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JUST IN: Shina Peller bows out of Green Chamber, drums up support for successor
The Ayedero of Yorubaland, Honourable (Dr.) Shina Abiola Peller, has urged the returning members of the House of Representatives to extend his cordial relationship with them in the last four years to his successor, Honourable Shina Oyedeji aka O’Shine.
Honourable Peller, who represented Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency at the ninth National Assembly, made this appeal yesterday after attending the valedictory session of the House.
The Ayedero, who described the last four years in the House as “awesome” added that it served as great opportunity for him to know how government works, especially in the legislative arm. He also recalled that it was a deliberate plan on his part not to return to the House for second term. He added that his decision was driven by his desire to give room for the other zone of his constituency to produce the next representative which hasn’t happened in the last 16 years.
Similarly, Honourable Peller used the avenue to acknowledge the leadership feat of the House Speaker, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, describing it as outstanding and remarkable. He noted that the Speaker was able to steer, stabilize and put the House together as one in spite of the different political, religious and ethnic affiliation of members.
Honourable Peller thanked his constituents for giving him the opportunity to serve them, while he urged them to give overwhelming support to his successor in the overall interest of the constituency.
His statement read in full:
“Yesterday, we had the valedictory session which marked the end of the 9th House of Representatives.
The last 4 years in the House has been so awesome as it gave me the opportunity to know how government works especially in the legislative arm. It also gave me the opportunity to work and mingle with different personalities with diverse culture from different federal constituencies of the federation.
“I must acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding and remarkable leadership feats of our speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was able to steer, stabilize and put the House together as one, for good four years notwithstanding our different political affiliations.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be returning to the House for a second term, which was the plan from the onset in order to give room for the other zone of my constituency to produce the next representative which hasn’t happened in the last 16 years.
“As I sign out from the 9th National Assembly, I hope that the cordial relationship that I have built with members in the House will be transferred to my successor, Hon. Shina Oyedeji (O’Shine) of Kajola Local Govt, in the overall interest of my constituency which is made up of four local governments namely Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola and Iwajowa.
“To God be the glory for everything! Special thanks to the loving people of my constituency for giving me the opportunity to serve them.”
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PAACA Thumbs Up Protest over Senate’s Rejection of Electronic Transmission of Election Results
PACCA emphasised that the conversation should go beyond the election transmission of results to cover collation and more in depth involvement of political parties .
• Peter Obi address the protesters in front of the National Assembly
The Executive Director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), Ezenwa Nwagwu, has described the protest around the transmission of election results in real-time as a step in the right direction.
Nwagwu made the declaration during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday.
“The current agitation that we have seen around the electoral act amendment is positive.
Positive in the sense that we have continued to ask for more and more citizen oversight over governance, over the activities of those who govern us,” he said.
PACCA emphasised that the conversation should go beyond the election transmission of results to cover collation and more in depth involvement of political parties
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has voiced strong concern over the Senate’s recent stance on the transmission of election results in the ongoing Electoral Act amendment process, warning that it is eroding public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a press statement, the NGE described the Senate’s decision to retain non-mandatory provisions—similar to those in the 2022 Electoral Act—as a step backward that fosters doubt and mistrust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The group highlighted widespread public outrage, noting that the position contradicts the demands of most Nigerians and many lawmakers for compulsory, real-time electronic transmission from polling units to INEC’s central server and collation centres.
The NGE emphasized that mandatory and immediate transmission has become a global standard for enhancing transparency, efficiency, accuracy, and voter confidence while reducing fraud and disputes.
At a time when other democracies are advancing digital reforms, Nigeria risks missing a key opportunity to strengthen electoral integrity and democratic governance, the statement said.
With the National Assembly set to harmonize positions between the Senate and House of Representatives tomorrow (February 10, 2026), the Guild called on lawmakers to approve mandatory real-time transmission in the final bill.
Anything less, it warned, would be out of step with progressive electoral practices and could further discourage voter participation while undermining confidence that votes will count.
The statement comes amid broader backlash following the Senate’s February 4 passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, which rejected proposals for compulsory e-transmission, prompting criticism from civil society, opposition parties, labour unions, and other stakeholders.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the Nigerian Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, ruling that the upper chamber acted within its constitutional powers.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, February 9, 2026, the appellate court affirmed the Senate’s authority to discipline its members, including through suspension.
However, the court set aside related contempt proceedings and vacated a ₦5 million fine previously imposed on the senator over a satirical apology she issued.
The decision partially resolves a protracted legal dispute stemming from the Senate’s six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan in early 2025, following allegations of misconduct during plenary sessions.
The ruling comes amid ongoing appeals, with aspects of the case potentially headed to the Supreme Court as both sides have challenged lower court decisions.
In a separate development, President Bola Tinubu held a closed-door meeting last night (Sunday, February 8, 2026) with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The late-night talks, confirmed by presidency sources and reported across multiple outlets, focused on efforts to resolve the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.
The meeting is seen as a fresh intervention by the president to foster reconciliation between the governor and his predecessor, amid tensions that have disrupted governance in the oil-rich state.
Details of the discussions remain limited, but sources indicate Governor Fubara later accompanied Wike to his residence in Guzape, Abuja, signaling possible progress toward de-escalation.
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