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Etche/Omuma Rerun: PDP Sweeps Polls …Rivers People ’ll Continue To Resist Rigging – Wike …PDP Hails Eke, Ejiogu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency rerun supplementary elections.
The INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Olushola Omotao, who declared the result at its headquarters in Port Harcourt said the PDP candidate, Chief Jerome Eke polled 15,221 votes to defeat his APC counterpart, Ogbonna Nwuke who got a paltry 6,220 votes.
For the Etche State Constituency 2, the Returning Officer, Oluwatosin Odusonya announced that the PDP candidate, Tonye Ejiogu polled 4,162 votes to beat his APC counterpart who polled 1,618 votes.
INEC’s decision to announce the results at its Port Harcourt office rather than in Okehi, The Tide reliably gathered, followed tension said to have been built up and the need to clarify some legal issues which arose as a result of cancelled areas.
The election is the conclusion of the 2015 general elections to fill up Etche, State constituency 11 and Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency seats.
Until last Saturday, elections into the legislative seats were postponed indefinitely following the violence that characterised the 2015 polls in the area.
The supplementary election was generally peaceful but apathetic as the electorate, most of whom are farmers had gone to the farm, as farming appears to be the common occupation of the area.
The defeated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke and the lawmaker representing Etche State Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Iroanya Opuru, had both expressed joy at the peaceful and non-violent atmosphere in the area, just as the PDP House of Representatives candidate, Chief Jerome Eke refused to speak to journalists when contacted in Ndashi, his community, saying, “I am tensed up”.
However, at Obite Ward 10, Unit 3, an attempt by some hoodlums to snatch a bag containing electoral materials from INEC officials was resisted by men of the Nigerian police.
An electoral official who refused to disclose her name, said that the election was peaceful in the unit until “some thugs rushed and we quickly packed all the materials in a bag, just as the votes were about to be counted”.
“But they struggled the bag with us and took it away. Fortunately, the Police intervened and rescued the bag from them, gave it back to us and escorted us to INEC office in the area,” she further stated.
Meanwhile, soldiers from 6 Division, Nigerian Army on Operation SAFE CONDUCT II and combined security agencies deployed to monitor the supplementary and conclusion of State and National Assembly elections in Etche and Omuma Federal Constituency arrested about 58 youths suspected to be political thugs.
The suspects were arrested at Ulakwo Ward 13 in Etche Local Government Area in Rivers State.
The Tide gathered that the troops over-powered and arrested the youths said to have allegedly invaded the local government area while the rerun election was on going.
It was also gathered that the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Rivers State and former Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Ikwerre Local Government Council,Mr Samuel Nwanosike, former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Akuku Toru, Roland Sekibo, Odiari Princewill and an unidentified PDP member were arrested.
The suspects who were said to have been arrested from different units of the wards are still being held by the men of the Nigerian Army and the police, as at the time of this report.
This development came even when Etche and in particular the Ulakwo residence of PDP chieftain, Prince Emma Anyanwu were highly militarised and barricaded; an unfortunate situation that forced Emma Anyanwu to remain indoors throughout the duration of the election to avoid possible altercation and arrest.
Speaking to journalists in Ulakwo, the Acting Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Ahmed Magaji confirmed that some hoodlums were arrested and some dangerous items recovered from them.
Magaji explained that investigation is still going on and until that is done, he would make no comments.
Reacting to the incident, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rivers State, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak said the election was peaceful in most of the areas visited.
Ikoiwak who refused to comment on those arrested stated that he was concerned with the conduct of the elections, stressing that the security agencies would handle and investigate those arrested for alleged election malpractices.
According to him, “the commission was saddled with the responsibility of conducting election; the issue of electoral violence should be best considered and handled by the security agencies”.
Similarly, The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has won the Etche/ Omuma Federal Constituency after INEC Returning Officer, Prof Shola Omotola completed the collation of results at the Collation Centre in Okehi.
