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South-East senate caucus rejects Akpabio as choice for Senate President, accuses Tinubu of marginalization
Serving senators and senators-elect from the South-East have rejected the zoning of senate presidency to the South-South region as well as the reported choice of Godswill Akpabio for the position.
They stated their position in a communique issued after their meeting on Sunday in Abuja.
Outgoing governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Friday announced that governors of the ruling APC have resolved to endorse Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, as the president of the 10th Senate and Jibrin Barau as deputy senate president.
The following day, the governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, a senator-elect and aspirant for the position, announced that he had stepped down from the race on the persuasion of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu.
Mr Umahi is from the south-east as are three other contenders for the position, namely Orji Kalu, Osita Izunaso and Patrick Ndubeze.
The 11 south-east senators and senators-elect, who signed the communique, said accepting Mr Akpabio as senate president amounts to marginalising the people of the South-east geopolitical region of the country.

They urged Mr Tinubu to drop Mr Akpabio and stop the politics of marginalisation and endorse a candidate from the South-east as the next senate president on the ground that the region had been denied the presidency of the country since 1966.
“We implore the president-elect to be sensitive to the times in Nigeria and ensure the country continues to thrive on the party of equity, unity and fairness to the tripod of Nigeria (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba) and the geopolitical zones,” the communique read by Ifeayi Ubah, the senator for Anambra South, said.
“Mr President-elect, how would an average Igbo man feel after he sees evidence of total discrimination. The South-east has been denied the chance of producing the president of Nigeria since 1966. The South-south has produced a President for six years and also had deputy senate president in the outgoing administration. The only zone in the South that has not been favoured is the South-east.
“The outcry of marginalsation by the South-east and the entire Igbo should be addressed by your incoming administration rather than aggravating it, they said.
“The South-west has the President (and) the North-east has the Vice President. It is only just that the least position at the moment that can assuage the South-east is given the chance to be the President of the 10th Senate (SIC).”
They however announced that the South-east caucus of the Senators-elect have resolved to oppose Mr Akpabio and support only aspirants from the region as the next Senate President.
“On this note we have collectively resolved to support South-east aspirants of the APC. We remain committed and have since expanded negotiations with other well-meaning Senators-elect to rally round the South-east to ensure that justice, fairness and unity of the country prevails,” the communique added.
Those who signed the communique are Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), Ifeanyi Ubahi (YPP, Anambra South), Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) and Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West).
Others are, Ezenwa Oyewuchi (Imo East), Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra East) Patrick Ndubueze (APC, Imo North), Okey Ezea (LP, Enugu North), Kelvin Chukwu (LP, Enugu East) and Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West).
Mr Umahi, an APC senator-elect from Ebonyi and two other senators-elect from his state, did not participate in the meeting.
There are 15 senators and senators-elect from the South-east region.
Apart from Messrs Akpabio, Izunaso, Ndubeze and Kalu, other aspirants for the senate presidency include Jibrin Barau (Kano), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and Sani Musa (Niger).
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By-election over, ENSSAA announces clampdown on unauthorized Outdoor Advertisements across Enugu State
With the successful conclusion of the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election, the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA) has announced plans to commence a statewide enforcement exercise against unauthorized outdoor advertisements across the state.
The Agency said the operation would target illegally displayed posters, billboards, political campaign materials, banners, and other outdoor advertisements erected without the approval and requisite permits of ENSSAA.
In a statement issued on Monday by the General Manager of the Agency, Mr. Francis Aninwike, ENSSAA said the enforcement exercise would be carried out across Enugu metropolis and all the local government areas of the state in accordance with the provisions of the ENSSAA Law 2016, which regulates outdoor advertising and signage in Enugu State.
Aninwike explained that the Agency deliberately suspended the enforcement exercise in recent weeks to allow the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election to be concluded and to avoid giving political coloration to what is essentially a long-overdue regulatory exercise aimed at restoring order, sanity, and environmental aesthetics within the state’s outdoor advertising space.
He stressed that no individual, political party, candidate, organization, or business is permitted to erect, display, or paste advertisements, including political campaign materials, without first obtaining the approval of the Agency.
According to him, political parties, candidates, and other stakeholders are advised to immediately regularize their advertisements and obtain the necessary permits before displaying campaign materials or other outdoor advertisements in any part of the state.

