A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has scheduled April 14, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications in a suit instituted by three aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

The defendants in the matter include the factional state chairman of the PDP, Aaron Chukwuemeka; the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC); the PDP; the Rivers State Government; as well as three local government council chairmen, Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, along with their respective vice chairmen and councillors.

The claimants, Enyi Uchechukwu, Wisdom Kalio, and Uche Amadi, are seeking judicial clarification on whether the Aaron Chukwuemeka-led state executive committee, whose emergence was nullified by a prior court judgment, possessed the legal authority to submit a list of candidates to RSIEC for the recently concluded local government elections.

They further request the court to determine whether the PDP validly nominated candidates through the said leadership for participation in the August 30, 2025 council polls.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel representing the PDP and the affected local government councils, most of whom are Senior Advocates of Nigeria, informed the court that they had only been served with the originating processes on March 13, 2026.

They consequently requested additional time to respond on points of law.

The application for adjournment was not opposed by counsel to the claimants, Glory Chizim-Chinda.

Presiding over the matter, Justice Stephen Jumbo granted the request and adjourned proceedings to April 14, 2026, for the hearing of all pending motions and possible rulings before the substantive issues are addressed.

A fresh political dispute has emerged in Osun State following conflicting claims by rival political groups over alleged support from Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

The controversy centres on accusations and counter-accusations involving supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke and those aligned with Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the Osun All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, as well as allies of former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

The AMBO Media Fronts, speaking for Bola Oyebamiji, dismissed claims of any alliance between President Tinubu and Governor Adeleke.

The group in a statement by Adebayo Adedeji, Coordinator, AMBO Media Fronts, described such reports as “false and misleading.

It insisted that “the President would not support the re-election of the incumbent governor.”

It argued that “Oyebamiji remains a loyal party member with a track record in public service. His tenure at the National Inland Waterways Authority as evidence of administrative capacity.”

The AMBO Media Fronts also raised concerns about governance in Osun State, including policies on education funding and the status of certain projects, alleging gaps in implementation.

However, the Governor Ademola Adeleke aligned Accord Media Centre countered him by highlighting what it described as the governor’s popularity and acceptance among key demographic groups in the state.

The Accord Media Centre, in a statement, criticised former governor Adegboyega Oyetola and Bola Oyebamiji, accusing them of actions it said were capable of embarrassing the President and deepening divisions within the All Progressives Congress.

The group alleged that the minister and the APC candidate had demonstrated divisive and cantankerous conduct, claiming their actions were weakening party cohesion in the state.

It further stated that “internal disagreements within the APC had led to dissatisfaction among party members, alleging that the imposition of candidates had alienated some stakeholders.”

According to the Accord Media Centre, “those who genuinely support the President have moved beyond internal disputes and are aligning with the preference of the people of Osun.”

The group maintained that Governor Adeleke enjoys widespread grassroots backing across various sectors, including labour groups, artisans, students, and farmers.

It added that political assessments and reports, which it described as credible, indicate that Adeleke remains a strong contender in the forthcoming August 15, 2026 election.

The statement also urged former governor Oyetola and Oyebamiji to “refrain from conduct that could portray the President in a negative light.”

Nigerian youths on Sunday staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly, calling for justice for victims of an alleged sexual assault incident said to have occurred during a fertility festival in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The demonstrators, operating under the banner of the “End The Rape Culture” campaign, expressed outrage over reports and videos circulating online, which allegedly showed victims crying out and pleading for help during the incident.

Speaking during the protest, the Executive Director of Hacey Health Initiative, Rhoda Robinson, described the situation as deeply disturbing, stressing that the issue goes beyond headlines and reflects a broader societal problem.

“It is heartbreaking. I keep asking myself, what if it were me? This is a stark reminder that rape culture still exists,” she said.

Robinson recalled that when the campaign was launched alongside Sunshine Rosman and other advocates, there were claims that rape culture was no longer prevalent in Nigeria.

She, however, questioned that assertion, noting that survivors were often silenced, blamed and denied justice.

“How can anyone say rape culture does not exist when victims are still being silenced and justice remains elusive?” She asked.

She cited data indicating that a significant number of women and girls in Nigeria experience sexual violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and societal pressure.

According to her, even reported cases rarely result in justice for survivors.

Robinson also referenced the widely reported case of Ochanya, a young girl who was repeatedly abused by close relatives and later died from complications related to vesicovaginal fistula and trauma. She said the case underscores the persistent vulnerability of many girls across the country.

According to her, Ochanya’s experience is not an isolated case, as many victims continue to suffer in silence.

“The reality is harsh: victims are blamed, families suppress the truth, and systems fail to protect. Women and girls continue to face oppression, and this must change. We need stronger safeguards, effective laws, and justice that is consistent, not selective. No one should be forced to endure such suffering in silence,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, visited the affected area alongside senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, as part of efforts to address the situation.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday arrived in Lagos to brief President Bola Tinubu on the prevailing security situation in Maiduguri, Borno State.

His visit comes shortly after a presidential directive that took him to the Borno State capital for an on-the-spot assessment following a series of bomb explosions in the city.

During the trip, the Vice President met with victims, bereaved families, community leaders, and relevant authorities as part of a condolence visit aimed at evaluating the impact of the attacks.

He is expected to present his findings and observations to the President.

Maiduguri was recently shaken by multiple explosions suspected to have been carried out by Boko Haram insurgents, leading to casualties and injuries.

Following the briefing, Shettima is also expected to lead a delegation of serving governors on a courtesy visit to the President later in the day.

The meeting will serve as an opportunity to extend Eid-el-Fitr greetings to the President, while also providing a platform for discussions on enhancing collaboration between different levels of government to tackle emerging security challenges and improve rapid response strategies nationwide.

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has clarified the report making the rounds over the alleged disbanding of all police units and squads in state commands.

In a statement by Police Spokesperson Anthony Placid, IGP Disu described the claim of disbanding units nationwide as misleading.

According to IGP Disu, the police under his leadership only directed the reduction of the tactical teams at the zonal and state command levels to a maximum of five and at the area command and divisional levels to a maximum of three to avoid proliferation and duplication.

“This report is a misrepresentation of the IGP’s directives. The IGP, a grassroots officer with a profound network across Nigerian society, is aware of public concerns about police tactical teams’ operations and the creation of multiple teams by Commissioners of Police and Heads of formations, with attendant backlash.

“Having held command positions nationwide and witnessed tactical teams in action, the IGP values their contribution to crime-fighting.

.”He is, however, uncomfortable with their proliferation, which drains Police Divisions and Posts of required manpower and brings issues that affect the Force’s integrity because of the excesses of the poorly supervised teams.

“To address these issues, the IGP directed the reduction of the tactical teams at the Zonal and State Command levels to a maximum of five and at the Area Command and Divisional levels to a maximum of three.

“This can be achieved by merging or disbanding teams, at the heads of formations’ discretion. The teams referred to exclude state government-created outfits like Lagos’ Rapid Response Squad, Oyo’s SRS, Bayelsa’s Operation DOO-AKPOR, and other similar outfits across the country. The IGP expects this move to free personnel for police stations, reducing complaints about tactical team excesses.

“Having emphasized accountability and a people-friendly force in his maiden address to Nigerians, the IGP took this step to enhance supervision of existing teams, strengthen police divisions, and remove causes of complaints against the force by members of the public,” the statement read.