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

LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction

Published

13 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A former National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Clement Ojukwu, has expressed regret that the several legal cases brought against the party since the 2023 general elections have impacted the party’s performance.

Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.

“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”

The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.

“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.

“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.

“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”

Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.

He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”

He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.

“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”

Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.

“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.

Politics

2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE

Published

13 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A number of Nigerians have strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its directive to all political parties in the country to submit digitalized membership register within 32 days.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following it’s reversed timetable, directed all political parties in the country to submit their digitalized membership registers within 32 days.

Speaking on the reversed timetable in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, respondents said the directive amounted to disqualifying opposition political parties from fielding candidates in all the elections next year.

They said if the directives by the commission is implemented, only the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate in the elections since it started it’s digital membership registration since February, last year.

Responding, an elder statesman in Rivers State, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, said the revised timetable was okay, but the timeframe for submission of digital membership register was being made at the wrong time.

Chief Chukumele said, for the past two years, all opposition political parties have been battling various issues in court, adding that they did not have the time to embark on membership drive, talk less of digitalizing their membership registers.

“My reaction is that the only issue with this revised timetable is the timeframe given by INEC for parties to submit digitalize memberships register in all the states of the federation, while giving notice of Congresses and convention. That is not possible”, he said.

He said only the ruling APC is likely to meet up with the directive, since it began its registration since last year.

Chief Chukumele, who is also the National Coordinator of Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), alleged that the directive of the electoral body may have been targeted to prevent other parties from fielding candidates for the elections next year.

“When you say all the parties should submit digitalized registers of membership in 32 days, how will that be possible to conclude it in 32 days”, he queried.

He noted that “APC used one year ago to do, so APC has one year in the kitty plus 30 days. This is highly regrettable”.

The CORSLOT national leader urged the election umpire to do away with stringent conditions that will make it hard for opposition political parties to field candidates in the elections.

Also speaking, Mr Jacob Enware from Edo State queried the rationale behind the directive, especially when some opposition political parties are still having cases in court.

In his words, ”What opposition political parties are you talking about, is Labour Party not in court or PDP that is yet to resolve their issues?

”For me, INEC should provide a level playing field for all, because aside the APC, no party can meet up this criteria.”

In his own response, Mr Nathaniel Ebere said he was not prepared to vote for anybody whether INEC provides a level playing field or not.

He alleged that his vote would not count, “so I will not waste my time”.

By: John Bibor

Politics

IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI

Published

13 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has expressed reservations about the political stance of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while calling for reconciliation among key party figures.

Otunba Sowunmi made the remarks during a television interview on Saturday, when asked about the relationship between Gov. Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

He said, “I don’t believe Seyi Makinde. Because I know them all. I’ve been in this party since it was registered. And I’ve been loyal, faithful, diligent with this party from the get-go, and I’ve never left.”

He underscored his longstanding commitment to the PDP, referencing prominent figures who had exited the party at different times: “I’ve had the grace, and the honor, and the dignity of watching even my father, Obasanjo, shed his card. As much as I love him, I didn’t leave the party”.

He added, “I’ve had the privilege of watching my beloved senior brother, Governor Gbenga Daniel, leave the party a few times. As much as I respect his vision and his ideas, I’ve never left. I’ve watched my former principal, Atiku Abubakar, leave a few times. I’ve never left.”

Otunba Sowunmi stressed that his comments were rooted in deep involvement with the party: “So when I talk about PDP, I’m not talking as an outsider, I’m talking as one of their totems, who was actually carrying them.”

He disclosed that he wrote to Makinde during the governor’s last birthday, urging reconciliation among a bloc of five governors who had formed a movement during the 2023 elections.

“At Governor Seyi Makinde’s last birthday, I wrote him a letter where I tried to say, look, you guys, the five of you, succeeded to the extent of creating a movement of your own”, he said.

He added, “And you fought very hard to make a point in the 2023 election. Although I don’t believe you won the election for the president, that’s a lie. They contributed, but I hate when people take the glory of other people’s work.”

Otunba Sowunmi warned that unresolved differences among the group could weaken the party: “You guys, you must go back to your four friends, your five friends, and you guys go and sort it out. Because not sorting it out with your five friends is going to leave the party worse off.”

He added, “But now that you’re fighting, or you’re not agreeing with yourselves, why don’t you go back to that same energy that allowed you to agree, so that you can use that energy inside to agree, and then we can lead the party.”