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Tag: senator

  • JUST IN: Nasarawa Senator goes back to APC, two years after resignation

    JUST IN: Nasarawa Senator goes back to APC, two years after resignation

    Ahmed Wadada, the Senator representing Nasarawa West senatorial district has rejoined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Wadada who had earlier dumped the party for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) rejoined the APC on Tuesday.

    Recall that Wadada left the APC for SDP in 2023.

    He contested for the Nasarawa West Senatorial District seat and won under the platform of the SDP.

    However, in an unexpected move, the lawmaker announced his plan to leave the party.

    In a letter addressed to the APC Chairman, Tudun Kofar Ward, Keffi, Wadada declared his intention to return to the party.

    Titled, “Notification of my return to the All Progressive Congress”, Wadada said that his decision was taken after careful consideration.

    He also noted that this was borne out of the desire to contribute to the growth, development and success of the party.

  • Nasarawa senator rejoins APC

    Nasarawa senator rejoins APC

    The Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone, Ahmed Wadada, has officially rejoined the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Wadada had been a member of APC before joining SDP to contest the Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone elections in 2023 which he won.

    This is contained in a signed letter by the senator sighted NAN on Tuesday in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa state and  addressed to the APC Chairman, Tudun Kofar Ward, Keffi.

    NAN reports that in the letter dated Tuesday and titled “Notification of my return to the All Progressive Congress”, Wadada stated that the decision was taken after careful consideration and the desire to contribute to the growth, development and success of the party.

  • NASS to consider Bill to swear in President-elect in Legislative Chamber

    NASS to consider Bill to swear in President-elect in Legislative Chamber

    …to initiate bill to make it mandatory to deliver state of the nation address on June 12

    As part of its effort to strengthen the country’s democracy, the National Assembly has disclosed its plan to enact a law to ensure that president-elect are henceforth sworn in the arcade of the National Assembly

    The legislature also, revealed that it would bring back another legislative initiative that would mandate the president to deliver the state of the nation address in the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly on June 12 annually.

    The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele made this disclosure while responding to questions on the June 12 anniversary during an interactive session with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The National Assembly had invited President Bola Tinubu to address a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Thursday to mark the 2025 National Democracy Day at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

    Democracy Day is observed in Nigeria every June 12 in honour of Late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the 2023 presidential election adjudged as the freest, fairest and most credible election in Nigeria’s political history

    Responding to the question on Tuesday, Bamidele said: “It is our desire to institutionalise the state of the nation address. We will bring a bill to address it to ensure that it is institutionalized. People should look forward to it.

    “President Tinubu is working with the National Assembly in that regard. We are initiating a bill very soon to institutionalise the State of the Nation Address. June 12 will be a better time for the president to come address the nation through the National Assembly.

    “There is no better than June 12 for the president to address the nation because of its historical significance. It is a joint sitting of the National Assembly. Nigerians should look forward to this legislative initiative.

    “We are also hoping to change our political setting to the extent that the swear-in of the next President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will, by the grace of God, be sworn in the arcade of the National Assembly of Nigeria,” the senate leader said with assurance.

  • Senate Passes Bill for Establishment of Federal Medical Centre in Oleh

    Senate Passes Bill for Establishment of Federal Medical Centre in Oleh

    The Nigerian Senate has passed the Federal Medical Centre Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 197), which seeks to establish a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Oleh, Delta State.

    The passage of the bill, sponsored by Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas representing Delta South Senatorial District, marks a major legislative milestone for the oil-rich region, particularly the Isoko nation.

    The bill was initially presented on November 7, 2023, and passed its second reading on October 22, 2024. Following its third reading today, the Senate approved the legislation, paving the way for the creation of the first federally funded medical centre in the district.

    Senator Joel-Onowakpo described the passage of the bill as a “major turnaround” for a region that has long grappled with inadequate access to quality healthcare.

    “Oleh, as the senatorial headquarters, is strategically located to serve the surrounding communities. The new FMC will help reduce the burden of long-distance travel for specialist medical care, which often leads to delayed treatments and preventable deaths.”

    The new facility is expected not only to bolster the region’s healthcare infrastructure but also to stimulate economic development.

