News
Lagos Assembly speaker: Meranda may step down as Akande panel shortlists seven
The speakership crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly might be resolved soon as the intervention of heavyweights in the All Progressives Congress may be leading to a headway.
The impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa and the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, might be stepping aside for another lawmaker to lead the House.
The development follows the intervention of the APC bigwigs, notably former governors of Osun, Ogun and Lagos states, namely Chief Bisi Akande, Segun Osoba, and Akinwunmi Ambode, respectively, among others.
The high-powered APC delegation was directed by President Bola Tinubu to resolve the political tension at the Lagos Assembly, following the inability of the Governance Advisory Council to find a solution.
The crisis began at the House on January 13, 2025, when about 36 lawmakers removed Obasa as speaker and replaced him with Meranda, the then-deputy speaker.
Over 90 per cent of the lawmakers accused the impeached speaker of poor leadership style, perpetual lateness to legislative sections and plenary, high-handedness and disregard for colleague lawmakers and the executive, especially the governor, abuse of office and privileges, intimidation and oppression of members, misappropriation, among others.
Obasa, who was away in Atlanta, United States, when he was removed, had since faulted his removal and insisted he was still the speaker, even as his colleagues in the House remained adamant.
“My status in the house? I strongly believe I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done.
If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it,” Obasa said while addressing newsmen on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
On Sunday, Osoba, Ambode, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all the GAC members met at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina over the crisis, to find a lasting solution.
It was gathered that the meeting lasted till around 7 pm. It was also learnt that the panel earlier met with the lawmakers.
A GAC member, Chief Muraina Taiwo, noted that one of the seven lawmakers from Lagos West was being considered by the party leaders as the new Speaker.
“The issue will die down soon. Between now and the middle of next week, everything will become clearer. The APC leaders, including Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Olusegun Osoba, came to mediate.
“They will go back to Abuja to brief our leader (Tinubu) how they feel about everything.
They are suggesting to Speaker Obasa that he should step down and the other woman (Meranda) to also step down and they will bring in another new person.
They are thinking of submitting a few names but all will land at the table of the leader.
“You know the House is working based on seniority, that is, if you’ve spent two years at the House, you’re qualified to hold a higher position than someone in first tenure.
So they will go back to Abuja with seven names of the seniors in the House and from Lagos West,” he said.
The GAC member added, “The seven of them are ranking members in Lagos West. They are the ones whose names will be submitted to President Tinubu.”
It was also gathered that party leaders considered it politically and ethically appropriate not to select a speaker from Lagos Central, as it is the same senatorial zone as Governor Sanwo-Olu.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has promoted seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to the rank of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) in a strategic move to bolster the leadership cadre of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The promotions, announced on Friday, March 6, 2026, followed a thorough evaluation process involving merit-based assessments, seniority considerations, service records, written examinations, and oral interviews held at the PSC’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
The newly elevated officers are:
– Zachariah Fera Achinyan, fdc (formerly AIG Zone 4, Makurdi)
– Zango Ibrahim Baba (formerly AIG Department of Logistics and Supply)
– Isyaku Mohammed (formerly AIG Armament, Force Headquarters, Abuja)
– Margaret Agebe Ochalla (formerly AIG FCID Annex, Lagos)
– Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman, mni (formerly AIG Police Accounts and Budget, Force Headquarters, Abuja)
– Kenechukwu Onwuemelie (formerly AIG Zone 15, Maiduguri)
– Umar Shehu Nadada, mni (formerly AIG Zone 14, Katsina)
These elevations come on the heels of the recent confirmation of DIG Fayoade Adegoke to the substantive rank of DIG, positioning him to join the Force Management Team.
The PSC noted that the promotions are essential to address vacancies arising from the retirement of eight DIGs who previously held key strategic roles.
In a statement, PSC Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu, congratulated the promoted officers and charged them to justify the trust placed in them by upholding the highest standards of professionalism.
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing national security and fostering stronger collaboration with the Commission to advance ongoing reforms and development within the NPF.
The development is seen as part of broader efforts to refresh senior leadership in the force amid recent retirements, including that of prominent DIG Frank Mba and others, ensuring continuity and strengthened operational capacity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the postings of 31 career and 34 non-career ambassadors to various countries and the United Nations.
The Senate confirmed the ambassadors-designate last December.
