Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday ordered Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma to immediately stop presenting himself as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the January 16, 2027 election.

Delivering judgment, the judge held that Uzodinma did not win the APC senatorial primary of May 18, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He said the evidence before the court showed that former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha polled the majority of the votes cast.

Justice Egwuatu consequently directed the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the 2027 Imo West Senatorial District election.

The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has distributed 1,330 electric vehicles across Nigeria’s North-East region as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, create employment opportunities and promote environmentally friendly mobility.

The vehicles comprise 1,000 electric tricycles, 300 electric taxis and 30 electric buses, which are expected to improve transportation services across the region’s six states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.

The NEDC Adamawa State Coordinator, Khalifa Lawan, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation workshop on electric mobility and seamless commuting held in Yola.

Initiative Targets Affordable Transportation

Lawan explained that the initiative was designed to make transportation more affordable while creating business opportunities, particularly for young people seeking sustainable sources of income.

According to him, the commission’s intervention forms part of its broader mandate to accelerate development in the North-East through investments in infrastructure, education, skills acquisition and other essential sectors.

He said Adamawa State was expected to benefit from the deployment of electric tricycles, taxis and buses, which could help improve mobility and support economic activities within communities.

The programme is also expected to generate employment opportunities across the electric mobility sector, including vehicle operations, repairs, maintenance and charging services.

Charging Stations Needed for Success

Lawan stressed that establishing adequate charging infrastructure would be critical to the success of the project.

He disclosed that the commission planned to provide at least two or three electric vehicle charging stations in each of the six states, with the possibility of expanding the facilities as demand increases.

The Adamawa State Commissioner for Transport, Rumpe Anthony, also emphasised the need for sufficient charging points, raising concerns about the state’s unreliable electricity supply.

She said proper planning and infrastructure would be necessary to ensure that the vehicles operate efficiently and deliver the expected benefits to commuters and operators.

Electric Vehicles Offer Environmental Benefits

The Chief Executive Officer of Attahir Enterprise Nigeria Limited, Umar Bunu Abacha, described the initiative as an effort to develop a more efficient and sustainable transportation system.

He said stakeholder engagement was important to ensure that beneficiaries and transport operators understood how the programme would work and the responsibilities involved in maintaining the vehicles.

Workshop facilitator Emmanuel Mwada Wapah highlighted the potential environmental benefits of electric vehicles, including reduced exhaust emissions and noise pollution.

He added that the vehicles could travel up to 300 kilometres on a full charge, while charging could take approximately one hour under specified conditions.

The NEDC urged beneficiaries to maintain the vehicles properly to ensure their durability and long-term usefulness.

The initiative comes amid broader efforts by the Federal Government and state governments to promote alternative-energy transportation as a means of easing the burden of rising transport costs.

Its success will depend partly on the availability of reliable charging infrastructure, effective vehicle maintenance and the extent to which operational savings translate into lower fares for commuters.

The Rivers State Police Command has removed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Abuloma Division and the officer overseeing the Abuloma Police Outpost following allegations that suspected cultists renovated the facility.

The command also ordered a full investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the renovation, identify those who financed the project and determine whether any police personnel violated professional standards.

The development followed the circulation of a video on social media showing suspected cultists visiting the renovated outpost in Abuloma, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to celebrate the completion of the project.

In a statement issued on Friday, the police said Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju had directed that both officers be queried and relieved of their duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

The statement was signed by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Agabe Kaborlo.

Police Investigate Funding and Approval of Renovation

According to the command, investigators will establish the identities and backgrounds of the individuals or groups that financed or facilitated the renovation.

The investigation will also determine which police officers authorised the project, whether the required procedures were followed and whether any personnel compromised the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force.

The police condemned any action or association capable of undermining the force’s discipline, professionalism and public confidence.

It warned that police facilities must not become platforms through which suspected criminal groups seek public recognition, influence or legitimacy.

Police Clarify Position on Community Donations

The command acknowledged that members of the public are permitted to support improvements to police facilities under Section 26(1)(d) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, which provides for gifts and contributions to the Police General Fund.

However, it stressed that such contributions must follow established procedures and must not compromise police independence, security or professional standards.

The police added that accepting donations does not exempt anyone from investigation or prosecution where evidence of wrongdoing exists.

It also promised appropriate disciplinary and legal action against anyone found culpable after the investigation.

Viral Video Sparks Questions

The controversy emerged after videos circulated online showing a group of men at the renovated police outpost alongside some police officers.

The footage reportedly showed the individuals participating in what appeared to be a ceremony marking the completion of the renovation.

Some social media reports identified the group as members of a suspected cult organisation. However, the allegations surrounding their identity, involvement in the project and relationship with the police have yet to be conclusively established.

The police said the ongoing investigation would determine the facts of the incident and whether any laws or professional regulations were breached.

The command urged residents to remain calm and provide credible information to support efforts to tackle cultism and organised crime across Rivers State.