Politics
Wike Marks Supreme Court Victory With Thanksgiving
Activities opened in Government House, Port Harcourt,
last week, with a special thanksgiving service organized by the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, as mark of gratitude to God for his victory at the Supreme Court on a litigation challenging his eligibility to contest the 2019 gubernatorial election.
The event which took place last Tuesday at the Chapel of Everlasting Grace, Government House, was graced by members of the State Executive Council, top members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Permanent Secretaries, members of the State House of Assembly, local government council chairmen, heads of government agencies, staff of the Government House, amongst others.
Governor Wike who took the first Bible reading, later narrated how one Achinike Wobodo, an aide to the former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, filed a suit at the Federal High Court and lost in 2018, only for him to return in 2019 to file same eligibility suit against him, with another person as the plaintiff while he (Wobodo) served as counsel.
The Governor said that Chibuike Amaechi and his cohorts had taken unimaginable steps in his desperate efforts to frustrate the development of the state but all those efforts failed because God continued to intervene in the affairs of Rivers State.
He regretted that inspite of extending an Oliver Branch to political opponents, they have continued unnecessary political battles that will not benefit t he state. He restated the need for all to join hands with this administration to build the state irrespective of party differences stressing that all efforts to demarket that state must stop.
The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Barr Philip Okparaji hailed Gov Wike on his victory at the Supreme Court and said the victory was not only for Gov Wike but for Rivers State and Democracy.
The new Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura was in Government House, Wednesday, on a courtesy visit to the state chief executive.
While receiving the commissioner, Gov Wike expressed worry over what he termed frequent change of security chiefs in the state, saying such development makes it difficult to plan for the improvement of security in the state.
Wike regretted that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerians Army, Major-General Jamil Sarham has not been transferred despite the mass transfer of officers across the country by the Army High Command.
Wike said he was surprised that despite the ugly and shameful role the GOC played during the past elections in the state, the Army High Command chose to retain him in Rivers State.
The new commissioner of police lauded Wike for the huge support he has been giving to all security agencies in the state particularly for recent donation of 50 patrol vans to the Rivers State Police Command.
Dandaura assured the governor that he would remain politically neutral and professional in the discharge of his duties. The police boss implored sister security agencies to work in synergy with the police to improve security in the state.
In the week under review, Governor Wike approved the appointment of the Emir of Lafia, His Royal Highness Sidi Bage as the chancellor of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
Wike relied on section 3 and schedule 1 of the Rivers State University Law, 2017, which gave the governor the impetus to make the appointment. The appointment took immediate effect.
Another major event in Brick House, last week, was the security Town Hal Meeting, Governor Wike held at Choba on Friday. In the meeting were security chiefs in the state, chiefs of Choba as well as leaders and youth groups in the area.
At the meeting, the governor recounted some ugly security situations that unfolded in Choba in recent time particularly the killing of a prominent son of the area and a director in the state civil service.
Wike said, “We have made some arrests and police have commended investigation on the security situation. Anybody who is linked to the killing in the area would be brought to justice”, adding that any person detained in connection with insecurity in the area would be brought to justice.
He said that Choba used to be a peaceful community until this recent time and warned that enough is enough.
Wike enjoined the traditional head of the area to convene a meeting with chiefs and other stakeholders in the area to see that peace is restored in the area.
Governor Wike on Saturday announced the establishment of Educational Trust Fund in honour of late Colonel Ken Elemele, a son of the state who fell in Boko Haram, ambush between Yobe and Borno recently. He said that fund would help train the four children of the late officer.
He described the death of late Elemele as a sad loss to the state and the entire country.
Wike who was represented to the event by his chief of staff, Engineer Chikwuemeka Woke, said that the Education Trust Fund would take off with an initial seed money of N30 million.
On same Saturday Governor Wike embarked on an inspection of ongoing projects in Port Harcourt and its environs. Among the projects visited were the Rumuwoji Market popularly called Mile One Market, the Fruit Garden Market and Judges Quarters.
The Governor expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of work on the project sites and said he was confident that the projects would be inaugurated in the first one hundred days of his second term.
Chris Oluoh
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had taken note of Mr Obi’s defection alongside some of his supporters, as well as what it called a “lacklustre speech” delivered by the former Anambra State governor at the defection event.
“We wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians,” the party said, adding that it was not surprised by the move, having “since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.”
According to the statement, the faction said it had patiently awaited Mr Obi’s exit, describing it as a blessing.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the party said.
The faction further disclosed that it had previously urged Mr Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unable to work with the party leadership.
It claimed that several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Mr Obi but for the intervention of “some well-meaning Nigerians.”
It also blamed its internal crisis on Mr Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership.
“The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti,” the statement alleged, adding that it was surprising Dr Otti had not followed Mr Obi out of the party despite his suspension.
