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Rerun: Rivers Decides, ’Morrow …Amidst Huge Armed Security …INEC Shares Sensitive Materials
All is now set for the conduct of the rerun elections into the remaining legislative seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the three Senatorial seats at the National Assembly tomorrow.
Consequently, all participating political parties and their respective candidates for the various elective positions have concluded campaigns to canvass for votes from Rivers electorate.
Already, the electorate across the affected local government areas and communities have been sensitised and mobilised to freely exercise their franchise on Saturday.
On their part, the police and other security agencies detailed for election duties have been adequately mobilised and fired up to provide the much needed security and protection to all participants in the electoral process without fear or favour.
Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has concluded arrangements for the exercise which has been postponed several times this year after the botched March 19 attempt.
The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC),says all plans for the conclusion of the outstanding March 19th re run elections in Rivers State have been concluded as materials for the elections were distributed yesterday, Thursday.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC),Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak who stated this on Wednesday, during a stakeholders forum in Port Harcourt, stated that the rerun elections will be held in the three senatorial districts, Rivers East, Rivers South East and Rivers West and Eight Federal constituencies seats, Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo, Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny/Degema,Akuku-Toru/Asari Toru,Khana/Gokana, Ikwerre/Emohua,Etche/Omuma and Okrika/Ogu.
Elder Ikoiwak also explained that elections would be conducted in ten state constituency seats, comprising Andoni, Asari Toru 1,Asari Toru 11,Bonny,Degema,Eleme,Etche 11,Gokana,Ikwerre and Khana 11, adding that the elections will cut across the 23 local Government Areas and that all the three election types will hold in every polling unit.
The REC noted that Card Reader will be used during the elections as it has been deployed to the local government areas, explaining that the modified voting procedure which involves simultaneous accreditation and voting will be also used.
He further explained that the commission in a bid to ensure a credible and fair rerun election had embarked on various activities such as stock taking/distribution of non sensitive materials, reactivation of registration area centres, sensitization of stakeholders, and peace meetings.
According to him,’’ the commission also recruited ad hoc personnel, trained, received and distributed sensitive materials and had several meetings with the inter-Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to fine tune plans and to ensure that adequate security is provided for corps members, other election officials, electorates and election materials.
Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s rerun election in Rivers State, pro-democracy and good governance group, the Wailing Wailers, has urged chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, particularly the National Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State to stop making inciting statements capable of sparking violence in the state. APC rally in Rivers State.
The group, said the call became necessary, following what it described as inciting statements made by Oyegun and Ganduje, at the Mega Rally of the APC in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
The Wailing Wailers in a statement yesterday, in Abuja by its Ag. National Publicity Secretary, Usman Abubakar said: “our attention has been drawn to the inciting statement credited to the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Odigie Oyegun and the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, which has been reconfirmed.
“The statements, which they both made at the APC rallyyesterday, in the run down to the Rivers rerun, reads: “‘If they push you, push them back. If they slap you, slap them back” “As you can see, we came in force. The whole federal might is here”- Odigie Oyegun, APC National Chairman.
“‘If they shoot at you, take cover and shoot them back’-Gov. Ganduje, Kano State. “We are wondering, at what point did election become arm conflict or war in Nigeria? These dangerous and inciting statements by the Chairman of APC and Kano State Governor, must be condemned by Mr President.
If this statement is not condemned by President Buhari, it then means that APC has a plot to set Nigeria on fire. “Elections have been so peaceful, free and fair until APC took over power, and ripped the electorate their power to freely choose who they want to govern them. Since then, elections have become a do or die affair with the APC.
This is sad, we are also aware that all these are preparations to test ground for 2019. “If Oyegun and Ganduje are responsible people who love Nigeria above any selfish political interest, and also willing to lay a good foundation for the youths and incoming generation to follow, they should be working round the clock on how to ensure that Nigeria get out of the present economic doldrums their party has brought upon Nigeria.
They should not be in Rivers to brag about Federal might or to intimidate, induce voters and also incite violence. “We condemn in strong terms the statements and demand that the duo of APC National Chairman and Ganduje who left all the way from Kano state to incite violence in Rivers State, to tender an apology to Nigerians.
“We call on all Riverians to shun and not mind Oyegun and Ganduje call for violence, if you allow them to set your state on fire, they will not take part or bear the consequences with you. We therefore warn the violence promoters to desist from such acts and call for a peaceful election.”
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Rivers Capable Of Delivering Massive Votes For Tinubu, Chinda, Others -Fubara …Charges APC, Rainbow Coalition To Embrace Team Work
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the State is capable of delivering massive votes for President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda and other candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 general elections.
Fubara, who stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Port Harcourt, said the surest path to victory is for the members of the Presidential Campaign Council drawn from the APC and the Rainbow Coalition to embrace the spirit of teamwork.
He said what the state was witnessing in the current political season is a repeat of the successful mobilization done in 2022 and 2023, when a large campaign council worked in unity to deliver victory for him and for President Tinubu.
He added that the present council is bigger, wider and better coordinated and should therefore achieve even better results.
He noted that the beauty of the new council is the fact that some persons who were in the opposition camp during the previous elections are now part of the team, saying their inclusion has made the task easier, provided everyone works as one team and with sincerity of purpose.
The governor thanked the Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council for Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other leaders who worked tirelessly to bring the council to fruition, stressing that nothing is impossible especially when people work together for a common purpose.
He expressed optimism that with seriousness and commitment, the state would record a higher number of votes than it recorded in 2023.
Fubara, while congratulating members who made the list, appealed to those whose names were omitted not to be discouraged, as there are still sub-committees to be constituted and the list can still be updated, even as he warned against double loyalty.
He said the state has gone past the stage of division and is now looking to the future and what God holds for Rivers people, expressing confidence that with the strategy already put in place, the APC and the Rainbow Coalition would come out victorious in 2027.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Coordinator of the Campaign Council, Chief Nyesom Wike, while inaugurating the Council, lauded Fubara for finding time to attend the ceremony and other engagements of the Council in spite of his busy schedules.
Wike, who is also the National Leader of the PDP/ Rainbow Coalition, reminded members of the Council that they were chosen based on their capacity to participate in the activities of the group and deliver positive results.
He charged them to work hard to win votes for the candidates of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition for the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly as well as State House of Assembly elections next year.
He disclosed that apart from the Presidential Campaign Council and its sub-committees, the Local Government Campaign Councils will soon be inaugurated to ensure better coverage of the grassroots during the current campaign season.
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RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
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APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow
Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.
This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.
The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.
The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.
President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.
The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.
The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.
The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.
Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.
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