Niger Delta

Jonathan, Diri, Alaibe Commend INEC, Electorates On Off-cycle Elections … As Ex-President Canvasses Electoral Calendar Overhaul

Published

2 years ago

November 15, 2023

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Governor of Bayelsa, and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 11th 2023 off-cycle governorship elections, Senator Douye Diri, as well as an ex-Managing-Director (MD) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief NduTimi Alaibe, have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for improvement recorded in the conduct of the off-cycle governorship elections in the state.

The ex-President and the duo, who also lauded electorates across the state on the exercise of their franchise, gave the commendations in their respective polling units shortly after casting their votes.

The Tide, which monitored the polls, reports that while former President Jonathan and his wife, Mrs Patience Jonathan, voted at his Otuoke home town Ebele Square, Unit 39, Ward 13 of the Ogbia Local Government Area, Governor Diri voted alongside his wife, Dr. Gloria Diri, at his Kalama-owei Wari Unit 4, Ward 6 in his home town, Sampou Community in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.

The ex-NDDC MD also cast his vote at Unit 14, Ward 7, Igbainwari, Opokuma Clan in the Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA of the State.

Jonathan noted that though the electoral umpire has made significant landmark achievements in the conduct of the polls, the electoral cycle needed to be overhauled to ensure that all Governorship elections are held at the same time in the country.

He cautioned against the conduct of off-cycle polls, calling on the National Assembly to make amendments in the nation’s electoral laws where necessary so that elections concerning a particular facet of the nation’s political life could be held at same time.

The erstwhile President advised the INEC to emulate the developed Democracies in formulating and planning for the conduct of elections in the country, stressing that if proper care was not taken off-season polls could create political logjam for the nation in the future.

“I want to commend INEC for the timely distribution of electoral materials for the conduct of the three off-season elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states. I also want to congratulate the three states for their elections this day, Saturday 11th, November 2023.

“I’ve been getting briefings from different parts of Bayelsa State concerning the governorship elections today. So far, from reports at my disposal, there’ve not been any major issues bothering on violence, except for some parts of Nembe where the problems started even before this election. But that’s not to say there’ve not been problems in other parts which I may not have heard now.

“INEC and the National Assembly should make sure that they act timely and do what’s necessary to forestall the issue of off-season elections.

“You’d remember that in 2007 when I was running mate to President Yar’ A Dua, and later as Vice President, there was almost an off-season presidential election, but in the court then, out of the seven Justices, four ruled in favour of that presidential election, and so that prevented the occurrence of an off-season presidential election in the nation”, Jonathan said.

Similarly, the State Governor, Senator Diri, expressed concern over the hijack of sensitive election materials at Ward 6 in Sagbama LGA and commended INEC for taking prompt action.

He said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) made the voting process fast and seamless.

A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying: “We’ve concerns at Nembe-Bassambiri where our party members were stopped from going into their community.

“Our party has written an official letter to the INEC Chairman to ensure that our people are allowed to go in there and vote. What we call for is a free and fair process where the BVAS is used just as l have done here.

“Special attention has to be given to Nembe-Bassambiri because every thing points to the fact that PDP members were chased out of the community.

“You know that we have been raising the issue of the violent character of the APC candidate, Timipre Sylva. Over the years, every election he is involved in experienced violence.”

On his part, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe scored INEC high on the conduct of the polls, saying in Bayelsa State, this off-cycle elections can be judged as the first elections in which both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials and Ad-hoc staff arrived promptly for the conduct of the exercise.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Kevin Nengia, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

C’River Bans VIOs From Road Operations

Published

13 hours ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has banned the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from road operations across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Out, who made the announcement in Calabar on Saturday, restricted activities of the VIO to office duties.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Linus Obogo, the directive followed protests by commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators over high tickets, excessive fines and alleged harassment by enforcement teams.

The Governor, who made other announcements in the sector, said the measures were approved after a meeting with key transport stakeholders.

According to the statement, other announcements made was the reduction of daily ticket fee from N850 to N500, while the penalty for failure to purchase the ticket had also been reduced to N10,000.

“All traffic-related fines be slashed by 50 per cent and must be paid only into designated Cross River State Government accounts.

“Daily ticket for tricycle riders have been reduced from N1,200 to N500. However, every activity of commercial tricycle operators ends at 6 p.m. daily, night operations are permanently banned,” Otu asserted.

He said the review was aimed to ease the burden on drivers and restore order in the state’s transport system.

Speaking further, the Governor said the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) would now focus on vehicle registration and sale of tickets at approved rates.

He noted that enforcement officers must operate only in proper uniforms and with verifiable identification.

He directed the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (TRAMRA) to restrict its activities to statutory traffic management duties.

