Niger Delta

PDP Rules Out Automatic Tickets For Aspirants In C’River

Published

11 years ago

October 15, 2014

Pastor of Methodist Church, Nigeria, Agip Estate, Port Harcourt, Rev Friday Okafor Chinyere (2nd right), with the Church’s council members, unveiling a cake to mark the 2014 young people harvest thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt last Sunday. Photo: Kanam Nathy Waadu.

The PDP in Cross River has
declared that there will be no automatic ticket for aspirants intending to use its platform to run for elective positions in 2015 general elections.
The State Chairman of PDP, Mr John Okon, said this in Calabar when Rep. John Owan-Enoh visited the state secretariat of the party to pick forms to run for the Senate.
Okon also said that the party would provide a level playing ground for aspirants at the state primaries in line with its guidelines.
“We do not have automatic ticket for anybody. The only person the PDP has given the sole ticket is Mr President.
“So, I do not see anybody coming from Abuja to pick a candidate for us. I assure you that we will ensure a level playing ground for every aspirant,’’ he said.
Enoh, representing Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency, said the visit was to interact with its leadership and indicate intention to run for the senate
“ I am here to interact with our party’s leadership and to formally inform you of my intent to contest the Cross River Central senatorial seat.
“I intend to do this on the platform of our great party, the PDP,’’ he said.
He added that he was encouraged by his constituents to move to the senate on the basis of his performance so far in the House of Representatives.
He called on the national leadership of the PDP to disregard the claims by some members from the state that the chapter was in crisis.
“It is a show of shame for some people to go to Abuja to claim that there is division in the Cross River PDP.
“What I have seen here today is a fact that people tend to claim that there is crisis where there is none.
“I can assure everybody that there are no crises or division in PDP in Cross River and that we are all united in working for the re-emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015,’’ Enoh said.
He urged the party to keep to its promise of ensuring a level playing ground for all aspirants during the primaries.
The Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, who represents the senatorial district, had at a separate meeting with the party, declared that he would run again.
In a related development, Rep. Daniel Asuquo says that he will seek the face of God for re-election into the House of Representatives in 2015.
Asuquo, who represents Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency of Cross River, stated this in Akampka when he unveiled his 2015 re-election blueprint.
Asuquo, who also inaugurated ward coordinators of his campaign at the occasion, said he decided to seek a re-election through prayers and before “men of God’’.
“ I am declaring my intention first to God Almighty, without whom nothing is possible.
“I have humbly today invited these men of God before me to formally announce to you that I am seeking a re-election in 2015; and to seek for your prayers and divine endorsement.
“The campaign theme of this election is ‘overflowing greatness’. We have carefully chosen this theme by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.”

Niger Delta

Otu Orders Sanitation Operations Review In Calabar

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has ordered an immediate review of environmental sanitation operations in Calabar metropolis.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Linus Obogo, on Friday, the Governor said the sanitary situation of the city had become a cause for concern.

He said the review became necessary because Calabar should continue to maintain its status as the cleanest city in the country.

“The city is now littered with wastes, the cleanliness status of Calabar is almost gone, we cannot just fold our arms and watch,” he said.

The Governor continued that every resident of the city had roles to play towards restoring the sanitary status of the city.

“Every resident should live up to their responsibilities. Our reputation in sanitation was not earned overnight, we worked for it.

“It is the product of discipline, policy consistency, and civic responsibility. We cannot allow negligence to take away this reputation,” he said.

He further directed that henceforth, sanitation exercise should be supervised by the office of his Special Adviser on General Duties.

“This intervention is intended to ensure stricter coordination among contractors and government agencies that are responsible for waste management,

“Environmental sanitation is not a peripheral concern of government. It is central to public health, urban dignity, and the overall quality of life of the citizens”, he said.

Otu expressed displeasure at lapses arising from the attitude of some refuse contractors in the state.

He said breakdown of mechanical tools could not be a reasonable excuse for non-evacuation of refuse.

“Operational setbacks should never translate into visible environmental neglect. Preparedness, contingency planning and prompt response are the hallmarks of responsible service providers.” he said.