The General Manager noted that the proliferation of unauthorized advertisements constitutes a violation of the law, contributes to visual pollution, defaces public infrastructure, and undermines the beauty of the environment.
He emphasized that the enforcement exercise is neither targeted at any individual nor directed against any political group.
“This enforcement exercise is not targeted at any individual or political group. It is a routine regulatory action aimed at ensuring compliance with the law and maintaining a clean, orderly, and aesthetically pleasing environment across the state,” Aninwike stated.
To ensure a smooth and peaceful operation, ENSSAA said it has secured armed police escorts for its enforcement teams. The exercise will be conducted daily between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
The Agency urged members of the public to comply with extant regulations and refrain from obstructing officials carrying out their lawful duties.
Aninwike reiterated ENSSAA’s commitment to sanitizing the outdoor advertising sector, enforcing compliance with relevant laws, and ensuring that outdoor advertisements across Enugu State conform to approved standards.
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BREAKING: Following UK’s Starmer’s exit, Peter Obi demands Tinubu’s resignation, cites govt’s ‘monumental failure’
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign from office, accusing his administration of failing to address the country’s worsening economic challenges, rising insecurity, and declining living standards.
Obi made the call in a strongly-worded statement posted on his official X account on Monday, where he argued that the current administration has fallen short of the promises it made to Nigerians during the 2023 election campaign.
The former Anambra State governor said his position was influenced by recent political developments in the United Kingdom, particularly the resignation announcement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
According to Obi, Starmer’s decision demonstrates the level of accountability expected from leaders in functioning democracies when governments fail to meet the expectations of the people.
Reflecting on global political systems, Obi said he closely follows developments around the world to understand why some nations continue to progress while others struggle with governance and development.
“As a keen observer of global politics, my primary interest lies in examining what successful nations do right and the structural factors that cause others to lag or struggle with governance and development,” he stated.

Obi noted that Starmer’s resignation came amid growing public dissatisfaction over economic difficulties, rising living costs, and concerns about unmet policy commitments.
He argued that democratic leaders must be willing to accept responsibility when their administrations fail to deliver on key promises.
Drawing parallels with Nigeria’s political history, Obi recalled that Tinubu had previously demanded the resignation of former President Goodluck Jonathan during the height of the security crisis that followed the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok.
According to Obi, Tinubu had at the time maintained that government must be held accountable when it fails in its primary duty of protecting citizens and safeguarding lives.
“During the Chibok school kidnapping incident, he demanded the immediate resignation of President Jonathan, arguing that the government had failed in its most fundamental duty of protecting lives,” Obi said.
The former presidential candidate argued that the same standard of accountability should now be applied to Tinubu’s administration, given what he described as worsening national conditions.
Obi also revisited some of the major promises made by Tinubu during the 2023 election campaign, including commitments to improve electricity supply, strengthen security, fight corruption, and enhance the welfare of Nigerians.
According to him, Nigerians were assured that meaningful reforms would be implemented to improve living conditions and stimulate economic growth.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made several promises, including improved electricity supply. He also challenged the electorate not to vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver on those commitments,” Obi said.
However, he maintained that the current reality paints a different picture, insisting that many Nigerians are facing greater hardship than before.
Obi lamented the persistent challenges in the power sector, noting that electricity supply remains unstable despite repeated assurances of improvement. He also pointed to the continued wave of kidnappings, violent attacks, and insecurity affecting several parts of the country.
“At present, however, these conditions have worsened. Electricity supply remains unreliable, insecurity has intensified in many areas, including kidnappings, and economic hardship has deepened rather than eased,” he stated.
The Labour Party stalwart further alleged that critical sectors of the economy have continued to struggle under the current administration. He cited concerns over infrastructure development, transportation, public service delivery, and anti-corruption efforts, which he said have failed to meet public expectations.
According to Obi, the worsening socio-economic conditions have left many Nigerians disillusioned and frustrated, with millions battling rising costs of living and declining purchasing power.
Based on these concerns, he said the President should consider stepping down in the interest of democratic accountability and national progress.
“I, therefore, join Nigerians of goodwill in calling for the resignation of the President over monumental failure in governance,” Obi declared.
He stressed that resignation should not be viewed as an act of weakness or defeat but rather as a demonstration of responsibility and respect for democratic principles.
Obi added that such a decision would help strengthen Nigeria’s democratic culture by reinforcing the idea that leaders must be held accountable for their actions, promises, and overall performance while in office.
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We are ready for talk or war with govt – Bello Turji sends fresh warning

Notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji has stated that his group is open to negotiations with the government but remains prepared for armed confrontation.
Turji stated this in a video recorded in Hausa and dated June 20, 2026.
He claimed responsibility for recent attacks on security operatives in parts of Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The bandit leader also used the video to address the issue of possible peace talks with authorities, indicating a willingness to negotiate if the government chooses dialogue over military action.
According to him, “If the government is ready for negotiation, we are also ready for negotiation. But if they want to continue with force, we are prepared. Our fighters are ready for whatever comes.”
He further suggested that his group would not back down from armed resistance, saying, “We are ready for peace, but if they choose war, we are also ready. We will defend ourselves.”

The video surfaced days after a deadly attack along the Isa–Bargaja axis in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where suspected terrorists loyal to Turji reportedly laid an ambush on security personnel responding to a distress call.
Local and security sources alleged that an Improvised Explosive Device detonated during the operation, killing at least four soldiers, although military authorities have yet to officially confirm the casualty figure.
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