Politics
Lawmaker Lauds Wike On CTC Appointment
The lawmaker representing Degema Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo has applauded Governor Nyesom Wike for appointing a person from Bille Kingdom as the Caretaker Committee Chairperson for Degema Local Government Area. Last Thursday, history was made as Mrs Okorite Carrie Adiele, from Bille Kingdom, was screened and confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly as the CTC Chairperson for Degema.
She also became the first female from the LGA to be considered for such exalted position.
Speaking to a large crowd of Delgans, who thronged his office after the screening, Farah Dagogo recalled that during campaigns for the 2015 general election and later reruns, he ( Farah Dagogo) assured the people of Bille that he would liaise with the governor ( if the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, emerged victorious ) to ensure the jinx of Bille not occupying the substantive or Caretaker position of Chairman in the LGA is broken.
He commended the governor for ‘ doing what is right and just in the LGA in terms of spread of political positions ‘. The Lawmaker who is also the House Committee Chairman on Education, said the recognition of Bille is testament that other communities yet to get their due political patronage will be considered in the scheme of things.
He pointed out that gone were the days when the ‘ so called bigger communities lord it over others ‘, adding that ‘ every community in Degema is a major stakeholder and equal partner that deserves a corresponding spoils of offices ‘.
“ I personally want to applaud the Governor of Rivers State, Chief ( Barr) Nyesom Wike, for this uncommon political will to appoint Mrs Okorite Carrie Adiele from Bille as the CTC Chairperson of our dear LGA. We all know the role Bille plays in the Revenue accruable to the Federal Government. The Bille Kingdom is a major oil producing area from Rivers State”.
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.