Politics
Lawmakers Mourn Oforji
Activities at the Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) last week kicked off with debates on a bill to repeal the Rivers State Honours Awards Law 2000 and to re-enact the Rivers State Honours Law 2017.
The bill, which was presented by the majority leader of the House, Hon Martin Amaewhule passed its second reading during Tuesday’s plenary session.
In his contribution, Hon Amaewhule described the bill as a good one to provide for the award of State Honours by Warrant made by the Governor and for matters connected thereto.
He further explained that the bill shall confer on the state Governor the power to award state honours in the name of the government and people of Rivers State to any indigene, person or body, unit, association or corporation in the state.
He therefore urged that the bill be passed into law.
In their separate debates, the Chief Whip of the House, Hon Evans Bipi, the lawmaker representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency, Hon Christian Ahiakwo, the Lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency, Hon Abinye Pepple , among others expressed the need for the bill to be passed into law.
The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani had to announce the passage of the bill for second reading following major opinion of the House on the importance of the bill.
Last Thursday, members of the Assembly held validictory session in honour of a former lawmaker of the fourth Assembly in the state, late Hon Precious Oforji who died in January 2017 at the age of 59.
The sterling leadership qualities of the deceased lawmaker resonated at the session in which the speaker led both former and serving legislators to pour encomiums in him (Oforji).
The Speaker, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Marshal Uwom urged the legislators to emulate the leadership style of the late Oforji, whom he described as a complete gentleman who contributed immensely to the success of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999 until his demise
The Speaker who also described the late legislator as an astute politician, said Oforji had uplifted the standard of living of several people at the grassroots, especially in Oyigbo his constituency.
Before the speaker’s remark, a motion was moved by the majority leader of the House, Hon Martin Amaewhule and seconded by the Chief Whip of the House, Hon Evans Bipi for the remains of late Hon Oforji to be ushered into the hallowed chamber of the House for the valedictory session.
In his remark, Hon Amaewhule recounted how late Oforji was a Chairman of Grassroot Democracy Movement (GDM) in Oyigbo between 1996 to 1998, when all the political parties there were abolished.
He said the deceased later joined PDP and he was elected and sworn-in as a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly where he served from 1999 to 2003 and later, from 2003 to 2007.
Amaewhule said Oforji later left the Assembly to become council chairman of Oyigbo local government area of the state from 2007 to 2010, under the platform of PDP.
Same Thursday, the majority leader of the House, Hon Martin Amaewhule was honoured as the outstanding lawmaker of the month of January 2017 in the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Assembly Press Corps.
The award was presented to the majority leader in his office at the Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt.
Presenting the award, the Chairman of the Assembly Press Corps Comrade Alwell Ene commended the efforts of the lawmaker on his various inputs to ensure quality lawmaking in the House, especially in sponsoring the Rivers State Education. (Return of Schools) Amendment Bill 2017.
In his remark, the majority leader, Hon Amaewhule thanked the press corps for the honour bestowed on him.
He said the award would spur him to do what is necessary and expected from him as a legislator to improve the lives of his constitutents and Rivers people at large.
Enoch Epelle
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had taken note of Mr Obi’s defection alongside some of his supporters, as well as what it called a “lacklustre speech” delivered by the former Anambra State governor at the defection event.
“We wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians,” the party said, adding that it was not surprised by the move, having “since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.”
According to the statement, the faction said it had patiently awaited Mr Obi’s exit, describing it as a blessing.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the party said.
The faction further disclosed that it had previously urged Mr Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unable to work with the party leadership.
It claimed that several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Mr Obi but for the intervention of “some well-meaning Nigerians.”
It also blamed its internal crisis on Mr Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership.
“The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti,” the statement alleged, adding that it was surprising Dr Otti had not followed Mr Obi out of the party despite his suspension.
Reacting to Mr Obi’s defection event in Enugu, the faction claimed the gathering was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, insisting that those present were “political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.”
It warned that this development signalled the failure of any future Mr Obi presidential or vice-presidential ambition, claiming he had “clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior to 2023.”
The faction also accused Mr Obi of misleading the South East during the 2023 elections, alleging that the region suffers political marginalisation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a result.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement said, alleging disparities in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation to the zone.
