By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The Peoples Alliance for Indigenous Rights (PAIR) has urged President Bola Tinubu to sack the embattled Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, insisting that governance is failing in the nation’s capital.

In a statement on Thursday in Abuja by Adolor Asoro, National Coordinator of the civil society group, the minister has abdicated his administrative responsibility entrusted to him by the President to pursue his personal agenda against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

“At present, the FCT is in dire straits. Workers have been on strike, and the minister, rather than engage them, has dragged them to court. Not long ago, primary schools in the FCT were on strike for over three months, and the minister could not resolve the matter between teachers and area councils, leading to the loss of an academic term by pupils in public schools,” the statement reads.

It further stated that “resident doctors called off their strike only recently, while other health workers are on strike, impelling the health of Abuja residents. Also, residents are in serious jeopardy as public taps have been pumping untreated water since November 2025 due to the non-release of funds to the water board.

“Secondary school students have no hope of preparing properly for external exams as teachers and markers of past exams have not been paid since last year. The health facilities in the FCT are in serious decline, while refuse is taking over major streets due to non-payment of cleaners.

“The crime rate is at an all-time high, and this robs off negatively on the global effort of Mr President to position Abuja as a destination of choice for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions,” Asoro stated.

According to him, the country stands at a critical juncture with the President working assiduously for a progressive, stable, united, and purposeful governance for all Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda, however, all that can be undone by one individual “who continues to sow discord and undermine the collective progress of our nation and that is: the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

“With a wholesome trust by the President in Minister Wike, it is imagined that the minister will dedicate his time, energy and goodwill to the administering of the FCT, rather than his political style has consistently been disruptive.

“From Rivers State to the national stage, his actions have deepened political fractures rather than healed them.

“His unwarranted attempt to impeach Governor Fubara through the State House of Assembly goes against the esteemed and fatherly intervention of the President throughout the duration of the avoidable crisis.

“It is important we reiterate that the President, as the leader of the country and of the All Progressives Congress (APC), you reward loyalty and continues to do so.

“Wike has been more than rewarded for his support in the 2023 elections, but cannot continue to posture as the only contributor to the President’s success going forward.

“To allow that thinking to gain momentum is dangerous and can be counterproductive in building bridges across the various ethnic and political leanings in Rivers State.

“The minister’s tour of local governments in Rivers State with his rhetoric and maneuvers have inflamed tensions, eroding trust in institutions and distracting from the urgent task of governance.

“It must be stated that disregarding the President’s directive for peace and stability in the state is an affront when viewed against the peace intervention between the executive and Lagos Speaker, which has seen amity and reconciliation between all parties. This is an insurrection and must not be allowed to persist.

“We further wish to stress that Minister Wike is not a member of the APC. Therefore, to allow him to continue to harass and intimidate a governor of the ruling party is a clear affront. After all, the National Chairman of the Party has sounded the warning: join the APC, or quit! Mr President, this is the time to let Wike go!” The PAIR demanded.

The National Coordinator argued that the President retaining Minister Wike sends the wrong signal to Nigerians who expect leadership rooted in integrity, stability, and national interest; therefore, “cutting ties with Wike is not just a political necessity—it is a moral imperative to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and restore confidence in governance

By David Torough, Abuja 

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has declined to set up a judicial panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing a court order.

The Rivers State House of Assembly had requested that Amadi set up a seven-member panel to probe Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.

However, in a letter dated January 20 and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, the chief judge cited two court orders barring him from receiving, forwarding, or considering any requests to form such a panel.

The judge stated that the orders were served on his office on January 16, 2026 and remain in force.

The chief judge emphasised that constitutionalism and the rule of law require all authorities to obey subsisting court orders, irrespective of their perception of the orders’ validity.

He referenced legal precedents, noting that in a similar case in 2007, the Chief Judge of Kwara State was condemned for ignoring a restraining court order when setting up an investigative panel, a decision later voided by the Court of Appeal.

Justice Amadi further observed that the Speaker has already filed an appeal against the court orders at the Court of Appeal, adding another layer to the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the allegations.

“By the doctrine of ‘lis pendens’, parties and the court have to await the outcome of the appeal,” he said.

Justice Amadi further stated that the existence of the injunctions and the pending appeal had effectively tied his hands.

“In view of the foregoing, my hand is fettered, as there are subsisting interim orders of injunction and appeal against the said orders. I am therefore legally disabled at this point from exercising my duties under Section 188(5) of the Constitution in the instant,” he said.

The chief judge appealed to the lawmakers to recognise the legal constraints surrounding the matter.

Justice Amadi, therefore, urged the state assembly to be “magnanimous enough to appreciate the legal position of the matter.”

Court documents sighted on Thursday showed that Akpabio filed an application before the apex court to regularise and sustain his appeal challenging decisions of the lower courts on the matter.

The legal battle over the suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has escalated as the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has again approached the Supreme Court.

The documents are marked SC NO: SC/CV/1111/2025.

Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025. Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

It partly read, “Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Order 4 Rules 6 & 16 of the Supreme Court 2024 Sections 22, 27 (1) 4, 2 & 4 and 29 of the Supreme Court ACT CAP S.

15 Laws of the Federal Law Section 233 (1) and 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and under the inherent jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.”

Akpabio is listed as the appellant, while the respondents are Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen.

The dispute arose from a February 2025 plenary session during which Akpoti-Uduaghan raised issues of privilege and alleged procedural breaches.

The matter was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which later recommended her suspension.

Dissatisfied, the lawmaker approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging a breach of her right to a fair hearing and non-compliance with the Senate Standing Orders.

In its judgment on July 4, 2025, the court faulted the suspension, describing it as excessive and unconstitutional.

Following proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Akpabio has now taken the case to the Supreme Court, seeking extension of time to apply for leave to appeal, leave to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact, and an order deeming his notice of appeal and brief of argument as properly filed.

The former governor argued that the Senate acted within its powers under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the National Assembly to regulate its internal procedures.

Akpabio also contended that the Senate President was not under an obligation to immediately rule on every point of privilege and that the Senate lawfully activated its disciplinary process.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, has maintained that her suspension was unlawful and carried out without a fair hearing, insisting that the Senate failed to follow its own rules.

It was confirmed on Thursday that her lawyers had been served with the Supreme Court processes.

The case also involves a related contempt issue arising from a social media post by Akpoti-Uduaghan while the suit was pending. The Federal High Court had fined her and ordered a public apology, a decision she has also appealed.

Legal watchers say the Supreme Court’s decision could clarify the limits of legislative discipline and judicial intervention.

The development comes barely two weeks after Akpabio announced that he had decided to withdraw pending court cases against his adversaries.

Akpoti-Uduaghan resumed duties on September 23, 2025, after completing a six-month suspension and regaining access to her office at the National Assembly.

Her office had been sealed since March 6, 2025, following her suspension over alleged misconduct during a protest against the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio on February 20.

Despite the suspension lapsing in September, she was unable to return immediately due to ongoing legal battles and resistance from the Senate leadership.

Following the July 4 judgment, she notified the Senate of her intention to resume, but the request was initially rejected.