Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has called on the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and to create a sixth state in the Southeast geopolitical zone as part of efforts to promote national unity and address regional grievances.

Speaking on Channels Tv Politics on Sunday, Nwoko said the release of Kanu would help restore peace and stability in the Southeast, which has been plagued by insecurity and separatist agitation since the IPOB leader’s detention.

“The continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu has deepened distrust and tension in the Southeast. His release will serve as a reconciliatory gesture and pave the way for lasting peace in the region,” Nwoko said.

Kanu, who was extradited from Kenya in 2021, has been facing charges of treason and terrorism before the Federal High Court in Abuja. His trial has been ongoing amid growing calls for his release from political, religious, and civil society leaders.

The lawmaker also highlighted the need to correct what he described as a structural imbalance in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, noting that the Southeast remains the only region with five states, while others have at least six.

“The Southeast deserves a sixth state to ensure equity in political representation, resource distribution, and national development,” Nwoko said.

His comments came a day after a Joint National Assembly Committee approved the creation of six new states, including Anioma State to be carved out of Delta North.

The proposed new states still require the approval of the full National Assembly, the President’s assent, and state-level referendums before formal recognition under the Nigerian Constitution.

Nwoko, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), expressed optimism that the creation of Anioma State and the release of Kanu would both serve as significant steps toward national inclusion and reconciliation.

''I believe Nnamdi Kanu has been held unjustly…His incarceration is the main reason for the crisis in the South-East.''

-Senator Ned Nwoko#SundayPolitics pic.twitter.com/UQcCirfcVM

— Channels Television (@channelstv) October 26, 2025

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State over what it described as an open attempt to induce voters ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

This follows the governor’s recent remarks at a campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, where he pledged cash rewards to wards that deliver votes for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) — the party under which he is seeking re-election.

Soludo had told supporters that every ward won by APGA would receive ₦1 million, while the top three performing wards would get ₦5 million, ₦2 million, and ₦1 million, respectively.

“When we were campaigning for the Senate, we knew we were going to win every ward in the South Senatorial Zone, but we still had some incentives. Any ward that APGA won received ₦1 million, and we won all the wards in Orumba South.

“We promised each of these wards ₦1 million, and next week we will redeem it. For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive ₦1 million, while the first three performing wards will get ₦5 million, ₦2 million, and ₦1 million, respectively,” the governor said.

Reacting to the comment, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, said Soludo’s promise amounts to “cash for votes,” which violates the Electoral Act 2022, particularly Sections 121 and 127, which prohibit any form of voter inducement.

“Ahead of the November 8 election, Soludo has clearly lost the confidence of the people, and it shows,” Abdullahi said.

“Only a sitting governor who has run out of public goodwill would so openly resort to cash for votes, in direct violation of the Electoral Act. This is a new level of desperation wrapped in impunity, and I hope INEC is not pretending not to see it.”

Meanwhile, sources within the Anambra State Government have dismissed opposition criticism, insisting that the governor’s statement was merely a motivational gesture to party supporters rather than an inducement for votes.

Observers, however, warn that such monetary pledges could set a dangerous precedent and erode public confidence in the credibility of the electoral process if left unchecked by the electoral umpire.

The Anambra governorship election is expected to be closely contested, with APGA, the ADC, Labour Party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) all fielding candidates in the race.

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Political tension continues to deepen in Abia State as Bende Political Stakeholders have criticized the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, over what they described as poorly executed constituency projects across Bende Federal Constituency.

According to reports by KEPU KEPU TV, the renewed friction follows Kalu’s recent comments urging Abians to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making funds available to state governors, describing the president as “the real miracle worker.”

His remarks drew widespread backlash from various political quarters, including the Abia State Chief Liaison Officer at the National Assembly, Chief Iheanyi Chinasa, who challenged the Deputy Speaker to provide verifiable evidence of his constituency projects and their costs.

Chief Chinasa further invited Kalu to allow an independent media verification of the projects, even offering to sponsor the inspection if the Deputy Speaker declined to cover the expenses.

In response, Kalu’s Chief Press Secretary, Livinus Nwabughiogu, shared photographs of several projects purportedly executed by the Deputy Speaker on his verified Facebook page.

However, in a follow-up development, the Bende Political Stakeholders conducted what they described as an independent investigation and fact-finding mission to verify the true state of those projects across Bende Federal Constituency, Abia North, and parts of the South-East.

According to the group’s findings, several of the projects were either substandard, incomplete, or already deteriorating, with some allegedly collapsing within a year of completion.

“A visit to Mkpa in Bende Local Government Area revealed a poorly constructed bridge that remains inaccessible, especially during the rainy season,” the group said in a statement.

