News
Sokoto- Badadry Highway Long Over Due – Reps Member
By Najem Francis, Sokoto
The former speaker of Sokoto State House of Assembly and one-time acting governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Balarabe Salame have said that the construction of a short-cut road from Sokoto to Badagry in Lagos state was long overdue.
Dr. Salame who now represents Gwadabawa/Illela federal constituency in the House of Representatives spoke in Sokoto at a media forum organised by the state council of the Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ).
He observed that the proposed road would reduce the journey from Sokoto to Lagos to only five hours and lamented that the idea of the short-cut road which was muted during Shagari era “has remained an idea till now” despite the huge economic benefits it would bring to the nation.
The law maker disclosed that he was the co-sponsor of a motion passed by the House of Representatives for the construction of the road and expressed the hope that the federal government would respond positively in the near future.
He expressed satisfaction that a similar motion passed by the House has resulted in the ongoing reconstruction of Sokoto -Tambuwal-Yauri -Kontagora-Makera-Jebba to Ilorin-Ibadan road junctions, adding that the road had become a death trap before the reconstruction.
Other motion/bills sponsored by him and passed by the House included assistance to border communities of Nigeria/Niger border which were affected by drought and a motion to investigate incessant killings in Sokoto state by men of the Customs Service.
He defended another motion sponsored by him and passed by the House calling for the suspension of the prohibition of vehicles importation through land borders.
He asserted that rather than encourage smuggling, the motive was to make things easier for the Nigerian importers by copying what obtains in the neighbouring countries from which the vehicles were being brought into the country.
Dr. Salame disclosed that thirty people got federal jobs through his efforts since his election into the national assembly in 2011 and that his constituency had benefited from various constituency projects running into millions of naira, particularly in the area of potable water which was in short supply in the two local government areas.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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