The Abure-Led LP apologised to Nigerians for its decision in the last election.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
It urged Nigerians to watch out for a rebranded Labour Party, promising to present “the best prospect” capable of returning Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”
steadily toward unity, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Oluyede said the development came as a shock, stressing that INEC supervised and monitored the PDP governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate.
According to him, INEC officials documented the process, completed all required forms, and even affirmed his candidacy in court through sworn affidavits arising from cases linked to the primary election.
He maintained that no court order or injunction currently restrains INEC from listing his name as the PDP candidate, arguing that the electoral body lacks the constitutional power to determine who emerges as a party’s nominee.
Dr Oluyede described such decisions as the exclusive responsibility of political parties, not the electoral umpire.
While playing down panic over the released list, Dr Oluyede noted that electoral processes often involve reviews and corrections.
He disclosed that he had commenced wide consultations, including engagements with PDP leadership and formal correspondence with INEC, to seek clarification on the omission and determine the next line of action.
The PDP candidate assured his supporters across Ekiti State that he would appear on the ballot, expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved in his favour.
He described attempts to exclude candidates from elections as dangerous and undemocratic, warning that such tactics undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
Dr Oluyede called on the people of Ekiti to reject any form of disenfranchisement, insisting that elections should be contests of ideas, records, and acceptance by the electorate rather than exclusionary maneuvers.
He also declared that the PDP in Ekiti had resolved its past internal crises and was now united, focused, and ready to win the forthcoming governorship election.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused, expressing optimism that, with divine grace and the will of the people, the PDP would emerge victorious at the polls.
Mr Obi spoke while formally declaring for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a well-attended event in Enugu on Wednesday, where he outlined what he described as a fresh roadmap for rescuing the country from its socio-economic challenges.
Addressing party members, supporters and other stakeholders, the former governor stressed that leadership must be driven by integrity and accountability, warning against the culture of double standards in public office.
“We cannot continue to deceive our people. Leadership is about telling the truth and leading by example. You cannot promise one thing in public and do another in private. That is not leadership, and that is not the change Nigeria needs”, Mr Obi said.
He maintained that genuine national rebirth would only be possible if entrenched wrongs were corrected, adding that governance must be guided by competence, discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
Mr Obi also underscored the need for fresh thinking in the nation’s political space, urging political actors to move away from recycled ideas that have failed to deliver sustainable development.
“We must come with new ideas,” he said, adding that “Nigeria’s problems are not mysterious; what has been lacking is the courage and competence to address them differently. We need a new approach that puts people first and focuses on production, not consumption.”
Calling for a broad based political collaboration, Mr Obi appealed to parties and stakeholders across ideological divides to work together in the national interest.
“This country is bigger than any party or individual. All parties must come together to change the present trend. What matters is not the platform, but the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens”, he declared.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi challenged aspirants seeking elective offices to ensure transparency in their credentials, warning that the era of falsified certificates was drawing to a close.
“Anyone contesting for any position in 2027 must come with genuine certificates. All the machinery is now in place to verify what is genuine and what is not. Integrity must start from the very foundation of leadership”, he stated.
Drawing lessons from international development models, Mr Obi cited Rwanda and Indonesia as examples of countries that rose from difficult beginnings to become thriving economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies.
“These countries were once behind us,” he noted, adding that “Today, they are moving ahead because they chose competent leadership, clear vision and policies that support local production and human capital development.”
He also criticised the economic policies of the present administration, particularly the continued importation of food items that can be produced locally, describing such practices as inimical to national development.
“You cannot grow an economy by killing local production. Importing food that we can produce in Nigeria destroys jobs, weakens our farmers and drains our foreign exchange. A serious country must produce what it consumes”, he argued.
The event featured renewed calls from ADC supporters for sustained engagement and mobilisation, as Mr Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria remains redeemable if led with honesty, competence and a commitment to shared national progress.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, expressed confidence in the emerging coalition, assuring Nigerians that the party would deliver good governance at all levels of administration if entrusted with power.
The gathering also witnessed the defection of several prominent politicians from different political parties across the South-East and beyond.
The motion endorsing the defection was moved by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by former economic adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Goodwill messages from notable political figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, Chief Sam Egwu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji among others, further underscored the growing momentum within the ADC.
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