Senate Justifies Purchase Of SUVs Costing N6bn 

The Senate has justified the purchase of a 2023 model of Toyota Landcruiser for members at the contract price of about N160 million each, saying even Local Government Chairmen drive good cars. This is in addition to the bullet proof vehicles being purchased for Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Barau Jibrin. The move had created heavy criticism, with some Nigerians criticising  the parliamentarians for being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians amid high cost of living and worsening inflation. The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) had said procuring SUVs for federal lawmakers was provocative at a time that most families can barely feed their members three square meals per day, and hospitals and roads are collapsing rapidly all across the country.

FEC Consents Establishment of Humanitarian Trust Fund

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has revealed during the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa on 23rd October 2023, that the FEC has given the go-ahead for the creation of A Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund, this is to aid the Federal Government to cushion the economic hardship on vulnerable Nigerians. Edu while briefing the State House Correspondents at the meeting revealed that the establishment of this fund is to generate up to $5 million yearly. Also, there will be a governing board that will help in supervising the implementation of the fund.

INEC Deploys 46,084 Staff For Bayelsa, Imo And Kogi Elections 

The Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) revealed it has concluded plans to deploy 46,084 regular and ad-hoc staff for the November 11 off-season governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states. The commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECS). “In the next three weeks, off-cycle governorship elections will be held in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States. The three elections will involve. 5,409,438 registered voters who will vote in 10,510 polling units spread across 649 electoral Wards in 56 Local Government Areas.

Court Directs PDP To Replace Anyanwu As National Secretary 

A Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State has ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to replace Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary. The court issued an interim order in Enugu, compelling the defendants in the suit, PDP National Chairman, PDP National Secretary, Deputy National Chairman South East to recognise Sunday UDEH-Okoye as person recommended by South East zonal Executive Committee to replace the former, pending the determination of the motion on notice is determined. Anyanwu is the PDP governorship candidate for the forthcoming election in Imo State.

INEC Deploys Non Sensitive Materials To Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday in Abuja, Disclosed that non-sensitive materials for the election had been delivered to the three states, Yakubu said the commission learned valuable lessons from the 2023 general election for improved performance in the forthcoming elections. Also, the commission revealed that it would deploy 46,084 staff for the conduct of the November 11, 2023, governorship polls in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states.

Umahi Replaced As Senate Deputy Leader

Following the appointment of Senator Dave Umahi as Minister of Works by President Bola Tinubu, the Senate on Wednesday appointed Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Kwara South as the new Deputy Leader of the Senate.