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I’ll return to senate on Tuesday, says Natasha Akpoti after court judgment

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  • Senator representing Kogi central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, says she will resume her legislative duties in the red chamber on Tuesday.

Recall that on March 6, the senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged gross misconduct.

The decision followed the adoption of the report by the committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions after the Kogi senator’s altercation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a suit before the Abuja federal high court seeking to stop the suspension.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Binta Nyako, the presiding judge, affirmed the power of the senate to suspend erring members, including the Kogi senator.

However, the court faulted the duration of her suspension, describing it as “overreaching” and “excessive”.

The judge said the relevant laws of the senate did not define the maximum duration for which a serving lawmaker can be suspended from office.

She held that since lawmakers are constitutionally required to sit for a total of 181 days in each legislative session, the six-month suspension imposed on Akpoti-Uduaghan effectively stripped her of the opportunity to carry out her legislative duties for nearly the entire session.

This, the judge noted, amounted to denying her constituents their right to representation.

“A senator is expected to represent her people,” the judge stated.

“I am of the view that the senate has the power to amend that rule,” Nyako said, adding that the senate “can and should” reconsider recalling the plaintiff back to office.

She also ordered the senator to pay a N5 million fine for violating a court order by publishing a satirical apology to Akpabio on her Facebook page.

Reacting to the court ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the judgment as a victory.

“I thank you for your support. I am glad we are victorious today. We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday by the grace of God,” the senator told her supporters.

Politics

JUST IN: Dino Melaye dumps PDP

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A former lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party’s inability to rescue Nigeria from what he described as “prevailing political cankerworms”.

Melaye, a former senator for Kogi West, made this known today via a post on his official X handle, where he shared a signed resignation letter addressed to the PDP chairman in Ward 1, Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

In the letter dated July 4, 2025, Melaye said the decision became “imperative due to the lack of potency and capacity by the party to deliver the Nigerian people from the prevailing political cankerworms that have eaten deeply into the fabric of our dear nation”.

The 2023 governorship candidate of the PDP stated that after careful reflection on the state of the party, he could no longer, in good conscience, participate in its activities or support its agenda.

“In view of the above, please consider this as my formal withdrawal from the party and all its activities at all levels with immediate effect,” the letter read.

Melaye also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve under the PDP during his period of membership.

His resignation adds to the growing wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Okpebholo Cracks Down on Adviser Over Unapproved Fundraising

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The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has suspended his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Felix Osemwengie Isere, for alleged unauthorised fundraising over an upcoming oil and has summit in the state.

The suspension was announced in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, on Tuesday in Benin.

The SSG said the governor also announced the immediate halt of the planned summit, scheduled to begin on August 7.

“Due to the breach, the proposed summit is suspended, and Isere is directed to refund all monies collected from donors for the event.

“Prospective donors are hereby advised to stop all dealings with the suspended adviser,” Ikhilor said.

(NAN)

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BREAKING: Former NAFDAC DG dumps PDP, joins ADC

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Former Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signaling a major political shift in Benue State.  

In a letter addressed to the Atirkyese Council Ward Chairman in Benue State, Orhii explained that his decision followed wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders across different levels.

“After intensive consultations with my family, friends, thousands of my supporters and political associates locally, nationally and globally, I have decided to resign my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect,” he stated.  

Dr. Orhii, who was a PDP governorship aspirant in both the 2019 and 2023 elections, added that his resignation would allow him to join the ADC’s national “rescue mission.”  

“This is to enable me join the coalition of other progressive-minded Nigerians in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on the rescue mission,” he explained.  

He expressed gratitude to the PDP for providing him a platform to serve the nation, particularly during his tenure as NAFDAC boss.

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