Rivers

Kudos, Knocks Greet Electoral Act Passage

Published

8 years ago

April 3, 2017

As reactions continue to greet the passage of the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 (Amendment) Bill 2017 into law last week by the National Assembly, the Chairman of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in Rivers State, Deacon Princewill Enyi says the development “is a plus to the National Assembly but minus to Nigerians”.
Enyi who was reacting to the recent passage of the bill by the National Assembly in Port Harcourt, said the Electronic Voting Act passage by the red chambers is just a trial Act on Nigerians.
According to him: “Until and unless the National Orientation Agency (NOA) does its duty of extensive, elaborate grassroots sensitisation of the citizenry on the issues accent by the presidency, efforts, resources yet to be expended on the programme may be a waste.
The Chairman of the Social Democratic Party in Rivers State, EngrJoshua Worlu described the passage of the Bill by the Senate as a bold, innovative and common sense step on Electoral Reforms designed to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
Worlu commended the National Assembly, stating that it will reduce rigging and snatching of ballot boxes in the next and subsequent elections in the state and the nation.
Also speaking, A legal practitioner and former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, Barrister Clifford Oparaodu commended the National Assembly and noted that the new law will return power to the people rather than to politicians who put themselves back to power and oppress the less privileged.
The chairman caretaker committee, Asari-Toru LGA, lauded the National Assembly for taking the bold step to amend the electoral Act, stressing that this has been one of the outstanding laws passed by the 8th Assembly.
The Tide learnt that if the presidency assent’s to the law, then there shall now be full biometric accreditation of voters with Smart Card Readers and/or other technological devices, as INEC may, from time to time, introduce for elections.
It also means that the Presiding Officers must now instantly transmit accreditation data and results from Polling Units to various collation centres. Presiding officer who contravenes this shall be imprisoned for at least 5 years (no option of fine).
While all Presiding Officers must now first record accreditation data and polling results on INEC’s prescribed forms before transmitting them, the data/result recorded must be the same as what they transmitted.
The Act, it was learnt, gives INEC unfettered powers to conduct elections by electronic voting and manual registers, INEC is now mandated to keep Electronic registers of voters.
It also empowers INEC to publish voters’ registers on its official website(s) for public scrutiny at least 30 days before a general election and any INEC staff who is responsible for this but fails to act as prescribed shall be liable on conviction to six months’ imprisonment.
Other things expected of INEC is to keep a National Electronic Register of Election Results as a distinct database or repository of polling unit by polling unit results for all elections conducted by INEC.
Collation of election result is now mainly electronic, as transmitted unit results will help to determine final results on real time basis and INEC mandated to record details of electoral materials – quantities, serial numbers used to conduct elections (for proper tracking).
A political party whose candidate dies after commencement of an election and before the declaration of the result of that election now has a 14-day window to conduct a fresh primary in order for INEC to conduct a fresh election within 21 days of the death of the party’s candidate;
Political parties’ Polling Agents are now entitled to inspect originals of electoral materials before commencement of election and any Presiding Officer who violates this provision of the law shall be imprisoned for at least1 year.
No political party can impose qualification/disqualification criteria, measures or conditions on any Nigerian for the purpose of nomination for elective offices, except as provided in the 1999 Constitution.
The election of a winner of an election can no longer be challenged on grounds of qualification, if the he (winner) satisfied the applicable requirements of sections 65, 106, 131 or 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and he is not, as may be applicable, in breach of sections 66, 107, 137 or 182 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. [For example, a person’s election cannot be challenged on the ground that he did not pay tax, as this is not a qualifying condition under the Constitution.]
All members of political parties are now eligible to determine the ad-hoc delegates to elect candidates of parties in indirect primaries. The capacity of party executives to unduly influence or rig party primaries has been reasonably curtailed, if not totally removed.
Parties can no longer impose arbitrary nomination fees on political aspirants. The Bill passed prescribes limits for each elective office as follows:
(a) One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000) for a Ward Councillorship aspirant in the FCT;
(b) Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250,000) for an

Rivers

NDDC Charges Youths On Sustainable Peace In The Region

Published

4 days ago

September 13, 2025

The Tide

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has charged youths across the nine states of the commission to be ambassadors of peace building initiatives .
This move is to sustain the existing peace to propel development across the region.

The NDDC managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku,gave the directive while declaring open a capacity building program for Niger Delta stakeholders on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and inclusive peace for sustainable development organised by the department of dispute and conflict resolution ( DCR) of the commission held in port Harcourt, Tuesday.

The program which is part of activities to mark the silver jubilee celebration of the birth of the commission has the theme: fostering lasting peace through ADR : lessons from the past, building future opportunities to advance the renewed hope agenda.

The NDDC managing Director/chief executive officer represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo advised the youths of Niger Delta region to be vanguards of peace and avoid actions that could jeopardize the existing peace achieved in the region.

