The Supreme Court on Friday, March 21, 2025, declared Senator Samuel Anyanwu, as the authentic National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The apex court set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which had recognised Sunday Udey-Okoye as secretary of the party at the expense of Anyanwu.

In its decision, the Supreme Court agreed with Anyanwu’s argument that both the Court of Appeal and the trial court in Enugu lacked the juridictional vires to hear the case, as it involved the internal affairs of the PDP.

THE CONCLAVE recalls that Anyanwu had left the position of narional secretary, sans resignation, to contest for Imo governorship election.

He had returned to his position in the party after losing in the guber poll.

His action had since become a subject of litigation as some entrenched forces challenged him, seeking court intervention to invalidate his return to the position of national scribe.

Details later…

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations under the auspices of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA) has thrown their weights behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Recall that on Tuesday 18th March, 2025, President Tinubu invoked a provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State following months of unending political crisis in the state.

Just on Thursday, the both arms of the National Assembly – the Senate and House of Representatives endorsed the President’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers, with some further amendments.

Following suit, the CCLCA has strongly supported President Tinubu, stressing that his decision to declare a state of emergency in River State was guided by the provisions of the Constitution.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the National Coordinator of the group, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, emphasized that Mr President’s decision reflects a sober and constitutional response to a pressing political situation that demands immediate intervention for the restoration of order, peace, and effective governance.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, esteemed and dedicated Nigerian citizens,

Today, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, committed to advocating for good governance and credible leadership, convened to express our support for the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“As a civil right coalition, we stand in affirmation of the recent actions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as the resolutions passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives concerning the state of emergency in Rivers State.

“The prolonged political turmoil between the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State has led to a governance crisis that requires immediate and decisive action. We commend President Tinubu for his bold declaration of a state of emergency aimed at restoring order and ensuring effective governance”, he said.

Justifying the President’s action, Dr. Gabriel explained that he (Tinubu) has acted within his constitutional rights and obligations, adding that Section 305 of the Constitution allows for the declaration of a state of emergency in situations where the government is unable to maintain order or ensure good governance.

“The chaotic political environment in Rivers State necessitated such an extraordinary measure”, he asserted.

According to him, the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is a necessary step to facilitate this process.

The group also fully supported the Senate’s resolution to invoke Section 11 of Section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution, empowering the National Assembly to establish a Joint Advisory Committee to oversee the administration of Rivers State during this period.

The National Coordinator said the oversight is crucial for ensuring that the interests of the citizens are maintained and that stability is restored.

“We also welcome the Senate’s suggestion to form a committee of eminent Nigerians tasked with reconciling the conflicting parties within the government of Rivers State. Such an initiative is essential not only for immediate resolution of the ongoing crisis but also for fostering a more collaborative and effective governance structure in the future.

“The House of Representatives’ affirmation of the state of emergency further reinforces the consensus on the need for urgent intervention. We believe that these measures are in the best interest of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”, he added.

Dr. Gabriel however urged all stakeholders to contribute to a peaceful and productive resolution of the crisis, saying it’s only through collective action and dialogue that we can restore hope and trust in governance.

On social media, soldiers shared videos appearing to be inside the presidential palace, exchanging congratulations.

This image grab from a UGC video posted on March 21, 2025 shows Sudanese soldiers celebrating after retaking the presidential palace in Khartoum from paramilitaries.

Sudan’s army said it recaptured the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Friday after a fierce battle.

“Our forces completely destroyed the enemy’s fighters and equipment, and seized large quantities of equipment and weapons,” army spokesman Nabil Abdallah said in a statement broadcast on state television.

Abdallah vowed the army would “continue to progress on all fronts until victory is complete and every inch of our country is purged of the militia and its supporters”.

On social media, soldiers shared videos appearing to be inside the presidential palace, exchanging congratulations. AFP could not immediately verify the footage.

This picture shows a bullet-riddled mosque in Khartoum’s twin-city Omdurman on March 20, 2025.

Paramilitary fighters overran the palace in April 2023, when war broke out between the RSF and the army.

At the time, the RSF swiftly took control of Khartoum’s streets, with the army-aligned government fleeing to Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast.

Central Khartoum, where the presidential palace stands alongside ministries and the capital’s business district, has seen fierce fighting in recent months, after army troops surged through the city.

Earlier this week, the army said its forces had merged from the north and south, hemming in the RSF.

This picture shows a fighter in front of a burnt military vehicle, in Khartoum North, on March 17, 2025.

Blow to the RSF
“With the army entering the Republican Palace, which means control of central Khartoum, the militia has lost its elite forces,” a military expert told AFP, requesting anonymity for their safety.

The paramilitary had stationed its elite forces and stored ammunition in the former seat of government and symbol of Sudan’s state sovereignty, according to military sources.

“Now the army has destroyed equipment, killed a number of their forces and seized control of one of its most important supply centres in Khartoum,” the expert continued.

In recent months, the army has appeared to turn the tide of the war, first advancing in central Sudan to reclaim territory before shifting focus to Khartoum.

Women walk in front of a bullet-riddled church in Khartoum’s twin-city Omdurman on March 20, 2025. Since April 2023, the conflict has pitted army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his former deputy and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, leaving thousands dead and uprooting more than 12 million, according to UN figures, with many living in makeshift camps and over 3.5 million fleeing across the country’s borders. (Photo by Ebrahim Hamid / AFP)

In January, it broke an almost two-year RSF siege of the General Command headquarters, allowing troops to merge with other battalions and encircle the RSF in the city centre.

“What remained of RSF militias have fled into some buildings” in central Khartoum, a military source told AFP, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Nearly two years of war has killed tens of thousands, displaced over 12 million, and triggered the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises.