Hon. Peter Akpanke a member of the House of Representatives from Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra Federal Constituency in Cross River, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The lawmaker confirmed the switch during a media briefing by the Cross River APC caucus in the National Assembly, saying APC offers a brighter prospect for him and his constituents in the current political equation.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Sebastine Hon, has encouraged President BolaTinubu to declare state of emergency in Benue state over the rising cases of killings by bandits and other criminal elements

In a petition to the President, the legal practitioner alleged that the continued bloodbath in parts of the state points to a clear security collapse, military complicity, and executive complacency.

Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Prof. Hon urged President Tinubu to invoke his constitutional powers to halt the carnage and restore order, particularly following fresh attacks on the Agan community in Makurdi, as well as multiple deadly incursions in Apa and Gwer-West Local Government Areas between May 29 and June 1, 2025.

“It is most imperative that a state of military emergency be declared by Mr. President in the state,” the SAN stated, warning that “both historical and empirical factors support this.”

He further demanded the removal and replacement of all military commanders in Benue, alleging gross dereliction of duty and, in some cases, collusion with the attackers.
“Even when Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo was attacked less than 500 meters from a military checkpoint, soldiers did nothing. They watched. He was left for dead,” Hon lamented.
He accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of gross insensitivity and detachment, noting that the governor dismissed the repeated attacks as mere “skirmishes” while appearing unconcerned about the plight of his people.
“Today marks four days since the attack on Agan, and our dear governor hasn’t consoled the victims, let alone visit the area. Instead, he was dancing around on podiums celebrating two years in office on that same day,” Hon said.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Abia State Governor, has alleged that elements within Nigeria’s political elite are backing Boko Haram in a bid to destabilise President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Kalu claimed that the resurgence of the terrorist group was politically motivated and orchestrated by power-hungry individuals within the corridors of power.

“The political class is behind Boko Haram. They are using terrorism as a tool to fight Tinubu, just like they did with past administrations,” Kalu asserted.

When pressed to clarify who he referred to as the “political class,” the former governor pointed fingers at politicians, wealthy businesspeople, and top-ranking civil servants.

“People in the political class are the ones fuelling Boko Haram. This is a political war. Some of them aren’t after money—they’re after power. They want to tear down the system just to grab control, and that’s not how power should be acquired,” he said.

Kalu described the insecurity plaguing Nigeria as a deliberate strategy by influential figures discontented with the current state of governance.

“The insecurity in Nigeria is politically induced. These individuals—politicians, businessmen, civil servants—are not just seeking financial gain. They’re looking to hijack political power,” he added.

He concluded with a call for unity and patriotism among Nigerians, emphasising the need to uplift the nation instead of sabotaging it for selfish gain.

“If we consider ourselves friends and patriots, we should care about the ordinary Nigerian. We must work together to build a better country,” he urged.