Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has unveiled a statue in honour of renowned Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe, pledging his administration’s commitment to preserving the literary icon’s legacy while nurturing a new generation of world-class writers.

The monument, unveiled on Saturday at Ugwunwasike Roundabout in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, commemorates the enduring contributions of Achebe, whose works continue to shape global conversations on African literature and identity more than a decade after his death.

Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Soludo described Achebe as a symbol of excellence whose influence transcends generations and national boundaries.

He said the state government would continue to invest in initiatives that encourage literary creativity and intellectual development, expressing confidence that more globally acclaimed writers could emerge from Anambra State.

“Achebe represents excellence and remains one of the world’s greatest literary figures. We will continue to support initiatives that will inspire the emergence of more Achebes in Idemili North and across Anambra State,” the governor said.

The event attracted government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, literary enthusiasts and other dignitaries who gathered to celebrate the life and achievements of the celebrated novelist.

The Mayor of Idemili North Local Government Area, Stanley Nkwoka, praised both Achebe and Governor Soludo, describing them as exceptional ambassadors whose accomplishments have projected Anambra State positively on the global stage.

Widely regarded as the father of modern African literature, Achebe gained international recognition with his groundbreaking 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart, which has been translated into numerous languages and remains one of the most widely studied African literary works worldwide.

The newly unveiled monument is expected to strengthen efforts to preserve Achebe’s legacy while promoting cultural heritage and literary tourism in Ogidi, his hometown.

Achebe passed away on March 21, 2013, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 82, and was laid to rest on May 23, 2013, in Ogidi, Anambra State.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has explained that his decision to pick former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election was informed by their shared commitment to tackling poverty through education and economic development.

Speaking in an interview published on Sunday, Obi said both leaders share a common philosophy centred on investing in human capital and creating opportunities that would improve the lives of Nigerians.

According to him, Kwankwaso’s long-standing belief in education and poverty reduction aligns closely with his own vision for national transformation.

“Kwankwaso has the philosophy of pulling people out of poverty. I have the same philosophy. He believes in education, and you cannot transform any society without education,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor stressed that education would remain the cornerstone of his administration if elected, arguing that Nigeria’s future depends on developing its human capital.

Obi also dismissed reports of disagreements between himself and Kwankwaso, insisting that both men remain united in their quest to build a better Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election.

He attributed many political disputes in the country to what he described as “transactional governance,” maintaining that his alliance with Kwankwaso is driven by a desire for transformational leadership rather than personal or political gain.

“We are not into transactional governance. We want to transform society, create opportunities and lift people out of poverty,” he said.

Reflecting on why a similar alliance did not materialise before the 2023 presidential election, Obi said he preferred to focus on the future instead of dwelling on missed opportunities.

He noted that discussions should centre on Nigeria’s future rather than past political calculations.

Addressing concerns about integrating supporters of the Obidient Movement and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Obi expressed confidence that both groups are united by a common aspiration for a better country.

According to him, the movements are driven by a shared desire to see meaningful reforms and improved governance, making collaboration easier.

Obi and Kwankwaso contested separately in the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, respectively.

Both politicians later joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress after exiting an earlier opposition alliance, citing internal disputes and legal challenges within their former political platform.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), defeating two fellow senior lawyers in the association’s 2026 national election.

The results were announced on Sunday at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, after an election that experienced delays due to technical issues and a cyberattack.

Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total ballots cast, to emerge victorious ahead of her closest rival, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who garnered 7,934 votes, or 30.39 per cent.

The third candidate, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, polled 5,855 votes, representing 22.43 per cent.
According to the ECNBA, a total of 26,106 votes were cast in the election.

With the victory, Badejo-Okusanya will lead the NBA for the 2026–2028 term and becomes only the second woman to occupy the office, following Priscilla Kuye, who served as the association’s president between 1991 and 1992.

Other officers elected include Oghenero Okoro as First Vice-President with 11,024 votes, Afam Okeke as General Secretary with 8,478 votes, Aghogho Gladys as Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes, and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam as Welfare Secretary with 14,911 votes.

The president-elect was absent during the announcement of the results.

A member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya, SAN, explained that her absence was due to a flight delay, adding that she remains committed to promoting unity within the association by extending a hand of fellowship to her opponents.

Speaking after the declaration, outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, revealed that the election survived attempts to undermine the process, including a cyberattack that forced the electoral committee to rebuild and migrate its information technology infrastructure to a more secure server.

He commended the resilience of the electoral committee and urged the newly elected officers to be magnanimous in victory, while encouraging unsuccessful candidates to support the incoming leadership in the interest of the legal profession.

Osigwe also stressed the need to strengthen cybersecurity and data protection within the association, noting that the challenges encountered during the election underscored the importance of safeguarding future electoral processes.

He further disclosed that the Electoral Committee would undertake a comprehensive review of the election to identify lessons from the exercise and improve the integrity, transparency and security of future NBA elections.

Adolphus Wabara

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, describing the action as frivolous, lacking merit and an abuse of the court process.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered the Wabara-led plaintiffs to pay a total of ₦140 million in costs to the defendants.

The court also directed the plaintiffs’ counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), to personally pay ₦10 million as a deterrent against the filing of frivolous suits in matters relating to the internal affairs of political parties.

The judge held that the award of costs was consistent with Section 83(6)(b) of the Electoral Act, 2026, agreeing with the defendants that costs should follow the outcome of the case.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1159/2026, was instituted by Wabara, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, former Information Minister Jerry Gana, PDP chieftain Olabode George and other BoT members.

They had asked the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP.

The plaintiffs argued that the names of members of the Turaki-led leadership had been submitted to INEC through letters dated 4 May and should be reflected on the commission’s official records.

However, the suit was strongly opposed by the PDP faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as well as INEC and other interested parties, all of whom challenged the court’s jurisdiction and described the case as incompetent.

A major twist emerged during the proceedings when lawyer Sunday Ameh challenged the inclusion of the PDP as a plaintiff, insisting that the party never authorised the suit or the legal representation by Chief Chris Uche.

Justice Ibrahim agreed with that argument, striking out the PDP as the eighth plaintiff after holding that the Wabara-led BoT lacked the legal authority to institute the action on behalf of the party.

The court also granted the application by the Wike-backed leadership to be joined in the suit as defendants, including National Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamardeen Ajibade and other party officials.

On the issue of jurisdiction, the court ruled that the dispute was an internal party matter over which it had no jurisdiction.

It further held that the plaintiffs failed to establish any legal basis for the reliefs they sought.

Justice Ibrahim also affirmed the legitimacy of the Abdulrahman-led PDP leadership, noting that previous court judgments recognising that leadership remain valid and have not been overturned.

According to the court, the issues raised in the suit had already been settled by earlier judicial decisions, making the fresh action an attempt to relitigate matters that had been conclusively determined.

The court consequently dismissed the suit in its entirety and awarded substantial costs against the plaintiffs and their counsel.