Reacting to Mr Obi’s defection event in Enugu, the faction claimed the gathering was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, insisting that those present were “political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.”
It warned that this development signalled the failure of any future Mr Obi presidential or vice-presidential ambition, claiming he had “clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior to 2023.”
The faction also accused Mr Obi of misleading the South East during the 2023 elections, alleging that the region suffers political marginalisation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a result.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement said, alleging disparities in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation to the zone.
The Abure-Led LP apologised to Nigerians for its decision in the last election.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
It urged Nigerians to watch out for a rebranded Labour Party, promising to present “the best prospect” capable of returning Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”
steadily toward unity, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Oluyede said the development came as a shock, stressing that INEC supervised and monitored the PDP governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate.
According to him, INEC officials documented the process, completed all required forms, and even affirmed his candidacy in court through sworn affidavits arising from cases linked to the primary election.
He maintained that no court order or injunction currently restrains INEC from listing his name as the PDP candidate, arguing that the electoral body lacks the constitutional power to determine who emerges as a party’s nominee.
Dr Oluyede described such decisions as the exclusive responsibility of political parties, not the electoral umpire.
While playing down panic over the released list, Dr Oluyede noted that electoral processes often involve reviews and corrections.
He disclosed that he had commenced wide consultations, including engagements with PDP leadership and formal correspondence with INEC, to seek clarification on the omission and determine the next line of action.
The PDP candidate assured his supporters across Ekiti State that he would appear on the ballot, expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved in his favour.
He described attempts to exclude candidates from elections as dangerous and undemocratic, warning that such tactics undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
Dr Oluyede called on the people of Ekiti to reject any form of disenfranchisement, insisting that elections should be contests of ideas, records, and acceptance by the electorate rather than exclusionary maneuvers.
He also declared that the PDP in Ekiti had resolved its past internal crises and was now united, focused, and ready to win the forthcoming governorship election.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused, expressing optimism that, with divine grace and the will of the people, the PDP would emerge victorious at the polls.
Mr Obi spoke while formally declaring for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a well-attended event in Enugu on Wednesday, where he outlined what he described as a fresh roadmap for rescuing the country from its socio-economic challenges.
Addressing party members, supporters and other stakeholders, the former governor stressed that leadership must be driven by integrity and accountability, warning against the culture of double standards in public office.
“We cannot continue to deceive our people. Leadership is about telling the truth and leading by example. You cannot promise one thing in public and do another in private. That is not leadership, and that is not the change Nigeria needs”, Mr Obi said.
He maintained that genuine national rebirth would only be possible if entrenched wrongs were corrected, adding that governance must be guided by competence, discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
Mr Obi also underscored the need for fresh thinking in the nation’s political space, urging political actors to move away from recycled ideas that have failed to deliver sustainable development.
“We must come with new ideas,” he said, adding that “Nigeria’s problems are not mysterious; what has been lacking is the courage and competence to address them differently. We need a new approach that puts people first and focuses on production, not consumption.”
Calling for a broad based political collaboration, Mr Obi appealed to parties and stakeholders across ideological divides to work together in the national interest.
“This country is bigger than any party or individual. All parties must come together to change the present trend. What matters is not the platform, but the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens”, he declared.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi challenged aspirants seeking elective offices to ensure transparency in their credentials, warning that the era of falsified certificates was drawing to a close.
“Anyone contesting for any position in 2027 must come with genuine certificates. All the machinery is now in place to verify what is genuine and what is not. Integrity must start from the very foundation of leadership”, he stated.
Drawing lessons from international development models, Mr Obi cited Rwanda and Indonesia as examples of countries that rose from difficult beginnings to become thriving economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies.
“These countries were once behind us,” he noted, adding that “Today, they are moving ahead because they chose competent leadership, clear vision and policies that support local production and human capital development.”
He also criticised the economic policies of the present administration, particularly the continued importation of food items that can be produced locally, describing such practices as inimical to national development.
“You cannot grow an economy by killing local production. Importing food that we can produce in Nigeria destroys jobs, weakens our farmers and drains our foreign exchange. A serious country must produce what it consumes”, he argued.
The event featured renewed calls from ADC supporters for sustained engagement and mobilisation, as Mr Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria remains redeemable if led with honesty, competence and a commitment to shared national progress.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, expressed confidence in the emerging coalition, assuring Nigerians that the party would deliver good governance at all levels of administration if entrusted with power.
The gathering also witnessed the defection of several prominent politicians from different political parties across the South-East and beyond.
The motion endorsing the defection was moved by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by former economic adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Goodwill messages from notable political figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, Chief Sam Egwu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji among others, further underscored the growing momentum within the ADC.
