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Rivers Crisis: Sole Administrator Ibas Sacks All Fubara’s Appointees as PDP Governors Head to Supreme Court

Matti Olaitan

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The sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, has dismissed all political appointees appointed by the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief of Staff, the administrator directed that the suspension takes immediate effect. Those affected include the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Commissioners, Special Advisers, and heads of government agencies, boards, and commissions. The affected officials have been instructed to hand over to the most senior civil servant in their respective offices.

The statement referenced the presidential directive that granted Ibas executive powers over the state following the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025. The emergency rule led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

Meanwhile, seven governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have taken legal action against the Federal Government, challenging the suspension of Fubara and his deputy. The governors of Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara, through their Attorneys-General, have filed a suit at the Supreme Court, arguing that Tinubu’s actions violate the 1999 Constitution and undermine democratic governance.

The governors are urging the court to declare that the President lacks the authority to suspend an elected governor under any circumstances, including during a state of emergency. They argue that Tinubu’s decision to appoint a sole administrator is unconstitutional and have called for the reinstatement of Fubara and his deputy.

Furthermore, they are challenging the legitimacy of the National Assembly’s approval of the emergency rule, arguing that it did not comply with the provisions of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. The governors have asked the Supreme Court to nullify the state of emergency declaration and bar the federal government from interfering in the governance of Rivers State or any other state in Nigeria.

This legal battle is expected to set a significant precedent on the limits of presidential power in state governance.

 

 

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“Take It Down Act” Signed Into Law: Federal Protection Against Non-Consensual Image Sharing.

Ikechukwu Emmanuel

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President Donald Trump has signed the “Take It Down Act” into law, criminalizing the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including those generated by artificial intelligence. The legislation mandates the prompt removal of such content by digital platforms and carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment for offenders.

The law garnered bipartisan support and addresses growing concerns surrounding the proliferation of deepfakes and non-consensual pornography. Platforms failing to remove flagged content within 48 hours face civil penalties. First Lady Melania Trump, a vocal supporter of the bill, attended the signing ceremony.

While praised as a significant step in protecting individuals from online exploitation, the law has also drawn criticism. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, for example, warns of potential for misuse, suggesting the legislation may grant excessive censorship powers and stifle lawful speech. Digital platforms are now mandated to implement rapid response systems for content removal upon receiving complaints.

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2025 UTME: JAMB to Release Resit UTME Results Amidst Performance Concerns.

Ikechukwu Emmanuel

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the impending release of the results for the 379,000 candidates who participated in the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This resit examination, conducted between Friday and Monday, followed widespread reports of technical and logistical challenges during the initial UTME administration, primarily impacting candidates in Lagos and the South-East.

JAMB acknowledged systemic lapses necessitating the resit, and Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede publicly accepted responsibility for the disruptions. The release of these results comes amidst broader concerns regarding overall UTME performance, with a significant proportion of the 1.95 million candidates scoring below 200 out of 400. The Board’s spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed the results will be accessible on Wednesday. The public awaits these results with keen interest, anticipating insights into whether the resit effectively addressed the initial issues and improved candidate outcomes.

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Mohammed Accuses Tinubu Administration of Regional Bias.

Ikechukwu Emmanuel

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Controversial northern politician Hajiya Nàja’atu Mohammed has publicly accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of prioritizing the development of the South-West region at the expense of national unity. Speaking on the Political Advantage Platform (PAP) podcast, Mohammed alleged that the government’s policies disproportionately favor the Yoruba ethnic group, asserting that the administration is “about Yorubas for Yorubas and by Yorubas.”

While claiming no personal animosity towards the President, Mohammed criticized Tinubu for allegedly focusing on regional development using national resources. She further attributed the current economic hardship to the government’s perceived disregard for the concerns of ordinary Nigerians, coupled with its reliance on external bodies for guidance.

Mohammed, a former member of Tinubu’s presidential campaign team, expressed disappointment with the administration’s performance, particularly in addressing insecurity and fulfilling the initial expectations surrounding Tinubu’s perceived experience as Governor of Lagos. Her statements raise significant questions regarding the perceived regional balance and national unity under the current administration.

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