Politics
Wike Inaugurates Task Force On Street Trading
Last week, the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, inaugurated the State Government Taskforce on Street Trading, Illegal Market and Motor Parks, with the charge to the members to sanitise streets in Port Harcourt
The Governor, while inaugurating the Taskforce last Wednesday in the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Port Harcourt, said the ultimate aim is to return Port Harcourt city to its glorious Garden City status.
Wike lamented the negative impact of street trading, in spite of public markets built by the government within Port Harcourt city and its environs.
“When we build roads, before you know what is happening, the roads are taken over by street traders and illegal motor parks.
“The taskforce has the responsibility of cleaning up the streets and ensure that nobody trades on roads “, he stated.
The Governor said that the taskforce members were screened by the Department of State Services and the Police to ensure that cultists were not recruited.
He warned them against extorting offenders but to make arrest and charge them to mobile courts in each zones for prosecution.
According to the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, 20 taskforce members were recruited from each of the 23 local government areas summing up to 460. However some failed the security screening and would be replaced.
The Governor appointed Mr Bright Amaewhule as Special Assistant to the Governor and Coordinator, of the Taskforce.
Also last week, Governor Wike inaugurated a 25-man committee to organise the First 100 Days in office for hiovernments second term. It is headed by the Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo.
He charged the committee to work hard within the short period and organise a befitting event that the people of the state would be proud of.
The Governor further urged the committee to look at the numerous projects by his administration and select completed ones for commissioning and to also consider personalities across the country and select those to commission the projects.
Chairman of the committee and Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, thanked the Governor for reposing confidence in members and assured him that the committee would do its best to organise a befitting event.
Also last Tuesday, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, visited Governor Wike.
The Ambassador said the United States remains committed to supporting Nigeria as it works to reduce and ultimately eliminate the scorge of HIV/AIDS amongst her people.
Symington explained that the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) administered by the US Centre to Disease Control, US Dept of Defense and US Agency for International Development (USAID) is implementing an Anti-Retroviral Treatment surge programme in Rivers State to identify and provide treatment to approximately 180,000 Persons Living With HIV who have not previously received such.
He noted that US government $75 million budget increase for HIV control measures in Nigeria with about $25million allocated for ART would make people with the virus leave healthy and productive lives till the cure for the virus would be found. He commended Wike for his administration’s plan to eliminate User-fee for PLWH.
Wike commended US Government for partnering with Rivers State Government to fight HIV/AIDS and assured that his administration would continue to fund programmes aimed at reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
Wike noted that education and health are key interest of his administration.
Cult clashes that resulted in loss of lives and wanton destruction of property in some Ogoni communities attracted the attention of the state governor.
Wike led the State Security Services Commanders to some of the troubled communities to restore peace.
Chris Oluoh
Alhaji Mohammed Kasim, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Philip Akpeni, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Sunday morning.
Alhaji Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat Alhaji Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 17,788 votes.
Alhaji Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1, 687 to come in third place.
“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026,” Akpeni said.
“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, the APC candidate, was declared the winner of the chairmanship poll with 40,295 votes.
Andrew Abue, the Collation Officer for AMAC, said Hon. Maikalangu, who is the incumbent AMAC chairman, was returned elected having scored the highest number of votes cast.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.
According to Abue, the total number of valid votes in the chairmanship poll was 62,861, while the total votes cast stood at 65,197.
He added that the number of registered voters in AMAC was 837,338, while the total number of accredited voters was 65,676.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship election.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Bwari, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, stated that Ishaku polled a total of 18,466 votes to emerge victorious in the February 21, 2026 poll.
“I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Bwari chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026. That Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Nurudeen said.
According to the results declared, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 3,515 votes to place second and third respectively.
The declaration adds to the series of results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, as political parties assess their performance ahead of future contests.
INEC UPLOADS 2,602 OF 2,822 FCT CHAIRMANSHIP RESULTS ON IReV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had uploaded 2,602 out of the 2,822 expected polling unit results from Saturday’s chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at 5:55am on Sunday, data retrieved from its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed.
According to The Tide source, the figure represents an overall upload rate of about 92.2 per cent across the six area councils of the territory.
A council-by-council breakdown indicates that Municipal Area Council recorded the highest number of submissions in absolute terms, with 1,309 of 1,401 polling unit results uploaded, representing 93.43 per cent.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, 330 of the expected 338 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 97.63 per cent — the highest upload rate among the six councils.
In Bwari Area Council, INEC uploaded 463 of 485 polling unit results, translating to 95.46 per cent.
In Abaji Area Council, 129 of 135 polling unit results had been uploaded as at 5:55am, representing 95.56 per cent.
In Kwali Area Council, 164 of the expected 201 polling unit results were available on the portal, representing 81.59 per cent.
In Kuje Area Council, 207 of 262 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 79.01 per cent — the lowest rate among the six councils as at the time of review.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the swift assent as a clear demonstration of political will to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We see the decision by President Bola Tinubu to sign the reworked 2022 Electoral Act into law within a few hours of its passage as a demonstration of political will to ensure an improved electoral process which the new law envisages,” the group said.
The TMSG expressed confidence that the development would enable the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to quickly align its operations with the new provisions in preparation for the 2027 polls.
The group noted that the provision for electronic transmission of results had been contentious but described its codification in the law as a significant step forward.
“So, for the first time, the country’s electoral law would be recognising the use of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the result viewing portal, IREV, which were just INEC guidelines in 2023,” it stated.
According to the TMSG, although the Act provides for electronic transmission of results from polling units to the IREV portal, it also makes room for manual transmission of Form EC8A result sheets as a backup in the event of technological failure.
“Unlike some Nigerians, we do not see anything wrong with the fallback plan but we agree with the President that no matter how beautiful a process is with improved technology, the onus lies on the people manning it to show good faith and ensure that the votes of the people really count at the end of the day,” the statement added.
The group highlighted other key provisions in the amended law, including the streamlining of party primaries to either consensus or direct primaries, early release of funds to INEC, reinforced measures against over-voting, and stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as falsification of results.
It also pointed out that the mandatory notice period for elections has been reduced from 360 days to 300 days, giving INEC more flexibility in adjusting the timetable for the 2027 elections, especially where it may clash with Ramadan.
The TMSG further observed that the President’s decision to sign the bill days before the forthcoming Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) underscores his desire for the law to take immediate effect.
“And by signing the amendment bill a few days before the Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is obvious that the President is keen on ensuring that the 2026 Electoral Act takes immediate effect.
“Nigerians would also have an opportunity to see some of the key provisions of the new electoral law become operational, especially the electronic transmission of results,” it said.
The group expressed optimism that the current INEC leadership would leverage the new legal framework to deliver a more credible and widely acceptable electioneering process than in previous electoral cycles.
-
Maritime3 days ago
Nigeria To Pilot Regional Fishing Vessels Register In Gulf Of Guinea —Oyetola
-
Sports3 days agoGombe-Gara Rejects Chelle $130,000 monthly salary
-
Maritime3 days ago
Customs Declares War Against Narcotics Baron At Idiroko Border
-
Maritime3 days ago
NIMASA,NAF Boost Unmanned Aerial Surveillance For Maritime Security
-
Sports3 days agoTEAM RIVERS SET TO WIN 4×400 ” MORROW” …Wins Triple jump Silver
-
Sports3 days agoNPFL Drops To 91st In Global League Rankings
-
Maritime3 days ago
NIWA Collaborates ICPC TO Strengthen Integrity, Revenue
-
Sports3 days agoNPFL Impose Fines On Kwara United Over Fans Misconduct