Politics

2011 LG Polls: Intrigues, Power Play In Rivers State

Published

16 years ago

July 23, 2010

As the preparations for the 2011 elections gather momentum, political intrigues continue to play itself out in the political terrain of some of the local government areas in Rivers State.

Some of the local government areas where politicians have started to warm up to wrest power from the incumbent chairmen include Opobo/Nkoro, Eleme, Ikwerre, Tai, Emohua, Degema, Oyigbo and Obio-Akpor.

Several of the candidates on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are contesting. They are applying political intrigues to solicit support for their ambition to rule their respective local government councils, while others are searching for political relevance in their constituencies.

Again, with the end of the tenure of the present local government council chairmen gradually drawing to a close, primaries and nomination for PDP candidates would start soon to determine who takes over control of leadership at the third tier of the democratic governance.

This scenario has created political anxiety among candidates vying for one elective office or the other to control political power at the grassroots level in the state.

The intrigues continue to play out to the extent that some powerful political gladiators at the corridors of power and close associates of the various candidates are engaging themselves in power play to get party tickets.

Some individuals who are ready to circumvent the rules of existing political equation within the political structure of the grassroots politics of their local government areas seem to have their way politically. The political anxiety is further heightened by the need for some political leaders to jettison the prevailing political power sharing arrangements within their constituencies that tend to ensure fairness, equity and justice.

In Khana Local Government Area, for example, Barr. Patrick Igbara, a prominent politician from the area, said political offices especially the chairmanship slot rotates between two political blocs of Nyo-Khana and Ken-Khana/Babbe blocs.

Igbara said: “The current council’s chairman, Hon. Greg Nwidah is from Ken-Khana/Babbe political bloc, while two elected former council chairmen, Hon. Letam Korsi and Hon Legborsi Lee are from the Nyo-Khana political bloc.”

Mr. Patrick Igbara stated that “it is fair for the Ken-Khana/Babbe constituency to still retain the chairmanship slot for justice and equity to prevail in the area.”

But there are indications that candidates from the Nyo-Khana are determined to take over the control of the Khana council come 2011 local government elections.

A stalwart of PDP in Khana, Chief Promise Poronee of the Ken-khana/Babbe constituency was prepared to retain the council’s chairmanship slot despite what he said was the misguided PDP stakeholders resolution against the Ken-Khana/Babbe political bloc and the current council chairman, Hon. Greg Nwidam.

In his words, “the council chairmanship contest is a straight contest between the current chairman, Hon. Greg Nwidam and Mr. Dominic Pianen, Board member, Universal Basic Education (UBE), who has already indicated interest to contest.

In Gokana Local Government council, no person has emerged to challenge the current chairman, Hon. Victor Giadom.

However, a politician in the area, Hon. Lucky Baridam said the Gokana race was also a fierce contest between the Panumu bloc and Kibangha political bloc.

But Hon. Baridam said for now, the Kebangha political bloc was totally in control of the grassroots politics of Gokana and power.

It is believed that Hon. Victor Giadom has performed to the satisfaction of major Gokana political stakeholders and they observed that Giadom deserved a second term.

In Tai Local Government Area, there are also two political blocs, which are Tua-Tua and Nonwa political blocs.

Hon. John Aminikpo said the Tua Tua political bloc had dominated Tai political leadership positions over the Nonwa bloc.

Hon Aminikpo stated that the 2011 local government election promised to be a fierce battle as the Nonwa bloc was politically battle ready to take the chairmanship.

However, the current secretary of the council, Mr Gbenekanu Kuapie and Dr Batam Ndedgwe from Nonwa political bloc have both indicated interest to contest as the current chairman, Hon Barry Mpigi is serving his second term in office.

In Eleme Local Government Area, the power game is always between the Nchia and Odido blocs.

The current chairman, Hon Oji Ngofa from Nchia is interested in coming back for second term.

However, strong contenders have emerged to challenge Hon Oji Ngofa for the chairmanship slot.

