Four individuals previously detained over the fire incident at the Rivers State House of Assembly have made new claims, alleging they are under pressure to change their initial statements to implicate Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara. The individuals — Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Kpasa, Oladele Lukman, and MacPherson Olumini — were acquitted in November last year after spending about six months at the Kuje Correctional Facility. Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Monday, Ezebalike revealed that they were recently approached by a prominent PDP figure in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area with a request to alter their account of events. Three of the four acquitted men agreed to appear on camera during the briefing. They alleged that the pressure to amend their statements was part of a broader political agenda, reportedly intended to support claims made by former Head of Service, George Nwaeke, during a press briefing in Abuja. “We were asked to rewrite our story and falsely name Edison Ehie as the mastermind of the Assembly fire. This is after everything we have been through. We cannot be part of any nefarious plot, especially not after the trauma we endured,” he said. They said the crime for which they were framed and now want them to rope Edison include the Assembly fire, the gruesome murder of Bako Angbashim, a DPO in the Ahaoda Area, and an alleged assassination attempt on the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule. They narrated their harrowing six-month ordeal in the hands of security agents and political figures, beginning in December 2023 They described being arrested under allegedly questionable circumstances—starting with Oladele on December 5, 2023, followed by Chime and MacPherson on December 16, and Kenneth on January 5. They claimed they were then blindfolded and taken to the Federal Intelligence Response Team (F-IRT) facility in Port Harcourt. There, they alleged, they were tortured, denied access to legal counsel, and forced to sign false confessions. One particularly troubling incident, they recounted, involved a sitting member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who allegedly visited them with a uniformed officer and pressured them to implicate Ehie. “When we refused, they turned to beatings and starvation,” they said They also alleged that a former Local Government Chairman attempted to bribe them with ₦200 million and promises of relocation abroad in exchange for their cooperation. According to them, these offers were repeated during their detention in Abuja, where some had been forcibly moved. In one instance, they said another detainee was allegedly promised release if he identified Kenneth Kpasa as an arsonist. After spending more than six months at the Kuje Correctional Facility, the case was transferred to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, where all charges were dropped in November 2024. Now free, they say they are speaking out—not only for themselves but for other innocent citizens who may still be suffering in silence. “This country belongs to us all. No one should be tortured or forced to lie for political convenience. We call on civil society, the media, and all justice-loving Nigerians to rise and resist the weaponization of state institutions against innocent citizens.”

Former SDP presidential candidate, Adewale Adebayo, has revealed that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party's Peter Obi, and several prominent politicians are in talks with the Social Democratic Party. According to Adebayo, representatives of Atiku and Obi are currently discussing the possibility of their defection to the SDP. He made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme. According to Adebayo: “People are joining my party, and we are welcoming them. You can see how active I am in welcoming them. “The only little issue we have with some of them is changing the culture, especially if they have not been in an environment where rules are taken seriously. “Some of them are involved in Boy Scout-like activities and black market operations, but we are dealing with that. However, we welcome them into the party. “All these people you have mentioned; El-Rufai, Atiku Abubakar, and even former Governor Peter Obi, are coming. A lot of people are coming, and we will welcome them. “Until somebody actually joins, we don’t know. But people have told me, and the Financial Secretary (SDP) has also informed me, that they are talking. So we will welcome everybody.” Urging the intending defectors to adhere to the culture of SDP, Adebayo said they could defeat and retire the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu when they join. “If they can stick to our culture and follow the way we do things in the SDP, and produce a good alternative for Nigerians, we are going to manifestly defeat the APC and retire President Tinubu to Lagos or wherever he chooses in Nigeria,” he added.

Former PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has denied reports claiming he resigned from the party. He reaffirmed his status as a committed and loyal PDP member. Atiku blamed desperate politicians for spreading the falsehood via a fake Facebook page. In a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, he dismissed the claim as a malicious lie and a politically motivated smear campaign. The statement read: “We ordinarily would not waste words on faceless social media platforms like the so-called ‘Adamawa Happenings.’ However, in light of inquiries from concerned Nigerians and credible members of the press, we are compelled to set the record straight: His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007) and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has not — we repeat, has not — resigned from the PDP. He remains a steadfast, bona fide, and loyal member of the party. “The source of this baseless rumour is a Facebook page peddling falsehoods, evidently orchestrated by desperate political operatives with nothing but mischief and confusion on their agenda. It is a calculated attempt to mislead the public and sow discord among the millions of Nigerians who look to Atiku Abubakar for direction and leadership. This is not just fake news — it is a crude, shameless political hatchet job. “We urge Nigerians, especially supporters of the Waziri Adamawa, to disregard this malicious fabrication. It is a vile, vexatious ploy that deserves nothing but contempt. “Atiku Abubakar remains committed to the ideals of the PDP and to the democratic aspirations of the Nigerian people.”

The Supreme Court has overturned the Court of Appeal's judgment in Abuja that recognised Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP). Delivering a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the apex court ruled that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to declare Abure as the party's chairman, noting that the case centered on party leadership—an internal matter over which the courts have no authority. The Supreme Court upheld the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman and another appellant, declaring it meritorious, while dismissing the cross-appeal brought by Abure’s faction as lacking merit.

INEC stated on Thursday that the petition to recall Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan does not meet constitutional requirements. INEC in a tweet on its ‘X’ handle said; “The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”.

