Connect with us

News

Rivers Polls: Tribunal Begins Hearing Of Petition, Tuesday

Published

10 years ago

on

The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, will on Tuesday, begin hearing all other motions brought before it by parties, just as it technically commences hearing the main petition.
The tribunal had last Wednesday adjourned to August 25 after ruling on five preliminary applications by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate for the April 11, 2015, elections, Dr Dakuku Peterside.
The tribunal had during the ruling, dismissed the application by the All Progressives Congress Governorship Candidate, Mr. Dakuku Peterside and his party to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to move the election materials used for the April 11, 2015, governorship election to Abuja for inspection.
The tribunal headed by Justice Mu’azu Pindiga, dismissed the application on the grounds that it lacked merit and could not take precedence over a subsisting order given by the tribunal in June on the same issue.
The tribunal had earlier given an order, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the petitioner access to the election materials comprising; ballot papers and result sheets, an order, Pindiga said, still stands
The tribunal also first struck out the request by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, asking for a stay of  execution on the tribunal’s order of June 11 which permitted the petitioner to inspect the election materials in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Pindiga said the application was struck out because of the failure of the counsel to the applicant, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), to move the motion at the last proceedings despite being asked by the tribunal to do so, thereby deeming the motion abandoned.
The tribunal also rejected the motion by INEC, challenging the competence of the petition, saying that the motion would be heard along with the main petition.
Also dismissed by the tribunal for lack of merit was a motion by the petitioner, asking that election materials used in Rivers State be moved from Port Harcourt to INEC head office in Abuja for easy inspection on grounds that INEC officials in Rivers State refused to cooperate with the petitioner in the execution of the June 11 order.
But counsel to the petitioner, Emeka Ngige, said they would deploy alternative measures to make INEC comply with the rules of evidence.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of the APC has said that the ruling of the tribunal would help fast-track hearing of the main petition, to enable them meet the deadline prescribed by the Electoral Act for hearing of election petitions in the country.
In a statement in Port Harcourt, Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Finebone, said that with the ruling, the 180-day deadline provided in the law would be met, if the tribunal begins to hear the petition expeditiously.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

6 days ago

on

November 24, 2025

By

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
Continue Reading

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

6 days ago

on

November 24, 2025

By

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
Continue Reading

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

6 days ago

on

November 24, 2025

By

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

Continue Reading

Trending