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The Senate, on Wednesday, endorsed a $516 million loan request from President Bola Tinubu.

The approval followed the consideration of a report during plenary, presented by the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

Recall that President Tinubu had requested the Senate’s approval for the loan to fund part of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway project.

The request was conveyed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during last Thursday’s plenary.

The President said the project is a 1,000-kilometre flagship highway designed to link Nigeria’s North-West to the South-West.

According to the proposal, the highway will run from Illela in Sokoto State through Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun, terminating in Badagry, Lagos State.

The loan will specifically fund Sections 1, Phase 1a and 1b, covering 120 kilometres of the total corridor.

According to the proposal, the highway will run from Illela in Sokoto State through Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun, terminating in Badagry, Lagos State.

The loan will specifically fund Sections 1, Phase 1a and 1b, covering 120 kilometres of the total corridor.

Tinubu explained that the funding arrangement involves a syndicated loan from Deutsche Bank AG, backed by a partial risk guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit.

During deliberations, lawmakers highlighted the strategic importance of the highway project.

Senator Tahir Monguno noted that the road was expected to connect three of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones and significantly reduce travel time between the northern and southern parts of the country.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, explained that an earlier $5 million request by the President, approved by the Senate, was to be assessed.

He noted that the borrowing arrangement through Abu Dhabi had stalled owing to escalating conflict in the region, preventing the Federal Government from drawing on the funds.

He added that securing alternative financing sources would accelerate ongoing development efforts.

Beyond transportation, lawmakers argued that the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway project is expected to boost agricultural productivity by improving access to markets, supporting dam development, and strengthening the agricultural value chain.

The Senate’s approval is expected to be transmitted to the President today for final action.

Naijapunchnews reports that the House of Representatives had earlier approved the loan request.

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…support finalising presidential petitions at Supreme Court

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has moved to modernise the handling of election petitions by introducing a more flexible and technology-led system for serving legal processes, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The decision followed consideration of a report presented by the House Committee on Electoral Matters during deliberations in the Committee of the Whole on Wednesday.

In the same sitting, lawmakers advanced proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2026, including provisions that will see disputes arising from presidential elections concluded at the Supreme Court, while cases involving governorship and National Assembly contests will terminate at the Court of Appeal.

Earlier in plenary, the two related bills scaled second reading and were subsequently referred to the Committee of the Whole, overseen by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over proceedings.

Speaking on the general principles of the bills, Chairman, Committee on Electoral Matters, Rep. Adebayo Balogun listed the objectives of the bills to include “providing clarity and certainty on the jurisdiction of courts in pre-election matters; enhancing timely and efficient adjudication of pre-election matters; introducing flexible and technology-driven modes of service of election petition processes and curbing delays and technicalities associated with service of court processes.”

The first bill amended Section 29(8) to mandate candidates to provide both physical and electronic contact details (email, phone number, etc.). The amendment recognises multiple modes of service, including “personal delivery, registered post; electronic transmission (email, SMS, and other digital means), provided that service is deemed effective upon proof of transmission.”

The revised provisions spell out what qualifies as valid proof that court papers have been served, recognising electronic confirmations and automated system records. They also make clear that a respondent’s refusal or failure to acknowledge receipt does not render the service invalid.

In a separate measure addressing jurisdiction in pre-election disputes, a new Section 29(a) has been proposed. It grants the Federal High Court original authority to hear pre-election cases relating to National Assembly, state assembly and governorship contests, while maintaining that election petitions in these categories will conclude at the Court of Appeal.

“The Court of Appeal is to exercise original jurisdiction over presidential pre-election matters and terminates at the Supreme Court, while restricting courts from entertaining pre-election matters outside the prescribed jurisdiction, the amendment reads in part”, he said.

Balogun said in the committee’s findings, “the reliance on physical service alone is outdated and susceptible to manipulation, evasion, and logistical challenges. Technological advancements provide credible, verifiable, and efficient alternatives for the service of court processes.

“There exists ambiguity and inconsistency in the current legal framework governing jurisdiction for pre-election matters, leading to conflicting judicial decisions. There are delays in the service of election petition processes, which have significantly affected the timely resolution of electoral disputes.”

The Committee Chairman noted that amendments were consistent with Section 285 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and align with international best practices in electoral dispute resolution and judicial efficiency.

“The Committee engaged in extensive deliberations on the provisions of the bills, noting that the delineation of jurisdiction will significantly reduce preliminary objections and expedite hearing of pre-election matters”, he added.

According to him, granting original jurisdiction to the Court of Appeal in presidential pre-election matters is consistent with the importance and urgency of such disputes.

“The Committee is of the considered view that the proposed amendments will significantly improve the administration of electoral justice in Nigeria. By clarifying jurisdictional boundaries and embracing technology in the service of processes, the bills will promote efficiency, reduce delays, discourage frivolous objections, and strengthen the credibility of the electoral system.

The amendment: Section 29(5) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for the existing subsection (5) a new subsection to read, “An aspirant who participated in the primaries of his political party and who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by the political party’s candidate in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate in relation to his constitutional requirements to contest the election is false, may file a suit at a court in the Federal Capital Territory or in the jurisdiction where the cause of action arose, against that candidate seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false.”

Insertion of new Section 29A of the Principal Act, read, “Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, all pre-election matters arising from the nomination of candidates and other pre-election activities under Section 285 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Altered) and this Act shall be commenced, heard and determined in accordance with the provisions of this section.

“Pre-election matters relating to elections into the National Assembly, the State Houses of Assembly, the office of Governor and Deputy Governor shall be commenced at the Federal High Court, and any appeal arising therefrom shall lie as of right to the Court of Appeal.

“Pre-election matters relating to the Office of President and Vice President shall be commenced at the Court of Appeal, which shall have and exercise original jurisdiction, and any appeal arising therefrom shall lie as of right to the Supreme Court.

“No court shall entertain any pre-election matter except in accordance with the provisions of this section.

“The provisions of this section shall apply to all actions instituted under this Act in respect of pre-election matters.”

Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki, called the attention of the House to possible transmission of electronic mails to spam folders, but was put aside as both the Deputy Speaker and Rep. Balogun insisted that the amendment was not meant to replace the physical transmission of service, but also to expand the mode of communication.

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•Exco Member Threatens Legal Action Over Signature Forgery

A controversial move to suspend Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 9, Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has sparked backlash and legal threats, deepening cracks within the local party structure.

An Ex-Officio member of the ward, Prophet Edet Ben, has formally disclaimed the suspension process in a sworn affidavit before the High Court in Uyo, describing the exercise as fraudulent and non-existent.

He stated that no meeting was convened on April 22, 2026, to deliberate on any disciplinary action against anyone and denied ever attending or endorsing such proceedings.

Prophet Ben further alleged that his name and signature were falsely included in an attendance list tied to the purported suspension, disowning both the document and a related “Letter of Suspension” addressed to party leadership both at the chapter and state levels.

In a separate notice, Edet Ben demanded the immediate removal of his name, a public retraction, and cessation of further use of his identity without consent, warning of legal action if ignored beyond 24 hours.

The disputed suspension, reportedly announced by a faction within the ward, accused Hon Eyiboh, Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, of anti-party activity.

However, the allegation has drawn widespread criticism for targeting a figure said to have recently mobilised grassroot support for top APC leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno.

A grassroots political group, Ward Nine New Era (WNNE) had earlier, dismissed the suspension as “malicious, baseless, and void,” questioning both the legitimacy of the ward executives and the logic of penalising community mobilisation efforts to enhance party strengths

New Era had wondered why only Hon Eyiboh was singled out for the purported suspension, when other respected leaders of Esit Eket LGA
who attended the community Stakeholders’ endorsement meeting were not called out for suspension.

Ward Nine New Era listed stakeholders to include the former NDDC Managing Director, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia; former speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Bassey Essien; former Member of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon(Dr). Usoro Akpan-Uso; former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon (Dr) Ini Adiakpan who is also a current Delivery Advisor to the Governor, among many others.

The group maintained that due process was not followed and urged members to disregard the action.

Separately, commentators have described the episode as a “self-defeating contradiction and contortion,” arguing that branding pro-party advocacy as anti-party conduct exposes internal inconsistencies and weakens the credibility of those sponsoring the purported suspension.

With allegations of forgery, denial of due process, and rising internal dissent, the attempted suspension now unravels potential rift shifting from a disciplinary claim into a legal and political liability for its promoters.