Author: bibncollar

The Supreme Court has overturned previous rulings by the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court that had removed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). A five-member panel of the apex court ruled on Friday that the position of National Secretary falls under the internal affairs of the PDP, making it non-justiciable. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Jamilu Tukur struck out the trial court’s ruling from October last year and set aside the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal, which in December upheld Anyanwu’s removal. Instead, the Supreme Court affirmed the…

Suspected armed herdsmen have reportedly killed two soldiers in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. The attackers also killed a police officer and two farmers, identified as Yenge Kwaghkuga and Bem Adughigbudu. An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the soldiers were ambushed while responding to a distress call from residents on the outskirts of Jato-Aka. Following the attack, security forces deployed 12 trucks of personnel to the area on Thursday morning. Sources said one soldier sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh, while another remains missing. Residents have called for increased security presence, citing the…

A constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Roy Nweze, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminialayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly for six months. Nweze stated that Tinubu’s decision was necessary to restore order in the oil-rich state and protect lives and property. Speaking on the constitutional basis for the emergency rule, he argued that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants the president the power to declare a state of emergency…

Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the National Assembly for approving President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that true democracy does not exist in Nigeria. Obi expressed his concerns in a post on his X handle on Friday, stating that democracy cannot thrive in the absence of a functional opposition. “The parliamentary vote held yesterday clearly demonstrates that democracy, in its true sense, does not exist in Nigeria,” Obi said. His remarks come after both the Senate and House of Representatives endorsed President Tinubu’s decision to impose a…

Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the newly appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has arrived in the state to assume office following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday. President Tinubu’s decision came in response to the ongoing political crisis in the state, leading to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Ordu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The suspension has sparked widespread criticism from prominent political figures and organizations, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),…

The Nigerian Senate has approved the State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State, despite widespread public condemnation. In addition to endorsing the emergency rule, the Senate also approved a six-month suspension of Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The decision followed a closed-door session where lawmakers deliberated on the issue. Recall that the House of Representatives had earlier approved the State of Emergency through a voice vote. President Tinubu’s proclamation has sparked criticism from various stakeholders, with many questioning the necessity and implications of the move.…

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the Nigerian government of exploiting the prolonged detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, for financial and political gain. In a statement, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, condemned what he described as a “shameless scheme” designed to enrich security agencies and judicial officials while keeping Kanu unlawfully detained. The group recalled former Minister of Information Lai Mohammed’s claim that each of Kanu’s court appearances costs the Nigerian government ₦500 million. IPOB labeled this figure an “outrageous travesty,” questioning how such an amount could be justified for a short journey from the Department of State…

A heated argument erupted on Thursday between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Seriake Dickson over the application of Senate Rules in debating the proposed state of emergency in Rivers State. The confrontation began during plenary when Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion to reorder the Order Paper, prioritizing the debate on the state of emergency. However, as he cited the relevant rule, Senator Dickson, representing Bayelsa Central, raised a point of order, which Akpabio hesitated to acknowledge. In response, Akpabio, visibly irritated but maintaining a sarcastic tone, reminded Dickson of his recent television remarks, where he allegedly…

Human rights lawyer and activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it an assault on democratic principles. In a statement on Thursday, Ejiofor criticized the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers for six months, arguing that the decision has no constitutional basis. “This move appears to be a calculated political maneuver aimed at appeasing a powerful political godfather rather than addressing any genuine constitutional crisis,” he said. Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Ejiofor argued that Rivers State does not meet…

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has announced the formation of a coalition of opposition parties aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election. Atiku made the declaration during a press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, speaking on behalf of opposition leaders. When asked about the coalition, he responded, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.” The announcement comes amid political turmoil in Rivers State following President Tinubu’s controversial declaration of a state of emergency. On Tuesday, Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara,…