Politics

2023: Why C’River Electorate Are Rooting For PDP Guber Candidate – Groups

Published

3 years ago

November 13, 2022

Ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Cross River State, some prominent socio-political groups have observed that the growing acceptance of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , Senator Sandy Onor, by voters in the state is as a result of his leadership track record and grassroots political ideologies.
While declaring support for the governorship aspiration of Senator Sandy who currently represents Cross River Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, the groups noted that support for his candidature had continued to swell, despite being in the opposition party in the state, because of the belief amongst the electorate that he’ll put an end to the long suffering of the masses.
Addressing newsmen separately, the groups made up various coalitions noted that voters in the state had decided not to vote along ethnic lines but rather focus on the leadership antecedents of the various candidates aspiring for various positions, especially the governorship.
Reeling out Sandy’s leadership qualities, including his achievements at the Senate, a group known as “Peaceful Ladies” declared total support and commitment to the governorship aspiration of the Cross River Senator.
The Group’s coordinator, Ms. Janet Uchebo, said that they had resolved to align with Senator Sandy to reclaim the lost glory of the state.
The group stated this over the weekend during a courtesy call by its executives to the Office of the Director General of the “Caterpillar Movement”, Chief Joe Obi Bisong located at No. 143 Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Calabar.
Harping on Sandy’s accomplishments, the group vowed to ensure his emergence as Governor of the state, reiterating that “it is very necessary for us to rise to the challenge of the moment by declaring our unalloyed support, cooperation and commitment to the process that would lead to Senator Onor’s emergence as Governor of Cross River State come 2023.
“It’s now glaring and obvious to Cross Riverians that the change they yearn for is here, Senator (Prof) Sandy Ojang Onor (Original Caterpillar), the PDP Governorship hopeful and candidate of Cross River State in the upcoming 2023 elections is contesting the 2023 Governorship election in order to add value, end godfatherism and make a difference in Cross River State that has long suffered poor Governance by the incumbent governor of the state” , the group stated.
In a similar vein, another group known as Cross River Youth Vanguard, which comprises youth entrepreneurs, on Saturday, endorsed the Governorship aspiration of Sandy Onor.
Giving reasons for their endorsement, the Group’s leader, Comrade Amaechi Victor, berated the incumbent governor, Ben Ayade of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that his performance was below the expectations of Crossriverians.
According to Amaechi, the victory of Sandy Onor will reposition Cross River State and return it to the path of peace, security, socioeconomic development and sustainable empowerment of people.
Amaechi, in a statement after the group’s Congress held in Calabar, explained that the sterling performance of Senator Sandy had proven that he would develop the state in the aspects of education, healthcare, roads, employment, infrastructure, environment, youth empowerment and agricultural development.
He urged voters to stop lamenting on what he described as the misgovernance of the incumbent government but rally round Senator Onor who is in the race because he has a lot to offer the people of Cross River State.
“The task before Cross Riverians is to come out en masse and liberate Cross River State from the hands of political godfathers and scavengers that have sworn to keep Cross River State undeveloped and highly mis governed. Let’s stop lamenting on the imperfections in our state but find the courage to collectively stand up and be counted in our determination to reposition Cross River State to be the giant that will provide prosperity for all of us and put us in the path of sustainable growth and development”, he said.
Responding, Chief Obi Bisong thanked the group for the visit and declaration of support as he also assured the group of a new and better Cross River State.

Politics

LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction

Published

9 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A former National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Clement Ojukwu, has expressed regret that the several legal cases brought against the party since the 2023 general elections have impacted the party’s performance.

Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.

“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”

The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.

“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.

“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.

“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”

Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.

He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”

He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.

“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”

Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.

“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.

Politics

2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE

Published

9 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A number of Nigerians have strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its directive to all political parties in the country to submit digitalized membership register within 32 days.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following it’s reversed timetable, directed all political parties in the country to submit their digitalized membership registers within 32 days.

