Politics
New SIM Support Group Inaugurates State Officials
A Political Pressure Group with a formidable support base for the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, under the aegis of “ Supreme Council For Sim, (Worldwide) has been inaugurated in the state
The group has also appointed a former Commissioner in the state, Hon Lolo Ibieneye, as its Chairman; former Chairman, Eleme Local Government Area, ,Amb. Ngofa Oji, as its Co- Chairman while Dr. Steward Felicia was appointed at Administrative Officer.
Inaugurating the State officials of Supreme Council for Sim, last weekend in Port Harcourt, the convener, Mr Fubara Joshua, said the primary reason for the formation of the group was to canvas support for Governor Fubara across the 23 LGAs of the state
Mr Joshua hinted that, as a result of the enormity of the task at hand, some eminent personalities where carefully selected across the state to man and navigate the affairs of the body to success, noting that officers of the group at the 23 LGAS of the state will also be constituted to galvanise support for Governor Fubara at the grassroots.
He said that the Supreme Council for Sim, under the leadership of Hon. Ibieneye, pioneer PDP member and Amb Ngofa, the group was set in the right direction, considering their wealth of experience
He said that the group would showcase the ideologies of Governor Fubara.
”We thank God that we have been able to inaugurate seasoned politicians and credible men and women who will run the affairs of the body .
“They now have the mandate to tell Rivers people about the good plans of the governor for his people across the 23 LGAs
“There’s the adage that ‘evil triumph when the good ones do nothing’. It is time good people speak up about genuine intention of the governor.
“Civil servants are promoted, arreas paid, 100 thousand Naira Christmas gift given, human capital development and infrastructure are some of the milestones of Governor Fubara within short period”, he said.
In his maiden speech, the Chairman, Supreme Council for Sim (Worldwide), Hon. Lolo Ibieneye, urged Rivers people to support Governor Fubara because he means well for everyone
Hon. Ibieneye said, one of the founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, said love remains one of the cardinal principles of the group
The former Commissioner under Dr Peter Odili regime noted that the group had the mandate to galvanise support and stand for Governor Fubara
“Sim means well for Rivers State. There is need to show love to everyone. No need to fight, rather galvanise support for Sim. Don’t allow anyone make you angry. Make sure no one is left out in this movement. We need to work together, believing the movement will become successful as the siege is over”, he said.
Similarly, the Co- Chairman, Amb. Ngofa, said it was worthwhile seeing various groups springing up to support Governor Fubara in the face of distractions
Amb. Ngofa, former Nigeria’s ambassador to the Netherlands, stressed that various groups coming up to declare support for Governor Fubara demonstrates love and political consciousness of the people.
He described the governor as a liberator of his people who where in an atmosphere of dictatorship
Amb. Ngofa hinted that the vision of the governor to properly develop Rivers State through the instrumentality of human capital development naturally attracts support of well meaning people of Rivers State
He assured the people that governor Fubara would give everyone a sense of belonging, unite Rivers State, ensure a sense of inclusion and pursue collective development for the benefit of everyone.
Amb. Ngofa said the group will complement other groups to articulate and realign for the interest of Rivers people, stressing that Governor Fubara is a complete departure from former Governor Nyesom Wike’ s lack of imagination on governance and administration.
On her part, the Admin Officer, Dr Felicia Stewart, assured that women will give the group necessary support to achieve desired objectives.
Dr Stewart said women were ready to show support and solidarity, believing that the governor has good plans for them.
She urged Rivers women to pray and throw their weight behind Governor Fubara through some formidable groups like the Supreme Council for Sim.
By: Taneh Beemene
Rt Hon. Abbas secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Rt Hon. Abbas.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Mallam Balarabe informed members that Rt Hon Abbas was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Rt Hon. Abbas as the party’s flag bearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Rt Hon Abbas would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his declaration, Rt Hon. Abbas expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
The incumbent Reps including Emily Inyang and Godwin Offionio, in separate interviews
protested the handling of the primaries conducted by the leadership of the party in the state, saying it was skewed against them.
The aspirants further described the primaries as a charade and an embarrassment to the state.
According to them, the House of Representatives primaries fell short of the provisions of both the Electoral Act as amended in 2026 and the party’s constitution.
They accused the leadership of the party in the state, backed by Governor Bassey Otu, of violating the party’s constitution in the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries across the state on Saturday.
Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, particularly expressed disappointment with the primary that allegedly disenfranchised registered members of the party in his constituency.
Hon. Offiono asserted that having failed to arrive at a consensus, the party leadership opted for a direct primary to decide the candidate for the 2027 election.
“But what I witnessed today was not only alarming, but quite disheartening that our electoral system have not shown any improvement, especially now that we have a man of God in the person of the governor as the leader of the party.
“How do you declare a result by 9:00am even when the electoral materials were yet to arrive at Yala.
“As an aspirant, I couldn’t even vote or see the materials for my own primary at my Okuku ward in Yala Local Government Area, where I come from. But no matter what happens I am still in the race and have not stepped down for anybody.
“The governor had all the time in the world to drive the process of consensus but he never did. As a representative, I cannot even see my governor. I called, no response. I sent text no reply. I am treated as an out cast,” he lamented.
In an emotion laden tone during a telephone interview, Hon. Offiono further said: “I could not believe that first term NASS members like me can be treated in this shoddy manner even when I don’t know my offence.
“I have been a loyal party man. I appeal to the governor to do the right thing, follow the Electoral Act and party constitution in electing representatives.”
Similarly, Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency said he still remained in the race and had not stepped down for anybody.
According to him, “If this shenanigan called primary is allowed to stand, it would affect the party’s fortune in the general elections.
“My appeal to the governor is to allow the people to decide. And if they so voted against me, I will rest and not fight over anything.
“There was no stakeholders meeting held to decide on anything before now, and someone can not be unilaterally imposed on us all in the name of compromised primary,” he stated.
A coalition of support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the disqualification of former presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, from the Rivers West Senatorial race ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a statement issued on Saturday morning in Abuja, described the action of the party’s screening committee as unjust and capable of worsening internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Bilal Galadima, and General Secretary, Hon. James Ogenyi, accused the party leadership in Rivers State of favouring politicians loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, while sidelining long-standing members of the APC.
The coalition alleged that only aspirants aligned with Chief Wike were cleared to contest for elective positions in the state.
“How can our party allow only one man who is not a member of our party to make decisions or dictate the direction of our party?”, the group queried.
The coalition specifically faulted the exclusion of Mr Jack-Rich, describing him as a loyal party member who had supported the APC for more than 13 years and previously contested the party’s presidential ticket.
It also questioned the alleged clearance of Chief Felix Obua, whom it described as a recent entrant into the party and an ally of Chief Wike.
“How can our party disqualify Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant who has been loyal and supported our party for the last 13 years, only for our party to choose Felix Obua, a Wike loyalist who only joined the party three months ago?”, the statement read.
The group warned that failure by the APC leadership and National Working Committee (NWC) to address the matter as it could weaken the party’s structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on party leaders to uphold internal democracy, reward loyalty and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
INEC TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AS POLITICAL PARTIES SUBMIT REGISTER
All 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”
He recalled that following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a statement issued on the 27th of March, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
Mr Haruna noted that political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added, “INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.”
The Commission restated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
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