Politics
National Confab: Rivers Delegates Told To Protect State Interest
As the National
Conference kicks off in Abuja, today, Rivers State delegates to the conference have been advised to protect the interest of the state above their personal, socio – political or ethnic interests.
They were also warned not to allow their differences to becloud the pursuit for equity, justice, fairness and peace for the state and nation at large.
Rising from a mini conference which was organised by the Rivers Mainstream Coalition (RMC) at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt last Saturday, all speakers were unanimous that delegates should not be influenced by the current political cleavage in the state, saying that they were not there to respresent any political party but the interest of the Rivers people.
A 19-point resolution was drafted at the end of the conference which had Elder Gomba Osarollor, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the old Rivers State as Chairman with Chief A. K. Horsefall, former Chairman of OMPADEC and former Director of State Security Service presenting the key note address.
Central to the issues discussed was the position of Rivers people on resource control, fiscal federalism, peace and security, protection of the environment from wanton and brazen destruction, among others.
The speakers which also include Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Prof. Israel Owaite, Sen. Benet Birabi, Dr. Sofiri Peterside, Chief Tom Big-Harry, Mrs. Nimi Tom-Manuel, Hon. (Barr) Nimi Walson Jack, Dr. Briggs Damabo, Faye Dikio (SAN), Sara Igbe and Dr. Ben Ohia, were unequivocal in their support for a fiscal federalism where the federating units would contribute 50% of proceeds from its controlled resources to the central government.
Chief A.K. Horsefall who is the only Rivers delegate present at the mini conference, praised the Rivers Mainstream Coalition for initiating the event.
“If we segment ourselves, as we do at the moment, we get smaller. But if we do what you are doing today, we will advance and make much impact” he said.
Horsefall disclosed that his nomination to the conference was predicated on his security expertise, adding that although he was called upon essentially for security input, he would not be indifferent to lending his voice to issues of interest to Rivers State.
On the issue of fiscal federalism, the security expert said he had reservation about federating the country on basis of the six geo-political regions as, according to him, “it may work for the South East and South West because of common language and cultures, but may not be feasible in South South and the north because of diversity of language and cultures.”
Similarly, Faye Dikio (SAN) differed slightly on the issue of resource control and called for the abrogation of the Land Use Act which vested all lands on the government. This, according to him, would ensure a realistic control of resources by the federating units. He also advocated the repeal of the Oil Minerals Act.
Groups who participated at the event were Etche Ethnic Nationality ‘Voice of Rivers Citizens’, ‘I See You’ and Ogba ethnic nationality.
The communiqué read in part, “That the interest of ethnic nationalities having lived together in peace, should continue to be bound together in peace in a society in which political representations are broadly and equitably distributed. That we wish to control our resources in the state and have fiscal federation.
“That we want to own our lands and want the Land Use Act repealed. That we want the federation restructured to give more powers to the federating states. That states should have the powers to create the number of local government areas they can manage. That there is need to diversify the economy from oil and create wealth from other sectors. That we want a unicameral legislature and not a bicameral.
“That traditional rulers should have constitutional responsibilities. Obnoxious laws such as the Petroleum Act, Land Use Act, Pipeline Act, Mineral Resources Act etc, that inhibit the rights of our people be expunged and the Petroleum Industry Bill should be passed.”
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left) obeying National Anthem. With him are former Prime Minister of Ireland, His Excellency John Bruton (2nd right), former British Foreign Secretary, His Excellency Jack Straw (right) and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr. Tele Ikuru (left) during an International Conference on Democracy and Good Governance, organised by Rivers State government at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson
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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