    According to the Senator, the centre will generate direct and indirect jobs, attract healthcare professionals, promote research and training, and improve overall public health outcomes.

    He expressed gratitude to the Senate leadership, including Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and Majority Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, for their support in advancing the bill.

    “This is a critical step toward equity in federal healthcare infrastructure,” he added. “It reflects our collective will to bring meaningful development to Delta South and ensure our people’s needs are addressed at the national level.”

    Senator Joel-Onowakpo reaffirmed his commitment to seeing the bill through to implementation, promising continued advocacy to ensure the timely establishment and operation of the medical centre.

    The bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being transmitted to the President for assent.

  • Kano senator dumps NNPP to join APC

    Kano senator dumps NNPP to join APC

    The Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District under the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Sen. Kawu Sumaila has defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio read the letter of the lawmaker’s defection at plenary on Wednesday.

    According to Sumaila in his letter his decision to leave the NNPP is anchored on compelling and undeniable developments within the party, which have rendered the party severely divided and dysfunctional.

    The letter is titled ”Notification of defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP,) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    ”Pursuant to section 68, subsection 1 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I write to the Senate President on behalf of the Senate.

    “I write to formally notify the Senate through your esteemed office of my defection from the NNPP to the APC, the largest party in Africa.

    “My decision to bid goodbye to the NNPP is anchored on compelling and undeniable developments within the party, which have rendered the party severely divided and dysfunctional.

    “Over the past months, I have observed a growing number of litigations that have practically torn the party apart and left its structure fractured.

    “All of which clearly centered on issues of party disunity, functional leadership, and the legitimacy of its operations.

    “These legal battles have not only eroded internal cohesion but have created parallel and conflicting authorities within the party,” he wrote.

    The lawmaker added that a further manifestation of the division was the existence of multiple factions each with its own distinct party logo.

    This, he noted underscored the depth of the division and reflected a clear and public splintering of the party’s identity in both form and substance, as the party was divided in form and substance.

    “Therefore, in the spirit of democratic accountability and in line with my constitutional right, I have moved to APC , a national platform, an international platform, which I believe will better support my legislative responsibilities and aspirations of the good people of my senatorial district,” he said.

  • (JUST IN)Se3ual harassment: Senate considering to suspend Natasha for six months

    (JUST IN)Se3ual harassment: Senate considering to suspend Natasha for six months

    The Nigerian Senate is contemplating a six-month suspension for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following findings from its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.

    According to the committee’s report, presented by its chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen, the Kogi Central lawmaker was found guilty of violating Senate rules, prompting the recommendation for disciplinary action.

    If the suspension takes effect on March 6, 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan will be barred from accessing the National Assembly complex, and her office will be sealed.

    Additionally, her salary and those of her legislative aides will be withheld.

    She will also be prohibited from representing Nigeria in any official capacity during the suspension.

    The committee further suggested that she may submit a written apology, which could be reviewed to reconsider her suspension.

    The Senate is expected to vote on the recommendations, a decision that could temporarily strip the senator of all legislative privileges.

  • HERITAGE! Ali Ndume begs senate to allow Ubah’s widow replace him as senator

    HERITAGE! Ali Ndume begs senate to allow Ubah’s widow replace him as senator

    Borno South Senator Ali Ndume has appealed to this colleagues to support the widow of late Ifeanyi Ubah to replace her husband as the senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District.

    Ndume made the appeal on Tuesday during the valedictory session organised by the Senate in honour of the late senator.

    Mr Ubah, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died at the age of 52 in a London hospital after a brief illness in July. He defected to the APC from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in October 2023 and declared his interest in contesting the Anambra 2025 governorship election.

    Until his death, Mr Ubah was the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream. Kano South Senator Kawu Sumaila has since been appointed to replace him. During the valedictory service, Mr Ndume appealed to his colleagues to ensure that the late Mr Ubah’s widow replaced her husband to continue the senator’s legacies.

    The Borno senator recounted that some deceased senators were succeeded by their wives and relations.

    In contrast, others became members of the upper chamber under the influence of their husbands and fathers.

