Politics

How Rivers Assembly Fared In 2017

Published

8 years ago

January 1, 2018

The eighth Assembly kick-started in earnest in 2017 after the re-run elections of December 2016. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recorded massive victory as 26 out the 32-member Assembly returned.
As the year wore on, intrigues started with the choosing of a Minority Leader which further divided the ranks of the opposition in the House.
Member representing Eleme Constituency, Hon Josiah Olu had engaged in a long battle with member representing Akuku-Toru 2, Hon. Benibo Anabraba who finally won.
The issue of who selects a Minority leader took a legal dimension when a high court sitting in Port Harcourt upheld the position of Hon Benibo Anabraba as minority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice C.D. Green of High Court 20 in his ruling that lasted over 30minutes ruled that the election of Hon. Anabraba who represents Akuku-Toru Constituency 2 was constitutional and in line with the standing orders of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Arguments arose whether it was an exclusive pressure of the opposition or a joint House decision. This controversy may have led both the opposition and majority party members to partake as Anabraba carried the day.
But before the election of a Minority Leader, the House Speakership had reverted to its usual zone. Former Speaker who took the mantle during the period of the massive tribunal rulings that removed most of the legislators, only about six members seat from the PDP were spared.
Rt. Hon. Adams Dabotorudima, replaced Ibani on December 19, 2015.
Two days after Ibani stepped aside, the Appeal Court in Abuja sacked 13 members of the Assembly, majority of whom were of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.
The 8th Assembly later had 19 members to be presided over by the then new leadership of the House, Rt. Hon. Dabotorudima.
However, two out of the 19 were sworn-in following a court order and alleged absentism.
The two lawmakers included Hon. Victoria Nyeche, representing Port Harcourt Constituency 1 and Hon. Andrew Miller, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency whose elections were later voided by the court.
He was later replaced by Hon. Adonye Diri of the PDP.
Nonetheless, Rt. Hon. Dabotorudima piloted the affairs of the House from December 19, 2015 to December 30, 2016, when he resigned as Speaker of the House.
Within the period of Rt. Hon. Dabotorudima leadership as Speaker, the Assembly passed several motions and over four bills into laws, resolved petitions, and also carried out over some oversight functions.
In order not to allow a leadership vacuum, the House evolved an expedient measure as the former Speaker, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani was affected. Adams Daboturodima from Okrika took over as Speaker.
He however relinquished the position early last year when Rt. Hon Ibani won his seat and returned to the House after the r-run elections. The smooth handover of the House speakership set the tone for the various landmarks witnessed in the legislative chambers this past year.
Many bills were passed and debated upon during the year under review.
But key five bills were signed into law while order bills are still under various stages of deliberations and passage. Among those signed into law are the Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Amendment Law number 1, Rivers State Honours law number 2 of 2017,Rivers State Reserve Fund Law Repeal number 3, Rivers State University law number 4 and Rivers State Teaching Hospital law number 5 of 2017, and the Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic bill 2017.
Also within the year, the House raised alarm over what it described as “deliberate marginalisation of the state”, following failure of the federal authorities to give relief materials to the state over flooding. Majority Leader of the House, Martins Amaewhule also picked holes in the neglect of federal roads in the state. He cited the example of the East West Road leading to Eleme and the Aba/Port Harcourt Express Road both of which are in a state of disrepair.
As part of its legislative functions to screen commissioner nominees and Special Advisers, the House in June approved fresh list of Commissioners and Special Advisers. But before the screening of the Commissioners, the legislative chambers had equally screened about five sets of Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the local government councils.
Some oversight functions conducted by the House in compliance to its mandate include the Committee on Environment visit over the soot, the House Committee on Works and the House Committee on Finance. However, it was that of the House Committee on Finance that featured prominently.
The committee had threatened to sanction any ministry, parastatal or board that fails to appear before it. The Committee on Finance conducted several accountability fora that covered Ignatius Ajuru University, Rivers State Microfiance Agency, Rivers State Hospital Management Board, Rivers State Pilgrims Board and Post Primary Schools Board.
As the year drew to a close, activities in the House equally took a dive with fewer sittings and proceedings.
Before then, member representing Ikwerre Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Azubuike Wanjoku, was suspended by the House over alleged denigrating comments made against the hallowed chamber.
The House said Wanjoku’s suspension took immediate effect until he explained the reasons for his actions against the assembly where he currently serves.
Leader of the House, Martins Amaewhule, who raised the complaint, said the decision of the House was based on comments made by Wanjoku and published on a national daily.
Amaewhule said Wanjoku, who is one of the few members representing the All Progressives Congress in the House, violated sections of the rules of the assembly.
In his ruling, Speaker of the House, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said actions and comments of Azubuike Wanjoku were capable of putting the Rivers State House of Assembly in disrepute.
“Honourable Azubuike Chikere Wanjoku is hereby suspended as a member of the Rivers state House of Assembly. You cannot belong to this House and disparage our image.
“He is banned from participating in any activity of the Assembly until he appears before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
“We will not tolerate any act of indiscipline from any member of the Assembly.
Also, there was an august visit by the governor, Chief Nyesom Wike who commissioned in November and unveiled the State Assembly Service Commission Complex initiated and built by his administration to address accommodation challenges.
The governor also announced that the State Government will undertake the total rehabilitation of the State Assembly Complex.
Speaking during the commissioning programme, Governor Wike commended the management of the commission for the proper implementation of the project.
He said: “This is the executive intervening in the rehabilitation of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex. I will always do what is right for the state.
“I will personally supervise the rehabilitation. The level of degeneration of this complex is not acceptable”.
He said that despite the economic downturn, the state government was executing projects because of prudent management of scarce resources.
He said the immediate past administration in the state despite the funds available to it, failed to execute key projects and sold state assets to her cronies.
The governor assured the workers of the Assembly that his administration would take care of their welfare issues.
Earlier, Chairman of the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission, Mr Chidi Amadi said for the first time after more than 10 years, a major project had been initiated and commissioned at the Assembly.
He said that the complex had resolved the accommodation challenges of workers of the commission.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani praised the governor for his development projects.
The special valedictory sitting in honour of its former member representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency dampened the atmosphere in the Assembly. Fortunately, no current member died but rather some recorded positive milestones, such as Hon. Sam Ogeh of Emohua who was called to the Nigerian Bar, as a lawyer.

Politics

Senate Urges Tinubu To Sack CAC Boss

Published

2 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

The Senate yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to remove the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Magaji, over what lawmakers described as a persistent refusal to appear before its Committee on Finance.

The resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during a session where members of the President’s economic team were present for engagement with the committee.

Tension rose at the commencement of the meeting when agency heads were introduced and senators observed the absence of the CAC Registrar-General, who had been invited to account for the commission’s activities, particularly on revenue matters.

Moving the motion, Kalu expressed anger over what he termed repeated disregard for legislative oversight, accusing the CAC boss of consistently avoiding invitations to appear before the committee.

He said, “Since I came to the Senate, this CAC man has always given excuses that he is in the Villa or going to London. He is not above the law. This man is not coming to the Senate. Look at the ministers of finance and budget. They are both here. We summoned them and they came.

“But this man thinks he’s bigger than the Senate. We’re not going to take that rubbish again. He had refused on so many occasions to honour our invitation to appear before this committee. We have issues with the reconciliation of the revenue of CAC.

“I move a motion that the man should be reported to Mr President and ask for immediate removal because we cannot continue with him. Is that what we’re doing here? He should come and give us an account of what he had done.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, corroborated the concerns, pointing to unresolved discrepancies in the reconciliation of the commission’s revenues.

He noted that despite several invitations, the registrar-general had failed to show up to address the issues raised by senators.

“The registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission has refused on so many occasions to honour the calls, invitations or summons of this most important committee.

“There are only about three committees that are in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Committee of Finance is one of those committees. Sections 88, and 89 have given us these powers.

“And as registrar-general, we have issues with the reconciliation of their revenue. Anytime he is invited, he will give us one reason or another, and he will send junior officers to come and talk to the Senate. That cannot be accepted,” he said.

In a further show of frustration, Senator Adams Oshiomhole proposed that the Senate escalate the matter by withholding approval of the CAC’s 2026 budget pending the registrar-general’s personal appearance before the committee.

Oshiomhole also suggested that the commission be restrained from spending its internally generated revenue without prior approval of the national assembly.

“This senate should decline to appropriate anything in the 2026 budget until we are satisfied that he has accounted for previous money and spending properly.

“And should he spend money that is not appropriated, he should be heading to Kuje prison,” Oshiomhole said.

The motion urging the President to remove the CAC Registrar-General was subsequently put to a voice vote and adopted.

The development underscores renewed assertiveness by the Senate in exercising its constitutional oversight functions, particularly over revenue-generating agencies.

The Corporate Affairs Commission, which regulates companies and business registrations in Nigeria, is a key contributor to non-oil revenue, making accountability and transparency central to its operations.

News

Amend Constitution To Accommodate State Police, Tinubu Tells Senators

Published

2 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to the leadership of the 10th Senate to amend the constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of State Police to tackle insecurity nationwide.

President Tinubu made the appeal during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.

The president said that the creation of State Police has become urgent to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, strengthen grassroots policing, and enhance states’ capacity to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.

He noted that a decentralised policing structure would complement existing federal security architecture and promote intelligence-led, community-focused law enforcement.

“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make a right response to this cause. What I will ask for tonight is for you (Senators) to start thinking how best to amend the constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” he said.

The president commended the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Senate, saying that unity is needed to defeat terrorism and banditry in the country.

“It is a good thing that we are working in harmony, we are looking forward to a country that evolves, a country that takes care of its citizens and protects all.

Tinubu thanked the Senate for its unflinching support towards achieving various economic reforms of his administration, especially the fuel subsidy removal and tax reform policy.

“I have a lot of credit for bold reforms. Without your collaboration and inspiration, those reforms would not be possible. We are reformists together. What we gave up and what we stopped is monumental corruption in the subsidy system. We don’t want to participate in monumental corruption and arbitrage foreign exchange.

You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you could see what Nigeria is today. You should be proud, and I am glad you are. What we are enjoying is a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us. We need to work hard, and this attendance means a lot to me,” the president said.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the president for hosting the leadership of the Senate to the Interfaith breaking of fast.

He commended President Tinubu for providing the visionary leadership the nation needs at this critical time, stating that the administration’s bold reforms have now brought more revenue to governors at the sub-national level for the development of critical infrastructure.

The Senate President prayed for the administration, and for the nation’s peace and prosperity.

Politics

FCT COUNCILS’ ELECTIONS: PDP WINS GWAGWALADA CHAIRMANSHIP AS APC SECURES AMAC, BWARI

Published

6 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

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.