By Bonaventure Phillips Melah

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has warned the public of the circulation of campaign posters beating the photos of former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, saying such posters are fake and should be ignored completely.

The PDP raised the alarm Saturday in a statement signed its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong and sent to Nationwide Reports.

The party also said that Jonathan remains a full-fledged member of the PDP and that he personally registered in his ward, during the recently concluded digital membership registration exercise carried out by the PDP.

The statement reads- “Campaign posters bearing the photographs of President Goodluck Jonathan, either alone or paired with other notable Nigerians as running mate, have emerged and are being circulated widely on social media platforms.

“These posters also falsely portray him as a member of the various political parties whose logos appear on them.

“We state categorically that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a registered member of the Peoples Democratic Party under the capable leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. He duly registered personally in his ward during the recently concluded digital membership registration exercise — a fact he personally confirmed to members of the Interim National Working Committee during a meeting with him yesterday.

“This clarification has become necessary in view of the provisions of the extant Electoral Act, under which double registration is not only prohibited but also punishable.

“We are aware that mischief makers may not only design and circulate fake campaign posters, but may also, in concert with highly placed collaborators, attempt to input the details of President Jonathan and other prominent members of our party and the opposition movement into the databases of different political parties.

“We therefore put the public, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission, on notice of this malfeasance and urge them to countenance any such fraudulent activity,” PDP concluded.

Gunmen have kidnapped the Chief Medical Director of Crown Hospital Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Dr. Edwin Emegoakor.

The four-man gang of gunmen adorning army and police uniforms, arrived the facility and ordered hospital security operatives, medical personnel and other workers within reach to surrender at gunpoint before confiscating their  phones. Sources said the incident happened at about 6:30pm on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

“They were casually discussing inside their car while people were moving about in the hospital freely without noticing them.

“They were patiently waiting for their victim and later two of them, one in army camouflage and the other in police uniform, came out and picked the CMD who was on a ward round.

“No life was lost in the process, probably because they did not want to attract the attention of patients and other passers-by,” a source said.

Following public outcry and allegations of witch-hunting, the Senate on Thursday rescinded controversial amendments to its Standing Orders 2026.

The senate had recently amended portions of its rules, a move that triggered controversy and sharp exchanges among senators while provoking public outcry and insinuations of targeted witch-hunting.

Moving the motion during plenary, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said a fresh legislative and constitutional review revealed that some provisions introduced under Order 2 Subsection 2 and Order 3 Subsection 1 could conflict with Section 52 of the Constitution.

He said, “The Senate observes that upon further legislative and constitutional review, certain provisions introduced under Order 2 Subsection 2 and Order 3 Subsection 1 may give rise to constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, particularly Section 52 thereof.”

Bamidele explained that the Senate retained the parliamentary authority to revisit and reverse earlier decisions where necessary to safeguard the integrity of its proceedings.

He said the Senate “possesses the inherent parliamentary authority to revisit, rescind and recommit any matter previously decided upon in order to preserve the integrity of its proceedings and legislative framework.”

The chamber thereafter resolved to “rescind its earlier decisions relating to the amendments made to Order 2 Subsection 2 and Order 3 Subsection 1 of the Senate Standing Orders 2026.”

The motion was seconded by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia South.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, described the motion as necessary to align the Senate rules with constitutional provisions.

“This is a very straightforward motion, it’s just for us to go in conformity with the Constitution.

“I thank the Leader for being observant and up to his game as the Leader of the Senate by making this observation. It is something that is very clear and we don’t need any debate in respect of this,” Barau said.

However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole faulted the process that led to the earlier amendments, arguing that lawmakers acted in haste to satisfy vested interests.

“The way we rushed the rules because certain people wanted certain things concluded is one flaw to this process.

“That is just the point I want to make, that next time we should allow debate,” one Senator said during deliberations.

Oshiomhole’s comments sparked another round of exchanges on the floor, prompting Bamidele to invoke Rule 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders against reopening issues already decided without a substantive motion.

“If His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomole, had any problem with the decisions that were taken with respect to the amendment two days ago, what he was expected to do was to bring a substantive motion for rescission to be debated on the floor of this parliament,” the Senate leader said.

Bamidele also lamented that the controversy generated by the amendments and the ensuing disagreements had overshadowed the Senate’s legislative activities.

“Regardless of what was done in this hallowed chamber yesterday, what became the news out of this hallowed chamber was that unnecessary drama, and we are not going to allow this to continue,” he added.

The Senate Standing Orders regulate legislative procedures and debates in the upper chamber, including the conduct of plenary sessions, motions, voting processes and disciplinary measures.