Politics
S’Court Victory Excites Wike
The special thanksgiving to celebrate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Supreme Court Victory, penultimate week, led other activities in Government House last week.
Speaking at the interdenominational service held at the Ecumenical Centre, the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said Rivers State is dear to God hence the judgement went in favour of senator Makarfi led caretaker committee. Wike noted that Rivers State was in the forefront of the fight to get justice, hence there was need to thank God for his mercies.
The Rivers State Governor described Senator Sheriff as an agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilize and destroy the party.
He expressed gratitude to God for giving PDP leaders the wisdom to discover Sheriff’s ploy early in order to save it from doom.
Last Monday, Governor Wike played host to the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services. He used the visit to announce that the State will flag off the total rehabilitation of 175 primary schools across the state.
The governor held that rather than establish another commission to cater for the infrastructural needs of senior secondary schools, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) should be empowered by law to handle such issues as it will be more economical for the country.
In Rivers State, he stated that his administration was re-positioning basic education to secure the future of the state. He regretted that though some states claim they have made primary education their top priority, it is worrisome that such states leave UBEC fund un-accessed.
Also last Monday, the governor was represented by his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo at the 2017 France National Day Celebration in Port Harcourt.
The governor expressed regrets that while French Nationals were out in the streets and beaches celebrating democracy of several –centuries and good memories last year, terrorists struck to cut short the celebration.
He urged French Government to partner with the Rivers State Government in its development quest, “we want you to be our ambassador to bring in more companies, more investors to the state”.
Last Wednesday, the governor attended a special expanded caucus meeting of the PDP at Abuja. The meeting was held to chart a new course for the party after leadership tussle was laid to rest by the country’s Supreme Court.
The state first lady, Justice Eberechi Nyesom Wike issued a statement Wednesday over activities of fraudsters using her picture and name on social media. She urged members of the public to disregard requests by these fraudsters, urging them to report any further fraudulent requests in her name.
Last Thursday, the governor flagged off the reconstruction and furnishing of 175 basic schools across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state before now, the school were in deplorable condition abandoned by the immediate past administration.
At the event, Chief Wike announced that his administration had awarded contracts for the equipping of laboratories of selected secondary schools and re-stocking of libraries.
The governor took time off last Friday to inspect ongoing projects. He visited the Bonny/ Bille Jetty, judges Estate site, Sani Abacha Round reconstruction and assured that he would not be deterred by the rains to complete the projects.
At the weekend, the governor through, his deputy attended the wedding of Miss Member at Christ Church Port Harcourt.
Alhaji Mohammed Kasim, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Philip Akpeni, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Sunday morning.
Alhaji Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat Alhaji Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 17,788 votes.
Alhaji Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1, 687 to come in third place.
“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026,” Akpeni said.
“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, the APC candidate, was declared the winner of the chairmanship poll with 40,295 votes.
Andrew Abue, the Collation Officer for AMAC, said Hon. Maikalangu, who is the incumbent AMAC chairman, was returned elected having scored the highest number of votes cast.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.
According to Abue, the total number of valid votes in the chairmanship poll was 62,861, while the total votes cast stood at 65,197.
He added that the number of registered voters in AMAC was 837,338, while the total number of accredited voters was 65,676.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship election.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Bwari, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, stated that Ishaku polled a total of 18,466 votes to emerge victorious in the February 21, 2026 poll.
“I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Bwari chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026. That Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Nurudeen said.
According to the results declared, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 3,515 votes to place second and third respectively.
The declaration adds to the series of results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, as political parties assess their performance ahead of future contests.
INEC UPLOADS 2,602 OF 2,822 FCT CHAIRMANSHIP RESULTS ON IReV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had uploaded 2,602 out of the 2,822 expected polling unit results from Saturday’s chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at 5:55am on Sunday, data retrieved from its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed.
According to The Tide source, the figure represents an overall upload rate of about 92.2 per cent across the six area councils of the territory.
A council-by-council breakdown indicates that Municipal Area Council recorded the highest number of submissions in absolute terms, with 1,309 of 1,401 polling unit results uploaded, representing 93.43 per cent.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, 330 of the expected 338 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 97.63 per cent — the highest upload rate among the six councils.
In Bwari Area Council, INEC uploaded 463 of 485 polling unit results, translating to 95.46 per cent.
In Abaji Area Council, 129 of 135 polling unit results had been uploaded as at 5:55am, representing 95.56 per cent.
In Kwali Area Council, 164 of the expected 201 polling unit results were available on the portal, representing 81.59 per cent.
In Kuje Area Council, 207 of 262 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 79.01 per cent — the lowest rate among the six councils as at the time of review.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the swift assent as a clear demonstration of political will to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We see the decision by President Bola Tinubu to sign the reworked 2022 Electoral Act into law within a few hours of its passage as a demonstration of political will to ensure an improved electoral process which the new law envisages,” the group said.
The TMSG expressed confidence that the development would enable the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to quickly align its operations with the new provisions in preparation for the 2027 polls.
The group noted that the provision for electronic transmission of results had been contentious but described its codification in the law as a significant step forward.
“So, for the first time, the country’s electoral law would be recognising the use of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the result viewing portal, IREV, which were just INEC guidelines in 2023,” it stated.
According to the TMSG, although the Act provides for electronic transmission of results from polling units to the IREV portal, it also makes room for manual transmission of Form EC8A result sheets as a backup in the event of technological failure.
“Unlike some Nigerians, we do not see anything wrong with the fallback plan but we agree with the President that no matter how beautiful a process is with improved technology, the onus lies on the people manning it to show good faith and ensure that the votes of the people really count at the end of the day,” the statement added.
The group highlighted other key provisions in the amended law, including the streamlining of party primaries to either consensus or direct primaries, early release of funds to INEC, reinforced measures against over-voting, and stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as falsification of results.
It also pointed out that the mandatory notice period for elections has been reduced from 360 days to 300 days, giving INEC more flexibility in adjusting the timetable for the 2027 elections, especially where it may clash with Ramadan.
The TMSG further observed that the President’s decision to sign the bill days before the forthcoming Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) underscores his desire for the law to take immediate effect.
“And by signing the amendment bill a few days before the Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is obvious that the President is keen on ensuring that the 2026 Electoral Act takes immediate effect.
“Nigerians would also have an opportunity to see some of the key provisions of the new electoral law become operational, especially the electronic transmission of results,” it said.
The group expressed optimism that the current INEC leadership would leverage the new legal framework to deliver a more credible and widely acceptable electioneering process than in previous electoral cycles.
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