The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has slammed the brakes on calls for protest over Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s reinstatement agitation, urging civil society organizations (CSOs) to exercise restraint and allow due process to take its full course.

In a press conference held at the NCSCN headquarters in Abuja, Executive Director Amb. Blessing A. Akinlosotu condemned the unwarranted call for protest, citing the need to respect the rule of law and avoid actions that could undermine judicial and legislative institutions.

The development follows a Federal High Court in Abuja judgment on the matter between Senator Natasha and the Senate, which upheld the Senate’s constitutional power to discipline its members. The court imposed a ₦5 million fine and mandated her to publicly apologize within seven days for contempt of court.

Akinlosotu expressed concerns over clandestine meetings and instigation of CSOs towards public protest before the judgment was delivered, stressing that such actions could destabilize the National Assembly and undermine its legislative duties.

“We condemn the unwarranted call for protest and urge CSOs to exercise restraint, allowing due process to take its full course,” Akinlosotu said. “We respectfully appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians and civil society actors to desist from further agitation until the legal process is concluded and the official judgment is publicly available for objective review.”

The NCSCN emphasized the vital roles of Civil Society, including strengthening democracy, protecting the rights of the marginalized, and promoting inclusive development. “We will not hesitate to sanction any member found to be involved in any activity that leads to unrest, violence, or destruction of lives and property,” Akinlosotu warned.

The NCSCN’s call for restraint aims to prioritize stability and allow the National Assembly to focus on its legislative duties for the benefit of all Nigerians and the nation.

The Adamawa State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has expressed pride in the party being accepted as the platform of choice by political leaders leaving the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and other parties.

The ADC leaders in the state stressed to newsmen in Yola that the new members are most welcome to join forces to make the much desired change come 2027.

ADC Chairman in Adamawa State, Mr Shehu Yohanna, while addressing journalists, said, “We welcome members of the Nigeria national opposition coalition who have recently adopted the ADC as their political platform. The development is a testament to the party’s growing influence in the country.”

He added that new alignments are necessary for the growth of the polity, stressing, “We are honoured to have them join us. Together, we will work to build a stronger, more inclusive and more prosperous Adamawa State and Nigeria.”

The ADC chairman urged the new entrants and other members to respect the constitution and leadership of the party, as discipline is vital for attainment of a unified vision for progress

Dismissing insinuations of division within the ADC in Adamawa State, the party chairman affirmed, “We are one. There is no resignation or dissolution. The current leadership of the ADC in Adamawa State remains intact, no one has resigned and no structure has been dissolved.”

The Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council of Plateau State, Barr. Christopher Kyohroh John, has identified rampant drug abuse and cultism as the twin devil that fuels insecurity in the state.

Kyohroh made the assertion when the Plateau State Fact-Finding Committee set up by Governor Caleb Mutfwang to investigate the root causes of recurring violence across Plateau from 2001 to date, visited the council on Friday.

He noted that cases of inter-communal violence, land grabbing and cattle rustling are often traced to drug abuse and cultism.

While addressing the team led by Major General Nicholas Rogers (Retd), Kyohroh said, “Our security challenges in Jos North are mostly internal — drug abuse, cultism, occasional kidnapping, and proliferation of arms.

“These are not terrorist attacks or ethnic clashes but homegrown issues that require collective action.

“Unlike other LGAs where we’ve seen land disputes and mass killings, Jos North is dealing with internal threats like drugs and cultism.

“We have, however, taken measures to prevent escalation, but more is needed. The use of drugs emboldens these youths and fuels isolated killings. We need support at every level to tackle this.”

Also speaking during the visit, Rogers reaffirmed the committee’s mission of finding lasting solutions to the wave of crisis that has continued to rock the state.

“We are here to listen, to assess, and to provide recommendations to His Excellency that will help restore peace and development to this land.

“We want to understand why the crisis has lingered for so long and what solutions can be explored,” he assured.