POLITICS
NASS pledges Speedy Passage of Women-Inclusion Bills
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has pledged the commitment of the 10th Assembly to speedily consider and pass gender-based bills in the ongoing Constitution amendment process.Akpabio made the pledge on Monday at the opening of a workshop organised for all female legislators at the national and state assemblies in Abuja.
The workshop which was organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in collaboration with UN-Women was titled “Role of Legislators in Enhancing Gender Responsive Legislations and Budgeting in Nigeria” in Abuja. Akpabio said that promoting gender-responsive legislation and budgeting was an expression of genuine commitment to gender mainstreaming.He said that efforts including the most recent interventions, the five gender bills that were presented to the 9th National Assembly in 2022, that could have made significant contribution to gender equality/equity had failed.The senator said that unless notable barriers deeply rooted in culture, religion, economy and society are broken, it will be difficult to eliminate gender gaps.Akpabio said breaking such barriers demanded huge investments in gender-responsive legislations and budgeting as the take-off point.“This is because the role of gender-responsive legislation and budgeting in addressing gender gaps in governance and development cannot be overemphasised“As a responsible parliament, the 10th Assembly under my leadership will also act in solidarity with women caucus of the National and State Assemblies in their rightful demand for improved representation in governance, both symbolically and substantively.“Arising from this workshop, I will facilitate constant stakeholders’ engagements, including the leadership of NASS and state assemblies, women legislators at national and state levels, relevant Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and so on.“We must do all that we can to make it work. We cannot afford to fail the nation again on this pertinent matter at this critical time.“I will expect, among other things, that this workshop will lead to the production of a framework or template for assessing the responsiveness of our budgets to gender equity; and guide the NASS regarding relevant and actionable legislative measures capable of addressing this pertinent issue.“Permit me to reiterate, for the umpteenth time, the commitment of the assembly under my leadership, to the speedy consideration and passage of the Gender Equality Bills as soon as we receive them.“We are also committed to the effective implementation of such Bills once passed. We will also ensure that each phase of thebudget cycle, from forecasting to outcome monitoring, is deliberately gender responsive,” he said.Also speaking, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, said that women are not only underrepresented politically but in the private sector, religious organisations, and community and village governance.He said that male chauvinism had continued to derail the democratic ethos of inclusion and participation.Abbas said women and girls still face challenges in accessing education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and political representation.“Discriminatory cultural norms and practices, limited access to resources and decision-making processes, as well as violence against women, contribute to these inequalities.“How do we explain that out of the 469 seats in the National Assembly, the 10th Assembly has only 3.91 per cent women’s representation?“This is significantly low when compared to other African countries such as Kenya with 82 Female Members reordering 23.43 per cent of 350 representatives.“Uganda have 188 women representing 33.81 per cent of 556 representatives, and Ghana with 40 women, represents 14.55 per cent of 275 representatives.“Tanzania boasts of 118 which represents 37.4 per cent women in a parliament of 393 seats, and Malawi has 40 women which represents 20.73 per cent of 193 parliamentary seats.“It is therefore a matter of urgency to advance gender responsive Legislature and the 10th House of Representatives is taking this seriously,” he said. Report says that after counting of the votes, the Nigerian National Assembly at its plenary sessions on March 1, 2022, voted to reject five bills seeking to improve participation of women in governance in the country.Voting on 68 bills covering a range of matters, the National Assembly failed to vote in support of five key bills that would have improved women’s rights, created more legislative seats and increased participation of women in the governance of Nigeria.NAN relorts that the most far-reaching of these bills being the Specific seats for women in the Federal and State Legislative Houses, which could have been the signature amendment of the 9th Assembly’s legislative achievement.Another failed bill was the bill to provide 35 per cent affirmative action for women in political party administration, which failed in both houses, including an amendment in the House of Representatives to 15 per cent.Others include the bill to expand the scope of citizenship by registration, to extend citizenship to foreign spouses of Nigerian women and the bill on State indigeneship rights, which were approved in the Senate but failed in the House of Representatives.Also, a bill for reserved quota for women in Executive cabinet positions (ministers and commissioners) was approved in the House of Representatives by voice votes but failed in the Senate.(NAN)POLITICS
2027 Election: Igbo’s Community Promises Votes for Eno
From Christopher Tom, Uyo
Non-indigence in Akwa Ibom State especially the Igbo’s community has promised to give the highest number of votes across the state to Governor Umo Eno come 2027 governorship elections in the state.
The Igbo community said they will not fail to vote massively for the Governor.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Hon.
Keyceey Chidiadi made this known while speaking with media practitioners shortly after the Uyo chapter of Igbo community unity day celebration 2025 in Uyo.He said Igbo’s scattered across the 31 local government Area of the state without any doubt seriously doing their businesses without any crisis, showcasing their love, unity among the indigence of the state while also contributing their quotas to boost the state economy.
According to him, the Igbo’s are about five thousand while some have not been recorded because they have not identified with the community and advise others to join the train before it’s too late for them.
He said their vote come 2027 is massively for Pastor Umo Eno without compromise because of his leadership style and developmental strive, showcasing true democracy carrying every individual along not minding the state or religion the people came from but stand on peace, unity among the people to benefit the dividend of democracy.
He called on Igbo’s resident in the state to make sure they vote here without going to their various states to maintain their voting strength as the highest numbers of people across the non-indigence communities in Akwa Ibom State.
He said they are law abiding citizens and not ready to accommodate or entertain any crisis, violence, because of their peaceful nature created by God, especially respect for the government of the day while corporate to preach peace in the state. He commended the community for embracing peace after 27 years of crisis without a leader among them, but now peace has restored to them across the communities in the state.
