In a resounding show of strength and unity, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, on Saturday, received over 2,000 new members who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other opposition parties, further consolidating the PDP’s grassroots dominance ahead of the 2027 general elections. The defectors, under the banner of the Delta Political Actualisation Network (DPAN) in Ughelli Urban, led by Comrade Fejiro Ishaka, alongside political heavyweight Alex Idu and his teeming supporters from Orogun, were officially received during the inauguration of the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency Forum at Oharisi Primary School, Ughelli. While receiving the new members, Delta State PDP Chairman, Chief Solomon Arenyeka, reaffirmed that the PDP remains the only truly people-oriented party with the structure, strength, and grassroots reach to mobilize the people at every level. “The PDP is not just a political party; it is a movement deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. In Delta State, we are never in doubt when it comes to election victories, because the PDP has continued to deliver on its promises and carry the people along in governance,” Chief Arenyeka declared. He emphasized that the party’s doors remain open to all progressive-minded individuals who are ready to join hands in advancing the development of the state, adding that the PDP is fully prepared and strategically positioned to reclaim and secure victories in all constituencies come 2027.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed claims that senators received a $15,000 bribe to support the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling the allegations a smear campaign against him. Addressing the circulating social media reports for the first time, Akpabio refuted accusations that he facilitated dollar payments for votes at his Maitama residence during a fast-breaking event with senators. According to *Saturday Vanguard*, the Senate President was alleged to have overseen the distribution of $5,000 on Tuesday and an additional $10,000 on Wednesday, just before the vote. However, speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio dismissed the claims as baseless, attributing them to a campaign of hate and malice against him. “I am aware and it is true that since Senator Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate assumed that position he has been breaking fast. He did it last year, he did it this year, so why is it turning it into a rumour?” Asking why Akpabio would be giving out dollars to his colleagues, he continued: “On the issue of the dollars, he is giving the money for what? I am aware of the breaking of the fast but I can tell you I am not aware and it is not true of the dollars, whether $5,000 or $10,000, people are just conjuring it to be able to give flavour to their malice and hate campaign. “People are just conjuring the story of the $5,000, $10,000 to add flavour to their malice and hate campaign. He has been doing it. He did it last year, so why is this one associated with money,” Eyiboh asked?

The Association of Niger Delta Monarchs of Nigeria (ANDMON) has pledged full support for the federal government’s renewal of the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL). The monarchs stated that the renewal is timely, given the urgent need for increased oil production, reduced theft, and better pipeline security in the region. At a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Friday focused on amnesty, pipeline surveillance, and energy security, ANDMON Chairman, King Frank Okurakpo, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extending Tantita’s contract. He emphasized the company’s crucial role in combating pipeline vandalism and safeguarding vital oil infrastructure. King Okurakpo also lauded Tantita Security Services’ strategy of involving local communities in protecting oil assets, noting that this approach has significantly strengthened security across the Niger Delta. “Mr. President has consistently put measures in place to fast-track the development of the Niger Delta,” the monarch said. “A clear example is the appointment of our son, Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, a technocrat, grassroots mobilizer, and champion of development, as the head of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. This appointment has gladdened the hearts of our people, and the programme is already recording remarkable success across the region.” The traditional rulers also called on the federal government to increase budgetary allocations and ensure the prompt release of funds to maintain peace and support the empowerment of ex-agitators. They stressed that such actions would enhance economic growth and promote social stability in the region. Furthermore, the monarchs praised the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engineer Mele Kyari, for his leadership in transforming the NNPCL into a commercial entity and stabilizing fuel prices. They highlighted the recent reduction in the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) as evidence of the company’s effective management.

Leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eastern Zone, have taken the Federal Government to the ECOWAS Court of Justice, challenging what they call the illegal suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials by President Bola Tinubu. Led by Comrade Ibiso Harry, the 12 litigants also contested Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State. In their suit, marked **ECW/CCJ/APP/18/25**, the applicants urged the regional court to overturn the suspension of elected officials and the dismantling of democratic structures in Rivers State, calling it essential for restoring full democracy. They also sought a court order nullifying all decisions, policies, and directives issued by the Sole Administrator appointed by Tinubu on March 18 to govern the state for six months. The case is based on Articles III and IV of the supplementary protocol amending the ECOWAS Court’s protocol, Article II of the Protocol of the Court, and Article 33 of the Court’s Rules. The applicants argued that President Tinubu, as an elected official, lacks the authority to remove or suspend a state governor, who was also elected. Furthermore, they contended that the removal of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly was a grave violation of their fundamental human rights. “By so doing, the Defendant has unlawfully taken away the democratic rights of the Applicants and that of the population of Rivers State both individually and collectively,” they added. According to the Applicants, President Tinubu’s actions have not only drowned, diffused and collapsed their constitutional rights and that of the people of the state in neo-junta governance but also put them into an unconstitutional, undemocratic and arbitrary manner of governance which they cannot fit into. “The implication therefore is that the applicants and the people of Rivers State have lost their existence and dignity as human beings, having been politically emasculated by the loss of the values that accompany democratic governance and deprived of leaders duly elected by them in the democratic space.” They maintained that President Tinubu’s actions was antithetical to tenets of democracy, adding that the president exhibited “absoluteness in determining the existence and functioning of democratic systems in national sub-units by upturning and collapsing entrenched democratic systems.” “The deliberate disruption of the democratic order in any part of the national structure questions the democratic practice and constitutional authenticity of the nation state, as the forceful removal of popular sovereignty in a part or fraction of the national landscape translates to the non-existence of liberal democracy and non-application and conformity with constitutional norms in the entire federation. “The enthronement of an illegal and unconstitutional order in any form within a constitutional democracy threatens the very idea of freedom and precipitates loss of genuineness on the part of the state and its institutions of any legitimate claim to a constitutional democracy. “A state of emergency cannot be guise or subterfuge for the usurpation of the executive functions of the Governor or the exercise of the law making powers of the legislature,” the applicants averred in an affidavit they filed in support of the legal action they lodged through a team of lawyers led by Chief Festus Ogwuche.

NNPC Limited has alerted the public to fraudulent recruitment ads circulating online, clarifying that it is not currently hiring. In a statement on its official X handle on Friday, the company warned job seekers against scams, stressing that all genuine job openings would be announced only through its official channels. “The general public is hereby informed that NNPC Limited is not recruiting. “Official recruitment announcements will only be made through our website and verified social media platforms,” the statement read. NNPCL reiterated that its recruitment process is “transparent, merit-based, and requires no external assistance.” NNPC Limited advised Nigerians to ignore any unauthorized job advertisements falsely attributed to the company, warning they could be scams targeting unsuspecting applicants. The management reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent hiring process and assured the public that any official recruitment would be duly announced.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and hazy conditions across the country from Friday to Sunday. In its weather outlook released on Thursday in Abuja, NiMet forecasted sunny skies with hazy conditions over the northern region on Friday, with a chance of thunderstorms in parts of Taraba during the afternoon or evening. For the North Central region, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected, with isolated thunderstorms likely over Kogi and Benue states. The southern region will experience cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine, while morning thunderstorms are expected over Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states. In the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms may occur in parts of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Lagos states. On Saturday, moderate dust haze is expected in Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Adamawa, and Bauchi states, while the rest of the northern region will experience sunny skies with hazy conditions. The North Central region will have sunny skies with patches of clouds, while the southern region will remain cloudy with occasional sunshine. Thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon or evening over Ogun, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Lagos states. By Sunday, moderate dust haze is forecasted over the northern region. NiMet also warned that high temperatures across the country could lead to heat stress, advising people to stay in well-ventilated and cool spaces, drink plenty of water, and avoid direct sun exposure. Individuals with respiratory conditions, especially in the northern region, are urged to take precautions. Airline operators are also advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for effective flight planning.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of repeatedly making inappropriate and suggestive remarks toward her, both inside and outside the Senate chamber. Her suspension from the Senate on March 6, officially attributed to “gross misconduct and unruly behavior” during a seating arrangement dispute with Akpabio, came just a day after she formally submitted a sexual harassment petition against him. In an interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the misconduct allegations as a tactic to silence her. She claimed that Akpabio frequently made inappropriate advances toward her, sometimes in the presence of other senators. “He would squeeze my hands in a very suggestive way,” she said. Recalling a particular incident, she stated, “There was a time I forgot to wear my ring because I rushed to work. And there were about five senators there. And Akpabio said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?’” She further alleged that Akpabio made sexually charged comments about her marriage. “There was another time he made a statement like, ‘Natasha, your husband is really enjoying. It looks like you’d be able to make good movements with your waist.’” “He makes such sexist statements. And then they (other senators) all laughed,” she added. During the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan broke down in tears when asked about the impact of her allegations and the backlash she has faced. “People don’t understand what it means to carry this. Maybe we don’t talk about it enough in Nigeria or Africa,” she said, her voice breaking. “I just want a place where I would just work. I thought the worst was over, but I guess for a woman, it’s never really over, right?”

The Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, March 20, 2025, held a crucial interactive meeting with political aides to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at the party’s secretariat in Asaba. The meeting, presided over by the State PDP Chairman, Chief Solomon Areyenka(JP) and members of the State Working Committee, focused on strengthening party unity and addressing key political matters affecting the state. During the session, Chief Sunny Ogu, an Executive Assistant (EA) to the Governor, moved a motion for a vote of confidence in Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, citing his unwavering commitment to good governance, infrastructural development, and inclusive leadership in Delta State. The motion was seconded by Chief Sakpaide, (EA) to the governor and was unanimously adopted by all present. Chief Ogu highlighted the governor’s strides in critical sectors, including road construction, education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and job creation under the M.O.R.E. agenda. He commended Oborevwori’s open-door policy, which has ensured that political appointees, party members, and the general public have a voice in governance. The PDP Chairman, in his remarks, praised Governor Oborevwori for maintaining the party’s stronghold in Delta State, emphasizing that his leadership has continued to unite the PDP family and strengthen grassroots mobilization. He urged political aides to remain committed to the party’s vision and work harmoniously with the governor to achieve set objectives. The Senior Political Adviser to the Governor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, also lauded the governor’s people-oriented leadership, assuring the party of continued dedication to ensuring the success of the administration. The interactive session ended with a renewed commitment by political aides to support the governor’s administration and the PDP’s mission in Delta State, with more engagements planned to enhance collaboration between government functionaries and party leadership.

The Federal Government has yet to commence direct allocation to Local Government Areas (LGAs) due to ongoing procedural requirements. Hon. Odunayo Alegbere, Chairman of the ALGON Board of Trustees, revealed that local governments have been directed to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to facilitate a smooth transition to direct funding. While the process remains incomplete, Alegbere praised the Federal Government for the progress made, referencing the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy for LGAs. He emphasized that the government is committed to implementing this judgment, which also includes administrative and political independence for local governments. Alegbere expressed confidence that direct allocation would alleviate poverty at the grassroots by granting LGAs greater control over their finances and development projects. He also criticized the current system where states oversee local government elections, often reducing them to selection exercises rather than true democratic processes. However, he assured that this issue is being addressed through ongoing constitutional amendments by the National Assembly.

President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday has reignited the Ijaw ethnic nationality’s push for self-determination in the Niger Delta. Prof Benjamin Okaba, president of Ijaw National Congress, INC, the Ijaw apex socio-cultural group, told Vanguard: “For Ijaw people, we are not too happy because we see this as another slap on us. But again, our position will be deliberated upon in a wider stakeholders’ meeting that will be convened later. “In that meeting, I am sure the Ijaw people will look at how we have fared in this Nigerian project and what options are left to drive home our quest for self-determination. “We say it is hasty because the President has so much opportunity to leverage on the calls made by Nigerians from all quarters to call his minister, Nyesom Wike, to order. “Secondly, while Wike himself has been the antagonist, he had boldly stated that he would make governance impossible for the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in as much as he does not dance to his tune. “In a recent statement credited to him, he (Wike) said the two conditions he must meet are: ‘Allow him to control all the LGAs in Rivers State, and that he (Fubara) should sign an agreement that he would not contest in 2027.’ “So, the man, Wike, is desperate to capture state power and resources, as we had said earlier, and persistently. He wants to turn Rivers State into his property, and the people of Rivers State are the ones to suffer. “The governor, who entered into a covenant with the people of Rivers to deliver on sustainable development, cannot mortgage that mandate because he wants to satisfy somebody. “These are obvious facts flying all over the place, and I thought the President should have looked at all of these. I said it is lopsided—why will you leave Wike and sack Sim? The best thing is to remove everybody who played a role in this. “Wike has to be sacked, and all the federal appointees from the state also have to be sacked because if you do not sack them, they will use their positions to perpetrate more crises and create more advantageous roles for themselves. “The cry that they want to take over Rivers State is gradually playing out and is not better for democracy. “The other issue in this state of emergency is that we have seen right from the beginning that the declaration was one of the options Wike was looking at. He felt if the judiciary cannot remove him quickly; if the House of Assembly could not take him off; then the next option is to create a chaotic situation so that an emergency can be imposed on the state.” (Vanguard Newspaper)