Politics
LG Polls: Why We’re Contesting In 12 LGAs Only – ZLP
As the April 17, 2021 date for the conduct of the local government chairmanship and cancillorship elections in Rivers State draws nigh, the contending political parties in the state have revved up activities to sensitise and woo voters in the nooks and crannies of the state. While mega parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have held mega rallies and other elaborate activities to create awareness and draw attention to themselves, minor parties seem to be also carrying out vigorous campaigns without much fanfare.
One of such political parties that appears to quietly working hard to make impact in the forthcoming local polls is the relatively young Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). Recently, the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Ben Chinedu Ogbobula granted an interview to The Tide where he spoke extensively on his party’s preparedness to put up an impressive showing in the impending polls, disclosing that, for strategic reasons, the ZLP is fielding candidates for the election in only 12 of the 23 local government areas.
According to Hon. Ogbobula, the party’s decision to limit its participation is informed by the reality of limited resources available to it, adding that it was the party’s desire to concentrate its efforts and make appreciable impact rather than attempt to go the whole hug and come out with nothing in the end. He named the local government areas the party is floating candidates to include Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Bonny, Emohua, Etche, Tai, Port Harcourt City, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika and Asari – Toru.
“We’re fielding candidates in 12 local government areas and that’s how far we can go. We cannot take all 23 local government areas where we cannot concentrate. That’s why we picked some important local government areas where we can concentrate. We decided to pick 12 where we can concentrate and, God helping us, if we have two or three local government chairmen, that will be ok”, he said.
Hon. Ogbobula expressed confidence in his party’s ability to put up a good showing in the polls, pointing out that with the party’s relatively success story in states like Plateau, Nasarawa and Ondo where it won state constituency seats, including coming third in the 2020 governorship election in Ondo, it -will be a mistake to underestimate it in Rivers State.
“The election we’re talking about is a grassroots election. We will be going from house to house, from person to person, from community to community. We’re not a money bag party but we’ll try our best to ensure that we talk to the people”, he said.
On how ZLP hopes to overcome its inability to muster sufficient funds to drive its campaign activities, especially in a highly monitised political environment like ours, the state party chairman said he was relying on the exposure and sophistication of the electorate in Rivers State to make a voting decision based on their conscience and not what or how much anyone has to offer them. He said the party has already achieved significant milestones in that regard as it has entered into some form of social contract with the people in which the people have agreed to vote the party and its candidates with the promise that it will also faithfully deliver on its campaign pledges.
“We don’t have cash to give to people but we have mouth to speak to them. We have been entering into agreements with the people on what we intend to do for them if we win. We believe that they have conscience and they are intelligent enough to listen to us. We believe that the average Rivers voter is conscientious and considerate enough to us by our words and not judge us by what we are able or not able to give to them at the moment”, he said.
He continued, “We know that at election time, people give bags of rice, wrapper and the like, but this time around, we are telling them to have faith in us. In fact, we have been getting feedback to the effect that we should not bother and that they’re going to collect their money and vote their conscience, and that’s what we believe will happen”.
According to the party chairman, the central message of the ZLP is a commitment to improving the condition of the totality of the average citizen, adding that, as is depicted in the logo of the party, human beings are at the heart of the party’s programmes, polices and activities.
“We are telling Rivers people that we intend to carry out our blueprint which is the totality of the human life, to carry the problems of the people. You can see that in some parts of the state, people are crying of hunger, but in any local government where we win, we must demonstrate our eagerness to deliver people from poverty”, he said.
On whether he was confident that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) could deliver to his satisfaction, especially against the background of the fact that local government elections are usually a walkover for the ruling party in the state in Nigeria, the ZLP state chairman said he had no reason to doubt the resolve of the chairman of the electoral body, George Omereji, who had vowed to deliver a peaceful, free, fair and credible polls.
The party chairman said, “Well, the RSIEC chairman has told us that it is going to be different from others. He has told us to go and campaign so that we wouldn’t say that PDP has taken all. He gave us his word of assurance that his administration will not do like other administrations. Omereji said ‘go and campaign and see if parties will not win seats’. So, l’m sure and going by the campaigns we are doing already in the various local government areas, we’re sure that people are tired of the PDP. We want to make a change”.
He said even though rumours had started making the rounds that arrangements were being concluded to write election results in Government House, he had chosen to believe the chairman of RSIEC who had dismissed the rumours as unfounded and baseless at a stakeholder’s meeting.
Be that as it may, Hon. Ogbobula said he will not give anything to chance and would be fully engaged in monitoring the conduct of the polls through his agents across the state, adding that he will not hesitate to call for the sack of the chairman of the state electoral umpire if he deviated from the assurance he had given the stakeholders.
“That day, as the state chairman of the party, I will be calling on our members in the various LGAs a to know what is happening and if there’s a change from what we have been told, that means the man has derailed and needs to be sacked”, he warned.
On how he expects the election to proceed, the ZLP state chairman said RSIEC should strictly adhere to the provision of its own guidelines and demonstrate utmost transparently and accountability in the handling of its affairs on the day and not leave any room for doubt or suspicion.
“I have my agents at the polling units. The agents I have as representatives of the party in various units will tell us about what happens at the units. If the original result sheets are not shown to the people as approved by the law, then we know that the election is not credible, then we will shout and tell Rivers people that what has happened is not right. But if the election is done in the right way, then I will have no difficulty accepting defeat if I don’t win”, he emphasized.
Turning attention to RSIEC, he said “On the day of election, election materials should be carried to the various polling units. At the polling units, the result sheets should be shown to the voters. Election materials should get to the polling units on or before 8am. Do the accreditation and start vote simultaneously?
At the end of the voting, our agents should be allowed to sign and monitor the result to the collation centre. RSIEC should know that they’re the umpire and that the conduct of this election will prove whatever they had spoken concerning this election. If their conduct does not match their words, then, we know that they have compromised.”
By: Opaka Dokubo
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.