Rivers
Mixed Reactions Trail August 30th LG Elections In Rivers … RSIEC Says No Going Back
As the Local Government elections fixed for Saturday, August 30, 2025, draws closer, the possibility of a hitch-free process is increasing due to reactions of Political party officials and other stakeholders over the legitimacy of the planned exercise.
Recall that the Michael Ekpai Odey-led Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on July 28, 2025, announced a shift in date for the polls, moving it from an earlier proposed August 9 to August 30, 2025.
In a chat with Journalists, Darlington Nwauju, spokesman of the Emeka Beke-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said the conditions necessary for the conduct of council polls on August 30 have not been met by RSIEC.
Nwauju hinted that his party, APC, may boycott the elections, if all necessary conditions for credible, free and fair elections are not met.
His position was in disagrrenent with that of Chairman of the rival APC faction, Chief Tony Okocha, who said the party is ready to go to the polls on August 30 as fixed by RSIEC.
With the two different positions emerging from same Political party (APC), the likelihood of the APC not participating in the elections looks imminently reminiscent of the situation both in 2019 and 2023.
“On June 25th this year, INEC, which is the principal election management body in Nigeria, issued an advisory, stating that whereas it has plans to conduct bye-elections to fill several spaces and constituencies that require to be filled as a result of either death, resignation or whatever reasons, that they are not able to conduct elections in Khana Constituency 2 citing the state of emergency in Rivers State.
“Finally, and very importantly, the Supreme Court had warned, flowing the judgment of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which ordered INEC not to issue a voter’s register to the state Independent Electoral Commission led by Justice Enebeli, that without an updated voter’s register, elections must not go on at the local government levels in Rivers State”, Nwauju said.
The factional APC Spokesman, whose faction is in court over control of the party in Rivers State, said given the issues raised, APC will not be in a hurry to go into the elections until the necessary criteria are put in place to ensure a free and fair poll.
On the other hand, Okocha, the rival state chairman of the APC, immediately after the RSIEC announcement on July 28, said his party is ready: “any time, any day” to participate in the council polls.
He suggested that some stakeholders were concerned with the previous arrangement to conduct the council polls, because “things were not done properly”, adding that his party is satisfied with the present arrangements to hold the polls.
On her part, the State Chairman of the Labour Party, Hilda Dokubo, said her party will study the documents, timetable and references presented by RISEC before presenting a position on the matter.
Dokubo, who did not go into the legality or otherwise of the proposed council polls, added that the concern of her party “what is in the best interest of the people.”
Meanwhile, the RSIEC Commissioner in Charge of Political Party Affairs/ Monitoring/Security, Prof Godfrey Ngozi Woke, had earlier said the elections would hold as planned.
Woke noted that the present RSIEC administration is mere acting on the time table of the precious administration which, according to him, was not under any form of challenge.
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The Commissioner of Police (CP) Delta State Command, Mr. Yemi Oyeniyi, has urged traditional institutions to continue to support law enforcement in the country.
Oyeniyi gave the advice on Tuesday at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner, who was on a familiarisation tour of police formations across the state, including the Effurun area command, solicited continued partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence.
He commended the Ovie of Uvwie for his unwavering commitment to peace, security, and community development.
“I acknowledge the invaluable role of traditional institutions in supporting law enforcement in the country.
“I equally solicit continuous partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence among the people”, he said.
In his remarks, the Ovie of Uvwie, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage to the domain.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the people to supporting the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
The royal father urged his subjects to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by way of providing timely and credible information.
The Commissioner, thereafter, proceeded to perform the groundbreaking of the Effurun area command at the instance of the Insp.-Gen. of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu.
The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, said the centre will, among other things, identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents.
It will also evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, and generate income from services with succession planning.
Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako.
The proposed centre, according to he statement, will have seven units namely language teaching unit, where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught.
It will also have Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit, as well as Research and Publication unit..
The statement quoted the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ken-Maduako, the centre will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.
Professor Ken-Maduako firther said the center “will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University”s profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, and improve graduate employability and digital competence.”
In his speech, the Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, encouraged sponsors of the centre to source for funds for the take off of the centre.
He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower.
Earlier, Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which, he said, is a remarkable development, amd described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .
In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors.
Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, was approved by Senate.
Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson, and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr. Florence Ironawusi.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The National President, Forum of Inclusive Educators and Readers (FIER), Mr. Onyeka Innocent, has admonished school owners and parents alike to learn how to prepare their children/wards ahead time in order to beat challenges irrespective of the angle they may spring up from.
Innocent made this known at the Forum’s meeting held partly in honour of the Spelling B, 2025 winners, in Port Harcourt.
“Soldiers are not trained during war, rather, they are trained and kept in the Barracks, waiting for war”, he said.
He said students must be provided with the necessary educational tools capable of boosting their academic pursuit.
According to him, proprietors of schools must conform with the Government’s authorities and guidance if they are determined to succeed in the project.
Another solution to educational management, he said, is the availability of Education Committees in schools, saying that it will improve the quality of its learning process.
Though he did not rule out decay in the society, he said there are few that still hold fast to determination and sincerity.
The FIER leader said his association was one of the bodies with the zeal to right wrongs in the society, especially in the Education sector.
He noted that his group was also prepared to reduce the number of out-of-school children by ensuring that education was taken to all parts of the Country.
On registration of private schools as directed by the State Government, he said his members are in compliance and assured of a cordial relationship between the Government and his Association.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Competition were Master Fredrick Jeffrey of Daisy Dan School, who emerged first; Badubulachi Maryan of Fertile Vineyard Academy, 2nd; and Itode Samuel of Baridoo Sam Joel School, 3rd.
They winners where rewarded with cash prices of N100,000, N50,000 and N30, 000 respectively.
King Onunwor
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