General News
RIVERS STATE APC FACTIONS CLASH OVER GOVERNOR FUBARA’S IMPEACHMENT THREAT
The All Progressives Congress (APC) factions in Rivers State are at war over the threat to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The faction led by Tony Okocha, recognized by the national leadership of the party, warned Fubara to resign honorably or face impeachment, accusing him of multiple impeachable offenses.
Okocha criticized Fubara’s recent invitation to the 27 lawmakers for a meeting, dismissing the planned meeting as inconsequential. “The governor behaves like a puritan, but he’s a dangerous snake. His meeting agenda with the lawmakers is puerile,” Okocha said.
However, the rival faction of the party, loyal to former governor Rotimi Amaechi and led by Chief Emeka Bekee, attacked Okocha, saying he is an outlaw and has no right to call for Fubara’s resignation. “Our response — recall that part of the grounds which the Supreme Court latched on to sustain the FHC judgment which nullified the local government elections in Rivers State was that elections went ahead despite the judgment of court stopping the process,” said Darlington Nwauju, Publicity Secretary of the Beke-led APC.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara has urged his supporters and Rivers people not to be disheartened by recent events, saying “God does not start a thing and end halfway.” He assured that his administration will continue to deliver impactful, people-oriented development projects.
In another development, the Rivers State House of Assembly has issued an arrest warrant on the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli, and four other commissioners. The warrant followed the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum given to them to appear before the Assembly.
Former governor Rufus Ada-George has called on all warring factions to sheathe their swords and refrain from inflammatory statements, unnecessary ultimatums, and threats. “Peace is our utmost priority. I call on all parties involved to immediately stop all threats, inflammatory statements, ultimatums, and exercise restraint in their pronouncements to avoid escalating the fever pitch tension,” Ada-George said.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced an urgent, coordinated strategy to safeguard food security across West Africa and the Sahel, as global economic disruptions and rising oil prices continue to threaten agricultural production.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Agriculture held on March 23, 2026, where regional leaders assessed the growing risks to food systems.
The high-level meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture under Commissioner Kalilou Sylla, brought together key regional institutions, development partners, and financial stakeholders.
Participants—including representatives from the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—reviewed the impact of rising fertiliser costs, driven by global market volatility and increasing energy prices, on agricultural productivity across the region.
Deliberations resulted in the adoption of a medium- to long-term operational framework aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and building resilience within regional food systems.
Key measures outlined in the plan include the immediate establishment of regional agreements to secure strategic fertiliser supplies, as well as the creation of emergency reserves to cushion the effects of future price shocks.
The ministers also approved the introduction of liquidity swap mechanisms through central banks to address foreign exchange constraints faced by importers—an intervention expected to improve access to critical agricultural inputs.
“Our collective response underscores the urgency of safeguarding food security in the face of external shocks,” Sylla said, noting that enhanced regional coordination and targeted interventions would help sustain agricultural production and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative highlights ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening regional cooperation and implementing sustainable solutions to emerging threats to food security across West Africa and the Sahel.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday paid a Sallah homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.
The visit formed part of activities marking the Sallah celebrations, as top government officials and political leaders paid courtesy calls to the President.
During the meeting, President Tinubu also received members of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, a key political body in Lagos State.
Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council
The engagements provided an opportunity for discussions on national issues and strengthened ties between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The Sallah homage is a long-standing tradition in Nigeria, where political leaders and stakeholders visit the President and other top officials during major Islamic festivities.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed concern over the reported arrest of a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, describing the development as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic principles.
In a statement issued on Monday, Obi said he was informed that the cleric was arrested by authorities shortly after hosting him in Kaduna on Sunday. He described the situation as “deeply troubling,” warning that it reflects a growing pattern of intimidation and suppression of dissenting voices in the country.
Obi noted that such actions, if confirmed, undermine fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and movement, which he said are essential pillars of any democratic society.
He further stressed that harassment or persecution of citizens based on perceived political affiliations must not be tolerated, urging the government to uphold the rule of law in its dealings with Nigerians.
“This country must defend freedom and free speech, which are the hallmarks of every democratic society,” Obi stated, adding that suppression and intimidation of dissent have no place in a functioning democracy.
The former Anambra State governor called on authorities and all relevant actors to refrain from actions capable of weakening the nation’s already fragile democratic system.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation from security agencies regarding the alleged arrest.