Category: Politics

ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has sworn in two new commissioners and a special assistant while announcing a major cabinet reshuffle aimed at improving governance, repositioning key ministries and enhancing service delivery across the state.

The appointments and redeployments were approved during the State Executive Council meeting presided over by the governor today.

The newly inaugurated officials are Prof. Amari Omaka (SAN) as Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Sylvester Nwenegwu Nwite as Commissioner for Environment, and Hon. Njoku Onyekachi Felix as Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation.

Speaking after administering the oath of office, Nwifuru urged the new appointees to regard their appointments as a call to selfless service and to remain committed to advancing his administration’s development agenda.

“I charge the new appointees to regard their appointments as a call to selfless service and to work diligently in advancing our vision of a greater and more prosperous Ebonyi State,” the governor said.

He explained that the cabinet reshuffle was designed to reposition critical sectors of government for greater efficiency and improved service delivery.

Under the new arrangement, Hon. Chidi Onyia was redeployed from the Ministry of Solid Minerals to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, while Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu moved from the Ministry of Aviation to the Ministry of Special Projects.

Prof. Nwogo Obasi Ajuka was transferred from the Ministry of Market Development to the Ministry of Skill Acquisition and Job Creation, while Hon. Okwu Oko Udu moved from the Ministry of Skill Acquisition and Job Creation to the Ministry of Market Development.

Similarly, Hon. Magnus C. Nkah was redeployed from the Ministry of Water Resources to the Ministry of Solid Minerals, while Hon. Richard Ugo Idike moved from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to the Ministry of Capital City Development.

Chief Sunday Elechi Inyima was reassigned from the Ministry of Capital City Development to the Ministry of Project Monitoring, while Hon. Victor Chukwu was transferred from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Water Resources.

The governor said the changes would strengthen the implementation of his administration’s People’s Charter of Needs and accelerate the delivery of development projects across the state.

Nwifuru also commended members of the State Executive Council and the people of Ebonyi State for what he described as the successful endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reaffirming the state’s commitment to progressive leadership and national development.

He urged all political appointees and public office holders to remain focused, dedicated and accountable in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“As we continue to build a more prosperous Ebonyi State, I urge all public office holders to remain focused, dedicated and steadfast in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“Together, we shall continue to deepen the dividends of democracy and deliver on the promises of the People’s Charter of Needs,” he said.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing federal highways instead of embarking on new road construction projects.

In a statement on Monday, Obi argued that repairing critical roads already serving millions of Nigerians would deliver greater economic and social benefits than initiating new projects or dualisation schemes with limited immediate impact.

“There is a pertinent reason I have consistently advocated that we should refrain from initiating new road construction projects until we have thoroughly rehabilitated and maintained our existing road network,” he said.

Obi cited the Asaba–Benin Road as one of Nigeria’s most strategic highways, describing it as a major transport corridor linking Lagos with several states in the South-East, South-South and parts of the North-Central.

According to him, travellers from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Rivers, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Abia, Enugu and parts of Benue and Kogi depend on the road to access Lagos and other commercial centres.

Despite its strategic importance, Obi said large sections of the highway have deteriorated significantly, causing prolonged traffic congestion, delays and economic hardship for motorists, transport operators and businesses.

“This situation is not unique. It reflects the reality on many of our busiest national highways,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor maintained that government resources should first be directed towards reconstructing and maintaining existing roads before announcing new projects.

“The Nigerian people need functional and motorable roads, not merely projects that attract public attention.

“Efforts aimed at superficial improvements for political gain should not supersede the urgent need to address the condition of our existing, critical roadways,” he added.

Road infrastructure remains one of Nigeria’s biggest development challenges, with poor highway conditions contributing to travel delays, increased transport costs, vehicle damage and road crashes across the country.

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria recorded 5,289 deaths in 10,446 road traffic crashes in 2025, while 5,421 people lost their lives in road crashes in 2024, with bad roads being the highest causative factor, as well as reckless driving, overspeeding, vehicle defects and overloading.

The economic impact of bad roads is also substantial, with a study on Nigeria’s road freight system estimating that poor road infrastructure costs the country about 7.8 billion dollars annually in freight disruptions, increased vehicle maintenance, fuel consumption and travel delays.