POLITICS
INEC Begins Display of Preliminary Voter Register in Delta
From Francis Sadhere, Delta
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Delta State Office, has announced the commencement of the display of the Preliminary Voter Register for claims and objections across the state.
According to a press release by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Udo Umoren, the exercise will begin on Monday, 15th December 2025 and end on Sunday, 21st December 2025.
The display will take place at all the 25 Local Government Area offices of INEC in Delta State between 9:00am and 3:00pm daily.
INEC explained that the exercise is in line with the Electoral Guidelines and is aimed at correcting any anomalies that may have occurred during the recent voter registration exercise.
The Commission noted that the process is essential to producing a credible and reliable voter register, which remains a key instrument for conducting free, fair and credible elections.
The Commission urged eligible voters in the state to seize the opportunity to visit INEC offices in their respective local government areas to confirm that their names and personal details are correctly captured in the register. Voters were also encouraged to report cases of omission, errors in spelling, or any other discrepancies.
In addition, members of the public were advised to raise objections to the inclusion of names of deceased persons, underaged individuals, or any other doubtful entries found in the register.
INEC reiterated its commitment to electoral integrity and called on all Deltans to actively participate in the exercise as part of their civic responsibility.
The Commission concluded the notice with a call to action, encouraging eligible citizens to register and participate in the electoral process.
POLITICS
Gov Adeleke Didn’t Join APC Because Osun People Already Hated the Party – Jackson Ojo
…Says Defectors to Ruling Party Will Regret
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
A former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Jackson Lekan Ojo has given further insight into why governor Ademola Adeleke chose the Accord Party instead of the APC when he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
All the governors that dumped the PDP had detected to the ruling APC, including governor Simi Fubara of Rivers State who joined the party last week.
Speaking at the weekend, Dr Jackson Ojo said the people of Osun State prevailed on Governor Adeleke not to join the ruling APC when it became apparent that there was no point in remaining in PDP over the festering crisis in the PDP.
According to him, the people of Osun State already have deep hatred for the APC and joining the party was never an option for the governor.
Dr Ojo maintained that the performance and achievements of Governor Adeleke is his biggest selling point ahead of campaign for his reelection and the people of Osun State will troop into the Accord Party with him.
“Governor Adeleke trusted himself. He trusted his performance and achievements as governor of Osun State that is why he crossed over to a relatively unknown political party, the Accord Party. All of us have been talking to our people in Osun State to give him maximum support. I have featured of recent at least three times in Osun Broadcasting Corporation to talk to our people. I have been discussing about this, I have been contributing.
“I was one of the people that told the governor to go to Accord Party. I told my governor you don’t need to go to APC because the people of Osun State already hated the APC. I told him to go to any other political party, go to APGA, go to Accord Party because of your performance it will make everybody follow you. And he is going to win the election.
He added that the PDP is already a dead party and that is the reason gales of defection have been hitting the party.
He, however, warned that politicians who are defecting to the APC will regret it as they will be denied the automatic ticket that was used as bait to lure them into the party.
“I don’t think there is any miracle that can resurrect PDP today because they are already in the grave and it just to cover the earth on them. I don’t blame anybody crossing from the PDP because the party is already factionalized. But why are they all going to the APC, the APC is over saturated now. There are persons in APC before that have been fighting.
“You know I belonged to this party before and I know their modus operandi. This is a party that will tell you to go and queue and wait for your time because some people are already working before you came. APC is not a party you just cross to and they give you ticket the second day.
“When my brother who is a member of the House of A Representatives decamped from the PDP to the APC I told him it is good to decamp from the PDP but for going to the APC you are going to regret it. They promised them that they are going to give them automatic ticket but at the end of the day he went and picked the membership card but they called them and told them that crossing to the APC does not mean you are going to have automatic ticket. I hope it will not happen to Simi Fubara in Rivers State.”
Speaking on cold war in Rivers state between Governor Fubara and Lawmakers in the State, Dr Ojo declared that the loyalty of the Lawmakers should be to the people of Rivers State and not to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
“Former governor Nyesom Wike did not give life to the members of the House of Assembly that are loyal to him. Whatever he must have done for them the governor is there today and he could do better.
“The law is already there in place. Nobody should teach the governor how to settle with these people (Lawmakers). These people are not stones, they are not abstract. They are people you can call on phone, they are people you can meet. You don’t need any other person or intermediary. You have direct access to them and they have direct access to you.
“He should deploy more diplomatic ways and he has to settle with them.
“The members of the House of Assembly don’t need to be loyal to the governor, they just have to do their work according to the dictates of the law. Then the governor too has to do his work according to the dictates of the law. We are greeting or not greeting does not matter.
“What is loyalty? Loyalty of the governor and loyalty of members of the House of Assembly is to Rivers people. Greeting or no greeting, when it is time for the governor to send Bill to them he will send it, they will study it holistically and if it is for the benefit of the people of Rivers State they should approve it.
Reacting to the defection of Governor Fubara, Dr Ojo said: “Fortunately or unfortunately I am not one of his consultants. Possibly he must have consulted with his loyalists. I monitored his statement when he said those of you that suffered with him here and there that now we are going to the APC. He knows the best why he decamped to the APC.
“Decamping to APC does not matter anything to me because a political party is just a vehicle. Every achievement of Fubara in Rivers State today is not because he belonged to the PDP. If all his co-travelers are well contacted and they are well informed that the situation will not boomerang against them, then I say kudos to them, congratulations to them.
“But I hope whatever chased them out of PDP will not chase them out of APC.”

