Politics – Page 2 – Obasempire entertainment

Fubara Dissolves Rivers Pension Board

September 26, 2025 (updated September 26, 2025) Published by viviaopar

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has dissolved the Rivers State Pensions Board with immediate effect.

ObasEmpire reports that this was communicated in a Government Special Announcement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday evening by the State Head of Service, Mrs Inyingi Brown.

According to the Special Announcement, the office of the State Accountant General will handle the functions of the Board until a new board is constituted.

While no reason was given for the dissolution of the board, the statement directed members of the former board to hand over all properties and assets of the board in their possession to the Director of Administration of the Board.

The statement reads, “The Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the immediate dissolution of the Rivers State Pensions Board.

Consequently, the Office of the Accountant General of Rivers State, henceforth, will handle the functions of the Board.

Members of the defunct board are by this notice advised to hand over all properties and assets of the board in their possession to the Director of Administration of the Board.

His Excellency, the Executive Governor, will in due course constitute a new board to manage the affairs of Pensions.”

ObasEmpire reports that Fubara was on September 18 reinstated as governor by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after he lifted the State of Emergency imposed on the South-South state.

Emefiele fights back in court over fraud trial, says EFCC has no role in the case

September 23, 2025 (updated September 23, 2025) Published by viviaopar

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, has asked a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court to foreclose the prosecution in his trial for alleged procurement fraud.

Emefiele is facing a 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conferring corrupt advantage, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence.

The charge, marked CR/577/2023, was filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and is before Justice Hamza Muazu.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Matthew Burkaa, counsel to Emefiele, noted that the prosecution was not represented in court.

Burkaa recalled that the matter had been adjourned till September 23 for continuation of the hearing but the lead prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, was absent and did not send a representative.

The defence lawyer said he was informed by the court’s registrar through a WhatsApp message that there was a letter before the court requesting an adjournment.

He added that upon arriving in court, he was shown a document sent by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which, he argued, was not the agency that filed the charge.

Burkaa said: “The charge before this court was brought by the officeof the Attorney-General of the Federation.

It is therefore surprising that the EFCC is the one asking for adjournment. My lord, the defendant and his lawyers came all the way from Lagos. There is no excuse for the prosecution’s absence.”

Burkaa prayed the court to foreclose the prosecution because there was no formal application from the AGF’s office for adjournment.

In his ruling, Justice Muazu said the court would grant the prosecution one last opportunity to present its case

The court will do the needful should the prosecution fail to appear on the next adjourned date,” he held.

The case was adjourned till October 22 and 23 for continuation of the hearing.

BREAKING: Natasha Reveals ‘Condition’ Tied to Her Senate Resumption

September 23, 2025 (updated September 23, 2025) Published by viviaopar

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has disclosed that her return to plenary may be subject to an apology demanded by the Senate leadership.

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central made the revelation on Tuesday after resuming at her office in the National Assembly, which had been sealed since March following her suspension.

Her office, Room 205 in the Senate Wing, was reopened earlier in the day by Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, on the directive of the Senate leadership.

In a video circulated to journalists, Adedeji stated: “I, Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, National Assembly, having been directed to unseal the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, hereby unseal the office.”

When approached for clarification, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu said: “If something was sealed before and now unsealed, it means it has been unsealed.”

It is understood that the reopening of the senator’s office follows pressure from within and outside the chamber after her six-month suspension over alleged misconduct. While some senators favour her immediate reinstatement, others insist she must tender an apology, with a third group pushing for the suspension to remain until a pending Court of Appeal ruling is delivered.

Addressing journalists, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed concern over the condition reportedly being considered.

I have not been communicated. The last communication I had from the clerk was that I won’t be allowed access to resume because the matter was still pending at the Appeal,” she said.

So I’m still awaiting the letter because it’s good to understand the conditions that they might set illegally concerning the reopening of this my office because as I said earlier I read on the papers, I think it’s Vanguard to be specific, that the leadership meeting was held yesterday and that the Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro upon resumption on the 7th of October would move a motion for me to apologise.

So I’m actually worried as to what apology they need from me. You can’t apologise for injustice.”

