Good morning in Nigeria. Welcome to Saturday, March 22, 2025, today’s Naija news roundup in Nigeria.
Atiku Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of Labor and former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai announced that it aims to challenge the coalition of opposition leaders in the 2027 general election.
Naija News Atiku reportedly addressed the press issues at a meeting held on Thursday at the Yar’adua Centre in Abuja. The announcement follows ongoing discussions about the need for the coalition opposition to cancel the current government.
Atiku has long advocated greater unity among opposition parties and on March 8, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate reiterated his commitment to uniting the opposition with the aim of removing all Progressive Assembly (APC) from power.
The momentum of this alliance has grown stronger after El-Rufai moved from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on March 10, triggering further dialogue among opposition leaders.
“Yes, this is the birth of the opposition coalition before 2027,” Attiku said at the meeting.
Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra, responded to Atiku’s sentiment, stressing that the coalition’s focus was on empowering and liberating the people of Nigeria.
Obi, represented by Yunusa Tanko, the interim national coordinator of the interim movement, explained that the alliance will address the key governance issues facing the country.
Tanko said in an interview with The Punch: “Yes, his Peter Obi and His Excellency the former Vice President are both in this regard. The idea of a plan to have dialogue between the opposition is very important. Determine that we need to work together as a team; no doubt even former Governor Anammbra himself.”
The Supreme Court declared Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the legitimate Democratic Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News The report said the Supreme Court also put an earlier judgment of the Enugu Court of Appeal in its landmark ruling on Friday, while Enugu’s appeals court violated Anyanwu in an attempt to become a PDP scribe.
Judge Jamilu Tukur, who made the main judgment of the Supreme Court, believes that the matter is an internal matter of the PDP.
The Supreme Court reached an agreement through its attorney’s argument that the Court of Appeal and Enugu’s trial court lacked the authority to hear the case because it involved internal affairs of the PDP.
Therefore, the Supreme Court removed the trial court’s decision made last October and also put aside the majority decision of the Court of Appeal, which confirmed in December the dismissal of Anyanwu as the state secretary of the PDP.
Justice Tukur then confirmed a minority of judgments from the Court of Appeal filed by Justice Ekanem, which was invalidated by the trial court’s judgment due to lack of jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court also held that the plaintiff Aniagu Emmanuel, who initiated the lawsuit in the trial court, lacked the necessary legal support to do so because he did not show how he was influenced by the PDP State Secretary.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development Yusuf Ata said the alliance of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai will fail to cancel President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The ATA dismissed the alliance by issuing a statement in a statement issued by Kano, insisting that the alliance died upon arrival.
The ATA believes that since taking office in 2023, Tinubu has successfully implemented economic and political reforms, thus strengthening public confidence in his government.
He criticized Atiku as a “serial winner”, El-Rufai as a “desperate power seeker”, and Obi as a politician who provided racial and religious divisions.
The minister claims that Tinubu’s leadership has stabilized the country.
“The country has gone beyond the era of repeated governance, rejecting politicians who lack a clear ideology and relying on simple emotions to gain support,” he said.
He believes that intervention in the political crisis of river states is evidence of his governance capacity.
Bode George, former deputy president of the National Democratic Party (PDP), called for the firing of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike, which called for the party.
George believes that Vick has revoked the land of the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja and there are no remaining party members.
George spoke in an interview with Arise News on Friday, describing Wick’s actions as an open war against the PDP.
“I mean he’s crossing the red line. Once you cross the red line, what are you looking for? Then what are he doing there?” George asked.
He likens Vick’s actions to a son taking over his father’s home and believes that the party’s way out should be shown to the minister.
“If you go and take over my father’s house, why do you think he is still a man? Why do you think he is still a member of the party?PDP Chief asked.
George called on the PDP to take action against Vick, noting that it would be a height of shame and irresponsibility if they remain silent.
Controversy lags behind Thursday, March 20, when the National Assembly (NASS) House of Lords (NASS) approved the decision to a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Naija News reported that through a voice vote on Thursday, the Senate and House affirmed Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and other elected officials for six months and appointed President Tinubu to appoint the sole administrator.
However, the lawsuit appears to contradict Article 305(4) of the 1999 amended Constitution, which stipulates that resolutions by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly are necessary to recognize the president’s demands.
Various political bigwigs and related Nigerians, including Labour’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, He has criticized the National Assembly for its approval, believing that two-thirds of the majority cannot be accurately determined by voice voting.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the approval was unanimously obtained and there were no opposition votes.
