Governor Seyi Makinde has reacted to the wave of defections affecting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), urging members to remain steadfast.

Makinde emphasized that the PDP has remained a key player in Nigeria’s political landscape since 1999, either as the ruling party or the main opposition, insisting that the party’s relevance in national politics remains intact.

The defections intensified with reports that Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and 23 state lawmakers have left the PDP. This follows the earlier exits of Enugu Governor Peter Mbah and former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In Oyo State, the PDP is also feeling the heat, as prominent members such as Honourable Biliaminu Ogundele and Honourable Hosea Agboola Hallelujah, along with supporters from Egbeda and Ona Ara Local Government Areas, recently dumped the party.

The Senate has announced plans to screen Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The announcement was contained in a circular by the Director of Information for the Senate, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

The development comes barely 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu’s letter seeking the speedy confirmation of Amupitan was read on the Senate floor by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

The price of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has surged to an all-time high in Oyo State, forcing many households to seek alternative and often less environmentally friendly energy sources.

Currently, the price of LPG ranges between ₦1,500 and ₦1,800 per kilogram, depending on the area and retailer. This marks a significant spike compared to earlier in the year, when the product was sold at less than ₦1,000 per kilogram in most locations.

The sharp increase in cooking gas prices has left many residents struggling to keep up with daily cooking needs. As a result, a growing number of households are now resorting to cheaper alternatives such as charcoal, firewood, and even kerosene stoves — a shift that not only reflects rising economic hardship but also raises environmental and public health concerns.

Local gas retailers in the state attribute the persistent rise in prices to several interlinked factors. Chief among them are the instability in foreign exchange rates, high importation costs, and intermittent supply shortages affecting distribution across the country.

The situation has added to the economic pressure already facing many Nigerian families, especially amid inflation, stagnant wages, and rising costs of other basic commodities.

Residents are calling on the Federal Government to intervene by stabilizing the forex market, encouraging local gas production, and ensuring steady supply through policy and regulatory support.

As the festive season approaches — a time when cooking gas demand typically spikes — concerns are growing that prices may rise even further, putting additional strain on household budgets.

The Senate has ordered a full-scale investigation into rising safety concerns within the aviation sector, following revelations from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) about a runway overrun incident involving an Air Peace aircraft at Port Harcourt International Airport.

The resolution was passed after a motion was raised by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North) on the need to strengthen Aviation Safety following the NSIB report on the Air Peace runway incident.

The Senate also directed its Committee on Aviation to engage all relevant stakeholders, including the NSIB, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and airline operators, and to submit a comprehensive report within six weeks. produce 5 explanatory headlines about this story