Politics
Security Clearance Stalls APC Rally In Okrika
For the second time in
three weeks, the governorship campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for yesterday at Okrika, in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, did not hold after all.
The APC blamed lack of security clearance by the Police for its inability to hold the rally in Okrika as scheduled.
It will be recalled that an earlier rally scheduled to take place at the Okrika National School field on January 24, 2015, was aborted following the overnight bombing of the venue and destruction of canopies and musical equipment, among others by unknown gunmen.
The attack, which occurred around 3.45am on January 24, was allegedly executed by some political thugs suspected to be members of the opposition party in the state.
The Tide learnt that the hoodlums who stormed the venue in a Hiase bus shot sporadically to scare away those who were still around the area before detonating an explosive suspected to be dynamite.
Shortly after the incident, security operatives were said to have advised the APC not to go ahead with the rally as planned but to reschedule it for such a safer and more secure date as may be agreed upon later.
But the Director of the APC Governorship Campaign Organization in Okrika Local Government Area of the State, Mr Tamuno Williams at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday said the rally may not hold as scheduled because the State Police Command could not guarantee the safety of supporters of the APC in any rally in Okrika and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas.
Mr Williams told journalists that the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Dan Bature, at a meeting with leaders of the party at the police headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, said the police would not be able to provide security for the party’s governorship campaign rally in Okrika.
He recounted that the APC had been target of violence at Okrika and that the police had failed to protect the people because of the insistence of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan that the party should not be allowed to hold its rally in Okrika.
Williams accused the police of being partisan in handling issues concerning APC in Okrika because of the influence of the First Lady.
The APC called on President Goodluck Jonathan who the party addressed as “our in-law” to call his wife to order and to direct the security agencies to protect the constitutional rights of every citizen of the country, saying “posterity is watching all Nigerians”.
Okrika is the hometown of the First Lady, Mrs Jonathan and ex-militants leader, Ateke Tom who is a strong supporter of the First Lady.
Boye Salau
PDP Governorship candidate Rivers State, Barr. Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (left) rejoicing with his counterpart for APC, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside during a political peaceful accord organised by AIG Zone Six at Police Officer Mess Port Harcourt recently. Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken
Senator Makarfi’s resignation comes on the heels of the national convention that saw the emergence of the new Chairman of PDP, Dr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
In his letter of resignation, which was addressed to the PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Monday evening, the former governor said, “Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees may recall that about two months ago I had resigned as Secretary of the Board and posted same on the Board’s WhatsApp platform.
“Mr Chairman, you may also recall that you personally urged me to stay on until after a convention that produced a Chairman.”
He added that the principal reason he initially tendered his resignation then “and now, was and is still my belief that the National Chairman of the Party and Secretary of the Board of Trustees should not come from the same geopolitical zone.
“Now that a chairman has emerged from the North West, where I come from, it’s necessary to give him full space to do the needful. Accordingly, I hereby formally resign as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, November 17th, 2025.”
While commending the BoT Chairman for his support during his tenure as Secretary of the Board, he stressed, “I truly appreciate the very respectful relationship between us during my period as Secretary,” adding that, “I also appreciate all Board members for their support and the good relationship that prevailed during my period as Secretary.”
Meanwhile, Dr Turaki on Monday pledged to ensure that power returns to the Nigerian people, urging the judiciary to uphold the tenets of democracy.
Dr Turaki, while giving his acceptance speech after the swearing-in of new officers at the end of the Elective Convention of the PDP in Ibadan, assured that there will be “no more impunity, no more suppression of the will of Nigerians”.
The chairman appealed to the judiciary to uphold the principles of stare decision, abiding by the decisions of the Supreme Court, and not to “willingly or unwillingly put yourselves in a situation where, rightly or wrongly, it may be assumed, correctly or incorrectly, that you are part and parcel of the process to truncate Nigerian democracy.”
According to him, the new leadership of the party would be open to listening to the yearnings of members, with a view to aligning with their will, declaring that “No more monkey dey work, baboon dey chop,” adding that “if baboon wants to chop, baboon must be seated to work.”
He noted that the PDP has maintained its original name, motto and logo, unlike the other parties that started with it, making it a recognised brand anywhere in Nigeria.
Mr Agboke, in a statement on Monday, said that conducting party primaries in line with the law was important ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
INEC has fixed August 8, 2026, for the governorship election in Osun State.
Mr Adegoke appealed to all registered political parties in the state to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the commission’s guidelines and regulations for the conduct of their primaries.
“The commission emphasises the need for the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful primary elections that reflect the will of the party members as a panacea for the reduction of pre-election litigations.
“We observed that primary elections have often been a source of pre-election litigation, which can be avoided if parties follow the laid-down procedures and guidelines.
“INEC, therefore, urges all political parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in a transparent, democratic, and peaceful manner. All aspirants should be given equal opportunities to participate,” he said.
Mr Agboke stated that, in line with the guidelines released by INEC’s national headquarters, the political parties’ primaries for the 2026 governorship election in the state are scheduled to take place between November 24 and December 15.
He said INEC was prepared to provide necessary support and guidance to parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in accordance with the law.
“We call on all stakeholders, including security agencies, to support the commission in its efforts to ensure peaceful and credible party primaries.
“INEC will continue to monitor the activities of political parties and take appropriate actions within the ambit of the law against any party that fails to comply with the electoral laws and regulations,” he said.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum has strongly condemned the attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu LGA, Kebbi.
The bandits’ attack led to the abduction of 25 female students as well as the reported killing of the vice principal of the school.
Reacting to the mass abduction on Monday, the chairman of the forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, described the kidnapping as tragic, senseless, and utterly unacceptable.
In a statement by his media aide on Monday, Gov. Yahaya stated that the continued targeting of schools posed a grave threat to the region’s stability and the nation’s educational future.
Gov. Yahaya, on behalf of the northern governors, commiserated with the government and people of Kebbi State, especially the families of the abducted students and those who lost their lives in the attack.
He assured Governor Nasir Idris of the forum’s solidarity and support during this difficult moment.
He said that schools must be sanctuaries of learning, not targets of violence, warning that continued assaults on educational institutions threatened to reverse gains made in improving school enrolment and curbing the out-of-school crisis in the region.
Mr Yahaya expressed deep concern over the trauma the abducted schoolgirls may be facing and called for an immediate and well-coordinated operation by security agencies to ensure their safe rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.
Reaffirming the NSGF’s commitment to collaborating with the federal government and security institutions, Gov. Yahaya stated that the safety, education, and welfare of young Nigerians remain a top priority for the forum.
He urged communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with the security agencies in the collective efforts to rid the region of criminality.
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