Seriake Dickson, who represents the Western Senate District of Bayelsa, explained why he walked out of the Senate chamber before the House of Lords approved the Rivers state emergency.
Dickson, former governor of Bayelsa and a member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said he believes the action is unconstitutional and undermines democratic principles.
Dickson revealed in a statement posted on his verified Facebook account that he boycotted the emergency announcement along with Senator Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) and a number of other colleagues.
However, they did not have the opportunity to debate the issue publicly during the plenary session.
The Senate approved the state of emergency after lasting about an hour and twenty minutes. Dickson, frustrated by the lawsuit, left the chamber at about 1:40 p.m. shortly after the Senator appeared.
Naija News The report said there were some minor differences between Dixon and Senate President Gosville Akpabio earlier on Thursday.
The dispute revolves around the point of order proposed by Dixon, which argues that the Nigerian president must present the Senate in a closed-door meeting, surrounding the declaration of a state of emergency.
Dickson explained that his opposition to the emergency rules was based on his commitment to upholding the Constitution rather than partisan interests.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) insisted on Friday that Udeh-Okoye was still the party’s state secretary.
Naija News The report was reported as known in the statement of Debo Ologunagba, the PDP national propaganda secretary.
Shortly after the Supreme Court ordered the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as PDP state secretary, the party’s ruling stated that the party’s ruling was consistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling that confirmed that the party’s leadership position was entirely an internal matter.
The statement added that PDP has selected Udeh-Okoye as its secretary and has approved the decision through the internal mechanisms of the PDP statutory organs and institutions and complies with the provisions of PDP Construction (as amended in 2017).
It added that the Supreme Court’s Friday ruling only affirmed what the party had done, and therefore Udeh-Okoye, instead of Anyanwu, remains the PDP state secretary.
Oologbondiyan’s statement confirmed that the PDP was the Supreme Court’s judgment and praised the Apex court for upholding the party’s supremacy in the management of its internal affairs, describing it as a victory for democracy.
It urges all party members to maintain peace.
Joe Igbokwe, a chief of all-progress conference (APC), said the suspension of river state governor Siminalayi Fubara never spoke like the governor.
According to Igbokwe, the embattled governor will only speak and behave like the student union president, not the governor.
Naija News It was reported that President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the political crisis in Rivers State on Tuesday, thus suspending his agent and all elected Governor Fubara, a move that splits Nigerians.
Many stakeholders, especially opposition figures, strongly opposed the announcement, pointing out that it is illegal for the president to suspend elected officials.
Despite the anger, the Senate and the House approved Rivers’ emergency rules Thursday.
Speaking on Facebook during the controversy, Igbokway said: “In actions and actions, Forbala never said to be the current governor. He acted and spoke like a student union president.”
Senior Nollywood actor, Segun Arinzerejected the rumors circulating online that he was sick and needed financial assistance.
Naija News Arinze’s clarification was reportedly followed a photo of his stomach swelling.
But in a video through its Instagram page Friday, the Thespian said he was hale and hearty.
He clarified that the photos circulating online were taken on the movie suit and did not reflect his actual health.
Segun Arinze also expressed his gratitude to those who reached out on phone and messages and warned fans not to fall into a scam.
Movie stars warn the public not to give anyone to accept his treatment in the name of donations.
2026 WCQ: Osimhen helps Nigeria beat Rwanda players 2-0 during Rwanda vs Nigeria World Cup qualifiers on March 21, 2025: Super Eagles Player
Nigeria is gradually revitalizing its efforts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, thanks to twice as many as Victor Osimhen, who had a good two-goal victory against Rwanda on Friday.
Naija News The Super Hawks participated in the game, ranked fifth in Group C, failed to win in the first four games and had three draws and one loss.
Under Eric Chelle’s management, the visitors made an impressive start as Osimhen manipulated in the backstage, connecting with Ademola Lookman’s excellent free kick, breaking the game’s stalemate of just 11 minutes.
A significant save from Rwanda goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari thwarted Moses Simon’s attempt to extend the lead, while William Troost-Ekong approached Corner Kicks twice.
Before the break, Osimhen sprinted to his second goal of the day, and Rwanda won the last match against Nigeria in November, facing a major challenge in the second half.
That was the top newspaper headline in Nigeria today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you tomorrow.
