Niger Delta

Assembly Poll: Bayelsa Speaker, Deputy, House Leader Win …As Chief Whip, Others Lose

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2023

Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Brass constituency 3, Abraham Ingobere, his Deputy, Michael Ogbere, who is also member representing Ekeremor Constituency 3, and candidate of the PDP in his constituency, were amongst some serving members of the state legislature who won their various re-election bids in the House of Assembly polls conducted last Saturday.
Ingobere, a serving third termer, according to results made available to Newsmen by the state Director, Voters education Programme (VEP) of the Independent national electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Wilfred Ifogah, defeated his opponents by polling 5973, the highest votes cast.
The electoral umpire also noted that the Deputy Speaker of the House, Michael Ogbere, a serving second termer, also garnered 3912 votes to defeat his opponents.
The INEC Director of VEP also informed newsmen that the Leader of the State House of Assembly, and member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2, Monday-Bubou Edwin Obolo, also emerged winner in his constituency, polling 6956 votes to defeat candidates of other parties.
The Tide gathered through information made available by the state branch office of the INEC that the Chief Whip of the House and member representing Yenagoa Constituency 2, Mrs Ebiwou Koku-Obiyai, lost her re-election bid to the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Amakoromo Waikumo, who polled 4971 votes.
Other incumbent members who lost include: the member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 4, Barr. Macdonald Igbadwei, and Hon. Ebi Ben Ololo, representing Nembe Constituency 1.
The Tide reports that while Ben Ololo lost to the candidate of the APGA’s Mr George Oteigbanyo, who got 2928 votes, Igbadwei on the other hand lost to the candidate of the APC, Ben Selekaye Victor, who garnered 5230 votes.
Also declared winners were, Honourables Teddy Elemeforo (PDP), Yenagoa Constituency 3, God bless Oyinke (PDP), Sagbama Constituency 1, Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown (PDP), Sagbama Constituency 3, Charles Daniel (PDP), Brass Constituency 1, Mitin Living (PDP), Ekeremor Constituency 2, and Edward Irigha Brigidi (APC), Nembe Constituency 2.
Other winners were, Col. Bernerd Sunday Kenebai(rtd) (PDP), Sagbama Constituency 2, Pamoh Werinipre (PDP), Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 1, Douglas Sampson (APC), Nembe Constituency 3, and Wisdom Fafi (PDP), Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency 2.
Honourables Felix Bonny Ayah (PDP), Southern Ijaw Constituency 1, Timinyo Omubo-Agala (APC), Brass Constituency 2, Moses Marlon (PDP), Southern Ijaw Constituency 3, and first termers, Ayibanengiyefa Egba (PDP), Yenagoa Constituency 1, Richard Ibegu (PDP), Ogbia Constituency 1, as well as a former member making a return, Gabriel Michael Ogbara of the PDP for Ogbia Constituency 3 were also declared winners.
Elections were not held for Ogbia Constituency 2 due to attack on the INEC Registration Area Centres (RACs) across the constituency by suspected hoodlums who allegedly burnt BVAS and other electoral materials on the eve of the elections.
“On the eve of the elections, a group suppected to be hoodlums attacked INEC RACs in Ogbia Constituency 2 and burnt off the BVAS and other materials meant for the conduct of the House of Assembly elections in the constituency, so the polls couldn’t take place.
As we speak, we don’t know yet when elections for that constituency would hold”, the VEP, state branch office of the INEC, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Otu Orders Sanitation Operations Review In Calabar

Published

3 days ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has ordered an immediate review of environmental sanitation operations in Calabar metropolis.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Linus Obogo, on Friday, the Governor said the sanitary situation of the city had become a cause for concern.

He said the review became necessary because Calabar should continue to maintain its status as the cleanest city in the country.

“The city is now littered with wastes, the cleanliness status of Calabar is almost gone, we cannot just fold our arms and watch,” he said.

The Governor continued that every resident of the city had roles to play towards restoring the sanitary status of the city.

“Every resident should live up to their responsibilities. Our reputation in sanitation was not earned overnight, we worked for it.

“It is the product of discipline, policy consistency, and civic responsibility. We cannot allow negligence to take away this reputation,” he said.

He further directed that henceforth, sanitation exercise should be supervised by the office of his Special Adviser on General Duties.

“This intervention is intended to ensure stricter coordination among contractors and government agencies that are responsible for waste management,

“Environmental sanitation is not a peripheral concern of government. It is central to public health, urban dignity, and the overall quality of life of the citizens”, he said.

Otu expressed displeasure at lapses arising from the attitude of some refuse contractors in the state.

