The House of Representatives has rejected a bill seeking to entrench the principle of rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, proposed an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to mandate the rotation of the offices of President and Vice President among the North Central, North West, North East, South West, South East, and South South zones.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2024, to Provide for the Principle of Rotation of the Offices of the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Among the Six Geopolitical Zones of the Country—and for Related Matters (HB. 2291)”, the proposal was struck out during plenary on Tuesday after a heated debate presided over by Kalu.
Speaking against the bill, Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano) argued that the federal character principle already ensures equitable representation, stressing that zoning should be left to political parties and the electorate, not enshrined in the Constitution.
Similarly, Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) warned that a constitutional provision for zoning could undermine meritocracy and national unity.
“It could elevate ethnic and regional considerations above competence, restrict the pool of qualified candidates, and deepen divisions,” he said.
Bello El-Rufai (APC, Kaduna) also, cautioned that the move could inflame ethnic and regional tensions in an already polarised nation.
However, Rep. Ali Isa (PDP, Gombe) supported the bill, arguing that it would promote inclusion and a sense of belonging among all regions.
Responding to the opposing views, Deputy Speaker Kalu defended the bill, stating that all zones have capable leaders. He said the proposal was aimed at fostering equitable access to leadership and enhancing national unity.
Despite his appeal, the bill was rejected through a voice vote by a majority of lawmakers.
Anambra State Police Command has announced the re-arrest of a kidnap suspect linked to the death of a lawmaker, Justice Azuka, who represented Onitsha South 1 state constituency.
Azuka was on Christmas Eve last year abducted, and close to two months after, his remains was found around Second Nigeria Bridge.
His abductors were also arrested, but later two of them escaped after they were led to the home of another suspect.
The incident had caused an uproar, with many accusing the police of complicity over the escape of the suspects.
But on Tuesday, the state command announced the re-arrest of one of the suspects.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect, Ikemefuna Ossai, was re-arrested after painstaking investigation and undercover job.
He said: “The Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the public that its operatives have successfully rearrested one Ikemefuna Ossai, a suspect in the kidnapping and gruesome murder of the late Hon. Justice Azuka.
Anambra State Police Command has announced the re-arrest of a kidnap suspect linked to the death of a lawmaker, Justice Azuka, who represented Onitsha South 1 state constituency.
Azuka was on Christmas Eve last year abducted, and close to two months after, his remains was found around Second Nigeria Bridge.
His abductors were also arrested, but later two of them escaped after they were led to the home of another suspect.
The incident had caused an uproar, with many accusing the police of complicity over the escape of the suspects.
But on Tuesday, the state command announced the re-arrest of one of the suspects.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect, Ikemefuna Ossai, was re-arrested after painstaking investigation and undercover job.
He said: “The Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the public that its operatives have successfully rearrested one Ikemefuna Ossai, a suspect in the kidnapping and gruesome murder of the late Hon. Justice Azuka.
“This re-arrest followed a painstaking and intelligence-led operation. The suspect, who had previously escaped custody, was tracked across multiple states within Nigeria and even into a neighbouring West African country.
“He was eventually apprehended on 7th May 2025 in Asaba, Delta State. Upon sighting the operatives, the suspect attempted to escape arrest but was swiftly subdued and sustained a gunshot wound to the leg in the process.”
He said the Command has briefed relevant stakeholders including the family of the late lawmaker and the leadership of the Anambra State House of Assembly.
“During the engagement, the Commissioner of Police acknowledged and expressed regret over the operational lapses that led to the suspect’s earlier escape.
“Actionable intelligence obtained from the suspect is currently aiding ongoing operations. The command has intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining fugitive and dismantle the criminal network responsible for this heinous crime.
“The Anambra State Police Command reiterates its unwavering resolve to bring all perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety and security of Ndi Anambra,” parts of the statement read.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that Anambra and Lagos recorded the most incidents of malpractice during the recently concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
AMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, revealed that 80 individuals have so far been apprehended for various exam-related offences across the country. Anambra led the list with 14 suspects, closely followed by Lagos with nine.
the offences ranged from impersonation and possession of prohibited devices to biometric fraud and collusion with Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers
“In Anambra alone, we recorded 13 cases of impersonation and one incident involving mismatched photographs,” he stated. Lagos was not far behind, with its suspects caught for impersonation, spying, and carrying mobile phones into the examination halls—violations JAMB has repeatedly warned against. Other states on the malpractice list include Delta, Kano, Kaduna, and Rivers, each reporting between six and eight cases. Delta recorded eight incidents, while Kano and Kaduna followed with seven and six, respectively.