In addition, the Governor announced that “commercial bus drivers and tricycle riders will no longer purchase tickets on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

“These directives will take effect from March 9, and I urge all residents and transport operators to cooperate with relevant authorities.”

Speaking to The Tide’s source, some commercial drivers said the statement did not address some activities of TRAMRA such as the illegal “no parking order” for drivers who only pick and drop passengers.

For Johnson Ade, a commercial driver, there should be an official release stating the traffic infractions in the state and the fine for each of them.

He said slashing the fines by 50 per cent was ambiguous, adding that the amounts to be paid for each crime should be clearly stated to prevent criminal elements who posed as government traffic regulatory officials from abusing the directive.

On his part, Mr. Sunday Dennis, Metropolitan Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), said they would convene a meeting immediately to critically look at the governor’s statement.

It would be recalled that series of protests by commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators had led to the suspension of all forms of transport tickets in the state by the government.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Community Seeks Govt Recognition For Elected Village Head

Published

13 hours ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Some indigenes of Mbiabong Ikpe Village, in Ikpe Annang Clan, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have called on the State Government to recognize Chief Samuel James Udo as the authentic Village Head of the community by according him a Certificate of Recognition.

According to them, the call is necessitated by the fact that Chief Udo has won the first and second election processes on 1st May, 2021 and 15th July 2025.

The indigenes said in addition to his emergence after the two election processes, Chief Udo’s emergence has been confirmed by Chief Akpan Akpa Inyang (Okuku Ikpa Isong Annang), who has handed him (Udo) to “UDAK” as stipulated by the custom and tradition of Annang Land.

They said Udo’s emergence marked the end of every struggle by individuals or groups of persons on the issue of headship of Mbiabong Ikpe Village, Ikpe Annang Land, in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

According to them, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong, should call for the recognition of the Village Head-elect of Mbiabong Ikpe Village in accordance with the Traditional Rulers Council Law of Akwa Ibom State, CAP 134.

This, they said, is because he has been duly and rightly selected by the kingmakers as the village Head-elect and have satisfied all requirements in the extant law for the said selection.

“We are informing the Akwa Ibom State Government of the development, because any imposition of any other name to the Governor will not be accepted by the community”, they said.

Meanwhile, they have alleged that some “enemies of progress are causing problem over the Chieftaincy issue after the winner has emerged and accepted by the entire Kingmakers.”

When contacted the Village Head-elect, Chief Samuel James Udo, advised the people not to cause any crises, saying that their mandate will not be denied.

“I will continue to respect the law. My people are law abiding citizens and God will surely stand for true justice and the certificate will be given to me, not through fighting, causing unrest, or violence, but by our faith in God, and the belief that the relevant authorities will do the needful”, he said.

By: Christopher Tom, Uyo

Niger Delta

Delta Unveils World Book Day Festival

Published

13 hours ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State government on Saturday unveiled the LightRay! Distortion World Book Day Festival.

The festival, themed “That Which Bends, Transcends,” is a major celebration of literature, storytelling, and cultural advocacy in the state.

It was unveiled at the office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Mininim Oseji, in Asaba.

The event was organised by LightRay! Media, in partnership with the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA) and Unchained Vibes Africa.

Founder and President of the media group, Ejiro Umukoro, described the event as the first large-scale literary festival in the state.

She explained that the initiative aims to engage both marginalised and privileged communities in dialogue on resilience, hope, and social change through literature.

Highlighting the transformative power of storytelling, Umukoro said literature can inspire action, reshape perspectives, and drive social change within communities.

According to her, the festival builds on the impact of the Distortion novel series produced by LightRay! Media, which explores themes of human resilience, personal agency, and renewal.

She noted that the book has supported social awareness campaigns and legislative advocacy, contributing to the abolition of the Osu caste system in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo.

“The novel has also received literary recognition, including the TYB Young Adult Literature Prize in 2024,” she added.

Umukoro further revealed that the Delta Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has approved Distortion as a recommended literature text for students.

She expressed concern over the poor condition of public libraries across the state, noting that many remain inactive or non-functional.

”Urban libraries also struggle with outdated collections, inadequate infrastructure, and limited professional staffing”, she said.

Umukoro urged stakeholders to rebuild libraries, strengthen reading communities, and equip facilities with modern learning resources.

“The three-month festival will feature competitions, workshops, creative showcases, and professional development programmes, Umukoro said.

The Permanent Secretary in the office of the Head of Service, Mr. Wilson Chukwuka, commended the initiative.

The leader of the National Association of Seadogs, Mr. Michael Nwaidei, said the project aligns with efforts to encourage critical thinking and knowledge acquisition among young people.

Nwaidei was represented by a member of the association, Mr. Uche Egbuche.

The Tide’s source reports that guests, educators, creatives, and literary enthusiasts from across the state and diaspora communities attended the festival.