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INEC Flags-Off Voters Registration In Rivers ’Morrow …Be Impartial, PDP Tells Electoral Body
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will flag-off the continuous voters’ registration exercise in Rivers State, today, by 9.00 am.
The commission, in a statement, stated that the exercise will commence by 9.00am at the INEC office in Port Harcourt Local Government Area by CFC.
The statement, signed by the Administrative Secretary, Dr Richard Ntui, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, indicated that the exercise is in line with the provision of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), adding that the voters’ registration will commence simultaneously in all the 774 local government areas of the INEC offices nationwide.
He explained that the exercise is for citizens who have attained the age of 18 years or were not previously registered.
Ntui said registered voters who have not collected their permanent voters’ card can use the opportunity to do so, appealing to citizens to avail themselves with the opportunity to do what is right.
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced, last week, that it will commence a nationwide continuous voter registration on April 27 across the 774 local government areas of the federation.
The Commissioner in charge of Operations, Mrs Amina Zakari, who disclosed this in a statement, last Wednesday, after a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECS) and Administrative Secretaries from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, stated that the exercise would take place from 9 am to 3 pm on weekdays (Mondays to Fridays), excluding public holidays.
Zakari said the registration centres shall be the local government offices of the commission or such other suitable locations as would be made public by the state offices of lNEC.
She also stated that the decision was taken at the meeting following INEC consultations with stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organisations and the media, explaining that the exercise was intended to enable citizens who have turned 18 years of age since the last registration exercise as well as those who did not register during the last exercise to register as voters.
According to her, “It also will allow those seeking transfer of their registration from one state to another or within a state from polling unit to another to do so.
“The exercise also intends to enable the distribution of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to those who could not collect them before or since the last general elections.”
Zakari also explained that the exercise will also enable citizens who have the Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) but whose names are on the register to collect their PVCs, advising those who were already registered not to do so again as it was an offence to register more than once.
“The commission wishes to reiterate its commitment to consolidating our democracy. This we are going to do by ensuring that citizens are given the opportunity to register as voters on a continuous basis as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) well before elections.’’
Meanwhile, as the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), gets set to commence the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, tomorrow, across the 774 local government areas of the federation, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Rivers State chapter, Bro Felix Obuah, has called on the commission to ensure the exercise is transparent and devoid of discrimination, manipulation and intimidation.
Obuah also welcomed the INEC exercise, believing that it would improve the data base and increase voters’ participation in the forthcoming general elections, only if it is done without bias by the handlers of the process.
He particularly called on INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu as well as the INEC National Commissioner, Mrs Amina Zakari not to see the exercise as another opportunity to demonstrate their preference and ‘loyalty’ to a particular political party and section of the country, as kinsmen to the President. But should rather prove to Nigerians that they are detribalised, apolitical, and objectively carrying out the mandate of a federal and ‘independent’ commission.
He believed that the voter registration exercise offers the commission another opportunity to correct its already battered image, by doing the right, and to ensure that all units and wards in the 774 LGAs in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are accurately covered in terms of fresh registration and distribution of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The PDP chairman observed that apart from helping to consolidate the nation’s democracy, the success of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration would greatly impact on the conduct of the forthcoming elections, and therefore, put the commission on test as it engages in the exercise.
The party, therefore, called on all eligible citizens, particularly all those who have turned 18 years of age since the last registration, as well as those who did not register during the last exercise, to come out enmass to the various registration centres and ensure they are duly registered.
The PDP also urged all its members and eligible electorate who have the Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) but whose names are on the register to ensure they collected their PVCs to avoid it being issued to impostors by unscrupulous elements and agents of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), as witnessed in previous elections.
The Rivers PDP chairman further charged all relevant security agencies and institutions to commit themselves more to ensuring that the voter registration exercise was not manipulated by the ruling party, or compromised by officials of the commission, as every qualified Nigerian has the right of participation in the exercise, as contained in the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) without being intimidated, denied, or coerced by any superior power or authority.
“It’s important that the commission ensures its staff involved in the registration exercise are always at their duty post during the hours of the exercise, and not hoard the PVCs/TVCs. They should also allow equal, free access to all potential registrants, no matter the sex, political affiliation, state of origin, or religions background”, Obuah emphasised.
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Fubara Reaffirms Commitment To Blue Economy, Private Sector Growth …Calls For Protection Of Marine Resources
The Rivers State Government has reaffirmed its commitment towards fostering private sector-driven economic growth and harnessing the vast opportunities within the blue economy to drive national development.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, made this known during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), held in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.
Represented by his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, Governor Fubara described the conference theme, “The Gulf of Guinea and Blue Economy: Pathways to Trade, Investment and Security Towards a $1 Trillion Economy,” as both timely and strategic.