With the results collated from the supplementary elections of February 25, 2017 and rerun elections of December 10, 2016, Chief Jerome Eke of the PDP defeated Mr Ogbonna Nwuke of the APC.
Also, the Tony Ejiogu of the Peoples Democratic Party defeated his closest challenger, Mr Golden of the APC.
For the Etche/ Omuma Federal Constituency, Returning Officer, Prof Shola Omotola announced that APC polled 6, 220 votes while PDP polled 15, 221 votes.
For the Etche State Constituency 2, Returning Officer, Oluwatosin Odusonya announced that APC scored 1,618 votes while PDP polled 4,162 votes.
As the two INEC’s Returning Officers for the Etche/ Omuma Federal Constituency, Prof Shola Omotola and Etche Constituency 2, Oluwatosin Odusonya were about to declare the PDP winner, military personnel at the Collation Centre brought a phone to them, claiming that the call was from the National Commissioner of INEC in charge of the election.667^n
Upon receiving the call, INEC’s Returning Officer for Etche/ OmumaFederal Constituency, Prof Shola Omotola stated that all collated results should be moved to the Port Harcourt office of INEC.
Soldiers of the Nigerian Army who stopped the declaration in Okehi moved the collated results alongside party agents and political leaders to Port Harcourt. They were joined by PDP leaders led by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the APC candidate for Etche/ Omuma Federal Constituency, Mr Ogbonna Nwuke.
At the headquarters, leaders of the two parties insisted that the two INEC’s Returning Officers publicly announce collated results to the media and party agents present.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike condemned the act of trying to subvert the will of the people Rivers State through INEC result manipulation, backed by reckless security agencies.
He said Rivers people would continue to resist all fraudulent attempts to manipulate election results. He declared that elections can only be won at the polling units and not through the swapping of result sheets by security agencies and INEC.
In another development, the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has hailed the uncommon courage of members of the party and the good people of Etche and Omuma, that ensured victory for the PDP during Saturday’s re-run legislative elections in the area, even in the face of harassment, intimidation, attacks, maiming and arrests of innocent PDP members by men of the Nigerian Army and police
The PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on media and Publicity, Jerry Needam described the interference and involvement of the military and men of the Nigerian Police in electoral process as worrisome, condemnable, saying, it portends grave danger for Nigeria’s democracy.
He regretted that soldiers and police men deployed to maintain peace and security in Etche invaded collation centres to stop announcement of results, same evil and wicked machinations adopted in Rivers South East Senatorial District that gave a purported victory to Mr Magnus Abe of the All Progressives Congress, APC. But, they were however, resisted by the good people of Etche.
Obuah congratulated candidates of the PDP, Chief Jerome Eke, Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency and Hon Tony Ejiogu, Etche State Constituency 2 for emerging victorious and the good people of Etche/Omuma for voting for the PDP.
He described the arrest of its State Publicity Secretary, Hon Samuel Nwanosike, Hon Rowland Sekibo and other chaiftains of the PDP who were on a legal election duty as provocative, illegal, condemnable and acting out the script of a particular leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Victor Tew
Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of his administration’s commitment to supporting and strengthening the scheme in the State.
Fubara gave the assurance last Friday at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area in the State, during the swearing-in ceremony of 2026 Batch B Stream II orientation course.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Promise Oguzie, the governor said the State Government would remain intentional in providing the necessary support to improve the NYSC scheme and enhance the experiences of corps members deployed to the state.
He charged the corps members to be role models and quality nation-builders in their service to the good people of Rivers State in particular, and Nigeria at large.
“I charge you to be exemplary, dedicated and committed in all you do. Take full advantage of all the camp programmes and activities to enrich yourselves”, he said.
In his welcome address, the State Coordinator of NYSC in Rivers State, Mr. Moses Oleghe, urged corps members to see their deployment to Rivers State as a “veritable opportunity to make meaningful contribution to the growth of the State in particular and Nigeria at large.”
