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Crisis deepens in Otukpo LG as councillors drag chairman to Benue Assembly

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The standoff between the chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, and the legislative council has intensified just days after Governor Hyacinth Alia lifted the one-month suspension earlier imposed on the chairman by the Benue State House of Assembly.

Ogiri reportedly issued a directive ordering the council to suspend all legislative sittings, a move councillors say is driven by personal motives rather than genuine security concerns.

Council leader Philip Anya, in a petition submitted to the Benue Assembly, alleged that Ogiri halted legislative activities under the guise of insecurity.

A letter dated September 8, 2025, and signed by the council’s secretary, Simon Idenyi, instructed councillors to conduct their deliberations via social-media platforms “for the time being.”

The letter partly stated, “While the chairman is very much mindful of the fact that the postponement will affect the smooth running of the legislative arm for the time being, he therefore can not take the security advice for granted… chairman wishes to advice legislatures to explore other platforms such as, Whatsapp, Facebook etc to enhance legislative business for the time being.”

Anya and fellow members accused Ogiri of defying instructions from both the governor and the deputy governor to maintain the council’s former leadership structure. They urged the state assembly to probe alleged financial irregularities and to condemn what they described as the unlawful shutdown of the Otukpo legislative arm.

Their petition further demanded that “the Benue State House of Assembly immediately move in and take over the Otukpo legislative council and allow the councillors conduct their regular sessions under the watchful and protective eyes of the House of Assembly.”

Reacting, Ogiri confirmed awareness of the petition but insisted that the earlier letter citing security concerns had been withdrawn.

He explained that the suspension of legislative activities was instead due to ongoing repairs at the dilapidated council chamber, while the temporary hall is currently occupied by the Idoma Area Traditional Council and the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for traditional stool selections.

Ogiri himself had earlier faced a six-month suspension recommendation for alleged misconduct, later reduced to one month by Governor Alia.

The new Speaker, Alfred Emberger, lifted that suspension after about a week. Ogiri maintained he did not disobey the deputy governor’s directive to maintain the status quo, arguing the order came before his official resumption earlier in the week.

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Nyesom Wike wishes de@th on any politician supporting ‘’betrayers’

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FCT Minister and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has said that any senator, House of Representatives Member, Minister, or governor who supports betrayers will suffer betrayal in their lives and that such person will join their creator when they experience their own betrayal.

Wike who is currently in a running battle with his godson and incumbent governor of Rivers state, Sim Fubara, said this while speaking at a public function in the state today February 6.

Speaking to the crowd at the public function, Wike said

‘’Wether you are a Senator, House of Reps member, a Minister or Governor, and you support betrayers, people will continue to betray you in life. You see people who betray and support them, betrayal is your portion! Betrayal is your portion! and that day you will not have mouth to say anything and there you will collapse and there you will go and they will announce such person has died because that is the seed you have planted because whatever you plant, you reap and so since you are sowing betrayal, betrayal will always follow you.

Watch! Every governor who is doing his second term and has ambition to put a successor and is supporting betrayals, you will never survive it. Betrayal will follow you. From the day your successor comes in. My own took so many months, your own will start immediately the person has been inaugurated. That is what the gods of the land have told me to tell all of you’’

 

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How Buhari shocked me 6 months into his administration – Oyegun

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Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.

Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.

The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.

“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.

“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.

“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?

“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.

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Electoral Reform: Dino alleges senate’s plot to rig 2027 election

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Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.

The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.

In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.

He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.

Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.

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