Politics

Wike Tasks Stakeholders On NAFEST 2018

Published

7 years ago

October 15, 2018

Activities in Government House, Port Harcourt, began on a celebration note last week, following the successful conduct of the PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt.
Winner of the primary and the party’s Presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar led a powerful delegation yesterday, right from the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, venue of the convention on a ‘ Thank You Visit’ to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike in Government House.
In Atiku Abubakar’s entourage were former Governor of Ogun state, Otumba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Peter Obi who was later chosen as the running mate to the Presidential flag bearer, PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus , Sen. Ben Murray Bruce, Sen. Sam Anyanwu, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Austin Opara, and Edo State Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih.
Atiku said: “ I came to personally congratulate the governor, the people and Government of Rivers State and also thank him for hosting a most successful convention.”
He lamented the hardship Nigerians were facing as a result of APC’s failed leadership and stressed the need for the country to chart a new direction.
Governor Wike, who congratulated Atiku on his emergence as the PDP presidential candidate, emphasised the need for all PDP leaders and well- meaning Nigerians to consider it a duty to form a united front to sack the failed APC government irrespective of party affiliation.
Wike said party leaders may have supported different aspirants during the primaries, but that with the emergence of a flag bearer, all hands must be on deck to ensure eventual victory of the party.
Another major event at the week under review was the unveiling of the mascot and theme song for the 2018 National Festival of Arts and Culture ( NAFEST ), Wednesday in Port Harcourt by Governor Wike.
At the event, which marked the beginning of the national ceremony, the governor declared that the ceremony is another platform for Nigerians to witness the rich culture and tradition of the state.
He stated that the festival would further emphasis that Rivers State is not only peaceful but the best destination for investment and tourism in the country and urged all stakeholders to work hard to make the festival a success.
Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike, last week charged widows not to allow their unfortunate circumstance destroy their future.
Making the charge, Friday at Governor Wike’s Widow Outreach Programme in Port Harcourt , she called on women to support fellow women and widows protect them from harmful societal practices.
The governor’s wife stressed the need for proper education of the girl-child to empower them face the challenges of life and pointed out that trained women have the capacity to withstand the pressures of widowhood.
She said the administration of Governor Wike will continue to fashion out ways of improving the living conditions of women and widows.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, described the governor as a caring administrator who believes in the welfare of women .
The deputy governor noted that the governor’s gender friendly posture could be seen from appointments into his cabinet and expansion of women political space which enabled them occupy the vice chairmanship positions in the 23 local government councils in the state.
She said the outreach programme would touch the lives of widows in the state.
On Saturday, youths of Emohua Local Government Area declared their support for the re-election of Governor Wike.
They made the declaration during the One Million Youths for New Rivers State Sensitisation Tour and Rally in the area.
Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr Emeka Woke thanked the youths for their strong faith in Governor Wike’s administration.
The Chief of Staff urged them to remain committed and ensure that their votes counts in the 2019 general election.

Chris Oluoh

Politics

LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction

Published

21 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A former National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Clement Ojukwu, has expressed regret that the several legal cases brought against the party since the 2023 general elections have impacted the party’s performance.

Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.

“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”

The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.

“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.

“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.

“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”

Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.

He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”

He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.

“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”

Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.

“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.

Politics

2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE

Published

21 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A number of Nigerians have strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its directive to all political parties in the country to submit digitalized membership register within 32 days.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following it’s reversed timetable, directed all political parties in the country to submit their digitalized membership registers within 32 days.

Speaking on the reversed timetable in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, respondents said the directive amounted to disqualifying opposition political parties from fielding candidates in all the elections next year.

They said if the directives by the commission is implemented, only the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate in the elections since it started it’s digital membership registration since February, last year.

Responding, an elder statesman in Rivers State, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, said the revised timetable was okay, but the timeframe for submission of digital membership register was being made at the wrong time.

Chief Chukumele said, for the past two years, all opposition political parties have been battling various issues in court, adding that they did not have the time to embark on membership drive, talk less of digitalizing their membership registers.

“My reaction is that the only issue with this revised timetable is the timeframe given by INEC for parties to submit digitalize memberships register in all the states of the federation, while giving notice of Congresses and convention. That is not possible”, he said.

He said only the ruling APC is likely to meet up with the directive, since it began its registration since last year.

Chief Chukumele, who is also the National Coordinator of Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), alleged that the directive of the electoral body may have been targeted to prevent other parties from fielding candidates for the elections next year.

“When you say all the parties should submit digitalized registers of membership in 32 days, how will that be possible to conclude it in 32 days”, he queried.

He noted that “APC used one year ago to do, so APC has one year in the kitty plus 30 days. This is highly regrettable”.

The CORSLOT national leader urged the election umpire to do away with stringent conditions that will make it hard for opposition political parties to field candidates in the elections.

Also speaking, Mr Jacob Enware from Edo State queried the rationale behind the directive, especially when some opposition political parties are still having cases in court.

In his words, ”What opposition political parties are you talking about, is Labour Party not in court or PDP that is yet to resolve their issues?

”For me, INEC should provide a level playing field for all, because aside the APC, no party can meet up this criteria.”

In his own response, Mr Nathaniel Ebere said he was not prepared to vote for anybody whether INEC provides a level playing field or not.

He alleged that his vote would not count, “so I will not waste my time”.

By: John Bibor

Politics

IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI

Published

21 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has expressed reservations about the political stance of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while calling for reconciliation among key party figures.

Otunba Sowunmi made the remarks during a television interview on Saturday, when asked about the relationship between Gov. Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

He said, “I don’t believe Seyi Makinde. Because I know them all. I’ve been in this party since it was registered. And I’ve been loyal, faithful, diligent with this party from the get-go, and I’ve never left.”

He underscored his longstanding commitment to the PDP, referencing prominent figures who had exited the party at different times: “I’ve had the grace, and the honor, and the dignity of watching even my father, Obasanjo, shed his card. As much as I love him, I didn’t leave the party”.

He added, “I’ve had the privilege of watching my beloved senior brother, Governor Gbenga Daniel, leave the party a few times. As much as I respect his vision and his ideas, I’ve never left. I’ve watched my former principal, Atiku Abubakar, leave a few times. I’ve never left.”

Otunba Sowunmi stressed that his comments were rooted in deep involvement with the party: “So when I talk about PDP, I’m not talking as an outsider, I’m talking as one of their totems, who was actually carrying them.”

He disclosed that he wrote to Makinde during the governor’s last birthday, urging reconciliation among a bloc of five governors who had formed a movement during the 2023 elections.

“At Governor Seyi Makinde’s last birthday, I wrote him a letter where I tried to say, look, you guys, the five of you, succeeded to the extent of creating a movement of your own”, he said.

He added, “And you fought very hard to make a point in the 2023 election. Although I don’t believe you won the election for the president, that’s a lie. They contributed, but I hate when people take the glory of other people’s work.”

Otunba Sowunmi warned that unresolved differences among the group could weaken the party: “You guys, you must go back to your four friends, your five friends, and you guys go and sort it out. Because not sorting it out with your five friends is going to leave the party worse off.”

He added, “But now that you’re fighting, or you’re not agreeing with yourselves, why don’t you go back to that same energy that allowed you to agree, so that you can use that energy inside to agree, and then we can lead the party.”