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Rivers Rerun Polls For Dec 10 …At Last, INEC Takes Date …RVHA Wants INEC Probed
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has fixed December 10 for the conduct of the outstanding National and State Assembly elections in Rivers State.
A statement by the Secretary to the commission, Mrs Auguta Ogakwu, yesterday in Abuja said that the commission had also approved December 3 to conduct election for the vacant Ifako/Ijaiye seat of Lagos State in the House of Representatives.
The seat became vacant following the death of the member who represented the constituency in the House, Mr Adewale Oluwatayo in July.
On the same day, according to the statement, the commission will also conclude rescheduled councillorship polls in some area councils in the Federal Capital Territory.
“After months of intensive planning and wide consultations, the Independent National Electoral Commission, yesterday approved the conduct of Lagos’ House of Representative election on Saturday, December 3, 2016.
“Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Councillorship election will also hold on Saturday, December 3, 2016.
“Rivers, National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) and State House of Assembly elections on Saturday, December 10, 2016,” the statement said.
It would be recalled that the National Assembly on Wednesday, gave INEC December 10 deadline to conduct pending elections in Rivers and other parts of the country.
The Senate also threatened to suspend plenary if the commission failed to meet the deadline.
Earlier, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had always been ready to conclude the suspended re-run parliamentary elections in Rivers State, but subject to conducive environment for the exercise.
The Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity in the commission, Mr Nick Dazang, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Dazang spoke in reaction to the December 10 deadline given to the commission by the National Assembly on Wednesday to conduct the outstanding polls in Rivers State.
The Senate had threatened to suspend plenary, if INEC failed to meet the deadline.
Dazang said that it was unfortunate that in spite of the commission’s readiness for the elections, some stakeholders in the state were uncooperative, not helping to create peaceful environment needed for conduct of the exercise.
He said that as a sign of good faith, INEC had engaged stakeholders in several meetings in Abuja and in the state on the issue.
“In fact, at a point, we articulated a road map of activities that would climax with the National and State Assembly elections in the state.
“Sadly, on the eve of the proposed schedule for the conduct of the elections in that state, our office in one of the local government areas of the state was razed down.
“In spite of this, we have remained resolute in our determination and have continued to engage with stakeholders.
“Our determination is further underscored by the fact that recently, the commission directed all relevant departments to submit their inputs for the Rivers National and State Assembly elections,” he said.
The deputy director said that the commission’s initial plan was to conclude all suspended elections before the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States in September and November, respectively.
“This was, however, truncated by the spate of violence, particularly in Rivers State and the inflammatory rhetoric of some stakeholders,” he said.
He, however, assured that with the ultimatum by the lawmakers, INEC would meet with the stakeholders to review the situation and agree on a date.
It would be recalled that the re-run elections in the state ordered by the judiciary and scheduled for March 19, 2016, was suspended in parts of the state due to high level of violence that characterised the exercise.
The commission fixed July 31 to conclude the elections, but was again forced to postpone the exercise following reports of violence ahead of the polls.
It, therefore, resolved that it would return to the state to conclude the elections only when the state government and all stakeholders in the state gave undertaking of adequate security during the period the exercise would be conducted.
Dazang told newsmen that neither the Rivers State Government nor the stakeholders had given the undertaking.
In a related development, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has commended the Senate for rising to the occasion in defence of democracy as it concerns rerun elections in the state.
The governor declared that it was important that Rivers State gets her full representation at the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when he granted audience to a delegation of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, yesterday, Wike said: “I thank God that the Senate has risen to the occasion.
“It is important that the Senate has taken the right action that will ensure that Rivers State gets her representatives to speak for the state when issues of national importance are discussed in the Senate and the House of Representatives”.
He reiterated that there was no reason why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been unable to conduct the rerun elections because the state still generates the highest oil revenue and no pipeline has been vandalized as a result of insecurity.
Commenting on the presentation by the delegation of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Wike faulted the claim that the non-oil sector was now generating 50 per cent of the nation’s revenue since recession.
He noted that the country still relies on oil revenue, but pointed out that it was necessary to diversify the country’s revenue generation mechanism.
