Abuja, Nigeria – The 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded today, July 25, 2025, with a strong emphasis on unity and reconciliation within the party.
The two-day meeting, which began yesterday, has yielded key outcomes that will shape the party’s future.
The PDP NEC has decided that there will be no change in the party’s leadership until the next national convention.
The committee has directed the setup of a discipline and reconciliation committee to promote unity within the party.
The NEC meeting has paved the way for the party’s upcoming national convention, scheduled to take place from August 28-30, 2025.
Speaking at the meeting, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara stressed the importance of delivering strong and inspiring leadership at the convention to reclaim the party’s position as Nigeria’s leading opposition force. Wabara expressed optimism that a successful convention will attract defectors back to the party and draw in new members.
The outcomes of the NEC meeting have set a positive tone for the PDP’s future, particularly as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections. The focus on unity, reconciliation, and strong leadership is expected to propel the PDP forward in the coming years.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s international passport was briefly seized by Nigerian immigration officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Wednesday morning, July 24, causing a momentary travel scare before she eventually boarded a British Airways flight to London.
According to eyewitnesses at the airport, the senator, representing Kogi Central, arrived at the international terminal with her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, and was stopped by immigration officials as she was about to board a London-bound flight. The immigration officers were said to have flagged her as a “national security risk.”
Eyewitnesses say the Senator remained calm and composed throughout the ordeal, insisting that the officers had no legal authority to seize her passport.
“The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport,” she was overheard telling the officers while urging them to allow her to proceed.
Her husband was spotted making a series of urgent phone calls as the delay dragged on. Minutes later, the senator’s passport was returned without any formal explanation, allowing her to swiftly proceed through immigration and board her flight just in time.
In the latest financial update, the exchange rate between the Nigerian Naira (NGN) and the US Dollar (USD) stands at:
– 1 USD = ₦1,527.80 NGN
This means that for every one US Dollar, you will need approximately one thousand five hundred and twenty-seven Naira, eighty kobo. The exchange rate is based on the latest data available from leading financial institutions and market sources.
We will continue to monitor and provide updates on any changes to the exchange rate.
The lawmaker representing Kogi Central at the national assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has brushed off the threat by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio to resume plenary on Tuesday morning.
This is coming after Akpabio appealed a court judgement that ruled against her six months suspension.
She arrived the National Assembly where her supporters converge at the entrance to await her.
Meanwhile, there was a security build-up at the gate of the complex with stern-looking officers searching cars and restricting visitors to the car park outside the parliament.
No fewer than five police patrol vehicles were stationed at a strategic area at the entrance to the Assembly complex.
The heightened security comes in the wake of a threat by Akpoti-Uduaghan to return to legislative duties amid warnings from the Senate.
In a landmark regulatory intervention, the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) has announced a significant reduction in electricity tariffs, slashing the cost of Band A power supply from N209 to N160 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while freezing tariffs for Bands B, C, D, and E. The new tariff takes effect from August 1, 2025.
The announcement was made through Order No. EERC/2025/003, titled “Tariff Order for MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited 2025,” which was issued over the weekend.
MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, the utility company that succeeded the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), will now operate under the new rate regime. The move comes after a detailed tariff and license application review by EERC, in accordance with its 2024 Tariff Methodology Regulations and supported by the Distribution Tariff Model.
Speaking on the development, EERC Chairman Chijioke Okonkwo explained that the new Band A tariff reflects a cost-justified model and takes into account federal subsidies on electricity generation.
“We arrived at an average cost-reflective tariff of N94/kWh. Band A customers will pay N160, which is still significantly below the previously approved N209/kWh,” Okonkwo stated.
He further explained that the federal government currently subsidizes electricity generation costs — paying only N45 out of an actual N112/kWh — thereby cushioning the pricing burden on end users.
“This reduction benefits consumers while helping MainPower manage tariff stability over time, especially if the subsidy is withdrawn in the future. Crucially, this model ensures no additional subsidy is required from the Enugu State Government,” he said.
The tariff adjustment is grounded in the Enugu State Electricity Law 2023, signed into law by Governor Dr. Peter Mbah, following the 2023 constitutional amendment which decentralised electricity regulation. That law gave EERC exclusive jurisdiction over electricity regulation within Enugu State, in line with the federal Electricity Act 2023, which repealed the previous Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005.
The Commission has also mandated robust transparency and accountability mechanisms to ensure service quality, particularly for Band A customers.
“MainPower must publish a rolling seven-day average of daily power supply hours on each Band A feeder. Failure to meet service standards for two consecutive days must be reported within 24 hours,” EERC warned.
“Persistent failure—seven consecutive days—will result in the automatic downgrading of that feeder’s tariff band.”
EERC reaffirmed its commitment to consumer protection and sustainable power sector development, vowing to work with investors, developers, and the general public to build a reliable and cost-effective electricity market.
This bold regulatory move positions Enugu as a national trailblazer in state-level power sector reform and consumer-focused electricity pricing.
Although I absolutely should have foreseen it, I honestly didn’t anticipate the profoundly painful consequences that my July 16 Facebook update titled “Aisha Buhari, Divorce, and Forgiveness Claim” would have on former First Lady Mrs. Aisha Buhari and people closest to her.
It’s one of the worst and cruelest lapses of judgement I have ever committed in my life, and it has been a source of unfathomable personal anguish for me these past few days.
My source, whose integrity is unimpeachable, insists the information is accurate, but never intended for it to become public. Going public with the information was an error on my part, as not every well-sourced information is for public consumption.
On the other side, Alhaji Sani Zorro, former SSA to the First Lady on Public Affairs, whom I hold in the highest esteem, has reached out to question the accuracy of my claims.
I will not contest the particulars and veracity of the information with Alhaji Sani who conveyed the former First Lady’s position that her marriage was intact. After all, as the late MKO Abiola memorably said, no one can give you a haircut in your absence.
Clearly, Mrs. Buhari herself has the ultimate authority and right to define the status of her marriage with her late husband. Her truth should be respected as supreme, whatever other facts may exist.
Moreover, the truth of this information is now far less significant than the hurt my disclosure of it has caused. I shouldn’t have shared it publicly. Period. Doing so violated every moral and ethical principle I cherish and uphold. But it shows I am only human, an imperfect human.
I realize it might be impossible for many to believe (except those who truly know me) that I acted without malice, ulterior motives, or external influence. But I sincerely did not intend to harm Mrs. Buhari or execute any personal vendetta.
To Mrs. Aisha Buhari, I offer my heartfelt and unreserved apology for the needless and deeply regrettable hurt I have caused. I am truly sorry.
Good Governance Ministry (GGM) ,a political advocacy group has thrown her weight behind Gov Alex Otti on the rejection of unviable state creation across Nigeria . In a statement issued by the Ambassador General of the Ministry – Ndubuisi Anaenugwu , on Sunday, July 20, 2025, the statement reads in full ” 90 % of the existing States are being spoonfed from monthly federal allocation . Without sharing cakes from Abuja , most of these States will go bankrupt . Creating more States is to create more confusion and more jobs for unproductive and corrupt politicians. GGM will always support a system of government that would promote competition and production. A system where federating units will be allowed to bake their own cakes . GGM is solidly behind Gov Alex Otti for his visionary Leadership . GGM agrees with Gov Alex Otti that creation of sixth state in south east will corrct decades of existing structural inbalance”
“The M.I. Okparas and Sam Mbakwes of this world did not wait for the creation of tiny enclaves called states before making the generational impacts they made. They governed vast territories and still achieved prosperity,” the statement noted.
GGM acknowledged the constitutional and political imbalance that has left the South-East as the only zone with five states, while others have six and the North-West has seven.
GGM cautioned stakeholders and public officeholders to avoid pursuing state creation as a selfish political project, noting that short-term political gains often come at the expense of long-term national interest.
“Creating additional states without first laying a solid economic foundation is a dangerous distraction from our real developmental challenges,” the statement added
The 2025 National Summit on The Future of Nigeria Constitutional Democracy was convened by THE PATRIOTS, Nigeria foremost group of elder statesmen and women, intellectuals and civic leaders, under the distinguished leadership of Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG).
