A former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has dismissed speculations suggesting that he plans to leave the All Progressives Congress.
The former Imo West Senator stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo.
Okorocha also refuted a recent report which claimed that he described the APC as a party desperate to hijack power, saying that the report is a fabrication by his detractors.
Okorocha stated that as a founding member of the ruling party, he could not make such a statement about his party.
He noted that if he had any concerns about the party, he would not express them on social media.
“Almost eight years after leaving office as Executive Governor of Imo State, and several years after serving as Senator representing Imo West, those with a phobia of Rochas Okorocha still cannot sleep with their two eyes closed.
“For days now, they have circulated a fake story on social media, falsely quoting me as saying: ‘APC is no longer a political party but a party desperate to hijack power at all costs. I am at the corner looking at them — Senator Rochas Okorocha.’
“Okorocha would never describe a party that has been in government since 2015, and still counting, as ‘desperate to hijack power.’ What power again?
“Okorocha remains a bonafide, committed member of the APC. He never made the statement being circulated by those envious of his political journey,” the statement reads.
Okorocha stated that he was the only sitting governor from the South-East who joined the APC during its formation, risking his re-election in 2015 at a time when the party had little support in the region.
“Okorocha took a political risk when major South-East leaders doubted the viability of the APC. He was ridiculed for his decision, yet he stayed committed.
“It’s important to recall that, due to his dedication, he was unanimously elected by fellow APC governors as the pioneer Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, which he helped to build into a strong force,” the statement added.
A human rights lawyer and counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on President Bola Tinubu to stop the monthly media chat of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing it as wasteful and extravagant.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, Ejimofor said the media chat serves no purpose except to waste public funds and give the minister the opportunity to grandstand on national issues.
He expressed concern over the huge allocation of hundreds of millions of naira each month to finance the FCT minister’s media appearances.
He said it is lamentable and unconscionable, coming in the face of millions of Nigerians battling record inflation, stagnant wages, and deepening poverty, describing it as an exercise that offers little substance and reeks of misplaced priorities.
The statement read in part, “As millions of Nigerians battle record inflation, stagnant wages, and deepening poverty, it is unconscionable that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly spends hundreds of millions of naira monthly on an ostentatious media chat – an exercise that offers little substance and reeks of misplaced priorities.
“Framed as a public engagement, this monthly spectacle is anything but a tone-deaf misuse of public funds – especially in a country where many survive on less than $2 a day, and access to basic healthcare, education, and shelter remains a daily struggle.
“To illustrate the waste: The cost of one media edition could fund emergency relief and shelter for thousands displaced by the recent floods in Niger State. It could refurbish crumbling primary schools, equip rural clinics, or sustain nutrition programs in IDP camps for several months.
“The optics are disheartening. The implications are worse. Nigerians are not asking for a televised circus – Nigerians are crying out for competent governance, prudent spending, and people-centred leadership.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must take urgent action: call the FCT Minister to order, halt this wasteful spending, and redirect focus to service delivery. This is not a time for flamboyance and fanfare. It is a moment that demands humility, responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to the public good. Nigeria deserves better. The time to act is now.”
South Koreans began voting Tuesday in a snap presidential election, concluding months of political upheaval following former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial imposition of martial law and subsequent impeachment, AFP reported.
Polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m. local time in districts across the country, including Seoul’s Munrae-dong area, where a small group of elderly voters queued early to cast their ballots.
“We were the first to arrive with the hope our candidate gets elected, and because the presidential election is the most important,” Yu Bun-dol, 80, told AFP, adding she was voting for the conservative People Power Party candidate.
Millions had already voted during the two-day early voting period last week, with more than one-third of registered voters participating, according to the National Election Commission.
The election is widely seen as a referendum on the conservative administration led by Yoon, who was impeached after deploying troops to parliament in a move that drew widespread condemnation.
His downfall has plunged the conservative People Power Party into crisis, as analysts note growing disillusionment among moderates and even core supporters.
Leading the race is liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, who holds a significant lead in most opinion polls.
A recent Gallup survey showed 49 percent of respondents favoring Lee, compared to 35 percent for conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo. Lee’s party already holds a majority in the National Assembly.
The fallout from martial law, which has left South Korea effectively leaderless for the first months of US President Donald Trump’s second term, is the top concern for voters, experts said.
“Polls show the election is largely viewed as a referendum on the previous administration,” Kang Joo-hyun, a political science professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, told AFP.
The conservative bloc has faced additional setbacks, including Kim’s failure to unite with Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok, raising concerns over a divided right-wing vote.
Yoon’s impeachment marked the second time in under a decade that a conservative president has been removed from office, following Park Geun-hye’s ouster in 2017.
The series of scandals has severely damaged the image of conservative leadership in the country.
“Conservative politics was associated with competent governance, but it’s now hard to argue that they remain capable,” said Kang Won-taek, a political science professor at Seoul National University.
