News
INEC May Shift Bayelsa Guber Polls …Over MPPP Candidate’s Death …ACN Not Prepared For Elections –Scribe
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may postpone the Bayelsa governorship election fixed for February 11, 2012 over the death of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) candidate, Mr. Oduduogwu Ebakumotuebi.
The candidate died at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa on January 23 at the age of 56.
The party has, therefore, asked INEC to take note of Section 36 (1) of the Electoral Act which states, “If after the time of delivery of nomination paper and the commencement of poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief Electoral Commissioner shall being satisfied of the fact of death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election within 14 days.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA) said yesterday in Abuja that it had prepared well for the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa.
The party’s National Secretary, Chief Sam Onimisi, who made this known said the national secretariat of the party was liaising with the state chapter to ensure victory for the party at the poll.
According to him, the major preparations were being done at the state level, while the national headquarters of the party would provide logistics, strategies and guidelines based on the party’s manifesto.
“Honestly, the preparations are being done at the state level, only that we are supporting them with what we have in terms of finance and logistics.
“Because we want to make an impact in such a way that the people of Bayelsa will know that there is government in place,’’ he said.
The DPA scribe said if the party won the poll, it would focus on policies that centered on human development, especially job creation.
“ The DPA, if elected, would focus on areas of the economy that are more beneficial to Bayelsans because Bayelsa is a riverine state.
“ It is more endowed with aquatic potentials and it is an area where agricultural activities are primary sources of income and if properly harnessed, will boost the economy of that state.
Onimisi, however, said that the party would not field candidates in the Adamawa and Cross River governorship elections.
But he said the party had directed its chapters in the affected states to enter into alliance with any party that had similar principles with it, for the polls.
In a related development, the National Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Sen. Lawal Shuaibu, says the party is not prepared for the February governorship elections in four states of the federation.
Shuaibu who said this in Abuja yesterday, noted that the party alongside other political parties would not be able to participate in all the four elections in one month because the time-table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC was “too-tight”.
Our correspondent reports that the timetable for the governorship elections in the four states released by INEC recently, indicated that the Adamawa election will hold on February 4, Bayelsa on February11, Sokoto on February 18, while that of Cross River will hold on February 25.
The ACN scribe said that the compactness of the timetable would not give the parties enough time to file-in data and submit to INEC in time.
Shuaibu complained that INEC wanted to achieve within a month what used to take five months to complete.
He said that going by INEC’s timetable, there would not be enough time for candidates to hold far-reaching campaigns.
According to him, the party had been able to prepare for only the Adamawa election.
He said that INEC should have consulted all the stakeholders in the elections before taking a decision on the timing for the elections.
“Under normal circumstances, INEC was supposed to call political parties for meetings and that has been the tradition.
“But on this issue, we don’t know what informed their decision to take that type of unilateral decision without consulting the stakeholders.
“What happened to the rest of the elections? Why should they go and hold meetings and then announce that they have dates? No party is ready.’’
The party scribe, however, called on INEC to make out time to meet and discuss with major political party stakeholders to give room for ideas.
“The best way out is for INEC to call political parties because the main stakeholders are political parties. Let them sit down and discuss.
“Maybe the political parties have their own ideas. INEC cannot claim to enjoy monopoly of ideas particularly with regards to elections.’’
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor