Category: Politics

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Saturday, announced that new 2025 SUVs have been given to council chairmen to aid effective service delivery, noting that the narrative has changed and chairmen are now recognised by his administration.

The governor also clarified that it does not interfere with local government funds, a decision he said will enable the third tier of government to bring development to the grassroots.

He said, “I want to thank God for making today possible as chairmen now have the privilege to drive brand new vehicles in the State.

“New things are beginning to happen in Edo State under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Edo will experience more development even as we compete with Lagos, Abuja, and other states of the Federation.

“The vehicles commissioned today are not for the private use of the local government chairmen but for the development of the people at the grassroots. I will monitor you to ensure the right thing is done.

“I know how much you are receiving in the councils, and we will measure your success rate if it is commensurate with what you are receiving. My administration has not interfered with your funds and resources.”

The Commissioner for Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lucky Eseigbe commended the Governor for not interfering with local government funds.

He noted that the freedom given to the chairmen has resulted in positive developments across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State.

“This is the first time in the history of the State that 2025 models of SUV vehicles are purchased for local government chairmen.

“These brand new vehicles presented to local government chairmen are to enable them to carry out their responsibilities

“The 18 local government chairmen are developing the State as blocks of classrooms, healthcare centres, and roads are being built along other infrastructural development in the council areas,” he said.

Governor Okpebholo was accompanied by his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa and other top government officials to commission the vehicles at the State Secretariat in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre has called for accountability and transparency in the energy transition process in Nigeria to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2060.

It also recommended tax incentives for investors in the clean energy sector as a way of encouragement and that stakeholders should always demand openness and investigation in the transition process

These were some of the recommendations reached at the end of a one-day training on Fossil Phase-Out Advocacy held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, with the theme “Using the Instrumentality of Taxation for Energy Transition.”

There has been a global push towards net zero emissions, with many countries of the world, including Nigeria, pledging towards achieving net zero emissions within the 2060 target.

“There must be transparency and accountability in the transition process. Providing tax incentives to investors and stakeholders must demand tax openness and investigation in the transition process

“Government should embrace Interagency collaboration, and there should be capacity building for the managers of the process, “the recommendations read in part.

It further called on CSOs to carry out strong advocacy on the subsidy fund and its usage by the government, emphasizing that the revenue from subsidy was meant to be invested in the transition from fossil fuel to clean energy.

The organization further noted that global funding for climate change should be used at the national level to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa, reminded participants of the complex relationships between fossil fuel exploration, environmental degradation, and economic development.

Musa who was represented by his administrative officer, Mohammed Murtala, decried the devastating impact of climate change and the environmental, economic, and social consequences of fossil fuel exploration in Nigeria.

He lamented that communities in Akwa Ibom State are already experiencing the harsh realities of climate change occasioned by flooding and oil spills, emphasizing that there was the need to act swiftly to mitigate the impacts.

While noting that Nigeria has developed a comprehensive Energy Transition Plan aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, he challenged participants to ask the question,” Are we moving swiftly enough to meet our climate goals?

“Are our policies and actions aligned with the recommendations of the conference of parties to the United Nations framework convention on climate change?.”

The National Assembly on Friday pledged to swiftly amend the Electoral Act to curb the growing trend of defections by governors and lawmakers, who abandon their parties for other political platforms without vacating their elective seats.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment at a symposium in Abuja held in honour of the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

Ogunlana was reacting to an earlier appeal by the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo for lawmakers to urgently amend the Electoral Act to halt the gale of defections by public office holders, which he described as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic integrity.

His remarks come amid a wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress, which he warned could significantly alter the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Citing a recent example, Itodo noted that on April 23, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori defected to the APC, effectively collapsing the state’s Peoples Democratic Party structure and taking along PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Similarly, several opposition lawmakers from the PDP, Labour Party, and New Nigeria Peoples Party have also crossed over to the ruling party.

“When people contest for office on certain platforms and people give them their trust, and the Supreme Court has said that votes in an election belong to a party, shouldn’t these individuals vacate those particular seats?” he asked.

While his comments drew applause from the audience, Itodo urged for deeper intellectual engagement on the issue.

“It’s not just for clapping. This is an intellectual edifice, and there is room for debate. Can we solve this problem of cross-carpeting and decamping using legal reforms,?”Itodo said.

Responding, Ogunlana assured that the issue will be addressed to strengthen democratic institutions.

The clerk noted the strategic importance of the NILDS Director General’s role and pledged continued collaboration to support legislative reforms.

Ogunlana said, “There is something some of you may not know.

“For you to hold the post he [the DG of NILDS] is holding in the National Assembly, President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Reps Speaker Tajudeen Abbas must be involved. If they are personally involved, then it means you have to personally pay close attention to your activities.”

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio also shared his sentiment.

While assuring that the Senate is committed to democratic values, the former Akwa Ibom governor praised the leadership of the institute as dogged and resilient.

He was represented at the event by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity Card and Population, Senator Victor Umeh.

“This institute, he (Sulaiman) has turned it around so much that anytime you drive into these premises, you know that you are walking into an ambience of a citadel of learning, where people’s minds are developed.

“For us in the legislature, this place is a place where the skills of lawmakers are honed. When you come here, you will understand the basic symbols of lawmaking.

“And once you follow the guides and the lectures they give you, you turn out to be a good lawmaker; the purpose of setting up this institute is very well realised under his leadership,” he said.

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has said the repeated defeats of the Peoples Democratic Party are a reason for the people of Edo to celebrate.

Okpebholo, joined by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, APC leaders, youths and market women, went on a victory motorcade around Benin City to mark the Appeal Court’s ruling in favour of the All Progressives Congress on Friday.

The governor said God is in control of the state and will keep granting victory to its people.

“The PDP keeps giving us reasons to celebrate. We beat them in the governorship election, at the Tribunal, and now at the Appeal Court. We’ll beat them again at the Supreme Court,” he said.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for his support for Edo, saying the state is witnessing progress.

“Edo people will support President Tinubu again in 2027. No one can silence the voice of the people—not even the PDP,” he said.

Okpebholo accused the PDP of using stolen funds to try to influence the courts, but added that “the judges stood for truth and justice.”

He also criticised PDP leaders for claiming their mandate was stolen, saying they were following figures like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi in forming a coalition that would not succeed.

“The time of PDP in Edo is over. Under my leadership, we will continue to give Edo people real development,” he said.

He highlighted ongoing projects like the flyover at Ikpoba-Hill, with two more to come.

The Appeal Court on Thursday upheld Okpebholo’s election as Edo State governor.

The court dismissed the appeal by the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, saying it lacked merit.

Justice Mohammed Danjuma, who delivered the lead judgment, said the PDP failed to prove its case or provide solid evidence of any wrongdoing in the September 21, 2024, election.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has debunked reports suggesting that the upper legislative chamber embarrassed Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) during a recent plenary session.

In a statement he personally signed on Friday in Abuja and titled “Clarification on Misleading Reports Regarding Senate Proceedings,” Akpabio described the online claims as false and misleading.

“My attention has been drawn to reports circulating on social media and blogs, especially Linda Ikeji’s Blog, alleging that Senator Sani Musa was ‘rubbished’ on the Senate floor for allegedly failing to define the word ‘harmonised.’

“This is completely untrue,” the Senate President said.

According to him, the incident being referenced was misrepresented and taken out of context.

He explained that when Senator Musa was called upon, Senator Abdul Ningi had raised a point of order that required immediate procedural attention in line with Senate rules.

“The session continued without any breach of decorum. Senator Musa was neither embarrassed nor unable to respond,” he clarified.

Akpabio further praised Musa’s contributions to the Senate, noting his leadership as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Conference Committee that successfully harmonized the Tax Reform Bills — a legislative milestone acknowledged by both chambers and stakeholders.

“The Nigerian Senate operates on principles of respect, order, and integrity. While we welcome public engagement, we urge all media platforms to ensure their commentary is rooted in facts and not sensationalism,” he added.

The Senate President concluded by calling on media outlets to adhere to the ethics of responsible journalism in their coverage of National Assembly proceedings.