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Appeal Court Voids Tai Results …Orders Fresh Rerun
The Chairman, Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bro Felix Obuah, has commended the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to include Tai Local Government Area among the six LGAs where re-run legislative elections will be conducted on Saturday, December 10.
Obuah in a statement while reacting to the court judgement that the March 19, re-run election in Tai which was suspended mid-way by the electoral umpire was officially approved and binding, and that it would be illegal, illegitimate and morally wrong for the same INEC to want to release election results either in whole or parts from same election earlier suspended, said it has restored the hope of the people of Tai and South East Senatorial District.
He totally agreed with the court’s reasoning that attempting to declare the suspended Tai result would be tantamount to double standards by INEC who ab-initio created the confusion.
The state PDP chairman also commended the orders of the court that no results in whatever form emanating from the suspended March 19 Tai re-run election should be declared by INEC, stressing that the only acceptable re-run election in the area is the expected December 10, polls.
It would be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), had approached the court to compel INEC not to declare any results from the suspended March 19, re-run election in Tai LGA against the backdrop of the electoral body attempting to release some of the results against its own order.
Obuah said the court judgement has restored the hope of the people of South East Senatorial District, describing the attempt by the All Progressives Congress, (APC), to get away with victory through the backdoor as a shame and failed mission.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Bro Felix Obuah says he was impressed with the judgements of the Appeal Court, nullifying the purported election of the two All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates, Andrew Miller and Eldred Braide for Opobo/Nkoro and Degema State Constituencies, respectively, and declaring the candidates of the PDP, Adonye Kelly Diri and Farah Dagogo winners for the constituencies.
The PDP chairman described the Thursday, December 1 and Saturday 3, 2016, Appeal Court judgments as not only a correction of miscarriage of justice by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the authentic winners in the March 19, 2016, Legislative Elections in the two areas, but a further proof of the overwhelming and indisputable popularity and stronghold of the PDP in the state, especially in Opobo/Nkoro LGA, home of the defeated 2015 APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside.
He also stressed that Diri’s victory has again justified its position that the carcass left of the APC, including Senator Magnus Abe and Dakuku Peterside, can never win any election in the area, having been rejected and deserted by the people of that constituency.
The Rivers PDP applauded the highly revered jurists of the Appeal Court for taking an unbiased decision and upholding the rule of law, thereby sustaining the dignity of the Judiciary in the face of apparent intimidation and pressure by the undemocratic forces of the All Progressives Congress to subvert the will of the people.
Obuah, who was visibly cheerful over the development, believed that all the claims by Abe and Dakuku about their popularity in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District have been rubbished by Hon Diri’s victory, wondering where else their hope lies in the December 10 re-run elections, if not with the connivance of the Independent National Electoral Commission, their hired security personnel and political thugs to hijack the electoral process and rig the election in their favour.
He congratulated Diri, who he described as a gallant, unwavering, popular and loyal party man, on his victory, particularly for securing winning votes at the polling units and ward of Dakuku Peterside of the APC in Opobo.
He urged all party supporters to remain steadfast and resist being intimidated to allow electoral fraud freely carried out by members of the APC in the coming election in parts of the state, and particularly charging the electorate in the state to come out en masse and vote for all candidates of the PDP during the December 10, re-run Legislative Elections in the state.
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene