At a crucial meeting held at the Government House in Enugu, key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed unwavering support for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amidst the ongoing political crisis in the state.

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The gathering included PDP Governors, the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, and other party organs, who collectively pledged to ensure the resolution of the conflict and prevent any attempts to destabilize Fubara’s administration.

The communique issued at the end of the meeting highlighted the party’s commitment to backing Governor Fubara.

Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, emphasized the need for unity and wider consultations with stakeholders to achieve a peaceful resolution.

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The communique warned against any actions that could distract the governor from delivering good governance to the people of Rivers State.

The forum also addressed several national issues, including the upcoming party congresses, the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, the implications of the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, ongoing national minimum wage negotiations, and the current state of the economy.

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The PDP leaders criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government for its handling of the economy, citing growing inflation, worsening corruption, and a declining standard of living.

Governor Mohammed highlighted the PDP’s past achievements, contrasting them with the current economic challenges.

He called for more pragmatic policies from the Federal Government to rescue the economy and provide relief to Nigerians.

The forum also commended PDP-controlled states for their innovative governance approaches and timely delivery of developmental projects.

On the issue of national minimum wage negotiations, the forum supported labor’s demand for a substantial salary raise, emphasizing the need for negotiations to consider the ability of various government tiers to pay.

The forum urged restraint in actions and utterances to avoid a complete breakdown of law and order.

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Regarding the upcoming party congresses, the forum stressed the importance of internal democracy, transparency, and fairness.

It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a level playing field in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections and called on President Bola Tinubu to refrain from any statements suggestive of political interference.

The forum also expressed its commitment to supporting local government autonomy as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and emphasized the need for a balanced implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision on local government autonomy to avoid creating a trust deficit between the federal and sub-national governments.

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The meeting was attended by several PDP governors, including Governor Peter Mbah (host), Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Governor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Governor Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Governor Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Governor Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Governor Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has embarked on a month-long vacation, temporarily handing over governance to his deputy, Malam Faruq Lawal-Jobe.

This announcement was made during a joint meeting with local government chairmen, legislators, and executive members in Katsina on Tuesday.

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Radda stated, “I will be on vacation and undergoing a medical checkup starting Thursday until August 18. During this period, Deputy Governor Lawal-Jobe will act as governor. A formal letter has been sent to the assembly, and they have approved my leave as outlined in the constitution.”

He extended his best wishes to the acting governor, urging all members of the assembly, judiciary, executive council, and local government to provide their full support and cooperation.

“To the people of Katsina State, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve you,” Radda added.

In the same meeting, Governor Radda received the 2024 supplementary budget, which had been passed by the state assembly.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled September 25, 2024, for the arraignment of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

This decision comes even though an appeal has been filed at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

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Justice Emeka Nwite set the new date after delivering a ruling on an application by Bello’s counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN.

Mohammed had requested the court to stay proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal challenging an earlier arrest warrant and other rulings issued by Justice Nwite.

During the session, Mohammed argued that the court should halt the proceedings until the appeal is resolved, citing relevant legal authorities.

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He also expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment of his colleague, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, at the previous hearing, accusing the prosecution of misleading the court.

Justice Nwite questioned whether continuing the case amid an appeal would constitute judicial overreach.

“Won’t it amount to judicial rascality to continue this case when there’s an issue of jurisdiction?” the judge asked.

Counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kemi Pinhero, SAN, opposed the stay of proceedings, asserting that the defence had not provided any document from the Court of Appeal instructing the lower court to pause the case.

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Justice Nwite noted that the power to grant a stay of proceedings is discretionary and must be exercised judiciously.

However, he concluded that the defendant appeared to be using the appeal to delay the trial.

In a related ruling, Justice Nwite approved the withdrawal of Adeola Adedipe, SAN, from representing Bello.

The judge referred Adedipe to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for investigation over alleged misconduct related to his failure to present Bello in court.

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Pinhero acknowledged Adedipe’s withdrawal and requested the court to reconsider the ruling on the alleged misconduct.

Justice Nwite instructed Pinhero to file a formal application regarding this matter.

The case was adjourned to September 25, 2024, for arraignment, ensuring that the proceedings will continue despite the pending appeal.

Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, has denied reports of a plot to sanction Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South).

This denial came just hours before Ndume was removed from his position as Chief Whip of the Senate.

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Sources revealed that pro-Tinubu senators were planning to strip Ndume of his role due to his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu.

In a recent interview, Ndume accused the president of being out of touch with the nation’s issues, claiming that he had been “fenced off and caged.”

“Nigerians are getting very angry. The government is not doing anything about the food scarcity and it needs to do something urgently. We don’t have a food reserve. There is unavailability of food. Food crisis is the worst crisis that any nation can encounter. If we add that to security crisis, it will be severe,” Ndume had stated.

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His remarks sparked backlash from pro-Tinubu senators and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) labeling the comments as derogatory.

Insiders indicated that three of the four senators pushing for Ndume’s suspension hail from the South West—Ekiti, Ogun, and Lagos—while another senator from Kogi is also involved.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who benefited from Ndume’s support as Director-General of the Stability Group during his Senate presidency campaign, now faces a difficult situation.

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When contacted, Senate spokesman Adaramodu dismissed any notion of a plot against Ndume.

“No senator is plotting the removal or suspension of Senator Ndume. And the president has never prompted his suspension,” Adaramodu stated.

He continued, “The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has never been involved in any clandestine plot, as ludicrously alleged. If there is any allegation against any Senator, such will be debated on the floor of the Senate chamber, and no one has raised any against any Senator.”

Adaramodu also emphasized that the Presidential Villa has no influence over the National Assembly’s actions, urging the public to disregard the rumors as baseless.

Despite these assurances, Ndume’s removal as Chief Whip has added fuel to the controversy, leaving many to question the underlying political dynamics at play.

Samuel Anyanwu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the recent Imo State governorship election, has rejected the Appeal Court’s ruling affirming Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as governor. Anyanwu described the verdict as a distraction and vowed to take his case to the Supreme Court.

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The Appeal Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, July 16, dismissed Anyanwu’s appeal against Uzodimma’s election.

Despite this, Anyanwu expressed confidence in reclaiming his mandate at the Supreme Court, stating that the people of Imo would eventually see justice served.

“This Appeal Court judgment is merely a tactic to delay justice. We will not let them succeed. Our legal team will thoroughly review the judgment and take the necessary steps. We assure our supporters in Imo State and across Nigeria that we will have the last laugh,” Anyanwu declared.

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He continued, “while this judgment appears to legalize illegality, we still believe in a judiciary with integrity and a conscience. We are confident that higher courts will rectify the lower courts’ mistakes and deliver justice.”

Anyanwu called on PDP members and supporters nationwide to remain calm and assured them of his unwavering efforts to recover what he considers a stolen mandate.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, months after his impeachment by the state assembly.

In the ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Omotosho declared the impeachment illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.

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The court found that the Edo State House of Assembly’s impeachment of Shaibu violated sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Consequently, the court ordered that Shaibu be restored to his position and that his salaries and allowances be paid retroactively from April, when he was impeached.

Furthermore, the court issued an order preventing Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly from obstructing Shaibu in performing his duties.

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Justice Omotosho also instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to reinstate Shaibu’s security details.

In response, the Edo State House of Assembly has appealed the judgment and filed a motion for a stay of execution pending the appeal.

The verdict comes three months after the assembly impeached Shaibu, accusing him of disclosing government secrets.

A seven-member panel recommended his impeachment, which was subsequently approved by 18 out of 19 assembly members present at the plenary session.

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Following his impeachment, Shaibu criticized the lawmakers, stating that the move was a threat to democracy and motivated by his ambition to contest the Edo State 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He argued that his impeachment was a tactic to undermine his candidacy.

In the immediate aftermath of Shaibu’s removal, Governor Obaseki appointed 37-year-old Omobayo Godwins as his new deputy.

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Godwins was sworn in by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on the same day.

The tension between Shaibu and Obaseki, stemming from Shaibu’s governorship ambitions, had been building for months, leading to various accusations, apologies, and legal battles.

Shaibu had declared himself the winner in a parallel PDP governorship primary, while businessman Asue Ighodalo was recognized as the party’s official candidate.