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Rivers: Gov Fubara Declares Thursday, Friday Public Holidays—-Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays to allow residents to travel to their respective communities ahead of the upcoming local government elections on Saturday.

In addition, a strict restriction on vehicular movement will be enforced from midnight on Friday, October 4, until 5pm on election day.

Governor Fubara made these announcements in a statewide broadcast from the Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. The public holidays aim to give citizens ample time to prepare and participate in the local elections.

Following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the chairmen and councilors of the 23 local government councils on June 17, 2023, Governor Fubara had instituted caretaker committees to manage the councils temporarily.

The elections, organized by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), will now fill those positions through a lawful electoral process.

The governor said as a move to entrench sustainable democracy and good governance in the country’s local government system, “the Supreme Court by its judgement in SC/CV/343/2024: A-G Federation v A-G Abia State and 35 Ors delivered on 11th July 2024 effectively outlawed the administration of our local government councils with unelected officers and made several orders including the immediate stoppage of statutory allocations to Local Government Councils without democratically elected local government councils.”

He said following Mr President’s intervention, the period for compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment was graciously extended by three months, which will expire on October 31, 2024.

He said, “On the strength of these positive developments, I directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to take definite steps to conduct local government elections for the 23 local government councils of Rivers State.

“Acting per this directive the RSIEC has since fixed and concluded all arrangements to conduct the local government council elections on Saturday, 5th October 2024.

“The legal impetus of RSIEC to conduct the local government elections was further strengthened by the judgment of the Rivers State High Court in Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024 delivered on the 4th of September 2024, which positively directed the Governor of Rivers State, the Government of Rivers State and the RSIEC to conduct the scheduled local government elections on the 5th of October, 2025 using the 2023 Independent National Electoral Commission’s Voters Register already in the custody of RSIEC.

“As of today, RVSIEC has expressed and demonstrated concrete and verifiable capacity and readiness to conduct the 2024 Rivers State Local Government Elections on the 5th of October 2024.

“As of today, 17 out of 18 registered political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, have expressly and actively demonstrated their willingness to participate by filling candidates with RSIEC for the election.

“….To this end, I hereby declare Thursday and Friday, the 3rd and 4th of October 2024 as public holidays for citizens to travel to their communities and participate in the election.

“Furthermore, I hereby place a total restriction on vehicular and human movements into, within, and out of the State, and the Local Government Areas, from midnight of Friday 4th October 2024 to 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 5th October 2024, except for persons and vehicles valid identifications who are on election and other essential duties.

“The police and other security agencies have clear directives from the State’s Security Council to arrest and prosecute any person or group who attempts to violate the restriction on human and vehicular movements on election day.

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Mojisola Meranda Speaks On Resigning As Lagos Assembly Speaker Amid Crisis

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Meranda Speaks On Resigning As Lagos Assembly Speaker

Mojisola Meranda Speaks On Resigning As Lagos Assembly Speaker Amid Crisis—-Mojisola Meranda a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, has refuted claims of her resignation, dismissing the rumors amid the ongoing leadership crisis in the Assembly.

Speculation surged on Monday following a forceful invasion of the Assembly complex by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police.

According to reports, security forces stormed the premises in the early hours, sealing the offices of Speaker Meranda, her deputy, and the clerk.

Speaking to Punch, the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, denounced the reports of her resignation as “a lie from the pit of hell.” He reaffirmed that Meranda remains committed to her role despite mounting pressure.

The crisis, which began with the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, intensified when security personnel occupied the Assembly on Monday, further escalating tensions among lawmakers and staff.

Reacting to the situation, Ajiboye stated, “It is a lie from the pit of hell. If she had resigned, would she come back to sit at the plenary today?”

Meanwhile, a member of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Muraina Taiwo, acknowledged that the crisis had spiraled beyond the council’s ability to manage, calling for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.

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BREAKING: Mudashiru Obasa Sues New Speaker Meranda And Lagos Assembly To Court

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Mudashiru Obasa Sues New Speaker Meranda

BREAKING: Mudashiru Obasa Sues New Speaker Meranda And Lagos Assembly To Court—-Impeached speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a lawsuit at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, seeking an immediate order for his reinstatement as Speaker.

Court documents obtained by Lagos Reporters reveal that Obasa is challenging his removal on January 13, 2025, arguing that it was wrongful and unconstitutional. The lawsuit, filed on February 14, 2025, lists the current Speaker, Lasbat Mojisola Meranda, and the Lagos State House of Assembly as defendants.

The legal move comes after failed attempts to resolve the leadership dispute through political negotiations. Sources confirm that multiple high-level meetings, involving political figures from Lagos and Abuja, were held to mediate the crisis but ended in deadlock.

Some lawmakers reportedly fear that Obasa’s possible reinstatement could trigger political reprisals against those who backed his ouster.

With the case now in court, the battle for Lagos Assembly leadership shifts to the judiciary, as stakeholders await the ruling and its implications for the state’s legislative stability.

 

Developing Story…..

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