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APP Wants INEC To Conduct By-Election To Fill Rivers Assembly Vacant Seats

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The Chairman of Action Peoples Party (APP) in Rivers State, Hon Sunny Wokekoro, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to conduct by-election to fill the vacant seats of the 27 lawmakers who defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)   to the All Progressives Congress. (APC).
He stated that INEC’s delay to conduct the election was also contributing to the political crisis in the State and becoming worrisome, saying that the recent judgement  had confirmed the defection of the embattled 27 lawmakers in Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.
Hon. Wokekoro said this while reacting to the recent court judgement by Justice Sika Aprioku  that dismissed the suit seeking to compel Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-present the N800 billion 2024 budget to the 27 lawmakers.
According to him, the judgement had clearly mentioned that the Gov. Fubara  was right to have presented the 2024 and 2025 budgets to the Rt Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo led Assembly.
“As a party we are calling on INEC to  immediately conduct another election to the seats vacated by the 27 lawmakers following their defection.
“The party will explore the possibility of legal action to compel INEC to conduct the election if our call is not adhered to.
“The judgement has authenticated and confirmed that the Governor has the constitutional right to present both the 2024 and 2025 budgets to Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo”, Hon. Wokekoro said.
He expressed the confidence that the APP was poised to win all the seats, adding that the party has credible persons that have the capacity to achieve electoral success.
“Our party is one of the fastest growing parties currently in the country; it is the party to beat at any election”, he stated.
The  APP boss noted that the respective constituencies of the defected members were deprived of representation in the state house of assembly as presently headed by the Rt Hon. Oko- Jumbo and enjoined all  political parties to join hands in demanding for INEC to immediately conduct a bye election to fill the vacant seats occasioned by the defection.
The party chairman used the opportunity to laud the governor’s approach to developing the state, especially by not borrowing money to execute projects.
Tonye Orabere
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Police On Alert Over Anticipated PDP Secretariat Reopening

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The Federal Capital Territory Police Command says it will deploy officers to prevent possible violence as tensions escalate over the planned reopening of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat by the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led caretaker committee on Monday.

The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.

Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.

The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).

He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”

However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.

Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.

Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”

Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”

“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.

He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.

A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.

“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.

Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”

When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.

Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.

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Kano Assembly Debunks Alleged Impeachment Plot Against Dep Gov

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The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.

The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.

Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.

Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.

The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.

He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.

“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.

“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.” 

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2027: Obasanjo’s Daughter Declares For Ogun Governorship

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Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared her intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.

Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.

So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.

“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.

“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.

The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.

Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.

Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.

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