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IPF Inaugurates Electoral Committee, Sets Stage for Forthcoming Election
By: Derick Peretengboro
The Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF) has taken a significant step towards its upcoming leadership transition with the inauguration of an Electoral Committee to oversee its next election.
The committee was formally inaugurated during a congress held on Thursday, January 15, 2026, in Warri, Delta State.
According to the forum, “Mr. Francis Abai of Pen Global, Mr. Cletus Opukeme of Daily Watch, and Mr. Joseph Kanjo of Info Daily were nominated to serve on the Electoral Committee.” Following the nominations, “Mr. Abai was appointed Chairman, while Mr. Opukeme will serve as Secretary. Mr. Kanjo is a member of the committee.”
The move comes as the incumbent National Executive Council, led by Comrade Ozobo Austin, approaches the end of its tenure. The current NEC is expected to step down on February 29, 2026, paving the way for a new leadership structure to emerge through what stakeholders hope will be a credible and transparent process.
In a related development, the forum also constituted a Constitution Review Committee to strengthen its internal regulatory framework. Membership of the review panel includes “Mr. Tare Magbei of Daily Report Nigeria, Mr. Francis Abai of Pen Global, and Mr. Ezekiel Kagbala of Focal Point.”
Both committees are expected to “play key roles in strengthening the forum’s internal processes and ensuring a credible and orderly electoral exercise,” a statement from the forum noted.
The inauguration has been widely regarded within the IPF as a proactive measure to enforce accountability, enhance democratic participation, and consolidate the forum’s institutional integrity ahead of its crucial transition.
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Tantita Coordinator Attributes Pipeline Contract to Merit, Dismisses Ethnic Entitlement Claims
By Favour Bibaikefie
A coordinator with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has pushed back against growing criticisms surrounding the company’s pipeline surveillance contract, insisting that the engagement was secured strictly on merit and capacity, not on regional entitlement.
Engr. Samson Uwatse, who oversees operations along the Warri River axis, including Ugbodede Community and parts of the Trans-Forcados pipeline, stated that Tantita met all stipulated requirements before being awarded the contract.
According to him, the company’s performance since assuming responsibility has validated the decision, pointing to a noticeable decline in pipeline vandalism, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality across the operational areas.
Uwatse maintained that attempts to frame the contract as a “Niger Delta slot” are misplaced, stressing that it is a national assignment awarded to a firm deemed capable of delivering results.
“This is not about regional allocation. It is a contract given to a competent organisation that has proven its capacity to secure critical national assets,” he said.
He further advised aggrieved individuals and groups to channel their energies toward pursuing legitimate opportunities through appropriate federal channels, rather than calling for the cancellation of an already performing contract.
The coordinator also commended the leadership of Tantita under , noting that the company’s structured approach and commitment to community engagement have contributed significantly to improved stability in the Niger Delta.
His remarks come amid renewed agitation in some quarters for the review or withdrawal of the surveillance contract—calls he described as self-serving and disconnected from the realities on ground.
Observers say the relative calm in previously volatile waterways and oil corridors has strengthened the argument of those advocating continuity for Tantita’s operations, as security gains continue to be recorded across the region.
By Ezinne
There is a wave of relief for motorists across the country as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has officially reduced the pump price of petrol at its retail outlets. This significant downward adjustment, effective Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31, 2026, follows a similar price cut by the Dangote Refinery earlier last week.
In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, NNPCL filling stations have adjusted their prices from ₦1,361 per litre down to ₦1,295, representing a ₦66 to ₦71 reduction. Major independent marketers including Mobil, NIPCO, and Ardova have followed suit, with retail prices now ranging between ₦1,280 and ₦1,296 per litre, down from previous highs of nearly ₦1,400.
The price crash is attributed to the Dangote Refinery reducing its gantry price to ₦1,200 per litre, down from ₦1,285, in a move to stabilize the downstream sector amidst global oil market volatility. While stations in Lagos and Abuja have reflected the change, some independent outlets in more remote areas are yet to review their prices downward. The NNPCL has maintained that this adjustment is part of its commitment to ensuring energy security and making fuel more affordable as domestic refining capacity continues to expand
By Favour Bibaikefie
Port Harcourt, March 2026 — The Federal High Court sitting in has upheld the emergence of Alabo Charles MacPepple Jaja, popularly known as King Charles Jaja, Jeki VI, as the next Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, bringing clarity to a protracted royal succession dispute.
The court affirmed that the monarch, whose election was conducted on December 31, 2025, is to be formally installed following the demise of the late king, His Royal Majesty King Dr. Dandison Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, who passed on in late December 2025.
In a landmark ruling delivered in March 2026, the court also outlined a structured succession framework aimed at ensuring equity among the royal houses within the Jaja dynasty.
Central to the judgment is the directive that after the reign of King Charles Jaja, the Prince Saturday Jaja War Canoe House shall present nominees for the selection of the subsequent Amayanabo.
The court further ruled that no single War Canoe House within the Jaja Group of Houses shall enjoy exclusive or perpetual rights to the revered stool. Instead, succession to the throne will henceforth rotate among eligible houses through a system of nominations and elections.
Findings indicate that the judgment followed the consolidation of multiple suits filed by contending parties in the kingship tussle. The disputants reportedly reached an amicable agreement, which was subsequently adopted by the court as a consent judgment on or about March 16, 2026.
Legal observers note that the adoption of the settlement not only resolves the immediate dispute but also establishes a sustainable framework for future succession, thereby reducing the likelihood of recurring conflicts within the kingdom.
The ruling is expected to pave the way for the completion of burial rites for the late monarch and facilitate a smooth and peaceful transition of leadership in Opobo Kingdom.
Community stakeholders and indigenes have welcomed the development, expressing optimism that the court-sanctioned arrangement will foster unity, stability, and continuity in the historic kingdom.
Source: Rivers in Picture