Politics

Atiku Wins 18 LGs, Tinubu Grabs Three, Obi Takes Two In A’Ibom

Published

3 years ago

February 27, 2023

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has won a total of 18 out of 23 local government results announced Sunday night by Returning Officers at the INEC state collation centre, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.

Akwa Ibom State is made up of 31 local government areas.

In Onna LGA (governor Udom’s hometown), the PDP won with 8,741 votes, LP scored a total of 4,745 votes, APC scored 1,396 votes and NNPP scored 157 votes.

In Eastern Obolo LGA, PDP scored a total of 2,345 to win the LGA, followed by APC with a total of 1,674 votes, while LP polled a total of 1,345 votes and NNPP 25 votes.

Also in Okobo LGA, the PDP won with a total of 5,273 votes, followed by APC which scored 3,168, while LP scored 2,490, NNPP – 172 and YPP – 914.

In Itu LGA, the PDP presidential candidate won in Itu LGA with 7,276 votes while LP polled a total of 6,001votes, APC scored 4,134 votes, YPP – 2,439 votes and NNPP scored a total of 991 votes.

For Esit Eket LGA, the PDP scored a total of 4,484 votes while scored APC 3,819 votes; LP scored 2,555, NNPP scored 79 votes and YPP scored 279 votes.

In Ibeno LGA, the PDP won in Ibeno presidential election with a total of 3,246 votes, LP scored 2,403 votes, APC polled a total of 878, while NNPP and YPP scored 47 and 424 votes, respectively.

Also, the PDP won Ini LGA by scoring 7,740 votes, while APC scored 3,943 votes, LP 2,894 votes and NNPP 76 votes.

The PDP also won in Nsit Atai with a total of 8,371 votes, APC scored 2,853 votes, while LP polled a total of 1,067 votes and NNPP 305 votes.

Again, PDP also won in Oron by scoring 3,295 votes, LP 3,033 votes, APC 2,443votes and NNPC 59 votes.

In Etinan LGA, PDP scored a total of 10,455 votes, followed by APC which scored 4,505 votes, and then LP with 4,180 votes.

In the same vein, in Nsit Ubium LGA, PDP won with a huge score of 11,308 Votes, while APC polled a total of 2,792 votes and LP scored a total of 2,329, while NNPP and YPP scored 279 and 427, respectively.

For Nsit Ibom LGA, the PDP also polled a total of 8,176 votes to defeat APC, LP and NNPP which scored 5,975; 2,215 and 128, respectively.

For Mkpat Enin LGA, also the PDP presidential candidate won with a total of 9,441, followed by LP which scored 4,105 votes, APC scored 2,152 votes and NNPP scored 187 votes.

Again, the PDP won in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA with a total of 9,326 votes, APC 6,480 votes, LP- 3,698 votes and NNPP 345 votes.

In Mbo LGA, the PDP won by scoring 3,922 votes, APC scored 3,204 votes, LP polled 1,456 votes and NNPP scored – 56 votes.

In Ikono LGA, the PDP also won by polling 6,731 votes, APC 6,622votes and LP 5,198, votes.

Also in Udung Uko LGA, the PDP won with a total of PDP 2,701votes, while APC and LP scored 1,555, and 1,068, respectively.

Again in Uruan LGA, PDP won with a total of 9,327 votes while the APC scored 5,287 and LP 3,024 votes.

Also in Obot Akara LGA, the PDP won with 8,029 votes, APC scored 4,477votes while LP scored 2,542.

However, the Labour Party won in two local government areas, including Uyo, the state capital with a total of 27, 534 votes, while the PDP polled a total of 12,245, the APC scored 7,769, and NNPP scored 1,044.

The LP also won in Ibiono Ibom LGA with a total score of 7,752, followed by the PDP which scored 5274, the APC scored 3,407 and NNPP 997.

On its part, the second major visible political party in the state, the APC won in no fewer than three LGA namely Etim Ekpo, Ika and Urueoffong/Oruko.

In Etim Ekpo LGA, the APC won with a total of 5,182 votes, followed by PDP which polled 4,733 votes, LP 1,711 votes, NNPP – 40 votes and YPP – 278 votes.

In Urueoffong/Oruko the APC won with 3,697 votes, while PDP polled 3,419 votes and LP 2,010 votes.

Also in Ika LGA, the APC polled a total of 5,511, the PDP 3,750 votes and the LP 1,054 votes.

According to INEC, the remaining LGAs presidential results would be announced on Monday when the Returning Officers and Electoral Officers arrive at the collation centre in Uyo.

The LGs include Abak, Eket, Essien Udim, Ikot Abasi, Ikot Ekpene, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, and Urue.

Politics

Cleric Tasks APC On Internal Stability, Warns Otti

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

In a dramatic escalation of spiritual commentary on Nigeria’s shifting political climate, the General Overseer of Light of the World International Church, Prophet Joshua Arogun, has issued a stern prophetic alert concerning the internal workings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as the political trajectory of Abia State.

Speaking during a weekend prayer gathering in Lagos, the prophet delivered what he described as “a message directly from the throne of heaven,” urging political actors across the country not to ignore the warning signs unfolding in the nation’s political sphere.

Echoing earlier prophecies from other religious voices, Prophet Arogun raised concerns about the APC’s internal stability under its current national leadership.

According to him, divine scrutiny has intensified over the party, and any attempt to manipulate its internal democratic systems would spell disaster at the polls.

“Heaven is watching the process, not just the outcome. Any undemocratic means of bringing candidates into the APC such as imposition, manipulation, or forced consensus will trigger an automatic loss at the polls. This is a spiritual law already activated”, the prophet declared.

He insisted that the party’s future electoral fortunes would depend not on money or alliances, but on fairness, transparency, and genuine respect for the will of party members.

Turning to Abia State, Prophet Arogun delivered what many congregants described as a precise and unusually direct message.

He warned that the state was heading into a period of intense political realignment, marked by a clash between entrenched and emerging power blocs.

According to him, even if the sitting governor, Dr. Alex Otti, joins the APC, he must be ready to submit himself to a full and competitive primary rather than expecting a free pass.

“If Governor Otti joins the APC, he should come with humility and readiness to participate in the full electoral process. There are long-standing leaders in Abia State with structures, deep grassroots loyalty, and the capacity to unseat him if he underestimates them. People like Nkiru Onyejeocha and Orji Uzor Kalu are deeply rooted with massive follower-ship and acceptance by the people”, Prophet Arogun warned.

He predicted that before the next election cycle, Abia’s political landscape would witness broken alliances, surprising mergers, and new contenders emerging from within established networks.

Prophet Arogun concluded with a broader appeal to Nigeria’s political leaders, emphasizing the need for justice, peace, and integrity in public governance.

“Nigeria is the assignment. Only righteousness will stabilize this nation. Only fairness will preserve the mandate. Let those who have ears hear”, he said softly.

Politics

DEFECTION: DON’T HIDE UNDER OLD SENTIMENTS TO FIGHT DIRI – AIDE

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State governor on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Wisdom Ikuli, has taken a swipe on persons he alleged were hiding under the guise of old sentiments to fight the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.

He said one thing politicians of various divides in the state have forgotten was that before the inception of the administration of the governor, leadership and governance in the state were made the exclusive rights and preserves of just a few political actors.

Hon. Ikuli alleged that participation in active politics, which seemed to have been the only ticket and guarantee for government patronage in the state, has changed since the inception of the Senator Diri’s administration.

“Before the ‘ASSURED Prosperity’ administration of his excellency, Senator Douye Diri, there were two broad categories of Bayelsans: politicians and beneficiaries of government patronage and spectators. But the coming into office of the prosperity governor changed all these and gave all Bayelsans equal opportunity and access to government.

“There’re incidents and situations where public officers even referred to state resources as their money. It was so because they were the then Chief Custodians of the commonwealth and patrimony of the state who were elected to hold and also manage the resources in trust.

“Few years ago, there was less emphasis on competence and performance. It was a case of ‘my turn versus wait for your turn’ to do whatever you like.

“Again, it was a known fact that Bayelsa State was regularly in the news for negative reasons. So, the lack or near absence of development and the negative impressions about the state resulted in her isolation, but the advent of the ‘ASSURED Prosperity Administration’ has changed the whole narrative.

“Under the ASSURED Prosperity administration, government and governance is all inclusive. All Bayelsans are partakers and critical stakeholders. As a matter of fact, you do not need to know anyone in government to get available benefits that are always thrown open to all, irrespective of political party affiliations”, he added.

The governor’s aide, who described him as ‘God sent’, noted that Senator Diri was specifically brought in by God for the mission to change the story of the State and her citizens.

