IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Former Transportation Minister and ex-Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the National Assembly of enabling President Bola Tinubu’s alleged constitutional breach in Rivers State through institutional weakness.

Speaking at the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation’s Annual Leadership Discourse in Lagos on Thursday, Amaechi condemned the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other state officials, describing it as an unconstitutional act.

He warned that weak institutions and a docile citizenry foster arbitrariness in governance, urging Nigerians to defend constitutional principles and hold leaders accountable.

“The President didn’t just break the law — he broke the Constitution,” Amaechi stated, stressing the need to preserve the sanctity of Nigeria’s supreme legal document. 

Antonio Rudiger was sent off for throwing an object at the referee during Real Madrid's Copa del Rey final defeat by Barcelona. Rudiger and Real team-mate Lucas Vazquez, who had both been substituted, were shown straight red cards for angrily reacting to a foul given against Kylian Mbappe shortly before the final whistle.

Real's England midfielder Jude Bellingham, 21, was also later sent off for dissent. Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea said in his report that centre-back Rudiger, 32, was dismissed for "throwing an object from the technical area, which missed me". Rudiger reportedly threw an ice cube at the official. The Germany defender could be facing a lengthy ban, according to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) disciplinary code.

If sanctioned under article 101, which covers "mild violence" towards referees, Rudiger could receive a suspension of between four and 12 matches.

However, if his actions are deemed more serious, article 104, which covers "assault against referees", states players may be banned for three to six months if "the act was a single act and did not cause any harmful consequences". 

The UK government has deported 43 individuals, including failed asylum seekers and convicted foreign offenders, to Nigeria and Ghana. Among those removed were 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign national offenders who had completed their prison sentences. Seven individuals also chose to leave the country voluntarily.

This flight is the second to Nigeria and Ghana since the last election, bringing the total number of deportees to 87. Officials say this reflects the growing partnership between the UK and both West African nations. A report on gov.uk on Friday, said the move was to reinforce its ongoing efforts to tighten border security through international cooperation. The deportation flight, part of the government’s “Plan for Change,” marks another step in restoring discipline to the immigration system by ensuring that immigration laws are enforced and those without the legal right to remain are returned promptly.

Since the current government took office, over 24,000 people have been deported — an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Deportations of foreign national offenders have also risen by 16%, with 3,594 criminals removed from the UK. Authorities maintain that all returns are handled “in a dignified and respectful manner.”

The Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Angela Eagle, said: “This flight demonstrates how international partnerships deliver on working people’s priorities for swift returns and secure borders. Through the Plan for Change, we’re going further in restoring order to a broken system, accelerating returns of those with no right to be here and closing expensive asylum hotels.

“I thank the governments of Ghana and Nigeria for facilitating this operation, which reflects our joint commitment to disrupt organised immigration crime and protect our borders.” 

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has thrown his full support behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition, citing bold achievements in economic, social, and political reforms over the past two years. Speaking during separate courtesy visits by the Tinubu Mandate Support Group (TMSG) and Club 17 Initiative at his Umuahia residence, Kalu called on South-Easterners to rally behind Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a progressive Nigerian determined to leave a lasting legacy. He is intentional about building a stronger nation and is achieving milestones that were once considered impossible," Kalu told members of the Tinubu Mandate Support Group led by Hon. Armstrong Okoronkwo. Commending the group’s grassroots voter mobilization efforts, Kalu emphasized the need for unity between the South-East and South-West regions, stressing that Igbos must throw their weight behind Tinubu.

“You're the partners we've been waiting for. President Tinubu is a good product to market for a second term," Kalu said. "Our business is to tell the people the good work of President Tinubu’s agenda. We should invest our votes where there is progress, and that’s in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu."

During his address to members of Club 17 Initiative, led by Prince George Nnanna, Kalu also expressed optimism about the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s chances in Abia State’s 2027 gubernatorial election. He pledged to work toward strengthening the party's structure across the state to ensure future victories. 

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was absent when the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) met in Abuja on Saturday night. The meeting was to welcome new entrants into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but Oborevwori, who recently teamed up with the party, did not attend.

Oborevwori, who swept to victory in 2023 under the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, dumped the party earlier in the week, citing several factors. The governor, his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and the entire PDP in the South-South state said they are collapsing their structure into the leading APC, which they argue serves as a better platform for the oil-rich state.

Other persons who attended the meeting include Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North; the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo; a former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; APC scribe, Felix Morka; a former governorship candidate in Delta State, Great Ogboru, and other members of the National Assembly. Saturday’s meeting was held at the Imo Governors’ Lodge in the nation’s capital.

The recent wave of defections from the PDP to the APC has stirred debates among observers, politicians, and Nigerians alike. With Okowa, a ranking member of the PDP who was the party’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 election, joining APC, analysts argue that the most recent defections are a big blow to the main opposition party’s move to retake power in 2027.

But some PDP chieftains, including Bode George, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are unmoved by the development. They say the party would bounce back stronger ahead of the next general elections. 

...Assures Supporters of Political Guidance

Former Member of the House of Representatives for Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ozurigbo Ugonna, popularly known as OZB, hosted members of his OZB Support Group (OSG) in a series of lively and well-attended Easter celebrations.

The festivities, which held from Good Friday through Easter Tuesday, were organized across the four Local Government Areas of Nkwerre, Isu, Nwangele and Njaba and featured an abundance of food, drinks, and camaraderie. It was an opportunity for OZB to appreciate and reconnect with his loyal supporters, many of whom turned out in large numbers to show solidarity and share in the Easter spirit.

In a heartfelt address during the events, read by the Director General of the group, Hon. Chino Obioha, Hon. Ozurigbo urged his supporters not to be perturbed by the uncertainties of the present political environment. He reassured them of his unwavering commitment to their collective aspirations, emphasizing that at the right time, he would provide clear political direction. "There is no need to worry. When the time comes, I will show you the way," he said, to an enthusiastic applause.

The Director General of the OZB Support Group, Hon. Chino Obioha, who played a key role in coordinating the events and ensuring that every member felt recognized and valued, echoed OZB’s message of patience and resilience, encouraging the group to remain steadfast and united.

Hon. Obioha further appreciated the four Local Government Area coordinators stating that they outdid themselves by properly maintaining their structures and ensuring the chain is not broken.

The Easter celebration was not only a time of feasting and fellowship but also a reaffirmation of the enduring bond between OZB and his political family. 

Many attendees left the events reinvigorated, confident that with Enyioha Gburugburu’s leadership, brighter days lie ahead for the group and for all who believe in his vision.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, Rt. Hon. Ozurigbo’s Easter outreach has further cemented his place as a key figure whose next moves are eagerly anticipated by supporters and observers alike.