News

Poll: PDP Protests INEC’s Results Manipulation, Rigging …Submits Petition To Commission

Published

7 years ago

March 6, 2019

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday, led a mass protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The protesters were made up of the youths, women, some PDP chieftains, members and sympathisers of the party.
Secondus was protesting the alleged unfairness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the commission was programmed to declaring concocted election results in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Some of the placards read, “Let our election results count”, “Oyo result is a big scam”, “International community save our democracy”, “We need free and fair election result”, “Stop manipulation”, “International observers save our democracy”.
The large crowd of protesters started from Shehu Shagari way in Maitama Abuja enroute to the INEC, headquarters.
During the protest, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) released the letter of protest its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the letter made available to newsmen, and signed by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and National Secretary, Sen. Ibrahim Umaru Tsauri, the PDP insisted that the presidential election was manipulated in favour of the ruling party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner, having polled 15,191,847 votes as against PDP’s Atiku Abubakar’s 11,262,978 votes with a victory margin of 3,928,869 votes.
But yesterday, the PDP and Atiku filed a case against Buhari’s victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal in Abuja.
The PDP letter to INEC referenced: “PDP/DOM/INEC/19-004”, and addressed to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Zambezi Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja, FCT, reads: “Dear Sir, Cases Of Infractions And Deliberate Violations Of The Electoral Law And Guidelines.
“We want to place on records and bring to your attention the very obvious and noticeable infractions and violations of the Electoral Law and the Regulations/Guidelines regulating the 2019 general elections which have very negative implications on the credibility, transparency and integrity of the entire electoral processes particularly the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“This has become imperative as we approach the Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections billed for Saturday, March 9,2019.
“These infractions and deliberate violations include but not limited to the following:
“The non-usage or selective enforcement of the Smart Card Reader (SCR) machines across the country. We observed with regrets that the usage of the SCR machines were enforced strategically in the South-South, South-East and the North-Central zones of the country which are essentially PDP strongholds.
“This is radically different from what transpired in the North-West, North-East and the South-West which were estimated as the APC strongholds. This is quite contrary to the provisions of Paragraph 10(a) & (b) of the Regulations and Guidelines governing the 2019 General Elections and all the assurances you, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, frequently gave up to the last hours before the elections.
“The deliberate non-deployment of the Electronic Collation System (E-Collation) for the elections results from the units, through the ward centres to the Presidential Collation Centre in Abuja as provided for in the 2019 Electoral Regulations and Guidelines made by you, and as contained in your several official Press Statements is very suspect. This is more so when you have never bothered to explain to Nigerians the justification for this sudden official somersault on such a critical component of the electoral process especially with all the tax payer’s money spent to install the facilities.

News

Arrest Arise TV Crew Attackers Or Face Boycott, Journalists Tell Rivers Police

Published

4 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Port Harcourt based media practitioners under the aegis of Port Harcourt Press, have urged the Rivers State Police Command to arrest and prosecute all suspects involved in the recent attack and harassment of Arise TV crew in Port Harcourt.

The media practitioners, at a World press conference in Port Harcourt, described as dangerous the continuous harassment of journalists by various political actors in the ongoing political crisis in the State.

The text of the briefing which was read by a former State Commissioner for information and Communications and federal lawmaker in the State, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, described as condemnable the attack on the Arise TV crew by suspected political thugs in Port Harcourt, while conducting an interview with Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, a former commissioner in the State.

According to him, “That harrowing event of Friday, January 2, where the Arise TV crew were brutally attacked by armed men in a hotel in Port Harcourt while conducting interview with Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, former Honourable Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, smacks of nothing but act of intimidation, threat to both the Nigerian media and human lives especially in the forceful carting away of broadcast equipment.”

The group further noted that the attack was not only an insult on the press freedom but on the larger society.

The group regretted the inability of the Police to arrest and bring to book the perpetrators of the act till date, warning that it may be forced to boycott police activities if those involved are not arrested and brought to book.

“From all indications, the police appear to be playing to the gallery. While the broadcast equipment were reportedly recovered, no definite arrest have been made. This body, therefore, demands an urgent and thorough investigation of this matter and those find culpable brought to justice within two weeks.

“Failure to address this issue with the urgency it requires and not carrying out satisfactory actions as required in their prosecution will attract sanctions such as withdrawal of coverage of all police activities in Rivers State by media organisations and journalists as we stand in solidarity with the NUJ,” the group warned.

John Bibor

News

Be Patient With Us, Diri Tells Bayelsans … Inspects New 60mw IPP …Expresses Confidence In Technical Partners, BECL MD

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has sued for patience on the ongoing installation of the state’s new independent power project.

The Tide gathered that the 60-megawatt gas turbine project, which installation commenced in October this year, was earlier scheduled to be completed by December but suffered logistics related delays.

The governor called on people of the state to have an open mind about the project, which he said now requires a new completion date due to unforeseen challenges.

?The Tide further reports that the State’s Chief Executive who undertook an on-the-spot-assessment of the project at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area on Wednesday, said like other citizens of the state, he was also disappointed that the December completion deadline could not be met.

However, he stated that his reaction to the delay had been that of understanding rather than being angry as had been noticed, particularly on the social media.

?”You can see I’ve gone round the whole facility. It was based on the working agreement and information available at my disposal that I gave the December date. But as it is with every human endeavor, we must all have an open mind, when it comes to issues, particularly technical matters like this.

?”I am as disappointed as any other Bayelsan because I believed that we were going to celebrate the 2025 Christmas with our own independent power, but it turned out not to be so.

?”I call on Bayelsans to have an open mind. These technical experts are working virtually 24 hours, but delays like this will certainly come”, he said.

He implored the people 9f the state to appreciate the work of the engineers, stressing that a minor mistake was capable of jeopardising the millions of dollars expended on the project.

?”For 29 years Bayelsa has been in darkness or has endured epileptic power supply. Now that we are getting close to the day of liberation, some people have become impatient.

“Let us not behave like the proverbial tortoise in the prison for years that asked to be released immediately as the place was smelling the moment he knew it would regain freedom the next day”, the governor added.

?The Bayelss Governor gave a thumps up to the technical partners, Jampur Group, and its team on ground as well as the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo, saying they were working round the clock to ensure the job was completed.

?”Those who have been following me on this inspection would know that work has not stopped even for one day since it started. I am sure the job is more than 90 per cent complete. So let us hold our fire.

“Engineer Olice, I am not putting you under any pressure. From the reports I have, Olice is one of the best electrical engineers in Nigeria”, governor Diri said.

The governor, however, hinted that the government was looking at inaugurating the project during its sixth anniversary in February.

The MD of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Kemenanabo, who also spoke, said the state was on the right track towards actualising the project and assured that the alignment of the entire system, including the gas generator and alternator were on course.

He also stated that the remaining two turbines would be delivered to the project site in a few days.

?Speaking on behalf of the Jampur Group, Mr. Sherrif Abu-Anif said the company was in good position to meet its own end of the bargain and appreciated the state government for playing its part very well.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

News

Akpabio Withdraws All Defamation Suits After Priest’s Sermon

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.

Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.

He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.

“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”

In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.

In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.

Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.

Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.

The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.

With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.