Hon Sunny Ogbu, a former councillor added that Mr Chidi Chu, Hon Sylvanus Sanwi, all from Eteo have indicated interest to challenge Oji Ngofa for the council’s chairmanship position.

In Akuku Toru Local Government Area, 10 aspirants have emerged to wrest power from the current council chairman, Hon. Paul Awoyesuku.

The list include Hon. Theodore Georgewill, Chief Dr Owunari, Georgewill, Hon Otuka Georgewill, Hon Soberekon Clerk Georgewill, Hon Tonye Wellington Granville, Hon Asie Kala Otaji, Tonye Lolomari, Hon Iboroma Kitchner, member, House of Assembly is also interested in contesting the Akuku Toru local government council chairmanship position, and Isobo Jack.

Reliable sources indicated that it was the turn of Georgewill compound to produce the council chairman in the 2011 local government elections.

However, all the political intrigues are only expected to add colour to the emerging political senario in Rivers State.

Philip-Wuwu Okparaji

Politics

Tinubu Flags Off 2027 Re-election Campaign In Kaduna

Published

3 days ago

October 26, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, launched the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna State, beginning the ruling party’s mobilisation for the 2027 general elections.

The campaign rally, held at the Kaduna Township Stadium, attracted Vice-President Kashim Shettima, APC governors, party leaders, federal and state lawmakers, political stakeholders and supporters from across the country.

The flag-off marks the beginning of the APC’s drive to secure a second presidential term for President Tinubu, with the party expected to promote its achievements, defend its economic reforms and outline its policy priorities under the proposed Renewed Hope 2.0 agenda.

Kaduna’s selection for the campaign launch underscores the strategic importance of the North-West, a region with a substantial voting population and considerable influence on presidential election outcomes.

The APC faces a significant challenge in Kaduna, where the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, defeated President Tinubu in the 2023 election. The rally therefore provides the ruling party an opportunity to strengthen its grassroots structures and regain electoral support in the state.

Addressing supporters, Vice-President Shettima appealed to Northern voters, highlighting President Tinubu’s political relationships with prominent Northern leaders, including Alhaji Abubakar, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Vice-President’s appeal reflects the APC’s determination to consolidate its support in the North as the party intensifies preparations for the presidential contest.

The Renewed Hope 2.0 agenda is expected to feature prominently in the campaign, providing a platform for President Tinubu to explain his administration’s economic policies and outline plans for another term.

However, the President’s record on economic reforms, rising living costs, petrol prices, employment, infrastructure and insecurity is expected to attract considerable scrutiny during the electioneering period.

Politics

LP ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE WELCOMES POLITICAL RECONCILIATION IN KELGA

Published

3 days ago

October 26, 2026

The Tide

The Labour Party (LP) standard-bearer for Ikwerre State Constituency in Rivers State, Hon. Stasi Amadi, has described the ongoing political reconciliation in Ikwerre Local Government Area as a welcome development capable of promoting unity, understanding and peaceful coexistence among political stakeholders.

Hon. Amadi stated this while speaking with newsmen in the area at the weekend, noting that genuine reconciliation remained necessary for strengthening relationships among political leaders and creating an atmosphere conducive for democratic participation.

She said the reconciliation initiative was borne out of goodwill and should not be interpreted as a setback for the Labour Party’s determination to win the Ikwerre State Constituency seat and bring positive changes to the people of the area.

According to her, the party remained committed to its political aspirations and would continue to mobilise support among the electorate through constructive engagement, people-oriented programmes and a determination to provide effective representation.

Hon. Amadi observed that the Rainbow Coalition was a broad political platform capable of accommodating different interests and tendencies, expressing optimism that the arrangement could provide opportunities for participating political parties to secure elective positions.

The LP candidate said the coming together of political brethren should be celebrated rather than criticised, adding that reconciliation would be more beneficial if it encouraged mutual respect, cooperation and a shared commitment to the development of Ikwerre Local Government Area.

She maintained that the leadership of the Rainbow Coalition was focused on achieving positive changes for the people, stressing that the LP would not abandon its political principles or aspirations because of the ongoing reconciliation process.

