Politics

‘Fakorede, Hasso Must Go’

Published

9 years ago

December 19, 2016

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

Politics

Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice

Published

23 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.

The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”

Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.

The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.

The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.

At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.

Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.

The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.

However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.

According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.

Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.

The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Politics

APC Resumes Electronic Membership Registration Nationwide

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the resumption of its electronic membership registration exercise across the country.

In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.

He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.

“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.

According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).

The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.

Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”

He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.

The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.

Politics

AKPABIO, DIRI, OBOREVWORI, OTHERS VOW TO REELECT TINUBU …AS GIADOM RETAINS APC ZONAL CHAIR

Published

3 days ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has declared that with the six South-South states now being controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the zone is set to return the highest votes cast for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He stated this in Asaba, Delta State, at the party’s zonal congress, noting that the coming together of the governors of the region in the APC was made possible by its zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom.

Senator Akpabio also praised the outgone zonal chieftains of the party, saying they worked hard for the unity of the party and the zone.

“Now that we are complete and focused, we will be the geo-political zone in Nigeria that will turn out the highest votes in 2027 for President Tinubu.

“In the last 46 years or so, our region had not produced a senate president. But under President Tinubu, the South-South region is recognised. We thank the president for giving the South-South a senate president”, he said.

In his speech, the Bayelsa State Governor, and Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Senator Douye Diri, described the APC adoption of the consensus option for electing its officials as the best way to foster unity and consolidation in the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He expressed satisfaction that politically, the South-South zone now speaks with one voice under the APC, stressing the need for the region to be part of the decision-making process at the national level.

The governor recalled that when he contested for the governorship in 2019, the delegate election process for primaries in the political parties made the exercise rancorous, saying

the slogan then was that without delegates, there will be no governor, but that that has since changed with the consensus mode.

“I like to align myself with the previous speakers on the unity of the South-South zone. In this region politically, the South-South now speaks with one voice. This is important because of the strategic nature of the zone.

“If you are not on the sharing table, in terms of decision-making process, you will be left behind. We need to be united that we will not allow petty divisions among us.

“Let us work together for the unity and protection of APC in the South-South and God willing, all our candidates will come out tops in the 2027 elections. There cannot be anything better than a united family.

“Let me congratulate President Bola Tinubu for his remarkable achievements so far. Political events such as elective congresses like this were usually filled with rancour and violence. But, today, we have adopted the consensus model to produce our party executives from the wards to the regional level”, Senator Diri said.

In their goodwill messages, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and others all spoke on unity of purpose to be able to re-elect the President for a second term.

Meanwhile, Chief Victor Giadom was returned as the party’s zonal chairman alongside seven other zonal executives of the party.

Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, moved the motion for the dissolution of the immediate past zonal executive of the party and was seconded by his Bayelsa State counterpart, Abraham Ingobere.

In his remarks, the reelected zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom, said the gathering of the six governors of the region, lawmakers, ministers and other major stakeholders was an indication of the zone’s commitment to return all APC candidates in next year’s poll.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa