Politics
RVHA Moves To Investigate More LGAs
The Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government has reinstated its readiness to ensure that all the local government councils in the state were investigated before the expiration of their tenure.
The House Committee Chairman on Local Government, Hon. Ibani Ikuniye gave the indications Thursday, while speaking with journalists in his office.
He stated that the committee has marshaled out plans to investigate the various local government councils in the state adding that the committee would not renege in its oversight functions in ensuring that sanity and transparency is enthroned in the local government administration.
Hon. Ikuniye opined that the dissolution of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Council by the State House of Assembly, Wednesday had vindicated the committee from its previous reports that indicted the ONELGA and Andoni local government councils adding that the committee reports were not in bias as was speculated by people.
The chairman stated that the committee is currently investigating other local government councils whose cases were pending adding that in no distance time their reports would be submitted to the State House of Assembly for further actions.
He explained that legislative business is not all about oversight functions adding that the Olevueli Cookey-Gam’s Committee set up by Governor Chibuike Amaechi to access the performance of the local government council in the state should not in any way assured that it had taken the constitutional responsibilities of the state legislature.
The lawmaker assured the people of the state that the committee would not do their job haphazardly adding that the state lawmakers were right in the positions they took in the dissolution of the ONELGA council.
“I wish to reinstate that the committee report we submitted to the House were done with all amount of honesty and transparency. We found lapses on the submission given to us by the councils.”
“We discovered that public funds were not judiciously used. So the House acted accordingly,” he exclaimed.
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.