The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission for not outrightly rejecting the petition seeking her recall, describing the commission’s response as an indication of bias.

INEC, in a statement on Tuesday signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed receiving the petition, which reportedly contains signatures from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in the senatorial district.

However, the electoral body noted that the petition failed to include essential details such as the contact addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the petitioners, as required under the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.

In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, in a letter dated March 26, accused INEC of compromising its neutrality by offering guidance to the petitioners instead of declaring the petition incompetent due to its procedural flaws.

The letter partly reads, “Your position as disclosed in your press release on March 25, 2025, signed by Sam Olumekun shows that the Commission has taken sides and has become partial in favour of the Petitioners in this case.

“The Commission has observed that the Petitioners’ Petition did not meet the threshold of the requirement of a Petition to recall a member, having not contained the required contact addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses in their covering letter forwarding the Petition as contained in Clause 1(f) of INEC Regulation and Guideline. The proper thing and step to have been taken is to declare the Petition as “incompetent” and subsequently disregard same.”

The embattled lawmaker said the proper step INEC should have taken to show it was unbiased in the matter was to declare the petition defective, which would have brought an end to the process.

She added, “Lawfully, the Commission is supposed to have declared the Petition as incompetent for being patently defective for the reasons stated above but surprisingly, the Commission, instead of disregarding the Petition for failure to meet the requirements, opted to take the role of an adviser to the Petitioners and so advised the Petitioners that once they provide the needed information that is not contained in the Petition by meeting the requirements, it shall commence the verification of the signatures in each polling units.

“We posit that the Commission has by this press release shown partisanship and partiality in favour of the Petitioner and has compromised the process.

“The proper step to take by the Commission, if the Commission will maintain its integrity and impartiality, is to declare the Petition as incompetent and defective and notify the Petitioners accordingly. Therefore, putting an end to this process at this stage.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan also pointed out that the addresses provided in the petition were limited to Okene, Kogi State, suggesting that the alleged signatures did not represent the entire senatorial district.

“Secondly, the address disclosed and provided in the petition according to your press release was Okene Kogi State, meaning that the two hundred and fifty signatories as contained in the petition came only from Okene, Kogi state, which seems more probable, ” She said.

She insisted that INEC’s decision to allow the petitioners to correct their errors rather than disqualifying the petition outright was a breach of due process, urging the commission to “do the needful and rebuild the public trust that is fast declining.
We still believe that the Commission will act rightly”.

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has tendered an apology to the former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, over an altercation at the Senate on Tuesday.

It was reported that during the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee hearing on s3xual allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, and Ezekwesili engaged in verbal insults.

Ezekwesili told the Ebonyi North Senator and Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate to ‘shut up’, which caused Nwaebonyi to call her a ‘hooligan‘.

The former Minister also described him as a disgrace to the Senate; the Senator described her as a disgrace to womanhood.

On her ? handle, on Wednesday, the Kogi Central Senator lauded the former Minister of Solid Minerals for her commitment to integrity and courage.

She added that Ezekwesili took the insult for her (Natasha) and other women.

“Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Ma’am, I apologize for the insults. Know you took them for me… for us … as a mother and as a leader. Know that you are a true icon of integrity, courage, and visionary leadership. Your unwavering commitment to good governance, education and democracy continues to inspire generations. A champion of accountability…Nigerians appreciate you. I celebrate your brilliance, resilience and selfless service. You are a hero,” she wrote.

Reacting, Oby Ezekwesili stated that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan would never walk alone in her fight against the leadership of the Senate.

Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, senator representing Ebonyi north, says he ranks higher by “stratification” to Oby Ezekwesili.

He also expressed regret over his choice of words to Ezekwesili, former minister of education, during the senate ethics committee hearing on Tuesday.

Nwaebonyi and Ezekwesili traded words during the senate panel hearing on a fresh petition submitted by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi central.

