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Imams tells President Tinubu to sack Women Affairs Minister for opposing mass wedding in Niger

Controversial Marriage: Imams move against Women Affairs Minister, tells Tinubu to sack her

Reactions continue to trail the marriage sponsorship of 100 girls, as the Imams’ Forum and heads of other Islamic organizations in Niger State have given an ultimatum of 7 days to the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, to withdraw statements and threats issued against the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, and the entire Muslim community or face legal action.

The Secretary of the Imams’ Forum, Umar-Faruk Abdullahi, who made this known at the end of their emergency meeting in Minna on Thursday, also called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the minister, saying she is unfit to serve the nation in that capacity.
Arising from a 2-hour emergency meeting, the forum of Imams and other Islamic organisations in Niger State, in a 4-point resolution, has demanded the immediate sack of the women affairs minister, Uju Kennedy, as well as for President Tinubu to relieve her of her appointment.
According to the Secretary, Imams’ Forum, Umar-Faruk Abdullahi, the May 24 date of the marriage remains sacrosanct, saying that as those to solemnize the unions, none of the 100 girls is below the age of 18.
Other speakers, including the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area, Aminu Ladan, and the Niger State Area Unit of the Muslim Student’s Society of Nigeria, all condemned the minister.
They all commended the Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, for voluntarily sponsoring the wedding, as requested by the religious and traditional leaders, saying they would take it from there to face the minister if she fails to comply with their resolutions.
Marriage Sponsorship Update: Tender an unreserved apology within 7 days or face legal action, says Imams’ Forum in Niger
The Secretary of the Imams’ Forum, Umar-Faruk Abdullahi, who made this known at the end of their emergency meeting, also called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the minister, saying she is unfit to serve the nation in that capacity
According to the Secretary, Imams’ Forum, Umar-Faruk Abdullahi, the May 24 date of the marriage remains sacrosanct, saying that as those to solemnize the unions, none of the 100 girls is below the age of 18.
” The Minister should be mindful of her remarks on the planned weddings of the 100 orphans as planned by the Honourable Speaker of Niger State Hon Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji.
” The Minister should be reminded that the 24 of May 2024 slated for the weddings is sacrosanct. And the Minister of Women Affairs Cannot stop the wedding.
“The Minister should within the next 7 days tender an Unreserved apology to entire the Muslims in Niger State, and the speaker retract her ucomplimentary remarks against the speaker or we will be heading to court to seek redress” the secretary declared.
The Secretary of the Forum in Niger State also call on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency sack the Minister from his cabinet before she cause religious disaffection in his cabinet as she lack the capacity to be a minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The forum commended the Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, for voluntarily sponsoring the wedding, as requested by the religious and traditional leaders, saying they would take it from there to face the minister if she fails to comply with their resolutions.
While calling on well meaning philanthropic political office holders in the State,and the country to emulate the kind hearted gestures of the Niger Speaker, Dr. Umar Faruq Abdullahi asked the Minister to meet the traditional rulers and the religious leaders in the community to tell them to stop the weddings of the Orphans ” and see what will happen”.

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BREAKING: INEC confirms contact details, begina recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Senate

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has confirmed that the representatives of the petitioners seeking to recall the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District have now provided their contact details.

In a statement on Wednesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said:

“The contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission.”
He added that INEC has formally notified the senator about the recall petition.
“As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address,” Olumekun stated.
He further explained that the same letter had been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.
Speaking on the next step, Olumekun said INEC would now verify the signatures to ensure that more than 50% of registered voters in Kogi Central signed the petition.
“This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission,” he said.
Olumekun reassured Nigerians that the recall process would be conducted in an open and transparent manner.

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Lado commends President Tinubu for assenting to South-South, South West Commission bills

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, has commended his principal for assenting to South West and South – South Development Commissions Bills as well as the Nigeria Anti – Doping Bill 2025.

Senator Lado who made the commendation in a personally signed statement, described presidential assets to the bills as monumental milestone and testament to visionary leadership and national progress.

The statement reads: “I extend my warmest congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for yet another historic achievement his decisive and visionary assent to the South-West Development Commission Bill, the South-South Development Commission Bill, and the Nigeria Anti-Doping Bill, 2025.
“These landmark legislations are a clear reflection of President Tinubu’s relentless commitment to inclusive governance, equitable progress, and Nigeria’s emergence as a global powerhouse.
“His Excellency has once again demonstrated that leadership is not merely about policies—it is about impact, legacy, and a deep-rooted dedication to uplifting every citizen.
“By signing into law the establishment of the South-West and South-South Development Commissions, President Tinubu has reaffirmed his role as a transformational leader who prioritizes regional empowerment, economic expansion, and infrastructural excellence.
Building on the foundation of his earlier assent to the South-East and North -West Development Commissions, it is evident that President Tinubu is deliberate in bringing development across all regions.
“These commissions will serve as catalysts for industrial growth, job creation, and social advancement—ensuring that every corner of Nigeria benefits from his administration’s progressive vision. This is the mark of a true statesman—one who understands that a nation’s strength lies in its ability to uplift all regions without bias.
“In the same vein, the Nigeria Anti-Doping Bill, 2025 is yet another bold step that solidifies Nigeria’s commitment to fairness, excellence, and integrity in global sports.
“President Tinubu has once again positioned Nigeria as a nation of high ethical standards, ensuring that our athletes compete on the world stage with honor and credibility. By domesticating the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sports, his administration has safeguarded the future of Nigerian sports, protecting our athletes from unfair practices while reinforcing our global reputation as a country that upholds integrity.
“This momentous occasion underscores President Tinubu’s unmatched leadership—one that is proactive, decisive, and deeply attuned to the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian people.
His ability to enact groundbreaking policies that foster unity, drive economic prosperity, and elevate our international standing speaks volumes of his unwavering dedication to national transformation”.

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BREAKING: Key contact details missing in petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has acknowledged receiving a petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District but noted that key contact details of the petitioners were missing.

In a press release signed by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission stated that the petition was submitted with six bags of documents containing signatures from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in the district.

However, the covering letter only provided a general location, “Okene, Kogi State,” without a specific address or multiple contact numbers as required by INEC’s regulations.
INEC emphasized that the recall process is guided by the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and its 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.
The commission assured that once the petition meets all requirements, it will proceed with verifying the signatures using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in an open process involving petitioners, observers, and the media.
INEC is currently making efforts to reach the petitioners through other means and urged the public to disregard speculation on social media regarding the recall process.

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