Politics
‘Fakorede, Hasso Must Go’
With rerun elections come and gone, Government
House was suffused with post rerun election matters last week following complicity by the security agencies, who were allegedly caught on video assisting the opposition to rig rerun elections in the state.
Recall that the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike had weeks before the elections warned that the ploy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was to use security agencies to manipulate the elections in their favour since they were not on ground. And last weeks rerun elections have vindicated the governor.
Against this backdrop, the governor and some party faithful, including chieftains of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) last Monday, marched through roads and streets of the Old Government Reserved Area (GRA) to protest the deliberate delay by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce the results of senatorial elections for Rivers East and West Districts.
The protest last Monday had compelled INEC to release the results shortly after indicating that Senator George Sekibo and Osinachukwu Ideozu were winners of the elections. Last Tuesday was fully engaged with the birthday celebrations of the governor. Activities to mark the special day for Chief Wike began in the morning around 8.00am when the state first lady, Justice Eberechi Suzette Wike sounded a shofar-a kind of horn trumpet to herald the birthday of her husband.
With the Shofar blown by Justice Suzette-Wike, a small gathering of friends and well wishers of the governor gathered at the governor’s official residence for special prayers and merry making with the state’s first citizen. The ceremony was short and modest.
Later on Tuesday afternoon, the governor took time to visit sites of ongoing projects in the state, which include the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park.
Last Wednesday started with some meetings and spill over Chief Wike’s birthday. But later in the day the governor made a special broadcast to the people of Rivers State. He thanked them for the support given during the elections and for remaining peaceful in the face of provocation and oppression by federal forces.
The governor, during the broadcast, disclosed that the rigging play of the APC was well hatched in collusion with governors of Bauchi, Benue, Plateau and Kano doling out the sum of N1 billion each. Chief Wike thanked God that the plan failed woefully, even though the APC forcibly announced results in their favour in few areas.
Last Thursday, the governor, his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo and top PDP chieftains, which include Chief Abiye Sekibo and Sir Celestine Omehia led a protest to the State Police headquarters at Moscow Road to make official request to remove some partisan police officers and other officials who were caught manipulating elections.
Chief Wike specifically singled out one Mr Fakorede and Hassan Hasso among top police officers who compromised their constitutional duty during last week’s re-run elections and pleaded that they be posted out of the state. The governor also used the protest to express the displeasure of the people over participation and action of security men during the elections.
The state deputy governor, Dr Harry-Banigo spoke at the “Kalabari Day of Thanksgiving on Thursday and lauded the organizers for recognizing God and acknowledging His mercies to them during the year.
The state governor, Chief Wike played host to some national and international, media on Friday and he took them round project sites which include, Government House Phase II, Woji/Akpajo Bridge, the pleasure park and the Elelenwo-Akpajo road expansion.
The journalists spoke glowingly of the state governor for beating the recession and transforming the state. On the evening of last Friday, the governor and state dignitaries participated in the state Christmas carol at Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
Last Saturday, the governor and the team of journalists continued the project tour which took them to the new Federal High Court complex Rumuokwuta Girls School, Tam David West Boularand Sakpenwa Road.
Kevin Nengia
The event, jointly organised by LP and ADC to publicly acknowledge the movement of party members, was first scheduled to hold at the LP secretariat in Idimu.
However, chaos erupted when more than 100 suspected thugs reportedly stormed the premises, forcing party members and officials to flee.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some armed with knives, canes and other dangerous objects, assaulted individuals they encountered during the invasion.
The assailants were also heard chanting hostile slogans, declaring that LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.
Several party members sustained injuries in the process, while party property, including furniture and flags, were vandalised.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue, the Eco Centre Event Hall in Egbeda, in a bid to continue the ceremony.
Speaking on the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olanrewaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and alarming, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” he said.
Mr Olushola clarified that the defection itself had already taken place, stressing that Saturday’s gathering was merely a symbolic ceremony to inform the public of their decision.
According to him, nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the party’s leadership structure, had collectively agreed to move to the ADC.
Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, explained that plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police, who cited the absence of formal approval.
He said the organisers had reached out to the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who reportedly informed them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in the state.
“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP, but we informed the DSS, after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony,” Mr Akujuobi said.
He added that the situation became more tense upon arrival at the initial venue.
“When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed policemen. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.
“While we were at it, the hoodlums besieged the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue,” he explained.
Mr Akujuobi said party officials subsequently contacted members by phone to proceed to the second venue in Egbeda, where the programme resumed briefly.
“We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event Centre, and everyone witnessed what took place here.
“The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again,” he added.
He noted that the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party and protracted legal disputes affecting the party.
Shortly after the hoodlums vacated the second venue, several police vans carrying armed officers reportedly arrived at the location.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
In A Statement Issued On Saturday, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, The Factional Spokesperson, Described The Decision Of The Electoral Body As Strange.
Mr Ifoh Also Said The Sacked Factional Leadership Of The Party Will Protest The Action Of INEC.
Stating That Judgment Of The Court And The Decision Of INEC Will Not Stop Its Members From Putting Up A Strong Appearance In The Forthcoming 2027 General Election, Mr Ifoh Noted Legal Redress Would Be Sought By LP.
He Said, “Some Persons Who Are Applauding The Impunity By Some Politicians Should Retrace And Do Some Introspection, Because This Was How In The Past They Applauded Injustice In Our Democracy Because They Were Beneficiaries.
“At The End Of The Day, When Their Enthroned Leaders Began To Abuse Power, They Started Complaining.
“For Us In Labour Party, Our Faith Is Strong That The Appellate Court Will Do The Right Thing And Therefore We Advise Our Members To Remain Calm. We Will Continue With The Struggle To Take Our Party From The Godfather,” Mr Ifoh Said.
He Also Stated That The Labour Party Is A Party Formed On The Basis Of Social Democracy Where No One Man Is Permitted To Appoint Everybody.
According To Him, It Is Against The Party’s Principles For “One Man To Sit At A Place And Gather Everybody And Appoint Everybody From The National Working Committee To The State.
“That Is Impunity Of The Highest Order. This, I Believe, Negates The Principles Of The Party.
“If We Say There Is No Party Ideology In Nigeria, This Is How It Starts. We Are Very Sure That It Will Be Quashed On Appeal,” He Added.
Mr Ifoh Also Described The Celebration And Excitement Showcased By Senator Nenadi Usman And The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti As Temporary.
He Said Dr Otti, Senator Usman And Their Cohorts’ Names Which Were Already Listed On INEC’s Portal Will Be Short-Lived.
“It Is For A Short Time. Their Victory Is Pyrrhic And There Is Nothing To Celebrate Because Doomsday Is Closer Than They Will Imagine; Which I Believe Will Be Very Catastrophic For Them.
“Moreover, It Is Very Clear That The Appointment Of The Caretaker Committee Did Not Go Through The Normal Procedure. Proper Notice Was Not Given In Line With The Party Constitution And The Electoral Act,” He Said.
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