Delegates at the National Summit held between 16th and 17th July, 2025 at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja and the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, respectively were drawn from the civil society groups, women, the academia, ethnic nationalities, Nigerians in Diaspora, professional groups, faith-based organizations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, market men/women, security experts, student leaders, the private sector and persons with special needs across the country. The National Summit examined and responded to the deep-rooted and systemic challenges confronting Nigeria and its diverse peoples. Deliberations at the National Summit touched on the urgent need to reposition the country through a new, inclusive democratic peoples Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
PREAMBLE
Guided by the aspirations of the Nigerian people for fairness, social justice, equity, security, and sustainable development, and confronted with the present systemic structural and governance failures and dysfunction under the current 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Realizing that the 1999 Constitution did not derive its legitimacy from popular participation and approbation of the Nigerian people, the National Summit therefore affirmed the inherent flaws and consequences in the existing constitutional frameworks which manifest in the decline into unitary system (rather than fostering genuine federalism), poor leadership and weak delivery of governance arising from weak political structures and institutions; declining sense of citizenship and patriotism; an increasing multi-dimensional poverty and inequality that threaten peace, unity and development; widespread fear, anxiety and an increasing feeling of hopelessness; acute corruption and lack of accountability/transparency; insecurity across regions; sectional, ethnic, and religious conflicts with various dimensions and scope that have further weakened national unity and mutual distrust; poor infrastructure; poor management of the economy manifesting in disconnection from human capital development as well as environment mismanagement; and poor adaptation strategy resulting in increasing vulnerability of Nigeria and Nigerians to climate change.
Convinced that Nigeria as a political entity needs holistic restructuring and comprehensive overhaul of the existing constitutional framework and governance architecture, the National Summit resolved to chart a new course for enduring future through renewed and unflagging commitment to demanding a new inclusive; democratic peoples Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the basis of the following resolutions.
RESOLUTIONS
The following resolutions represent consensus reached at the National Summit, offering clear, constructive and principled remedies for Nigeria pressing constitutional and governance crises:
Urgent need for new a Constitutional order
The Summit agreed that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is deeply flawed and unrepresentative in that it was not made by the people and is inadequate for addressing the country’s pluralism and the various challenges confronting Nigeria as a nation. Therefore, delegates agreed that there is the need for a new people-driven, inclusive, democratic Constitution anchored on true federalism. For stability and maximal development, the Constitution must address Nigeria plurality and diversity.
Demand for Constituent Assembly
In order to actualize the above and other reforms agreed to at this Summit, the delegates agreed that the President be requested to introduce an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize elections to a national Constituent Assembly. This Assembly shall be made up of delegates elected on non-partisan basis as well as representatives of special interest groups
3. Referendum
The Constituent Assembly shall be responsible for actualizing a peoples democratic Constitution that will be subjected to a referendum of the Nigerian people before it is assented to by the President to midwife a peoples democratic Constitution that will be subjected to a referendum of the Nigerian people before it is assented to by the President.
4. Return to genuine federalism
The Summit calls for an immediate constitutional framework that will return Nigeria to a truly federal system of government where the federating units will enjoy their autonomy as obtained in the First Republic and other genuine democracies of the World.
5. Federal System of government
The Summit agreed that the current presidential system of government is too expensive, prone to abuse; constitutes a hindrance to peoples welfare and a major threat to the future of democracy in Nigeria.
6. Geographical restructuring
Flowing from the above resolutions, the Summit resolved that the present six geopolitical zones should be restructured in such a way as to ensure a truly federal system of government.
7. Devolution of Federal powers
The current political reality is that too much power is concentrated at the center. Quite enormous powers are currently concentrated in the presidency. The reduction of the enormity will discourage autocratic tendencies and encourage inter-institutional checks and balances. The patriot therefore recommends the devolution of powers from the center to the federating units.
8. Legislature
The Summit agreed that a two-chamber federal legislature is unsustainably expensive for Nigeria to maintain. The Summit therefore recommends a more appropriate cost-effective system.
9. Administration of justice
Justice delayed is justice denied. The centralized court system has impacted the administration of justice so negatively that congestion of court registries with cases has become a problem that may never be solved unless there is a decisive Constitutional intervention. Therefore, the summit delegates recommend that there is the need for each federating unit to have its court hierarchy up to the Court of Appeal, thereby leaving the Federal Supreme Court to deal with heavy Constitutional matters, interstate disputes, and disputes between the Federal and subnational governments. The summit also recommends the creation of special courts to manage special offenses such as electoral matters, corruption and terrorism cases amongst others.
10. Appointment of Non-politically Partisan Attorney-Generals
The Summit recommends that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and that of the Minister of Justice as well as the office of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice at the state level should be separated to enable the appointment of non-politically partisan Attorneys-General.
11. Electoral reforms
Free, fair and credible elections are the real pillars of democracy. The current reality is a democracy that has been taken away from the control of voters. Elections are too costly and prone to fraud. Billions of Naira are spent on recruitment of electoral officers, security agencies and logistics while the courts have become the real electors of leaders. Among other reforms, the summit resolved therefore, that all elections be conducted in a single day, as this is cheaper, time saving and less prone to fraud. Brazil and Ghana are good examples of countries that have adopted single-day elections. The Summit demand amendment to the Electoral Act and the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results real time to be made mandatory.
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATURE
The new Constitution should include provision for independent candidacy for aspirants who do not wish to run for elections on party basis.
CROSS CARPETTING
The summit recommends that once a person is elected on the platform of a political party, he or she shall not defect to another political party till the tenure is over. Where this takes place, such seat shall automatically and unconditionally be declared vacant and such person shall forthwith seize to hold the office.
12. Cost of governance
Cost-cutting is a time-tested solution to bankruptcy. The present pseudo-federal system is too large and unmanageable. It takes so much to run while the result is over-bloated bureaucracies and political structures at both state and federal levels.
13. Number of Ministers and Political Appointees
The Constitution should set caps on the number of ministers, commissioners, special advisers and such officers to reduce bloated government structures. Ministries at federal and regional levels should not be more than 15 while departments and agencies should be reduced to one quarter of the existing number.
14. Corruption & breach of public trust
Pervasive corruption and impunity remain symptoms of governance failure in Nigeria. These are enabled by the inherent contradictions and inadequacies in the 1999 Constitution which was imposed on the country by the military and all of which now manifest in centralized leadership structure. These flaws in the Constitution have been consistently and systematically exploited by political actors and government bureaucracies to institutionalize corruption.
The Summit agreed that for these deficiencies to be effectively tackled, there must be enough deterrence for offenders. Certainty of arrest, an uncompromised judiciary and severity of punishment which are guaranteed deterrence to criminality are currently circumvented with impunity in Nigeria. The Summit demand comprehensive restructuring of the police and the court system for effective, corruption-free justice delivery.
15. Citizens rights/Empowerment initiatives
The United Nations has said that there are currently over 20 million Nigerian children out of school while over 130 million Nigerians wallow in multidimensional poverty. There is also an acute state of infrastructure decay and deficit. With over 50% infrastructure deficit that covers roads, transport, electricity, housing, water and sanitation (World Bank 2024), real development requires a dedication to system and structural overhaul much of which a peoples Constitution can direct.
16. Women and Other Groups
The Summit therefore recommends that the new Constitution should entrench robust provisions for the protection of the peoples socio-economic and political rights such as education, security and employment. Summit recommends the inclusion of women, youths, people with special needs and minorities in political participation, governance and nation building. The new Constitution should ensure gender equity in determining citizenship by marriage and the explicit provisions that protect women and the girl child against all forms of abuse and discrimination in the society.
17. Nigerians in Diaspora
Nigerians in the Diaspora have over the years complained of disenfranchisement and exclusion from the voting process. Currently, statistics put the figure of Nigerians in the Diaspora at over 15 million, yet these Nigerians are excluded from the voting process, despite their huge contributions to economic development through diaspora remittances. The Summit recommends the establishment of a legal framework that will guarantee the civic rights of this class of Nigerians to participate in the democratic process.
18. National security architecture & strategy
The virtual collapse of security infrastructure has led to the continuing death of thousands of Nigerians and the displacement of over 3 million from their homes. More than 10 million Nigerians have fallen victims of attacks by non-state actors. All these tragically impact lives, livelihood and business. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that from May 2023 to April 2024 alone, 614,937 Nigerians were killed. Furthermore, the porosity of Nigeria borders have contributed immensely to the worsening insecurity in the country. It enables the trafficking of weapons from as far as North Africa via Niger to Nigeria. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that there are over 350 million arms and ammunition illegally circulating in Nigeria, making the country the biggest trans-border market for illicit arms in Africa.
Summit therefore recommends a broad range of measures, one of which is that there should be establishment of border/coastal security guards to support the conventional security forces. There should be enactment of statutes that will lead to the introduction of a community-based border policing model to the nations security systems.