The atmosphere grew tense when the former minister asked Nwaebonyi to shut up during the panel hearing.

The Ebonyi lawmaker had earlier criticised the former minister for first calling him a “hooligan” and ordering a serving senator to “shut up”.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, the deputy chief whip of the senate admitted that his remarks were inappropriate, taking into account Ezekwesili’s age.

Ezekwesili, the 61-year-old politician, served as the minister of solid minerals and the minister of education under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I must also say that I regret my choice of words towards her. She is old enough to be my mother,” Nwaebonyi said.

“However, her actions brought up my reaction. But having admitted publicly to what she said, I acknowledge that, and I commend her for it.”

Responding to whether such incidents deter female participation in politics, Nwaebonyi defended his record on encouraging women in politics.

“I’m one of those senators that has been supporting women’s emancipation and participation in politics,” he said.

“Respect is earned, not commanded. If you respect me, I respect you. If you yab me, I yab you.

“I am a senator of the Federal Republic by social stratification, I am higher than her in this country.

“She is supposed to respect me. She was a minister, but a senator is more senior than a minister.

“Respect is earned. She had no right to speak to me in that manner, telling me to shut up. That was immature.

“She got to her level by accident. But since she has now admitted publicly that she told me to shut up, I commend her for that.”

Late Tuesday, Ezekwesili admitted telling the lawmaker to shut up after the panel prevented them from speaking.

She added that Nwaebonyi’s reaction reflected the “indecorous behaviour” of some public officials in the country.

A bill seeking to empower the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to remove corrupt judges through a no-confidence vote, scaled second reading in the house of representatives on Tuesday. 

Sponsored by Afam Ogene, a member of the Labour Party (LP) representing Ogbaru federal constituency of Anambra, the bill aims to alter sections 231, 238, 250, 256, and 271 of the 1999 constitution, which deal with the procedure for the removal of judges.

CURRENT LAW 

Among other things, section 292 of the constitution states that “a judicial officer shall be removed from office in the case of chief justice of Nigeria, president of the court of appeal, chief judge of the federal high court, president of the national industrial court, chief judge of the high court of the federal capital territory (FCT), grand kadi of the Sharia court of appeal of the federal capital territory, and president of customary court of appeal of the federal capital territory, by the president acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the senate, praying that he be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the code of conduct.

“While the chief judge of a state, grand kadi of a Sharia court of appeal or president of a customary court of appeal of a state shall be removed from office by the governor acting on an address supported by a two-thirds majority of the house of assembly of the state.”

THE PROPOSED LAW

The proposed legislation intends to introduce new subsections to the aforementioned sections for the removal of corrupt justices and judges from their respective offices.

The bill seeks to confer powers on the NBA to receive petitions against any erring judicial officers, consider the defence of the petitioned officer, and if not satisfied, conduct a confidence vote.

If two-thirds of the members of the NBA in the annual general meeting or conference pass a vote of no confidence in the petitioned officer, then his/her continuation in office is immediately terminated.

“This implies that the judicial officer is presumed in the eyes of the law to have resigned from service,” the legislative brief reads.

Ogene said the essence of the bill is to provide an alternative constitutional mechanism for disciplining erring and corrupt judicial officers away from the “mundane role of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which is no longer potent in curbing the rot in our court and justice system”.

Two senior members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ayo Afolabi and Wale Oshun, have urged Nigerians, especially APC supporters, to reject the ongoing rumours suggesting that former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, is part of a coalition aiming to oust President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

In separate phone interviews with The Guardian on Tuesday, both political figures condemned the claims, describing them as dangerous political propaganda intended to destabilize the polity.

They labeled the rumour as unfounded, malicious, and part of a broader conspiracy by opposition politicians to challenge President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Afolabi and Oshun jointly emphasized that the speculations about Fayemi’s involvement in the alleged opposition coalition were baseless and were being circulated to cause unnecessary division within the ruling party.

