The Southern Governors’ Forum on Wednesday convened in Iperu, Ogun State, for a high-level meeting aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and addressing critical national issues affecting the southern part of Nigeria.

The gathering, hosted at the Iperu residence of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, brings together 17 governors from the South-East, South-South, and South-West, along with leading members of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.

The meeting was announced in a statement by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Abiodun. It is expected to spotlight security coordination, economic integration, fiscal matters, state policing, constitutional reforms, and other shared challenges impacting the region.

Governors, Monarchs Arrive for Joint Session

According to the schedule released, the governors will hold a joint session with the Southern Traditional Rulers Council at 1pm, a move designed to deepen collaboration between political leaders and traditional institutions.

Ahead of the session, notable attendees, including governors and first-class monarchs from across the region, arrived in Ogun State to a warm reception from the host government. Their arrival underscores growing consensus on the need for unified regional action amid ongoing security and socio-economic pressures.

Abiodun: ‘We Value the Guidance of Our Royal Fathers’

Governor Dapo Abiodun, in a post on X earlier today, expressed delight at hosting the forum, emphasizing the importance of harmonizing regional priorities.

He said:

“As we prepare to host the Southern Governors’ Forum meeting today, we were pleased to receive some of the distinguished attendees, particularly traditional rulers and respected leaders from across the southern region.”

“Their visit offered us the opportunity to deepen ongoing engagements and align our shared expectations ahead of the gathering.
We value the presence of our royal fathers and regional leaders, whose wisdom and guidance continue to enrich our processes.”

Abiodun added that Ogun State remains committed to creating an atmosphere conducive to honest dialogue, strategic cooperation, and strengthened regional unity.

Key Issues on the Agenda

Although the forum’s full communique will be released at the end of the meeting, discussions are expected to focus on:

• Regional security coordination, including support for state policing
• Economic cooperation, trade expansion, and shared infrastructure
• Boundary and inter-state dispute resolution
• Strengthening ties with traditional institutions to improve community governance
• Review of national policies impacting the southern region

The meeting is one of the most significant southern regional gatherings in recent years, bringing together a powerful coalition of elected leaders and traditional authorities at a time when Nigeria faces tightening economic conditions and widespread security concerns.

More updates and resolutions from the closed-door deliberations are expected later today.

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Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Barrister Okey Ezea, has reportedly passed away.

Sources indicate that Senator Ezea died on Tuesday while receiving medical treatment abroad. He was said to have been hospitalised in the United Kingdom before his demise, following an earlier round of treatment in Germany.

News of his reported death was first shared by a popular social media user, Senator Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, who posted on Facebook:

“Sad News
Senator Okey Ezea Representing Enugu North Is Dead…
Rest in Peace.”

Although official confirmation is still being awaited, multiple sources familiar with the situation have also indicated the same development, noting that details of his passing remain sketchy at the moment.

Widely known by his political moniker “Ideke,” Senator Okey Ezea was the only remaining Labour Party (LP) federal lawmaker from Enugu State, following the defection of other LP National Assembly members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reactions have begun to pour in across social media platforms, with many expressing shock and describing the news as a major loss to the Enugu political landscape.

Further updates are expected as more information emerges.

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Deepening internal divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated into violence on Tuesday as rival factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), clashed at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

The confrontation reportedly involved physical altercations between supporters of both factions, security scuffles, and the deployment of tear gas by operatives struggling to restore order at the Wadata Plaza headquarters.

Sources said supporters aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed attempted to force their way into the party premises, prompting security personnel to intervene. The situation quickly deteriorated into chaos as loyalists from the Wike camp confronted them.

Amid the escalating tension, National Chairman Turaki abruptly postponed a crucial PDP meeting scheduled for the same day.

In an unusual international appeal, he called on U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene diplomatically to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic institutions amid what he described as “an assault on internal party democracy.”

WATCH VIDEO HERE

Despite the turmoil, Turaki later returned to the secretariat under tightened security, insisting he remained in full control of the party’s administrative operations.

In a swift counter-move, the faction loyal to Wike announced the expulsion of key figures aligned with the Turaki bloc including Governors Makinde and Bala Mohammed while also dissolving several state PDP executive committees.

Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary of the PDP Wike-led faction, read the names of 17 PDP members who were expelled:

1. Adolphus Wabara
2. Olabode George
3. Ben N. Obi
4. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN)
5. Bala Mohammed
6. Oluseyi Makinde
7. Dauda Lawal
8. Taofiq Arapaja
9. Setonji Koshoedo
10. Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel
11. Woyengikuro Daniel
12. Mohammed Kadade Suleiman
13. Emmanuel Ogidi
14. Sumaila Adamu Burga
15. Umar Sani
16. Udom Emmanuel
17. Emmanuel Enorden

WATCH VIDEO HERE

The move further entrenches the party’s internal crisis as both sides await potential rulings from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the conflicting leadership claims.

Political observers warn that unless decisive reconciliation efforts are initiated, the PDP could face its most severe leadership fracture yet, with implications for its national cohesion and electoral strength heading into the next political cycle.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken sweeping disciplinary action at its 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, expelling several prominent members over what the party described as persistent anti-party activities.

Those expelled include former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, former National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, legal luminary Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, among other notable figures.

The decision was ratified by an overwhelming majority of delegates in a dramatic session on Saturday, marking what party leaders say is a turning point in efforts to restore cohesion, discipline, and electoral readiness ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to sources within the convention, the expulsion was part of a broader strategy to “sanitize the party” and eliminate long-standing divisions that have hindered the PDP’s performance in recent elections. Party officials noted that the sanctioned individuals were found culpable of activities that undermined the party’s unity and electoral prospects.

A senior party official who spoke on the development said the convention’s resolution sends a strong message that “no individual, no matter how highly placed, is bigger than the PDP.”

As the convention continues, the party is expected to unveil additional reforms and new internal mechanisms aimed at strengthening its structures nationwide in preparation for what it anticipates will be a fiercely contested electoral cycle.

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Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has donated ₦10 million to the College of Nursing Science, Oluyoro, Ibadan, as part of his ongoing effort to strengthen Nigeria’s education and healthcare sectors.

During his visit to the institution on November 12, 2025, Obi emphasized the importance of investing in human capital to build a productive society. He said the donation was aimed at improving the college’s facilities and training resources for student nurses.

The contribution adds to his recent ₦60 million support to nursing institutions in Enugu and Anambra States over the past month.

Obi noted that Nigeria currently faces a severe nursing shortage, with only 16.5 nurses per 10,000 people, a figure far below the World Health Organization’s recommended standard.

“Today, Wednesday 12th November, in my continued support for the critical areas of development in our dear nation, including education, healthcare, and alleviating poverty, I visited the College of Nursing Science, Oluyoro, Ibadan.

I met with the students, faculty, and staff, and spoke to them about the critical role they play in shaping a healthier Nigeria.

In my commitment to supporting education and healthcare, I donated ₦10 million to enhance their facilities and provide better learning resources. I remain committed to supporting initiatives that empower Nigerians to reach their full potential.

Our nation can only rise when every Nigerian has access to quality education, dependable healthcare, and opportunities to lift themselves out of poverty. We must invest in our youth, support our schools, and strengthen our healthcare institutions, so that we can build a future where every Nigerian can succeed and contribute to a stronger and more prosperous nation.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO”

The donation was well-received by the management of the College of Nursing, who expressed gratitude for Obi’s consistent advocacy and investment in social development.

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