According to her, political unity should not prevent individual parties from pursuing their legitimate electoral ambitions, but should, instead, encourage healthy competition, issue-based campaigns and a collective commitment to the welfare of the electorate.

Hon. Amadi said the people of Ikwerre deserved a political environment where leaders prioritised development, improved living conditions, employment opportunities and effective representation rather than allowing political differences to undermine the common interest.

She also called on the police and other relevant security agencies to deploy adequate tactical intelligence before, during and after the 2027 general elections to prevent security breaches and ensure that the electoral process was peaceful and credible.

The LP standard-bearer urged security agencies to remain professional, impartial and vigilant in the discharge of their responsibilities, particularly in identifying potential threats, preventing political violence and protecting voters, electoral officials and other stakeholders.

Hon. Amadi expressed hope that the reconciliation among political stakeholders would strengthen democratic participation in Ikwerre Local Government Area, while assuring the electorate that the LP remained determined to contest the forthcoming election and pursue a positive political future for the people.

By: King Onunwor

Politics

2027: DICKSON’S EX-ALLY VOWS TO WORK AGAINST NDC INTEREST IN BAYELSA

Published

3 days ago

October 26, 2026

The Tide

A former ally of Senator Seriake Dickson, the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Godpower Keku, has vowed to work against the interest of his erstwhile political leader and kinsman in the 2027 general elections.

Hon. Keku also faulted the duo of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over their consistent presidential ambitions.

Hon. Keku, who is the Commissioner for Culture in Bayelsa State, served as Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State during Senator Dickson’s tenure as governor of the state.

The Tide further gathered that Hon. Keku hails from the same State Constituency, local government area, and Senatorial District as Senator Dickson.

He described Mr Obi as a destroyer of political parties and alleged that the NDC’s presidential candidate does not build parties, but instigates problems and backs out of them when internal wranglings become aggravated to the detriment of any party he belongs to.

According to him, politicians should be grateful to their political parties and remain consistent to avoid being stereotyped as untrustworthy and disloyal members in order to grow politically.

He also alleged that the National Leader of the NDC once affirmed that he would not field a presidential candidate for the party in the 2027 polls, saying Senator Dickson had been reported to have said, during the initial stages of formalizing the registration of his party, that he was only interested in producing Assembly and governorship candidates prior to the entrance of Mr Obi and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso into the NDC.

The ex-PDP scribe, who described himself a “party man”, restated his loyalty to the Governor Douye Diri-led leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and vowed to deliver all candidates of the party in his constituencies.

“I wonder why Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar still want to contest this election. In fact, Obi is the easiest to win in this election. And I’m begining to suspect that it’s either he is a friend of President Tinubu or he is an enemy. One of these two things must be factual, if not why is he still contesting in the 2027 polls?

“What surprises me most in Obi’s behaviour is the way and manner he destroys political parties with his over- ambitious political interest. After destroying one party he quickly moves to another without helping to rebuild the party he helped destroy.

“My brother and friend, Senator Dickson said he wasn’t interested in fielding presidential candidate for the NDC prior to the registration of Obi and Kwankwaso as members of the NDC.

“Dickson had also said he was only going to field States, National Assembly and governorship candidates in the NDC and work with President Tinubu before the entrance of Obi and Kwankwaso into the NDC”, he said.

“For Atiku, he should remember that it’s the turn of the South to complete their eight years of two terms. Buhari, a Northerner just completed eight years of two terms before handing over to President Tinubu, a Southerner.

Speaking on the performance of the Bayelsa State governor, the Commissioner boasted about the achievements of Governor Diri’s administration, stating that the infrastructural and human capital development projects of the governor would campaign for the APC and ensure victory for the party in the forthcoming elections.

“I’m a party man, and even my brother and friend, Senator Dickson would attest to that fact. I don’t betray and don’t relent in my support for any party I belong to. The APC is my party and Dickson is an NDC member. I can’t work for him or any candidate of his party. I have my integrity and interest to protect as a party man.

“We’ll deliver all APC candidates in my political enclave, because, like I said earlier, Dickson himself knows me as a party man”, he stressed.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells