Politics
Pro-Wike lawmakers bar Fubara from state revenue, warn against violation
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, on Monday, wrote to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, stopping him from spending funds from the state Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The development followed the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given to the governor by the lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for him to submit the 2024 budget afresh.
The fresh presentation of the budget was among the conditions for peace, signed during a parley held at the instance of President Bola Tinubu to reconcile the factions of Wike and Fubara, in Abuja.
Fubara, in 2023, presented an Appropriation Bill of over N800bn for the 2024 fiscal year to the lawmakers loyal to him, then led by Edison Ehie, for approval.
Barely 24 hours after the budget presentation, the four-member Assembly passed it and presented it to Fubara for assent.
Ehie, then factional Speaker of the House, later resigned and was subsequently appointed Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, by Fubara.
After the peace agreement, the Amaewhule-led Assembly waited for the governor to re-submit the budget.
The crisis, however, got worse, leading to the pro-Fubara lawmakers electing Victor Oko-Jumbo as factional Speaker.
The governor declared that the pro-Wike lawmakers were no longer known to the law, as the court had restrained them as lawmakers in the state, following their defection to the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers appealed the judgment and the Court of Appeal, on July 4, quashed the ruling of the high court and reinstated the pro-Wike lawmakers as members of the state House of Assembly.
At their Monday, May 9 proceedings, they gave Fubara a one-week ultimatum to present the budget.
The Assembly, at its fourth Legislative Sitting, held at the Assembly Quarters on Aba Road, on Monday, said Fubara violated the Constitution by spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state without an appropriation law.
In a statement by the media aide to the Speaker, Martin Wachukwu, the lawmakers said the decision to bar Fubara from further spending followed a remark by the House Leader, Major Jack.
Jack drew the attention of the Assembly to the fact that “Given the combined provisions of Sections 121 and 122 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, Governor Siminialayi Fubara has flagrantly continued to violate the Constitution by spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state without an Appropriation Law’.
“Debating on the statement by the House Leader, members in unison and strong terms condemned Governor Fubara’s wanton disregard to the Constitution, despite repeating reminders of the consequences of his actions and thereby express their support for the shutdown of expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state forthwith.”
Amaewhule said, “It is unfortunate that Governor Fubara now sees a violation of the provisions of the Constitution and judgments of courts as a way of governance. As representatives of the people, the House would not look the other way while the governor consistently tramples on the Constitution he swore to uphold.”
The House, therefore, resolved to write to Fubara, intimating him of the shutdown of all expenditures from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.
The House further resolved to notify the Federal Government, its relevant agencies, banks, and local and foreign donor agencies of the development, and to advise them not to have any transactions with the Rivers State government, pending the resolution of matters relating to the 2024 Appropriation Law.
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, were unsuccessful, as he neither picked up calls put across to his mobile line by our correspondent nor replied to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, a group in Rivers State, G-23, has called on a federal lawmaker, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, to stop interfering in the politics of the state.
The group, which says it covers all the 23 local government areas of the state, warned Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North-South Federal Constituency of Imo State, to stop meddling in the affairs of the state.
It also said the roles played by the lawmaker and a national chairman of the Zenith Labour Party, Dan Nwanyanwu since the beginning of the political crisis in Rivers State were stoking further crisis.
Ugochinyere is the leader of G-60 members of the House of Representatives and had been a critic of Wike over the crisis in Rivers State.
Leader of the G-23, Chief Tony Okocha, speaking at a news briefing in Port Harcourt, on Monday, said Ugochinyere should be more concerned about how to initiate bills aimed at solving the “gully-ridden” roads and flooding ravaging his community and the activities of the disbanded Indigenous People of Biafra, rather than commenting on every issue in Rivers State.
Okocha, who is also the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, said the role of Ugochinyere and Nwanyanwu were condemnable.
“We have listened and heard from some quarters and some persons that we have decided in our meetings to tag them ancient and medieval meddlesome interlopers. These groups, one I see on television, are led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, who is a member of the House of Representatives and flaunts a group with a nomenclature of G-60.
“We have today decided to condemn in concrete and absolute terms the activity of a man who should be responsible, who has turned himself to be a hireling of the Rivers State government and the governor.
“It beats our imagination that instead of the gully-ridden roads that characterised his area, instead of the flood issues that are almost sweeping away some communities in his area, he has seen practically nothing.
“Ugochinyere is not from Rivers State. He has seen Rivers as a conduit pipe to siphon money from a government that is rudderless. It is Ugochinyere now that is speaking about issues in Rivers State. We will not accept that,” he said.
He also took a swipe at Ugochinyere over his comments against Wike, saying that the former governor was too big for the lawmaker to deride.
The G-23 leader also condemned the statement allegedly credited to Nwanyanwu, who warned Tinubu that Wike was nursing presidential ambition and would likely contest the 2027 election against him.
“Daniel Nwanyanwu is a serial political failure. What gives him the impetus or why should he imagine that Rivers State is a place for him to fall back? I am not aware that his Zenith Labour Party has an office in Rivers State.
“He (Nwanyanwu) was booted out of the Labour Party. He has left all the trappings of his political failure to become another hireling for the Rivers State government. It is unthinkable,” he said.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections, a mass protest voting movement may be building up in Anambra South Senatorial District, following reported moves by members of major political parties to support the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Ebuka Onunkwo.
The development is said to be linked to grievances among some members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and remnants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the treatment allegedly meted out to Onunkwo during previous political contests.
Onunkwo, who had previously contested the Anambra South senatorial seat under APGA, later emerged as the NDC candidate for the 2027 election.
Although the ADC is currently embroiled in legal disputes over the authentic candidates and the conduct of its primary elections, some members of the APC and APGA are also reportedly dissatisfied with developments within their respective parties.
It was gathered that a section of APGA members, in particular, are backing Onunkwo as a form of protest over the conduct of the party’s senatorial primary, while some members of other parties are also believed to be considering voting for him irrespective of their party affiliations.
Confirming the growing support for Onunkwo, the Chief Executive Officer of NOWAS Oil and Gas Limited and a major stakeholder in Anambra South politics, Chief Ignesus Ikechukwudere Nnubia, said the NDC candidate currently enjoys widespread acceptability across party lines.
Nnubia said the growing support for Onunkwo had made his party affiliation less significant, arguing that voters would ultimately vote according to their conscience and assessment of the candidates.
He said, “At the moment, the number of APGA members with him and supporting him makes one wonder what is left of that party. Even the remnants of the PDP have pitched their tents with him, while members of the ruling APC at the national level are also behind him.
“So, the party that he belongs to is not a factor at all. You know that it is a game of numbers, and people are going to vote according to their conscience and not necessarily because of the political party they belong to.
“People are not bound to vote for their party, and some of them are ready and willing to vote for him.
“We are not talking about the party because he will surely get votes from the NDC, APGA, APC and even other political parties that are already closing ranks to support him as their candidate.”
Nnubia further described Onunkwo as the candidate currently standing tall among the contenders for the Anambra South senatorial seat, expressing confidence that his emergence would usher in what he described as a “new dawn” for the district.
He said political parties should not be the major consideration for voters, stressing that what matters most is the ability of elected representatives to improve the lives of their constituents.
According to him, political parties exist because of the people, and therefore the influence of party structures and incumbency has its limits during elections.
Nnubia said those factors would ultimately be tested by the electorate in the 2027 election, which he described as a contest in which voters’ choices would determine the outcome.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi State election, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has pledged to attract more than ₦2 trillion in private-sector investment to the state within six months of assuming office if elected.
Odii made the pledge while addressing supporters in Lagos ahead of the formal commencement of his campaign.
He said his investment strategy would cover key sectors of the Ebonyi economy, including mining, hospitality, real estate and manufacturing.
According to the PDP candidate, he has identified more than 2,000 prospective investors, each capable of investing about ₦1 billion in the state.
“I have over 2,000 people who can invest ₦1 billion each. When you multiply it, you will get over ₦2 trillion. This has been structured in such a way that all aspects of the economy will be involved,” Odii said.
He said the proposed investment drive was designed not only to inject capital into the state but also to create jobs, expand the productive base of the economy and provide opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs.
Odii said Ebonyi’s natural resources and strategic location placed it in a strong position to attract large-scale investments if its economic potential was properly harnessed.
He promised that his administration would prioritise private-sector participation, industrialisation and job creation while creating an enabling environment for both local and foreign investors.
The candidate also said existing businesses in the state would be supported to expand, while new investors would be encouraged to establish operations across various sectors.
His pledge comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with economic development, employment generation and wealth creation featuring prominently in his campaign message.
The proposed ₦2 trillion investment target within six months, if achieved, would represent a significant boost to Ebonyi’s economy and rank among the most ambitious private-sector investment mobilisation plans proposed in the state.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The planned visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra State has sparked controversy following a protest by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emma Anosike, that the party was not informed about the visit.
Anosike said the APC in Anambra was never consulted or briefed about the proposed visit, adding that the party was taken aback by reports that the wife of the party’s national leader and presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be visiting the state without recourse to the state chapter.
He said, “It is indeed strange that the First Lady of our presidential candidate is visiting Anambra State without recourse to the party in the state.
“The party wishes to state categorically that we are not part of the arrangements for the reception of our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, because the party was never put in the picture.”
Anosike also dismissed the mantra that “The Progressives Are Working Together”, being canvassed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), describing it as a smokescreen by the ruling party in Anambra to hijack President Tinubu’s re-election from the APC.
He said, “For instance, the APGA-led government in Anambra State did not interface with us on the organisation of the visit, and the party wonders if the progressives are indeed working together.”
The APC chairman, however, said the development would not compromise the First Lady’s visit, urging all APC members and supporters in the state to turn out and give Senator Oluremi Tinubu a warm welcome.
He stressed that despite the party’s reservations over the arrangements, APC members remained committed to welcoming the First Lady to Anambra State.
Former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Sagir Saleh, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saleh, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Isa Yuguda, announced his resignation in a letter submitted to the party leadership in Katagum Local Government Area.
He cited personal reasons for his decision but did not provide further details.
His exit comes amid growing disagreements within the Bauchi APC following the party’s 2027 governorship primary. Other prominent members, including former governorship aspirant Bala Jibrin and Sunusi Kunde, an associate of Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, have also reportedly left the party.
Jibrin, a former National Auditor of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), resigned on August 31, 2026, following his opposition to the emergence of former Bauchi Governor Muhammad Abubakar as the APC’s 2027 governorship candidate.
He had criticised the primary process and questioned how the candidate emerged.
Kunde also resigned from the APC in August, submitting his resignation to the party chairman of Beti Ward in Misau Local Government Area.
The latest departures are coming as efforts continue to resolve internal disputes and disagreements among APC members in the state.
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to assassinate former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ayodele issued the warning in a video shared on his verified X account on Sunday, urging both opposition figures to strengthen their security and remain vigilant.
The cleric did not identify those allegedly behind the purported plot but claimed that attempts were being made to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
According to him, divine intervention would prevent the alleged plan from succeeding.
“Obi and Atiku, be very conscious of your security. They are looking for any means to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
“But God will never allow it to happen. Watch out and be cautious about your security,” he said.
Ayodele also urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider travelling to the United States, alleging that there were forces in America working against his political fortunes.
The claims come as political activities and realignments intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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