Speaking on the reversed timetable in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, respondents said the directive amounted to disqualifying opposition political parties from fielding candidates in all the elections next year.

They said if the directives by the commission is implemented, only the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate in the elections since it started it’s digital membership registration since February, last year.

Responding, an elder statesman in Rivers State, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, said the revised timetable was okay, but the timeframe for submission of digital membership register was being made at the wrong time.

Chief Chukumele said, for the past two years, all opposition political parties have been battling various issues in court, adding that they did not have the time to embark on membership drive, talk less of digitalizing their membership registers.

“My reaction is that the only issue with this revised timetable is the timeframe given by INEC for parties to submit digitalize memberships register in all the states of the federation, while giving notice of Congresses and convention. That is not possible”, he said.

He said only the ruling APC is likely to meet up with the directive, since it began its registration since last year.

Chief Chukumele, who is also the National Coordinator of Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), alleged that the directive of the electoral body may have been targeted to prevent other parties from fielding candidates for the elections next year.

“When you say all the parties should submit digitalized registers of membership in 32 days, how will that be possible to conclude it in 32 days”, he queried.

He noted that “APC used one year ago to do, so APC has one year in the kitty plus 30 days. This is highly regrettable”.

The CORSLOT national leader urged the election umpire to do away with stringent conditions that will make it hard for opposition political parties to field candidates in the elections.

Also speaking, Mr Jacob Enware from Edo State queried the rationale behind the directive, especially when some opposition political parties are still having cases in court.

In his words, ”What opposition political parties are you talking about, is Labour Party not in court or PDP that is yet to resolve their issues?

”For me, INEC should provide a level playing field for all, because aside the APC, no party can meet up this criteria.”

In his own response, Mr Nathaniel Ebere said he was not prepared to vote for anybody whether INEC provides a level playing field or not.

He alleged that his vote would not count, “so I will not waste my time”.

By: John Bibor

Politics

IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI

Published

9 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has expressed reservations about the political stance of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while calling for reconciliation among key party figures.

Otunba Sowunmi made the remarks during a television interview on Saturday, when asked about the relationship between Gov. Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

He said, “I don’t believe Seyi Makinde. Because I know them all. I’ve been in this party since it was registered. And I’ve been loyal, faithful, diligent with this party from the get-go, and I’ve never left.”

He underscored his longstanding commitment to the PDP, referencing prominent figures who had exited the party at different times: “I’ve had the grace, and the honor, and the dignity of watching even my father, Obasanjo, shed his card. As much as I love him, I didn’t leave the party”.

He added, “I’ve had the privilege of watching my beloved senior brother, Governor Gbenga Daniel, leave the party a few times. As much as I respect his vision and his ideas, I’ve never left. I’ve watched my former principal, Atiku Abubakar, leave a few times. I’ve never left.”

Otunba Sowunmi stressed that his comments were rooted in deep involvement with the party: “So when I talk about PDP, I’m not talking as an outsider, I’m talking as one of their totems, who was actually carrying them.”

He disclosed that he wrote to Makinde during the governor’s last birthday, urging reconciliation among a bloc of five governors who had formed a movement during the 2023 elections.

“At Governor Seyi Makinde’s last birthday, I wrote him a letter where I tried to say, look, you guys, the five of you, succeeded to the extent of creating a movement of your own”, he said.

He added, “And you fought very hard to make a point in the 2023 election. Although I don’t believe you won the election for the president, that’s a lie. They contributed, but I hate when people take the glory of other people’s work.”

Otunba Sowunmi warned that unresolved differences among the group could weaken the party: “You guys, you must go back to your four friends, your five friends, and you guys go and sort it out. Because not sorting it out with your five friends is going to leave the party worse off.”

He added, “But now that you’re fighting, or you’re not agreeing with yourselves, why don’t you go back to that same energy that allowed you to agree, so that you can use that energy inside to agree, and then we can lead the party.”