Such An Enterprise Amounts To A Fool’s Errand’ – Ibas Blasts Rivers Lawmakers Over Move To Probe Him

September 22, 2025 (updated September 22, 2025) Published by viviaopar

A looming confrontation may be brewing between the immediate past Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), and the Rivers State House of Assembly following the lawmakers’ move to probe state expenditure during the six months of emergency rule.

ObasEmpire that Ibas ceased to be the state administrator on September 17, after President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule and directed Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and lawmakers to resume their offices.

At its first plenary after resumption, the Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, resolved to investigate financial transactions carried out during the period.

The lawmakers noted their intention “to explore the process of knowing what transpired during the emergency rule with regard to spending from the consolidated revenue fund for the award of contracts and other expenditure.”

Reacting, Ibas insisted the Assembly had no authority to investigate him, as they did not appoint him.

Speaking through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, with Punch on Sunday, Ibas argued that the probe was effectively a challenge to the President, who appointed him, and the National Assembly, which supervised his tenure.

He, however, dismissed their resolve as “commentary,” describing any probe against the former administrator as futile.

He said, “When you say they were going to probe the tenure of the administrator, was it the Assembly that appointed the administrator?

You see, the point to note is that commentary is free. You can’t stop people from running commentary. The House of Assembly has been on break for a very long time, and you will appreciate that they have not been able to discharge their functions for such a long time.

Now that they have resumed, they have to make an effort to carry out their functions. So, it will seem their right to probe what has gone wrong in the state. Nobody can stop the lawmakers from carrying out a probe of what they perceive to be their functions within the state.

But like I asked earlier, were they the ones that appointed the administrator? So, if you didn’t appoint the administrator, it goes to reason that you have certain limitations. When you also realise that the administrator was appointed by the President, it goes without reason that the administrator acted for and on behalf of the President.”

When you also reason that the administrator was supervised by the National Assembly, it goes without reason that when you decide to probe the administrator, you’re invariably saying that you will be probing the administrator and the National Assembly.

So, I wish them good luck with their plan and their probe. But you and I know that such an enterprise amounts to a fool’s errand.”

Obi Has Massive Support Nationwide, We’ll Be Glad If He Returns to PDP – Ulasi

September 19, 2025 (updated September 19, 2025) Published by viviaopar

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Ulasi, has said the party would gladly welcome Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi back to its fold ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, Ulasi maintained that Obi’s credibility and popularity would significantly boost the PDP’s chances.

I’ll be happy if he joins PDP because he will bring his credibility to bear on the party as we are reorganising.

Any party that has him today will know they already have more than 30 to 40 percent of the election because he has tremendous support across this country,” he said.

Ulasi, however, observed that Obi’s political future remained unclear.

To the best of my knowledge, Peter Obi has no platform. He ran last time with Labour Party, he has attended the launching of ADC. I don’t know what his platform will be,” he added.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State (2006–2014), previously ran as the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate in 2019.

He defected from the party in May 2022 after withdrawing from its presidential primary and subsequently emerged as the Labour Party’s flag bearer.

His 2023 campaign, powered by the “Obidient Movement,” attracted massive youth support and disrupted the traditional two-party race, with Obi finishing third behind Bola Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

Labour Party asks Senate to reinstate Senator Natasha, warns against abuse of law

September 14, 2025 (updated September 14, 2025) Published by viviaopar

The Labour Party (LP) has demanded the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, following the expiration of her six-month suspension.

The call was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by LP’s national publicity secretary, Tony Akeni.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March. In a letter dated August 28, she notified the National Assembly of her intention to resume on September 4, which she said marked the end of the suspension.

But in a response dated September 4, the acting clerk of the National Assembly said the suspension remained in force pending the outcome of her appeal before the Court of Appeal.

Reacting, LP said it had been informed of the position of a US diplomat on the face-off between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Kogi senator.

The party noted that the diplomat shared a letter written by Fatoumatta Njai, a Gambian lawmaker and member of the Pan-African Parliament, condemning the Senate’s defiance of a subsisting court order that nullified Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

In the view of the American diplomat, the ‘abuse of the rule of law by the Nigerian senate against a subsisting court judgment which, since July 4, 2025, nullified the suspension of Senator Natasha and implicitly ordered her unhindered return to the senate, is shameful for your country’,” LP quoted.

