Politics
Lawmaker’s Empowerment Scheme To Benefit 1,300
More than 1,320 constituents of Andoni State Constituency are to benefit from the 2018 empowerment progrmme by the lawmaker representing Andoni State Constituency and Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA), Rt. Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani.
Rt Hon Ibani disclosed this at the weekend in a meeting with some stakeholders from the constituency in Port Harcourt.
According to him, over 110 persons have already benefitted from the programme in January and February 2018 comprising 10 persons from each of the 11 wards of the constituency.
He said beneficiaries would be receiving between N10,000.00 and N50,000.00 monthly to assist young unemployed men and women in the constituency.
He also said that not everyone would be given cash as those who have already undergone skill acquisition training under the programme would be assisted with materials to start off their own businesses.
The speaker said the gesture was part of his electioneering campaign promises to the constituents during the 2015 election in the area.
He advised the stakeholders, who were drawn from various wards of the constituency not to politicise the process of selecting the beneficiaries, but to ensure that the right and genuine people were shortlisted to benefit from the programme, irrespective of party affiliation.
Rt Hon Ibani said the programme was a continuous one as long as he remained the lawmaker representing the area in the state House of Assembly and called on the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity to empower themselves economically.
The speaker stressed that the gesture was to assist the government to reduce unemployment and youth restiveness in the area.
Speaking with The Tide, the Secretary, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHDA), Barr. Erastus Awortu commended the speaker for the programme, saying that the empowerment scheme would go a long way to reduce poverty among the youths and elderly men and women in the area.
Awortu urged others in position of thrusts to borrow a leaf in assisting government to empower youths in the face of the harsh economic condition in the country.
Enoch Epelle
Politics
2027: Bayelsa APC Adopts Tinubu As Sole Candidate … As Lokpobiri, Lyon Shun Meeting
Politics
Alleged Smear Campaign Against Yakubu, CSOs Demand Apology From Uzodimma

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.
Politics
Stopping Natasha’s Resumption Threatens Nigeria’s Democracy – ADC
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.