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?The governor welcomed the leadership of NACCIMA, delegates from the 115 Chambers of Commerce across Nigeria, members of the diplomatic corps, captains of industry, investors, and other distinguished guests to Rivers State.
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?He commended the National President of NACCIMA, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, for choosing Rivers State as the host of the 2026 conference, noting that the decision had drawn national attention to the immense economic opportunities embedded in the blue economy.
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?Fubara stated that the blue economy possesses the capacity to generate revenue that could surpass earnings from the oil and gas sector if properly developed and managed.
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?He stressed the need for Nigeria and other countries along the Gulf of Guinea to take deliberate steps toward maximizing the benefits of their maritime resources while guarding against the continued exploitation of coastal assets by foreign operators.
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?Expressing concern over the activities of foreign fishing trawlers operating in Nigerian waters, the governor noted that many harvest seafood resources without making meaningful economic contributions to the country.
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?He emphasized the need for stronger monitoring mechanisms and enhanced protection of Nigeria’s marine resources.
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?”We must wake up and hit the ground running. If we do not capitalize on and utilize our blue economy, other nations will utilize it for us,” he stated.
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?The governor thanked NACCIMA for what he described as a timely wake-up call on the importance of the blue economy and maritime security, adding that the successful hosting of the conference in Rivers State demonstrates the state’s safety, hospitality, and readiness for business and investment.
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?Earlier in his remarks, the President of NACCIMA, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Government for hosting the 66th Annual General Conference of the Association and for the warm reception accorded delegates.
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?He noted that the state’s commitment to hosting the conference reflects its readiness for business and has helped restore investors’ confidence in its economic potential.
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?According to him, NACCIMA highly values the cordial relationship between the Rivers State Government and the organized private sector, emphasizing that the association remains the foremost voice of the Nigerian business community.
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?In her welcome address, the President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, described the conference as a historic milestone, noting that it was the first time in the Chamber’s 66-year history that it was hosting the national body of NACCIMA.
Nwoga commended the national leadership for entrusting PHCCIMA with the hosting rights and pledged the Chamber’s continued commitment to advancing the objectives of the association and promoting sustainable economic growth through private sector engagement.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has ordered a complete seal-off of the site of a five-storey building which collapsed last Wednesday, killing one person and injuring several others in Port Harcourt.
Fubara gave the order during his visit to the site of the collapsed building last Thursday to assess the situation.
He said the site will remain “completely sealed off” until the government gets to the “root cause” of the incident.
He described the incident as unfortunate but observed that preliminary investigation had shown that the developer had earlier refused to subject his site to inspection by the state authorities and comply with the necessary building regulations.
The governor, who inspected the site alongside the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sir Amairigha Edward Hart, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties, Dabite Sokari George, explained that he couldn’t visit the site the previous day because he was awaiting formal briefing from the relevant agency of government on the situation.
“We’re here to see for ourselves the very unfortunate incident that took place here. I didn’t come yesterday because I wanted to get the report first, and the Commissioner did brief me that the incident site, first, is not as claimed by the developer, that it’s not under the jurisdiction of the state; that it’s under the jurisdiction of the Federal Housing Authority.
“He also informed me that when the project was ongoing, they came here severally to inspect what was happening and also to see the level of compliance. But unfortunately, that the developer kept claiming that we don’t have any right to interfere,” he said.
Fubara said that the issue was no longer about interference but about the life lost to the building collapse and the collateral damage brought upon the family of the deceased.
He extended condolences to the families of the victims, insisting that the incident could have been avoided if the developer had complied with the rules guiding the engineering design and construction of such a structure in the 21st century.
“We feel very sorry and very regretful that such an incident should be happening in this 21st century because technology has advanced, engineering has developed. I wonder what kind of engineer would even allow this kind of project to go on when everything about it from inception has been faulty.
“I think that at this point, nothing is going to happen on this site any more. We are going to make sure that this place is completely sealed off until we get to the root cause of this incident,” the governor said.
The Transmission Commission of Nigeria has announced electricity disruption in parts of Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Yobe States, as well as Gazaoua in the Niger Republic.
The spokesperson of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement yesterday
The outage is due to planned maintenance at Kumbotos’ 330 kilovolt transmission substation on Sunday.
Consequently, electricity customers served by Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Yola Electricity Distribution Company will experience power disruption.
“The scheduled maintenance is to enable the TCN contractor to continue the ongoing upgrade of 330kV bus II jumpers and replace the existing 350mm² conductors with 800mm² conductors in order to strengthen the transmission network and improve power reliability.
“As a result, Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and some part of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) and Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) will be unable to off-take power for distribution to their customers in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States, as well as Azare in Bauchi State, Nguru in Yobe State, and also Gazaoua in the Niger Republic,” TCN stated.
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