Unlike regular elections that allow for a transition period, the winner of this snap vote will take office immediately after the National Election Commission certifies the results. Many South Koreans, weary of months of interim leadership, hope the vote will bring stability.
In Gwangju, a stronghold of liberal sentiment, retired teacher Jung Se-yoon, 65, described the election as a critical moment. “It will take far too long for the country to get back on its feet if we miss this chance,” she said.
Voter turnout is expected to be high, with political observers watching not just for a win, but the margin. “The focus won’t be on whether Lee will win, but on whether he will secure more than 50 percent of the vote,” said Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of the political think tank Valid. “If he does, it would give him a significant boost in momentum to govern as president.”
South Korean presidents serve a single five-year term. The outcome of today’s vote is set to chart the country’s course following one of the most turbulent periods in its democratic history.
The wife of Niger Governor, Hajiya Fatima Bago, has visited victims of the recent flood disaster in Mokwa Local Government Area, where she announced a personal donation of N50 million.
She said that the donation was on behalf of herself and her family to the victims, to help cushion the effect of the flood disaster.
“We are here to console victims of the flood disaster and to assess the situation. The flooding has happened, and from what we saw, it is really not exciting to behold.
“There is nothing we can do as the disaster has happened, we only advise the people to be cautious henceforth and avoid building on waterways,” she said.
The wife of the governor said that the village head and the council chairman have acknowledged the help they have been receiving in various forms and have commenced distribution to the victims.
She noted the ongoing search and rescue operation with the aid of an excavator to recover more bodies.
In his remarks, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the Niger State Government, appealed to the victims to see the flood disaster as an act of God.
In their separate remarks, Mrs Afiniki Dauda, Deputy Speaker of Niger House of Assembly and Hajiya Mairo Mann, Permanent Secretary Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs, extend their condolences to the victims.
Also, the Village Head of Mokwa ‘Ndalila of Mokwa’, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, appreciated the governor’s wife for the visit and called on the state government to compensate the affected community members.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the flood disaster, which occurred as a result of heavy downpour on May 29, claimed the lives of 153 people and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
The Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed MainPower Electricity Distribution Company to refund over 20,000 customers who were overbilled in April 2025.
In a statement signed and released by EERC Chairman, Chijioke Okonkwo, and the Commissioner in charge of Market Operations, Reuben Okoye on Monday, the commission said the order followed a thorough investigation into the company’s billing practices, which revealed a significant increase in estimated billing violations.
“The commission has issued an Order to MainPower to refund the affected customers the overbilled units for energy consumed in April 2025,” the EERC notice reads.
It was stated that the list of affected customers has been published on the commission’s website, and MainPower has until the July 2025 billing cycle to complete the refunds.
It warned that failure to comply with the order will attract a fine of N500,000 for each day of non-compliance, as stipulated in the Enugu State Electricity Law 2023.
The commission made it known that it has been monitoring the disco’s billing practices since October 2024, and had issued several letters to the company, highlighting its concerns.
Despite this, EERC claimed the company failed to adequately address the issues, which prompted the commission to take enforcement action.
“The commission recently reviewed MainPower’s April 2025 estimated report, and observed that the degree of violation of the caps on estimated billing by MainPower had further deteriorated from the 24 percent observed in February and March 2025, to 34 per cent in April, 2025,” EERC stated.
The commission, however, advised affected customers who did not receive their refunds by the deadline to contact them via email at info@eerc.en.gov.ng or call 09122642755 for assistance.
The Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Goroyo, on Monday, declared that the Nigerian government must spend approximately N880 billion for the maintenance of the federal road network across the country.
This is just as the Managing Director of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Chukwuemeka Abbasi, said that the template for deducting the road user charge from the prices of petrol and diesel has never been implemented by the defunct Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Authority, now the Nigeria Midstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The two government officials spoke in Abuja at an investigative hearing of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the implementation and remittances of the five per cent user charge for road maintenance under the Federal Road Maintenance Agency.
Speaking at the event, Goroyo said, “FERMA requires an estimated ₦880bn annually for optimal road conditions. Budgetary allocations have consistently fallen short—N76.3bn in 2023, N103.3bn in 2024, while N168.9bn was budgeted for 2025.
“Though these figures show gradual increases, they remain far below the necessary threshold for sustainable road maintenance. This persistent funding gap has forced FERMA into a reactive mode of maintenance rather than a preventive approach.
“The consequences of this are glaring — deteriorating road conditions, increased repair costs, and prolonged disruptions for commuters and businesses alike. A proactive strategy, backed by adequate funding, is essential to ensure smooth, safe, and efficient roadways nationwide.
“Thus, the diligent implementation and timely remittance of the 5% user charge are paramount. This dedicated funding stream offers a viable solution to bridge the financial gap, providing consistent resources to address Nigeria’s infrastructure needs without over-reliance on annual budget appropriations.”
