By David Owei, Yenagoa

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku have commended the State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, party stakeholders and delegates for participating in the Tuesday state Congress which led to the emergence of Hon. Warman Ogoriba as Chairman.

The congress was described as the first unified and peaceful one since the establishment of the APC in Bayelsa State.

Both the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku spoke at the congress held at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa.

Gov. Diri observed that despite the large turnout of delegates, party leaders and members, the exercise was rancour-free, peaceful and successful.

While Senator Lokpobiri said the peaceful nature of the Congress makes all stakeholders happy and delighted over the outcome, “my advice to members and stakeholders of the party is to strengthen the existing unity within the party.”

“With this unity existing , we will deliver the victory to President Bola Tinubu come 2027.”

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the successful conduct of the Ward,Local Government and State congresses showed that the party members and Stakeholders are together with Gov. Diri.

Ogbuku congratulated the party for the successful conduct of the çongress, “for us to come together shows that this unity will lead the party to victory on 2027.”

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused the Federal Government of applying justice selectively in the ongoing legal cases involving, former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), both members of the opposition party.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the contrasted their treatment with a separate high-profile case involving allegations of passport forgery and international conspiracy, where the accused were granted bail and proceedings are moving swiftly.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has been monitoring the ongoing legal cases involving two of our leaders, Mr. Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from Kebbi State, and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State.

As a law-abiding party, it is important to state for the record that the ADC believes no citizen, regardless of stature or past office, is above the law. However, in a constitutional democracy where the law is seen to operate selectively, it becomes imperative to insist, firmly and without apology, that justice must be applied evenly, transparently, and without political calculation, particularly in cases such as those involving Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai, where the manner, speed, and sequence of enforcement actions have understandably raised serious public concern about consistency and fairness.

The movement of Malami and El-Rufai from the custody of one law enforcement agency to another, in rapid succession, while investigations appear ongoing, has raised profound public concern. When a citizen is transferred from one detention facility to another before investigations are demonstrably concluded, it inevitably begs the question: is detention being used as an investigative shortcut, or as an instrument of pressure to keep these opposition leaders out of circulation? In a democracy that is supposed to be governed by the rule of law, custody must follow credible, well-prepared charges, not precede them in a manner that creates the appearance of pre-trial punishment.

If there is evidence against Abubakar Malami, prosecute him transparently. If there is evidence against Nasir El-Rufai, present it before the court and allow the law to take its course. But Nigeria and Nigerians will not accept a situation where the coercive instruments of the Bola Tinubu-led federal government are perceived to move with unusual speed against opposition figures, while similar matters elsewhere travel at a gentler pace.

Nigerians should consider a recent high-profile case. At its center are grave allegations of passport forgery, international conspiracy, impersonation, and the alleged use of a disputed international passport in support of a property claim in London. These are not minor procedural questions. They touch on issues of national integrity and international credibility. Yet, in that case, the accused persons pleaded not guilty, were granted bail, and the matter is proceeding with dispatch before the court.

Yet, in the cases involving Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai, we have witnessed prolonged custodial movements, inter-agency transfers, and processes that appear to precede, rather than follow, fully crystallized prosecution.

At the same time, let there be no ambiguity about our position. Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai are first citizens of Nigeria before they are opposition leaders or members of the African Democratic Congress. They are therefore presumed innocent under the Constitution until proven otherwise in a fair and competent court of law. That presumption should not be treated as a courtesy, but as a constitutional guarantee.

We will continue to stand by our members as they assert their legal rights. We will ensure that they are not isolated, intimidated, or denied the protections that every Nigerian citizen is entitled to under the law. We will never abandon our people in moments of trial. We will never leave any of our members behind. To stand by them is not to obstruct justice, it is to insist that justice be done properly.

Accordingly, ADC calls for immediate public clarification from the relevant authorities on the precise status and stage of investigations concerning Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai, strict adherence to constitutional safeguards protecting against arbitrary or prolonged detention, transparent and time-bound prosecution of any charges supported by credible evidence, and equal application of the law without discrimination based on political alignment.

In moments such as this, nations define themselves. ADC chooses to define Nigeria as a country that is founded on the equal application of the law, not a country that is governed by the whims of the executive branch. As a party, we also choose to insist that justice must be impartial, consistent, and immune from any political mathematics and machinations.

By
Ken Harries Esq

There’s a trend in Nigeria where accusations are louder than the coin box, and everyone scrambles to the high ground of moral outrage. Yet, here comes Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the 10th Senate, going against the trend like a devoted monk who has decided that the usual script of lawsuits, vendettas, and endless bitterness won’t augur well.

In our clime, these spectacles are enough to fill a library. This stands out like the script for one of the best sellers.
A wild and unsubstantiated allegation of murder and organ harvesting levied on Akpabio, which occasioned investigations, courtrooms, and quite unexpectedly, forgiveness.

In a land where politicians hold on to grudges tighter than their lust for power, Akpabio chose grace. Amazing! Could this be a sign that even in our polarised landscape, truth and reconciliation might yet have a fighting chance?

● *The weird allegation*
Scandal usually starts small and balloons into monstrous dimensions that devour reputations and leave a foul stench on the victim.

In this case, it was the telephone conversation between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and a US-based activist – Sandra Duru that leaked – naturally, because what good is a juicy gist if it stays private?

The claims were as shocking as they were grave: that Akpabio and his wife had a hand in the 2021 murder of Iniobong Umoren, a young job-seeker from Akwa Ibom State. Not just murder, but with the twisted tale that Umoren’s organs were harvested to treat the wife’s illness.

One marvels at how such tales gain legs in Nigerian politics. It is as if we have all signed up for a perpetual drama series, complete with villains, victims, and plot twists. These were accusations that could ruin lives, hurled into the public space without a shred of evidence.

In a country where political rivals sharpen knives at every turn, this one went deep, painting Senator Akpabio as some sort of macabre mastermind.

● *The Facts of the matter*
On April 2, 2025, Sandra Duru wrote a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police, demanding investigation into the leaked conversation between her and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The petition was assigned to the Police Monitoring Unit. The investigation took the police team to Akwa Ibom State for a thorough assignment. They pored over certified court records, the post-mortem report, and also interviewed the family members of the late Iniobong Umoren who had witnessed the autopsy. What emerged was a picture as clear as day, though not what the accusers were expecting.

Back in April 2021, the youthful Iniobong Umoren met a tragic end at the hands of Uduak Frank Akpan, who lured her with a fake job offer, sexually assaulted, and murdered her. Akpan was tried in the Akwa Ibom State High Court, convicted, and sentenced to death.

• *Any post-mortem?*
It was confirmed no organs were missing; everything was intact, as attested to by Umoren’s sister – Ifiok Umoren, who stood there during medical procedure. “No organs were removed,” Ifiok Umoren said plainly, putting paid to the offensive rumour.

• *Any link to Akpabio?* None whatsoever. Something must have plucked from the imagination of the purveyor of this indiscretion – who is a known content creator and also given to mischief and lawlessness. The Akwa Ibom State Director of Public Prosecution – Mr Friday Johnson Itim, laid it out: the crime was a lone wolf act, no connections to high places. The allegation was “false and without any iota of truth,” as the police report declared.

• *Any deepfakes?*
The forensic audio analysis contrary to Senator Natasha’s denial, confirmed the recording was the real voice communication between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Sandra Duru who were both brought together by one Ina Okopi Agu, not AI generated or deepfake. So, there you have it: a baseless storm in a teacup, debunked by cold and hard facts. One cannot help but wonder why such fictions take root so easily in our soil. Is it the thrill of taking down a highly-placed individual? Or is it a national pastime to murmur and spread rumours without demanding evidence?