He, however, stated that the Rivers State Government will support the auditing and generation of statistics of the non-oil revenue sector by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
Leader of the commission’s delegation and Federal Commissioner, Mr Sanya Omirin, said that the team was in the state to conduct a holistic auditing of the non-oil sector, verify mining companies with licences, verify mining leases and confirm royalties that accrue from mining.
He added that the commission was working to bring all mining operators within the tax operations of the government for revenue generation.
He said the steps have become necessary because of the need to diversify the nation’s economy.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) yesterday called on the Federal Government to call Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to order over its failure to conduct all pending rerun elections into legislative positions in both state and National Assemblies.
The House also called on INEC, to as a matter of urgency, conduct rerun elections in Rivers State as ordered by the National Assembly, or face legal action.
This followed the unanimous adoption of a motion sponsored by the Leader of the House, Hon. Martin Amaewhule at the plenary session of the House in Port Harcourt.
Moving the motion, Amaewhule said that failure of INEC to conduct the rerun elections in the state within the time frame given by the respective election PetitionTribunals was a total breach of the Electoral Act and Section 76 of the 1999 Constitution and therefore, urged the Federal Government to set-up a panel to probe the commission.
Contributing to the motion, a member representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 1, Hon. Major Jack, said the Assembly cannot sit and watch the state tolerate INEC’s maltreating and denying of the state its equal representation at both state and National Assemblies.
Also contributing, the lawmaker representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency 11, Hon. Uwaji Nathaniel condemned the non-conduct of rerun elections in Rivers State by INEC despite the orders of election petition tribunal in Abuja.
This followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Okpokiri Nwanaka at the plenary session.
In his presentation, Hon. Nwanaka observed that, no serious action was taken either by the Federal Government or security agencies over the killing of an innocent man by a soldier.
In his comment, Speaker of the House, Hon. Adams Dabotorudima commended the sponsor of the motion, saying that the House would ensure that appropriate action was taken to call INEC to order.
Enoch Epelle
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, says Nigeria needs God-fearing leaders for the nation to move in the right direction and make meaningful progress.
The Governor stated this yesterday when he received in audience, the World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler; his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler; daughter Mariana Marques Kohler and a retinue of ministers of the church at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara who hailed the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its contributions to education and the grooming of future leaders in Nigeria, expressed delight that the Church had over the years, been investing in education at various levels and currently runs two universities in the country.
He commended the church for not only using its institutions to spread the gospel of Christianity but to groom future leaders for the country.
According to him, religion should not be just about defending one’s faith, but also making meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
He said that by floating these educational institutions, the church has demonstrated capacity to support Nigeria in the task of producing not only educated people but a breed of God-fearing leaders.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line and that is what has brought us to where we are today.
“So, I feel very happy that you are contributing to the development of our future leaders in this country. We need the right people being in the right place; prepared properly with good minds; that is what we need, not just in Nigeria but round the whole world.,” he said.
Governor Fubara further observed that the absence of God-fearing people in high places to take the right decisions that could impact positively on the society, has also given rise to other problems such as social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality. According to him, Nigeria needs a system where the average parent could afford quality education for their children and a guarantee that upon graduation, the average child will have the capacity to compete favourably with anybody, anywhere in the world.
“If we have a situation where the little money that you’re being paid as wage can also afford you quality healthcare and after working at least for 15-20 years, you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime? At that point, you’ll feel secured and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to all the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and for their prayers for Rivers State, assuring them of his continued support for their programmes in the state.
Leader of the delegation and World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler said he was in Nigeria for a special conference of the church during which thousands of the church’s ministers will be undergoing an empowerment programme to further equip them for the task of herding their flocks and serving the society.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his entourage, saying the memory of the visit will linger in his mind for a lifetime.
Kohler disclosed that the Church has over twenty -four million (24,000,000) members and more than 182,000 places of worship, spread across 212 countries of the world.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has approved the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This reaffirms the lawmakers’ commitment to enacting laws and taking legislative actions geared towards the overall development of the State.
The Assembly gave the approval during its Second Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session held last Friday.
Speaking on the MTEF document during plenary, the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, noted that by the provision of Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, the MTEF ought to have been laid before the House in September 2025.