The stakeholders claimed that photographic evidence from various sites confirmed their position that most of the projects were “haphazardly executed and failed to serve their intended purpose.”

They therefore called on Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu to revisit the affected projects and explain why infrastructure under his supervision failed so quickly, emphasizing that accountability and transparency are essential for effective representation.

“It is disappointing that a person of such national standing would deliver projects that lack quality assurance,” the statement added.

The group urged the Deputy Speaker to prioritize the completion and proper rehabilitation of the affected projects in order to restore public confidence in his representation.

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…Says Move Aligns Enugu with Power at the Center for Greater Development, Pledges Support for Tinubu’s Reelection

The Coalition of Southern Nigeria Youth Groups for Asiwaju 2027 (COSONYGA-2027) has congratulated Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State on his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as visionary, patriotic, and development-driven.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Rt. Hon. Rikki Nwajiofor, the coalition said Governor Mbah’s decision marks “a new dawn for Enugu State”— one that would enhance political collaboration and developmental synergy between the state and the Federal Government.

“Governor Peter Mbah’s defection is a strategic and progressive step that will open Enugu State to increased federal attention, infrastructural development, and economic empowerment programs under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Nwajiofor stated.

He added that Mbah’s move to the APC demonstrates his commitment to the prosperity of Enugu State and the welfare of its people, noting that alignment with the central government would attract more federal projects, strengthen security collaboration, and expand youth and agricultural initiatives.

“This is a commendable and patriotic move. It shows that Governor Peter Mbah is more concerned about the progress of Ndi Enugu than partisan divides. The APC-led Federal Government has proven its commitment to inclusive development, and Enugu State stands to benefit immensely from this new alignment,” the statement continued.

COSONYGA-2027 also pledged its full support for the governor’s administration and reiterated its readiness to mobilize youths across Southern Nigeria in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his 2027 reelection bid.

“We are fully prepared to work closely with Governor Peter Mbah in mobilizing the youth constituency across the South for President Tinubu’s reelection. With this renewed partnership, the South-East and the entire Southern region will witness unprecedented progress and political collaboration,” Nwajiofor concluded.

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Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, on Tuesday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He received his APC APC membership card at the Government House in Enugu

Mbah said his decision is about the people.

Here is his full speech during the deflection.

CHARTING A NEW COURSE: TRANSITION FROM PDP TO APC

TEXT OF AN ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR OF ENUGU STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. PETER NDUBUISI MBAH, ON HIS FORMAL DECLARATION FOR THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC), TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025

I want to begin by expressing a deep gratitude to God and Ndi Enugu…

For we are indeed at a moment of reflection, gratitude and renewal.

Today, I stand before you, to announce a break from the past, and to share a decision that will shape the road ahead. This concerns our values, how we organize ourselves politically, and how we secure the future of our projects and our people.

I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to this journey over the past 28 months.

At the top of that list is Ndi Enugu. At a time when confidence in political leaders had almost collapsed, you chose to believe in us.

When I declared that “Tomorrow Is Here,” it struck a chord in your hearts. You put aside long-held skepticism and stood by us. Without that trust, the transformation we see today would never have happened.

Let us pause for a moment and consider what this transformation looks like.

It looks like Smart Green Schools nearing completion and primary healthcare centres in all 260 wards.

It looks like crime down by 80%; Maternal, Under-5 and infant mortality rates reduced by 400 percent.

It looks like a Command and Control Centre with AI-embedded Security Surveillance System and 150 Distress Response Squad vehicles that guarantee safe streets and neighbourhoods.

It looks like water flowing again through new mains and restored supply.

It looks like over 1000 kilometres of paved roads.

It looks like Internally-Generated Revenue up 600%.

It looks like a fully booked International Conference Centre pouring money into our local economy.

It looks like direct flights taking off – with Enugu Air linking us to key cities across Nigeria and beyond.

It looks like 3 million visitors to Enugu by 2026 – with Nigeria’s first zipline, 4 immersive eco-tourist sites.

It looks like commuting in comfortable CNG buses at 5 world-class terminals; and having 260 Farm Estates that bring production to scale.

It looks like Hotel Presidential and Nigergas revamped; and several moribund assets roaring back to life.

Of course, it looks like winning the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Model Green State Award as the Cleanest State in Nigeria.

It looks like Enugu on the national – indeed global – map.

Ndi Enugu, Your trust and support have been the bedrock of our success, and we pledge to honour that by delivering on our election promises.

Our elder statesmen have also demonstrated generosity and foresight.

Many of you had witnessed decades of broken promises. When we approached you, we did not ask for blind loyalty but some faith in our vision.

You gave us that faith. Together, with your vote of confidence, we have achieved remarkable progress.

To my colleagues in the administration, I am grateful for your resilience. We have walked a path that often felt like a marathon without rest. Many of the ideas we put forward were dismissed as unrealistic. Yet you kept pushing the boundaries of what was possible.

Because of your dedication, today we hear applause for Enugu across Nigeria and beyond.

To the Peoples Democratic Party, which provided the platform on which we campaigned and won, I extend deep gratitude. The PDP supported us through a demanding campaign and joined in celebrating the victory.

For nearly 3 decades, the PDP and the people of Enugu walked side by side, united by shared purpose. Together, we built relationships that will always matter to me personally and to this state.

Yet, leadership sometimes demands difficult – even painful – decisions in the service of higher principles and goals. And there always comes a time when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.

Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the PDP and join the All Progressives Congress.

This is no whimsical decision. It’s a collective move by the political family in Enugu State, comprising members of the National Assembly, members of the State House of Assembly, the State Executive Council, all the Local Government Chairmen and Councillors, all political appointees and over 80% of party executives.

Over the past months, I have thought carefully about the path forward. In the end, after much soul searching and discussion, I have concluded that we must stand for the principles and institutions that honour transparency, trust, and above all – the people we serve.

For decades, the South East – especially Enugu – has stood firmly behind the PDP, showing loyalty that shaped the party’s success.

Yet despite this history, our voices were too often disregarded when it mattered most.

It has therefore become necessary to seek affiliation where our interests as a region are represented in the form of fair partnership.

We are not moving from a place of resentment or fear. We are confident of our future.

We have no axe to grind, no personal point to make. But fairness, respect and integrity must guide our choices for that future to be ours.

Today, in joining the APC, we are embracing a visionary partnership.

I have found in His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose, a man with the courage to look beyond today and make the tough choices that secure lasting prosperity for tomorrow.

Together, we share a conviction that transformation must be bold and disruptive – that roads, railways, and airlines must stretch out from the heart of the South East; that Enugu’s promise, its security, its schools, its hospitals, its markets, its communities – must be reinforced.

The President has shown not only interest, but a deep and vested commitment to Enugu, one that recognizes our region as a pillar of national progress.

We both share a belief that renewal does not stop at the grand highways or the balance sheets. It must reach the ward, the village, our grassroots. It is in the daily life of the farmer, the trader, the young entrepreneur that reforms come alive.

We both welcome initiatives that decentralize opportunity, that strengthen the capacity of local government, that bring seed capital and credit to our youth, and that expand healthcare and education at the community level.

Just as we do in our ward-based development initiatives, these convictions are boldly expressed in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, an idea conceived to empower over 8.8 million Nigerians across the country’s 8,809 electoral wards.

Yes, some choices demand sacrifice. Removing subsidies, unifying our foreign exchange markets, confronting crippling inefficiency – these are not easy decisions. But these are the smart choices that free resources for investment in our people.

His Excellency, the President has shown he is not afraid to make the tough decisions for a fair and stable nation. And here in Enugu, we have been just as audacious.

This move is bigger than politics – it is about alignment at scale. It is about connecting Enugu’s destiny with the central hub of broader reforms shaping our nation.

Of course, this does raise some questions:

Will the voice of Enugu be heard now in Abuja?

How will the change affect our progress at home?

How will your lives be touched by this decision?

Let me be clear, I will represent our state and our region with the same strength of purpose as I have always done. Our Igbo DNA does not change; our destiny does not change. What changes is that our vision now finds stronger reinforcement at the federal level.

The progress you see today will not slow, and the projects we have begun will be completed. Yes, there have been challenges and delays along the way, but make no mistake – schools, hospitals, roads, and our services will be finished as promised.

To the political elite across the South East, I say this: our people are watching. What they care about most are results. True leadership is about service to the people, not service to self. Principles, not personalities, must guide us.

To Ndi Enugu, let me say this: this will not break our stride. We are a force of endeavour, and we need an ally who can match our ambition.

Let me reassure you – this is not a detour, but a conscious step towards a more compelling future.

As we begin this new chapter, I ask for your understanding, your trust, and your continued support.

Let us gather with renewed hope to build the Enugu – and the Nigeria – that our children deserve.

Finally, I want to express our most profound gratitude to Mr President for his support and encouragement of our vision. I’m confident this marks the beginning of a new era of growth and progress.

Thank you, and may God bless Ndi Enugu; God Bless Enugu State and God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Tomorrow is here….