He further charged them to serve with all sense of “integrity, discipline, and the fear of God, especially when they will be engaged as INEC ad-hoc staff that will conduct the 2027 general elections.”
A total of 3,584 corps members composed of 1,421 males and 2,163 females were sworn in by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, who was represented by Justice Godspower Aguma.
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, says Nigeria needs God-fearing leaders for the nation to move in the right direction and make meaningful progress.
The Governor stated this yesterday when he received in audience, the World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler; his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler; daughter Mariana Marques Kohler and a retinue of ministers of the church at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara who hailed the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its contributions to education and the grooming of future leaders in Nigeria, expressed delight that the Church had over the years, been investing in education at various levels and currently runs two universities in the country.
He commended the church for not only using its institutions to spread the gospel of Christianity but to groom future leaders for the country.
According to him, religion should not be just about defending one’s faith, but also making meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
He said that by floating these educational institutions, the church has demonstrated capacity to support Nigeria in the task of producing not only educated people but a breed of God-fearing leaders.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line and that is what has brought us to where we are today.
“So, I feel very happy that you are contributing to the development of our future leaders in this country. We need the right people being in the right place; prepared properly with good minds; that is what we need, not just in Nigeria but round the whole world.,” he said.
Governor Fubara further observed that the absence of God-fearing people in high places to take the right decisions that could impact positively on the society, has also given rise to other problems such as social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality. According to him, Nigeria needs a system where the average parent could afford quality education for their children and a guarantee that upon graduation, the average child will have the capacity to compete favourably with anybody, anywhere in the world.
“If we have a situation where the little money that you’re being paid as wage can also afford you quality healthcare and after working at least for 15-20 years, you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime? At that point, you’ll feel secured and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to all the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and for their prayers for Rivers State, assuring them of his continued support for their programmes in the state.
Leader of the delegation and World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler said he was in Nigeria for a special conference of the church during which thousands of the church’s ministers will be undergoing an empowerment programme to further equip them for the task of herding their flocks and serving the society.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his entourage, saying the memory of the visit will linger in his mind for a lifetime.
Kohler disclosed that the Church has over twenty -four million (24,000,000) members and more than 182,000 places of worship, spread across 212 countries of the world.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has approved the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This reaffirms the lawmakers’ commitment to enacting laws and taking legislative actions geared towards the overall development of the State.
The Assembly gave the approval during its Second Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session held last Friday.
Speaking on the MTEF document during plenary, the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, noted that by the provision of Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, the MTEF ought to have been laid before the House in September 2025.
Amaewhule explained that traditionally, the document is expected to be presented four months before the commencement of the next financial year and immediately after the expiration of every three-year fiscal cycle.
He, however, stated that in the interest of the State and its people, the House considered it necessary to deliberate on the document, describing it as a precursor to the 2026 Budget Estimates.
The Speaker expressed concern that the year had already progressed significantly before the presentation of the framework.
During deliberations on the document, members examined the assumptions and projections contained in the MTEF and observed that strict adherence to the outlined fiscal parameters would ultimately serve the interest of Rivers people.
The lawmakers maintained that effective implementation of the framework would promote prudent financial management and enhance developmental planning across the State.
Following the debate and positive consideration by members, the Speaker put the question to the House and members voted overwhelmingly in support of the approval of the MTEF.
Meanwhile, during the same sitting last Friday, the House also received a petition from the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr. Gift Worlu.
The petition was presented by the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon. Emilia Amadi.
According to the petition, concerns were raised over an imminent security breach, threats to lives, destruction of property and alleged forceful takeover of property by some lawless persons within parts of the Local Government Area.
Presenting the petition before the House, Hon. Amadi appealed to the lawmakers to revisit the matter and take necessary steps aimed at safeguarding lives and property in the affected communities.
The House is expected to further deliberate on the petition and consider measures to address the concerns raised in order to sustain peace and security in the area.
King Onunwor
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