Politics

Wike Dedicates Victory To Rivers People

Published

7 years ago

April 22, 2019

Activities in Government House, last week, opened with a family Thanksgiving Service by Gov Wike and his family yesterday.
At the event which held in Salvation Ministries Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Gov said his victory is victory for the state and urged Rivers people to see it as a mark of new beginning.
“ Nobody has won and nobody has lost the elections. But Rivers State has won.
“ I forgive anyone that has wronged me and I also ask for forgiveness from those that I have wronged “, he stated, noting that he was in the church to thank God for His faithfulness in the face of fierce political battles during the 2019 General Elections.
Another major event in Brick House last week was the fall of the Governor’s hammer on twelve local government chairmen in the state.
The twelve council chairmen were suspended and asked to handover to their deputies for failing to attend a state function Wednesday in Government House.
The Governor’s big stick is coming on the heels of his warning to those occupying positions of trust in the state that it would not be business as usual. The affected council chairmen are those of Okrika, Emohua, Abua/Odual, Degema, Khana, Gokana, and Ahoada East
Others are: Ikwerre, Eleme, Andoni, Omuma and Ogu/Bolo.
Wike notified the Rivers State House of Assembly of the suspension of the chairmen through a letter to the Speaker of the House with the title ‘ Notice of Suspension of Twelve Local Government Council’, and premised his action on Section 64 (3) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.
Wike has set up a 233- member committee to organise the fourth Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of his First term and inauguration of his second term.
The Committee which is headed by the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Okpara was charged by the Governor to see it as opportunity to render service to the state.
Okpara who thanked the Governor for considering the appointees worthy assured that they would organise standard event that would make the state and Nigeria happy, stressing that Gov Wike’s administration deserves to be celebrated.
Wike, last week, vowed the readiness of the state government to frontally tackle cult-related violence and killings in some parts of the state.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Monday when the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers paid him a congratulatory visit on his reelection, Wike said his administration would take the fight to the cultists.
He appealed to the traditional rulers to partner the state government in the fight to make the state peaceful and attract investors.
Later same day, the Governor played host to the principal officers and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who also paid him a congratulatory visit over his reelection victory.
The Governor urged them to recommit and rededicate themselves to service to the people of the state. He also advised members to refrain from lobbying for positions and let the leadership of the party consider who occupies which positions.
He said: “If you know what we passed through, the victory must humble everybody. Recommit and rededicate yourselves to service to the people”.
Another major event last week in Government House was the presentation of Certificate of Return to Gov Wike by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu who represented Chairman of INEC, presented the certificate of return to the Rivers State Governor.
The Deputy Governor, Dr lpalibo Harry Banigo and elected House of Assembly members also received their certificates of return.

Chris Oluoh

Politics

Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice

Published

2 weeks ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.

The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”

Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.

The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.

The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.

At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.

Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.

The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.

However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.

According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.

Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.

The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Politics

APC Resumes Electronic Membership Registration Nationwide

Published

2 weeks ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the resumption of its electronic membership registration exercise across the country.

In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.

He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.

“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.

According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).

The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.

Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”

He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.

The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.

Politics

AKPABIO, DIRI, OBOREVWORI, OTHERS VOW TO REELECT TINUBU …AS GIADOM RETAINS APC ZONAL CHAIR

Published

2 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has declared that with the six South-South states now being controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the zone is set to return the highest votes cast for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He stated this in Asaba, Delta State, at the party’s zonal congress, noting that the coming together of the governors of the region in the APC was made possible by its zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom.

Senator Akpabio also praised the outgone zonal chieftains of the party, saying they worked hard for the unity of the party and the zone.

“Now that we are complete and focused, we will be the geo-political zone in Nigeria that will turn out the highest votes in 2027 for President Tinubu.

“In the last 46 years or so, our region had not produced a senate president. But under President Tinubu, the South-South region is recognised. We thank the president for giving the South-South a senate president”, he said.

In his speech, the Bayelsa State Governor, and Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Senator Douye Diri, described the APC adoption of the consensus option for electing its officials as the best way to foster unity and consolidation in the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He expressed satisfaction that politically, the South-South zone now speaks with one voice under the APC, stressing the need for the region to be part of the decision-making process at the national level.

The governor recalled that when he contested for the governorship in 2019, the delegate election process for primaries in the political parties made the exercise rancorous, saying

the slogan then was that without delegates, there will be no governor, but that that has since changed with the consensus mode.

“I like to align myself with the previous speakers on the unity of the South-South zone. In this region politically, the South-South now speaks with one voice. This is important because of the strategic nature of the zone.

“If you are not on the sharing table, in terms of decision-making process, you will be left behind. We need to be united that we will not allow petty divisions among us.

“Let us work together for the unity and protection of APC in the South-South and God willing, all our candidates will come out tops in the 2027 elections. There cannot be anything better than a united family.

“Let me congratulate President Bola Tinubu for his remarkable achievements so far. Political events such as elective congresses like this were usually filled with rancour and violence. But, today, we have adopted the consensus model to produce our party executives from the wards to the regional level”, Senator Diri said.

In their goodwill messages, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and others all spoke on unity of purpose to be able to re-elect the President for a second term.

Meanwhile, Chief Victor Giadom was returned as the party’s zonal chairman alongside seven other zonal executives of the party.

Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, moved the motion for the dissolution of the immediate past zonal executive of the party and was seconded by his Bayelsa State counterpart, Abraham Ingobere.

In his remarks, the reelected zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom, said the gathering of the six governors of the region, lawmakers, ministers and other major stakeholders was an indication of the zone’s commitment to return all APC candidates in next year’s poll.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa