Politics

Council Polls: As Election Day Dawns, ’Morrow…

Published

4 years ago

April 16, 2021

The All Progressives Congress (APC) will again be missing on the ballot paper tomorrow as Rivers people go to the poll to elect those who will manage their resources at the grassroots level as councilors and chairmen of the 23 local government council areas. In the 2019 state and national elections, the party was barred from fielding candidates for the elections in the state by the highest constitutional court of the land.

In this case, however, the party has chosen not to test its strength, popularity and acceptability by the people and by so doing failing to enrich the electoral process and deepen democratic norm. The people’s scope of choice is eventually also limited as they go out to give their mandate for the next three years at that level. Obviously, the APC could not find itself sufficiently organized and prepared to get into the contest or face Rivers people while still struggling to pull itself together and give itself requisite re-orientation.

What is also worthy of note about the coming Rivers council polls is the Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration’s commitment and determination to entrench democratic ethos within its sphere of control in ensuring that elections at the third tier of government are held as at when due.

For a very long time this would be the first time elections would hold without the usual unconstitutional punctuations of caretaker committees at the local government level. The practice of having the caretaker committee interregnum between three to six months, in the least, had almost become the norm. The expectation by Rivers people is that the savoury tradition would truly be finally put to rest in the state no matter how widespread it is practiced in the country. Rivers State must in this regard blaze the trail for the rest of the states to copy.

Accordingly, there is a very high expectation among indigenes and residents of the state, including the participating political parties that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) will discharge itself creditably in delivering free, fair and credible elections that will equal the high standards already initiated by the state government. So far, there is no indication that RSIEC has been denied or rendered handicapped by insufficient or inadequate logistics support and assistance by the state government or any other relevant critical stakeholder.

The final list of names of political parties that have received clearance from the state electoral umpire shows that a total of 17 political parties will be on the ballot tomorrow. These include: African Action Congress (AAC); Action Democratic Party (ADP); Accord Party (AP); Social Democratic Party (SDP); National Rescue Movement (NRM); Action Alliance (AA); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Labour Party (LP); Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); Young Progressives Party (YPP); Allied Peoples Movement (APM); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); African Democratic Congress (ADC); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Boot Party (BP); Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Action Peoples Party (APP).

“We shall organize and conduct free, fair and credible elections into the 23 local government councils. We shall provide equal opportunities/level playing ground to all the registered political parties. We shall be firm, resolute and impartial. We are men and women of proven track record and we have our reputation to protect”, the chairman of RSIEC, Justice George Omereji (rtd) told stakeholders while urging the Rivers State electorate to “come out en-masse to exercise their franchise in a most peaceful and orderly manner devoid of ill-will, rancor and/or violence”.

Retired Justice Omereji assured the people of the state of a violence-free poll, noting that the commission had secured the assurances of all security agencies in the state of maximum cooperation and assistance to protect lives and property and electoral materials before, during and after the polls. Without a doubt, the well worded statements of the RSIEC boss were not swallowed hook, line and sinker as political parties and candidates, especially, those outside the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have continued to intone reservations about the commission’s sincerity and courage to match its words with action. While some have expressed fears that RSIEC staff may compromise and give the PDP undue advantage on the field, others have even speculated that results of the election have already been written before the contest at Government House without any iota of proof or evidence.

Clearly, RSIEC has a burden to discharge and an onerous task to dispense justice, fairness and equity as it goes into the field tomorrow because only manifest demonstration of honesty, sincerity, transparency, accountability and integrity will satisfy the stakeholders in the election, guarantee a peaceful atmosphere and truly preserve and promote the good name of the chairman and his commissioners.

The Rivers State Police command which is at the head of providing security during the elections has not been short of giving assurances of adequate protection of lives and property of the electorate as well as electoral officials and their materials. The credibility of any electoral process is validated by the level of voters’ turn-out and the freedom to exercise their civic duty in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation, harassment, inducement or undue pressure. of-course, such state of affairs cannot be achieved in an environment where political thugs and hoodlums are not deterred by the presence of law enforcement agents to apprehend and make them face the full wrath of the law.

Political parties on their part, must be open minded and approach the contest with the spirit of sportsmanship. To this end, they must not force themselves on the people.

After campaigning and selling their agenda to the people, the electorate must be allowed to exercise their right of choice and such rights expressed must be respected. Any attempt to corrupt and/or denigrate the process will be counterproductive and any effort at pulling down the structure because their candidates did not receive the endorsement of the people will amount to being public enemy number one.

Participation in the process alone must be seen as service rendered already and failure to be elected at the poll must not be interpreted as rejection or exclusion from the community. It must be borne in mind that the opportunity to be elected will always present itself as long as the election clock keeps ticking and the democratic orbit keeps revolving. The most important dogma of the political parties must be obligation to play by the rules.

Finally, the people/electorate must approach the elections with all the seriousness it deserves. There should be no room for lethargy or lackluster attitude. The people must understand that if they have to take any election seriously, it is this one as it concerns the leadership and government that they can directly relate with. They must therefore go out in their numbers to vote candidates of their choice without let or hindrance.

Adequate care must be taken to ensure that the process is conducted in a manner that would faithfully represent their wishes. It is therefore expected that electoral officers and security agencies will receive desired cooperation in the discharge of their duties. The people must protect the exercise and make it deliver and enthrone the leadership that they give their mandate to oversee their affairs at that level.