“This is absolutely unfounded and very malicious. It is a political ploy designed to create confusion and dislocation in the polity,” Oshun stated.

The APC’s Ekiti State spokesperson, Segun Dipe, also weighed in, dismissing rumours that the party or the presidency had plans to deny Governor Biodun Oyebanji a return ticket for the 2027 elections due to his supposed closeness to Fayemi.

Dipe’s response came amid growing rumours that the presidency might be unhappy with Fayemi’s alleged connections to the opposition coalition and, by extension, might take action against Oyebanji.

The speculation surfaced after reports that the presidency was dissatisfied with Fayemi’s alleged involvement in a group of politicians seeking to challenge President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

According to these reports, the presidency was reportedly planning to use Governor Oyebanji’s relationship with Fayemi to undermine his political future. However, both APC leaders rejected these claims, asserting that they were without merit.

Dipe clarified the party’s position, stating, “It is not true that the party or the presidency has concluded any plans regarding Governor Oyebanji’s return ticket. These are baseless rumors being peddled by political enemies to stir up trouble.”

Despite the swirling rumors, Afolabi, Oshun, and Dipe all reiterated that the APC remains united and focused on securing President Tinubu’s success in the 2027 elections.

They urged party members and Nigerians to ignore the misinformation and concentrate on the party’s objectives for the upcoming political cycle.

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has commended the Super Eagles for their effort in their World Cup qualifier match against Zimbabwe in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom.
Naija News reported that Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup slimmed as they drew with Zimbabwe Warriors.

Victor Osimhen‘s header in the 74th minute that put the Eagles in the lead could not boost the chances of Nigeria as 90th minute strike of Zimbabwe’s 21-year-old Tawanda Chirewa caused a draw.

In a statement on Wednesday, Peter Obi lauded the Super Eagles for their resilience and dedication during the match.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), I traveled to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, where I joined a host of other sport-enthusiastic Nigerians to support the Super Eagles as they played the Warriors of Zimbabwe in their sixth match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

“As usual, our team demonstrated the true Nigerian spirit of strength, resilience and dedication on the field of play. Football, and indeed sports, has remained a strong unifying factor for our nation battling with disunity. While we may not have clinched the victory on the field of play, our dear players have, again, won our hearts with their obvious display of sportsmanship.

“I sincerely appreciate our dear national football team and, indeed, everyone whose efforts and sacrifices got us far in this journey. Our labours were not in vain,” he said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reflected on how his late political mentor, Shehu Yar’adua, instructed him to step down for Chief Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, during the primaries of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Atiku made the remarks in an exclusive interview for the television show Untold Stories with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, scheduled to air today, but was obtained by Daily Trust ahead of the broadcast.

In the interview, Atiku elaborated on why Abiola reneged on an earlier agreement with Yar’adua to name him (Atiku) as his running mate after securing the SDP ticket.

He clarified that there had been some misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the events surrounding that period, even though he had previously addressed the circumstances.

Atiku recalled that after the first ballot, he contacted Yar’adua, who was in Kaduna at the time due to a political ban. He told Yar’adua that Babagana Kingibe was poised to win unless he intervened.

Atiku said he urged Yar’adua to come to Jos immediately, as the situation was critical. “I told him, ‘Look, if you don’t come to Jos, there is every likelihood that Babagana Kingibe is going to be elected, and I know you don’t want it. So you better come to Jos, no matter how late.’”

Yar’adua drove from Kaduna to Jos, arriving around three or four in the morning. Atiku said Yar’adua called for a meeting at Alhaji Yahaya Kwande’s house, where he and Abiola were present.

Atiku, however, was not privy to the discussion between Yar’adua and Abiola.

When the meeting began, Yar’adua told Atiku, “Turaki,” to which Atiku replied, “Yes, sir.” Yar’adua then instructed Atiku to step down for Abiola, to which Atiku immediately agreed, saying, “Okay, sir. I have stepped down.”

