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Wike Assents To Two Bills

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9 years ago

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The Special award and dinner organised by Knights of
St. John International, Port Harcourt Grand Commandery of the Catholic Church opened activities last week in Government House. Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike attended the occasion held at the Presidential Hotel in honour of Justice Mary Odili, former first lady of the State.
Chief Wike while pouring encomiums on Justice Odili, expressed happiness that the body decided to host their activity in the state which to him was a clear indication that the state was safe and peaceful for business and tourists.
On the honour bestowed on the former first lady together with other personalities, including the State Police Commissioner, Chief Wike remarked that it was a call to greater service to the nation.
Last Monday, the State Governor played host to Muslim Community in the State. The visit of the muslim faithful was part of events to mark the Eid el-Kabir which commemorates the Supreme sacrifice made by Abraham as a mark of obedience to God.
A delegation of muslim clerics led by Alhaji Qasim Okachi commended the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises. He thanked the governor for sponsoring pilgrims on Hajj as a show of commitment to their religious advancement.
Responding, Chief Wike summoned on all Nigerians to work together to ensure peace and unity, and to pull the country out of its current economic downturn.
Consequently, a statement from the office of the deputy governor, Dr. Ipalibo harry-Banigo last Tuesday hailed the prudence exhibited by the Wike-led administration through fiscal policy of , “novariation”. Dr. Harry-Banigo observed that the policy has promoted speedy execution of jobs through judicious management of public-funds.
On the same Tuesday the governor hosted his kinsmen from Rumueprikom Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area as part of Eid-El-Kabir celebrations. He reminded them that politics was not war, but a game of sports that embraced both the loser and the winner.
The State Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) paid a solidarity visit to Governor Wike last Wednesday. The group was led by its Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, who is also the State Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). IPAC comprises of all registered political parties and they expressed a vote of confidence on the Wike-led administration.
But before hosting the IPAC members, the governor had earlier met with protesting community leaders, youth and women of Rumuola Community at the site undergoing construction for Port Harcourt Pleasure Park. He urged them to be calm and support the construction firm, Julius Berger to complete the project since they will benefit.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo congratulated former state governor, Sir Celestine Omehia on his 57th birthday. She described the erstwhile State Chief Executive as a team leader with exemplary conduct.
Rivers State First Lady, Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike hosted members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers last Thursday. She used the visit to advocate for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Probibition Act. Justice Wike also said the State needs a family court.
Last Friday, four suspended Commissioners and the Head of Service, including Special Assistant to the Governor on Lands were recalled from a four-week suspension slammed on them by the State Governor during the State Executive Council meeting a forthnight ago. He and the exco visited a new LNG site at Rumuji in Emohua LGA later in the day.
Shortly after, on the same Friday, the governor inaugurated the Rivers State Amnesty Programme Committee, which will oversee proper integration and rehabilitation of repentant cultists and militants in the state.
Last Saturday the State Chief Executive assented to two bills passed by the State Legislature. They are; Local Government Amendment No. 1 Law No 5 of 2016 and Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice. No. 7 of 2015.

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LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction

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6 days ago

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March 2, 2026

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A former National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Clement Ojukwu, has expressed regret that the several legal cases brought against the party since the 2023 general elections have impacted the party’s performance.

Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.

“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”

The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.

“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.

“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.

“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”

Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.

He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”

He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.

“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”

Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.

“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.

 

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2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE 

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6 days ago

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March 2, 2026

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A number of Nigerians have strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its directive to all political parties in the country to submit digitalized membership register within 32 days.
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following it’s reversed timetable, directed all political parties in the country to submit their digitalized membership registers within 32 days.
Speaking on the reversed timetable in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, respondents said the directive amounted to disqualifying opposition political parties from fielding candidates in all the elections next year.
They said if the directives by the commission is implemented, only the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate in the elections since it started it’s digital membership registration since February, last year.
Responding, an elder statesman in Rivers State, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, said the revised timetable was okay, but the timeframe for submission of digital membership register was being made at the wrong time.
Chief Chukumele said, for the past two years, all opposition political parties have been battling various issues in court, adding that they did not have the time to embark on membership drive, talk less of digitalizing their membership registers.
“My reaction is that the only issue with this revised timetable is the timeframe given by INEC for parties to submit digitalize memberships register in all the states of the federation, while giving notice of Congresses and convention. That is not possible”, he said.
He said only the ruling APC is likely to meet up with the directive, since it began its registration since last year.
Chief Chukumele, who is also the National Coordinator of Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), alleged that the directive of the electoral body may have been targeted to prevent other parties from fielding candidates for the elections next year.
“When you say all the parties should submit digitalized registers of membership in 32 days, how will that be possible to conclude it in 32 days”, he queried.
He noted that “APC used one year ago to do, so APC has one year in the kitty plus 30 days. This is highly regrettable”.
The CORSLOT national leader urged the election umpire to do away with stringent conditions that will make it hard for opposition political parties to field candidates in the elections.
Also speaking, Mr Jacob Enware from Edo State queried the rationale behind the directive, especially when some opposition political parties are still having cases in court.
In his words, ”What opposition political parties are you talking about, is Labour Party not  in court or PDP that is yet to resolve their issues?
”For me, INEC should provide a level playing field for all, because aside the APC, no party can meet up this criteria.”
In his own response, Mr Nathaniel Ebere said he was not prepared to vote for anybody whether INEC provides a level playing field or not.
He alleged that his vote would not count, “so I will not waste my time”.
By: John Bibor
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IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI

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6 days ago

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March 2, 2026

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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has expressed reservations about the political stance of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while calling for reconciliation among key party figures.
Otunba Sowunmi made the remarks during a television interview on Saturday, when asked about the relationship between Gov. Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.
He said, “I don’t believe Seyi Makinde. Because I know them all. I’ve been in this party since it was registered. And I’ve been loyal, faithful, diligent with this party from the get-go, and I’ve never left.”
He underscored his longstanding commitment to the PDP, referencing prominent figures who had exited the party at different times: “I’ve had the grace, and the honor, and the dignity of watching even my father, Obasanjo, shed his card. As much as I love him, I didn’t leave the party”.
He added, “I’ve had the privilege of watching my beloved senior brother, Governor Gbenga Daniel, leave the party a few times. As much as I respect his vision and his ideas, I’ve never left. I’ve watched my former principal, Atiku Abubakar, leave a few times. I’ve never left.”
Otunba Sowunmi stressed that his comments were rooted in deep involvement with the party: “So when I talk about PDP, I’m not talking as an outsider, I’m talking as one of their totems, who was actually carrying them.”
He disclosed that he wrote to Makinde during the governor’s last birthday, urging reconciliation among a bloc of five governors who had formed a movement during the 2023 elections.
“At Governor Seyi Makinde’s last birthday, I wrote him a letter where I tried to say, look, you guys, the five of you, succeeded to the extent of creating a movement of your own”, he said.
He added, “And you fought very hard to make a point in the 2023 election. Although I don’t believe you won the election for the president, that’s a lie. They contributed, but I hate when people take the glory of other people’s work.”
Otunba Sowunmi warned that unresolved differences among the group could weaken the party: “You guys, you must go back to your four friends, your five friends, and you guys go and sort it out. Because not sorting it out with your five friends is going to leave the party worse off.”
He added, “But now that you’re fighting, or you’re not agreeing with yourselves, why don’t you go back to that same energy that allowed you to agree, so that you can use that energy inside to agree, and then we can lead the party.”
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