Politics
INEC Should Consider Airlifting Of Election Materials To Difficult Terrains – Herbert-Miller
As part of measures to overcome the perennial issue of late arrival of electoral materials to voting points in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to consider the option of distributing sensitive materials by air to these areas.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Power, Hon. Damiete Herbert-Miller, made the call while lamenting the late arrival of INEC officials and election materials to parts of Degema Local Government Area, including his country home, Ogurama.
Hon. Herbert-Miller, who spoke with The Tide after casting his vote in last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections at Ogurama (Old Bakana), said there was need for a new approach to logistics arrangements by the election management body in order to change the ugly narrative at every election circle.
He said one way of addressing the problem would be to dispatch non sensitive materials and electoral officials to the hard to reach localities, at least, a day ahead of time while the sensitive materials could be airlifted to these areas on election day.
“Materials got to my community, Ogurama, Ward 17, Degema, as late as 12:30pm while accreditation and voting started by 1:30pm across the various units. That’s why I score them (INEC) 50 per cent and I hope that they improve in the next election”, he said.
“In Degema Local Government Area, out of the 17 Wards, 13 are not motorable. Secondly, the 13 Wards that are not motorable are more easily accessible from Port Harcourt. But then, you take materials from CBN in Port Harcourt and take to various LGA headquarters, in this case Degema, and when materials are distributed, you bring them back to Port Harcourt before taking them to their various Wards. There is no way that is not going to take much of your voting time.
“I have talked about Ward 17 (where I come from) where Ogurama is just directly opposite Rumuolumeni, just three minutes from Rumuolumeni actually, and the other half of Ward 17 which is Ke is down in the ocean, just two/three kilometers from Bonny.
“How can these two communities vote at the same time when the same SPO brings materials here before he goes to Ke, or he goes to Ke before he comes to Ogurama?
“So, it’s a very difficult situation for us and I had advocated to INEC to distribute our materials from the CBN or from the INEC office at Aba Road so that we don’t need to go to Degema and then come back. But they have refused to listen and would not make adequate logistics arrangement”, he said.
On his assessment of the general conduct of the exercise, Hon. Herbert-Miller said it was peaceful and devoid of violence.
While expressing the hope that the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections coming up on Saturday, March 11 will be conducted under the same atmosphere, he appealed to INEC to be more tidy in their logistics arrangements.
By: Opaka Dokubo
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.