All said and done, it is the responsibility of everyone living and doing business in Rivers State that the local councils elections in the state are conducted peacefully and in keeping with the highest standards of prosecuting the exercise in the best democratic tradition. Indeed, it has to be done in the best interest of the development of Rivers State and those who live in it.

By: Opaka Dokubo

Politics

Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar

Published

3 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

In a renewed effort to deepen Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced the commencement of its Zonal and National Public Hearings across the country.

A press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, Mr Linus Obogo, disclosed that the Calabar Centre — designated as Centre B — will host representatives and stakeholders from Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.

The public hearing is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Transcorp (Metropolitan) Hotel, Calabar.

The initiative, according to the statement, is designed to promote inclusive dialogue and capture the aspirations of Nigerians from all regions.

It aims to serve as a platform for citizens to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national efforts to refine and strengthen the country’s legal and institutional frameworks.

“Citizens, civil society groups, professional bodies, traditional rulers, and other interest blocs are invited to participate in this landmark engagement aimed at advancing a more just, equitable, and responsive Nigerian Constitution,” the statement read.

The hearing forms part of the broader review process of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and is seen as a strategic move toward fostering national unity and addressing structural legal issues within the federation.

Politics

Tinubu’s Contribution To Buhari’s Presidency Marginal – Ex-SGF

Published

3 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, has stirred fresh political controversy by dismissing claims that President Bola Tinubu was highly instrumental to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence in 2015 after the merger of political parties that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC).

For the first time since 2022, when then-presidential aspirant Alhaji Bola Tinubu declared he made former President Buhari Nigeria’s President in 2015, Mr Mustapha dismissed the claims, stressing that the merger only contributed about three million votes in addition to Buhari’s existing 12 million votes in the North.

He insisted that former President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to the breakthrough, not the three million votes from the merging parties, which he described as insignificant.

Speaking on the role of the merging parties, particularly President Tinubu, the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Mustapha, who was the keynote speaker at the launch of the book ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience’ authored by Mallam Garba Shehu, described the impact of the votes from other merging parties as very insignificant.

In attendance were former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, chair of the event; immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; SGF George Akume, who represented President Tinubu; PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar; former Chief of Staff to Buhari Ibrahim Gambari; elder statesman Babagana Kingibe; former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Raji Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); former ministers Solomon Dalung and Sunday Dare; former Army Chief Tukur Buratai, and Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s spokesman, among others.

According to Mr Mustapha, “I do not intend to stir up any controversy. The merger in 2013 was midwifed to create a Buhari presidency. Let us look at the statistics. In the 2003 election, it was the Obasanjo-Buhari presidential contest where Buhari recorded 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, and it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.

“When we were conceptualising the merger, what would give us a headstart? Obviously, it was at the back of our consciousness that the merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), though it had only one state, the ACN had six states, ANPP three states, and when you sum up the total votes that we had as the presidency in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million.

“So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari 12.5 million votes was three million. Before turning to that presidency, it is important to recognise the former President’s role in reshaping Nigeria’s political trajectory.

“In early 2013, as the leader of the CPC, Buhari formally requested and supported the creation of a CPC merger committee, part of a broader coalition-building process that brought together the ACN, ANPP, APGA faction, and elements of the ruling party through the breakaway ‘new PDP’ group. His endorsement and participation, along with other party leaders such as President Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, lent credibility and direction to the merger, helping to unify disparate party factions under the banner of the APC. That coalition-building paved the way for the first democratic defeat of an incumbent ruling party in Nigeria’s history.

“President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to that breakthrough. No account of President Buhari’s tenure would be complete without acknowledging the extended periods he spent on medical leave. These moments, while politically delicate, were also telling of his leadership philosophy and personality,” he said.

In his remarks, President Tinubu promised to build on the legacies of former President Buhari, stressing that “nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lay the foundation for the next.

“In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just, and inclusive Nigeria—a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens”.

Politics

Your Lies Chasing Investors From Nigeria, Omokri Slams Obi

Published

3 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Former Presidential aide, Mr Reno Omokri, has accused Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, of spreading false information about Nigeria’s debt profile, claiming it is deterring foreign investors from the country.

Speaking during an appearance on live television on Wednesday, Mr Omokri alleged that Mr Obi’s statements were misleading and damaging to the country’s economic prospects.

Mr Omokri said some investors currently operating in Nigeria were considering exiting the market due to Mr Obi’s remarks.

“That is not true. He doesn’t rile me up. I rile him up. The reason why I came here is because I’m a patriot. Peter Obi lied. You know, foreign direct investors are watching your programme, who are making investment decisions not to come to Nigeria. There are foreign investors in Nigeria that are making investment decisions to leave Nigeria because of the lie he told.

“One of the lies he told is that President Tinubu has borrowed more than the administrations of Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari. That is a blatant lie”, Mr Omokri said.

To buttress his claims, Mr Omokri referenced figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), maintaining that President Tinubu had actually reduced Nigeria’s external debt burden since assuming office.

“I have here with me data from the Debt Management Office, and Nigerians who are watching can go to DMO.com and search Debt Management Office, Nigeria State of Indebtedness 2015.

“As of 2015, Nigeria was owing a total of $63 billion. When Buhari was leaving office, Nigeria was owing $113 billion. Today, from the DMO, our debt has gone from $113 billion to $97 billion, meaning that Tinubu has reduced our debt by over $14 billion.

“We should be appreciating this man. Yet Peter Obi came here and lied to the Nigerian people. He took the debts and translated them into naira to make it look like the debts have increased”, he said.