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Rivers NASS Caucus Insists Amaewhule, Others No Longer Lawmakers

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Rivers State caucus in the House of Representatives have insisted that Martin Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike have lost their seats because of their defection from the Peoples’ Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

This is as the federal lawmakers said Amaewhule and his colleagues should be ashamed of themselves for denying that they never defected, describing their action as unfortunate.

While expressing their support for the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, they expressed dismay over the recent visit of some members of the National Assembly to the pro-Wike Speaker (Amaewhule) to according to him deceive Rivers people.

Leader of the House of Representative Caucus from the state and member representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, stated this when he led a delegation on a solidarity visit to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo in Port Harcourt on Monday.

This came barely a fortnight ago after a similar caucus in the National Assembly led by Senator Barinada Mpigi led a delegation on a solidarity visit to Amaewhule in Port Harcourt wherein he called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to obey extant court judgements.

Abiante alleged that the Mpigi-led delegation willfully distorted the facts about Justice James Omotosho’s judgment, saying the judge did not touch on the status of Rt. Hon Martin Amaewhule and the other lawmakers who he described as a ‘committee of friends and former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly;

He stated, “Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 26 others had lost their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly following their voluntary defection/cross-carpeting which happened on the floor of the House of Assembly in the full glare of the public on 11th December 2023.”

Abiante who made reference to related cases at the Supreme Court of Nigeria noted that the proper and only interpretation to be given to the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) and Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended is that “an elected lawmaker in Nigeria who after an election on the platform of a particular political party, defects to another political party, automatically loses his seat in the affected legislative House from the date of his or her defection.

“The pronouncements of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in these cases, having not been set aside nor overruled in any subsequent judgment of the Supreme Court, remain the law till date on issues of the election of a member of a legislative House in Nigeria,” he stated.

Abiante further said the legal effect of these provisions and the Supreme Court judgments is that “as of 11th December, 2023 when Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule read out the letters of defection of himself and 26 others on the floor of the State House of Assembly, they lost their seats and automatically and mandatorily became former members of the House”.

He said the only legal implication is that Amaewhule and the 26 others remain former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and accordingly are no longer entitled to parade themselves as members of the House or to partake in any business or affair of the House.

He stated, “It is worthy to note that neither the fact of their defection nor any issue relating to their defection nor on their status as former lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly was raised, submitted or discussed in the proceedings leading to the 22 January 2024 judgment of Hon Justice Omotosho.

“Instead of placing before the Federal High Court, the truth and material facts about their status as ex-lawmakers, to afford the Honourable Court an opportunity of deciding on the real issues, the claimants in that case (Hon Amaewhule and co) craftily invented lies and falsehood calculated to mislead the Honourable Court.”

On whether the Rivers State House of Assembly as presently constituted can carry out actual legislative functions of the House, Hon. Abiante referenced Justice Walter Onnoghen’s judgment on Plateau state wherein he ruled that “there is no doubt that there existed in the Plateau State House of Assembly 14 vacant seats as a result of cross carpeting.

“It is my view that until the vacancies created by the carpet crossing members are filled by the process of the by-election, the Plateau State House of Assembly can only transact such legislative duties that require the participation of less than 2/3 majority of ALL the members of that House, which duties definitely excludes impeachment proceedings”.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Victor Oko Jumbo lauded the caucus for the solidarity visit and promised that the House would continue to make laws for the betterment of the Rivers people, as well as maintain their support for Governor Fubara.

Oko-Jumbo stated, “Thank you for standing in solidarity with the Rivers State House of Assembly. Your visit has rekindled hope in us. The former 27 lawmakers are gone. We have too much at stake to abandon the ship.

“The Governor is too focused on delivering good governance to the people. We will continue to stand for what is right and our duties are to make laws for the betterment of our people. That is our focus.”

He continued, “We will continue to stand on the rule of law. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended cannot be changed because 27 former lawmakers loyal to their godfather in Abuja decided to defect, which of course was done on their volition.”

Aside from Hon. Abiante, other members of the National Assembly included the member representing Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency, Hon. Boma Goodhead, the member representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency, Boniface Emerengwa.

Others are Anderson Allison Igbiks, representing Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency and Manuchim Umezurike who represents Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1, in the House of Representatives.

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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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