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Abe, Peterside, Others Hail Amaechi’s Victory

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12 years ago

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The people of Rivers State
have described last Friday’s Supreme Court Judgment in favour of Governor Chibuike Amaechi as a victory for democracy.
The Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe said the judgement by the Supreme Court is a victory for true Rivers people.
Addressing  journalists shortly after the judgement  that put an end to the move to remove Governor Amaechi, Abe said the judgement has shown that the governor cannot be removed unlawfully and illegally.
“I believe that any right thinking person will agree that it is time for us to put some of these things behind us.Since last year, there has been a concerted attempt to remove the governor from office and overthrow the Government of Rivers State by force and there is no provision in our constitution for that kind of behaviour.
“For us to turn Rivers State into a theatre of war because of the ambition of any single individual is morally, politically and spiritually wrong. We cannot kill ourselves here because of anybody’’,he said.
Also speaking to journalists, a member, representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency,Hon Dakuku Peterside said the Supreme Court’s judgement was an indication that the judiciary is truly the hope of a common man.
According to him, “We have always had confidence in the judiciary, that is why we have not resulted to violence. We have absolute confidence first in God ,and secondly in the institution of the Supreme Court to be able to do justice according to the law.
‘’It is not about emotion and sentiments, we are glad that the Supreme Court did not disappoint the people of Nigeria and that its actions have deepened democracy.”
The Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha said the Supreme Court judgment has ended speculations that Governor Chibuike Amaechi would be removed from office before the end of his tenure.
He said the Supreme Court’s verdict is a judgement that has sealed the move by detractors to unseat Governor Amaechi.
According to him, “My happiness is that it has ended the long speculations by failures who go around deceiving people that the governor would be unseated.
“With the judgement, the government will now sit down and concentrate on moving Rivers State to a greater height.”
The Board Chairman, Rivers State Sports Council, Charles Paul also hailed the judgement, describing it as a victory for democracy.
He assured that Amaechi will now settle down to take the people to the promised land.
‘’It is obvious that we are celebrating, it is a victory for democracy and victory for Rivers state. Others should come together to help Governor Amaechi build the State, the present government meant well for the State”, he said.
The Chairman of the Port Harcourt City Local Government ,Chimbiko Iche Akarolo said the Supreme Court’s judgment was not a surprise.
According to him,the Apeal Court can err, but the Supreme Court can not joke with the facts on ground.
He said it was clear before now that Omehia was a pretender and “for a pretender to come back and say he was interested in a suit that has to do with the elongation of tenure is slapping the Supreme Court in the face.”
The Obio/Akpor Peoples Forum, through its chairman, Mr Alex Chukwu also joined the people of the State to commend the judgment, just as the chairman of  RIVLEAF,  Alex Wele said the judiciary has again raised the hope of Rivers people, urging the people to join hands with the government to develop the State.

People queuing to register as APC members at Lere North Ward in Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State, last Friday. Photo: NAN

People queuing to register as APC members at Lere North Ward in Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State, last Friday. Photo: NAN

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LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction

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2 weeks ago

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March 2, 2026

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A former National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Clement Ojukwu, has expressed regret that the several legal cases brought against the party since the 2023 general elections have impacted the party’s performance.

Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.

“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”

The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.

“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.

“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.

“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”

Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.

He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”

He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.

“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”

Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.

“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.

 

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2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE 

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2 weeks ago

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March 2, 2026

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A number of Nigerians have strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its directive to all political parties in the country to submit digitalized membership register within 32 days.
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following it’s reversed timetable, directed all political parties in the country to submit their digitalized membership registers within 32 days.
Speaking on the reversed timetable in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, respondents said the directive amounted to disqualifying opposition political parties from fielding candidates in all the elections next year.
They said if the directives by the commission is implemented, only the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate in the elections since it started it’s digital membership registration since February, last year.
Responding, an elder statesman in Rivers State, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, said the revised timetable was okay, but the timeframe for submission of digital membership register was being made at the wrong time.
Chief Chukumele said, for the past two years, all opposition political parties have been battling various issues in court, adding that they did not have the time to embark on membership drive, talk less of digitalizing their membership registers.
“My reaction is that the only issue with this revised timetable is the timeframe given by INEC for parties to submit digitalize memberships register in all the states of the federation, while giving notice of Congresses and convention. That is not possible”, he said.
He said only the ruling APC is likely to meet up with the directive, since it began its registration since last year.
Chief Chukumele, who is also the National Coordinator of Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), alleged that the directive of the electoral body may have been targeted to prevent other parties from fielding candidates for the elections next year.
“When you say all the parties should submit digitalized registers of membership in 32 days, how will that be possible to conclude it in 32 days”, he queried.
He noted that “APC used one year ago to do, so APC has one year in the kitty plus 30 days. This is highly regrettable”.
The CORSLOT national leader urged the election umpire to do away with stringent conditions that will make it hard for opposition political parties to field candidates in the elections.
Also speaking, Mr Jacob Enware from Edo State queried the rationale behind the directive, especially when some opposition political parties are still having cases in court.
In his words, ”What opposition political parties are you talking about, is Labour Party not  in court or PDP that is yet to resolve their issues?
”For me, INEC should provide a level playing field for all, because aside the APC, no party can meet up this criteria.”
In his own response, Mr Nathaniel Ebere said he was not prepared to vote for anybody whether INEC provides a level playing field or not.
He alleged that his vote would not count, “so I will not waste my time”.
By: John Bibor
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IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI

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2 weeks ago

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March 2, 2026

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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has expressed reservations about the political stance of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while calling for reconciliation among key party figures.
Otunba Sowunmi made the remarks during a television interview on Saturday, when asked about the relationship between Gov. Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.
He said, “I don’t believe Seyi Makinde. Because I know them all. I’ve been in this party since it was registered. And I’ve been loyal, faithful, diligent with this party from the get-go, and I’ve never left.”
He underscored his longstanding commitment to the PDP, referencing prominent figures who had exited the party at different times: “I’ve had the grace, and the honor, and the dignity of watching even my father, Obasanjo, shed his card. As much as I love him, I didn’t leave the party”.
He added, “I’ve had the privilege of watching my beloved senior brother, Governor Gbenga Daniel, leave the party a few times. As much as I respect his vision and his ideas, I’ve never left. I’ve watched my former principal, Atiku Abubakar, leave a few times. I’ve never left.”
Otunba Sowunmi stressed that his comments were rooted in deep involvement with the party: “So when I talk about PDP, I’m not talking as an outsider, I’m talking as one of their totems, who was actually carrying them.”
He disclosed that he wrote to Makinde during the governor’s last birthday, urging reconciliation among a bloc of five governors who had formed a movement during the 2023 elections.
“At Governor Seyi Makinde’s last birthday, I wrote him a letter where I tried to say, look, you guys, the five of you, succeeded to the extent of creating a movement of your own”, he said.
He added, “And you fought very hard to make a point in the 2023 election. Although I don’t believe you won the election for the president, that’s a lie. They contributed, but I hate when people take the glory of other people’s work.”
Otunba Sowunmi warned that unresolved differences among the group could weaken the party: “You guys, you must go back to your four friends, your five friends, and you guys go and sort it out. Because not sorting it out with your five friends is going to leave the party worse off.”
He added, “But now that you’re fighting, or you’re not agreeing with yourselves, why don’t you go back to that same energy that allowed you to agree, so that you can use that energy inside to agree, and then we can lead the party.”
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