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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, launched a blistering attack on his longtime political adversary and former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, declaring that anyone who once shut down courts is fundamentally unfit to serve as Nigeria’s Vice President.

Speaking on Wednesday during his monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, the former Rivers State governor spared no words as he took aim at both Amaechi and the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Addressing journalists, Wike urged Nigerians to critically examine the past actions of political figures claiming to champion democracy and the rule of law before trusting them with high office.

“Rotimi Amaechi, who wants to be Vice President today, once shut down the courts in Rivers State and caused a pregnant woman to give birth in prison,” Wike said.

The minister argued that such precedents should automatically disqualify political aspirants from occupying sensitive executive positions, emphasizing that a track record of undermining the judiciary cannot be brushed aside.

Wike further broadened his critique to target the NBA, accusing the legal body of abandoning its historic role as an impartial defender of justice and constitutionalism in favor of partisan politics.

“The Nigerian Bar Association has now taken sides politically. They are now a political party,” Wike declared.

He maintained that the association ought to remain an independent institution dedicated to upholding the rule of law, rather than serving as an arena for political contests or offering platforms that amount to partisan endorsements.

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Osborn Umahi, the 28-year-old son of the Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has been sworn in as Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Osborn took the oath of office on Tuesday after emerging victorious in the August 22, 2026, local government election, where he contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, and attended by political leaders, government officials and other dignitaries, including David Umahi.

With the inauguration, Osborn formally assumed office as chairman of the council.

He had, during his campaign, pledged to focus on infrastructure development, youth empowerment, support for businesses and improved basic services in the local government.

Osborn also pledged to forgo his salary and allowances throughout his tenure, saying he was seeking to serve rather than benefit financially from the office.

His election came as the APC secured all 13 chairmanship positions in the August 22 local government poll in Ebonyi State.

Osborn, an engineer and businessman, studied civil engineering at the University of Surrey in England before obtaining a master’s degree in finance and investment management from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

His father, David Umahi, served as Ebonyi State governor from 2015 to 2023 before he was appointed Minister of Works by the Federal Government.

The younger Umahi now begins his tenure at the Ohaozara council with his campaign promises, including grassroots development and improved public services, expected to shape his administration.

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly removing candidates nominated by the party for the 2027 general elections and replacing them with names it said were unknown to the party.

The party made the allegation in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, following INEC’s publication of the list of candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections.

Zuwoghe described the development as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that it could create confusion and dissatisfaction among the party’s supporters.

The NDC chairman particularly cited the Anambra State House of Assembly list, where he alleged that 10 names published by INEC were neither nominated nor authorised by the party.

The affected constituencies listed by the party include Onitsha South 1, Onitsha South 2, Orumba North, Anaocha 1, Idemili North, Njikoka 1, Nnewi South, Nnewi South 2, Ayamelum and Dunukofia.

According to Zuwoghe, the party conducted its primaries and appeal process before producing a final list of candidates endorsed by relevant stakeholders, the party leadership, representatives of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the appeals panel.

He alleged that after the final list was uploaded to the INEC portal using the code provided to the party, nine names were kept in “Pending” status by INEC officials.

Zuwoghe claimed that INEC officials told the party that the names were already in the commission’s system based on information submitted by officials who monitored the NDC primaries.

The chairman said the party subsequently challenged the names and submitted the identities of its actual candidates, but alleged that INEC refused to make the necessary changes.

He further alleged that the electoral commission subsequently collected Form EC-9 directly from the disputed candidates and uploaded the forms without going through the party.

“This not only runs against the grain of the Electoral Act and INEC’s own guidelines, it is simply unacceptable,” Zuwoghe said.

He argued that where there was a discrepancy between the candidates submitted by a political party and information allegedly obtained by INEC’s monitoring teams, the commission should have left the affected positions blank rather than publish candidates the party did not recognise.

The NDC also alleged that similar incidents had occurred in other states, including Benue and Imo, describing the development as part of what it called a broader pattern of opposition parties being prevented from presenting their preferred candidates.

“We, as a party, are also carrying out our own independent investigation, the preliminary findings of which are already pointing to the complicity of INEC officials in foisting names purporting to be our candidates,” the statement said.

The party called on the INEC Chairman to urgently investigate the matter and determine how the disputed names found their way onto the commission’s published list.

Zuwoghe said the NDC would pursue the matter through legal channels, including approaching a court of competent jurisdiction to seek redress and have what it described as its authentic candidates restored.

He urged members of the public and NDC supporters to disregard the disputed names, insisting that they were not candidates nominated by the party.

The NDC chairman vowed that the party would pursue the matter “to the very end” to ensure that the disputed candidates are removed and the alleged irregularity reversed.