Updated: Rivers Senator Mpigi Barinada dies at 64

Lawmaker representing the South East Senatorial district of Rivers State, Senator Mpigi Barinada is dead.

He was aged 64.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, confirmed the sad development in a tribute post on his official X handle on Thursday.

He wrote, “Good night my dear friend. Rest in Peace, Senator Mpigi Barinada. Sen Mpigi represented Rivers South East in the Senate”.

The Rivers Senator was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works.

Senator representing Nasarawa South, Mohammed Onawo, also paid glowing tribute to the late Rivers senator and urged his colleagues to honour his memory.

He spoke during the session of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism on Thursday.

First elected in 2011 to the lower house, he was re-elected for a second term in December 2016.

In 2019, he was elected as the Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

LP Crisis Deepens as Abure Faction Rejects Otti’s Reconciliation Call

The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) has taken a new turn as the Julius Abure–led faction firmly rejected reconciliation efforts initiated by Abia State Governor Alex Otti, declaring it has no interest in any peace move proposed by him.

In a strongly worded response, the factional National Working Committee (NWC) led by Julius Abure described Governor Otti’s call for unity as dishonest, premature, and ill-fated, insisting that the internal dispute within the party is far from being resolved.

The Abure camp was reacting to Otti’s recent appeal for aggrieved factions within the party to sheathe their swords and work towards rebuilding the LP ahead of future elections. The governor had announced plans to set up a reconciliation committee, stating that the interim leadership would determine the appropriate timing.

However, the Abure faction dismissed the move outright, accusing Otti of playing a central role in triggering and escalating the crisis. According to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the governor lacks the moral authority to champion reconciliation.

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“We are not interested in any reconciliation being proposed by Governor Alex Otti because he is largely responsible for the crisis facing the party today,” Ifoh said. He questioned why the governor was rushing reconciliation talks when legal battles over the party’s leadership are still ongoing, stressing that the matter is “far from over.”

The rejection comes amid heightened tensions following the removal of Abure’s leadership details from the INEC portal, a development that further deepened divisions within the opposition party.

Background: How the Labour Party Leadership Crisis Began

The Labour Party crisis stems from a prolonged power struggle over national leadership, which intensified after the 2023 general elections that significantly boosted the party’s national profile.

At the heart of the dispute are two rival factions: one led by Julius Abure, the party’s embattled national chairman, and another aligned with Nenadi Usman, who heads an interim leadership structure.

The crisis escalated when a court of first instance issued an order that effectively recognized the Nenadi Usman–led group as the authentic leadership of the party. Acting on the ruling, the Independent National Electoral Commission adjusted its records, delisting the Abure-led NWC from its official portal.

While Abure’s faction has since filed an appeal and maintains that the court ruling is not final, the Usman-aligned camp has continued to operate as the recognized leadership, widening the rift within the party.

Governor Otti, one of the most prominent LP officeholders, has publicly aligned with reconciliation efforts, arguing that internal unity is critical for the party’s survival. However, the Abure faction views his actions as politically motivated interference, rather than a genuine peace initiative.

With legal proceedings still pending and both factions refusing to back down, the Labour Party remains deeply divided, raising fresh concerns about its cohesion and electoral prospects ahead of future political contests.

LP Crisis Deepens as Abure Faction Rejects Otti’s Reconciliation Call

Rivers Assembly Halts Impeachment Proceedings Against Gov Fubara

The Rivers State House of Assembly has formally halted impeachment proceedings against Siminalayi Fubara, bringing a dramatic pause to months of political tension that had pushed Rivers State to the brink of a constitutional crisis.

The decision, which also covers Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, was taken during a plenary session in Port Harcourt on Thursday. Lawmakers adopted a motion to stop the impeachment process as part of efforts to restore calm and comply with resolutions reached during high-level reconciliation meetings in Abuja.

Assembly leaders said the move followed a direct intervention by President Bola Tinubu, whose mediation reportedly compelled all political actors to step back from actions capable of plunging the state into further instability. Lawmakers noted that continuing the impeachment process posed serious risks to law and order, governance, and public confidence.

For several months, Rivers State had been locked in a deep political standoff rooted in a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The rivalry spilled into the legislative arm, paralysing the House of Assembly and creating uncertainty across government institutions.

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The crisis reached a boiling point earlier in the year when the Assembly issued a notice of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara, setting impeachment proceedings in motion. The development triggered widespread concern among residents, civil society groups, and investors worried about the economic and security consequences of prolonged political instability in the state.

Thursday’s resolution is understood to be part of a broader peace agreement brokered at the Presidential Villa, aimed at resetting political relations and restoring functional governance in Rivers State. Lawmakers described the decision as a gesture of peace and a commitment to dialogue over confrontation.

In a related move widely seen as reinforcing the truce, Governor Fubara recently dissolved the Rivers State Executive Council, a step interpreted as an effort to accommodate diverse political interests in the formation of a new, more inclusive cabinet.

Political observers say while the impeachment threat has been neutralised for now, the sustainability of the peace deal will depend on continued restraint, mutual cooperation, and adherence to the terms of the Abuja-brokered agreement. Nonetheless, the Assembly’s decision marks a significant de-escalation in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched political crises.

Rivers Assembly Halts Impeachment Proceedings Against Gov Fubara