Politics
…Mourns Slain Police Officer, Others
The Independent
National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has pledged support to the Nigeria Police Force, even as it mourn the gruesome murder of DSP Alkali Mohammed and others who were victims of election violence in the Rivers State rerun election .
The Chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who stated this when he paid condolence visit to the Police over the death of some policemen at the just concluded Rivers state election rerun, said, “we have come to condole you and the entire Nigeria Police Force for the loss of your gallant officers in the course of the Rivers rerun elections through national service.
“It is with heavy heart that we wish to condole with you on the death of DSP Alkali Mohammed and Sergeant Peter Uchi that lost their lives in Rivers state. People often failed to realize that securing the environment for Nigerians comes with great risks and people pay with their lives to protect the environment to enable us conduct free and fair election.
“I would like on behalf of the commission to condole the NPF on this sad loss and as we speak, a national commissioner from the headquarters joined our resident commissioner in Minna and his adhoc staff to condole the families of the DSP and I assure you that in the case of the others who lost their lives, we shall participate fully in the burial ceremonies.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has assured INEC that the violence witnessed in Rivers will be the last as the police is working hard to proffer a permenent solution to cases of election violence in Nigeria.
According to him, “I believe the situation in Rivers has called on all of us and all agencies and the good citizens to say no to election violence. As a result of this incident, I’m sure you are aware that we have set up an investigation panel to look into this. And specifically on the allegation that you raised and I have decided that even in situations where we have our officers involved, we are going to hold them responsible, because the Police have their code of conduct in the covering of elections and any officers that goes out of his official callings to constitute himself to security will be held responsible for it.
I have constituted a 14 man panel to investigate the killings.
“The panel will be inaugurated tomorrow (today) and it will include specialists and professionals and we are getting support from CSOs and from outside the country. People who feel committed that Nigeria should have peaceful elections. They are offering support in audio analysis of some these audios that have become viral on Facebook and very soon they will be in the country to assist us on some of these audio recordings that we have.
“All this are steps taken to ensure that we get to the bottom of this election violence and by the grace of God, Rivers will be the last state that we are going to have this kind of experience. And it will never happen again.”
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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