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Rivers emergency rule: APC, opposition continue battle as PDP govs head for court

the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has said it will take legal action against the Federal Government.
President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; as well as members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
The President then appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator of the state.
The PDP governors contended that the President’s actions were unconstitutional and threatened Nigeria’s democratic principles.
Seeking legal intervention, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, criticised the declaration of a state of emergency in the state, adding that the party’s governors’ forum would challenge the matter in court.
Makinde, in his bi-weekly newsletter— The Business of Governance (Issue 110)— noted that the suspension of democracy in the state was an illegal act that all well-meaning Nigerians must condemn.
The governor said, “I am glad that our great party, the PDP, is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership.
The PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Tinubu in a court of competent jurisdiction.
We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.
Seeking legal intervention, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, criticised the declaration of a state of emergency in the state, adding that the party’s governors’ forum would challenge the matter in court.
Makinde, in his bi-weekly newsletter— The Business of Governance (Issue 110)— noted that the suspension of democracy in the state was an illegal act that all well-meaning Nigerians must condemn.
The governor said, “I am glad that our great party, the PDP, is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership. The PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Tinubu in a court of competent jurisdiction.
We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.
“I stand today to say that the declaration of the state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the presidency is an illegality that right-thinking members of society must oppose.
“Our democratic tenets must never be trifled with, no matter our personal feelings and loyalties. This is the time to take a stand for fairness, equity and justice.”
Makinde urged Nigerians to speak out whenever anything threatened the nation’s progress.
Showing support for the governors’ forum, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, said the state of emergency would be challenged in court.
Speaking on Saturday, Osadolor noted that President Tinubu was unmindful of the implications of his pronouncement.
The youth leader added that the court remained the last hope of the common man.
Osadolor said, “The President lacks the locus to suspend two elected arms of government; the legislature and executive in the state.
There is no place in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that gives such powers.
“Has the President forgotten that the office is guided by law? Although he has the right to declare a state of emergency, there is nowhere it is stated that he can suspend officials.
President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the past, and the governors still held the forte in their states.
”Corroborating Osadolor, a sociopolitical group, Niger Delta Youth Council, expressed full support for the PDP Governors’ Forum in their resolve to challenge the state of emergency in court.
This was contained in a statement by the President of the NDYC, Bene Mamamu, on Friday.
He alleged that the state of emergency declared on Rivers by President Tinubu “is an expression of his bias and hatred for the Niger Delta region.
”Reverse emergency rule, Ijaw group tells Tinubu
Meanwhile, an advocacy group, Ijaw People’s Association, decried the state of emergency, describing it as a “desecration of democracy” and “desperation taken too far”.
The IPA called on the President to show that he was a democrat by reversing the decision in the interest of peace and proper development to take place.
The President of the group, Patrick Ebikebuno, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Ebikebuno noted that the declaration was disturbing for the Ijaw nation, including people of the ethnic group in Ondo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa states.
He emphasised the peaceful nature of the Ijaw people, stating, “We are gentle in character and very accommodating.
”The South-South Governors’ Forum had earlier called for the reversal of the state of emergency in Rivers State.
This was in a statement signed by the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, in Yenagoa, the state capital.
According to the forum, the political crisis in Rivers State ought to be ideally resolved through legal and constitutional means rather than by executive fiat.
Meanwhile, the Government of Cross River State distanced itself from the position of the South-South Governors’ Forum’s to reject the emergency rule in Rivers.
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PDP Internal Wranglings: Wike Pulls Out Of Peace Agreement

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory , Nyesom Wike, has confirmed his decision to pull out of all agreements previously reached to resolve the crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement on Sunday, singned personally by the Minister, he vowed to continue to fight on until justice is served.
Wike pointed out that the party’s problems stem from dishonesty and lack of trust among its key stakeholders, citing non-adherence to agreements reached as the bane of the party.
He specifically mentioned Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, accusing him of being the chief culprit of recent developments in the party that seem to undermine the recoliation efforts
The Minister cited several instances where agreements were breached, including the summoning of a meeting of South-East leaders to recommend the adoption of Ude Okoye as Secretary, and the attempt to have the Deputy National Secretary act as National Secretary.
Wike also mentioned the recent zonal elective congress in Jos, which was aborted due to a dispute over the signatory to the invitation notice.
He expressed disappointment that despite efforts to resolve the crisis, Makinde and others continued to violate agreements.
The Minister noted that he has worked tirelessly for the survival of the party and has contributed substantially to the election victory of some of the governors, but has not had reasons to make any personal demands from them.
He added that he had hoped that there would be trust among major political actors in the party but observed that since they have refused to stop playing games, he has decided to opt out of the peace agreement.
The PDP crisis has taken a new turn with the Minister’s decision to pull out of all agreements, leaving the party’s future uncertain.
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BREAKING: JAMB releases UTME resit results