“What is happening in Bayelsa State is exactly what happened in Akwa Ibom State, where at a point, Akwa Ibomites were ashamed to introduce themselves as Akwa Ibomites. Most of them claimed their old identity as people from Cross River State. And so it was that God brought Senator Godswill Akpabio to change the story of his state when he was governor.

“Today, Gov. Douye Diri has turned the whole of Bayelsa State to a construction site with roads and bridges criss-crossing everywhere. Government’s edifices, health centres, primary and secondary school buildings are not counted as major projects in the Diri’s administration, and I say so because they are almost countless, and are everywhere.

“Sadly and unfortunately too, some insignificant leaders without positive impacts on their people are trying to create impressions that Gov. Douye Diri left the PDP that gave him a platform to the APC. For this group of leaders and their followers that make up less than 5% of Bayelsans, their only credential is that they have remained in PDP for eternity.

“Bayelsans are not gullible. Vast majority of the people of the state know that political party is like a vehicle that conveys people from one destination to another. What is most important is the destination where available opportunities are harnessed and appropriated for the common good of the people”, Hon. Ikuli maintained.

The Governor’s Technical Adviser restated that it was no longer secret that citizens of the State were eye witnesses to the fact that investors are now relocating from many places to the State due to the conducive business and investment atmosphere that the governor has created, noting

that the State’s number one citizen has not only restored peace and unity to the state, but that he is also working with stakeholders and various security agencies to make Bayelsa the safest in the country.

“The community policing strategy of the state is so unique that many states are emulating it. Governor Diri has successfully set a leadership and development standard for successive administrations to build upon as the state is no longer among the ones that are disregarded due to the vision and leadership style of our God-sent governor.

“The earlier those who are conspiring to paint the governor in bad light wake up to the realities of the time, the better for them. Never again shall Bayelsa State be entrusted to unserious characters whose only credentials is the number of years they have played politics and also stayed in a particular political party.

“Our Governor, Senator Douye Diri, is the greatest thing that has happened to our contemporary democracy. He is a God-sent leader that is leading very well, while we are following him”, the governor’s adviser said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Politics

Makarfi Resigns As PDP BoT Secretary

Published

1 week ago

November 18, 2025

The Tide

Former Governor of Kaduna State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) Secretary, Senator Muhammed Makarfi, has resigned his position as the BoT Secretary of the party.

Senator Makarfi’s resignation comes on the heels of the national convention that saw the emergence of the new Chairman of PDP, Dr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).

In his letter of resignation, which was addressed to the PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Monday evening, the former governor said, “Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees may recall that about two months ago I had resigned as Secretary of the Board and posted same on the Board’s WhatsApp platform.

“Mr Chairman, you may also recall that you personally urged me to stay on until after a convention that produced a Chairman.”

He added that the principal reason he initially tendered his resignation then “and now, was and is still my belief that the National Chairman of the Party and Secretary of the Board of Trustees should not come from the same geopolitical zone.

“Now that a chairman has emerged from the North West, where I come from, it’s necessary to give him full space to do the needful. Accordingly, I hereby formally resign as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, November 17th, 2025.”

While commending the BoT Chairman for his support during his tenure as Secretary of the Board, he stressed, “I truly appreciate the very respectful relationship between us during my period as Secretary,” adding that, “I also appreciate all Board members for their support and the good relationship that prevailed during my period as Secretary.”

Meanwhile, Dr Turaki on Monday pledged to ensure that power returns to the Nigerian people, urging the judiciary to uphold the tenets of democracy.

Dr Turaki, while giving his acceptance speech after the swearing-in of new officers at the end of the Elective Convention of the PDP in Ibadan, assured that there will be “no more impunity, no more suppression of the will of Nigerians”.

The chairman appealed to the judiciary to uphold the principles of stare decision, abiding by the decisions of the Supreme Court, and not to “willingly or unwillingly put yourselves in a situation where, rightly or wrongly, it may be assumed, correctly or incorrectly, that you are part and parcel of the process to truncate Nigerian democracy.”

According to him, the new leadership of the party would be open to listening to the yearnings of members, with a view to aligning with their will, declaring that “No more monkey dey work, baboon dey chop,” adding that “if baboon wants to chop, baboon must be seated to work.”

He noted that the PDP has maintained its original name, motto and logo, unlike the other parties that started with it, making it a recognised brand anywhere in Nigeria.