Politics
Sekibo Begins Re-election Campaign… Opposition Parties Set For Jan 5 Poll
Senator George Thompson Sekibo, has re-affirmed his determination to ensure the effective representation of the people of Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Senator Sekibo, who spoke while addressing the people of Ikwerre, Emohua, Omuma and Etche Local Government Councils respectively during his re-election campaign, was optimistic that his re-election was a formality due to the peoples’ trust in him and in the Peoples Democratic Party.
He regretted that he was campaigning for the second time in one year, saying that it was due to the mistake of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, this yuletide would have been a time of merry-making especially time to deliver part of his electoral promises to the people.
Describing the PDP as the largest party in Africa, he said the party will continue to win elections both in the state and in the country due to the crop of politicians it is always featuring in elections.
“I am here to ask for your votes again. You have done it before, I know you will do it again. Let me tell you, the election was annulled due to a mistake by INEC. But I know that with you victory is sure” he said.
In Ikwerre Local Government where the campaign was flagged off, Elder Chidi Wihioka and others assured the Senator of their readiness to re-elect him on January 5, 2012.
Wihioka, described Senator Sekibo as an erudite scholar, said he will receive over 90 per cent of the votes from the local government because the Ikwerres are solidly behind him.
In their separate speeches, Hons. Allen Nma, John Anucha, and Regionald Ukwuoma chairmen of Emohua, Omuma and Etche Local Councils respectively, expressed satisfaction over Sekibo’s leadership and promised to vote him back to the senate to enable him complete the work he has started in the senatorial district.
They maintained that Sekibo who until the annulment of the election was the chairman of the Committee Defence and Army remains the only candidate due to his grassroots’ relationship with the people.
Meanwhile, the PDP chairman in Rivers State Chief Godspower U. Ake, has said that his leadership will continue to bring glory to the state.
Ake also promised a bumper package across party members, adding that the re-election of Senaotr Sekibo is another test of t heir loyalty and support for the party.
Highlight of the event was the declaration of eight opposition parties (Labor Party, CPC and others) to work with Senator Sekibo.
Meanwhile, opposition Parties in Rivers State have said they are ready for the National Assembly re-run election slated for January 5.
The political parties who presented candidates for the election indicated their interest in a meeting called by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently, urged the Electoral body to provide a level playing ground for all parties.
The political parties chairmen and secretaries who also came with their candidates to the meeting appealed to the security agencies to provide security both for the electorates and adhoc workers to ensure a free and fair election.
Speaking at the occasion, the Rivers East Senatorial candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Rev Chizi Micheal Atata, says he will not return to the tribunal even if he loses the re-run election of the senatorial district slated January 5th, 2012.
He urged the security agencies to also assist INEC to conduct a free and fair election that would be accepted by all in the senatorial district and the state at large; stating that he will maintain his earlier promise not to contest the outcome of the re-run in the court.
He commended the INEC for calling the meeting and noted that his party, Action Alliance (AA) was prepared for the election even though the time given was short.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Elder Aniedi Ikoiwoak had said the meeting was called to inform the political parities and other stakeholders about the re-run election which has been slated for January 5.
The REC also reminded the parties that the election was nullified not because of its credibility, but due to exclusion of logo.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police Rivers State, Mr Suleman Abbe said the police would ensure that it would not only protect lives and propertied, but would ensure that the areas where the elections would be held enjoy ultimate peace.
Princess Amadi/Ike Wigodo
Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.
“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”
The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.
“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.
“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.
“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”
Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.
He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”
He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.
“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”
Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.
“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.