POSTINGS OF NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS
S/N NAME MISSION APPROVED
1. SENATOR GRACE BENT: LOME-TOGO
2. SEN. ITA ENANG: SOUTH AFRICA
3. IKPEAZU VICTOR: SPAIN
4. NKECHI LINDA UFOCHUKWU: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL
5. MAHMUD YAKUBU: QATAR
6. PAUL OGA ADIKWU: THE VATICAN CITY HOLY SEE
7. VICE ADMIRAL IBOK-ETE EKWE IBAS: THE PHILIPPINES
8. MR. RENO OMOKRI: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
9. HON. (ENGR.) ABASI BRAIMAH (FMHR): BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
10. MRS. ERELU ANGELA ADEBAYO: PORTUGAL
11. BARR. OLUMILUA OLUWAYIMIKA AYOTUNWA: TOKYO, JAPAN
12. RT. HON. UGWUANYI IFEANYI LAWRENCE: ATHENS, GREECE
13. BARR. CHIOMA PRISCILLA OHAKIM: WARSAW, POLAND
14. AMINU DALHATU: UNITED KINGDOM, UK
15. LT. GEN ABDULRAHMAN BELLO DAMBAZAU: BEIJING, CHINA
16. HON. TASIU MUSA MAIGARI: GAMBIA
17. OLUFEMI PEDRO: AUSTRALIA
18. BARR. MUHAMMED UBANDOMA ALIYU: ARGENTINA
19. LATEEF KAYODE ARE: USA
20. AMB. JOSEPH SOLA IJI: RUSSIA
21. SEN. JIMOH IBRAHIM: UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
22. FEMI FANI KAYODE: GERMANY
23. PROF. ISAAK FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE: OTTAWA, CANADA
24. AJIMOBI FATIMA FLORENCE (F): AUSTRIA
25. MRS. LOLA AKANDE (F): SWEDEN
26. AYODELE OKE: FRANCE
27. YAKUBU N. GAMBO: SAUDI ARABIA
28. SENATOR PROF. NORA LADI DADUUT: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
29. BARR. ONUEZE CHUKWUJIKA JOE OKOCHA SAN: DUBLIN
30. DR. KULU HARUNA ABUBAKAR: TUNIS, TUNISIA
31. RT. HON. JERRY SAMUEL MANWE: PORT OF SPAIN.
T&T POSTINGS OF CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS LIST
S/N NAME MISSION APPROVED
1. AMB. NWABIOLA EZENWA CHUKWUMEKA: COTE D’IV/OIRE
2. BESTO MAIMUNA IBRAHIM: NIAMEY-NIGER
3. MONICA OKWUCHUKWU ENEBECHI: SAO TOME, STP
4. AMB. MOHAMMED MAHMUD LELE: ALGIERS-ALGERIA
5. ENDONI SYNDOPH PAEBI: OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO
6. AHMED MOHAMMED MONGUNO: CAIRO EGYPT
7. AMB.JANE ADAMS (NEE OKON) MICHAEL (F): KINGSTON-JAMAICA
8. AMB. CLARK-OMERU ALEXANDRA (F): LUSAKA-ZAMBIA
9. CHIMA GEOGGREY LIOMA DAVID: BAMAKO-MALI
10. AMB. ODUMAH YVONNE EHINOSEN: MALABO –E/GUINEA
11. AMB WASA SEGUN IGE: BEIRUT, LEBANON
12. RUBEN ABIMBOLA SAMUEL (F): ROME, ITALY
13. AMB.ONAGA OGECHUKWU KINGSLEY: MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE
14. AMB.MAGAJI UMAR: KINSASHA, DR CONGO
15. AMB.MUHAMMAD SAIDU DAHIRU: NEW DELHI-INDIA
16. AMB. ABDUSSALAM HABU ZAYYAD: DAKAR-SENEGAL
17. AMB SHEHU ILU BARDE: ACCRA GHANA
18. AMB.AMINU NASIR: ETHIOPIA
19. ABUBAKAR MUSA MUSA: N’DJAMENA, CHAD
20. AMB. HAIDARA MOHAMMED IDRIS: THE HAGUE-NETHERLANDS
21. AMB.BAKO ADAMU UMAR: RABAT-MOROCCO
22. AMB. SULU GAMBARI OLATUNJI AHMED: MALAYSIA
23. AMB.ROMATA MOHAMMED OMOBOLANLE (F): TANZANIA
24. AMB. SHAGA JOHN SHAMAH: BOTSWANA
25. SALAU, HAMZA MOHAMMED: TEHRAN, IRAN
26. AMB.IBRAHIM DANLAMI: KENYA
27. IBRAHIM ADEOLA MOPELOLA (F): COTONOU-BENIN
28. AMB.AYENI ADEBAYO EMMANUEL: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
29. AMB.AKANDE WAHAB ADEKOLA: BERNE-SWITZERLAND
30. AMB. AREWA (NEE ADEDOKUN) ESTHER (F): WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA
31. AMB.GERGADI JOSEPH JOHN: LIBREVILLE-GABON
32. AMB. LUTHER OGBOMODE AYO-KALATA (F): SIERRA LEONE
33. DANLADI YAKUBU NYAKU : KHARTOUM-SUDAN
34. BELLO DOGON-DAJI HALIRU: BANGKOK, THAILAND
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu. Similarly, France has sent the agrément for Ambassador Ayo Oke.
The Ministry has also conveyed the nominations of the other 62 designated envoys to all the countries concerned, including a request for their agreements in line with standard diplomatic practice.
President Tinubu has directed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners.
News
Political Thugs Set Rivers ADC Office On Fire
Ubima is the country home of the former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi.
Suspected political thugs have set ablaze the office of the African Democratic Party (ADC) at Ubima Community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Ubima is the country home of the former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi.
The political thugs also attacked the Minister’s Community with heavy firepower, shooting sporadically in the area.
Amaechi,a two times governor of Rivers state between 2007 to 2015 is one of the leaders of the ADC, the political party seeking to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Meanwhile, Amaechi is expected to visit Ubima , Friday, to officially register with the ADC at the ward level.
The thugs reportedly invaded the community, Thursday night, shooting heavily and setting the party Secretariat on fire.
Locals say the thugs may have caused the panic in the community to scare people from coming out to welcome the former governor of the state who is visiting the party office in his ward for official registration with the ADC.
They reportedly reappeared Friday morning mounting Road block on the Omuawa-Ubima toad stopping every bus with ADC banner from entering the community.
Meanwhile,intervention from security operatives mobilised to the area is said to have restored normalcy.
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