He said breakdown of mechanical tools could not be a reasonable excuse for non-evacuation of refuse.

“Operational setbacks should never translate into visible environmental neglect. Preparedness, contingency planning and prompt response are the hallmarks of responsible service providers.” he said.

Niger Delta

Lawyer X-rays Consequences Of Court Injuction Suspending INC Polls … As Diri Intervenes

Published

3 days ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

A Bayelsa-based lawyer, and candidate for the position of National Assistant Secretary in the suspended National Executive Council (NEC) elections of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Barr. Abraham Marshall, has said the court order, which restrained the conduct of the March 7th, 2026 polls, was a setback to stakeholders of the INC.

He expressed his worries about the plights of delegates who travelled from various parts of Ijaw land to come for the elections in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, only to be disappointed by the court order.

While thanking other candidates for maintaining orderliness and brotherliness all through the campaign processes, Marshall said the court injunction has devasted candidates vying for various positions.

He described the cost of what has already been spent on campaigns and sundry arrangements for the elections as huge.

Marshall noted that already he was a leading candidate for the position of National Assistant Secretary as he was optimistic of victory.

“First of all I’ve great confidence in the ability of the Electoral Committee headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, HRM, Justice F.F Tabai, which was eager to conduct a seamless election.

“Some of us have campaigned through the three zones and clans of the INC. Some of us went to the Western Zone, Eastern and Central Zones to meet delegates.

“That is how it happenes atimes when there are contest, some persons who are aggrieved, rather than take laws into their hands, go to court to seek judicial redress. So, I want to commend all candidates for maintaining decorum throughout the entire process.

“I like to also call on stakeholders to quickly seek for ways through internal mechanisms of the INC to end this problem so that the elections can be conducted because as candidates we’ve incured lots of expenses leading to the process”, he stated.

Meanwhile, in a bid to proffer solutions to the issues bedeviling the smooth conduct of polls, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday met with stakeholders of the INC and its six Presidential candidates, as well as other major stakeholders of the Niger Delta region in Government House, Yenagoa.

In his remarks, the Governor commended individuals and institutions, including the presidential candidates and the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE), for their efforts towards actualising a peaceful and seamless transition of leadership in the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

The Tide gathered that at the meeting, the presidential candidates agreed to withdraw all subsisting litigations concerning the election.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, Diri also expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Bolade Igali, the Chairman and members of the INC National Electoral Committee, and other stakeholders who contributed to the resolution reached at the meeting.

Drawing an analogy from the scriptures, particularly 1 Kings Chapter 3, he likened the unanimous agreement of the candidates to withdraw all pending court cases to the decision of the true mother of the disputed baby who pleaded with King Solomon not to cut the child into two.

According to the Bayelsa helmsman, the resolution reflects the enthusiasm, love and patriotic fervour in all the presidential candidates to move Ijaw nation forward.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, the candidates, including High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe, who secured the injunction from a Port Harcourt High Court stopping the INC Elections billed for last weekend, confirmed the agreement and pledged commitment towards the peaceful emergence of the next President of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Police Rescue 7 Trafficked Victims In A’Ibom

Published

3 days ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has rescued seven victims and detained four suspects linked to human trafficking along Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Saturday.

John said police operatives dismantled a human trafficking syndicate operating within the state, rescuing seven victims and arresting four suspects involved in the network.

She said acting on credible intelligence, operatives swiftly mobilised a patrol team for a coordinated stop-and-search operation along Ikot Ekpene–Aba Road on Friday.

The operation, conducted at about 8 a.m. on Friday, targeted vehicles suspected of transporting victims of human trafficking.

“During the operation, the suspected vehicle was intercepted and four victims were immediately rescued, while the suspect conveying them was arrested and taken into custody.

“Following reports that a vehicle was conveying young persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking, our operatives quickly moved to intercept it,” John said.

She said interrogation of the suspect led to the expansion of the operation to Itam and Ibaka in Oron Local Government Area.

John said three additional victims were rescued and three more suspects apprehended during the follow-up operation.

This brought the total number of rescued victims to seven and suspects arrested to four.

According to her, preliminary investigations revealed that the trafficking syndicate specialised in recruiting and transporting young persons across borders for exploitation.

“Intelligence gathered further disclosed that one of the ringleaders earlier escaped through waterways from Ibaka in Oron to Cameroon and Gabon with some victims”, she said.

John said investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged in court upon completion of the probe.

The police spokesperson reiterated the Command’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other organised crimes in the state.

She assured the public that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.

John urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the police to help protect vulnerable persons and strengthen community safety.