Politics
Assembly Watch
Rivers State House of Assembly last week demonstrated that the core value in the discharge of its legislative duties remains the interest of Rivers people.
This paradigm was rekindled when a motion seeking that relevant organs of government prepare for the expected heavy rainfall that will occasion flooding in 2013 as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) engaged the attention of the lawmakers.
The motion sponsored by Hon. Augustine Paul Ngo, representing Abua/Odual, attracted unanimous acceptability as all voted in favour of the motion and the prayers sought.
Directing House proceeding, the Speaker Rt Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree after robust deliberation announced the resolution of the House with an amendment to the prayers to invite some Commissioners to appear before it to brief them on steps taken or about to be taken regarding the prediction of NIMET because similar warning last year was ignored and some Rivers people suffered greatly for that.
The Commissioners expected on the floor of the Assembly in the weeks to come include Special Duties, Environment, Information and Communications. They are expected to explain how the disturbing warning would be approached, utilising the apparatus of their exalted offices to reduce the hardship experienced last year by the victims of flood.
Leader of the Assembly Hon. Chidi Lioyd described the vitality of the motion thus, “this is one of the best things that has happened to the House.”
He stated that the sponsor of the motion has provided the platform for the state to take steps to cushion the effects of flood rather than engage in makeshift arrangement that was the case last year.
Other contributors aligned themselves to the issues at stake and supported the motion.
Hon. Ngo said that when similar prediction was reported last year nobody paid attention and many Rivers people became victims as lives were lost and property worth billions of Naira were destroyed.
He urged relevant government agencies to make haste and commence preparations to enlighten the people on the impending flood that is expected this year as the volume of rainfall would surpass that of 2012.
The Lawmakers equally listened to the report of House Committee Chairman on Finance, Hon. Josiah Olu, on the bill for a law to harmonise taxes and levies payable in the state.
The 12-page report recommends amongs other things a that any person who attempts to or collects a tax, levy that is not listed in the schedules of the proposed law commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N350,000 or imprisonment for three years or both.
According to Hon. Olu, the Committee recommends that any person who collects tax without due authority and identification commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N150,000 while mounting of road block or causing a road to be closed for the purpose of collecting a tax or levy commits an offence and is liable to a fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of one year or both.
However, debate on the bill has been deferred to a later date when the lawmakers are expected to critically analyse the report with a view to either accept the bill or reject it.
Similarly, the Waste Management Agency bill which passed through second reading last week had been sent to the Committee on Environment for more legislative input.
The repackaged Customary Court bill scheduled for second reading rolled quietly to the Committee stage on judiciary with debate as the vexing issues that halted its earlier appearance had been removed.
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.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the swift assent as a clear demonstration of political will to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We see the decision by President Bola Tinubu to sign the reworked 2022 Electoral Act into law within a few hours of its passage as a demonstration of political will to ensure an improved electoral process which the new law envisages,” the group said.
The TMSG expressed confidence that the development would enable the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to quickly align its operations with the new provisions in preparation for the 2027 polls.
The group noted that the provision for electronic transmission of results had been contentious but described its codification in the law as a significant step forward.
“So, for the first time, the country’s electoral law would be recognising the use of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the result viewing portal, IREV, which were just INEC guidelines in 2023,” it stated.
According to the TMSG, although the Act provides for electronic transmission of results from polling units to the IREV portal, it also makes room for manual transmission of Form EC8A result sheets as a backup in the event of technological failure.
“Unlike some Nigerians, we do not see anything wrong with the fallback plan but we agree with the President that no matter how beautiful a process is with improved technology, the onus lies on the people manning it to show good faith and ensure that the votes of the people really count at the end of the day,” the statement added.
The group highlighted other key provisions in the amended law, including the streamlining of party primaries to either consensus or direct primaries, early release of funds to INEC, reinforced measures against over-voting, and stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as falsification of results.
It also pointed out that the mandatory notice period for elections has been reduced from 360 days to 300 days, giving INEC more flexibility in adjusting the timetable for the 2027 elections, especially where it may clash with Ramadan.
The TMSG further observed that the President’s decision to sign the bill days before the forthcoming Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) underscores his desire for the law to take immediate effect.
“And by signing the amendment bill a few days before the Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is obvious that the President is keen on ensuring that the 2026 Electoral Act takes immediate effect.
“Nigerians would also have an opportunity to see some of the key provisions of the new electoral law become operational, especially the electronic transmission of results,” it said.
The group expressed optimism that the current INEC leadership would leverage the new legal framework to deliver a more credible and widely acceptable electioneering process than in previous electoral cycles.
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