Politics
APC’s Impeachment Threat, Invitation To Anarchy -Rivers Info Commissioner
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Joe Johnson, and the former organising secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Andoni Local Government Area (ANOLGA), Elder Blessing Tiko have faulted the call for the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The duo who spoke at different fora in Port Harcourt described the call for the impeachment of Governor Fubara by the caretaker committee chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Mr Tony Okocha, as an invitation to anarchy.
On his part, Mr Johnson said, in an interview with a radio station in Port Harcourt, that members of The Rivers State House of Assembly also lacked the legitimacy to continue to perform legislative duties having defected from their former party.
While quoting a section of the 1999 Constitution, he said the country’s supreme rule book is specific about defection of members of the House of Assembly, adding that the lawmakers by the constitution have no legal power to legislate for the state.
Speaking on the issue of local government election, the Commissioner said that the purported agreement with the president does not urge the Governor to hold local government elections, adding that the agreement only warned against dissolution of local government councils and setting up of caretaker committees.
He said the Governor has not even contemplated dissolving the elected local government council executives and the setting up of caretaker committees.
The Commissioner also argued that there is no way the Governor can represent a budget already passed by a validly constituted House of Assembly.
According to him, the Assembly that passed the budget was legally recognised by law, adding that there was no way a budget that is now an Act of the state Assembly can be represented.
Also speaking, a former organising secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Andoni Local Government Area, Elder Blessing Tiko, said in the eyes of the law, the 27 members of the House of Assembly were no longer relevant, having defected to the APC, adding that whatever they were doing was dead on arrival.
He urged them to allow the Governor to govern his people.
“Any one who throws stone in the market will not know whom the stone will touch, therefore, they should not be throwing stones that will hunt them at last or in the nearest future”, he said.
Elder Tiko challenged Mr Okocha to carry out his threat, if he is capable.
He urged the Governor not to be distracted as God and Rivers people were solidly behind him.
John Bibor
Politics
Cleric Tasks APC On Internal Stability, Warns Otti
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
Politics
Makarfi Resigns As PDP BoT Secretary
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.
