Nelson Ugwuagbo

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has visited Plateau State to commiserate with victims and families affected by the recent wave of attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area.

In a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Obi described the killings as “senseless” and “unacceptable,” noting that such violence should not occur in a country not officially at war.

“Yesterday, I travelled from Abuja to Jos, Plateau State, to condole with and show solidarity with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the people of Plateau State over the recent senseless killings in the Bokkos area of the state,” the former Anambra State governor wrote.

During the visit, Obi met with displaced persons, survivors, and children affected by the attacks. He expressed sorrow over the scale of destruction and displacement, and called for urgent measures to protect lives and restore security in the region.

“What has happened in these communities is very saddening and utterly unacceptable. Nigerians should not be killed or forced to flee their homes when we are not at war. Every life is precious, and no Nigerian, regardless of where they live, should have to live in fear or uncertainty,” Obi said.

Offering condolences to the bereaved families, he added, “My deepest condolences go to the families and communities who have suffered tragic losses. No words can truly capture the pain and devastation that such senseless violence brings.”

Obi’s visit comes amid rising insecurity in parts of the country, with repeated calls for enhanced government intervention and protection of lives and property.

The Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) has warned of a possible nationwide shutdown of power plants due to unpaid invoices exceeding ₦4 trillion.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Col. Sani Bello (Rtd), the association disclosed that the debt comprises ₦2 trillion accrued in 2024 and ₦1.9 trillion in legacy debts. The APGC said the non-payment for electricity supplied to the national grid has triggered a liquidity crisis, severely affecting the operations of power generation companies (GenCos).

According to the association, the crisis has hindered GenCos’ ability to meet critical financial obligations, posing a significant threat to the stability of the entire electricity value chain.

The APGC has called for the immediate implementation of a payment plan to clear all outstanding invoices. It further demanded a reprioritization of the current payment waterfall arrangement, advocating for the full and timely settlement of GenCos’ invoices.

“A clear financing plan is required to support exposures in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) Supplementary Order to the MYTO and Distribution Revenue Order (DRO) 2024,” the statement read. The association said such a plan would offer financial stability and predictability, allowing GenCos to plan effectively and invest in system improvements.

Additionally, the APGC is seeking payment security guarantees backed by institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to ensure uninterrupted payments to GenCos. This, it said, would support the sector’s growth and expansion efforts.

The association also called for greater transparency in billing, collections, and remittance processes to restore trust in the power sector and ensure that GenCos receive accurate and timely payments.

The APGC warned that failure to address these challenges urgently could lead to national security risks and further undermine the country’s electricity supply.

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday unanimously resolved not to join any coalition or merger as the 2027 elections approach.

The PDP Governors’ Forum meeting, held in Ibadan, Oyo State, was attended by key governors, including Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, and Douye Diri of Bayelsa.

Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom were represented by their deputies.

In a communiqué read by the Governor of Bauchi State and the forum’s Chairman, Bala Mohammed, the forum noted the “nationwide speculations about possible mergers of parties, groups, and/or associations” and resolved that “the Forum will not join any coalition or merger.”

Equally, the forum emphasised that “the PDP, as a major opposition party, welcomes any parties, persons, or groups that are willing to join the party with a view to wrestling power and enthroning good leadership in 2027.”

The governors reiterated their positions regarding the party’s national secretary, stating, “The Forum reiterates its position taken in Asaba regarding the National Secretary of the party.”

They recommended that the deputy secretary temporarily act as national secretary “pending the nomination and ratification of a substantive secretary from the Southeast zone at its next meeting.”

The communiqué also expressed solidarity with the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, stating, “We restate our commitment to stand with him until the end amid the challenges posed by the declaration of a state of emergency in his state.”

Addressing the worsening security situation in the country, particularly in Borno, Katsina, and Edo States, the forum expressed alarm, stating, “The Forum finds alarming the worsening security situation in the country.”

The PDP governors called for a “review and reorientation of priorities and strategies,” emphasising the need for a bottom-up approach to tackle security breaches effectively.

A coalition of women groups on Monday staged a protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in support of the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state.

Dressed in white, the women marched from the Garrison Flyover to Isaac Boro Park, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “State of Emergency is Constitutional” and “We Don’t Want Fubara.”

The demonstration was led by Ifeyinwa Aguma, a former Commissioner for Social Welfare in Rivers State and an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The protesters expressed support for Ibok-Ette Ibas, who was appointed by President Tinubu as the administrator of the state following the declaration of emergency rule. They urged him to continue his work in the state.

Monday’s protest follows a similar demonstration last week by women who declared their support for the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

President Tinubu had last month declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the ongoing political crisis. He suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

Citing security reports and recent pipeline explosions in the state, the President described the emergency declaration as “inevitably compelling.”

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that 180 candidates who attempted to cheat during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mock exercise will face severe sanctions, including the cancellation of their results.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made this known on Thursday while monitoring the mock examination at a Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre in Bwari, Abuja. According to him, the candidates were caught after making payments to a fraudulent website set up by the board as part of its strategy to expose examination malpractice.

“We have opened our own rogue website. As of this morning, about 180 students have paid into it. Attempting to cheat is already an infraction, and we are going to deal firmly with them. Their results, both UTME and Direct Entry (DE), will be cancelled,” Oloyede said.

He added that the board’s decision is aimed at sending a strong message to candidates and institutions encouraging malpractice. Oloyede also warned students against giving out their registration details, stressing that UTME is not a school-based examination and should not be manipulated by third parties.

“Some of these schools want to brag that their students scored high marks, but we are fully aware of these tactics. We are doing everything possible to stop such practices,” he stated.

Oloyede advised candidates to avoid fraudulent websites and individuals claiming to provide exam questions or shortcuts, noting that some candidates paid as much as N30,000 for fake services.

Meanwhile, over 211,000 candidates sat for the 2025 UTME mock examination nationwide on Thursday. The results of the exercise are expected to be released on Friday.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-gantry price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) to N865 per litre. This marks a N15 decrease from the previous price of N880 per litre, which was in effect as of Wednesday.

The new pricing was communicated to marketers and customers through an official notice issued by the refinery on Thursday morning.

This latest price adjustment reflects Dangote Refinery’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the downstream petroleum market and provide relief to consumers amid fluctuating fuel costs. The reduction is expected to positively impact the cost of transportation and industrial operations, which rely heavily on diesel.

Eleven governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a suit at the Supreme Court challenging the powers of President Bola Tinubu to suspend the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

The suit, instituted on Tuesday by the state governments through their respective Attorneys General, also seeks the apex court’s interpretation on the legality of the president’s alleged declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The plaintiff states include Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa.

The governors are urging the Supreme Court to determine whether the president has the constitutional authority to suspend any elected structure of government in a state, particularly the office of a governor and deputy governor, or replace them with an unelected nominee under the guise of a state of emergency.

In the summons predicated on eight grounds, the plaintiffs posed several legal questions to the court. These include whether President Tinubu’s alleged actions align with the provisions of Sections 1(2), 5(2), 176, 180, 188, and 305 of the 1999 Constitution, particularly concerning the suspension or interference with a state’s executive offices.

They also queried whether the suspension of a State House of Assembly can be lawfully carried out under Sections 1(2), 4(6), 11(4) & (5), 90, 105, and 305 of the Constitution as part of a state of emergency declaration.

Furthermore, the plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of what they described as a “threat” by the federal government to suspend state executives or legislatures using emergency powers, stating that such actions contradict constitutional provisions and the principles of federalism.

The defendants named in the suit are expected to file an appearance within 14 days from the date of service.