He added that inadequate funding has been the major bane of the nation’s road infrastructure, stressing that even though the user charge was supposed to address the gap, the agency and the Ministry have not been able to access it.
On his part, the FERMA boss said, “Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Works remains steadfast in the Renewed Hope Agenda, an agenda dedicated to delivering world-class infrastructure that fosters economic growth, strengthens connectivity, and enhances the daily lives of our citizens.
“Our roads are the lifelines of commerce and social integration, and their maintenance is not merely a policy directive but a national imperative.
“The 5% user charge, as enshrined in the FERMA Act, was designed to serve as a sustainable funding mechanism for road maintenance and rehabilitation. However, for years, FERMA has grappled with severe funding inadequacies, hampering its ability to maintain our vast road network effectively.”
Declaring the event open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, recalled that the House had on 19th March considered a motion at plenary revealing the non-implementation of the remittance of the 5% user charge on petroleum products meant for road maintenance under the FERMA Amendment Act, 2007.
He said, “We owe Nigerians the obligation by sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the status of the 5% user charge to determine the extent of the violation of the law and the amount of money unremitted and those responsible for the non-implementation.”
He stressed that the investigative hearing should also be able to make strong recommendations on how to forestall further abuse of the law and streamline the remittance processes for ease of access to the funds by the relevant government agencies.
The Chairman of the Committee, who doubles as the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, said the user charge is not an attempt to increase the prices of petroleum products or to amend the law since it has been part of the law since 2007.
He added that the purpose of the investigation is to address the anomalies existing through disobedience to existing laws, adding that the House will ensure that every law passed by the Parliament is complied with both by individuals and agencies of government.
The Kogi State Government has announced that it has liquidated a total debt of N98.8 billion since assuming office 15 months ago.
This was disclosed on Monday by the State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Ashiru Idris, during a briefing with journalists following the Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers, Government House, Lokoja.
The commissioner explained that the debts settled include liabilities dating back to the administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris as well as the N50 billion bailout fund granted to the administration of Idris Wada.
“So far, this administration, under the leadership of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has cleared a total of N98.8 billion inherited from previous administrations, including the N50 billion salary bailout granted to Captain Idris Wada’s administration,” he stated.
Idris attributed this achievement to a significant increase in internally generated revenue.
“This success was made possible through the proactive efforts of the Chief Servant of our state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, who empowered the Kogi State Inland Revenue Generation Agency with the mandate to enhance the state’s revenue generation,” he added.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, highlighted notable infrastructural developments, including the construction of perimeter fencing around the state-owned Confluence State University of Science and Technology, Osara, following a security breach on the campus last year.
The commissioner also announced the establishment of a Climate Change Agency to address the environmental impact of climate change within the state.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has insisted that he never played anti-party politics, despite his support for President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general elections.
Wike made the clarification during a live media parley on Monday, where he also noted that despite agreements for a Southern candidacy for President, the leadership had supported former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, causing him to withdraw support.
“In 2023, did I not tell you that I wouldn’t support their presidential candidate? I said, based on equity, justice, and fairness, the presidency should go to the South because you can’t have that and the national chairman at the same time.
“You therefore take one and give us one. Believing that Atiku would win, they said to hell (with it), and I said I was not going to support.
“So why didn’t I leave the party and join the APC? Of all of us then and the PDP governors today, who produced National Assembly 100 percent? Who produced a governor? Ask them in their various states how many senators they have,” he said.
He added, “Bode George supported the Labour Party, and I said I wouldn’t support (Obi). I’m a politician, and I said even if you support this man (Obi), he can’t win the election, so let’s forget about sentiment. “So, George and everybody agreed to support a Southern candidate, we all agreed.
“So what offence did I commit by supporting Tinubu under the APC? If I was playing anti-party, the PDP wouldn’t have won the governorship, NASS seats and Rivers was the only state that gave the PDP that kind of victory.”
The Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, said he derives joy from stepping on the toes of big people in the country.
Wike said this while dismissing a possible backlash from a section of the elite regarding his enforcement of rules regarding ground rent payments during a press briefing in Abuja.
He stressed that the elite should go to other countries and see how modern societies are run, but that some of them come back to Nigeria and refuse to follow simple laws.
He said the era of impunity when a section of the elite felt they could trample on laws and nothing would happen was over, declaring that “something will happen”.
Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has fired back at those calling for his expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party.
This is as he declared that no one has the authority or the courage to remove him from the party he has served for years.
Speaking on Monday during a media parley in Abuja, Wike said, “I am still in the PDP. I worked hard for the party.
“I have not seen anybody who will have the guts to tell me, ‘Wike, you are not a member of the party.’ Who is that? What is his contribution to the party that is more than me?”
Wike’s remarks come amid growing tensions within the PDP over his role in the current administration and his perceived political positioning.
But the former governor of Rivers State made it clear that his loyalty to the PDP remains, and he won’t be pushed out easily.
