POLITICS
APC Stalwart Calls for Caution over Motion to Suspend UCTH MD
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
An All Progress Congress (APC) Stalwart and Chairman, Cross River State Business Men’s Forum Dr. Henry Onwe has called for caution over the Motion by the House of Representatives urging the Federal Government to suspend the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Chief Medical Director, Dr.
Ikpeme A IkpemeIn a press statement in Calabar at the weekend, Onwe emphasised that the need for caution on the matter became necessary following the failure of the House of Representatives to carry out any investigation before adopting the Motion moved by the member representing AfikpoSouth/AfikpoNorth federal constituency of Ebonyi State, Iduma Igariwey
He said recent public discussions surrounding internship placement at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) have raised serious concerns, particularly claims that the Chief Medical Director, Prof.
Ikpeme Ikpeme, acted on ethnic considerations in dealing with some medical graduates.As a concerned citizen of Cross River State, and having followed the public discourse closely over the last fortnight, acting on those allegations without careful investigation would be counterproductive.
“The impulsive call by the House of Representatives on the Federal Government to suspend the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Chief Medical Director, Dr. Ikpeme Ikpeme based on the adoption on Thursday, of a Motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by the member representing Afikpo South/Afikpo North Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State, Mr Iduma Igariwey is hasty, hash and unrealistic”.
Onwe insisted that for a matter that involves a body of the status of the national assembly, painstaking investigation ought to have been carried out before reaching any decision or taking any action.
“To reach a decision that is without bias or error, there is compelling need for the House of Representatives to carry out thorough investigation where all the parties involved in the matter are given opportunity to fully express themselves and state their position the way it affects them before a decision is reached or an action is taken for the purpose of equity and, fair play and justice”
“From information available, there is no indication or evidence that the affected House Officers had any direct interaction with the CMD concerning their internship placement. The claim as implied in their complaint to Oseni, that they had a meeting with him is being contested. So who exactly were they dealing with?”
There is also no evidence that he made any statement formal or informal, suggesting that anyone was rejected, whether on tribal grounds or otherwise. It is, therefore, unsettling that an accusation of ethnic bias is being acted upon in the Federal House of Representatives without clear proof or firsthand engagement, he maintained.
POLITICS
APC E-Registration: Benue Records Over 383,496 Members in First Phase
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) have registered over 383,496 members in Benue State in the e- registration exercise embarked upon by the party.
Recall that the e-registration was flagged off in Benue state on January 12th, 2026 with Governor Hyacinth Alia enrolled at his polling unit in Mbangur, Mbadede Council Ward, Vandeikya Local Government Area as 001.
The Benue State APC Organizing Secretary/Publicity Secretary, James Ornguga who announced this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, disclosed that Benue State ranked 2nd in the North Central behind Kwara state.
He also said with this figure, the State is ranked 11th out of the 36 states, stressing that the registration has been suspended at the moment.
He added that the party would resume the e – registration after the National Convention of the party slated for between March 25th 28th, 2026.
“The person in charge of the ICT at the National Secretariat of the party had a zoom meeting with all organizing secretaries across the states and told us that the exercise would be temporarily halted so as to collate the number for our national convention. After the convention, the exercise will resume.
“So far, the exercise has been impressive with a massive turn out of members. The good thing about this e-registration is that there are no manipulations. Members are registered using their BVN. There were no issues as both the SGF and the governor’s agents cooperated and all the registration was collated into one portal.
“We appeal to those yet to be registered to be patient as they will be captured as soon as they exercise resumes”.
POLITICS
Transmission of election results electronically and manual recipe for Chaos – Atiku
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has warned that the decision of the Senate to approve dual election transmission of election results through electronic and manual means will spell doom and cause chaos for the 2027 general election.
The Former vice President stated this at the residence of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida while speaking to journalists shortly after a closed door meeting with the elder statesman.
He explained that the decision to grant electronic transmission of election results alongside using manual means is deliberately done to orchestrate chaos in the transmission of results.
According to him, the amendment of section 60 of the electoral act by the Senate was to afford Nigerians the opportunity of real time electronic transfer of election results at different levels.
“But what we got is a mixture of manual and electronic which is going to cause chaos
“I think there is urgent need for all opposition parties to come together, so that we do not allow this issue to rest, where they want it to rest”
On his plans to contest the 2027 Presidential election, the former number two citizen of the country said, noted that the issue of contesting does not even arise as he and other ADC leaders are now busy trying to firmly build the party from the ward, Local government, State and at the national level.
“We are now busy mobilising for membership and register as many members as possible”
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar also debunked the notion that the party has a zoning policy in place, noting that it has never inserted such in its constitution.
“ADC as no zoning in ADC constitutional provision, it only PDP that has it”
Speaking on the controversy over the alleged forging of the recently gazetted tax law, the Former vice President described APC as a party of Forgets.
“What do you expect from APC, generally they are a party of Forgets and election riggers
“They forge everything, they forge certificates, they forge age declaration, they simply forge everything that is the hallmark of APC”.
POLITICS
Reps Constitute Seven-Man Sub-Committee to Audit Gas Supplied to Gencos
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating power sector reforms and expenditure between 2006 and 2024 has constituted a seven-man sub-committee to conduct a forensic audit of the usage of gas supplied to electricity generation companies (Gencos) across the country.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved by Representative Harrison Nwadike, who questioned the rationale behind the continued supply of gas to the moribund Sapele Power Plant over the past one year.
Nwadike said the committee made the discovery during its recent oversight visit to the plant in Sapele, Delta State, noting that despite receiving gas supplies, the facility has not generated electricity.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Representative Al-Mustapha Aliyu, said there were widespread concerns among Nigerians that Seplat Energy Company was not supplying adequate gas to Gencos as required, thereby strangulating power plants and short-changing the country.
However, responding to the allegations, the Managing Director of Seplat Energy, Ibiada Itoto, dismissed the claims, insisting that the company has remained committed to supporting the Federal Government’s power sector reform agenda.
According to her, Seplat’s primary objective has always been to ensure the sustainability and growth of Nigeria’s power sector, rather than undermining it.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Gas, Seplat Energy Company, Olubukola Fasoyin, disclosed that the Sapele Power Plant is currently indebted to Seplat to the tune of ₦20 billion for gas supplied.
Despite this, Representative Nwadike, who moved the motion for the forensic audit, alleged that Seplat may have committed an economic crime by allegedly being an accomplice to a power plant that has diverted gas supplied for electricity generation over the past one year.
Reacting, Chairman of the Committee, Representative Aliyu, expressed shock, disappointment and surprise that a company of Seplat’s stature allegedly lacked the internal structure to detect foul play in the utilisation of gas supplied to power plants.
Meanwhile, the committee constituted a seven-man sub-committee to carry out the forensic audit. Members of the sub-committee include Representative Afam Victor Ogene as Chairman, while Kafilat Ogbara, Salisu Magaji, Faud Kayode Laguda, Harrison Nwadike among others will serve as members.