Nigeria’s apex bank also put annual direct losses from bad roads at more than ₦133 billion, but experts say it is likely to be significantly higher given inflation and increased transport activity.

Obi reiterated that investing in the rehabilitation of existing highways would improve mobility, reduce transportation costs, enhance road safety and support economic productivity.

“A new Nigeria is possible,” he said.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Professor Anthony Kila, Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies, has criticised the recent Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja ordering the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), warning against what he described as growing judicial interference in Nigeria’s political process.

Speaking on the Arise Television Morning Show on Monday, Kila said the judiciary was becoming excessively involved in partisan politics, a development he argued could undermine the country’s democratic system.

“You can just go about deregistering political parties. Our partisan politics should not corrupt our political process,” he said.

He argued that democratic principles require electoral regulators and institutions to encourage political participation rather than restrict it.

According to Kila, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should publicly condemn actions capable of weakening multiparty democracy, including judicial decisions that remove political parties from the electoral process.

“When you manage an organisation that is too big to fail, your mindset is keeping them alive, not destroying them,” he said.

Kila also called for far-reaching constitutional reforms to strengthen the independence of key democratic institutions, particularly the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He criticised the current process in which the executive appoints the heads of institutions expected to act independently.

“We live in a system where the executive power buys them cars and houses. Let us reform our Constitution to make sure no president or governor nominates anyone,” he said.

The political analyst further advocated stronger accountability within the judiciary, saying judges who deliver what he described as frivolous or controversial judgments should be subject to appropriate disciplinary measures.

“If a judge makes a case that smacks of judicial rascality, we need to hear the bench speak immediately. But now the bench seems slow and silent,” he said.

Kila maintained that Nigeria’s democratic institutions could only function effectively if they were insulated from executive influence.

“We need to come up with plans to make our national institutions independent. One arm cannot nominate another arm of government and expect that arm to be independent. We need a radical shift,” he said.

He identified the appointment process for the INEC chairman and heads of other national institutions as one of the areas requiring urgent constitutional reform, arguing that greater institutional independence would strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.

OSOGBO, Nigeria (NPA) — The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), the campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring political violence in the state, alleging that the attacks reflect the opposition party’s loss of public support ahead of the governorship election.

In a statement, TICC condemned what it described as a wave of violent attacks targeting members of the Accord Party and supporters of Governor Adeleke.

The council alleged that recent incidents had heightened tension across the state and resulted in the loss of lives.

According to the campaign organisation, democracy should be driven by the contest of ideas rather than violence and intimidation.

“The reckless embrace of intimidation and bloodshed is not only a brutal attack on our democratic values but also confirms that the APC has lost the support of the people,” the statement said.

TICC alleged that the opposition was resorting to violence in a desperate bid to impose itself on the electorate instead of seeking support through democratic means.

It maintained that elections should be decided through the ballot box and urged that no citizen should be attacked or killed for exercising the right to vote.

The campaign council expressed confidence that Governor Adeleke’s performance over the past three and a half years had earned him widespread public support and justified his bid for a second term in office.

It urged the APC to campaign on its record in government rather than allegedly sponsoring political thugs to create fear and insecurity.

While acknowledging the political tensions in the state, the council insisted that violence and bloodshed have no place in a democratic society.

It called on security agencies to take decisive action against those responsible for politically motivated attacks and ensure the protection of lives and property.

TICC particularly commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for what it described as efforts to address the growing security concerns in Osun.

The council urged the police chief to order a thorough, impartial and professional investigation into all politically motivated killings in the state and ensure that perpetrators, as well as anyone found to have sponsored the attacks, are brought to justice.

It also called for disciplinary action against police officers who allegedly compromise professional ethics or aid criminal activities.

The campaign organisation reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful political engagement and urged residents to continue supporting democratic values.

According to the council, the people of Osun have made their choice to continue with the Adeleke administration, adding that no amount of violence would undermine their resolve.

ABUJA, Nigeria — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Ebonyi State, Mr Ifeanyichukwuma Odii, has pledged to reposition the state through visionary leadership, economic reforms and youth empowerment if elected in the 2027 governorship election.

Odii made the pledge on Thursday during an interactive dinner organised in his honour by the Ebonyi Business Community and Friends in Abuja.

He said his ambition was driven by a commitment to good governance, sustainable development and the need to unlock the state’s vast human and natural resources.

According to him, the aspirations of Ebonyi’s founding leaders for a prosperous and inclusive state remain largely unrealised.

Paying tribute to notable figures, including Dr Akanu Ibiam, Chief Martin Elechi and Offia Nwali, Odii said Ebonyi possessed abundant resources but had failed to maximise its potential because of poor leadership.

“Our state possesses enormous human and natural resources, fertile lands and industrious people, yet we remain far below our potential.

“The tragedy is not the lack of potential; the tragedy is a failure of leadership and vision. The current administration has failed because you cannot give what you do not have,” he said.

The PDP candidate said his administration would adopt a business-driven approach to governance by harnessing opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals and human capital development.

He promised to prioritise people-centred infrastructure, quality primary healthcare and policies that would stimulate economic growth, create jobs and improve living standards.

Odii also dismissed zoning debates, insisting that competence, capacity and the collective interest of Ebonyi people should take precedence over sectional considerations.

“I am offering myself because I am a citizen of Ebonyi, I am qualified to run, and I have the capacity to deliver good governance.

“What binds us together is the state, not the Abakaliki or Afikpo bloc. I am not running to consume or destroy; I am a builder of men,” he said.

Expressing concern over youth unemployment and growing dependence on political patronage, Odii said the state must shift its focus towards innovation, entrepreneurship and productivity.

“Today, too many young men and women aspire not to become innovators, scientists, engineers, software developers or business owners. Instead, many aspire to become political appointees.

“Many seek patronage rather than productivity. This trend is dangerous. No society can compete globally when its highest employer is politics rather than productivity and innovation,” he said.

He pledged to invest heavily in human capital development, with emphasis on digital technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, software development, renewable energy and mechanised agriculture.

“The 21st century belongs to knowledge, innovation, creativity and technology. The future belongs to those who can solve problems and create value.

“We must build a new culture, a new Ebonyi where excellence is rewarded, where merit matters and where dreams can flourish,” he added.

Odii urged members of the business community to mobilise eligible voters to participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise ahead of the 2027 elections.

He also assured supporters that measures were being put in place to protect votes and strengthen electoral participation.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the occasion, Mr Onwe Onwe, described Odii as a competent leader capable of driving Ebonyi’s development.

Similarly, Chairman of the Ebonyi Community in Abuja, Mr Chukwuma Igwe, expressed confidence in Odii’s candidacy and pledged the community’s support.

Also speaking, House of Representatives aspirant, Mr Eni Chima, urged voters to prioritise competence and leadership capacity, expressing confidence that Odii would provide effective governance if elected. (NAN)

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced new appointments in key federal agencies, underscoring his administration’s drive to strengthen governance and service delivery. Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas has been named Director General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), replacing Dr Dakorinama Alabo George, who resigned to contest an elective post in his home state.

Namdas, a former member of the House of Representatives for Ganye/Jada/Mayo Belwa/Toungo constituency in Adamawa State, was spokesperson of the 8th House, an aspirant in the recent Adamawa governorship primary, and previously served as Chief Press Secretary to Governor Boni Haruna.

President Tinubu also appointed Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon as Executive Director, Strategy & Commercial, of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), following the resignation of Engineer Omoregie Ogbeide‑Ihama.

Obahiagbon, known for his legislative service in both the Edo State House of Assembly and the National Assembly, will now oversee strategic and commercial operations at the NDPHC.

In addition, Mr Chukwuma Umeoji has been reappointed as Executive Director, Corporate Services of the NDPHC. Umeoji, a former member of the House of Representatives for Aguata Federal Constituency in Anambra State, had earlier resigned to pursue political ambitions but returned to continue his role in corporate services.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, all the appointments take immediate effect.

The reshuffle reflects Tinubu’s preference for seasoned politicians and technocrats, balancing political loyalty with administrative expertise, while consolidating leadership in agencies critical to border development and power infrastructure.