Niger Delta

Lawyer X-rays Consequences Of Court Injuction Suspending INC Polls … As Diri Intervenes

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

A Bayelsa-based lawyer, and candidate for the position of National Assistant Secretary in the suspended National Executive Council (NEC) elections of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Barr. Abraham Marshall, has said the court order, which restrained the conduct of the March 7th, 2026 polls, was a setback to stakeholders of the INC.

He expressed his worries about the plights of delegates who travelled from various parts of Ijaw land to come for the elections in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, only to be disappointed by the court order.

While thanking other candidates for maintaining orderliness and brotherliness all through the campaign processes, Marshall said the court injunction has devasted candidates vying for various positions.

He described the cost of what has already been spent on campaigns and sundry arrangements for the elections as huge.

Marshall noted that already he was a leading candidate for the position of National Assistant Secretary as he was optimistic of victory.

“First of all I’ve great confidence in the ability of the Electoral Committee headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, HRM, Justice F.F Tabai, which was eager to conduct a seamless election.

“Some of us have campaigned through the three zones and clans of the INC. Some of us went to the Western Zone, Eastern and Central Zones to meet delegates.

“That is how it happenes atimes when there are contest, some persons who are aggrieved, rather than take laws into their hands, go to court to seek judicial redress. So, I want to commend all candidates for maintaining decorum throughout the entire process.

“I like to also call on stakeholders to quickly seek for ways through internal mechanisms of the INC to end this problem so that the elections can be conducted because as candidates we’ve incured lots of expenses leading to the process”, he stated.

Meanwhile, in a bid to proffer solutions to the issues bedeviling the smooth conduct of polls, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday met with stakeholders of the INC and its six Presidential candidates, as well as other major stakeholders of the Niger Delta region in Government House, Yenagoa.

In his remarks, the Governor commended individuals and institutions, including the presidential candidates and the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE), for their efforts towards actualising a peaceful and seamless transition of leadership in the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

The Tide gathered that at the meeting, the presidential candidates agreed to withdraw all subsisting litigations concerning the election.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, Diri also expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Bolade Igali, the Chairman and members of the INC National Electoral Committee, and other stakeholders who contributed to the resolution reached at the meeting.

Drawing an analogy from the scriptures, particularly 1 Kings Chapter 3, he likened the unanimous agreement of the candidates to withdraw all pending court cases to the decision of the true mother of the disputed baby who pleaded with King Solomon not to cut the child into two.

According to the Bayelsa helmsman, the resolution reflects the enthusiasm, love and patriotic fervour in all the presidential candidates to move Ijaw nation forward.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, the candidates, including High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe, who secured the injunction from a Port Harcourt High Court stopping the INC Elections billed for last weekend, confirmed the agreement and pledged commitment towards the peaceful emergence of the next President of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Police Rescue 7 Trafficked Victims In A’Ibom

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has rescued seven victims and detained four suspects linked to human trafficking along Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Saturday.

John said police operatives dismantled a human trafficking syndicate operating within the state, rescuing seven victims and arresting four suspects involved in the network.

She said acting on credible intelligence, operatives swiftly mobilised a patrol team for a coordinated stop-and-search operation along Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road on Friday.

The operation, conducted at about 8 a.m. on Friday, targeted vehicles suspected of transporting victims of human trafficking.

“During the operation, the suspected vehicle was intercepted and four victims were immediately rescued, while the suspect conveying them was arrested and taken into custody.

“Following reports that a vehicle was conveying young persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking, our operatives quickly moved to intercept it,” John said.

She said interrogation of the suspect led to the expansion of the operation to Itam and Ibaka in Oron Local Government Area.

John said three additional victims were rescued and three more suspects apprehended during the follow-up operation.

This brought the total number of rescued victims to seven and suspects arrested to four.

According to her, preliminary investigations revealed that the trafficking syndicate specialised in recruiting and transporting young persons across borders for exploitation.

“Intelligence gathered further disclosed that one of the ringleaders earlier escaped through waterways from Ibaka in Oron to Cameroon and Gabon with some victims”, she said.

John said investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged in court upon completion of the probe.

The police spokesperson reiterated the Command’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other organised crimes in the state.

She assured the public that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.

John urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the police to help protect vulnerable persons and strengthen community safety.