IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Rivers State House of Assembly has summoned the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), to appear within 48 hours regarding the conduct of the 2024 local government elections.

During Wednesday’s plenary, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the House warned that failure to comply could lead to an arrest warrant being issued against Enebeli.

Additionally, the Assembly resolved to formally request Governor Siminalayi Fubara to submit the names of all commissioners who had not been screened by the Amaewhule-led Assembly.

Meanwhile, RSIEC has scheduled fresh local government elections for August 9, 2025. Announcing the date at a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, Justice Enebeli assured that the commission remains committed to conducting a free, fair, and credible election, urging political parties to adhere to the guidelines.

This development follows the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, which nullified the October 5, 2024, local government elections, citing a violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act and declaring the tenure of the 23 LGA chairmen invalid. 

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, on Tuesday, welcomed former Super Eagles star Obafemi Martins to his office in Abuja. The visit provided an opportunity to celebrate the ex-international’s contributions to Nigerian football while also discussing the future of the sport in the country.

Hon. Olopade expressed admiration for Martins, describing him as a football legend whose impact on Nigerian and international football remains unforgettable. “I was delighted to receive our former Super Eagles star, Obafemi Martins, in my office. Nigerians will never forget his exploits for the national team and in Europe, where he played for top clubs like Inter Milan, Newcastle United, and Wolfsburg,” Olopade stated.

The meeting also touched on the Super Eagles' prospects, with Martins sharing his optimism about the team’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Encouraging young Nigerian footballers, Olopade highlighted Martins’ dedication, patriotism, and professionalism as qualities worthy of emulation. He urged the next generation of players to adopt a strong work ethic, discipline, and commitment to national duty values that defined Martins’ illustrious career.

Martins, renowned for his blistering pace and powerful strikes, is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most iconic strikers. His football journey saw him represent the Super Eagles at multiple international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, while also excelling in top European and Asian leagues. The visit reinforced Martins’ enduring legacy in Nigerian football, serving as an inspiration for young talents aspiring to reach the pinnacle of the game. 

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has stated that tariff adjustments will help increase Nigeria’s available power generation capacity to 7,000MW. This follows a recent peak electricity generation of 5,801.84MW and a record 6,003MW in available power.

According to a statement by his aide, Bolaji Tunji, the tariff hike aims to enhance the sector’s liquidity, reduce government subsidies, and close the tariff gap among customer categories. Adelabu emphasized that ongoing reforms, including network upgrades and policy adjustments, are driving improvements in power supply.

He called for collaboration among stakeholders to sustain progress, ensuring reliable electricity for businesses and households to support economic growth. 

The Senate has dismissed a petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in which she accused him of sexual harassment.

At a probe session on Wednesday, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, ruled the petition invalid, citing a violation of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders. He explained that Akpoti-Uduaghan signed the petition herself instead of having it endorsed by another person, rendering it procedurally flawed. Additionally, the matters raised were already before the courts, making them sub judice.

Despite being scheduled to appear before the committee, Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent. The session, set for 2:00 PM, eventually commenced at 2:58 PM after waiting for both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South). While Adaramodu arrived at 2:50 PM, Akpoti-Uduaghan did not attend.

The petition stemmed from a plenary session incident two weeks ago, leading Senate President Akpabio to refer the matter to the Ethics Committee for investigation. During deliberations, Senator Adaramodu argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public challenge over her seat allocation had tarnished the Senate’s image. He also cited an interview she gave to Brekete Family on Human Rights Radio and TV, where she reiterated her allegations.

Following these discussions, the Senate upheld the committee’s decision and dismissed the petition as invalid. 

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama have called on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to return to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after their withdrawal earlier this year.

The three nations, led by military juntas following coups between 2020 and 2023, left ECOWAS on January 29, forming a new alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). During a visit to Abidjan, Mahama offered to mediate between ECOWAS and AES, emphasizing the need for regional unity and a transition to constitutional democracy.

Ouattara expressed hope that Mahama’s appeal would be heeded, stressing that West Africa’s future depends on reintegration. The split was triggered by ECOWAS’ response to Niger’s July 2023 coup, which included threats of military intervention and economic sanctions—measures that have since been lifted.

The juntas accused ECOWAS of failing to support them in combating jihadist violence and of being overly influenced by France. Despite mediation efforts from Togo and Senegal, the military regimes have maintained that their exit is final.

Mahama affirmed Ghana’s willingness to assist in counterterrorism efforts, noting that instability in neighboring countries poses a regional threat. He also announced plans to visit Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to foster dialogue.

Beyond political concerns, the discussions between Ouattara and Mahama also covered defense, security, and the cocoa industry, as both countries are major global producers. 

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reported a 25% increase in human rights violation complaints in Nigeria for February 2025, receiving 205,364 cases compared to 169,850 in January.

Speaking in Abuja during the presentation of the February Human Rights Dashboard, NHRC Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu highlighted rising concerns over mass killings, abductions, communal violence, extra-judicial killings by security forces, and an uptick in Boko Haram-related attacks.

The NHRC recorded 341 rape cases, 136 incidents of sexual violence, and 6,954 reports of domestic abuse in February. Child abandonment also surged, with 1,400 cases reported. Additionally, 191 killings—including 45 from communal clashes—were documented, alongside 144 abductions and 121 road accident-related deaths.

The NHRC raised concerns over increasing suicide rates and attacks on academic institutions, as well as controversial laws recently enacted in some states. Dr. Ojukwu specifically referenced the Edo State Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law 2025, the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025, and the Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2025, warning that harsh penalties, including the death penalty, must align with international human rights standards. He also cited concerns over the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control’s (NAFDAC) proposed death penalty for counterfeit drug offenses.

To address the growing issue of child abandonment, the NHRC has introduced a Child Safeguarding Policy aimed at protecting vulnerable children.

Dr. Ojukwu reiterated the urgent need for accountability within law enforcement agencies, stressing that security personnel remain the primary subjects of human rights complaints. He called for greater oversight to ensure that law enforcement practices adhere to human rights standards and that violations are swiftly addressed.