In a significant political shift, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, along with 21 other lawmakers originally elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This mass defection has effectively turned the Delta Assembly into an all-APC legislature, with the remaining seven members already belonging to the ruling party.

Announcing the development during Tuesday’s plenary session following the Easter recess, the Speaker said the decision was the outcome of extensive consultations with constituents and political leaders statewide. He cited Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the legal basis for the defection.

Guwor expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their service and urged them to prioritize the completion of outstanding bills as the current legislative session nears its close. He noted that the defection aligns with a broader political realignment in the state and a strategic move to cooperate more effectively with the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.

“The mass defection of PDP lawmakers, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to the APC is in the best interest of the state and its people,” Guwor stated.

He explained that the decision followed a series of consultations held on April 23 and culminated in an official reception of defectors at the Government House and the Cenotaph on April 28, 2025.

“We are fully committed to partnering with the Federal Government to deliver improved development outcomes for Deltans,” he said. “We commend Governor Oborevwori for his bold and strategic leadership, and as a legislative body, we fully support his decision.”

The Speaker confirmed receipt of 22 letters—his own included—formally notifying the House of their change in party affiliation. He attributed the move to internal crises within the PDP, particularly at the national level and within the South-South zonal structure, which he said led to factionalism and disunity.

Citing constitutional backing from Section 109(1)(g), Guwor affirmed the legitimacy of the defections, stating, “With this development, the Delta State House of Assembly is now entirely composed of members from the APC. We thank our constituents for supporting this progressive direction.”

A motion to adopt the change of party affiliation letters was moved by Majority Leader Hon. Emeka Nwaobi and seconded by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, who represents Isoko South II.

Speaking with journalists after the plenary, Hon. Nwaobi reiterated that the defections were driven by the instability and leadership struggles within the PDP. He emphasized that the lawmakers’ choice to join the APC was constitutionally sound and driven by a shared commitment to stability and effective governance.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday released the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing a troubling trend: over 1.5 million of the 1.9 million candidates scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks.

The UTME, Nigeria’s university entrance exam, assesses students in four subjects, each scored over 100. The results show a widespread decline in performance:

50.29% (983,187 candidates) scored between 160 and 199

24.97% (488,197 candidates) scored between 140 and 159

2.94% (57,419 candidates) scored between 120 and 139

High scorers were few and far between:

Only 0.24% (4,756 candidates) scored 320 and above

0.39% (7,658 candidates) scored between 300 and 319

A total of 12,414 candidates (0.63%) scored 300 and above

Meanwhile, 73,441 candidates (3.76%) scored between 250 and 299, while 334,560 (17.11%) fell within the 200–249 range—generally considered the minimum for competitive university admission.

The board also noted that 40,247 underage candidates participated in the exam, but only 467 (1.16%) demonstrated “exceptional ability.” Their full evaluation is still ongoing, as they must complete three more stages.

Operational challenges also marred the exam. JAMB reported:

97 candidates were caught in exam malpractices

2,157 others are under investigation for various infractions

71,701 registered candidates were absent, though no reasons were provided

These results have intensified scrutiny of Nigeria’s education system, with growing calls for urgent reforms to improve teaching quality, exam integrity, and student preparedness nationwide.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has expressed its full support for Operation Safe Corridor (OSC), a Federal Government initiative focused on the deradicalisation and reintegration of former insurgents, particularly those linked to Boko Haram.

In a statement released on Friday, NOA Director-General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu voiced the agency’s commitment during a courtesy visit by an OSC delegation to the NOA headquarters in Abuja.

Issa-Onilu urged Nigerians to reconsider their views on the programme, emphasizing its critical role in ensuring long-term peace and strengthening national security.

Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, the OSC Coordinator who led the delegation, provided an overview of the programme’s phased approach—covering screening, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former combatants. He appealed for NOA’s collaboration in reshaping public perception and communicating the initiative’s true purpose and impact.

Issa-Onilu admitted he was initially skeptical about the programme but later came to understand that many of the participants were not ideologically driven insurgents. Instead, they were often victims—abducted, coerced, or manipulated amid the protracted insurgency in the North-East.