A legal practitioner in Nasarawa State and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr Tari Trochon has submitted a Formal petition to the National Secretariat of the party demanding proper investigation into the alleged dual membership of Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada.

Senator Wadada has won elections into the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and has emerged the preferred choice of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nassarawa State for the APC Governorship primaries scheduled for May 21st 2026.

According to the petition signed by Barr Trochon from Nakere ward of Wamba LGA, “we demand immediate investigation into Wadada membership and compel him to produce verifiable evidence of resignation from the SDP which should be verified from the national leadership of the SDP and not forged documents.

“His disqualification from the participation in the primaries if he fails to establish lawful and exclusive membership of the APC among other legal violations of the Constitutional provisions by Wadada participating in the process while holding dual membership of SDP and APC”

The legal Practitioner warned that allowing Wadada participate in the forth coming gubernatorial primaries would amount to institutional endorsement of illegality that will set the grounds for pre-election legal challenges that might lead to disqualification.

” The enormous credibility issues bothering on how his failure to inform the Senate of his alleged defection, nine months after, provides a fertile ground for litigations that may be costly to the APC in Nasarawa State if he is not stopped.

“We are aware that the SDP is set to take Senator Wadada to court over his defection to APC while still maintaining his membership with SDP simultaneously” he said.

The Petitioner added that in view of time constraint, he will be left with no other option than to proceed to court in order to save the APC in Nasarawa State from imminent problems that may cost us electoral misfortunes.

“There is prima facie infraction of section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, Conventions of the Senate and clear expressions of lack of credibility and character which must be looked into.

“He shouldn’t go into our Direct Primaries, and we’ll ensure the Courts stop him from further participation” he said.

He maintained that the Petition has since been submitted to the APC national Secretariat, signed received and acknowledged.

BY MOHAMMED MUSA

Residents and motorists in Nasarawa State are already feeling the relief that comes with good infrastructure, as the main construction of the Lafia bypass has been completed, slashing travel time through the state capital from 45 minutes to just 15 minutes.

The bypass, a critical section of the Keffi Road Phase II project, was constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company, CHEC, and its completion is quietly transforming local traffic conditions. Although the formal handover is still being prepared, many residents and drivers say the improvement in travel time and road environment is unmistakable.

For years, Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, has groaned under the weight of heavy transit traffic. As a major gateway linking Abuja to Makurdi and the eastern corridor, all long-haul vehicles had no choice but to crawl through the city centre. The result was predictable: congestion, wasted man-hours, higher fuel consumption, and increased safety risks for both residents and commuters.

However the story has changed.
Abdullahi Mohammed , a small shop owner in Lafia and a regular traveler on the route, captures the mood on the street. “It used to take about 45 minutes to pass through the city, especially when heavy trucks were on the road. Traffic jams and delays were common,” he said. “Now, with the completion of the Lafia bypass, it only takes about 15 minutes to get across. These past few days, the roads feel much smoother, and going out is more reassuring.”

The impact is even more direct for commercial drivers who earn their living on the road. A freight driver who spoke with our correspondent explained that the old route through the city was not just slow but costly. “Previously, vehicles had to pass through the city, which was time-consuming, increased fuel consumption, and posed safety risks,” he noted that, “now with the bypass, we save time and it’s safer. This is very important for those of us in transport because we save on fuel consumption and time spent on the road, which has greatly improved profitability.”

It is worthy of note that, Lafia has long endured heavy transit traffic pressure, with urban roads often congested during peak hours. The city’s status as an administrative and commercial hub means that local traffic already competes for limited road space. The hundreds of trailers and tankers heading to Benue, Cross River, and beyond, through Lafia put a lot of strain on Lafia’s inner roads.
With the completion of the bypass’s main works, transit vehicles will gradually be diverted, easing the burden on city traffic. The benefit goes beyond speed. Improved road conditions will also provide more efficient channels for agricultural product transport and daily goods circulation. Nasarawa is an agrarian state, and farmers along the corridor stand to gain from faster access to markets in Abuja and Makurdi. For residents, it means fresher produce, lower transport costs, and a tangible lift in quality of life.

The bypass is not just another road; it is a strategic intervention that had stalled for years before the current administration revived it. Delivering it required more than engineering skill, it demanded discipline, planning, and resilience.

Despite a complex security environment, the CHEC construction team advanced steadily by strengthening site management and optimizing construction organization. The company ensured the smooth completion of the section in record time, maintaining standards across earthworks, hydraulic structures, stone base, asphaltic concrete, and drainage.
The result is a road that meets specification and already delivers value before formal commissioning. Preparations for handover are now underway, and the bypass’s traffic relief function will gradually take effect. Industry observers note that CHEC’s ability to deliver under pressure reinforces its reputation for quality and timely delivery on federal road projects across Nigeria.
Engr Shuaibu Abdullahi the Principal Engr Federal Ministry of Works Lafia Field Headquarter, Nasarawa State couldn’t have put it better while commending CHEC and the impact of the bypass: “The Lafia bypass road project stands as a transformative and important road corridor for both the community along the road and commuters. By significantly reducing travel time between Lafia and Makurdi, easing traffic congestion within Lafia metropolis, and lowering vehicle maintenance costs, the project enhances mobility, productivity, and overall quality of life. Equally impactful is the lifesaving construction of drainage systems in Mararaba, a deliberate corporate social responsibility effort by the contractor aimed at mitigating the effects of perennial flooding, safeguarding lives, property, and livelihoods. Together, these interventions not only improve access to markets for farm produce but also reinforce a commitment to sustainable development and community well-being.”

