By Israel Bulus, Kaduna

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has announced his intention to contest for re-election in the 2027 general elections.

Sani made the declaration on Sunday while delivering his Eid-el-Fitr message at his residence in Kaduna.

“Any politician contesting an election depends on the political equation that determines the position to vie for. If the conditions are right and the equations are favorable, I will offer myself to contest specifically for the Kaduna Central senatorial district,” he stated.

He further emphasized that his ambition remains secondary to ensuring the re-election of Governor Uba Sani for a second term.

“For now, our priority is to see that the incumbent governor, Uba Sani, is re-elected. We will work with all our might and strength to achieve this. We know there will be challenges and opposition, but we are well prepared for all forces,” he added.

Sani also used the occasion to urge Muslims to pray for Nigeria’s peace and unity during the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. Additionally, he condemned the recent killing of hunters in Edo State, calling on security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators.

“If citizens cannot move freely across the country, then we are not truly a nation. If individuals take the law into their hands for any reason, it means there is no government or authority,” he lamented.

He called on all Nigerians who desire a better country to work towards peace and unity for the preservation of democracy, despite the challenges being experienced.

Sani also urged the government to uphold fundamental human rights, particularly the right to life, as a crucial step towards national stability and development.

Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has categorically denied accusations of his involvement in the fire that engulfed the Rivers State House of Assembly complex on October 29, 2023.

Ehie announced that he has directed his legal team to pursue a criminal libel lawsuit against the former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, who alleged that both he and Fubara were complicit in the incident.

During a live television segment broadcasted in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening, Ehie, who previously served as Speaker of a faction of the State House of Assembly aligned with the suspended governor, stated, “It is crucial to clarify that I had no role in the destruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Like many others, I woke up on October 30, 2023, to the shocking news of the Assembly’s burning.”

He refrained from directly engaging with Nwaeke, emphasizing that he has already instructed his lawyers to take legal action against him for his allegations. “I expect him to be ready to provide evidence to support his claims,” Ehie remarked.

Ehie suggested that the Assembly’s Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, should be the focus of inquiries regarding the fire, asserting that the blaze erupted shortly after security personnel permitted the Speaker’s convoy entry into the complex.

The Chief of Staff accused Nwaeke of succumbing to political adversaries in pursuit of quick wealth. He referenced the distress expressed by Nwaeke’s wife over his sudden disappearance, portraying it as indicative of a man who has “betrayed his conscience” and his family for personal gain.

Ehie shared WhatsApp messages in which Nwaeke requested financial support shortly following his resignation as Head of Service the previous week. He characterized Nwaeke as “a discontented man” whose remarks do not reflect sound judgment.

Moreover, Ehie dismissed claims regarding Nwaeke’s close ties with Governor Fubara, asserting that the former Head of Service had not conducted any private meetings with the suspended governor. He challenged Nwaeke to specify a date and time of any visit to Fubara without the necessary security clearance.

“George Nwaeke has never been listed among those granted unrestricted access to the governor,” Ehie stated. “The records are maintained at the Government House, and the security clearance, which I supervise, is managed by the DSS. I challenge Nwaeke to provide evidence of any visit to the Government House since October 29, 2023, without prior clearance. There is no record to support his claims.”

A coalition of conscientious citizens has called on Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers State, to publicly declare his assets.

This demand comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu proclaimed a state of emergency in Rivers Stateh and suspended te governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.

The Coalition of Conscientious Citizens (3Cs), at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, March 30, 2025, urged Vice Admiral Ibas to comply with Section 185 (1) of the Constitution.

This section requires individuals elected to the office of governor to declare their assets and liabilities before taking office.

The coalition’s executive director, Dr. Gabriel Nnaji, expressed concerns that Vice Admiral Ibas’s failure to declare his assets could lead to self-enrichment at the state’s expense.

He also cited reports of Rivers State’s coffers being depleted within two weeks of the sole administrator’s tenure.

“Our concerns have been further heightened by the reports we are getting from inside the administration. There are suggestions that Rivers State’s coffers have been bled dry in under two weeks of the Sole Administrator being in office,” the statement said.

“It is especially concerning given the speed with which the withheld allocations for local governments were released without further changes in the judicial status of the excuses earlier given for withholding them.

“There were also hints that the suspension of Governor Fubara’s political appointees was done to ensure that they were not around to witness the industrial-scale looting of the state’s resources taking place under the Sole Administrator.

“Arising from the foregoing, we urge Vice Admiral Ibas not to complicate issues for himself. He must immediately declare his asset to remedy his failure to fulfil the constitutional requirement to do the same before taking the oath of office as Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

“Given that Vice Admiral Ibas does not enjoy the mandate of Rivers State electorates being the product of a fiat, there is an additional burden on him to publicly declare his assets. This will ensure he does not enrich himself at the expense of the state.”

The coalition, therefore, issued Vice Admiral Ibas seven days to publicly declare his assets, failing which they will initiate legal action to compel him to do so.

They also vowed to scrutinize his tenure and ensure that any misuse of state resources attracts legal consequences.

“We are consequently giving Vice Admiral Ibas seven days from today to publicly declare his assets, failing which we shall activate the appropriate legal processes to compel him to declare his assets.

“We are also putting Vice Admiral Ibas on notice that the Coalition of Conscientious Citizens (3Cs) will lead an amalgamation of willing Nigerians and organisations to place his tenure under constant scrutiny and ensure that any misuse or personalisation of the resources of Rivers State shall attract legal consequences.”