The House of Representatives came under fire on Thursday for reversing its earlier decision on the removal of immunity for the vice president, governors and deputy governors.

Civil Society Organisations, including the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, in separate interviews with The TheNigerian, faulted the House’s decision.

Two bills on executive immunity removal and death sentence passed a second reading on Wednesday, with Nigerians expecting the parliament to subject them to a public hearing to garner stakeholders’ input ahead of the third and final reading.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary session in the absence of the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, said the volte face on the bills was to enable the House to conduct a more robust debate by the lawmakers.

Kalu explained that the bills would be subjected to debate, considering their sensitivity.

“We want to apologise to the sponsors of the bills, but this action is to enable the House to have a further debate considering the importance of the subject matters,” Kalu said.

However, the Chairman of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, said the proposal of the bill was bound to fail because it mentioned only the removal of the immunity clause for the vice president and the deputy governors.

“For so long, we have campaigned that nobody in Nigeria should be treated as being higher than the other and be given that immunity clause. That one could commit heinous crimes and would not be tried by a court of law. Whether criminal or civil, everybody should be subjected to the dictates of our laws and the intervention of the judiciary.

“But then, we thought that they would let it scale through. But since they disaggregated the principal and their deputy, we knew that something sinister had been happening. As soon as they said that it’s only the vice president and deputy governors that would lose their immunity, as soon as they mentioned it, I knew that it would fail.

“Because the constitution provides that they contested elections on joint tickets, the tickets are not separate, whatever happens to the principal happens to his deputy. So, if they want to remove it, they should remove it wholesale. And if they want to remove it for civil offences, they should retain it for criminal offences,” he said.

He added that public officials should be made to face the law, after losing their immunity, in order to ensure a similitude of equality before the law.

“So basically, we can keep on managing. But what we should not do is to allow them to go scot-free as soon as they lose immunity. Whether or not they were caught committing criminal acts while they were in office, they should be subjected to re-examination after they get out of office. I mean the President, Vice President, Governors and their Deputies. So that at the end of the day, all animals will be seen to be equal, and none should be treated as being more equal than others,” Adeniran further stated.

On his part, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, lamented that the provision of immunity for the president, governors and vice president made for “reckless governance in the country and lack of accountability by elected officials.’’

Noting that immunity is only an additional protection for people in power to abuse their office, the activist observed that such executive protection does not happen anywhere else except in Nigeria and a few other corrupt countries.

He noted, “First and foremost, immunity within the context of reckless governance in Nigeria is dangerous for our democracy and accountability. This means that a President, Vice President, Governor, a Deputy Governor, can loot and kill and do anything they want within the period that he or she is in power, usually four years or eight years, and nothing is going to happen to such kind of person.

“So, immunity is only an additional protection for people in power to abuse the power, and nothing happens to them.‘’

“In other places, there’s no reason that you are in a position of power that you break the law, that you steal, you loot, you kill and then you will get covered. There is nowhere that kind of thing will happen, only in Nigeria and some few places where there is much impunity.

“As far as I’m concerned, immunity is not something we should be proud of. If you are a President, and you know you have not done anything wrong, there is every provision for seeking redress or protection of your rights as a citizen, same as the VP, the governors or their deputies,” he said.

Meanwhile, a lawmaker and member of the People’s Democratic Party who spoke with The TheNigerian in confidence said the bill would not succeed.

He said, “I have nothing much to say on the immunity removal clause because the President will not sign it into law. It looks good on paper but in fairness to the sponsor, I will say this is dead on arrival.

“Our elected people love power. The President want to enjoy immunity from prosecution, and the Vice President, 36 State Governors and their deputies are not exempted. It is possible that the powers that be want the bill to die on the floor, but let’s see how the debate will go.”

On the death penalty, he had this to say, “There is a global campaign to expunge the death penalty from the laws governing a democratic society. I think members lobbied to have this bill returned for debate to enable them to speak to the issues involved. This is just my personal opinion.”

Similarly, the House, through its spokesman, Akin Rotimi, gave reasons for the new twist on the bills.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Mr Rotimi said, “During plenary on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the House passed 42 constitution amendment bills for second reading, including, a bill to amend the constitution to qualify the immunity of the President and remove the immunity of the Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors, sponsored by Solomon Bob.

