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Speaker Abbas Tajudeen has stopped the planned removal of the Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda by the Minority caucus, thereby stopping what was likely to be an implosion in the House on Tuesday.

Members of the caucus met on Monday night to deliberate on the injury secured by their leader, Kingsley Chinda preventing the Speaker from accepting any correspondence from them seeking to remove him as minority leader.

He alleged that he was being targeted because of his relationship with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, but those seeking his removal accused him of not calling meeting of the caucus and failing to speak out for them.

The Nation gathered that Speaker Abbas, who attended the meeting of the Minority caucus on Tuesday night, appealed to them to give him some time to address the issues raised against Chinda by members of the caucus.

A highly placed source, who was at the meeting which was said have lasted for about three hours, said members reluctantly allowed the Speaker to intervene after a long plea, adding that even attempts by Chinda to apologise over the issues were initially rebuffed by the members.

He said: ‘The northern PDP caucus was of the view that we should sack the entire minority leadership. The South West caucus also had the same opinion. It was only the South East thay was open for resolution and not sacking the entire leadership.

‘All the NNPP signed up for sacking them all. The Deputy Minority Leader has fallen out with Kwankwaso and is not working in collaboration with the party. But he is holding on to the position. Things don’t work like that.

‘But the Speaker pleaded foe time to address the grievances. Like you know, the Speaker was not supposed to attend our meeting. But he insisted on attending and out of respect for him, we allowed him.

‘Members told him that the issues at stake had nothing to do with welfare. Members were particularly angry with Chinda because of the case he filed against us in court.

‘But he pleaded with members to forgive him, claiming that he filed the case not out of spite for the members, but as a form of security and as a way of tying the hands of the Speaker not to accept any correspondence from them.

‘He said it was the only option he could think of when he heard that members that members were gathering signatures against him.’

The source said that part of the resolutions arrived at during the meeting was for him to ‘withdraw the case from court while we allow the Speaker the time they requested for.

He said: ‘if you were at plenary today, you would have heard an announcement from him. Inviting leaders of the various caucus to a meeting by 3.00pm. He claimed the meeting is part of his reaching out. But what we are saying is that he should withdraw the suit first’.

He told the Nation that the Minority caucus has also filed a motion on notice before the Federal High Court in response to the suit by Chinda.

In the motion seen by The Nation, members of the Minority caucus are seeking for an order of the court striking out the suit filed by the Minority Leader for lacking in merit and for want of jurisdiction and for such further or other Orders as the Court may deem fit and expedient to make in the circumstances.

The suit filed by Chief Tony Uche (SAN) listed four ground for the application to include that the Plaintiff has no legal rights to be protected by any order of injunction; that there is no justiciable dispute between the parties; she suit as commenced is incompetent and the Court lacks the jurisdiction to have entertained the same.

It is in the interest of justice to discharge the said order made against the Defendants and/or strike out this suit.

The motion is supported by a 10 point affidavit in support deposed to by Barrister Ibrahim Garba who show he is the Director of Legal from the PDP headquarters.

Another member of the caucus, who attended the meeting, also told The Nation that members wanted to impeach Chinda while sparing Ali Isah JC, the House Minority Whip.

He said: ‘Initially, members of the northern PDP caucus wanted to spare Ali and proceed to impeach Chinda and others. But we drew their attention on the need to uphold national unity and loyalty. Impeaching a southerner and sparing a northerner will send a bad message out there.’

He added that before the meeting ‘Considerable number of signatures were gathered to move against Chinda before the intervention of the Speaker’ saying without the Speaker’s intervention, it would have been disastrous for him.’

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday administered the oath of office to two newly elected senators.

They are Barrister Joseph Ikpea, representing Edo Central under the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Emmanuel Nwachukwu Chibuzor, representing Anambra South on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Both lawmakers emerged victorious in the recent by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill existing vacancies in their respective districts.

Ikpea replaced Senator Monday Okpebholo, who is now the Governor of Edo State, while Chibuzor took the seat left vacant following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the former representative of Anambra South.

The acting Clerk to the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance on both Ikpea and Chibuzor after which both of them proceeded to shake hands with the Presiding Officer, Akpabio, and submitted their certificates of return issued to them by the INEC.

Dignitaries who witnessed the swearing-in session included the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, former Deputy Governor of Edo State and present Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shuaibu, an elder brother to the Edo Central Senator, Dr. Lee Ikpea and the Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Hon Samson Osaigie.