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the results of its resit examination conducted for candidates affected by the technical error during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
In a statement released on Sunday morning by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the board announced the results, revealing that out of the 336,845 candidates rescheduled for the examination, 21,082 were absent.
No explanation was provided for the high number of absentees, but JAMB announced a mop-up exam for candidates who missed the initial UTME, including those whose absence had no specified reason.
The Board in the statement raised concerns about widespread exam malpractice involving candidates, school proprietors, and CBT.
It was gathered that a meeting of Chief External Examiners, chaired by Prof. Olufemi Peters, endorsed the resit results based on psychometric analysis by Prof. Boniface Nworgu.
JAMB approved the release of results for under-aged candidates, though these do not qualify them for admission unless litigation is involved.
“As part of the healing process, the meeting resolved that the withheld results of under-age candidates (except where litigation is involved), who performed below the established standards, be released.
“Such result does not, however, qualify them for admission, as they had previously signed an undertaking during the registration process acknowledging that only those who meet the prescribed standards would be considered for under-age special admission,” it reads.
The Board also granted a one-time waiver for candidates involved in online malpractice.
“Release of Result of Candidates involved in ‘WhatsApp Runs’ and other Misdemeanours. This category of candidates were found to have been involved in illicit solicitation of assistance.
“The meeting emphasised that its decision is not an endorsement of candidates’ unacceptable acts, but rather a once and for all waiver.
“Candidates were thus advised to refrain from joining questionable ‘WhatsApp and other anti-social groups”, JAMB said.
According to the board, CBT centres implicated in malpractice will be blacklisted and their owners prosecuted.
Those involved in biometric or identity fraud will also face legal action.
“The meeting condemned the involvement of some CBT centres in perpetrating serious registration and examination malpractices and resolved that all the implicated CBT centres should be blacklisted, while complicit owners should be prosecuted.
“In addition, the identified individuals, who directly registered the candidates with modified pictures and biometrics be apprehended and prosecuted.
”The Board criticised unregulated tutorial centres aiding malpractice and urged government regulation.It further reaffirmed its support for CBT and plans to bring in consultants to enhance the registration process.
Efforts to politicise technical issues along tribal lines, were condemned in the meeting, as they urge unity and caution against the divisive narrative.
“The meeting expressed with regret the attempts by some groups to exploit the unfortunate incident to disseminate tribal and sectional narratives.
“The unfortunate incident is not targeted at any section of the country, neither was it caused by any particular section of the country.
“It was emphasised that such narratives risk exacerbating existing divisions within society and even the JAMB workforce.
“The meeting commended the Registrar and the Management of JAMB for the competent and sincere handling of the unfortunate accident and urged them to remain steadfast and courageous,” the statement stated.
JAMB also dismissed claims of high scorers in cancelled sessions, stating 99% scored below 200, with only a few reaching 217.
The Board also condemned attempts to exploit the situation, citing the case of Olisa Gabriel Chukwuemeka, who falsely claimed to have scored 326 in the 2025 UTME.
JAMB confirmed he had altered his 2024 result of 203 and had actually scored 180 in the 2025 exam before his result was withdrawn. He later deactivated his social media account following public backlash.
Recall that the results of the 2025 UTME were originally released on 9 May.
News
President Tinubu’s reforms push customs revenue to ₦1.3 Trillion in Q1 2025 — CG Adeniyi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded an unprecedented revenue of ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, more than double the ₦600 billion collected during the same period in 2023.
In a statement released on Saturday, May 24, 2025, by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, the Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi attributed this remarkable growth to transformative reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, as revealed in an upcoming State House documentary marking the President’s second anniversary.
Adeniyi highlighted that the revenue surge emanated from improved technological deployment, enhanced port operations, tightened enforcement on revenue leakages, and a renewed culture of accountability across Customs commands.
“We collected ₦1.3 trillion in Q1 2025 alone. This is not due to higher import volumes. Imports have dropped due to foreign exchange constraints.
“What has changed is efficiency, transparency, and enforcement,” the Comptroller-General said.
He disclosed that the Service is preparing to launch the E-Customs Modernisation Project.
This $3.2 billion initiative will digitise cargo processing, surveillance, and payment systems across Nigeria’s ports and borders.
“We’re laying the foundation to move from a manual, paper-based system to a fully digital service. The E-Customs Project is central to our future. Once fully deployed, we project it will add $250 billion in cumulative revenue over 20 years,” he said.
Adeniyi added that the newly launched Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme is now onboarding pre-vetted importers, allowing compliant businesses faster processing and reducing port congestion.
“It’s about trust and efficiency. If you’re compliant, you get green-lane treatment. This is how modern customs systems work globally,” he said.
The Customs CG confirmed that the Service has intensified its anti-smuggling operations and closed long-standing revenue leakages.
He said over ₦64 billion was recovered from previously under-assessed or undervalued imports in the last nine months, and major smuggling rings at the Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto borders have been dismantled.
He said the new joint border patrol task forces established in coordination with the Nigerian Army, DSS, and Police have also yielded positive results.
“We’re no longer just chasing smugglers in the bush. We’re using data, surveillance drones, and port intelligence to act in real-time. Once systemic leakages are now being plugged,” ” Adeniyi said.
To ease trade and reduce business costs, Adeniyi disclosed that NCS is fast-tracking the roll-out of the National Single Window.
This digital portal will integrate all government agencies involved in cargo clearance.
“Right now, you deal with up to 15 agencies manually. With the Single Window, you’ll do it all online, in one place. This will slash clearance time and costs,” the CG explained, adding that clearance timelines at Apapa and Tin Can Ports have already dropped from 21 days to 7–10 days for compliant importers.
The Comptroller-General said the agency has introduced fast-track lanes for agro-exports and is working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline outbound cargo processes in line with the government’s push for non-oil exports.
“We’re promoting exports aggressively. Last year, Nigeria exported over ₦340 billion worth of solid minerals and agro commodities through formal channels, up by 38%. We’re targeting even more in 2025,” he said.
He stated that the Customs Service is also undergoing internal transformation, with over 1,800 officers trained in advanced data analytics, risk profiling, and artificial intelligence.
“Customs is no longer just about physical inspection. We are becoming an intelligence-led organisation, and our officers are being retrained to match global standards,” Adeniyi said.
“The President gave us a clear directive: block leakages, facilitate trade, and raise revenue without burdening Nigerians. That is what we are doing. And the results are beginning to speak for themselves.”
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