Politics
Wike Passes No Confidence Vote On INEC
Last week, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, accused multinational companies operating in the Niger Delta region of contributing largely to the crisis situation in the region.
The Governor stated this Tuesday, when the leadership of Nigerian Bottling Company ( NBC ) paid a courtesy visit to the Governor in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Governor said by refusing to appoint indigenes of the region into management positions and execute meaningful deveopment projects under their Corporate Social Responsibility, (CSR) they fuel agitations by the people.
Wike urged management of the companies to step up their CSR projects and make people from the area occupy managerial positions, to make them have a sense of belonging.
He said it is unfair to relegate to the background people from the area where they exploit crude deposits and huge market potentials.
Wike particularly admonished a delegation from the telecommunications giant, MTN to grow above donating few computers to Rivers State schools and execute key projects as done in Lagos, in view of its huge profit margin in Rivers State.
The Governor played host to the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa.
The Governor had on last Tuesday, while hosting the Senate Committee on INEC, declared that he has no confidence in the ability of INEC to conduct a transparent, free and fair election in the 2019 general elections in the country.
In spite of claims by the commission, the Governor said he had not seen anything to convince him that INEC is ready and willing for a transparent election.
He however, noted that any attempt by the commission to subvert the wishes of the electorate would be resisted by the people.
The committee led by it’s chairman, Sen. Suleiman Nazif, said they were in the state as part of their over sight functions to assess INEC in terms of it’s staff and capacity building.
The aim , he said, is to ensure that the commission is in good form for the forthcoming general elections.
Another major event last week in Brick House was the arrival of the National Festival Torch in the states.
Wike who received the torch, Thursday, in Government House, noted sports festivals promote peace, unity, and friendship said Rivers State will always participate in events that enhance national unity and cohesion.
The Governor was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry- Banigo who officially received the torch from the South/South Zonal Coordinator, National Sports Commission, Sunny Obot.
Obot stated that the torch is a symbol of National unity which was lit by President Muhammadu Buhari, on October 1, 2017.
Also last week, Governor Wike resumed his award winning spree as he was enthroned as the Sports Governor of the Year, 2018.
The Nigerian Sports Award chose Wike ahead his Lagos and Delta States counterparts, Akinwumi Ambode and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa respectively.
At the award reception held st Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, the organisers noted that Wike tremendously improved sports through investment and promotion of sports activities.
Wike was commended for developing such facilities as Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, and ongoing Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt.
Recall that the Governor had bagged the prestigious Power Of Sports Award last year at the Conference of International Sports Press Association in Brussels, Belgium.
Another major event that took place last week in Government House, was the presentation of the final report of the Rivers State Golden Jubilee Committee at Government House by chairman of the committee, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.
The Governor, praised the committee for a job well done and announced that government has accepted a recommendation of the committee to establish a technical group to develope a working document to enhance growth of the state.
The Governor also presided over last week Rivers StatevExecutive Council Meeting held Wednesday in Government House.
On Friday, the Governor inspected ongoing projects in the state to ascertain their level of completions. Among the projects he inspected were the Judges quarters, Mile 1 Market, and the Rivers State Fruits and Garden Market.
By: Chris Oluoh.
Rt Hon. Abbas secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Rt Hon. Abbas.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Mallam Balarabe informed members that Rt Hon Abbas was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Rt Hon. Abbas as the party’s flag bearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Rt Hon Abbas would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his declaration, Rt Hon. Abbas expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
The incumbent Reps including Emily Inyang and Godwin Offionio, in separate interviews
protested the handling of the primaries conducted by the leadership of the party in the state, saying it was skewed against them.
The aspirants further described the primaries as a charade and an embarrassment to the state.
According to them, the House of Representatives primaries fell short of the provisions of both the Electoral Act as amended in 2026 and the party’s constitution.
They accused the leadership of the party in the state, backed by Governor Bassey Otu, of violating the party’s constitution in the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries across the state on Saturday.
Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, particularly expressed disappointment with the primary that allegedly disenfranchised registered members of the party in his constituency.
Hon. Offiono asserted that having failed to arrive at a consensus, the party leadership opted for a direct primary to decide the candidate for the 2027 election.
“But what I witnessed today was not only alarming, but quite disheartening that our electoral system have not shown any improvement, especially now that we have a man of God in the person of the governor as the leader of the party.
“How do you declare a result by 9:00am even when the electoral materials were yet to arrive at Yala.
“As an aspirant, I couldn’t even vote or see the materials for my own primary at my Okuku ward in Yala Local Government Area, where I come from. But no matter what happens I am still in the race and have not stepped down for anybody.
“The governor had all the time in the world to drive the process of consensus but he never did. As a representative, I cannot even see my governor. I called, no response. I sent text no reply. I am treated as an out cast,” he lamented.
In an emotion laden tone during a telephone interview, Hon. Offiono further said: “I could not believe that first term NASS members like me can be treated in this shoddy manner even when I don’t know my offence.
“I have been a loyal party man. I appeal to the governor to do the right thing, follow the Electoral Act and party constitution in electing representatives.”
Similarly, Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency said he still remained in the race and had not stepped down for anybody.
According to him, “If this shenanigan called primary is allowed to stand, it would affect the party’s fortune in the general elections.
“My appeal to the governor is to allow the people to decide. And if they so voted against me, I will rest and not fight over anything.
“There was no stakeholders meeting held to decide on anything before now, and someone can not be unilaterally imposed on us all in the name of compromised primary,” he stated.
A coalition of support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the disqualification of former presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, from the Rivers West Senatorial race ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a statement issued on Saturday morning in Abuja, described the action of the party’s screening committee as unjust and capable of worsening internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Bilal Galadima, and General Secretary, Hon. James Ogenyi, accused the party leadership in Rivers State of favouring politicians loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, while sidelining long-standing members of the APC.
The coalition alleged that only aspirants aligned with Chief Wike were cleared to contest for elective positions in the state.
“How can our party allow only one man who is not a member of our party to make decisions or dictate the direction of our party?”, the group queried.
The coalition specifically faulted the exclusion of Mr Jack-Rich, describing him as a loyal party member who had supported the APC for more than 13 years and previously contested the party’s presidential ticket.
It also questioned the alleged clearance of Chief Felix Obua, whom it described as a recent entrant into the party and an ally of Chief Wike.
“How can our party disqualify Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant who has been loyal and supported our party for the last 13 years, only for our party to choose Felix Obua, a Wike loyalist who only joined the party three months ago?”, the statement read.
The group warned that failure by the APC leadership and National Working Committee (NWC) to address the matter as it could weaken the party’s structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on party leaders to uphold internal democracy, reward loyalty and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
INEC TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AS POLITICAL PARTIES SUBMIT REGISTER
All 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”
He recalled that following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a statement issued on the 27th of March, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
Mr Haruna noted that political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added, “INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.”
The Commission restated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
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