreat in Kano, reaching a consensus on granting full autonomy to local governments, while views on state police remained divided.

The retreat, which was organized in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), saw discussions focused on key amendments to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

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Senators from various regions expressed differing opinions on critical issues such as the creation of state police and the formation of additional states.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, along with other senators, supported the push for full local government autonomy, which they argued had been overdue.

Bamidele emphasized that local governments should operate independently of state governments, given their critical role in governance.

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Bamidele noted that while the constitution currently places local government administration under state control, the growing demands for autonomy stemmed from concerns over governors undermining the third tier of government.

He also suggested that local government elections should be conducted by an independent body to prevent misuse by state governors.

Osita Izunaso echoed these sentiments, dismissing fears that granting full autonomy to local governments would lead to council chairmen having too much power.

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He insisted that governors would still maintain significant constitutional authority, and local government chairmen would not pose a threat to them.

Senator Abdulfatai Buhari agreed, stressing that local government autonomy could only be fully realized if elections were managed independently of state authorities.

He also called for the removal of the Joint Account provision from the constitution, to ensure that local governments could manage their finances without interference.

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Senator Sani Musa highlighted that the move toward local government autonomy was part of broader efforts at restructuring.

He noted that empowering local governments would enhance grassroots governance and improve service delivery.

Senator Ned Nwoko also supported the call for local government autonomy, emphasizing that the current state of local governance was almost non-existent.

He argued that granting autonomy would revitalize local governments, allowing them to manage local resources effectively and address issues such as security and healthcare.

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However, senators were split on the contentious issue of state police.

Those in favor, like Senator Musa, argued that creating state police would help tackle the growing insecurity faced by many states.

But Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and others opposed the idea, fearing that governors could misuse state police for political purposes, targeting their opponents.

The senators also discussed the creation of additional states, with some calling for a fairer representation of the South-East and South-South regions.

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Senator Izunaso proposed the creation of Orlu State, while Senator Nwoko supported the long-standing demand for Anioma State in the South-South region, which has been agitating for statehood for over 50 years.

The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), the state government, and Governor Siminialayi Fubara to proceed with the local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024, in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling.

The directive came in response to a suit filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against RISIEC, the state government, and Governor Fubara.

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In his ruling, Judge L.P.C Igwe affirmed that under Section 7(1) of the Constitution, the government and the governor were obligated to ensure that local government councils are run by democratically elected officials.

The court emphasized that, based on the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 11, 2024, and the expiration of the term of the last democratically elected local councils in Rivers State on June 17, 2024, the election must be held without delay.

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RISIEC was also instructed to use the National Register of Voters from the 2023 general elections, which is already in RISIEC’s possession, to conduct the polls.

The court further reiterated that, following the Supreme Court’s decision, elections must be held within three months from the judgment, meaning the elections must take place by October 11, 2024.

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The court issued the following orders:

RISIEC, the state government, and Governor Fubara must make adequate provisions for the elections to ensure that local government affairs are run by democratically elected officials.

RISIEC is to conduct the local government elections on October 5, 2024, or any other date in accordance with its electoral guidelines.

The National Register of Voters from the 2023 general elections must be used for the conduct of the local elections.

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Adequate security must be provided during and after the election by the police, civil defense corps, military, and other relevant security agencies. 

The office of Edo State’s deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, located on Osadebe Avenue in Benin City, was sealed off by police on Sunday.

Armed officers were seen guarding the premises, and a machine gun-mounted police truck was stationed at the gate.

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This office, which was relocated from the Government House during Shaibu’s ongoing dispute with Governor Godwin Obaseki, had its entry gate locked.

According to sources, staff members were instructed to report to the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Agency (JOOPSA) as of Friday.

Additionally, official vehicles, including the Press Crew bus, were moved to the office of the Head of Service within the Government House complex.

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A staff member from the Deputy Governor’s office confirmed the relocation, stating, “We were told on Thursday to report to JOOPSA, and that’s where we have been working since Friday and will continue to do so on Monday.”