“This bill aims to curb corruption, eradicate impunity, and enhance accountability in public office.

The second one was “A bill to amend the constitution to review penalties for certain capital offences in line with international best practices, sponsored by Benjamin Kalu and six others.

“These bills, along with 40 others, were passed for second reading without debate, in accordance with the provisions of the House Standing Orders (11h edition), and were referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review.

“However, during the plenary on Thursday, March 27, 2025, the House resolved to rescind the passage of these two bills and relist them for a second reading to allow for a more extensive and robust debate on their general principles.

“This decision, reaffirmed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, underscores the House’s commitment to diligent and transparent lawmaking, particularly on sensitive legislative matters.”

According to the statement, “At the first and second reading stages, the content of any bill reflects solely the views of its sponsor(s) and not the position of the House or its leadership. The House formally engages with a bill only after it progresses to the committee stage, where public hearings are conducted.”

He added that the bills have not been discarded or removed from consideration, stressing that “They remain part of the legislative process and will be revisited at a later date. The decision to rescind their passage for the second reading is in line with the House Standing Orders (Eleventh edition) and is intended solely to allow for thorough debate before further legislative action.”

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vacated the Government House in Port Harcourt along with his family and security details.

Fubara reportedly left the seat of power on Wednesday morning, according to a close source who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to speak on the issue.

Meanwhile, security at the Government House remains sparse, although the two Armoured Personnel Carriers seen on Tuesday night in front of the premises are still stationed there with a handful of security operatives.

As of the time of filing this report, normal activities were ongoing in Port Harcourt and its environs.

Meanwhile, the Administrator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to oversee the state for the next six months, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.), had yet to assume office as of 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday.

Our correspondent at the Government House observed that preparations were underway to receive him, as about 15 soldiers were seen inside the premises ahead of his expected arrival.

 

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President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday evening declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in a nationwide broadcast.

Citing the need to restore law and order, Tinubu announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State for an initial six months.

Tinubu announced the nomination of retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the Rivers State administrator to steer the affairs of the state.

A few hours after the declaration, soldiers took over the Rivers Government House in Port Harcourt.

An insider said the governor was still in his official residence in the Government House when the troops swarmed over the premises around 9 pm.

The source stated, “Well, as I speak to you now, there are soldiers inside Government House but the governor is in his residence.”

Also, an Armoured Personnel Carrier was stationed at the entrance of the seat of power in the state overlooking the road.

Our correspondent, who visited the Government House along Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt, at about 9pm observed several Sports Utility Vehicles outside the main gate with full lights on.

It could not be ascertained if the governor was about to leave the Government House.

Tension in Rivers

In many parts of the Port Harcourt metropolis, residents and motorists were seen rushing home to their families immediately after the news of the state of emergency filtered in.

People were also seen on the streets discussing the latest issue as some residents expressed dismay over the announcement and blamed the political actors for what happened.

Tinubu justifies action

In his broadcast, the President Tinubu said he was disturbed by the unfolding events in the state, which appeared to have defied political solutions, stalled development and progress and denied the people of the state the dividends of democracy.

He said,  “In the circumstance,  having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th  March, 2025 and I so do.

“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.

“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.”

The President clarified that the emergency declaration did not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which will continue to function in accordance with its constitutional mandate.

According to him, the Administrator will not make any new laws but is free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.

The declaration, he added, had been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which had been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution.

‘’It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole,’’ the President stated.

The declaration came a few hours after Tinubu summoned an emergency meeting with his service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa following double blasts at two different oil pipelines in Rivers State.

The meeting, which began at 3:00 pm, was attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Directors General of the State Security Service, Mr Adeola Ajayi and the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.

Also in attendance were the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and other top government officials.

Fubara urges calm

Responding to his suspension by the President, Fubara, in a statement he personally signed, called for calm, saying, “We will engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong and that Rivers State continues to thrive.”

In the statement titled, “Press Release by the Executive Governor of Rivers State,” the suspended governor blamed the members of the state Assembly loyal to Wike, saying they frustrated all his attempts to comply with the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Fubara said, “My dear Rivers People, I address you today with a deep sense of responsibility and calm, as we navigate this unfortunate moment in our state’s political history.

“Since assuming office as your governor, all my actions and decisions have been guided by my constitutional oath of office and a great sense of duty.

“We prioritised the protection of lives and property and ensured the continuous progress of our dear state.

“Even in the face of the political impasse, we have remained committed to constitutional order and the rule of law, putting the interest of our people above all else.

“This was why, immediately after Mr. President’s intervention to broker peace, we did not hesitate to implement the agreed terms in good faith, including welcoming back commissioners who had previously resigned on their own volition.

“Furthermore, we moved swiftly to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement immediately we received the certified true copy of the judgment to return the state to normalcy.

“These steps were taken not for personal gains but to foster peace, unity and stability in our dear State.

“Unfortunately, at every turn, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly frustrated our efforts, thus making genuine peace and progress difficult.

“Our priorities remained the security of lives and property and advancing the well-being and prosperity of Rivers people.

“Yes, we have political disagreements, but good governance had continued, salaries have been paid, and great projects were being executed to move the state forward. Above all, Rivers State is safe, secure and peaceful under our watch.

“At this critical time, I urge all Rivers people to remain peaceful and law-abiding. We will engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong and that Rivers State continues to thrive.

“We have always been a resilient people, and we will face this situation with wisdom, patience, and unwavering faith in the democratic process.”

Explosions rock pipelines

Between late Monday and Tuesday double blasts were recorded at two different oil pipelines in Rivers State.

The first explosion rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The TNP is a federal transport line that supplies crude oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State.

The incident occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction.

It comes hours after the Rivers State House of Assembly served notice of misconduct against Fubara, an action seen as laying the ground for his planned impeachment by the lawmakers loyal to ex-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

However, community sources attributed it to illegal bunkering, but Shell is yet to make any official statement on the incident.

A video seen by one of our correspondents showed a massive fire in a forest location.

Another explosion was reported on Tuesday morning at a pipeline manifold in Omwawriwa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The latest incident was said to be on a manifold connecting a federal line in the area, which transports crude oil to Brass in Bayelsa State.

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the explosion and arrested two suspects in connection with the incident.

This came as some youths blocked the East-West Road in protest over the political crisis in the state.

The TheNigerian could not be confirmed if the blasts were connected to threats issued by some militant groups to attack oil installations on account of the political crisis in Rivers State.

However, the police have launched a thorough investigation into the matter, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday.

Iringe-Koko said operatives moved to the scene and contacted the operator, Shell, which shut down the pipeline.

The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that a fire incident occurred at the Shell Petroleum Development Company operated Trans Niger Delta Pipeline, located at the border of Kpor and Bodo communities.

“During a routine night patrol, security operatives observed the incident and promptly alerted SPDC management. The latter initiated necessary safety protocols, including shutting down the affected pipeline.

“As a result of swift intervention, the situation is now under control, and there is no further threat to residents or the environment.

“The Rivers State Police Command has commenced a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire. In connection with this, two individuals have been taken in for questioning as part of efforts to uncover any potential act of sabotage.’’

Political crisis

Fubara and 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, have been involved in a face-off which has heightened tension in the state.

Though the President intervened, the crisis escalated as Fubara, the lawmakers and Wike failed to reach an agreement.

Fubara demolished the state  Assembly after it was bombed on October 29, 2023, thus preventing the opposition lawmakers from sitting.

He also presented the 2024 budget before four legislators loyal to him, stating that the pro-Wike lawmakers had defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

However, a Rivers State High Court ruled that the 27 lawmakers remained valid members of the PDP.

On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, both in Abuja, which had earlier declared the acts against the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly members as unlawful and illegal.

A N10m fine was imposed on Fubara to be paid to the assembly and the 27 members who instituted the suit against him.

The Federal High Court had held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January last year by the governor was a Constitutional aberration that must not be allowed to continue.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik who delivered the Federal High Court judgment, had last year issued an order that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the Constitutional provision.

Specifically, the judge had said that Fubara’s action in implementing unlawful budget smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect.

The judge had restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.

Affirming the judgment, the Supreme Court ordered the CBN and the AGF to stop further release of financial allocations to the Rivers State  Government with immediate effect.

The apex court directed that the order shall be in force until Fubara stopped all his illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional activities.

Specifically, the court said that no money shall be released to the state government until a lawful Appropriation Law is enacted under Amaewhule as the speaker.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the judgment, also ordered the 27 lawmakers to resume immediately.

The apex court lambasted the governor for engaging in criminal activity of demolishing the House of Assembly with impunity just to prevent the 27 legislators in the house from sitting to carry out lawful activities.

Fubara in his reaction pledged to comply with the judgment.

Impeachment moves

On Monday, the state Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy.

The Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly served Fubara and Odu with a notice of alleged gross misconduct, signalling an imminent impeachment process.

The notice listing the alleged misconduct sent to the Speaker was a sequel to a letter dated March 14, 2025, signed by 26 members of the Assembly.

Amaewhule sent the notice in two separate letters he signed on Monday, March 17, 2025 and addressed to the governor and his deputy.

 The development heightened the political tension in the state, as some Ijaw groups had threatened a crisis in the region if Fubara is impeached.

The groups- Ijaw National Congress, the Ijaw Youth Council and other groups expressed strong opposition to the potential impeachment of Fubara, who is of Ijaw descent.

They warned that such actions could lead to unrest, emphasising their commitment to defending the governor’s mandate and cautioning that his removal might destabilise the region and affect oil production.

Alluding to these developments, Tinubu in his broadcast also cited the Supreme Court judgment which held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected “are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members”

Noting the threat by some militants to attack oil facilities, the President disclosed that the security reports made available to him showed that between Monday and Tuesday, there had been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them.

He stated, ‘’Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against the perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now not disowned them. Apart from that, both the House and the governor have not been able to work together.

‘’Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.

‘’The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday (Monday) and today (Tuesday), there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them.

‘’I have, of course, given stern orders to the security agencies to ensure the safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.

‘’With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.’’

NBA, opposition, PANDEF fault gov’s suspension

The Nigerian Bar Association expressed worries over the suspension of the democratic structures in Rivers State, stressing that the 1999 Constitution did not grant the President the power to remove an elected governor, deputy governor, or members of a state’s legislature under the guise of a state of emergency.

Rather, the President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), said the Constitution provides clear procedures for the removal of a governor and deputy governor per section 188.

‘’A declaration of emergency does not automatically dissolve or suspend elected state governments. The Constitution does not empower the President to unilaterally remove or replace elected officials—such actions amount to an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a fundamental breach of Nigeria’s federal structure,” Osigwe said in a statement.

The NBA firmly asserted that the situation in Rivers State, though politically tense, did not meet the constitutional threshold for the removal of elected officials.

Osigwe argued that Section 305(3) of the Constitution outlines specific conditions under which a state of emergency may be declared and they include “war or external aggression against Nigeria, imminent danger of invasion or war, a breakdown of public order and safety to such an extent that ordinary legal measures are insufficient.”

“Others are a clear danger to Nigeria’s existence, occurrence of any disaster or natural calamity affecting a state or a part of it and such other public danger that constitutes a threat to the federation.”

The NBA questioned whether the political crisis in Rivers State had reached the level of a complete breakdown of law and order warranting the removal of the governor and his administration.

‘’Political disagreements, legislative conflicts, or executive-legislative tensions do not constitute a justification for emergency rule. Such conflicts should be resolved through legal and constitutional mechanisms, including the judiciary, rather than executive fiat.

“The purported removal of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is therefore unconstitutional, unlawful, and a dangerous affront to our nation’s democracy,” the association declared.

The NBA, therefore, called on the National Assembly to reject any unconstitutional attempt to ratify the removal of the Rivers State governor and other elected officials, insisting that the approval of a state of emergency must be based on strict constitutional grounds, not political expediency.

Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said Tinubu’s action reeks of political manipulation and outright bad faith.

Atiku, in a post on X.com, alleged that the President had been a vested partisan actor in the political turmoil engulfing Rivers, adding that “his blatant refusal or calculated negligence in preventing this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful.’’

He wrote, “Beyond the political scheming in Rivers, the brazen security breaches that led to the condemnable destruction of national infrastructure in the state land squarely on the President’s desk.

“Tinubu cannot evade responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to prevent. It is an unforgivable failure that under Tinubu’s watch, the Niger Delta has been thrown back into an era of violent unrest and instability — undoing the hard-won peace secured by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Years of progress have been recklessly erased in pursuit of selfish political calculations.

“If federal infrastructure in Rivers has been compromised, the President bears full responsibility. Punishing the people of Rivers State just to serve the political gamesmanship between the governor and @officialABAT’s enablers in the federal government is nothing less than an assault on democracy and must be condemned in the strongest terms.’’

The Peoples Democratic Party rejected the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that President Tinubu does not have the authority to suspend a democratically elected governor.

Ologunagba reasoned, “The Peoples Democratic Party and indeed, Nigerians listened with dismay the national broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in which the President, in utter violation of the 1999 Constitution pronounced an imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State

“The PDP outright rejects this attempt by the President to override the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and undermine the votes and Will of the people of Rivers State by seeking to depose a democratic government and foist an undemocratic rule in the State.

“The unconstitutional declaration by President Tinubu of the suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appointment of an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) to govern the state is a clear attack on our nation’s democracy, an abrogation of the votes and democratic right of the people of Rivers State to choose their leader under the Constitution.

“The action of Mr President therefore clearly borders on attempt at state capture. It is the climax of a well-oiled plot to forcefully take over Rivers State for which the All Progressives Congress has been bent on stoking crisis to ensure that democracy is ultimately truncated in the state.”

The PDP urged Ibas to adhere to the Constitution and avoid any actions that could disrupt the democratic governance in Rivers State.

It emphasised that Nigeria is not under military rule, where state governance is determined by a junta’s appointments.

The opposition party continued, “Nigerians are invited to note that the situation in Rivers State and the reasons adduced by the President cannot justify the declaration of a state of emergency in the state under the 1999 Constitution, rendering the declaration completely incompetent.

“The PDP alerts that the unwarranted imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of the larger vicious plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate opposition, impose a totalitarian one-party state and turn the country into a fiefdom

“In any case, nothing in section 305 of the 1999 Constitution relied upon by the President in the declaration grants him the exclusive powers to declare or execute the declaration of a state of emergency without recourse to the statutory approval of the National Assembly.

“For the avoidance of doubt, section 305 (2) provides that “The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the proclamation.

“Mr President should recognize that his order to an unelected individual to forthwith take over government of Rivers State is illegal and a clear recipe for crisis, threat to the peace and stability of not only Rivers State but the entire nation.

Two members of the House of Representatives onn the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Their defections were announced on the floor of the House on Wednesday with their reasons being the crisis rocking the party at the national level

They are Honourable Jallo Hussaini Mohammed Representative of Igabi Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.

He left the main opposition party for the APC.

Also, Adamu Tanko, the member representing Gurara/Suleja/Tafa Federal Constituency of Niger State, defected from PDP to APC.

Recall that most recently, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy, claimed that the APC-led administration is depleting the Labour Party, LP.

He also predicted that the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, would eventually defect to the ruling APC.

He further stated that Obi would not contest the 2027 presidential election on the LP platform, adding that any coalition he joins would face internal conflicts.

According to Bwala, such a coalition would only need two weeks of media attention before its members start clashing due to their conflicting ambitions.

Also, DAILY POST reported that Nasir El-Rufai, a former Governor of Kaduna State and founding member of the APC, recently left the party and joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

“It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC will continue to align up to the time I choose to retire from politics.” El-Rufai said, adding that “developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC
to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party.”

The Rivers State House of Assembly, on Sunday, accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of insincerity in the implementation of the recent Supreme Court judgment, ordering him to present the 2025 budget afresh.

The lawmakers, who are loyal to Fubara’s estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, alleged that contrary to Fubara’s claim to have written the House for budget presentation, they had not received any correspondence from him.

But in an interview with The TheNigerian, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, insisted that Fubara had written to the Assembly, notifying them of his desire to come forward for budget presentation.

“The governor’s letter was well-constructed, properly addressed, and clearly articulated,” Johnson said.

While acknowledging that the House had adjourned indefinitely, Johnson expressed confidence that the Assembly could convene an emergency session to address an issue as critical as the state budget.

“We have proposed Wednesday, March 19, for the budget presentation. If the House has received our communication, I expect them to create a pathway for this to happen. The presentation will take no more than an hour, after which they will have sufficient time to review it,” Johnson added.

But addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the spokesman for the Rivers State House of Assembly,  Enemi George, challenged Fubara to provide an acknowledged copy of the letter he claimed to have sent to the House.

George, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Information, accused Fubara of “playing to the gallery and whipping up public sentiment to vilify the lawmakers.”

He said, “Last week, on his way to an event in Ogoni, the governor stopped at the gate of the Assembly Quarters to speak to the press. During this interview, he asserted that he had sent a letter to the House, notifying them of his intention to present the Appropriation Bill. However, no such letter was received.”

He further noted that the governor’s aides later claimed the letter was sent via WhatsApp to some members of the Assembly, calling this method “awkward, unprofessional, and embarrassing.”

“As I speak, social media is flooded with claims of a letter from the governor to the Assembly regarding the budget presentation. Nothing could be further from the truth. We categorically state that no such letter has been received by the House or its staff.

“We challenge the governor and his aides to produce an acknowledgement copy or any evidence proving that the letter was sent and received.”

The intended recipient was not the legislature but the public, with the sole aim of manipulating sentiment and portraying the Assembly in a negative light,” George asserted.

George further accused the governor of frustrating the Assembly’s attempts to collaborate and resolve the lingering crisis following the Supreme Court judgment, particularly regarding the budget presentation.

“After the Supreme Court judgment, we wrote to the governor, urging him to submit the budget for speedy consideration. Our goal was to pass the bill by March 15, 2025, to ensure we could approach the Federal Government for the release of funds withheld due to the court’s ruling.

“Instead of cooperating, the governor rejected our letter, and our staff attempting to deliver it were assaulted at the Government House gate. Undeterred, we resorted to using a courier service, but still, the governor refused to engage with us.”

George also alleged that the Supreme Court ruling invalidated the appointments of most state commissioners, and in response, the House requested a fresh list for screening.

“Once again, our letter was rejected at the Government House, forcing us to use a courier service. Instead of complying, the governor instructed the commissioners to take legal action against us and directed state ministries and agencies not to engage with the Assembly in any form.”

He emphasised that the Assembly is an independent arm of government, as enshrined in Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the 1999 Constitution, and accused the governor of attempting to dismantle the legislature to rule unchallenged.

“This is a dangerous precedent. A single individual cannot be allowed to hold an entire state hostage due to personal ego. The Rivers State Government, as it stands, is non-functional,” he stated.

George lamented the hardships faced by the lawmakers, including the destruction of the Assembly Complex, attacks on members’ residences, and the seizure of their allowances for over 18 months.

“We have endured immense suffering for trying to fulfil our constitutional duties. However, we will not allow the governor to extend this hardship to the people of Rivers State.

“Public servants, pensioners, teachers, and healthcare workers depend on government funding. The governor’s actions jeopardize their livelihoods. We must all call on him to do the right thing for the sake of the state and its people.”

NBA urges caution

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association has cautioned against dragging the judiciary into the political crisis.

Port Harcourt NBA Chairman, Cordelia Eke, made this call in response to the Assembly’s request for the Department of State Services to investigate the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, over alleged age falsification.

“The appropriate channel for such an issue is the National Judicial Council, not the DSS,” Eke stated.

She expressed disappointment that the crisis continued to escalate despite the Supreme Court ruling, which many had hoped would bring closure.

“The executive, legislature, and judiciary each have constitutional roles that must be respected. If any party is dissatisfied with a judgment, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms should be explored rather than resorting to political manoeuvring.”

Eke warned that politicising the judiciary could erode public trust in the legal system.

“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. It should not be dragged into political conflicts. Instead, all parties should seek mediation through non-partisan mediators to find a peaceful resolution.

“Rivers State is vital to Nigeria’s economy. Political instability will only deter investors. I appeal to all stakeholders to de-escalate tensions and prioritize peace and development.”

Fatai Odunsi, the father of top Nigerian singer, Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, has said his son has agreed to buy him a house, settle his medical bills and take care of his daughter.

Odunsi aka Malo who is left paralysed in some parts of his body after suffering from a stroke and being unable to pay his medical bills called out Asake in a viral video on Thursday asking Nigerians to beg the artiste to assist him.

This is as Asake’s alleged Babymama, identified as Adijat, also accused the singer of neglecting her and their daughter, Zeenat.

In an interview with digital creator, Aki Abolade, popularly known as Mrlilgaga, on Sunday, Odunsi was seen praying for the singer as he expressed happiness, saying Asake had agreed to take care of all the issues raised.

Speaking in Yoruba, he expressed pride in Asake and showered him with prayers.

He added that he called out Asake because it had been a long time since he saw him.

‘’He (Asake) has said they should look for a house that he will buy for me and they have been looking for it since yesterday (Saturday). He has started doing it,” he said in Yoruba in the video posted by @Mrlilgaga on Instagram on Sunday.

“I’m proud of him,” he said when asked if he was proud of his son. “He will not be unfortunate, nothing will happen to him, and he will not go down.”

Speaking on why he was angry with his son, Odunsi said, “It was because I had not seen him in a long time. His mother ought to ask him, ‘When was the last time you saw your father?’ That was what infuriated me but we have settled everything. There is no fight anymore,” he said as he sang in proverbs, denoting that there was no fight anymore.

“He has reached out to me and he has said he will do everything I wanted,” he said as he sang again. “We have settled our issues. He has called and spoken with me, there is no issue again.”

Asake came under fire over the weekend as netizens and residents in the Isale Eko area of Lagos expressed disappointment over the artiste’s perceived neglect of his ailing father, Odunsi.

On Friday, a viral video that featured Odunsi, who identified himself as Asake’s father, stirred controversy on social media about the Lonely at the Top crooner.

In the video, Odunsi claimed he had not seen Asake since 2022, when his health began to deteriorate, and that he felt the need to publicly seek help.

Odunsi further alleged that despite Asake’s fame and success, the singer had not been financially supportive of him.

In response, Asake addressed the issue in a cryptic yet emotional message shared on TikTok.

Singing in Yoruba, he said, “You can’t please everyone, you can’t please the world. But anything you are doing, just do it for God.

“My own father wants to cajole me, and I have sent so much money to him. I have struggled for so many years, but they want to make life tire me.”

Amid the drama, Asake’s family broke their silence, not only addressing the allegations but also accusing the singer of neglecting his daughter, Zeenat, and her mother.

They urged Asake to take responsibility for his father’s welfare and expressed willingness to conduct a DNA test to determine the paternity of 11-year-old Zeenat.

A woman featured in the video made a direct appeal to the singer, saying, “I am begging you, Ololade Mr Money. He should come and do the needful.

“I’m begging you, Ololade Mr. Money. Even if Nigerians donate N10bn to this man, just N1m from Asake would make him happier.

“Please take care of your father. If you don’t want to support him directly, buy him a house in Isale Eko where he can earn rent income to survive.

“In this Isale Eko, you can see a house of N40m, N50m that you can build so that this man can be collecting rent. Also, if you are in doubt about Zeenat, the mother has agreed to a DNA test.”

The controversy took a new twist on Saturday when a lady identified simply as Adijat, who claimed to be Asake’s baby mama said the singer abandoned his 11-year-old daughter.

According to Adijat, the singer blocked her after he became famous and she attempted to get close to him and made him responsible for his daughter.

“I have an 11-year-old daughter for Asake. Before he became famous I always supported him. I sent him all my savings when he was at the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife).

“Asake used to call me to thank me for standing by him, but now I have tried to reach out to Asake but he starts saying that I am forcing myself on him.

“He even said if I continued to disturb him,  he would block me on all his socials like WhatsApp, and after Asake got famous, he sent N1m to me and his daughter,” Adijat said in Yoruba during a live chat on TikTok.

When asked about what plans Asake had for the daughter in the Sunday interview, Odunsi said the singer had agreed to take care of the daughter.

“He (Asake) has said he will take care of her,” he said.

When asked if the singer had accepted the daughter, Odunsi responded, “Yes, he has accepted him. He had accepted her from the start. He accepted his child, he has never denied his child. He will take care of the child,” Odunsi, flanked by likely family members, responded.

Odunsi also denied being irresponsible contrary to speculations on social media.

Netizens hail singer

Netizens on TikTok have lauded Asake’s move to take care of his family.

Users who commented under the video on Tik Tok said the singer had done the right thing.

@Arinola2505 prayed, “Asake, God will bless you. (Your) children will also compete to pamper you too.”

“Wow! Asake, I am very proud of you, you are the true son of your father,” @tactec002 posted.

@nigeriaCNN, said, “God bless this man (Odunsi), he quickly protected him (Asake).”

@armakod gave “kudos to you Asake, more achievements for you this year.”

@luv4twins wrote, “It’s the right time for all the fathers to fight for their rights from their rich kids or else some mothers will not let them do anything for their father till he dies.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has, on behalf of the members of the House, donated the sum of ₦705,000,000, to augment the humanitarian efforts of President Bola Tinubu administration and to support vulnerable people in the country.

Abbas said the amount was a six-month 50 per cent deductions from the salaries of the 360 lawmakers in the House.

Speaker Abbas spoke on Monday night when President Bola Tinubu hosted the leadership and members of the House of Representatives to Iftar (breaking of Ramadan fast) at the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He thanked President Tinubu for the invitation to break fast with him and for always showing respect and concern for the House of Representatives.

“As we all know, the month of Ramadan entails many things, one of them is reflection; where were you before, where are you now and where do you want to be? I believe Nigeria more than ever before needs this type of reflection,” he said.

Imploring both Christians and Muslims to dedicate this time to praying for the country, the Speaker said Nigerians knew what the Tinubu administration has achieved within just two years and this period offers a moment for every Nigerian to reflect and pray for the country – prayers for the economy; prayers for improved security, prayers for the leaders and prayers for the citizens.

He assured that every member of the House of Representatives was in support of the President, noting that the policies of the government were for the betterment of the people and Nigeria as a country.

At the iftar, speaking on behalf of the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima, has called on the leaders of the National Assembly to uphold the sacred responsibility of leadership and to prioritise unity and national development over political divisions and partisan interests.

In a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, VP Shettima urged the lawmakers to embrace their responsibility with humility and a shared commitment to progress.

 

He said, “In the end, history will not judge us by the number of personal battles we fought against one another, but by the bridges we were able to build together. We are gathered here this evening not as adversaries in a contest for power, but as partners in the noble task of nation-building.”

 

Reflecting on the significance of Ramadan, which coincides with the Lenten season, the Vice President called for deep introspection and a reaffirmation of commitment to Nigeria’s unity.

 

“This sacred month of reflection and renewal reminds us to choose stability over strife, collaboration over conflict, and dialogue over discord. What binds us as a nation is far greater than what divides us,” the Vice President said.

 

VP Shettima commended President Tinubu’s leadership, describing him as a man of vision and inclusivity.

 

According to Senator Shettima, “In President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you have not just a leader you can trust, but a leader who trusts you. He sees you as stewards of our democracy, as voices of the people, and as partners in our shared aspiration to build a better Nigeria.”

 

He further assured Nigerians that the government’s economic policies are yielding results and explained that “The economy has turned the corner. We are now on the path to sustained economic growth, and with perseverance, we will create a Nigeria where every citizen can thrive.”

The Vice President also lauded the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, and the House leadership for fostering harmony within the legislature.

 

“There can be no development without peace, and there can be no peace without development. The unity within the House is a testament to our collective resolve to move Nigeria forward,” he said.

 

VP Shettima urged the leaders to govern with empathy, fairness, and justice, reminding them that their positions are a sacred trust of the Nigerian people. “Leadership is not about personal gain; it is about service. It is a burden vested in us by God, tested by history, and measured by the impact we leave behind,” he stated.