Benue State Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, has defended his distribution of bread, popularly referred to as “Alia Bread,” and Action Bitters to members of the Idoma community, describing the gesture as a token of appreciation rather than a political stunt.

Ode spoke during a visit to the Living Faith Church in Otukpo, where he dismissed the controversy surrounding the distribution and urged critics to focus on issues affecting the welfare and security of the people.

According to the Deputy Governor, the bread was shared as a traditional gesture of goodwill to residents who came out to welcome him during his recent visit to Igumale.

“The controversy over whether I gave bread to the people is not an issue,” Ode said.

“When we were young, whenever our parents travelled or visitors came, what we looked forward to receiving was bread. It was a token which I took to the people who came to receive me. They were happy. They were dancing.”

Ode disclosed that he also distributed money to members of the crowd on the directive of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

“I gave them something else like money, which the Governor said I should give to them,” he added.

The Deputy Governor maintained that the gesture should not have generated public debate, adding that the government remained focused on addressing the challenges confronting the people.

“And so there is no controversy over that. At least it’s better than giving them wee wee,” he remarked.

Ode urged critics to concentrate on issues with direct implications for residents rather than what he described as mundane distractions.

“We want to talk about issues, not those mundane things. What is important is that we are embracing the challenges of the people. We are listening to them and we are trying to address those issues, those things that are of concern to them, because they voted us into office for their welfare and security, and that we are committed to do,” he said.

The Deputy Governor explained that his visit to the area was primarily to carry out Governor Alia’s directive to inspect the Igumale Cement Factory and Benue Burnt Bricks.

He said the inspection formed part of the state government’s efforts to revive the moribund industries, stimulate economic activities and create employment opportunities for residents.

Nollywood actress and African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate Doris Ogala has described herself as the “messiah” sent to rescue oppressed Abia women and residents, insisting that her emergence as governor in 2027 is already assured by God.

In a recent interview, Ogala challenged critics who dismiss her as “just a content creator” and “not serious,” asking why they appear afraid of her if their “hands are clean.”

“The fear of Doris Ogala is the beginning of wisdom. If your hands are clean, you have nothing to fear,” she said. “I hear people say ‘she is just a content creator,’ ‘she is not serious,’ so why are you afraid?”

Ogala claimed that the moment she obtained her nomination form, “all the oppressed, every Abia woman stood up and knew their messiah is here to rescue them.” She linked the reported panic among opponents to divine intervention that cannot be stopped.

“That is why you see everywhere helter-skelter; they are running up and down because they can’t stop God’s work. And come 2027, I will be the best governor,” she declared.

She painted a picture of widespread hardship under the current administration, stating that Abians are “tired and crying because we have oppressors leading us” and that many people are too scared to speak out.

Ogala alleged that shops were demolished in an exercise she claimed was orchestrated by the deputy governor. She said she gave affected persons ₦200 each. She further asserted that the poverty rate in Abia is higher than the national average.

On claims that Governor Alex Otti had cleared workers’ arrears, Ogala said she discovered upon returning to the state that the announcement was a “decoy.” According to her, the affected people told her they had been deceived and remain unpaid.

Ogala, who emerged as the AAC candidate earlier this year, is expected to challenge the incumbent Labour Party governor and other candidates in the 2027 election.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside a Federal High Court judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court held that the June 15 order issued by the high court was a nullity. It ruled that the trial court wrongly assumed jurisdiction over an incompetent suit filed by a non-juristic entity and that no valid case existed to justify the consequential order compelling INEC to withdraw recognition of the parties.

The panel, in a lead judgment delivered by Justice Abba Mohammed, found that the high court failed to properly evaluate evidence before it, including proof that the parties had won seats in previous elections. It also held that the trial judge acted in defiance of an earlier appellate order staying proceedings in the matter. The high court, the justices said, ought to have dismissed the case for want of both jurisdiction and merit.

As a result, the Court of Appeal restored the registration of the affected parties and declared that they remain duly registered. It allowed the separate appeals filed by the parties and awarded costs against the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), the body that initiated the suit.

The parties whose registration was restored are the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

On June 16, the appellate court had already ordered a stay of execution of the high court judgment and criticised the trial judge for disregarding judicial hierarchy. The panel berated Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja for disobeying its May 22 order directing him to stay proceedings pending the outcome of the parties’ appeals. Despite being notified of the stay order, Justice Lifu proceeded to deliver judgment. The Court of Appeal described his action as “a form of judicial impertinence,” recalling Supreme Court authority that a judge who conducts himself in that manner “is unfit for the bench, as the conduct amounts to judicial rascality.”

The high court had earlier directed INEC to deregister the five parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued existence and participation in future elections. It barred the commission from recognising the parties, accepting their candidate nominations or giving effect to their activities for the 2027 general elections. Justice Lifu also ordered the parties to stop presenting themselves as registered political parties, finding merit in the NFFL’s suit.

In the originating action marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, the NFFL asked the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional duty to remove parties that fail to satisfy the electoral performance thresholds in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC regulations. The plaintiffs argued that the five parties had persistently failed to meet the benchmarks, which include winning at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at national, state or local government level. They cited the parties’ poor performance in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, insisting that their continued recognition was unlawful and undermined the integrity of the electoral system.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who was also a defendant, supported the plaintiffs. He argued that the continued existence of the parties violated constitutional provisions and compromised electoral integrity, and that without court intervention INEC would remain in breach of its duty by retaining non-compliant parties.

Dissatisfied with the high court verdict, the affected parties and INEC appealed, leading to the Court of Appeal’s decision restoring their registration.