In a similar vein, Abdullahi Shehu Kasimu the Village head of Mararaba Akunza gave commendation to CHEC for its Corporate Social Responsibility works to control flooding on the Mararaba axis of the road corridor: “On behalf of the Mararaba Akuza community, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to Messrs CHEC for coming to our aid through the expansion of drainage facilities in Mararaba Akuza. For many years, the community suffered persistent flooding that damaged homes and property, but this intervention has brought much-needed relief.
Today, residents are already experiencing the positive impact of the upgraded drainage system, which has significantly improved water discharge and offers lasting protection against future flooding.
We also extend our gratitude to His Excellency, Engr. A. A. Suleiman, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, for his prompt response to our concerns and support for this intervention”.

Expectation is high in Lafia. “If it can be fully opened soon, it will be good for all of us,” said Aliyu Subair, echoing a view expressed by several residents. For traders, students, civil servants, and transporters, the bypass represents time recovered and costs saved. For the state government, it frees up inner-city roads for local use and reduces maintenance pressure caused by heavy-duty vehicles.

As follow-up works continue, this vital regional corridor is steadily unlocking its value for people’s livelihoods and national development. The bypass does three things at once: it cuts travel time by 66 percent, improves road safety by separating through-traffic from city traffic, and creates an economic artery for Nasarawa and neighboring states.

The completion of the main works is proof that with political will, proper funding, and competent contractors, Nigeria can turn frustration into free flow. CHEC’s delivery of the Lafia bypass to good standard and in record time sets a benchmark for how critical road interventions should be executed.

For Abdullahi Sabo, the shop owner, the change is simple but profound: “Going out is more reassuring.” For Nigeria’s transport economy, it is another step toward an integrated, efficient road network.

The Lafia bypass may have been built quietly, but as an important local transportation milestone, the project has improved the regional road network, eliminated urban congestion, and enhanced traffic safety. Supported by complementary drainage works, it has addressed flooding issues affecting livelihoods, effectively driving commercial and agricultural upgrades along the route, revitalizing the regional economy, and becoming a benchmark project for high-quality infrastructure cooperation between China and Nigeria

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Transparency and Accountability, has called on the Nigerian Senate to discontinue what it described as a misdirected and embarrassing probe into an alleged missing ₦210 trillion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), urging lawmakers instead to concentrate on substantive reforms in the petroleum sector.

The Coalition in a press statement jointly signed by Comrades Danesi Momoh Prince and Igwe, Ude-Umanta, Conveners for Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative and Guidance of Democracy and Development Initiative respectively, criticised the ongoing investigation as a circus show that lacks factual basis and wastes public resources.

According to the CSOs, “since last year, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through its Public Accounts Committee has embarked on a senseless rigmarole and shadow chasing in the name of recovering N210 trillion naira missing (only in their imagination or mischief) from the NNPCL.

This circus show is meant for the committee to appear to be doing something, thereby inadvertently tarnishing the images of those the so called investigation points at and infuriating uninformed Nigerians against them. We insist that the Senate knows deep in their hearts that no such amount of money is missing. So only them can explain what they are actually up to.

“The claim of a missing ₦210 trillion is imaginary and unsubstantiated. The Senate’s continued focus on the allegation diverts attention from critical issues affecting Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. We are deeply concerned that the Senate is investing time and taxpayer money into probing figures that have no credible backing.

“This approach not only misleads the public but also undermines the seriousness of legislative oversight. It is our informed position that the Senate should prioritise pressing challenges in the petroleum sector, including transparency in oil revenue management, fuel subsidy concerns, regulatory inefficiencies, and the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“Already, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has already looked at the records under review. We believe that if there are further questions, those involved will answer them or face the consequences there of. It is not for the Senate to continue to create the impression that some people may have stolen N210 trillion of public money. It is not correct under the circumstance and it should stop. This appears to be pure legislative shenanigans.

“Sensational and unfounded probes can risk eroding investor confidence and damaging the credibility of Nigeria’s governance institutions. Since the petroleum sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, what is needed now is focused, data-driven oversight as against the clout chasing investigations.

The Coalition equally charged the Nigerian Senate to come clean and sanitise their house against the myraid accusations and allegations that have trailed their activities

“We think the Senate should rather be sober at this time the National Assembly is being accused of legislative rigging of the 2026 Electoral Act or deliberate insertion of clauses clearly designed for electoral fraud.

“Let us further remind Nigerians that since the inauguration of the 3rd National Assembly till this 10th one, the National Assembly has never recovered a kobo for Nigeria in all their probes. Instead, a lawmaker has gone to prison for receiving bribe during an orchestrated probe of the oil sector (which is exactly the same as this one by Public Accounts Committee of the Senate).

“Our suspicion based on the antecedents of the National Assembly is that the Senator Aliyu Wadada Public Accounts Committee may be trying to force the accused persons to compromise. This is electioneering time and we know some of the politico-financial undercurrents.

The CSOs concluded by calling for a more responsible and evidence based approach from lawmakers, emphasising the need for reforms that would enhance “accountability, efficiency, and sustainable growth in the sector.

“We all support public accountability. But when they come with deliberate public misinformation, bandied figures and attempt to embarrass those who offered meritorious national service, it must be rejected in the interest of justice and fairness. The Senate should abandon this embarrassment of a so called probe and focus on issues that are relevant to national economy and development.

“Infact, we wish to advise the Senate to help the unemployed, underemployed and masses of the Nigerian people by focusing on how NNPCL can deliver better under the current leadership where the business of the company appears more secret and veiled than security information and activities”.