● *The legal aftermath*
With the truth laid bare, the legal wheels began to turn in earnest. On March 29, 2025, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation slammed charges of criminal defamation on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, zeroing in on that organ-harvesting imputation. Akpabio, no stranger to the rough and tumble of politics, initially went on the offensive, filing many defamation suits against various individuals, including the aforementioned Senator. One could hardly blame him; in the arena of high stakes politics, you fight fire with fire or risk getting scorched.

Regardless, the tale twists away from the predictable. Instead of dragging this out into an endless courtroom saga, Akpabio paused. As discerning readers know, many of these courtroom battles often end in mutual exhaustion, with no winners save the lawyers. Yet Akpabio’s move hinted at something deeper, a willingness to step back from the brink.

● *A gesture of Forgiveness or Foolishness?*
And then came the pivotal moment, as if scripted by a higher power of providence. It was during the New Year Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, early in January 2026. The priest preached on forgiveness, that age-old virtue we all nod at but seldom practice.

The Senate President later reflected that the sermon felt aimed straight at him, a divine nudge in the ribs. “It was as if the priest was speaking directly to me,” he said, realising the weight of carrying grudges into a new year.

Inspired by faith, Senator Godswill Akpabio directed his legal team to withdraw all pending lawsuits in every court. No fanfare, no conditions; just a clean slate. The notice of discontinuance was filed, and on January 15, 2026, the Federal Capital Territory High Court struck out the charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In Nigerian politics, where forgiveness is as common as snow in the Sahara, this was nothing short of extraordinary. One must show respect to whom it is due. It is so easy to talk about grace, but to actually demonstrate it? That is the trademark of legends.

*A Word to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan*
As we celebrate this uncommon act of grace, a word of caution becomes necessary for the beneficiary thereof. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan would do well to recognise that she has been shown a level of magnanimity rarely seen in our clime. She now stands at a crossroad where the path she chooses will define not just her immediate political future but her legacy. To continue to travel on this ignominious path with tar brush and theatrical indignation, having been handed an exit from a well-deserved legal ordeal, would be the height of political folly. The public is watching; history is recording. The wise course now is to accept the olive branch, reflect deeply on the gravity of her invidious umbrage and conduct herself with the maturity that her office demands. Grace, after all, is not a licence to repeat old mistakes but an invitation to embrace a new, better and purposeful path.

● *Public reaction*
The public, like a jubilation in a rapture, responded with a wave of overwhelming support for Senator Akpabio. A coalition of civil society groups under the aegis of Human Rights Africa led the applause, hailing and praising Akpabio’s act as an “exemplary display of maturity, tolerance and magnanimity.” They were never wrong; in a time of division, this gesture spoke volumes about the Senate President’s demonstrated commitment to the ideals of our social democracy, the rule of law, peaceful co-existent, national cohesion and institutional integrity.

● *The enduring lessons*
How did such a baseless allegation gain such massive traction? Sandra Duru still calls for accountability, insisting the matter is not buried. Fair play to her; voices like that keep the powerful on their toes. But for Akpabio, the chapter is closed, with a focus on forgiveness over vengeance.

• *The wider implications*
In an age of instant judgements and viral claims, Akpabio’s actions demonstrate leadership that rises above the fray. It is a lesson in how truth prevails, grace bridges divides, and reconciliation can heal what division tears apart.

Those who have studied the growth of other nations understand that to get things done in this country, a touch of radical idealism is needed.

• *Akpabio’s path of grace?*
That is idealism in action, pursued not with ruthlessness but with the softened heart of a grace carrier and a man who knows his priest is a human vessel bearing a divine message.

As we murmur and grumble our way forward, we should all pause and reflect. In Nigeria, where nice guys often finish last, Senate President Godswill Akpabio shows that grace doesn’t mean weakness. Forgiveness doesn’t mean foolishness. It means strength. And in our polarised landscape, that is an honourable path, a path worth following. To forgive is never foolishness but it is divine.

Ken Harries Esq is an Abuja based development communication specialist