Politics
Youth Leader Seeks More Electoral Wards In Rivers
A youth leader in Oyigbo Local Government Area, Comrade Desmond Nnamdi Akaya, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider increasing the number of polling units and electoral wards in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
Comrade Akaya, a chieftain of the National Youth Council Of Nigeria (NYCN), Oyigbo Chapter, who made the call recently in Port Harcourt while exchanging views with journalists on contemporary political issues in Rivers State especially and the country at large, pointed out the need to restructure electoral wards in the state and increase the number of voting units to check complaints arising from recent electoral exercises in the state.
He also stated that the call became imperative going by the peculiar geographical conditions of Rivers State which has always made it difficult for voters to have access to polling units during elections.
He explained that the many rivers and creeks in the state separate communities from one another, making access quite difficult.
Comrade Akaya urged the INEC to embark on the process of reviewing extant electoral laws without further delay in order to enable the commission discharge its functions more creditably, going forward.
The youth leader also called on political leaders and youths in Oyigbo Local Government Council of Rivers State to eschew all acts capable of igniting tension and violence which are likely to truncate quality service delivery by serving representatives of the area in the current dispensation.
Comrade Akaya who extolled the leadership dexterity demonstrated by the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and his team within the past six months running of this administration, described the state Chief Executive as an astute and accomplished technocrat, whose visionary leadership and people oriented development programmes have impacted positively on Oyigbo people.
He enjoined Rivers people to extend their hands of fellowship to the Governor as he strives to achieve the full implementation of the consolidation agenda of the government in the state.
Comrade Akaya also appealed to the governor to reconstruct the Kpite-Umuosi link road, as well as, that of Obunku – Obete road network that had been abandoned by successive administrations in the state, describing the condition of these roads as pathetic.
On the attitude of the political class in Rivers State, the youth leader decried the conduct of some new entrants into the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in particular and other political parties in general, who have allegedly hijacked the parties, describing their characters as that of “Roman mob who shout crucify today and hail him tomorrow”.
Concerning chieftaincy upheavals in the LGA, Akaya called on Governor Fubara and the agencies of government charged with the responsibilities of ensuring virile traditional institutions to wade into the problem which, he lamented, had torn the royal fathers apart due to marginalization, greed and inordinate ambition to take what belongs to others to themselves for posterity.
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.
Mr Agboke, in a statement on Monday, said that conducting party primaries in line with the law was important ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
INEC has fixed August 8, 2026, for the governorship election in Osun State.
Mr Adegoke appealed to all registered political parties in the state to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the commission’s guidelines and regulations for the conduct of their primaries.
“The commission emphasises the need for the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful primary elections that reflect the will of the party members as a panacea for the reduction of pre-election litigations.
“We observed that primary elections have often been a source of pre-election litigation, which can be avoided if parties follow the laid-down procedures and guidelines.
“INEC, therefore, urges all political parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in a transparent, democratic, and peaceful manner. All aspirants should be given equal opportunities to participate,” he said.
Mr Agboke stated that, in line with the guidelines released by INEC’s national headquarters, the political parties’ primaries for the 2026 governorship election in the state are scheduled to take place between November 24 and December 15.
He said INEC was prepared to provide necessary support and guidance to parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in accordance with the law.
“We call on all stakeholders, including security agencies, to support the commission in its efforts to ensure peaceful and credible party primaries.
“INEC will continue to monitor the activities of political parties and take appropriate actions within the ambit of the law against any party that fails to comply with the electoral laws and regulations,” he said.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum has strongly condemned the attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu LGA, Kebbi.
The bandits’ attack led to the abduction of 25 female students as well as the reported killing of the vice principal of the school.
Reacting to the mass abduction on Monday, the chairman of the forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, described the kidnapping as tragic, senseless, and utterly unacceptable.
In a statement by his media aide on Monday, Gov. Yahaya stated that the continued targeting of schools posed a grave threat to the region’s stability and the nation’s educational future.
Gov. Yahaya, on behalf of the northern governors, commiserated with the government and people of Kebbi State, especially the families of the abducted students and those who lost their lives in the attack.
He assured Governor Nasir Idris of the forum’s solidarity and support during this difficult moment.
He said that schools must be sanctuaries of learning, not targets of violence, warning that continued assaults on educational institutions threatened to reverse gains made in improving school enrolment and curbing the out-of-school crisis in the region.
Mr Yahaya expressed deep concern over the trauma the abducted schoolgirls may be facing and called for an immediate and well-coordinated operation by security agencies to ensure their safe rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.
Reaffirming the NSGF’s commitment to collaborating with the federal government and security institutions, Gov. Yahaya stated that the safety, education, and welfare of young Nigerians remain a top priority for the forum.
He urged communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with the security agencies in the collective efforts to rid the region of criminality.
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