Politics

Senator Natasha Returns To National Assembly, Denied Entry

Published

2 months ago

July 22, 2025

Bona Naija

The lawmaker who is serving a six-month suspension by the upper lawmaking body had vowed to resume sitting after a court verdict asking the Senate to recall her.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday made good her vow to resume at the National Assembly but was denied entry.

Upon her arrival around noon, the Kogi Central lawmaker, who rode in a black car, was stopped by security operatives at the first gate of the National Assembly.

After some minutes, Senator Natasha alighted from her vehicle and walked into the National Assembly premises in Abuja, accompanied by her supporters, including activist Aisha Yesufu.

She was stopped again at the 2nd gate and asked to turn back. However, the senator and her supporters made their way past the checkpoint only to meet a locked gate.

Despite attempts to gain entry, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and her team of supporters were denied access.

They later left with the lawmaker expressing displeasure over the move. The Kogi lawmaker said she will consult her legal team to know the next steps. She vowed to resume once the Senate – expected to go for a two-month recess – resumes.

Last week, the lawmaker vowed to resume sitting after a court asked the Senate to recall her.

On March 6, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for breaching its rules. Her suspension came amid her claims of sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The Kogi lawmaker challenged the matter in court, saying her suspension was illegal. A few weeks ago, the Federal High Court in Abuja asked the Senate to recall her from the suspension. However, the senate president has appealed the decision.

On Saturday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan vowed to resume sitting on Tuesday, citing the court judgement.

“I have pretty much two months more before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God,”

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Related Topics:Aisha Yesufu National Assembly Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

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Politics

INEC Disqualifies 157 Political Associations, Shortlists 14 for Screening

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2025

Bona Naija

INEC Disqualifies 157 Groups, Shortlists 14 for Party Screening

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disqualified 157 associations seeking registration as political parties after failing to meet the initial requirements set by the commission.

INEC disclosed this in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Sam Olumekun, noting that only 14 associations scaled the first stage of scrutiny and have been invited for further screening.

INEC Received 171 Applications

According to the commission, a total of 171 requests for registration were submitted by political associations across the country.

“Each request was assessed on the basis of its prima facie compliance with the provisions of Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 79 (1, 2 and 4) of the Electoral Act 2022, and Clause 2 (i and ii) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022,” the statement said.

Olumekun added that decisions reached by the commission would be officially communicated to the respective associations within 24 hours.

Next Steps in the Screening Process

INEC said interim chairpersons and secretaries of the pre-qualified associations will attend a briefing at its headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, September 17, at 11 a.m.

The associations will also be required to upload key information to INEC’s online portal. Following this, the commission will conduct physical verification of their claims before making a final determination on whether they can be formally registered as political parties.

Olumekun emphasized that the registration of political parties remains an ongoing process under the law, and associations that meet all legal requirements will continue to be considered.

The 14 Pre-Qualified Associations

The associations that passed the first scrutiny include:

African Transformation Party (ATP)
All Democratic Alliance (ADA)
Advance Nigeria Congress (ANC)
Abundance Social Party (ASP)
African Alliance Party (AAP)
Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA)
Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA)
Grassroots Initiative Party (GRIP)
Green Future Party (GFP)
Liberation People’s Party (LPP)
National Democratic Party (NDP)
National Reform Party (NRP)
Patriotic Peoples Alliance (PPA)
Peoples Freedom Party (PFP)

Broader Implications

Political analysts say the commission’s decision reflects a tightening of compliance measures, ensuring that only associations that meet constitutional and electoral standards advance to full party status.

With Nigeria’s political landscape already crowded, the outcome of the verification process is expected to shape the country’s democratic space ahead of upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and the end-of-tenure FCT Area Council elections.

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Politics

INEC Endorses David Mark-Led ADC Leadership Team

Published

3 days ago

September 10, 2025

BONA NAIJA

INEC Confirms David Mark as ADC National Chairman

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognised the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking the conclusion of the party’s recent internal restructuring.

With the recognition, INEC formally acknowledged David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary. Other officers now listed include Dr. Ibrahim Mani (National Treasurer), Akibu Dalhatu (National Financial Secretary), and Professor Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor (National Legal Adviser).

The new leadership is expected to launch a nationwide reconciliation and mobilisation drive aimed at strengthening the ADC’s structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The transition process began on July 2 when outgoing National Chairman Ralph Nwosu announced the appointment of David Mark as interim chairman and Aregbesola as interim secretary. According to Nwosu, the previous leadership voluntarily stepped down to pave the way for fresh direction and renewal within the party.

However, the process was briefly stalled due to documentation lapses, with INEC records initially still listing Nwosu and Said Abdullahi as National Chairman and Secretary, alongside Kelvin Alagoa (Treasurer), Ifeyinwa Ntima (Financial Secretary), and Barr. Ujunwa Onwuasoeze (Legal Adviser).

INEC regulations require political parties to submit resolutions, verified signatures, and evidence of due process before leadership changes can be reflected in its official records. With the documentation now completed, the David Mark-led team is set to drive the ADC’s preparations for future electoral contests.