We encountered biometric manipulation, the use of combined thumbprints between candidates and their impersonators, and cases of double registration,”
One of the strange cases According to JAMB, involved a blind candidate who allegedly recruited a fellow blind undergraduate to take the exam in his place—a move the board described as both desperate and disheartening.
JAMB has reiterated its commitment to upholding the integrity of the UTME, with Oloyede affirming that all suspects are currently undergoing investigation and will face appropriate legal actions. The board says it is working to close loopholes and strengthen its systems to prevent future occurrences of exam malpractice.
This year’s revelations have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the examination process in some regions, with education stakeholders calling for stricter oversight and more robust technological safeguards.
There are strong signals that millions of candidates in the Southeast region may either miss or reschedule their ongoing WAEC examinations as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have declared a total lockdown in the zone on May 30.
The lockdown, which is the first this year according to the IPOB, is in commemoration of Biafra heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their present existence.
Media and Publicity Secretary of the IPOB, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Monday, stated that May 30th, 2025, is now designated a public holiday and a lockdown throughout Biafra Land.
He stated that the public holiday and lockdown are an annual Memorial and Remembrance Day for Biafra heroes and heroines among Biafrans.
He added, “Anticipation has begun as of May 1, 2025, with broadcasts from Radio Biafra and media awareness efforts by the IPOB media team.
This month, IPOB will involve our audience in memorial lectures honoring Biafran heroes, both at home and abroad, just like in earlier years. The peak of the yearly memorial and remembrance event will occur on May 30th, 2025, known as the Biafra Heroes Memorial Day.
“It is a day designated by IPOB for Biafrans to commemorate and pay tribute to our heroes, heroines, and those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Biafra’s liberation and independence. The IPOB leadership has announced that May 30, 2025, will be a free day, marking a total lockdown for Biafrans residing in Biafra Land.”
Powerful stated that Biafrans residing in Biafra Land should observe a lockdown to pay tribute to those who battled and perished in the Nigerian genocidal war against Biafra while Biafrans fought for her independence.
“We need to commemorate them by spending one day indoors. We urge all Biafrans and every advocate of freedom in Biafra Land to comply with this one-day lockdown directive on May 30, 2025. All IPOB family members in their various countries must organize and obtain permits to demonstrate against the unlawful imprisonment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the illegal detention of Nnamdi Kanu in Nigeria. No protests will take place in Biafra or anywhere in Nigeria to prevent being harmed by the lethal Nigerian Security Forces.
“Biafrans abroad will gather in the streets of their host countries or organize town hall meetings to express their support in honoring our fallen heroes and advocating for the restoration of Biafra. IPOB and Ndigbo across the globe will pay tribute to all our fallen heroes and heroines, including our everlasting leader the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Gen. Phillip Efiong, Chief Dr. Frank Opigo, Commander Ikonso, and numerous others who significantly contributed and fought to avert the genocide and destruction of Biafrans by the Nigerian and British governments along with their allied forces. Every year on May 30th is a significant day for all Biafrans. It is a public holiday for every citizen and non-citizen of Biafra living in Biafra territory,”
“All transportation by road, air, and sea is prohibited from 6 to 6 on May 30, 2025, which includes no human movement within our territory. There will be no school, no community meetings, no religious services, no opening of markets and stores, and no public assemblies of any kind. Simply stay inside and enjoy television and videos with your family while contemplating the memories and the genocide inflicted upon Biafrans from 1967 to the present day. It is a day for families to recount their experiences of the Biafran genocidal war from 1967 to 1970 and the ongoing victimization, destruction, and marginalization of the Ndigbo within Nigeria,”
On WAEC examinations scheduled to hold on that day, Powerful stated that the group had already contacted the Examination Council to inform them of the lockdown directive in Biafran Land “so they can modify the May/June SSCE exams schedule to serve all students.”
“Messages have also been dispatched to the governors in the Southeast and South South regions to notify them that we will remember and pay tribute to our heroes and heroines who sacrificed everything for us with a lockdown mandate on May 30, 2025.
“IPOB implemented the lockdown directive due to the Nigerian violent government attacking and killing numerous Biafrans who assembled to honor our heroes in Biafra Land in previous years. We recommend that everyone refrain from going outside and remain indoors in your homes on May 30th to steer clear of gunfire from the ethnic prejudice of the Nigerian Police and Military, who will be present on the streets of Biafra seeking any chance to unjustly shed the blood of innocent Biafrans. If you decide to ignore this lockdown order, whatever occurs to you, please hold no one responsible,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu has said that Anambra State will be included in the National Rail Master Plan, following its initial exclusion from the country’s rail development blueprint.
Speaking in Awka during a civic reception held at Alex Ekwueme Square on Thursday, the President addressed the state’s omission, assuring residents that the Federal Ministry of Transportation would correct it.
The disclosure was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu addressed the state’s exclusion from the National Rail Master Plan, assuring residents that the Federal Ministry of Transportation would rectify the omission,” the statement read in part.
It further quoted the President as saying: “I am standing before you to say that the Ministry of Transportation is aware and will include the connection in the Master Plan and give it attention.”
Reaffirming his commitment to unity and inclusive development, President Tinubu said, “We are one family, a single family, diverse, living in the same house called Nigeria. Our diversity must lead to prosperity. We must work together to be a united Nigeria.”
Your Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I warmly welcome you to Anambra State — the heartbeat of the Southeast, a land renowned for its enterprise, intellect, and indomitable spirit. Anambra is home to some of Nigeria’s finest minds and boldest achievers — a people whose resilience and innovation have shaped our national story.
It is always a moment of pride when the Commander-in-Chief visits our beloved state, and we honour your presence as a sign of national unity and shared purpose.
Mr. President arrives Anambra State to commission what Governor Chukwuma Soludo has styled as “landmark” projects — a new Government House, an amusement park dubbed Solution FunCity, and an institute in Nnamdi Azikiwe University bearing the name of the revered Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
Unfortunately, what should have been an opportunity to showcase bold, transformative governance has instead become a glaring theatre of missed priorities, misplaced ambitions, and media optics masquerading as progress.
Let us be clear: Governance is not a film trick. Governance is not about cutting ribbons on facades while the foundation rots.
In over three years in office, Governor Soludo has delivered zero public housing, zero real investment inflow, and zero structural transformation of our economy.
Instead of addressing the escalating cost of living, the housing crisis in Awka, the crumbling infrastructure across LGAs, or the deepening insecurity that has made daily life a gamble, the Governor has chosen to showcase an amusement park. This facility should rightly have been left to private investors in a healthy economic climate.
Just to be clear, most civil servants in Awka — the same people whose taxes fund this carnival — cannot afford to live in the city. A two-bedroom flat goes for ₦1.3 million a year. Transportation is unreliable. Social services are patchy. And public trust in the APGA-led government is rapidly eroding.
If Governor Soludo had taken insecurity seriously from the start of his tenure, if he had matched his rhetoric with decisive action, there would be no need for state-funded distractions like a “funpark” to ease public frustration.
We don’t need distractions — we need direction. What critical social problem does this park solve? Hunger? Unemployment? Fear?
And now, in an act of political cowardice, he has reportedly ordered APGA members not to wear party-branded clothing to today’s event, fearing it may stain the party’s image before the President and the public. What a betrayal. If your policies are strong and your house is in order, why hide your colours?
Dear Gov. Soludo, let me say this, directly and without apology: Bringing the President to commission a handful of overhyped projects does not mask your failure. It doesn’t put food on the table. It doesn’t create jobs. And it certainly doesn’t fool Ndi Anambra.
We deserve better. We deserve a government that builds lives, not just lodges. A leadership that puts people before propaganda. A Governor whose work speaks louder than his PR.
The time for vanity is over. The stakes are too high.
As I have always said, Anambra is not short of talent or promise — we are short of leadership that puts the people first. I do not believe in politics as performance art. I believe in politics as service — rooted in compassion, driven by vision, and measured by real change in people’s lives.
As Anambra 2025 draws near, our message must be loud and clear: we do not want more ribbon-cutting distractions; we want a future worth living for. And that future must begin now.
The Senator Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party National Caretaker Committee (LP-NCC) has announced the suspension of former National Chairman and Secretary of the party, Barr. Julius Abure and Alhaji Farouk Umar, for a period of six months.
This was contained in a statement signed by Usman and the LP-NCC’s Secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, in Abuja, late on Thursday.
The party leadership said the decision was a sequel to the findings of the Senator Ireti Kingibe-led six-member Disciplinary Committee, inaugurated on Wednesday.
The statement read, “Following an in-depth investigation by a committee led by Senator Ireti Kingibe and High Chief Peter Ameh, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party has ratified the committee’s recommendations concerning the anti-party activities and gross misappropriation of party funds by the former acting National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, and others. The investigative report revealed significant financial misconduct and prompted the following disciplinary actions:
“Barr. Julius Abure has been suspended for an initial period of six months and is prohibited from presenting himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
“Mr Umar Farouk, the former National Secretary, was identified as a co-signer in most of the fraudulent bank withdrawals and transfers alongside Abure. Consequently, he has also been suspended for an initial six-month period, pending further investigation.
“All members of Abure’s National Working Committee (NWC) are directed to cease acting as representatives of the Labour Party’s NWC.
“The NEC emphasises that failure to adhere to these disciplinary measures will result in more severe consequences.
The Labour Party remains committed to upholding transparency, accountability, and discipline within its ranks.”
Recall, the Abure-led faction had on Wednesday announced the suspension of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe and four others over alleged anti-party activities.
However, the Usman-led LP-NCC in response said Abure and his sacked executive committee members were in no position to take decisions for the party since the Supreme Court judgement ended Abure’s reign.
Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, launched a N10 billion matched funding jointly provided by the state government and the Bank of Industry (BOI), to empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and enable them to expand their businesses.
The governor led the state’s team at the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and launch of the programme, LASG-BOI MSME Access to Finance Scheme (LASMECO), which took place at Alausa, Ikeja.
Speaking at the programme, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the launch as a fulfillment of dreams for many MSMEs who had skills but lacked the capital to run or scale their businesses, saying that the fund would bring a turnaround in their fortunes and expand the state’s economy.
The governor further described the initiative as not just a formal unveiling of a financing programme, but also “the unveiling of dreams, the lighting of thousands of small candles that together illuminates the path to a more prosperous and inclusive Lagos.”
Today, we proudly unveil a tri-partite partnership called ‘LASMECO,’ a first-of-its-kind public-private financing platform deliberately designed to break the barriers that have long stifled our small businesses.
It offers an affordable credit of up to 10 million naira at a low interest rate of nine percent per annum, single-digit interest to lift a huge weight off the shoulders of our business owners, giving them room to breathe, grow, and thrive.
“The loan is guaranteed by Sterling Bank Plc, the State Government, and the Cooperative Societies, it is non-combat realized and focuses on strategic sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, creative industries, manufacturing, and the circular economy – areas that align with our developmental priorities.
By empowering these specific sectors, we are hitting multiple targets – jobs, innovation, food security, better healthcare, environmental sustainability – all at once. This is aligned with our vision of inclusive and sustainable development. It is also based on a cooperative model, leveraging the power of cooperative societies,” the governor stated.
Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed his administration’s commitment to building an economy that leaves no one behind and one “where a great idea in Oshodi can get the same opportunity to flourish as one on Wall Street.”
“We envision a future Lagos – not too many years from now – as Africa’s model megacity and a true global economic hub, a city where prosperity is inclusive and every willing citizen can achieve their potential. To get there, we know that empowering our small businesses and enterprising citizens, 90 percent of whom are in the MSMES, is absolutely fundamental.
The foundation of our grand economic ambitions must be solid and broad through the broad base of entrepreneurs and small enterprises that sustain us. We are firmly committed to strengthening that foundation as this government is pulling resources together to alleviate poverty.”