Njai, in her letter dated September 9, urged the Nigerian Senate to “immediately reinstate” Akpoti-Uduaghan, warning that defiance of court orders undermines democracy in West Africa.

BREAKING: Hospitals Shut as Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Strike

September 12, 2025 (updated September 12, 2025) Published by viviaopar

Hospitals nationwide are expected to be shut as resident doctors under the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have commenced a five-day warning strike.

The action followed the expiration of a 24-hour ultimatum issued to the Federal Government after an earlier 10-day deadline lapsed on September 10 without resolution of their demands.

ObasEmpire reports that NARD had, on September 1, warned that it would down tools if the government failed to address lingering issues.

The association confirmed the commencement of the strike in a message released on Friday and signed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku

According to NARD, the strike decision was reached after a six-hour virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting, which followed the expiration of its ultimatum to the Federal Government.

Good morning, NEC Members, thank you all for your continued cooperation and understanding. As clearly stated in our earlier communique, the strike is scheduled to commence at 8:00 am today (Friday).

All Centre leadership is expected to guide their members accordingly. Further updates will be communicated to NEC members in due course,” Odunbaku said.

The issues raised by the doctors include the non-release of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, non-payment of five months’ arrears arising from the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, as well as outstanding specialist and hazard allowances.

BREAKING: Tension in Anambra as Soludo’s Security Operatives Kill Pregnant Woman, Others

September 9, 2025 (updated September 9, 2025) Published by viviaopar

Personnel of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (Ocha Brigade) have allegedly killed four persons, including a pregnant woman, following a violent clash with traders at the Onitsha Main Market.

The incident happened on Tuesday along Bright Street, opposite First Bank, when the task force stormed the market to seize traders’ goods.

It is understood that resistance from the traders led to chaos, during which the operatives allegedly opened fire on unarmed civilians.

Happening now at Main Market Onitsha. Ocha Brigade came as usual to pack people’s goods but the owners refused to allow them, and the whole thing quickly escalated into a very ugly scene when one of the operatives started shooting directly at people at close range. According to the latest reports, two people among those shot are already dead,” an eyewitness wrote on Facebook.

Senate rejects Natasha’s request to resume, insists suspension remains [DETAILS]

September 9, 2025 (updated September 9, 2025) Published by viviaopar

The Senate has rejected Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bid to return to plenary, insisting that her six-month suspension remains in effect pending the outcome of her appeal.

In a letter signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the Senate confirmed receiving Akpoti-Uduaghan’s notification that she intended to resume legislative duties on September 4, 2025, which she argued marked the end of her suspension.

However, the Senate maintained that her suspension, which began on March 6, 2025, is still valid and cannot be lifted while the case is before the Court of Appeal.

The matter remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded, no administrative action can be taken to facilitate your resumption,” the letter read.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended in March over alleged breaches of Senate standing orders. The Federal High Court in Abuja later upheld the suspension, prompting her to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

The Senate stated that her suspension would only be reviewed after the appellate court delivers its judgment.

JUST IN: Peter Obi at Crossroads as Labour Party Confirms He Won’t Get 2027 Ticket

September 8, 2025 (updated September 8, 2025) Published by viviaopar

The Labour Party (LP) has declared that its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will not be given the party’s ticket for the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, made this known on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics.

We are going to do our 2027 without Peter Obi; he will not have our ticket,” Arabambi said, while stressing that the party’s momentum in the last election was not solely because of Obi but largely driven by the EndSARS movement and widespread discontent with the former president Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Arabambi also accused the LP’s acting National Chairperson, Nenadi Usman, and activist, Aisha Yesufu, of colluding with Obi, adding that the party would take steps to expel them. He further challenged Obi to openly announce his departure from the party.

Obi has one leg in Labour Party, one leg in PDP, and one leg in ADC. If he believes he has the proficiency on his own to have seven million votes in 2027, we advise him to pronounce his departure from Labour Party,” he added

Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, has publicly backed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) but has yet to formally defect to the coalition platform.

Category: Politics