Politics
PDP Receives More Decampees From Rivers APC
It was like a canival of sort as hundreds of APC members from Obio/Akpor, Emohua, Etche and PH City Local Government Areas rejoined the PDP.
The reception for the decampees took place on Tuesday, at the Rumueme Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.
Speaking while receiving the decampees, Governor Nyesom Wike, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo urged Nigerians to vote out the APC-led government at the centre as the party does not have good intentions for the masses.
Governor Wike described the APC as a group of people who were hungry for power without the intention of making the nation great, noting that all the promises that the PDP-led government in the state made to the people had been fulfilled.
The State Chief Executive enjoined the people, particularly women to be ready to vote out the APC-led government which according to him, does not have any good intentions for them.
The Governor, who observed that the APC lacked internal democracy, opined that it is the reason it has been unable to conduct its congress.
“Look at their congress. Something as simple as congress, they could not conduct. See how PDP conducted its congress where everything went smoothly, Jeje, everything relayed live and everybody was happy, but this APC own, confusion, confusion, confusion. How can a party that cannot conduct a simple congress rule a nation”.
We thank God because their deceit has come to an end. Anyone that starts with deceit, one day that deceit must end. Today it has ended”, Governor Wike said.
He expressed delight that the level of development in Rivers State is unparalleled to the extent that even the blind can notice, saying that it is the same with other PDP-controlled states.
“Even a blind man will know that development in this state is unparalleled. It is not seen anywhere, and that is how development in all PDP states are.
“They are passionate about their people. They are all grassroots developers”.
He said, the state government is investing in critical infrastructure such as roads, hospitals and schools, in all local government areas across the state, maintaining that the special welfare package and enhanced salary being enjoyed by university lecturers in the state has made them not to join the ongoing nation-wide ASUU strike.
“You heard that ASUU is on strike, but Rivers State University is not on strike, why because the lecturers are well paid, they are being taken good care of. When we heard that Resident Doctors were on strike nation-wide for almost 2 months or more the ones in Rivers State were working, people were coming from neighbouring states to our state to receive health care.
“That is because we have a government that cares about the people, their education, their health and their infrastructure”.
The governor welcomed the returnees to the PDP and urged the various LGA party chairmen to properly integrate them into the scheme of things.
He used the occasion to congratule Rivers women on the occasion of the celebration of International Women’s Day , but regretted that the government in power at the centre has refused to recognise the role of women in nation- building, which explained why the five gender-related bills were rejected by the National Assembly.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, said that the returnees realised that they were deceived to join the APC and had decided to return to the PDP.
“The returnees have one message, they said they strayed into the APC because they were deceived.
They were told all sorts of things.
They were given hope. They were told that it will be one Naira to one Dollar.
They were told that women would be respected, they were told that the children would get better education, they were also told that there is going to be a Deep Sea Port at Bonny before 2023.
“They were equally told that there would be a railway line to Ubima by 2023 and finally they were told that they would get the Presidency in 2023, but they have just confirmed that they were all lies, and they have no other option than to run out of the house and go back to the PDP before it will collapse, which they did not know will collapse few days ago”.
The PDP chairman
while regreting that the government in power at the center had through the legislative arm decided to relegate women to the background and disrespect them, said Nigerian women had taken a decision not to support the APC again.
“The height of the deceit is what has happened today which is known all over the world as Women’s Day. And only one country in the world that has decided that women should be relegated to the background and women should no longer be respected.
“Nigerian women that remembered the Aba women’s riot, people like Margret Ekpo, and seeing themselves and how they have been relegated today, women have taken a decision in this county that never again will they support APC”.
The State PDP chairman who noted with nolstagic feelings that Nigerian children are at home today because people who could not produce their credentials during screening are at the helmes of affairs of the country, regretted that they have reneged on all the agreements reached with Asuu, disclosing that River State University was not on strike due to the fact that lecturers at the University are the highest paid among University lecturers in the county.
He disclosed that the State Government has given women their pride of place in the scheme of things , hinting that Rivers State is the only state to have a female Deputy Governor back to back, while the Vice chairmen of the 23 local government councils are women.
He told the returnees that PDP is a party with the largest umbrella which can accommodate every one, assuring them of equal opportunities in the scheme of things.
Ambassador Akawor who congratulated the returnees for their decision, informed that similar receiption would be held in Bori and Ahoada in few weeks time to receive those who are returning to the PDP in those Local government areas.
In their separate speeches, the returnees including the immediate past APC State
Treasurer and former ward 14 leader in Obio/Akpor, Owhor kinikanwo Friday, Sir Lord Nelson Wali, Former APC ward 3 leader, Obio/Akpor, Hon Christopher Obasiolu, former Director -General, Rivers State Water Services Regulatory Commission, Chief Solomon Chukwu, former Chairman, Task Force on Scrap Metal, Rivers State, Hon Princewill Ichemati Tobin, immediate past chairman APC, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Sir Kingdom Nwankwo from Etche among others spoke in unison that they were all deceived to join the APC.
In their solidarity speches, leaders from the four LGAs, including Frank Owhor of Obio/Akpor, Allwell Onyeso of Etche and Azubuike Mmerukini of Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas commended Governor Nyesom Wike for his unprecented level of development across the state and the decampees for toeing the path of honour.
The event which had the full complement of members of the State Exco of the PDP, including the Deputy chairman, Hon. Chukwuemeka Aaron, State Secretary, Dr. Benibo George, State women leader, Mrs Mariam Ogbonna, State Treasurer, Mrs Amadi and the State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Tambari Sydney Gbara among others, was also attended by other top Government functionaries, Council chairmen, political heavy weights and featured cultural dances from the various wards and LGAs.
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.