The House of Representatives has approved the declaration of a state of emergency for Rivers State despite stiff opposition from stakeholders.

The House also approved the six-month suspension imposed on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the assembly via a voice vote on Thursday.

Details later…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and many members of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) have formed a coalition to oppose President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

Other opposition leaders present at the ongoing press conference include, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who is represented by Yunusa Tanko, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, and Convenor of the Alternative, Segun Showunmi, among others.

Among those whose apologies were announced are former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, among others.

The FCT Fire Service (FFS) has revealed that a brake failure by a truck conveying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) canisters led to Wednesday’s Abuja-Keffi expressway multiple explosions.

The FFS Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Mohammad, confirmed this in an interview with the Newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mohammad said that the truck which was headed towards the Nyanya axis from AYA, lost control and in the process rammed into several vehicles along the route.

“And as a result of the impact on the vehicles and the impact of its own CNG-loaded containers, they started flying out of the truck and anywhere it landed, even about 900 meters away, there was an impact.

“The impact led to fire which resulted in casualties.

“Figures of casualties have not been given as rescue operation is still ongoing to see the number of lives that are involved

“Some vehicles that were burnt to ashes have to be thoroughly investigated whether people are trapped inside them and that is why search is still ongoing even with searchlights as we speak,” he said.