Amaewhule explained that traditionally, the document is expected to be presented four months before the commencement of the next financial year and immediately after the expiration of every three-year fiscal cycle.
He, however, stated that in the interest of the State and its people, the House considered it necessary to deliberate on the document, describing it as a precursor to the 2026 Budget Estimates.
The Speaker expressed concern that the year had already progressed significantly before the presentation of the framework.
During deliberations on the document, members examined the assumptions and projections contained in the MTEF and observed that strict adherence to the outlined fiscal parameters would ultimately serve the interest of Rivers people.
The lawmakers maintained that effective implementation of the framework would promote prudent financial management and enhance developmental planning across the State.
Following the debate and positive consideration by members, the Speaker put the question to the House and members voted overwhelmingly in support of the approval of the MTEF.
Meanwhile, during the same sitting last Friday, the House also received a petition from the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr. Gift Worlu.
The petition was presented by the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon. Emilia Amadi.
According to the petition, concerns were raised over an imminent security breach, threats to lives, destruction of property and alleged forceful takeover of property by some lawless persons within parts of the Local Government Area.
Presenting the petition before the House, Hon. Amadi appealed to the lawmakers to revisit the matter and take necessary steps aimed at safeguarding lives and property in the affected communities.
The House is expected to further deliberate on the petition and consider measures to address the concerns raised in order to sustain peace and security in the area.
King Onunwor
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JUNE 12: Democracy Remains Nigeria’s Strongest Path To Unity, Progress, Says Fubara ….Extols Abiola, Wife
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed that democracy remains the most effective system of government for Nigeria, given the country’s rich diversity of ethnic, religious, and cultural identities.
In a goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, Governor Fubara said June 12 represents far more than a historic date; as it embodies the enduring struggle, sacrifice, and collective aspiration of Nigerians for freedom, justice, and representative governance.
The Governor extended warm felicitations to Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, paying tribute to the heroes and heroines of the democratic struggle, particularly Chief MKO Abiola, his wife, Kudirat Abiola, and countless others whose courage and sacrifices helped secure the democratic freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.
According to him, “June 12 is a reminder of the price paid for the democracy we enjoy today. The sacrifices made by Chief MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, and many other patriots who laid the foundation for the democratic journey we continue to enjoy today. Their commitment to the principle that power must ultimately reside with the people remains a source of inspiration for every generation of Nigerians.”
Governor Fubara noted that thirty-three years after the historic June 12, 1993 election, Nigeria’s democratic experiment has continued to evolve despite challenges and setbacks.
“Our democratic journey has not been without difficulties, but the resilience of our institutions and the determination of our people have kept the nation moving forward. The ability to express differing opinions, engage in constructive debate, and peacefully choose leaders through the ballot remains one of the greatest achievements of our nation,” he said.
Governor Fubara stressed that democracy provides the best framework for managing Nigeria’s diversity and transforming it into a source of national strength.
“Nigeria’s diversity should never be seen as a weakness. Properly harnessed, it is our greatest asset. Democracy offers us the opportunity to build consensus, promote inclusion, strengthen national unity, and create the conditions for sustainable development and shared prosperity,” he said.
Governor Fubara commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and ongoing efforts aimed at economic revitalization, strengthening security, and deepening democratic institutions across the country.
He reiterated the readiness of Rivers State to continue partnering with the Federal Government in advancing policies and programmes that improve the lives of citizens through infrastructure development, job creation, enhanced security, quality education, healthcare delivery, and good governance.
The Governor further called on Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, ethnic background, or religious belief, to use the occasion of Democracy Day to renew their commitment to the Nigerian project and the ideals that underpin democratic governance.
“Democracy must not be viewed merely as a periodic electoral exercise. It must be reflected in our daily commitment to accountability, transparency, tolerance, justice, respect for the rule of law, and responsible leadership. As citizens and leaders, we all share a collective responsibility to strengthen our democracy and build a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit,” he said.
Governor Fubara expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, urging citizens to remain united, hopeful, and committed to the values of peace, dialogue, and national development.
“Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and more prosperous Nigeria where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national progress,” he said.