Politics
Pat Utomi Forms Shadow Govt • It’s an Abberation – FG
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said, “At a time when our nation is set to celebrate 26 unbroken years of presidential democracy, the idea of a so-called “shadow government” is an aberration
Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was named head of the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio.
Prof. Pat Utomi, has inaugurated a shadow government composed of members from various opposition parties.
A shadow government is individuals or an organization providing counsel to government officials without being publicly accountable.
Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was named head of the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio.
Others appointed to the policy delivery unit include Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo, and Obi Ajuga.
Other members of the shadow cabinet include Dr. Adefolusade Adebayo, Dr. Peter Agadah, Dr. Sadiq Gombe, Chibuzor Nwachukwu, Salvation Alibor, Bilkisu Magoro, Dr. Victor Tubo, Charles Odibo, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Eunice Atuejide, Gbenga Ajayi, and Dr. Mani Ahmad, as well as Peter Oyewole and Dr. Omano Edigheji.
Utomi said that the “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government,” launched virtually on Monday evening, will function as a credible opposition force, highlighting the failures of the Bola Tinubu administration while offering ideas for better governance.
Utomi, however, justified the move, arguing that policy missteps by the current Federal Government had worsened poverty, driven multinational companies out of the country, and intensified terrorism in Benue and Plateau states, alongside rising insecurity and corruption nationwide.
The political activist expressed concern over what he described as the government’s resort to propaganda and the suppression of opposing views.
“The recent spate of defections to the All Progressives Congress provides further evidence that all is not well with democracy in Nigeria,” he said.
“The imperative is that if a genuine opposition does not courageously identify the performance failures of incumbents, offer options, and influence culture in a counter direction, it will be complicit in subverting the will of the people.”
He said the shadow cabinet—made up of figures drawn from several opposition parties—was created to respond to what he called a national emergency.
“Today, I bring to this pioneer body the desperate cries of a people troubled by how their reality seems bound for serfdom.
I challenge you to awaken these people who wrongly believe that everything is fine as long as they can manage a share of what little still trickles down from crude oil sales,” Utomi said.
Utomi stated that the shadow government would hold weekly cabinet meetings to assess government policies and propose practical alternatives.
He identified immediate priorities as the stimulation of production, the formulation of a coherent economic growth strategy, decentralisation of security, and constitutional reform.
The cabinet, he said, would also focus on providing alternatives in healthcare, education, infrastructure development, law and order, and policy monitoring.
However , in a swift reaction, the Federal Government kicked against the move, describing it as an aberration in a federal system of government.
In an interview with the Punch, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said, “At a time when our nation is set to celebrate 26 unbroken years of presidential democracy, the idea of a so-called “shadow government” is an aberration.”
Politics
Kano assembly by-elections hold Saturday
Movement of motor vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles is strictly restricted from 12:00 am midnight to 6:00 pm on Saturday, 21st February 2026, being the Election Day, proper.
The Kano State Police Command has announced movement restrictions in Kano Municipal and Ungogo Local Government Areas ahead of the February 21, 2026, State Assembly by-elections.
The announcement followed a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, chaired by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Kano, Zango Abdu, held on February 19, 2026.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the command stated that ICCES “met today, 19th February 2026 and concluded security arrangements ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Kano Municipal and Ungogo LGAs State Constituencies, slated for February 21, 2026.
”The Co-Chair of ICCES and Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said that the command, “in collaboration with other security agencies, has put all necessary measures in place to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, credible, transparent, and successful by-elections for Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies.”
The statement read, “Movement of motor vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles is strictly restricted from 12:00 am midnight to 6:00 pm on Saturday, 21st February 2026, being the Election Day, proper.
”It added that “exceptions will only be granted to vehicles on essential services, such as ambulances, fire service trucks, and vehicles of electoral officers and accredited election observers.”
Politics
Abuja Area Council Elections Hold Tomorrow
Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye stated that the restriction will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.
Photo: FCT ABUJA
The FCT Police Command has announced a 12-hour restriction on movement across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the Area Council Elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye stated that the restriction will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.
” The directive applies to all residents, except essential service providers and duly accredited election officials,” he said.
The Command urged residents to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and to cooperate with security agencies to guarantee a safe, free, and credible electoral process.
Members of the public were also encouraged to report suspicious persons or activities through the Command’s emergency lines: 08032003913 and 08061581938.
The police said the measure is part of broader security arrangements aimed at maintaining law and order during the elections across the FCT’s area councils.
Politics
Rivers lawmakers halt impeachment of Fubara and Odu, following Tinubu’s interventions
The impeachment push came days after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused the governor of failing to honour a peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in 2025.
Photo: River State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu. PHOTO: https://theverdict.ng/
The Rivers State House of Assembly suspended today the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The lawmakers reached the decision following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu recently.
The impeachment push came days after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused the governor of failing to honour a peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in 2025.
The resolution to halt the process was adopted on Thursday during the Assembly’s resumed plenary in Port Harcourt, presided over by the Speaker, Majority Leader, Major Jack.
The House had, at its first sitting of 2026, begun impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the State Assembly complex and alleged spending without legislative approval, among other claims.
The claims included the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and an alleged refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature, among other issues.
Lawmakers said the notice of allegations was issued under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).In a letter dated January 16, 2026, the Assembly asked the state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations.
However, the Chief Judge declined, citing a subsisting High Court order restraining further action on the matter.
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