Crucially, we recognize that the government alone cannot achieve these ambitions. Partnerships are the cornerstone of our strategy and we are fortunate in Lagos to have forward-thinking private sector partners and institutions that share our vision. When the public sector’s will and resources meet the private sector’s innovation and capital, the synergy can unlock tremendous value. Today’s launch is a living example of that synergy – public-private collaboration at its finest, aimed at one of our most important goals: empowering our MSMEs,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu further called on Lagosians to patronise locally made goods as it is the sure path to economic growth and prosperity.
The State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose, in her welcome address, described the signing of the MOU and launch as a new chapter and a landmark moment in the administration’s drive to build a 21st-century economy that not only empowers businesses to thrive, but places the home-grown enterprises at the centre of prosperity, innovation, and resilience.
The commissioner assured that the financing scheme would empower thousands of MSMEs with structured, low-interest, and accessible credit facilities, tailored to the unique realities of doing business in the state, saying that each of the sectors was chosen deliberately, representing areas where Lagos had both a competitive advantage and an urgent development need.
According to her, the vision of the administration, as captured in the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Development Agenda, is to transform Lagos into a modern megacity where innovation, productivity, and opportunity are accessible to all, describing the event as more than unveiling of a finance scheme, but a declaration that the state believed in the power of small businesses to transform the economy.
“It is a message that access to finance should be a right and support system for every bold dreamer and hard-working entrepreneur willing to take a risk and create value.
“It is also about equity and social justice. It is about ensuring that all MSMEs have a fair shot at success. And we are not working alone. This scheme is a demonstration of what is possible when the government listens, when institutions respond, and when partnerships are forged for impact,” she said.
Ambrose affirmed that the scheme is not just a fund but a system designed to be transparent, inclusive, and results-driven, as beneficiaries would not only access capital but would also be exposed to training, mentoring, and market linkage opportunities.
She, however, assured that the loan process had been simplified to remove bottlenecks and ensure that even the smallest business owner with a viable plan can access the support they need.
Earlier, the Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry (BOI), Olasupo Olusi, described the programme as not just a signing ceremony, but the beginning of a new chapter for MSMEs in Lagos, defined by access, opportunity, and inclusion.
The BOI boss declared it a strategic effort that would unlock the creativity, resilience, and potential of Lagos’ MSMEs by dismantling the structural barriers that had long constrained access to opportunity.
“Today, we take a bold step in that direction, together as the programme aims to create 10,000 jobs through enterprise development, unlock wealth in Lagos, expand MSME support, and reduce poverty. The 10 billion naira fund is the first part of a scalable, performance-based agreement. As goals are met, the fund can grow, fostering continuous growth and empowerment.
“Firstly, it is fully technology-driven, from application to disbursement, ensuring speed, transparency, and real-time impact tracking. Secondly, up to 50 percent of the fund is backed by a bank guarantee, therefore de-risking the lending process and building stakeholder confidence.
“Thirdly, access to the funds will be facilitated through certified cooperatives, which will ensure structure, trust, and accountability. And finally, there’s an accelerator programme, offering MSMEs mentorship, training, and digital tools to help them grow and compete. This is not just finance, it’s a full ecosystem built for success,” he assured.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo over various projects completed by his administration in Anambra State.
The president, who is in the state to commission some projects executed by the Soludo administration said the governor has shown the people of the state that he is a solution provider.
Some of the projects assessed and commissioned by the president include the new Anambra State Government House, the Solution Fun City, the New Governor’s Lodge, built for the first time in 34 years, and the revamped House of Assembly, among others.
Speaking while commissioning the Government House, Tinubu said infrastructure is the backbone of development in every nation.
He also said that the legacy being built by the governor now will last even after Soludo’s time.
Further describing the action of the governor as “environmentally responsive governance”, Tinubu commended Soludo for delivering quality governance to the people of Anambra.
“Anambra is achieving great heights. Building our tomorrow, today. A leader like Governor Chukwuma Soludo is placing Anambra on the path of 21st-century development.
“You are a good thinker; you are a solution provider. We can go places together. Building Nigeria. Building the future. Using technology to build and reflect good governance among the people. Promote investment. We must encourage good governance,” Tinubu stated.
