News
Traditional chiefs storm Badagry market to force down prices
On Saturday, traditional chiefs in Badagry, Lagos stormed Agbalata Market, Badagry, Lagos State, to enforce the directives of the traditional ruler (Akran) of Badagry for reduced prices of foodstuffs and goods.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Traditional Ruler of Badagry, Aholu Menu Toyi 1, on Aug. 28, dissolved all market committees dictating the prices of foodstuffs and goods in Agbalata International Market, Badagry indefinitely.
Akran announced this at a meeting with Agbalata market men and women at his palace in Badagry.
The Akran, who was represented by Chief Michael Onu-Osekan, the Jengen of Badagry, said no committee should set the price of foodstuffs and goods brought to the market by sellers any longer.
Onu-Osekan sent town criers to assemble the traders at four different venues in the local government to address them.
He said the chiefs had come on instructions of the Akran in reference to the meeting he held at his palace.
“We have come to disseminate information around the market and see if the instructions issued to marketers are being followed.
“We heard that some marketers are not willing to pay waste, security and other fees, due to the instructions from the palace.
“The message is that they should not make things harder for our fellow people of the community, they should not overcharge people with the aim of gaining too much,” he said.
Similarly, Chief Anthony Oloyede, the Efiyentan of Badagry Kingdom, said they were in the market to ensure marketers regulate the price of foodstuffs according to the Akran’s directives.
Oloyede said: “Shortly after the directives on the dissolution of market committees and reduction of prices of foodstuffs, we heard that some traders were adamant and even refused to pay their normal market levies.
“The levies include security and waste fees which they used to pay monthly to ensure that the market is cleaned.
“This is part of what brought us here, Akran urges them to pay their monthly dues and have human feeling while selling their goods,” he said.
Also, Mr Tunde Hundeyin, representing the Coconut Sellers Association of Agbalata Market, commended the traditional chiefs for coming to address the marketers on the high cost of foodstuffs.
Hundeyin, however, urged the traditional chiefs to appeal to the government to reduce the pump prices of petrol and diesel.
Members of the Enugu State Caucus of Peoples Democratic Party, ( PDP) in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji , Rt. Hon. Martins Oke and Hon Anayo Onwuegbu have welcomed Rt. Hon. Dennis Agbo and Hon. Chidi Mark Obeta of Labour Party, (LP) to the PDP fold.
They observed that the visionary leadership of Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mba in Enugu State has ignited massive decamps and unprecedented upsurge of membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the state.
The caucus in a statement issued after the two members of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Dennis Agbo of Igboeze North/ Udenu and Chidi Mark Obeta who represents Nsukka/Igboeze South formally announced their transfer of membership to PDP at the resumption of House plenary on Tuesday said it was gladdening to receive them into the PDP fold.
They stressed that PDP in Enugu State was witnessing a great rebirth as a result of the transformative development agenda being unleashed in various sectors of the economy of the state by Governor Mba which has received global commendations.
The Enugu State caucus Leader, Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji on behalf of the members further noted that Governor Mba’s investments in infrastructure, agro economy, and security among others have made Enugu State a tourist’s haven adding that with the good governance structure he has put in place, his second tenure would be a walkover.
Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, along with twenty-one other former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), elected into the Assembly has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a major realignment of political stakeholders across the state.
The defection of the twenty-two lawmakers has effectively transformed the Delta State House of Assembly into a one-party legislature, as the remaining seven members were originally elected on the ticket of the APC.
Announcing the development on Tuesday during the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, the Speaker stated that the decision was the result of extensive consultations with their constituents and political leaders throughout the state.
He emphasized that the move aligned with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
While expressing appreciation to members for their contributions so far, Guwor urged the House to ensure the completion of all pending bills as the second legislative session nears its end.
He noted that the political shift towards the APC was in response to the realignment of stakeholders and the desire to align with the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
“The mass defection of members of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to the All Progressives Congress was made in the overall interest of Deltans and the state,” the Speaker said.
He explained that the decision followed extensive consultations held on April 23 and which cumulated on the official reception on April 28, 2025, at the Government House and the Cenotaph, respectively.
He said: “We are fully committed to partnering with the Federal Government to deliver greater development to Deltans.
“On behalf of the House, I commend the courage and visionary leadership of our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in making this strategic and timely decision.
“As a legislative body, we stand with His Excellency in this endeavour. This renewed partnership between the state and Federal Government must be supported and allowed to flourish, so that we can begin to enjoy its benefits in the shortest possible time.”
He informed the House that he had received twenty-two letters (including his own) notifying of the change of party affiliation from the PDP to the APC.
The defection, he said, was driven by instability within the PDP’s national leadership and factional divisions within the South-South Zonal Executive Committee, leading to internal conflicts and disunity within the party.
Citing Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Speaker affirmed the constitutional basis for the defection.
“With this action, the Delta State House of Assembly is now composed entirely of members from the All Progressives Congress. We thank our constituents for endorsing this progressive course of action”.
A motion to adopt the letters of party change was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and seconded by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, who represents Isoko South II.
Speaking to journalists after the plenary, the Majority Leader, Hon Emeka Nwaobi reiterated that the defection was prompted by the crisis within the PDP.
“Our decision was based on the instability at the national level and the factionalization at the South-South level. Consequently, we chose to move to the ruling All Progressives Congress, in accordance with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” he said.
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