Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced plans to commission 10 new courthouses and commence the construction of ultra-modern court complexes in Aba and Umuahia as part of efforts to improve judicial infrastructure across the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Otti disclosed this on Tuesday, October 20, during a thanksgiving service marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year of the Abia State Judiciary at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Chapel, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

The governor said five of the new courthouses would be commissioned before the end of 2026, while the remaining five were expected to be completed early next year.

He also revealed that the proposed court complexes in Aba and Umuahia would each feature an auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,000 people.

“By the time you finish the programme for this year, the legal year, and return, we should be commissioning an additional 10 new courthouses that we have built,” Otti said.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing judicial officers with a conducive working environment, stressing that improving facilities remained a priority for his government.

On the delayed Ukwa East courthouse project, Otti blamed the contractor’s poor performance for the setback. He disclosed that the state government had decided to terminate the contract and engage another contractor to complete the project.

The governor also pledged to sustain the digitisation of government processes across the executive, legislature and judiciary to enhance efficiency and improve residents’ access to public services.

Describing the judiciary as an indispensable arm of government, Otti assured judicial officers that his administration would continue to support the effective administration of justice while respecting the judiciary’s constitutional independence.

“The judiciary is a very important part of government. And there is no way the executive or the legislature can work without the judiciary. But then the lines are also very clear,” he said.

Otti commended the judiciary for supporting his administration’s commitment to due process, noting that the executive and judiciary shared a responsibility to ensure that government activities complied with established procedures.

He congratulated the Abia State Judiciary on the commencement of the new legal year and expressed optimism that it would be successful.

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed claims that the opposition party would support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The faction described the call by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, urging PDP members to back Tinubu’s second-term ambition as a “political anomaly.”

The party’s position was conveyed in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.

The faction maintained that Wike’s directive was not intended for genuine PDP members, insisting that the party would not support the Tinubu-led administration.

“The news credited to Minister Nyesom Wike that PDP candidates should collapse their structures and support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu is nothing new, except for the fact that his message is not directed at real PDP members.

“The message is meant for persons who, like him, are pretenders in the opposition but are working for the governing party,” the statement said.

The faction further criticised what it described as the support of some opposition figures for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of putting personal interests ahead of the country’s democratic development.

“The true and principled members of the Peoples Democratic Party are not part of the shameless, self-serving support for the APC-led Federal Government and its destructive policies.

“The paramount duty of the opposition is to provide an alternative to the incumbent, not to massage their ego. If at all opposition parties are to have an alliance, it will be amongst themselves, not with the governing party.

“This political anomaly, styled and championed as a ‘rainbow coalition,’ is the greatest threat to electoral democracy and the fastest way of railroading the country into an electoral monarchy,” the statement added.

The faction also expressed confidence that the judiciary would resolve the ongoing leadership dispute in its favour.

It urged loyal party members to remain committed while awaiting the Court of Appeal’s judgment in the case.

“We urge all true and faithful members of the Peoples Democratic Party to remain steadfast as we await the judiciary’s decision, hopeful that it will return our party to its true owners. Our case at the Court of Appeal has been heard, and we await judgment. We know that the entire judiciary is conscious that justice delayed is justice denied,” Ememobong stated.

The faction further called on Nigerians to reject political leaders it considers insensitive and irresponsible in the 2027 general election.

It warned citizens against what it described as elite accommodation and state capture disguised as broad-based political cooperation, arguing that the next election would provide an opportunity to hold political leaders accountable.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerian politicians to place national interest above party loyalty and sectional considerations, warning that ethnic, religious and regional divisions remain major obstacles to the country’s political development.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Jonathan made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the fifth National Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria. He emphasised the importance of national unity, stronger democratic institutions and effective governance.

Represented at the event by former Adamawa State Deputy Governor Bala Ngilari, the former president called on politicians to prioritise competence, integrity and inclusiveness in their efforts to advance national development.

“One major obstacle to Nigeria’s political development is division along ethnic, religious and regional lines. We must rise above these differences and promote politics founded on competence, integrity, inclusion and national interest,” he said.

“Nigeria must always be greater than any political party, individual or sectional interest.”

Jonathan, who previously served as deputy governor and governor of Bayelsa State before becoming vice-president and president, said his experience in public service had taught him the value of consultation, teamwork and strong institutions.

He urged former deputy governors to sustain cordial relationships with serving governors, mentor younger politicians and discourage political practices that deepen divisions within the country.

The former president also reminded former public office holders that political positions were temporary, but the decisions they made could have lasting consequences for future generations.

He called on them to help guide emerging political leaders towards integrity, accountability and responsible leadership.

Expressing optimism about Nigeria’s future, Jonathan highlighted the resilience and creativity of its people, particularly the younger generation. However, he stressed the need to provide young Nigerians with opportunities to work, innovate and achieve prosperity.

Meanwhile, former Kano State Governor and immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, urged Nigerians to embrace their diversity and strengthen their sense of national identity.

Ganduje traced Nigeria’s challenges with national integration to its colonial past, while acknowledging the contributions of First Republic politicians to the country’s independence struggle.

He noted that some nationalist leaders later adopted ethnic-based political positions, resulting in the emergence of political parties largely organised along ethnic lines after independence.

The former governor urged Nigerians to draw lessons from the country’s political history and use their diversity as a strength rather than allow it to fuel division.

Ganduje also expressed concern about the state of democratic institutions, including the judiciary, and questioned how meaningful judicial reforms could be achieved.

He criticised the lack of continuity between successive administrations, observing that disagreements between outgoing and incoming governors frequently led to the abandonment or reversal of ongoing projects.

According to him, such situations sometimes occurred even when both governors belonged to the same political party, undermining development and the delivery of essential public services.

He further called for greater recognition of deputy governors’ contributions to governance, insisting that they should not be viewed merely as replacements for state governors.

In his remarks, former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the widening gap between government policies and the everyday experiences of citizens had eroded public confidence.

Okowa maintained that nation-building required a social contract based on accountability, inclusion and shared responsibility.

He added that many Nigerians felt disconnected from the government because their expectations and aspirations were not being adequately addressed.