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.
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.