Politics
Abe Blames Amaechi For Rivers APC Crisis
The Senator Representing Rivers South East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe has blamed the Minister of Transportation for the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
Abe also warned against disobeying the order of the Supreme Court, as any attempt in doing so will have dire consequences.
Abe, an APC governorship contender in the state spoke when he appeared as a guest on a live television programme monitored in Port Harcourt on Monday, was reacting to a recent statement by factional Chairman of the party, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree that the recent Supreme Court judgment on the state APC was a mere academic exercise.
He traced the crisis in the state APC to when members of the party were denied the opportunity to participate in the congresses of their party after they purchased tellers they were not issued forms and the process was hijacked.
“So party members went to court on that matter. And the party at the state level led by the Minister of Transportation (Rotimi Amaechi) decided to ignore the courts and indeed when the court gave an order asking them not to go ahead with the congresses at that time, they went on national television to announce that they will not obey the courts.
“So, that started a problem that judicially will be impossible to solve. Because the court now voided those first congresses, voided the second one and they continue to act with impunity as if those court judgements did not matter.
“Now, finally, the court has given judgment and set aside everything done as a result of that process that stood on nothing ab initio. And the Supreme Court in dealing with an interlocutory application that came out of that has reechoed the stand of the High Court in Port Harcourt that the APC in Rivers State on its present trajectory is on a suicide mission. So you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand”, he said.
On the statement credited to Flag-Amachree, senator Abe said the APC chieftain should be ignored since he was not a lawyer and may be oblivious of the consequence of making such a statement.
“Amachree is not a lawyer. But any serious Nigerian knows that any statement made by a panel of the Supreme Court is not a mere academic exercise. They have stated the position of the law. And any smart lawyer knows that if the Supreme Court has said that this is where they stand on this matter it is unlikely that even if you come with 50 appeals, they are going to change what they have declared publicly.
Dennis Naku
Politics
Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
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.
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.
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