President MUHAMMADU BUHARI is expected to assign portfolios to thirty-six ministers, following the completion of the Senate screening and confirmation. Former governor of Rivers State, ROTIMI AMAECHI is among the last set of eighteen nominees that were confirmed by the Senate yesterday. You will recall that AMAECHI’s name was contained in the first list of nominees compiled by President MUHAMMADU BUHARI, but due to delays by the Senate, he ended up as the last to be confirmed.

The All Progressives Congress has hailed the Senate for the confirmation of ministerial nominees. The APC said the successful conclusion of the screening and confirmation is a clear indication that there is no more division among senators of the ruling party.

The National Caucus of the People’s Democratic Party has hailed the walkout staged by PDP senators during the confirmation of former governor of Rivers State, ROTIMI AMAECHI, for appointment as a minister.
Rising from a meeting that lasted until late last night, the PDP national leaders resolved that the PDP Senators were courageous and displayed unity of purpose.

Senate President, BUKOLA SARAKI has lost his appeal seeking to stop his corruption trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Senator SARAKI is facing criminal charges brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau over alleged false declaration of assets.

The leadership of the Labour Party in Rivers State has disassociated itself from statements credited to the governorship candidate of the party, Prince TONYE PRINCEWILL and another chieftain, CHIOMA CHINWO on the annulment of the Rivers State governorship election. State Chairman of the Labour Party, FELIX FAVOUR urged the general public to disregard the statements by PRINCEWILL and CHINWO, stressing that the party believes in the rule of law and stands by the ruling of the tribunal.

The Speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly, IKUNYI AWAJI-IBANI claims he has not been sacked by any tribunal.
AWAJI-IBANI also said all members of the House of Assembly whose election were nullified by the tribunal still remains as lawmakers of the state.

The Rivers State Government has cried out over alleged judicial gang up against Governor NYESOM WIKE. Reacting to the ruling by the Supreme Court on the appeal by Governor WIKE, challenging the jurisdiction of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, OPUNABO INKO-TARIAH said the alleged gang-up is by extension to the people of Rivers State.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, DAKUKU PETERSIDE, has slammed Governor NYESOM WIKE for criticizing the judiciary. PETERSIDE described as unwarranted and regrettable the criticism by Governor WIKE over unfavorable judgments at the governorship election tribunal and the Supreme Court.

Two female nurses and two security guards at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital have been recommended for sack over the controversial death of a female student of the University of Port Harcourt. All four personnel were on duty when the Two Hundred Level student of the Department of Theater and Film Studies was rushed to the UPTH but was denied bed space and later died due to lack of medical attention.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria says the shortage of petroleum products being experienced around Rivers State has nothing to do with the two main labour unions in the oil and gas sector. State Chairman of the TUC, CHIKA ONUEGBU said the fuel shortage is mainly due to protest by owners of tank farms and depots over the delay in their subsidy claims.