Politics

Council Polls: As Election Day Dawns, ’Morrow…

Published

4 years ago

April 16, 2021

The All Progressives Congress (APC) will again be missing on the ballot paper tomorrow as Rivers people go to the poll to elect those who will manage their resources at the grassroots level as councilors and chairmen of the 23 local government council areas. In the 2019 state and national elections, the party was barred from fielding candidates for the elections in the state by the highest constitutional court of the land.

In this case, however, the party has chosen not to test its strength, popularity and acceptability by the people and by so doing failing to enrich the electoral process and deepen democratic norm. The people’s scope of choice is eventually also limited as they go out to give their mandate for the next three years at that level. Obviously, the APC could not find itself sufficiently organized and prepared to get into the contest or face Rivers people while still struggling to pull itself together and give itself requisite re-orientation.

What is also worthy of note about the coming Rivers council polls is the Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration’s commitment and determination to entrench democratic ethos within its sphere of control in ensuring that elections at the third tier of government are held as at when due.

For a very long time this would be the first time elections would hold without the usual unconstitutional punctuations of caretaker committees at the local government level. The practice of having the caretaker committee interregnum between three to six months, in the least, had almost become the norm. The expectation by Rivers people is that the savoury tradition would truly be finally put to rest in the state no matter how widespread it is practiced in the country. Rivers State must in this regard blaze the trail for the rest of the states to copy.

Accordingly, there is a very high expectation among indigenes and residents of the state, including the participating political parties that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) will discharge itself creditably in delivering free, fair and credible elections that will equal the high standards already initiated by the state government. So far, there is no indication that RSIEC has been denied or rendered handicapped by insufficient or inadequate logistics support and assistance by the state government or any other relevant critical stakeholder.

The final list of names of political parties that have received clearance from the state electoral umpire shows that a total of 17 political parties will be on the ballot tomorrow. These include: African Action Congress (AAC); Action Democratic Party (ADP); Accord Party (AP); Social Democratic Party (SDP); National Rescue Movement (NRM); Action Alliance (AA); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Labour Party (LP); Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); Young Progressives Party (YPP); Allied Peoples Movement (APM); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); African Democratic Congress (ADC); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Boot Party (BP); Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Action Peoples Party (APP).

“We shall organize and conduct free, fair and credible elections into the 23 local government councils. We shall provide equal opportunities/level playing ground to all the registered political parties. We shall be firm, resolute and impartial. We are men and women of proven track record and we have our reputation to protect”, the chairman of RSIEC, Justice George Omereji (rtd) told stakeholders while urging the Rivers State electorate to “come out en-masse to exercise their franchise in a most peaceful and orderly manner devoid of ill-will, rancor and/or violence”.

Retired Justice Omereji assured the people of the state of a violence-free poll, noting that the commission had secured the assurances of all security agencies in the state of maximum cooperation and assistance to protect lives and property and electoral materials before, during and after the polls. Without a doubt, the well worded statements of the RSIEC boss were not swallowed hook, line and sinker as political parties and candidates, especially, those outside the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have continued to intone reservations about the commission’s sincerity and courage to match its words with action. While some have expressed fears that RSIEC staff may compromise and give the PDP undue advantage on the field, others have even speculated that results of the election have already been written before the contest at Government House without any iota of proof or evidence.

Clearly, RSIEC has a burden to discharge and an onerous task to dispense justice, fairness and equity as it goes into the field tomorrow because only manifest demonstration of honesty, sincerity, transparency, accountability and integrity will satisfy the stakeholders in the election, guarantee a peaceful atmosphere and truly preserve and promote the good name of the chairman and his commissioners.

The Rivers State Police command which is at the head of providing security during the elections has not been short of giving assurances of adequate protection of lives and property of the electorate as well as electoral officials and their materials. The credibility of any electoral process is validated by the level of voters’ turn-out and the freedom to exercise their civic duty in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation, harassment, inducement or undue pressure. of-course, such state of affairs cannot be achieved in an environment where political thugs and hoodlums are not deterred by the presence of law enforcement agents to apprehend and make them face the full wrath of the law.

Political parties on their part, must be open minded and approach the contest with the spirit of sportsmanship. To this end, they must not force themselves on the people.

After campaigning and selling their agenda to the people, the electorate must be allowed to exercise their right of choice and such rights expressed must be respected. Any attempt to corrupt and/or denigrate the process will be counterproductive and any effort at pulling down the structure because their candidates did not receive the endorsement of the people will amount to being public enemy number one.

Participation in the process alone must be seen as service rendered already and failure to be elected at the poll must not be interpreted as rejection or exclusion from the community. It must be borne in mind that the opportunity to be elected will always present itself as long as the election clock keeps ticking and the democratic orbit keeps revolving. The most important dogma of the political parties must be obligation to play by the rules.

Finally, the people/electorate must approach the elections with all the seriousness it deserves. There should be no room for lethargy or lackluster attitude. The people must understand that if they have to take any election seriously, it is this one as it concerns the leadership and government that they can directly relate with. They must therefore go out in their numbers to vote candidates of their choice without let or hindrance.

Adequate care must be taken to ensure that the process is conducted in a manner that would faithfully represent their wishes. It is therefore expected that electoral officers and security agencies will receive desired cooperation in the discharge of their duties. The people must protect the exercise and make it deliver and enthrone the leadership that they give their mandate to oversee their affairs at that level.

All said and done, it is the responsibility of everyone living and doing business in Rivers State that the local councils elections in the state are conducted peacefully and in keeping with the highest standards of prosecuting the exercise in the best democratic tradition. Indeed, it has to be done in the best interest of the development of Rivers State and those who live in it.

By: Opaka Dokubo

Politics

Atiku Quits PDP, Says Decision Heartbreaking

Published

1 day ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.

Politics

2027: Group Vows To Prevail On Diri To Dump PDP For APC

Published

1 day ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Politics

Nasarawa Speaker Advocates Conducive Executive/Legislature Relations

Published

1 day ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Danladi Jatau, has called for a good working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of the State for development to thrive at the grassroots level.
The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.