Politics
Amaechi Urges Military To Remain Neutral
Political activities and celebration of Christmas on the political angle, the week began with the Save Rivers Movement rally attended by political heavy weights in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The likes of Rtd Major-General Buhari, Chief Tom Ikimi, Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande were at the Liberation Stadium last Mondayto commend the people of Rivers who have joined their governor into the APC.
Former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the state will not regret joining the APC. Gen. Buhari also said, “I congratulate the people of Rivers state for coming behind the governor for standing for APC”.
Later on Chief Tom Ikimi together with Chief Akande presented party flags to the ‘Interim Executive Council of the APC in the state. The state Exco of the party is led by Chief Davies Ibiama Ikanya.
Governor Amaechi remarked that APC has come to stay in Rivers with the mandate to change the atrocities of the past.
“The metaphor of the brooms is that it sweeps and sweeps clean”, he said.
Last Tuesday, Governor Amaechi unveiled the 2014 Armed Forces Emblem Appeal Launching in Port Harcourt.
He enjoined the military to always remain neutral and not take sides in the current struggle by politicians for 2015.
He also called on the Nigerian Police to remain neutral in the current political situation in the country. Amaechi lamented the absence of good leadership and of security, water, power, health and other essential needs of the Nigerian people.
Also last week, Wife of Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Mina Ikuru called on married couples to put their trust in God. She spoke penultimate Saturday in Lagos at the wedding of Mr. Samuel Ogbeiwi.
On Christmas Day, Governor Amaechi and his wife attended a church Service at St. Vincent De Paul catholic Church and recounted the ordeal the state was facing from political enemies of the state.
In his words, “As a government led by me, a government installed by Christ, if anybody tells you he installed me, tell him it’s a lie, tell him that I said I prayed for 10 months and I fasted from 6am – 6pm, calling on Christ to come down and Christ came down mightily and installed me as a governor”.
Shortly after attending Christmas Church Service with her husband, Dame Judith Amaechi visited the Orphanage Homes, and charge Nigerians to renew their love and cater for the well being of less privileged children.
Describing Christmas as a time to show love, the Rivers First Lady stressed that Nigerians must learn to emulate Christ whose birth symbolizes redemption for mankind, she also vowed to ensure that children are given their pride of place in the policy thrust of Governor Amaechi administration.
Also last week, Governor Amaechi played host to lawyers under the umbrella of Nigerian Bar Association. But last Friday he hosted journalists in Rivers state. He said the crisis rocking in the state stems from a attempt by the wife of the President to governor Rivers state from Abuja.
“The wife of the President wanted to macro-manage governance in Rivers State and I said no, you cannot. I was elected. If I fail, they will not say the wife of the President failed”.
Amaechi also lampooned the Federal government for playing politics with Rivers State development”, … tell me one thing that Rivers State has gained from being part of the South-South under Goodluck Jonathan Presidency”.
On Saturday, Governor Amaechi commissioned the 8,000 sitting capacity Gokana Central Stadium complex in Gokana Local Government Area of the state.
He congratulated the council Chairman, Hon. Demua Ledee Demna and his predecessor, the current state Commissioner for Works, Hon. Victor Giadom for initiating and completing the project.
Super eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi and representative of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, and former green Eagles Skipper, Segun Odegbami, who commended Rivers state for setting another example for the rest of the country.
While in Gokana, Governor Amaechi also paid a courtesy call on King Barnabas Pagia, the Gberemene of Gokana at his palace. He also sympathized with the people of Bodo City over the demise of their monarch, late HRH, Felix Beredon.
Rt Hon. Abbas secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Rt Hon. Abbas.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Mallam Balarabe informed members that Rt Hon Abbas was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Rt Hon. Abbas as the party’s flag bearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Rt Hon Abbas would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his declaration, Rt Hon. Abbas expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
The incumbent Reps including Emily Inyang and Godwin Offionio, in separate interviews
protested the handling of the primaries conducted by the leadership of the party in the state, saying it was skewed against them.
The aspirants further described the primaries as a charade and an embarrassment to the state.
According to them, the House of Representatives primaries fell short of the provisions of both the Electoral Act as amended in 2026 and the party’s constitution.
They accused the leadership of the party in the state, backed by Governor Bassey Otu, of violating the party’s constitution in the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries across the state on Saturday.
Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, particularly expressed disappointment with the primary that allegedly disenfranchised registered members of the party in his constituency.
Hon. Offiono asserted that having failed to arrive at a consensus, the party leadership opted for a direct primary to decide the candidate for the 2027 election.
“But what I witnessed today was not only alarming, but quite disheartening that our electoral system have not shown any improvement, especially now that we have a man of God in the person of the governor as the leader of the party.
“How do you declare a result by 9:00am even when the electoral materials were yet to arrive at Yala.
“As an aspirant, I couldn’t even vote or see the materials for my own primary at my Okuku ward in Yala Local Government Area, where I come from. But no matter what happens I am still in the race and have not stepped down for anybody.
“The governor had all the time in the world to drive the process of consensus but he never did. As a representative, I cannot even see my governor. I called, no response. I sent text no reply. I am treated as an out cast,” he lamented.
In an emotion laden tone during a telephone interview, Hon. Offiono further said: “I could not believe that first term NASS members like me can be treated in this shoddy manner even when I don’t know my offence.
“I have been a loyal party man. I appeal to the governor to do the right thing, follow the Electoral Act and party constitution in electing representatives.”
Similarly, Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency said he still remained in the race and had not stepped down for anybody.
According to him, “If this shenanigan called primary is allowed to stand, it would affect the party’s fortune in the general elections.
“My appeal to the governor is to allow the people to decide. And if they so voted against me, I will rest and not fight over anything.
“There was no stakeholders meeting held to decide on anything before now, and someone can not be unilaterally imposed on us all in the name of compromised primary,” he stated.
A coalition of support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the disqualification of former presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, from the Rivers West Senatorial race ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a statement issued on Saturday morning in Abuja, described the action of the party’s screening committee as unjust and capable of worsening internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Bilal Galadima, and General Secretary, Hon. James Ogenyi, accused the party leadership in Rivers State of favouring politicians loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, while sidelining long-standing members of the APC.
The coalition alleged that only aspirants aligned with Chief Wike were cleared to contest for elective positions in the state.
“How can our party allow only one man who is not a member of our party to make decisions or dictate the direction of our party?”, the group queried.
The coalition specifically faulted the exclusion of Mr Jack-Rich, describing him as a loyal party member who had supported the APC for more than 13 years and previously contested the party’s presidential ticket.
It also questioned the alleged clearance of Chief Felix Obua, whom it described as a recent entrant into the party and an ally of Chief Wike.
“How can our party disqualify Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant who has been loyal and supported our party for the last 13 years, only for our party to choose Felix Obua, a Wike loyalist who only joined the party three months ago?”, the statement read.
The group warned that failure by the APC leadership and National Working Committee (NWC) to address the matter as it could weaken the party’s structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on party leaders to uphold internal democracy, reward loyalty and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
INEC TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AS POLITICAL PARTIES SUBMIT REGISTER
All 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”
He recalled that following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a statement issued on the 27th of March, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
Mr Haruna noted that political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added, “INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.”
The Commission restated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
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