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COURT DISMISSES CASE BROUGHT AGAINST SIR JONATHAN LOKPOBIRI SNR. BY MR. NANGI MAOBUYE OBU: AWARDS N300,000.00 AS COST AGAINST NANGI IN FAVOUR OF SIR JONATHAN.
A Rivers State High Court seating in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has dismissed a case of Fundamental Rights Enforcement brought by Mr. Nangi Maobuye Obu, the erstwhile Secretary General of IYC against the President of IYCSir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr. and four others. Nangi amongst other things claimed a breach of his fundamental rights and 10 Million Naira as damages against the Respondents in his favour. The presiding Judge Hon. Justice B. S. Kpokpan after listening to both Counsel dismissed the action. The judge held that he was in agreement with Ebilade Obiri, Esq., Counsel for the 5th Respondent that the Applicant did not in any way disclose a breach to his fundamental right in his supporting Affidavit and also failed to counter the weighty issues raised in the 5th Respondent’s Counter Affidavit.
The court further held that the 1st to 4th Respondent cannot be stopped from carrying out their constitutional duties.
The court consequently awarded N300,000.00 as cost against the Applicant Mr. Nangi Maobuye Obu in favour of the 5th Respondent Sir. Jonathan Lokpobiri
By Favour Bibaikefie
Tensions are rising in Delta State as the Itsekiri nation has firmly opposed the recent constituency delineation carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing concerns of political exclusion and deliberate marginalization.
The proposed boundary adjustments, part of a court-mandated review, were met with sharp criticism from Itsekiri leaders who claim the changes significantly undermine their influence in the state’s political framework—particularly in the Warri Federal Constituency, comprising Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West Local Government Areas.
Sir Amorighoye Sunny Mene, Secretary of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, expressed strong disapproval during a press briefing in Asaba, describing the move as a calculated attempt to suppress the Itsekiri voice in governance.
“This entire process is a blatant attempt to reduce our political representation,” Mene said. “The unveiling of the report was a sham—INEC denied us the opportunity to voice our objections during the stakeholders’ meeting, knowing full well that the content would be met with resistance.”
He further alleged that INEC’s conduct throughout the exercise demonstrated clear bias, favoring more dominant ethnic groups in the region while sidelining the Itsekiri people. “What we feared from the beginning has been confirmed—INEC has acted unjustly and without transparency.”
According to the revised ward allocations presented by INEC:
Warri North: Ijaw – 10 wards, Itsekiri – 8 wards Warri South West: Ijaw – 15 wards, Itsekiri – 4 wards Warri South: Urhobo hold the majority, while Ijaw have 3 wards
Previously, the total ward distribution was:
Warri South West – 10 wards Warri South – 12 wards Warri North – 10 wards
The new configuration has triggered widespread discontent among the Itsekiri, who argue that the changes not only diminish their representation but also fail to reflect their longstanding contributions to the state’s development—especially in the oil and gas sectors.
INEC’s recent actions were in response to a December 2022 Supreme Court judgment that mandated a review of wards and polling units in the affected local governments. The report, unveiled during a stakeholders’ forum in Asaba, was handed over to representatives of the Urhobo, Ijaw, and Itsekiri ethnic groups.
Despite assurances from INEC officials, including Resident Electoral Commissioner Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren and National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus, that the process was inclusive and credible, the Itsekiri community remains unconvinced.
Community leaders have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to step in and ensure a more equitable and transparent process. They have vowed to challenge the new boundaries through legal and political avenues, warning that continued exclusion could further inflame tensions in the region.
“This is not just about lines on a map—it’s about justice, identity, and fair participation in democracy,” Mene emphasized.
As the standoff continues, INEC has yet to formally respond to the Itsekiri nation’s rejection of its report. Political observers believe the commission may be compelled to revisit its decisions to maintain peace and balance in the ethnically diverse Delta State.
By Divine Perezide
The Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement, a key organiser behind the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest, has unveiled plans to hold a nationwide demonstration on April 7, 2025. The protest aims to challenge what the group describes as the imposition of an “emergency rule” in Rivers State and the alleged misuse of Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act to stifle dissent and silence critical voices online.
In a statement shared with PUNCH, National Coordinator of the movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, emphasized that the primary demand is the repeal of the Cybercrime Act, which, according to him, is being used to target activists, journalists, and social media influencers.
“We’re seeing a trend where freedom of speech is under siege. The Cybercrime Act has become a tool to harass those who question authority – from journalists to online commentators like SeaKing,” Sanyaolu stated.
The TIB also condemned what it refers to as the “militarisation” of Rivers State, claiming that the current governance structure resembles a de facto military regime. The movement is calling for the immediate restoration of all suspended state institutions, including the State House of Assembly and the Executive branch.
“We want an end to policies that have worsened the lives of ordinary Nigerians. The economic hardship is real, and people are suffering,” Sanyaolu added.
The protest, tagged “Nationwide Protest Against Bad Governance and Free Speech Suppression,” will begin at the National Assembly in Abuja, with additional protest locations to be announced.
Over the past year, several journalists have reportedly faced intimidation and arrests, including Segun Olatunji, former editor at First News; Daniel Ojukwu of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism; Dayo Aiyetan of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting; and Nurudeen Akewushola, an investigative journalist.
The suspension of democratic structures in Rivers State has sparked widespread backlash and calls for restraint from various civic groups and political stakeholders.
As inflation continues to rise and the cost of living soars, many Nigerians have expressed frustration over the economic challenges gripping the country, adding fuel to the growing dissent against the federal government’s policies.
Source: SaharaReporters
By Favour Bibaikefie
The Bayelsa State Government has secured a court injunction to stop a proposed mega rally in support of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which was set to take place in Yenagoa on April 12.
Justice I.A. Uzakah of the Bayelsa State High Court issued the interim order following an ex-parte motion filed by the state’s Attorney General, Biriyai Dambo (SAN).
The court barred Wike’s supporters and associates from organizing or participating in any political event in Bayelsa, including rallies, meetings, or public gatherings intended to show solidarity or host the minister, until a decision is reached on the main motion for an interlocutory injunction.
The case has been rescheduled for hearing on April 11, 2025.