    He appealed that this should be extended to Mr Ubah’s widow. “It happened before. Chuba Okadigbo was a great politician. When he died, years after, his wife, the widow Margery, sitting around here.

  • Screening: Associates, well wishers storm NASS as Senators grill Tinubu’s nominees today

    Screening: Associates, well wishers storm NASS as Senators grill Tinubu’s nominees today

    Relatives and political associates on Wednesday stormed the National Assembly to support their brothers and sisters as Senators begin the screening of ministerial nominees.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG, recalls that President Bola Tinubu had last week reshuffled his cabinet flushing out the bad eggs.

    The president had immediately sent the list last Monday to the Senate for ratification.

    The list consisting of seven fresh names to be added to his cabinet.

     

    On Tuesday, the screening could not hold because most of the nominees had not completed their documentation process.

    The Senate wing and all the entry points were blocked by relatives and friends who came from different parts of the country to see their would be ministers.

  • Just in: Days after Senator Kawu raised alarm that lawmakers use drugs, NDLEA operatives uncover drugs in serving senator’s house

    Just in: Days after Senator Kawu raised alarm that lawmakers use drugs, NDLEA operatives uncover drugs in serving senator’s house

    Barely one week after Senator Sulaiman Kawu raised an alarm that lawmakers use drugs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has recovered illicit drugs from the personal house of Kwara South Senator, Oyeyola Ashiru, attributing the lawmaker’s recent outburst against the agency to this.

    TNG recalls that Senator Kawu had granted an interview where he declared that lawmakers too are involved in illicit drugs business.

    Also, Senator Ashiru during plenary on October 15 said: “The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is corrupt and compromised…” calling for the establishment of another anti-drug agency.

    But the chairman of the agency, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd), during a briefing on Monday, said the Senator’s outburst was borne out of vendetta rather than based on any altruistic motive or national interest.

    Represented by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Marwa said the agency remains undeterred as it will continue to dismantle illicit drug networks including the one operating in the lawmaker’s house.

    Babafemi was in the company of NDLEA Area Commander, Offa Area Commander, Kwara State, Ayodeji Olaoluwa and the Officer in charge of Special Enforcement, Kwara State Command during the briefing.

    Responding to the accusation, Marwa said: “While acknowledging the great work of the Senate towards the upliftment of Nigeria and Nigerians especially their support for the ongoing concerted efforts towards the amendment of the NDLEA Act, the Agency however is duty-bound to respond to the unprovoked attack against it by Senator Ashiru during his contribution to the debate on a new bill for an Act to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.”

    He said the agency waited for a whole week hoping the lawmaker will clarify his position on such a weighty allegation against it but failing to do that, it is left with “no option than to come out and set the record straight for the benefit of other distinguished members of the Senate, our local and international partners as well as the general public.”

    He continued: “There is no doubt that setting up another agency is within the power of the Senate and if we are invited to contribute to the debate we will be willing to offer our opinion.

    “While we cannot fault the power of the senate on that, yet for a member of the upper chamber to have made such an unfounded and unwarranted categorical statement against the agency led us to look inward to see what could have been responsible for such a carpeting general statement.

    “What we found was shocking, and we concluded that his statement came from a place of vendetta and certainly not out of public interest or any altruistic motive.

  • PDP senators move to gun down crisis engulfing party

    PDP senators move to gun down crisis engulfing party

    Following the recent development in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), senators elected on the platform of the party, on Thursday took a bold step towards gunning down the crisis.

    Addressing the press after a closed door session, the Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro PhD said the PDP caucus acknowledged the crisis in the party and had resolved to work with all the critical stakeholders with a view to ending the crisis and restoring peace.

    The caucus appealed to all aggrieved persons to sheathe their swords for the sake of the party, promising to make every effort that’s necessary to bring everybody together and make PDP a formidable party that it’s known for.

    The caucus called for withdrawal of all litigations in court to make room for more robust discussions that aim to bring lasting peace in the party.

    It charged party members to put the interest of the party ahead of all personal interests and work towards strengthening the party and making it a better alternative to the ruling APC that has brought so much pains and hardship on the country, stating that PDP remains the only hope for the suffering Nigerians.