Politics

Bill to create Orlu State in Southeast Nigeria passes first reading at House of Reps

Published

1 year ago

June 7, 2024

The House of Representatives at the plenary on May 22nd introduced and passed through first reading a Bill which seeks to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to create a new state in the Southeastern region of Nigeria known as Orlu State.

The proposed legislation which is set for second reading was sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere and other lawmakers.

A draft of the bill made available to journalists, stated that, “the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) (herein referred to as the “Principal Act”) is altered as set out in this Bill; Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended as follows: There shall be thirty-seven states in Nigeria that is to say, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos,Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Orlu, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara”.

Also the bill seeks an amendment by inserting a new paragraph immediately after the Ondo State and before the Osun State paragraph, to read as follows:

State – Orlu ,Capital City- Orlu.

Local Government Areas as to be amended will now include, “Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Ihiala, Uli, Ozubulu, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, Amaifeke, Owerrebiri Umuowa.”

The lead sponsor, Ugochinyere told journalists that the proposed state will be carved out from Imo, Abia and Anambra.

He also told journalists that when the State is created, Ideato will emerge as a senatorial district.

He appealed to his colleagues at the National Assembly for support to ensure that the bill scales through second reading.

Politics

Dino Melaye resigns from PDP, gives reason

Published

9 hours ago

July 31, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Melaye anchored his resignation on PDP’s failure to rescue Nigeria from what he described as “the prevailing political cankerworms”.

His resignation was contained in a letter dated July 30 and addressed to the PDP Chairman of Ward 1 in Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

“This decision has become imperative due to the lack of potency and capacity by the party to deliver the Nigerian people from the prevailing political cankerworms that have eaten deeply into the fabric of our dear nation,” Melaye wrote.

The close ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is a key member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Melaye becomes the latest chieftain to resign from the PDP following the formation of the opposition coalition.

Former Senate President David Mark, Atiku, Dele Momodu are among those who have left the party.

Mark is currently the interim national chairman of the ADC, the platform adopted by the opposition coalition.

Meanwhile, Mark has warned members of the coalition to be committed to ADC, stressing there would be no room for anti-party activities.

Politics

Tinubu’s govt lacks effective communication strategy - Babangida Aliyu

Published

9 hours ago

July 31, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is performing well but lacks an effective communication strategy to relay its achievements to Nigerians.

Aliyu made the statement on the Thursday edition of Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’, while reacting to the outcome of a recent public accountability session held in Kaduna.

Aliyu, reflecting on the discussions at the Kaduna Forum, said the government is facing public dissatisfaction not because it hasn’t delivered, but because it is failing to tell its own story effectively.

The ex-governor said it is proper for political leaders in the North to make demands from Tinubu’s administration since the bulk of the votes that took power came from the region.

“Let the people understand what is happening on the ground. If by what we say that 63/64 percent of the vote came from the north, it is only logical that the north will be expecting so much from the government.

“But from what we have seen so far is that the government is doing well but they do not know how to communicate very well,” he said.

Politics

Appeal Court affirms Aiyedatiwa’s election as Ondo Governor

Published

9 hours ago

July 31, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State Capital, has affirmed the election of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The governor was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ekwutosblog reports that the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had earlier affirmed Aiyedatiwa’s victory.

The tribunal dismissed petitions filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, challenging the outcome of the election.

Details to follow….