Operatives of the Police, Department of State Service, and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, on Wednesday, cleared thugs from the Peoples Democratic Party’s headquarters in Abuja.

A party source, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to fear of victimisation, revealed to The PUNCH on Wednesday that the thugs were reportedly recruited to block members of the National Working Committee from entering the party headquarters for their meetings.

The crisis within the PDP has deeply affected all party organs, with recent developments seeing Samuel Anyanwu and former National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye both claiming the position of PDP National Secretary.

While the Court of Appeal in Enugu upheld Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary, Anyanwu took the matter to the Supreme Court.

As a result, the Supreme Court reserved its judgment on Monday, with the date to be communicated to the parties involved.

“The party staff, with the support of security personnel, confronted the thugs and dispersed them,” the source said.

At the party’s national headquarters, a reporter from The PUNCH noticed a heavy presence of security personnel.

Around six Nigeria Police, DSS, and NSCDC vans were stationed near Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

The Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, is currently leading the NWC meeting, with Ude-Okoye attending as the National Secretary.

Details shortly…

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday resumed plenary amid reports that lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, blocked Governor Siminalayi Fubara from presenting the 2025 budget.

A video seen by an online medium showed the lawmakers already seated inside the chamber while Speaker Martin Amaewhule and other officials carrying the mace made their way into the hall.

The development follows an earlier dramatic standoff at the Assembly complex, where Fubara accused the legislators of locking the gates to prevent him from presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

SaharaReporters had reported that the governor, who arrived at the Assembly complex early in the morning, expressed frustration over the situation.

He stated that he had made multiple attempts to reach Speaker Amaewhule and other lawmakers before his arrival.

“I have made several attempts—by phone calls and through official letters—to reach the speaker and other members. But it is unfortunate that the gate is completely sealed, and there is no sign that anything is going to happen today,” Fubara had said.

He added that the budget presentation was crucial for the state’s development, warning that failure to pass the appropriation bill would disrupt governance and slow ongoing projects.

A video of the incident, shared by a Facebook user, Prince Yemi Itodo, showed the Assembly complex under lock and key, with security operatives reportedly ordered to vacate the premises.

“The implication is that the state will be run without a budget, which will slow development and lead to financial irregularities,” he wrote.

The blockade is the latest escalation in the ongoing political battle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, whose loyalists dominate the Assembly.

The crisis has also drawn the attention of President Bola Tinubu, who recently urged both sides to implement a Supreme Court-backed political agreement aimed at resolving the dispute.

Despite Tinubu’s intervention and Fubara’s call for dialogue, Wednesday’s sitting suggests the battle for control of the Rivers State government is far from over.

The High Court of Justice of Adamawa State, sitting in the Yola Judicial Division, has issued a significant court order directing the Inspector General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to arrest and produce Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, before the court.

The order, issued on May 15, 2024, by Hon. Justice Benjamin L. Manji, stems from an ex parte application filed by the State in the ongoing case numbered HC/ADSY/9C/2024.

The legal proceedings against Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari began following a complaint lodged by the State on February 20, 2024. The case gained prominence due to allegations surrounding Ari’s conduct during the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa State.

Ari was directed by the court to appear on May 3, 2024, but he reportedly left the courtroom and did not return

A sworn affidavit deposed by Ishaq Abdullahi Jada, the Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice, Yola, detailed the circumstances leading to the court’s intervention.

The affidavit, supported by a 17-paragraph counter-affidavit and an exhibit marked “A,” highlighted Ari’s alleged failure to appear before the court despite being summoned.

According to the affidavit, Ari was directed by the court to appear on May 3, 2024, but he reportedly left the courtroom and did not return. Subsequent efforts to locate him proved futile, with the deponent asserting that Ari’s actions constituted a deliberate attempt to evade justice.

The application, moved by counsel L.D. Nzadon Esq., urged the court to grant a warrant for Ari’s arrest, emphasizing the necessity of his presence to stand trial for the charges preferred against him.

Presiding over the matter on May 15, 2024, Hon. Justice Benjamin L. Manji carefully considered the ex parte application and the supporting affidavit. Convinced of the application’s merit and the need for a favorable exercise of judicial discretion, the judge granted the prayers as requested.

The court issued the following orders:

A warrant of arrest was issued against the Defendant, Hudu Yunusa Ari.

The Inspector General of Police was directed to immediately effect the arrest and produce Ari before the Honourable Court on the next adjourned date.

The matter was adjourned to May 29, 2024, for arraignment.

The order was issued under the hand of the Hon. Judge and the seal of the court, with a certified true copy signed by Fadimatu Muhammad, the Principal Registrar.

In a related development, on February 28, 2025, the court revisited the case, granting leave for the service of Form 48 (Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order) on the Inspector General of Police via substituted means.

This notice, to be published in two national dailies—Daily Trust and Vanguard Newspapers—warns that failure to obey the court’s directions will result in contempt, potentially leading to imprisonment. The return date for this order is set for March 27, 2025.

The issuance of the Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Court Order against Ari, pursuant to Order IX Rule 13 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act

Additionally, an earlier application dated January 23, 2025, from Messrs Nzadon, Laori & Associates, counsel to the prosecution, formally requested the issuance of the Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Court Order against Ari, pursuant to Order IX Rule 13 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act.

The court’s directive underscores the judiciary’s resolve to ensure that individuals, regardless of their status, are held accountable under the law. Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari’s alleged evasion has sparked widespread discussion, with many viewing the case as a test of the rule of law in Nigeria.

The involvement of the Inspector General of Police on contempt proceedings highlights the seriousness with which the matter is being treated, as law enforcement agencies are now tasked with locating and apprehending the former REC.

As the adjourned date of March 27th 2025 approaches—pending further updates—the public awaits the outcome of this high-profile case.

The court’s latest order, effective as of February 28, 2025, further intensifies the pressure on the police to comply, with potential legal consequences looming if the directive is not adhered to.

For now, all eyes are on the Inspector General of Police to fulfill the court’s mandate and bring Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari before the High Court of Adamawa State to answer to the charges against him.