PDP's 2024 Edo governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is heading to the Court of Appeal to challenge the tribunal's verdict affirming Monday Okpebholo as governor. He announced this in a statement hours after Wednesday’s ruling. ”I have, therefore, instructed my legal team to proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge this decision, which we consider a huge travesty of justice. ”This is not about me or any single individual; it is about the very essence of democracy, the preservation of our collective right to freely determine our future, and the legacy we leave for generations unborn,” he said. Waffi TV reports that a three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, struck out Ighodalo’s petition due to a lack of merit and the failure to present competent witnesses to substantiate the claims of non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The PDP candidate urged his supporters and other party faithful to keep the peace and seek the rule of law in their fight for justice. ”As an avowed democrat, I respect the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, and I urge all of you, our dear good people of Edo State, to remain peaceful, calm and law-abiding in the aftermath of this Judgement. ”However, let it be clear: this is not the end of our journey, but the beginning of a greater struggle for justice, democracy, and the sanctity of the people’s mandate freely conferred on my running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie and I are on the platform of our great Party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP,” he added. He stated that from the outset, the overwhelming support, genuine love, and shared vision for a prosperous Edo State have been the driving force behind their journey. He emphasized that their mission has never been about personal ambition but a deep commitment to establishing a clear Pathway to Prosperity for all Edo people while upholding democracy, justice, and the people's will. Ighodalo reaffirmed their unwavering resolve, commitment, and determination to pursue truth and justice.

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has upheld the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), rejecting calls for its annulment. In a unanimous decision, the three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, also declined to order a fresh election, ruling that the petitioners—Accord Party (AP) and its candidate—failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims. The tribunal dismissed the petition as incompetent, stating that allegations of corrupt practices and electoral irregularities in the September 21, 2024, election were unsubstantiated. It noted that the petitioners made broad claims without specifying affected polling units or presenting credible proof. The panel upheld all preliminary objections challenging the petition’s competence, describing some of its claims as vague. The tribunal had earlier dismissed a similar petition by the Action Alliance (AA) seeking to nullify Okpebholo’s victory. INEC had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asuerinme Ighodalo of the PDP, who polled 247,655 votes. The AP candidate secured only 252 votes. The tribunal is now set to rule on the joint petition filed by the PDP and Ighodalo, who are seeking to be declared the rightful winners of the election.

Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has sarcastically praised President Bola Tinubu for keeping his campaign promises. Obi noted that Tinubu is indeed following through on his pledge to continue the policies of former President Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration was widely criticized for lacking direction. During his campaign, Tinubu vowed to build on Buhari’s legacy, and Nigerians have since struggled, particularly with food security and economic hardship under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government. Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Obi remarked that Tinubu has not fallen short in delivering on his promises. “He [Tinubu] is doing well because what he promised people is exactly what he is doing; that he would start and continue from where the previous government stopped,” Obi said. “Someone who met the dollar at 300 to 400, and now it is 1,500, he has done fantastic. “What is happening can be turned around with a competent leader who has the capacity and compassion to serve. I would make sure to address Nigerians at least once every month.” On his first day in office, Tinubu removed fuel subsidies and later floated the naira, triggering economic shocks such as inflation, rising living costs, and currency devaluation. Additionally, electricity tariffs were adjusted to attract investment and enhance supply, but many Nigerians fear higher costs without a reliable power supply.

Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to assassinate her. Speaking to her supporters during a warm homecoming reception on Tuesday, the embattled lawmaker claimed that while the plot was not publicly disclosed, the Nigeria Police Force had been informed. She further alleged that Akpabio orchestrated her recall process after reportedly assuring Bello of financial support. She said, “On the 13th of March at 10:00 pm, mind you, two days before that, Akpabio had called Governor Ododo on the phone to commence my recall but Ododo told him it would be impossible. “Ododo told Akpabio that the recall will be impossible because the masses are with me. But Akpabio was not satisfied so he called Yahaya Bello. I was informed of everything. “The meeting was on two folds – they told him to commence my recall and that he was going to fund it. “The second thing he said was that he should try and kill me. I didn’t make this public, but I have written to the IG of Police. “Akpabio told Yahaya Bello that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, that it should happen here so that it will look as if it was the people that killed me here.”

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that the political crisis in the state is deeply troubling and could lead to depression. Last month, President Bola Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers for six months after declaring a state of emergency due to the conflict between the executive and legislature. In response, the president appointed retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator. Speaking with Muslim leaders who visited him on Monday at his private residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, Fubara said: “We, as humans, might feel a bit depressed because of the situation, because of what we’re seeing but we might not understand what is deeper that is beyond us that has happened. “But in everything we have decided to give glory to God. So in this season of joy and love and sacrifice, I want you people to understand that I key into your period of festival. I also believe strongly we shall come out stronger. Our dream and vision for this state is a society that no man should be oppressed. It’s a very important venture in the course of this struggle. Please be patient, don’t allow anybody to push you into any form of provocation because what they want is to destroy this state. “What they want is to create problem, to deny you that means of livelihood that you have here. We’ll not allow it. We’ll continue to operate in a peaceful manner, we’ll continue to respect constituted authority to ensure that this state remains the envy of every other state in Nigeria.”