‎
‎At least 150 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, strengthening the opposition party.
‎
‎Prominent defectors include Peter Okonkwo, former Commissioner for Local Government; Nonso Ochi, LP’s 2023 Awgu North candidate; Onyeka Chukwuedo, PDP Awgu South aspirant; Chief John Edeh, PDP Nkanu West aspirant; Chief Tony Chigbo, former Uzo-Uwani LGA Chairman; and Emeka Abba, LP chieftain from Udenu.
‎
‎The defectors were welcomed during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting at the APC’s state secretariat on Saturday. A communiqué stated, “The leaders note with excitement that our party has witnessed significant growth with the influx of new members in the last year. The number of new decampees that we received today is evidence of such an influx across the local government areas and wards.”
‎
‎Stakeholders endorsed the indefinite suspension of Senator Chuka Utazi by his Nkpologu ward and Uzo-Uwani LGA for alleged anti-party activities, urging the State Executive Committee to ratify it
‎
‎They accused the Peter Mbah-led government of failing to address killings in Uzo-Uwani and Isi-Uzo, stating, “The party declared that the Peter Mbah-led government has failed in its primary duty of protecting lives and property… the huge population of the citizens in the rural areas are left at the mercy of killer herdsmen and other criminals.”
‎
‎The APC praised Minister Uche Nnaji for securing federal projects, jobs, and welfare packages, including Easter rice and 2024 farming fertilisers. They dismissed former chairman Ben Nwoye’s resignation, noting: “One cannot be resigning from a party that he or she is no longer a member of since 2023.”
‎
‎The meeting reaffirmed loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, urging Igbo support.
‎
‎
‎

US Congressional lawmakers have lamented the treatment of students, Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk, being detained by US immigration authorities.

The students are being kept in detention for their pro-Palestinian activism.

The lawmakers described the US government’s action as a “national disgrace” as they visited the two facilities in Louisiana where each are being held.

Addressing the press after the visit on Tuesday, Louisiana congressman, Troy Carter, said, “We stand firm with them in support of free speech.

“They are frightened, they’re concerned, they want to go home.”

The students, Öztürk doing his PhD at Tufts University and Khalil, a graduate of Columbia have been in detention for more than a month.

Members of the delegation noted that the students were being held in violation of their constitutional rights.

The delegation included representatives Carter, Bennie Thompson, Ayanna Pressley, Jim McGovern, Senator Ed Markey, and Alanah Odoms, the executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana.

They met with the two detainees and others as they conducted “real-time oversight” of a “rogue and lawless” administration, as Pressley said.

“It’s a national disgrace what is taking place,” Markey said.

“We stand right now at a turning point in American history. The constitution is being eroded by the Trump administration. We saw today here in these detention centers in Louisiana examples of how far [it] is willing to go,” he said.

John Mahama, Ghana’s president, has suspended Gertrude Torkornoo, the country’s chief justice, over allegations of misconduct.

In a statement on Tuesday, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the presidential spokesperson, said the council of state took the decision after three persons filed a petition against the chief judge.

Ofosu said allegations against Torkornoo include tampering with court records and misuse of public funds.

“In consultation with the Council of State, it was determined that a prima facie case has been established and that Torkornoo would be suspended while she is investigated,” the statement reads.

The president has also given the suspended chief justice 10 days to respond to the allegations and has set up a five-member investigative team to look into the issues.

The investigative committee is being led by Gabriel Pwamang, a supreme court justice. The panel also includes former auditor-general, Daniel Domelevo.

Torkornoo, 61, was appointed in June 2023, becoming Ghana’s 15th chief justice and the third woman to hold the post.

While past judicial leaders have left through retirement or political upheaval, her suspension is the first time a sitting chief justice has faced formal investigation through a constitutional process.

Mahama, who took office in January, has promised a crackdown on graft in the country.