He emphasised that sustainable development can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace devoid of rancour and acrimony, stressing that as critical stakeholders in the region, they are to seen themselves as agents of development and to build frontiers with the commission to advance the developmental needs of the people of Niger Delta region.

He averred that the various developmental achieved by the commission was associated to the prevailing peace and stability noticed in the region.

He opined that the essence of the workshop is to brainstorm with the various stakeholders in the region ,especially the youths, on how best to ensure that the existing peace in region is sustained and how we can best manage ourselves without being confrontational.

According to him,the commission is open for positive and constructive engagement , adding that dialogue and meditation remains the key to finding a lasting peace in the society.

” I am excited on the level of people in this workshop and our core mandate is how to build and sustain the existing peace in the region.How do we keep and maintain this peace already achieved.”he stated.

The NDDC managing Director and chief executive officer urged them to carry the message of peace and stability to their various communities and villages so as to assist the commission achieve it’s core mandate of development in the Region.

Earlier in his welcome of address, the acting director, Dispute & Conflict Resolution (DCR),Ogedegbe Ayewumi Godwin(Esq), said the gathering is with shared commitment to harness the power of alternative dispute resolution ( ADR)as a critical instrument for sustaining peace, unlocking development and advancing the renewed Hope Agenda across the Niger Delta and beyond.

He stated that we stand at a consequential moment in our national journey, noting that the theme for the workshop “fostering lasting peace through ADR: lessons from the past, Building future opportunities to advance the renewed Hope Agenda”calls us to reflect deeply on what has worked, what must be reinforced and how we can leverage ADR to translate policy intentions into tangible, peaceful, and prosperous outcome for communities that have borne the brunt of conflict for too long.

Akujobi Amadi

Rivers

Rivers CJ Tasks RSMDC Arbitrators To Be Neutral, Unbiased In Determining Cases

Published

4 days ago

September 13, 2025

The Tide

The Chief Judge of Rivers state, justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has charged neutral arbitrators participating in the median edition of the first free settlement Alternative Dispute Resolution initiative organised by the state multi _Door Courthouse to be neutral and unbiased in adjudicating cases brought before them for determination.

Justice Amadi stated this while declaring open a one _week free settlement initiative program held at the chief judge ceremonial court complex held on Monday,in port Harcourt.

The state chief judge represented on the event by justice I.R.Minakiri said the essence of the initiative is to provide faster and lesser means of conflict resolution in the state.

According to him,ADR is the oldest practice in dispute resolution as its foundation is traceable to the bible ,using the moses model of dispute resolution and settlement approach,noting that conflicts can not be ruled out in human activities

He urged them to be intentional and have clear vision on cases brought before them and avoid ethnic and cultural colouration while discharging their sacred responsibility, nothing that those involved in peace making are regarded as true sons of God as recorded in the scripture.

The number one judiciary worker in the state use the opportunity to thank the neutrals for responding to call of duty and dispensing justice free of charge, noting that there huge contributions to peace building and conflict resolution in the state can not be overemphasized.

“You must be open minded and avoid being stereotype so that you can have a clear vision on the cases brought before you”

Earlier in his welcome address,the director, State multi _Door Court House, (RSMDC),victor Nweke,Esq said the
one-week free settlement initiative through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) was part of efforts to ease congestion in conventional courts.

Nweke encouraged the public to utilize the platform, particularly for commercial and family-related disputes and explained that the law establishing the institution empowers it to undertake such functions, adding that cases not concluded within the free settlement week would still be finalized under the same privilege.

He posisted that the hallmark of the conduct of the session is the neutrality and confidentiality and commended the arbitrators for the volunteering there time to dispense free justice and intermediate in conflict resolution in the state free of charge

Rivers

Technology Key to Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Development, Says Computer Scientist

Published

5 days ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

Dr. Legborsi Emmanuel, former state Chairman of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), has emphasized that technology is the sure way for Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

He made this assertion while speaking with newsmen at the sideline of 118th inaugural lecture series of Rivers State University (RSU) held in port Harcourt, wednesday.

He stressed that the lecture, which focused on emerging technology and its impact on the socio-economic development of the country, aligns with the NCS’s economic focus.

He highlighted the importance of building an economy driven by technology, citing the success of the Rivers State Smart Economy policy as an example.

The computer scientist emphasized the need for innovation and doing things differently, asserting that “technology is the only way out” for Nigeria’s development. He praised the lecturer, Professor Mathias Daniel, for exploring the applications of technology in various sectors, including agriculture, industry, transport, and socio-economics.

Dr. Emmanuel underscores the critical role technology plays in driving socio-economic growth and development in Nigeria by leveraging technology, the country can unlock new opportunities and address pressing challenges.

Akujobi Amadi