Politics
PVC Is Your Tool, Fubara Tells GDI Members
As the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) takes the sensitisation rally for the INEC Continuous Voter Registration exercise to Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amaopu Senibo Siminialayi Fubara, has described GDI as a PDP workshop which must have requisite tools to function properly.
Speaking at the rally which held on Saturday at State School, Ahoada, headquarters of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Amaopusenibo Fubara maintained that the only tool needed by GDI to work is the Permament Voter Card (PVC).
He urged those who have not registered to go to the nearest registration centre to do so.
The PDP standard bearer who described the PVC sensitisation rally as a very important programme for the forthcoming election, insisted that the PVC would enable the electorate in Ahoada East to make their statement during elections.
“We won’t make our mark in this local government area if we don’t have our PVC.
‘If we really have the interest of PDP’s working tools which is the GDI, then you need to have your PVC”, Fubara said.
He disclosed that the mere mention of his name is making most people jittery, saying that this is a clear sign of victory for him.
“We will win because each time you mention incoming, people get scared because I am the incoming and I will win,” he stated.
He also advised GDI members not to bring their original PVC to the rally, saying that it is possible for such cards to get lost in the process, adding that such a situation could be a great loss to the GDI.
“You can make photocopy and come with the photocopy. Each PVC that is here is a vote for us. Let’s not start losing our vote while sensitising people .
‘’Your PVC is your voice, your PVC is your vote, your PVC is your power. What we are doing is to let you know the importance of the PVC.
‘’ It is not just a jamboree, it is to tell you to go back to your unit, go back to your ward and encourage people that have not registered to register,” he emphasised.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Hon. Ben Eke said that his administration has made the possession of the PVC a precondition for bursary payment to students of the area.
The event was attended by people from different walks of life, including the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Prof. Ngozi Ordu; State PDP Chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, represented by the party Secretary, Dr Benibo George; members of the State Executive of the party, members of the National and State Assembly, local government chairmen, former commissioners, women, youths and student groups.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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