By David Owei,Bayelsa

The National Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (N-CITRE-INC) has suspended the Ijaw National Congress (INC) till further notice.

The N-CITRE, after its meeting in Yenagoa deliberated extensively on all issues that led to the impasse in the INC elections, including petitions received.

The group, therefore, unanimously agreed to suspend the conduct of the INC elections and directed the electoral committee to stop all forms of electoral duties.

N-CITRE, which is empowered by the INC constitution to resolve all disputes, has also set up a seven-man Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to investigate all petitions.

The resolutions read in part ‘’ That the elections into the National Executive Council of the Ijaw National Congress (NE-INC), which were rescheduled for Monday, 13th April, 2026, by the National Electoral Committee, Ijaw National Congress(N-ELECO-INC), have been temporarily suspended until N-CITRE directs further after all pending disputes have been settled. N-CITRE-INC, as the appointing authority for N-ELECO-INC, also holds the constitutional power to resolve all disputes within the Congress

‘’ Consequently, N-ELECO-INC has been directed to stop performing any electoral functions until otherwise subsequently directed by N-CITRE.’’

The N-CITRE has directed the DRC to resolve the lingering dispute and probe all petitions, including the petitions against the n-ELECO- INC.

The DRC is headed by HRM, King Bubaraye Dakolo Agada IV, Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, Chairman of Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, and Chairman of N-CITRE.

Other members are HRM, King Dr. Brig-Gen Bright Ateke Fiboinumama (Rtd), Chief Dr. Silas Eneyo (representing Eastern Zone), Dr. Loveth Ige (representing Central Zone), HRM, Pere Luke Kalanama III, HRM, Dr. Ekiomi Oweigbe John (Gbisa I) representing Western Zone, and Zonal Chairman of N-CITRE.

N-CITRE, which reminded all stakeholders of the principle of honesty that guides the Ijaws, therefore appealed for cooperation to achieve peace.

By Our Correspondent
In a bid to puncture alleged plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop stop strong opposition parties from participating in 2027, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has opened high level discussions for mutual collaboration with the embattled faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark.

The leadership of the PDP faction paid a solidarity visit to the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja on Wednesday night to also commiserate with the party over the recent political development facing the ADC, describing the problem as an “attack targeted at Nigeria’s opposition parties.”

Comrade Ini Ememobong Essien,
National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party faction stated that during the visit, the PDP acknowledged the growing and shared threat confronting opposition political parties in the country.

The party noted that similar pressures have been experienced by the PDP in recent times and the delegation emphasised the need for vigilance and cooperation within the opposition block “in the face of actions capable of undermining democratic principles and political plurality.”
The high-level PDP delegation comprised Governor Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde of Oyo State, National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, former Senate President, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, GCON and Prof. Jerry Gana.

Others in the entourage were Gen. Ishaya Bamayi, Rt. Hon. Fred Agbedi, Comrade Ini Ememobong, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja and Hajiya Inna Ciroma.

The delegation was received by top leaders of the ADC, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Sen. David Mark, GCON, Alh. Kashim Imam, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha, Mr. Peter Obi, Liyel Imoke, National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Rotimi Amaechi and Bolaji Abdullahi.

The ADC leadership expressed appreciation to the PDP for the visit and reiterated the existential threat facing democracy in Nigeria, particularly through the targeted weakening of major opposition parties.

After a brief closed door meeting, both parties vowed to overcome current challenges facing them and affirmed the need for continued engagement in defence of democratic values and institutions in the country.

By Our Correspondent

Worried by the persistent hike in fuel price,the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has warned that the price of Premium Motor Spirit, known as petrol may rise to about N2,000 per litre if urgent measures were not taken to cushion the impact of rising global crude prices and the depreciating naira.

This is as the congress called on the Federal Government to immediately use excess crude revenue to subsidise crude supply to local refineries, particularly the Dangote Refinery, as a short-term intervention to reduce the pump price of petroleum products.