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, said the decision to resign from office was a personal and principled choice aimed at preserving the integrity of ongoing judicial proceedings, not an admission of guilt.

In a statement, Nnaji said he chose to ‘step aside’ to respect the sanctity of due process and allow justice to take its course.

‘My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court. In the end, justice will prevail, and history will vindicate the just,’ he said.

The former Minister lamented what he described as an orchestrated, politically motivated campaign of falsehood targeted at his person and office over the past week.

He said the malicious attacks and media distortions had caused personal distress and begun to distract from the work of the Ministry and the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘As someone who has spent more than five decades building a reputation anchored on hard work, honour, and service to humanity, I cannot in good conscience allow these distractions to cast a shadow over the noble objectives of this administration,’ he stated.

Nnaji expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the President’s vision of a ‘renewed, innovative, and technologically driven Nigeria.’

‘His vision for a renewed, innovative, and technologically driven Nigeria is one I continue to hold dear, and I pledge my unflinching support to his administration and its transformative goals,’ he added.

The House of Representatives is to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged mismanagement of scholarship funds and non-payment of stipend from 2015 to date, with a view to finding a lasting solution to support Nigerians studying abroad on scholarships.

This followed a motion sponsored by Chile Okafor on alleged abuse of process, breach of terms of engagement, and failure to pay scholarship stipends to Nigerian students in the diaspora by the federal scholarship board.

Okafor alleged that there exists abuse of process, breach of terms of engagement, and failure to pay scholarship stipends to Nigerian students in diaspora under government-sponsored scholarships and bilateral education agreements.

He said the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), under the Federal Ministry of Education, is responsible for administering scholarships to Nigerian students at home and abroad, and the implementation of terms and agreements is solely their lawful responsibility for the welfare of Nigerian students in the diaspora.

He expressed concern about the outcry by the Union of Nigerian bilateral education agreements, scholars, and alleged odious mistreatment and starvation of funds, which has led students into unholy survival struggles, endangering their lives and leaving many vulnerable to danger.

He said if the future leaders of Nigeria are abandoned in foreign lands due to administrative inefficiencies or corruption, it is a reflection of poor commitment to education and youth development, and as the people’s representatives, legislators are under a social contract to protect Nigerian scholars on scholarships abroad from abuse and humiliation.

He said Nigerian scholars abroad face delays, non-payment, and unexplained deductions, causing financial distress and tarnishing the country’s international image, thus undermining the scholarship program’s objectives of fostering human capital development.

Also, the House asked the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) to complete the construction, equip the Effuruntor Centre for operational activities, and put it to use.

This followed a motion by Francis Ejiroghene Waive, who drew the attention of the House to provisions of the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology establishment act.

He said that since the establishment of the institute, it has provided strategic leadership training to senior and middle-level manpower in the transport and logistics sector, adding that due to the growing need for safety in transportation and logistics modes to reduce accidents and attendant carnage, the institute established training centres in the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria to provide the much-needed training.

The centres, he said, were proposed and sited in Katsina, Kano, Borno, Benue, Ekiti, Lagos, Ebonyi, and Delta (Effuruntor), all of which are currently operational except the Delta (Effuruntor) centres in Ughelli North and South Federal Constituencies.

According to him, the Effuruntor Centre is about 50%completed but has since been abandoned, making it the only centre yet to become operational, adding that institutions like the University of Petroleum Resources, Petroleum Training Institute, and other Oil Companies within the area are waiting for the takeoff of the centre, with the University of

Petroleum Resources is signing an MOU with NITT to provide pipeline transportation for the nation’s oil and gas industry at the centre because of its strategic location.

The Senate on Wednesday observed a minute silence in honour of the late Senator Solomon Ewuga, former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State and Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The upper chamber also extended its condolences to the people of Nasarawa North Senatorial District and the government of Nasarawa State over his passing. It further resolved to send a delegation to commiserate with the deceased’s family and the state government.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled ‘Demise of Senator Solomon Ewuga CON (19th June, 1955 – 23rd September, 2025)’, sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (SDP-Nasarawa South).

In his lead debate, Senator Onawo described Ewuga’s death at the age of 70 as a great loss to the nation, recalling his exemplary service and dedication to public duty.

He highlighted Ewuga’s distinguished career, noting that he served Nigeria with diligence, integrity, and vision – as Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator representing Nasarawa North, Minister of State for the FCT, and later as a revered elder statesman whose counsel guided successive administrations.

Onawo praised the late Ewuga’s lifelong commitment to peace, unity, and development, particularly in education, youth empowerment, and infrastructure.

He also lauded Ewuga’s mentorship of young leaders, promotion of inter-ethnic harmony, and advocacy for good governance, describing him as an icon of public service and a bridge-builder within Nasarawa State and beyond.

The Senate noted that his contributions to national development and humanity left indelible marks on the political and socio-economic landscape of Nasarawa State and the nation at large.

He further said that the Senate is concerned that, without a deliberate effort to preserve his legacy, future generations may not fully appreciate his contributions to the growth and stability of the Nigerian federation.

He said that Senator Ewuga was a Distinguished Patriot, Statesman, and Public Servant whose legacy will continue to inspire generations.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, Senator Enyinnaya

Abaribe, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Garuba Musa Maidoki (Kebbi South), and former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong, paid glowing tributes to the late Ewuga.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio also eulogised the deceased.

He said that Ewuga served Nigeria – ‘was among the first set of deputy governors, minister of state for FCT, and an orator.’

He commiserated with the family of the deceased and the government and people of Nasarawa state.

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, will lead other high-level players in the oil and gas sector to the first-ever downstream week organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Downstream.

The event scheduled to begin on October 13 will have the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed; President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe; and the leadership of PENGASSAN and NUPENG in attendance.

Also, attending the event are the leadership of Refinery Owners Association, Petron, and Major Marketers and petroleum distributors.

Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, said the two Ministers of state, Petroleum Ministers, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, and Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will also be in attendance.

He said the guests will gather to deliberate on the future of the downstream petroleum sector with key stakeholders and leaders of the regulatory bodies.

He described the event as ‘Nigeria’s most influential petroleum industry stakeholders gathering where lawmakers, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies will engage in high-level policy and market dialogue, gain regulatory clarity, and explore investment and security opportunities shaping the future of our downstream sector.

‘It is a celebration of excellence in Nigeria’s petroleum downstream sector during which we will celebrate the successes recorded so far, identify the challenges, and work out sustainable solutions to factors affecting stability and expansion in the downstream sector.

‘In partnership with leading industry players, this summit fosters collaboration and innovation for sector growth. Be part of the conversations that shape the future.’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the Nigeria Police Training Institutions (Establishment) Bill, 2024, a landmark legislation that provides statutory backing for 48 police training institutions across the country.

The new Act, sponsored by Senator Ahmed Abdulhamid Malam-Madori, is designed to institutionalise police education, promote continuous professional development, and align Nigeria’s law enforcement standards with global best practices.

The law categorises the nation’s police training infrastructure into five major groups – Police Colleges, Police Training Schools, Police Tactical Schools, Police Technical Training Schools, and other specialised institutions – all strategically distributed across the six geopolitical zones.

Among the foremost institutions now formally recognised by law are the Police Colleges in Ikeja (Lagos), Kaduna (Kaduna), Maiduguri (Borno) and Oji River (Enugu), as well as the Police Staff College in Jos (Plateau) and the Police Detective College in Enugu.

Also listed are several Police Training Schools in Bauchi, Minna, Sokoto, Benin, Wanune, Calabar, Ilorin, Ibadan, Iperu, Jos, Owerri, Nonwa-Tai, Oyin-Akoko, Ekiti, Gwaram, Malabu-Fufore and Bende, among others, aimed at strengthening capacity building across all levels of the force.

The Act further establishes elite Police Tactical Schools such as the Mobile Training Schools in Gwoza (Borno), Ila-Orangun (Osun), and Ende-Hill (Nasarawa); the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) Schools in Nonwa-Tai (Rivers) and Gombe; the Special Protection Unit (SPU) School in Kafin Hausa (Jigawa); and other specialised centres including the K9 Training School in Bukuru-Jos, the Mounted Troop Training School in Jos, the Marine Training School in Toru-Orua (Bayelsa), and the Police Pre-Retirement Training School in Kudan (Kaduna).

Under the Police Technical Training framework, the law recognises the Police Public Relations School in Lafia (Nasarawa) and its Abuja campus, the Central Planning and Training Unit in Jos, the Police School of Intelligence in Shere (Kwara), the Schools of Communication in Kudan and Ikeja, the Police School of Music and Driving School (Ikeja), and the Police Veterinary Training School (Abuja).

Other specialised institutions now enjoying legal recognition include the Police Institute of Digital Studies and Cyber Security in Abeokuta (Ogun), the Police School of Nursing and Midwifery in Ezimo (Enugu), the National Institute of Police Studies in Life Camp (Abuja), the Police Short Service Training Institute in Ikot Ekpene (Akwa Ibom), and the Police School of Finance and Administration in Umueri (Anambra).

Senator Malam-Madori described the presidential assent as ‘a transformative moment in Nigeria’s internal security architecture,’ noting that the new Act would ‘professionalise police training, deepen research in security management, and align Nigeria’s policing culture with international standards.’

Security analysts have also hailed the development as one of the most comprehensive legislative reforms in Nigeria’s policing history, positioning the force for better service delivery, accountability, and operational efficiency.

Big Brother Naija Season 10 second runner-up, Koyin has stated that he has no intention of pursuing a romantic relationship with Isabella outside the show.

Despite their romantic connection in the house, which sparked interest among fans, Koyin emphasised that their relationship was ‘just for fun’ and there’s no future between them.

This development comes after Isabella expressed openness to exploring a relationship with Koyin post-show, but she also mentioned feeling disappointed by her previous love interest, Kayikunmi, who she felt took her love for granted.

‘There is no future between me and Isabella. I mean, we were together in the house just for fun,’ he stated.

Perrypays Services Limited, organizers of the Perrypays Superstars Cup and founders of the Perrypays Football Academy, has announced the signing of one of its outstanding young players, Wisdom Igiebor, to Mgarr United FC, a Maltese First Division team.

The announcement was officially confirmed via the social media handles of Mgarr United FC, marking another milestone achievement for the Perrypays Football Academy and the vision behind the Perrypays Superstars Cup – a grassroots talent development initiative designed to nurture and showcase young Nigerian footballers to the global stage.

Speaking on the development, the Founder and Project Director of Perrypays Services Limited, Mr. Precious Dotty, expressed immense pride in the progress of the academy’s players.

He emphasised that the signing of Wisdom Igiebor is a clear testament to the mission of Perrypays to create opportunities, empower youth, and contribute meaningfully to the development of sports and talent in Nigeria.

‘We believe that the purpose of a company is not just to make money but to try and develop the country, state, or city in which it renders services,’ said Mr. Dotty.

‘This achievement reaffirms our dedication to discovering, training, and projecting the next generation of football superstars from Africa to the world.’

The Perrypays Superstars Cup, organized annually by Perrypays Services Limited, serves as one of the most vibrant youth football tournaments in Nigeria. It has successfully drawn attention from scouts, clubs, and sports organizations across Europe and beyond.

The 2025 edition of the tournament recorded remarkable participation, and the organizers have already commenced preparations for the 2026 edition, which promises to be even more exciting, with a newly scouted team and extended partnership opportunities.

Perrypays Football Academy, a flagship initiative of Perrypays Services Limited, continues to serve as a breeding ground for young and aspiring footballers. The academy offers mentorship, international exposure, and technical training designed to meet global standards, bridging the gap between raw talent and professional football success.

A political support group, One Nigeria Mandate for Tinubu/Shettima Project, Ekiti chapter, has commenced extensive grassroots mobilisation for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti during its inaugural meeting, The Chairman of the group, Olugbenga Kowe, said that the group is determined to strengthen public confidence and trust in President Tinubu’s administration by engaging citizens across communities.

Kowe added that the group has begun setting up structures across all 16 local government areas, with plans to appoint ward coordinators in the coming weeks to ensure the gospel of president Tinubu reaches every community.

Kowe, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Community Development, described the group as a national mobilisation platform committed to strengthening unity, citizen engagement and political awareness across the country.

He explained that beyond mobilising support for President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, the initiative would also work to ensure the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in Ekiti State.

He noted that the country has witnessed remarkable improvement in governance, economic management and security under President Tinubu, adding that the Renewed Hope Agenda have started yielding positive results.

Kowe hailed the President’s decision to remove fuel subsidy, describing it as a bold and strategic economic reform that has expanded fiscal space for states as well as local governments to execute more developmental projects.

He said: ‘Every leader before now talked about removing subsidy, but it takes courage and political will to actually do it. The subsidy regime was a necessary monster. a scam that enriched a few Nigerians. President Tinubu took the bold decision, and today there’s more money circulating within the system.’

Kowe expressed optimism that with continued reforms and sustained public engagement, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration would achieve greater national progress.

‘We are confident in the leadership direction of Mr. President. His decisions are courageous, his focus is clear, and the results are becoming evident nationwide,’ he said.