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Politics

Anambra 2025: Uche Ekwunife Fires Back at Governor Soludo Over Certificate Controversy (VIDEO)

Published

4 days ago

September 9, 2025

Bona Naija

Uche Ekwunife Fires Back at Governor Soludo Over Certificate Controversy

Deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Senator Uche Ekwunife, has launched a blistering attack on Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, following allegations that her PhD certificate was obtained from an unaccredited university in the United States.

In a video circulating online, Ekwunife dismissed the governor’s claims, describing him as an “illiterate professor” and challenging him to seek legal redress if he doubts the authenticity of her academic qualifications.

“Go to Court if My PhD Is Fake”

“Go to court if you claim my PhD certificate is fake. It is evident that your professorship is just a department award,” Ekwunife said.

She further dared Governor Soludo to verify her degrees at the University of Calabar, where she obtained her first degree, and at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where she bagged her Master’s, before questioning her doctorate.

Accuses Soludo of Failure in Governance

Turning to governance, Ekwunife accused Soludo of presiding over insecurity and decline in Anambra State. According to her, the state, once known for peace and commerce, has now become a place people flee from due to widespread violence.

“All the bushes in Anambra State are full of corpses. Anambra used to be a peaceful state. Every Thursday, traders used to come in to buy, but now people are running away from Anambra,” she said.

She further alleged that under Soludo’s watch, insecurity had claimed the lives of several citizens, including two members of the State House of Assembly.

Personal Attack on Governor

In a sharp personal jab, Ekwunife mocked Soludo as a “smelling professor,” urging him to use deodorant.

“Tell your wife to buy you some deodorant to help you stop smelling,” she said in the viral video, sparking strong reactions among political observers.

Governor Soludo had earlier alleged that Ekwunife’s PhD was awarded by an unrecognized university abroad. The heated exchange now adds to the rising political tension in Anambra ahead of the upcoming elections.

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Politics

Peter Obi Won’t Get Labour Party Ticket in 2027 – Abayomi Arabambi

Published

4 days ago

September 9, 2025

BONA NAIJA

Photo of Peter Obi middle during Super Eagles Match in Uyo

Labour Party (LP) National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, has ruled out the possibility of former presidential candidate Peter Obi clinching the party’s ticket in the 2027 elections.

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Speaking on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics on Monday, Arabambi said the LP would move forward without Obi, insisting the party’s structure is not tied to him.

“We are going to do our 2027 without Peter Obi; he will not have our ticket,” Arabambi stated.

He accused Obi of playing dual politics by aligning with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other coalition leaders while still remaining in LP. Arabambi also criticized the party’s acting National Chairperson, Nenadi Usman, and activist Aisha Yesufu, alleging they were working in connivance with Obi.

Arabambi challenged Obi to formally announce his exit from the party:

“Our plan is to get rid of these elements people who are just an epitome of political extremism. We don’t want them in Labour Party. Obi has one leg in Labour Party, one leg in PDP, and one leg in ADC.”

He further argued that Obi’s success in the 2023 elections was not solely his making but largely driven by the momentum of the EndSARS movement and Nigerians’ frustration with the Buhari administration.

“The momentum in 2023 was not because of Peter Obi, but because of EndSARS. Obi only found Labour Party as that vehicle for change, and he was just opportuned to be the head,” he added.

The statement deepens the crisis within the Labour Party, raising questions about Obi’s political future and possible alliances ahead of 2027.

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Politics

National Assembly Blocks Senator Natasha’s Resumption Despite Expired Suspension

Published

4 days ago

September 9, 2025

BONA NAIJA

National Assembly Bars Senator Natasha’s Resumption Despite Expired Suspension

The National Assembly has barred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming office despite completing her six-month suspension.

The Kogi Central senator had formally written to the Assembly, notifying that her suspension had expired and expressing her intention to return to the Senate.

However, in a response signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Yahaya Danzaria, the legislative body maintained that the matter remains unresolved due to an ongoing legal process.

“The subject matter of your suspension is presently before the Court of Appeal. The matter therefore remains sub judice and until the judicial process is completed, and the Senate formally reviews the suspension in light of the court’s pronouncement, no administrative action can be taken by this office to facilitate your resumption,” the letter read in part.

Court Dispute and Denied Entry

Senator Natasha had earlier attempted to resume on July 12, following a Federal High Court judgment directing the Senate to review her suspension. However, she was denied entry into the National Assembly.

Both Senator Natasha and the National Assembly subsequently appealed aspects of the ruling, leaving the case pending before the Court of Appeal.

The Clerk’s letter added that the senator would be formally notified of the Senate’s decision once the judicial process is concluded.

Suspension Timeline

Natasha’s suspension, which took effect on March 6, 2025, was originally set to last six months. With the expiration date now passed, her resumption remains tied to the outcome of the appeal proceedings and a Senate review.

This development deepens the standoff between the senator and the legislative institution, raising questions about the scope of parliamentary privilege and judicial oversight in Nigeria’s democratic process.

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