Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the planned 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until the party complies with the statutory requirements of the party, the Constitution and the Electoral Act are met.

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party, the judge also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law as well as its guidelines and regulations.

The judge held that INEC is not entitled to give effect to the convention a party not done in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act and the guidelines/regulations of political parties.

The plaintiffs instituted the suit seeking to stop the planned November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention of PDP scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State where new National Officers are expected to be elected on the ground of breach of the party’s Constitution.

The nine defendants are, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party, Umar Bature, National Organizing Secretary of the party, National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi.

At least eight people have been confirmed dead following a multiple-truck collision on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Kara Bridge, outward Lagos, on Thursday morning.

The tragic accident, which occurred around the Berger axis, involved several heavy-duty trucks.

Eyewitnesses said one of the vehicles plunged into the Kara River, while two others collided and burst into flames, triggering panic and a major traffic gridlock on the ever-busy highway.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, swiftly moved to the scene to restore order and coordinate emergency response efforts.

Television footage from TVC News showed thick black smoke rising from the wreckage as firefighters and rescue personnel battled to contain the blaze and recover victims.

Confirming the incident in a statement via its official X handle, LASTMA said eight casualties were recorded in the crash.

“There’s a report of a multiple road crash involving a truck and a container-laden trailer that went up in flames. Another truck spilled its contents, cartons of biscuits, on the road, while a fourth vehicle, also a container-laden truck, ran into the barrier, causing its carrier to fall off the bridge into the river. Eight casualties have been confirmed,” the statement read.

The agency added that recovery operations were ongoing and urged motorists to exercise patience as efforts continued to clear the wreckage and reopen the affected lanes.

“Efforts are in top gear for the recovery and evacuation of the vehicles involved. There is a heavy traffic backlog on Ogunnusi Road and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. LASTMA officers and other emergency responders are on the ground managing the situation,” the statement added.

The collision caused severe traffic congestion across adjoining routes, with vehicular movement crawling from Berger through Ogunnusi Road and stretching further toward Mowe.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) have inaugurated a Joint Task Force on the Enforcement of Compulsory Third-Party motor insurance and the digitalisation of passenger manifest, according to a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).

The move, it was further revealed, is geared towards strengthening road safety management and promoting insurance compliance across Nigeria.

The inauguration ceremony, held on Tuesday, at the NAICOM Headquarters in Abuja, was jointly presided over by the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, mni, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin.

The strategic partnership marks a new era of inter-agency collaboration aimed at entrenching transparency, accountability, and efficiency within Nigeria’s road transport and insurance ecosystem. The initiative seeks to enforce compliance with third-party motor insurance, digitalise passenger manifests for enhanced safety and traceability, and integrate the FRSC and NAICOM databases to facilitate seamless information sharing and enforcement.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olusegun Omosehin, commended the FRSC for its visionary leadership and commitment to national safety and regulatory reforms. He noted that the collaboration would deliver far reaching benefits to Nigerians through effective enforcement, prompt compensation for crash victims, and robust public education on insurance obligations and consumer protection.

In his remarks, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, mni, reaffirmed the Corps’ readiness to support the initiative through technology-driven enforcement, data integration, and field operations. He described the partnership as “a model of institutional synergy that will not only reduce road crashes but also enhance the government’s capacity to provide immediate financial and medical assistance to crash victims.

The Corps Marshal further emphasised that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises digital transformation, inter agency cooperation, and inclusive development across all sectors of the economy.

By leveraging innovation and collaboration, the FRSC/NAICOM Joint Task Force is poised to drastically reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on Nigerian roads, enhance the welfare of road users, and promote a safer, more transparent, and accountable transport system nationwide.