Politics
‘AC Can Do Without Princewill’
The Rivers State Chairman of Action Congress (AC), Suage Badey finally took up the gauntlet by saying that the defection of Prince Tonye Princewill to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a blessing.
He made this known with other critical issues affecting the political landscape of the state during an exclusive interview on phone with The Tide on Sunday. He confirmed that the Action Congress (AC) has in recent times experienced massive defection of its prominent members including the party’s governorship candidate in the 2007 election, Prince Tonye Princewill with his supporters to the (PDP) in the state.
Mr Suage Badey said the defection of Prince Tonye Princewill to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was a blessing and natural, stating that people should be allowed to defect to parties of their choice.
Mr Badey stated that AC in Rivers State was united and strong to face the challenges of 2011 elections in the state, adding “it is mere speculations that Action Congress as a registered political party is weak in Rivers State rather defection should be better viewed that an individual can move to any political party of his choice”. He further stressed that such individual movement would not negatively affect the electoral fortune of the party.
The Action Congress chairman emphasised that defection would not be an issue because dynamism and changes remained constant in human life, and therefore, to him “the defection of Prince Tonye Princewill is a good omen for the Action Congress to actually reorganise and reposition itself to face the challenges of good governance and internal democracy within the party.
Mr Suage Badey said that Action Congress remains resolute as the only party out to deliver good governance, accountability, transparency and implement people oriented policies for Rivers people and Nigerians, stressing that “the mere fact that Action Congress is a registered political party means the party is also governing the people of Nigeria.
On the issue of state creation, especially creating another state out of the present Rivers State, Mr. Suage Badey added that the Action Congress believes that Rivers State is ripe for an additional state to be created out of the present conglormerate of ethnic groups called Rivers State.
He said, “I support the agitation for another state out of the present Rivers State be it Bori State or Orashi State, but the obvious is Bori State because of the margnalisation of the people and the devastation of the environment”.
He further added that the Action Congress leadership will support the creation of a viable state that can economically sustain itself, not state created to satisfy a particular political unit without economic sustainability and resources.
The Action Congress chieftain added that Nigeria should emulate how states are administered in other countries before any consideration of states creation, saying that “states are better administered in South Africa and Ghana and I expect Nigeria to learn one or two lessons from these countries before creating any state in the future”.
Action Congress believes in purposeful, result oriented and transparent leadership with a clear vision of expanding the infrastructure for the social welfare and security of the people and not leadership that sees state creation as an opportunity of bringing state resources closer to them for mismanagement and self aggrandisement.
On the issue of 2011 general election, the Action Congress chairman added that the party was prepared to challenge the ruling party in the state with purposeful programme and policies to better the lives of Nigerians, he said AC is always prepared and remained committed to transparent leadership, people oriented politics to take Nigeria to economic sustenance among the comity of nations.
Mr. Badey appealed to Rivers people and the Nigerian electorate to be more proactive. “Nigerians must ensure that their rights are not trample upon, people should come out and ensure their votes count in determining their elected representatives and candidate.
On the issue of the new Electoral Law recently passed by the National Assembly, the Action Congress Chairman said that AC is yet to hold its NEC meeting to examine the Electoral law 2010 in relation to the forthcoming general elections and provision for emergence of candidates with the financial implication for campaigning during the elections.
“Therefore, I believe that more can be done to improve the Electoral Law and enhance democracy in Nigeria”.
Philip Okparaji
The Rivers contest is expected to draw heightened attention in the oil-rich state, as political actors position for influence in a district long regarded as strategic to the balance of power in Rivers State.
INEC disclosed that the by-elections will hold concurrently with the Ekiti State governorship election, underscoring what promises to be a politically charged day across several parts of the country.
Beyond Rivers, the electoral body listed other affected constituencies to include Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, Ondo South Senatorial District, and Enugu North Senatorial District.
The vacancies, according to INEC, arose from a combination of deaths, resignation, and other constitutional developments. In Nasarawa, the demise of Senator Godiya Akwashika has left a gap in a district considered a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In Enugu, the passing of Senator Okey Ezea has set the stage for a competitive race in the South-East.
Similarly, the Ondo South seat became vacant following the resignation of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who now serves as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, while the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa seat in Kano opened up after the death of Hon. Muhammad Danjuma Hassan.
Analysts say the Rivers South-East by-election, in particular, could reshape political alignments in the state, as parties jostle to fill the void left by Sen. Mpigi and consolidate their foothold ahead of future electoral contests.
Stakeholder from Bayelsa East Senatorial District, on Monday, endorsed the incumbent Senator representing them to run for a second term.
Leading the stakeholders, the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Special Adviser to Governor Douye Diri on Political Affairs (iii), Dr Iti Orugbani, said the reason for the endorsement was based on the federal lawmaker’s trajectory of good deeds and massive execution of projects across communities of the Senatorial district.
Dr Orugbani highlighted some of the projects to include landing jetties, telecommunication masts and town halls amongst others, noting that Sen. Agadaga’s performance has exceeded those of others who hitherto represented the oil rich area.
Bayelsa East Senatorial District comprises Ogbia, Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas of the State.
The Governor’s aide who called on the State’s Eastern political enclave to respect the 2022 new zoning agreement, which guaranteed second term for Senators from the District, stressed the need for political tolerance and peace in the forthcoming 2027 polls.
“In 2022 the leaders and stakeholders across party lines from Bayelsa East held a meeting and altered the old single term for Senators from the district’s agreement and signed that begining from 2023 any Senator emerging from the district must serve for a minimum of two terms.
“In 2023, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, then an incumbent Senator representing the Senatorial district under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was given a second term ticket by the party. Though he lost to the PDP.
“Now that the entire state is now APC and the District has an APC Senator in the person of Benson Agadaga from Ogbia LGA, why not also give him a second tenure?
“The stakeholders in 2022 changed the old political agreement because they saw that it wasn’t beneficial to the district any longer. And so, because it was Ogbia Local Government Area that started the old zoning arrangement by producing the first Senator in 1999, I want to plead that let Ogbia also begin the new two terms zoning agreement”, he said.
Also speaking, the duo of woman leader of a support group, ‘Agadema Women’, Mrs. Owadaba Jokori and the Information Officer of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, Comrade Ikio, stated that the incumbent Senator has done well for the district in the past three years that he has been in office.
They lauded the federal lawmaker for his infrastructure projects, especially the construction of landing jetties in select communities of the three local government areas of the district, commending stakeholders for supporting the lawmaker in his second term bid.
In his remarks, Senator Agadaga thanked the stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and the endorsements he has received lately from constituents and admirers across political parties.
The lawmaker noted that within the past three years that he has been Senator, he has delivered dividends of democracy to his constituents across the Senatorial District, emphasizing that the call for him to be senator from the Brass Senatorial District came to him as a surprise, noting that he accepted the clarion call when the clamour became so loud.
“I was Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, when various groups from the zone came calling on me to contest the 2023 Senatorial polls.
“Ever since winning the elections as a senator, I’ve continued to deliver on my mandate in both representation, lawmaking, oversight, project execution and support for constituents when called upon. And I shall continue to do more if elected for a second term”, the Senator said.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 15 as deadline for definite hearing in a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The judge on Monday shifted the hearing date following the absence of the plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, and his lawyer in court without any information.
Apart from the absence of the plaintiff, who is a legal practitioner, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, who are 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter, were also not in court.
Following the absence of the plaintiff and the two defendants, Chris Uche, SAN, representing Dr Jonathan, applied to the court to strike out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
Having joined issues with each other, Mr Uche said, the suit is liable for dismissal with a N5 million cost to be awarded against the plaintiff and payable to Dr Jonathan.
He argued that from all indications, the plaintiff has abandoned the suit and ran away upon sighting the preliminary objections raised against the suit, adding that the court is a busy place and not for unserious matters.
Justice Lifu, however, noted that there was no evidence of service of hearing notice on INEC and AGF to appear in court for the suit, adding that lack of service of hearing notice is fundamental.
The judge said rather than striking out the suit, he prefers to bend backward to accommodate the plaintiff and the two defendants for the last time.
While adjourning the matter to May 15, Justice Lifu ordered that hearing notice be served on the plaintiff and the 2nd and 3rd defendants who were not in court on Monday.
The plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, had filed the case seeking an order to restrain Dr Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as an aspirant for the 2027 election.
He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing or publishing Dr Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
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