Politics
$43m: Wike Gives FG 7-Day Ultimatum
Activities in Government House last week commenced with the State Chief Executive, Chief Nyesom Wike attending the second session of Third Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Etche, in Etche Local Government Area.
The Anglican Bishop of Etche Diocese, Rt Rev. Okechukwu Nwala was full of praises for Chief Wike. He recalled that before now the people of the area suffered from bad roads until Wike came to their rescue.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, announced that his administration will construct the second phase of Egbu-Etche Road. Said Wike: The Etche people are part of Rivers State and they deserve developmental projects. Etche produces oil and food and should get her share of development.”
Last Monday, Wike played host to two groups which include the chiefs and people of Bille Kingdom and leaders of International Church Impact Communiun (ICICI). The church leaders were led by Archbishop John Praise.
Praise poured encomiums on Wike for the various developmental projects. In his speech, Governor Wike announced the establishment of Christian fund.
Addressing the people of Bille Kingdom earlier, Chief Wike promised the people of the Kingdom that he will embark on sand filling and shore protection for them. The governor stressed that the project is vital to the sustenance of Bille Kingdom, assuring that it will be executed in phases.
Last Wednesday, the usual weekly State Executive Council Meeting held with the governor presiding.
The State Governor last Thursday, commiserated with families of persons who drowned in Bonny River penultimate week. Represented by Commissioner for Transport, Deacon Akie Fubara, Wike said the security of lives on the Bonny –Port Harcourt sea route remains a top priority, which the administration has been addressing.
Calling on transporters and passengers to be safety conscious, he explained that transport safety does not just end with wearing of life vests, but in ensuring that boats are certified to be sea-worthy, the drivers and operators, well trained.
Last Friday, the governor signed five bills into law. The bills include: Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Amendment Number 1 Law, Number 1 of 2017, Rivers State Honours Law Number 2 of 2017, Rivers State Reserve Fund (Repcal) Law Number 3 of 2017, Rivers State University Law Number 4 of 2017 and Rivers State Teaching Hospital Law Number 5 of 2017.
Chief Wike, on the same day, at the Sharks Football Stadium, received former Chieftains of the APC into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor assured that the PDP would continue to wax strong, while flaying Ali Modu Sheriff whom he accused of being used as a mole to factionalise the party.
The governor said that the defection of APC members to the PDP signals the death of the political party in the state because according to him, it was founded on falsehood and deception.
Chief Wike on Good Friday felicitated with Christians. He urged them to emulate Christ by making sacrifices that will advance the course of development. He submitted that Easter exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save mankind.
In the same vein, the deputy governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo called for continuous prayers and support for the Wike-led administration, admonishing Christians to use the Easter period to rededicate themselves to the service of God.
She had earlier called on Health Workers in the State to be more dedicated to their duties. Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo at a book launch by Roland Obed-Whyte said health workers should not compromise standards.
Alhaji Mohammed Kasim, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Philip Akpeni, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Sunday morning.
Alhaji Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat Alhaji Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 17,788 votes.
Alhaji Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1, 687 to come in third place.
“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026,” Akpeni said.
“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, the APC candidate, was declared the winner of the chairmanship poll with 40,295 votes.
Andrew Abue, the Collation Officer for AMAC, said Hon. Maikalangu, who is the incumbent AMAC chairman, was returned elected having scored the highest number of votes cast.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.
According to Abue, the total number of valid votes in the chairmanship poll was 62,861, while the total votes cast stood at 65,197.
He added that the number of registered voters in AMAC was 837,338, while the total number of accredited voters was 65,676.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship election.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Bwari, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, stated that Ishaku polled a total of 18,466 votes to emerge victorious in the February 21, 2026 poll.
“I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Bwari chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026. That Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Nurudeen said.
According to the results declared, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 3,515 votes to place second and third respectively.
The declaration adds to the series of results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, as political parties assess their performance ahead of future contests.
INEC UPLOADS 2,602 OF 2,822 FCT CHAIRMANSHIP RESULTS ON IReV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had uploaded 2,602 out of the 2,822 expected polling unit results from Saturday’s chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at 5:55am on Sunday, data retrieved from its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed.
According to The Tide source, the figure represents an overall upload rate of about 92.2 per cent across the six area councils of the territory.
A council-by-council breakdown indicates that Municipal Area Council recorded the highest number of submissions in absolute terms, with 1,309 of 1,401 polling unit results uploaded, representing 93.43 per cent.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, 330 of the expected 338 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 97.63 per cent — the highest upload rate among the six councils.
In Bwari Area Council, INEC uploaded 463 of 485 polling unit results, translating to 95.46 per cent.
In Abaji Area Council, 129 of 135 polling unit results had been uploaded as at 5:55am, representing 95.56 per cent.
In Kwali Area Council, 164 of the expected 201 polling unit results were available on the portal, representing 81.59 per cent.
In Kuje Area Council, 207 of 262 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 79.01 per cent — the lowest rate among the six councils as at the time of review.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the swift assent as a clear demonstration of political will to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We see the decision by President Bola Tinubu to sign the reworked 2022 Electoral Act into law within a few hours of its passage as a demonstration of political will to ensure an improved electoral process which the new law envisages,” the group said.
The TMSG expressed confidence that the development would enable the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to quickly align its operations with the new provisions in preparation for the 2027 polls.
The group noted that the provision for electronic transmission of results had been contentious but described its codification in the law as a significant step forward.
“So, for the first time, the country’s electoral law would be recognising the use of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the result viewing portal, IREV, which were just INEC guidelines in 2023,” it stated.
According to the TMSG, although the Act provides for electronic transmission of results from polling units to the IREV portal, it also makes room for manual transmission of Form EC8A result sheets as a backup in the event of technological failure.
“Unlike some Nigerians, we do not see anything wrong with the fallback plan but we agree with the President that no matter how beautiful a process is with improved technology, the onus lies on the people manning it to show good faith and ensure that the votes of the people really count at the end of the day,” the statement added.
The group highlighted other key provisions in the amended law, including the streamlining of party primaries to either consensus or direct primaries, early release of funds to INEC, reinforced measures against over-voting, and stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as falsification of results.
It also pointed out that the mandatory notice period for elections has been reduced from 360 days to 300 days, giving INEC more flexibility in adjusting the timetable for the 2027 elections, especially where it may clash with Ramadan.
The TMSG further observed that the President’s decision to sign the bill days before the forthcoming Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) underscores his desire for the law to take immediate effect.
“And by signing the amendment bill a few days before the Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is obvious that the President is keen on ensuring that the 2026 Electoral Act takes immediate effect.
“Nigerians would also have an opportunity to see some of the key provisions of the new electoral law become operational, especially the electronic transmission of results,” it said.
The group expressed optimism that the current INEC leadership would leverage the new legal framework to deliver a more credible and widely acceptable electioneering process than in previous electoral cycles.
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