Atiku later learned that SDP governors had pressured Abiola to choose Kingibe as his running mate instead of honoring the prior agreement with Yar’adua.

According to Atiku, the governors threatened Abiola, saying, “If you don’t take Kingibe, we are not going to support you.”

The governors, Atiku explained, had secured their tickets when Kingibe was the chairman of the SDP, and Abiola, seeing this pressure, decided to pick Kingibe instead.

The Federal Government Taskforce on Illegal oil activities has arraigned nine suspects accused of vandalising oil pipelines in the Ogidiama community, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. 

The suspects—Anthony Peter, Nelson Joshua, Stanley Kio, Adekunle Godspower, William Don-Pedro, Aminu Suleiman, and three others—were brought before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Monday on a two-count charge of conspiracy and tampering with pipelines.

Security agencies arrested the accused on March 11, 2025, and they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The case was adjourned to May 6 and 7 with the suspects remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre pending trial.

Strict Measures Against Oil Theft

In a bid to curb the persistent issue of crude oil theft, the Federal Government has established an interagency security team comprising members from the police, EFCC, Civil Defence, the Ministry of Justice, the Army, and the Navy. This team is tasked with apprehending and prosecuting pipeline vandals to the fullest extent of the law.

Under the new measures, convicted offenders face life imprisonment, with no option for plea bargaining.

Prosecution’s Firm Stance

Speaking after the court proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Frederick O. Dibang, stated:

“We just arraigned nine defendants before the Federal High Court in Rivers State on charges of conspiracy and pipeline tampering. The court denied their oral bail application and ordered them remanded pending a formal hearing,” Dibang stated.

Dibang issued a stern warning to oil thieves saying, “This is a lesson to those tampering with pipelines—there is now a specialized force dedicated to ending illegal oil activities. The era of impunity is over.”

He also cautioned security agencies saying, “When suspects are arrested with exhibits, those exhibits must be preserved. Destroying evidence undermines prosecutions.”

The case continues in May as authorities intensify efforts to combat oil sector sabotage.

The University of Lincoln is joining other universities across the United Kingdom, UK, calling for the government to reconsider its decision to impose visa restrictions on international students, BBC reported.

The restrictions, introduced at the start of 2024, prevents some students from bringing their families with them to the UK.

The government said the new rules were part of measures to curb immigration.

As a result, Lincoln University said it had seen a 51% drop in allocations from international students since the changes were applied.

Student Raha Fazlollahei, from Iran, said it was “really heartbreaking” to be so far away from her family, but said it was also an opportunity to be independent.

The university, like most, said it relied on international student fee income to compensate for the freeze on home tuition fees.

It said international student applications fell from 2,995 in 2023-24 to 1,460 in 2024-25.

Nationally, Home Office figures showed the 393,125 visas that were granted in 2024 represented a 14% drop on the figures from 2023, but that it was still 46% higher than in 2019.

“Removal of the dependents visa has made the UK a less attractive study destination overall in a competitive global marketplace for student recruitment, particularly for international masters students,” the university said.

“We support sector calls for a more evidence-based approach to international students in national immigration policy, which recognises the need to manage true migration without jeopardising the economic and societal benefits of the UK’s standing as a global study destination.”

Cost implications for Nigerians

Godswill James, from Nigeria, is studying IT and said although the changes “had impacted”, there were other contributing factors, such as initial course fee deposits and the cost.

It is costing him between £25,000 and £30,000.

Fellow student Sibghatullah Karimi, from Afghanistan, believed those figures represented a “big challenge” to some countries.

He said: “The students from Asian and African countries, their currency difference is too high, so if we convert that currency, it would be in the millions.”

It is estimated one in seven at the university are international students.

The government has been contacted for comment, but has previously said international students “will always be welcome but the net migration levels seen in recent years have been completely unacceptable, and we have committed to reducing those numbers substantially”.