The President of TUC, Festus Osifo at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, said Nigerians were already experiencing severe hardship as the cost of petrol continued to surge across the country.

He noted that, the rising price of fuel, which he linked partly to global tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States, has pushed transportation and production costs upward, worsening the economic burden on workers.

According to him: “Today, comrades, we are seeing that the cost of petrol is edging towards N2,000 per litre depending on the part of the country that you are. Nigerian workers are already passing through excruciating pain as we speak.”

The TUC president said that the increase in petrol price was already triggering a ripple effect across the economy.

He stated that: “The same way it is affecting transportation, it is also affecting manufacturing. The cost of diesel has also gone northward, meaning that the cost of production has increased. When production costs rise, the final price of goods on the shelves will also skyrocket”.

The union leader warned that if the trend continues, the country’s declining inflation rate could reverse.

“If this continues unchecked, the inflation that we are currently celebrating as going downwards will reverse and start moving up again,” he said.

Osifo further urged the Federal Government to deploy part of the excess revenue generated from higher-than-benchmarked crude oil prices to subsidise crude supplied to local refineries.

He stated that the 2024 budget benchmarked crude oil at $64.85 per barrel, meaning any price above that level generates excess revenue shared by the three tiers of government.

The TUC President said a portion of such excess funds should be channelled towards reducing feedstock costs for local refineries.

“If crude is selling for about $100 per barrel
and the budget benchmark is $64.85, the difference should be partly used to subsidise crude supplied to local refineries. If government takes about 60 per cent of that difference to support production, we will see an immediate reduction in fuel prices,” he said.

To him, such an approach would be more transparent than the former fuel subsidy regime.

“When you subsidise crude supply directly to refineries, it cannot be abused because you are subsidising production. It will immediately bring down the price of PMS, diesel and jet fuel, possibly within one or two weeks,” Osifo noted.

The TUC president further blamed the high cost of petroleum products on the continued depreciation of the naira.

Osifo argued that the exchange rate was a major determinant of domestic fuel prices. “If our naira today was below N1,000 to a dollar, Nigerians would be buying petrol for less than N1,000 per litre. The more the naira devalues, the more our purchasing power erodes,” he stated.

He insisted that the naira should ideally trade between N800 and N900 per dollar to ease inflationary pressure.

“Our naira does not have any business being more than N1,000 to the dollar. If it falls to around N900, we will see the impact immediately on petrol prices and the cost of goods and services,” he noted.

The labour leader further criticised the slow pace of Compressed Natural Gas infrastructure development, warning that the current plan to deploy CNG buses may not deliver immediate relief.

“Today the biggest challenge with CNG is infrastructure. If you are travelling from one city to another and your vehicle runs out of CNG, where will you refill? It is like driving an electric car without charging stations,” he stated.

He urged the government to accelerate investment in CNG refuelling stations nationwide.
Refineries functional before shutdown

The TUC president also expressed concern over the country’s worsening security situation, describing the continued killings of Nigerians as unacceptable. He said the government must prioritise security before pursuing other development goals.

“It is really appalling to see Nigerians being killed like chickens. This is one death too many. A country must first be secure before it can begin to talk about development, roads, hospitals and schools,” he said.

Commending the efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies, Osifo urged the government to provide them with modern equipment and technology to combat insurgency.

“A lot of our security personnel are in forests chasing terrorists and leaving their families behind so that Nigerians can sleep. We must provide them with the right tools and technology to defeat these terrorists once and for all,” Osifo said.

On workers’ welfare, the TUC president said labour unions were pushing for measures to cushion the hardship facing Nigerians, including possible wage adjustments.

He stated that while the next national
minimum wage review is scheduled for 2027, discussions were ongoing on possible earlier interventions.

“Anything that must be done to cushion the hardship Nigerians are passing through is welcome. We are already factoring these economic realities into collective bargaining agreements in the private sector,” he noted.

END