Summit also affirmed the need for equity in statutory rotation of headship of national security agencies among the sub-nationals.
19. Secularity/Religion
The Summit agreed that given her pluralism, Nigeria shall in perpetuity remain a secular state. Both the central and the sub-national governments shall do nothing to detract from this secularity.
20. Sub-national Police
The Summit recommends the urgency of a legislative framework that would enable the creation of state police to tackle the pervasive internal security issues across the geopolitical zones.
21. Federal/Sub-national Constitutions
The federating units should enjoy a great measure of constitutional autonomy in a federal system. The three (later four) regions of the First Republic had their individual constitutions in addition to the Federal Constitution. This is a provision which the Summit agreed should be part of the new Constitution as part of measures to reclaim the country from the vice grip of unitarism.
22. True Fiscal Federalism
The summit recommends that the new Constitution should make provision for the restoration of fiscal federalism and resource control given the fact that all parts of Nigeria are well endowed with Natural resources.
Conclusion
The Summit leadership thanks all delegates from all the states of the federation and Nigerians in the Diaspora who attended virtually, for believing in this cause. The Summit salutes the resolve of all patriots to make Nigeria work. The current gush of enthusiasm and commitment from Nigerians of all classes across the globe is a further demonstration of the urgent need for a new nation governed by a new democratic, and inclusive constitution. With sustained action and unflagging support for the resolutions reached at this submit, it is our belief that the dawn of a new, just, equitable and peaceful Nigeria is nigh. Together, we shall live to see that new, prosperous Nigeria where no child is left behind and where no man and woman is oppressed.
From the depths of my heart, I thank you for answering our call and standing with us as we embark on this journey.
The Triumphant launch of our flag-off is a beacon of hope for what we can achieve together. Your unwavering commitment to a better Anambra, and a greater Nigeria, fills me with hope. This dedication will not go unnoticed, and together, we will create a new story—a narrative where our collective voice echoes with strength and unity.
Anambra deserves a future brimming with security, robust infrastructure, and reliable electricity. We are ready to restore our beloved state to its former glory, where peace and safety reign, and where we can move freely, celebrating together, day or night. With our united belief and effort, Anambra will indeed be great again.
Onye kwe Chi ya ekwe—where there is a will, there is a way. Let us join hands, and together, let’s make Anambra great again.
ublic affairs analyst and professor of journalism at Kennesaw State University in the US, Farooq Kperogi, has claimed that Nigeria’s former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, was divorced from the late President Muhammadu Buhari before his death.
Kperogi stated this in a post shared on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday.
Addressing reports about Aisha Buhari allegedly saying that her late husband asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf, Kperogi wrote, “People have been circulating a quote attributed to Aisha Buhari, claiming that Buhari asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf.
“I can’t confirm the authenticity of that claim, but what I do know is that before Buhari’s death, he and Aisha were no longer married.”
He went further to state that Aisha had already reverted to her maiden name before Buhari’s passing.
They had divorced, and Aisha reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu.”
Backing his claim with observations, Kperogi noted, “If you paid close attention, you would notice that Aisha didn’t go to Daura when he retired to the town after leaving office. Buhari was also alone when he later relocated to Kaduna.
“In fact, when he fell ill and it was suggested that Aisha travel to London to care for him, she reportedly hesitated because she was no longer his wife. She eventually went in the last few days before he died, but only after intense persuasion.
“Even now, during this period of mourning, she seems understandably conflicted about her role.”
The professor questioned the authenticity of the widely shared statement attributed to Aisha, expressing scepticism.
“So, I’m genuinely curious to know when and where Buhari told her to beg Nigerians for forgiveness. Where did she even say this?” he asked.
His claims come a day after Buhari was laid to rest in his country home at Daura, Katsina State.
Aisha was also present at the burial, visibly grief-stricken as she received comfort from several dignitaries at the event, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.
According to publicly available records, Aisha married Buhari on December 2, 1989. The couple had five children together.
In September 2019, SaharaReporters, citing Daily Trust, reported that Aisha Buhari had been out of Nigeria for about two months, sparking concerns within the Presidential Villa.
According to the newspaper, multiple sources at the Villa revealed that the First Lady left the country in protest over “certain developments” within the presidency.
She reportedly departed Nigeria for Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage but did not return with other pilgrims. Credible sources said that after completing the pilgrimage, she proceeded to London and remained there.
