Politics
Governor Chibuike Amaechi In 2013
The year 2013 has come and gone with its actors and villains, comedies and tragedies. Indeed Governor Chibuike Amaechi cannot be displaced as one of the major key players in the state and national political space last year. The two-time Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly shot into political prominence after taking over from Senator Bukola Saraki as the Chairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum(NGF). It cannot be argued that he has in the past three years at the NGF transformed the body into a major pressure group. Inadvertently, the NGF became the vehicle through which the dogged Rivers governor sped into national limelight.
With internal wranglings in the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) growing into a monster of defections in the past few months, the battle over the party leadership structures and the approaching NGF elections became a catalyst for the current national anxiety ahead 2015 elections.
Perhaps that was why the Chairman Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih visited the state in April 2013 as part of efforts to appease aggrieved party stalwarts by meeting Governor Amaechi and other PDP faithfuls.
Anenih, accompanied by other members of the BoT, made the plea when he visited Amaechi in Port Harcourt.
Anenih’s visit to Amaechi had coincided with a statement by the party penultimate Tuesday that its National Working Committee (NWC), headed by the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and BoT were not working at cross-purposes.
It was rumoured that Amaechi along with his supporters were preparing to dump the ruling party for another one, possibly the Action Congress of Nigeria which was still battling to register its new coalition with the Gen. Buhari led Congress for Progressive Change(CPC).
Amaechi’s romance with governors and members of the merging opposition coalition preparing to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) was said to have piqued the leadership of the PDP which felt that it was an indication that the governor might quit the party at anytime.
Anenih’s meeting with Amaechi was held behind closed doors, but a source at the meeting had revealed on the basis of anonymity that while the BoT chairman said Amaechi remained an asset to the party, Amaechi gave conditions for his continued stay in PDP.
Amaechi said he would remain in the PDP only if the presidency stopped meddling with issues concerning his chairmanship of the NGF and resolved the oil well dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa States.
He was said to have insisted that the presidency stopped using a serving minister from the state to stoke crisis in the state and the state executive of the PDP.
He said: “Chairman, like we did say to you, PDP in Rivers State is peaceful. We also have told you that we produced two million votes for the president. So we thank you for coming.
“All we are saying to you is tell the party to please treat us well so that we can encourage our people to continue to vote for PDP. We are members of PDP and we will remain members of PDP.”
Barely few weeks after Chief Anenih visited, Justice Ishaq Bello literarily pulled the red carpet from the governor’s feet.
The battle over the soul of the party in Rivers State had lingered for months in an Abuja High Court while the PDP chiefs were busy trying to reach out to the aggrieved parties. But Amaechi dismissed what he called an attempt to use the court against him as a defilement of the country’s justice system. Speaking through his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, Amaechi declared before a huge crowd of supporters who had gathered that Saturday at the front gate of the Government House, “I think as a nation one area we should not allow mud to go into is the judiciary. As a nation, one area we should not allow to become a thing of play is the judiciary. The temple of justice has been desecrated.
“Nigeria arise, Nigeria arise. If we do not rise, we will lose our country. As a nation, any day we allow the temple of justice to be desecrated we’ll lose our country. Any day a poor man cannot go to the court and state his case and get justice that country is lost’’ he cried.
Amid the incessant harassment and repeated efforts by the Presidency to politically emasculate him, Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Chibuike Amaechi, had said enough was enough calling on President Goodluck Jonathan and his handlers to hands-off the affairs of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), else he would quit the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the opposition All Progressive Congress(APC).
While the governor was battling with that, he was suspended from the party alongside governors of Sokoto State and Kano states for anti-party activities but Amaechi did not fail to reply his suspension as he headed to the court. At a youth forum in Government House, Amaechi lamented the way and manner PDP was emasculating its members without following the due process.
A fresh twist came into the governor’s travails as the NGF elections got closer. The Presidency commenced immense lobbying to foist its anointed candidate on the forum. This plan was resisted by the Northern Governor’s Forum(NGF), Dr Babangida Aliyu. Both the Northern Governors Forum and the Progressives from the APC states in the West teamed up for Amaechi, whom they believe was very outspoken and brave to confront the FG policies.
Disagreement had simmered between the presidency and the NGF over the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund(SWF).
However, things came to a head on Friday 24th May 2013 when after several attempts to bar the Rivers governor from contesting the NGF elections that the forum opted for the open ballot rather than for a consensus candidate. Amaechi finally defeated Governor Jang in a clear vote of 19 to 16.
By July the party crisis and rift in the political space had grown totally sour with five members of the State Assembly pitched against 27 in the bid to unseat the governor. So on 9th July the five opposing members stole a fake mace into the Assembly Complex to impeach the governor. The plot led to a fracas in the House during which the Leader of the House used the fake mace to maul Hon. Micheal Oke Chinda representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 2.
The governor was few days after stripped of his security details, while Chidi Lloyd was charged for attempted murder and battery. The crisis also witnessed the emergence of a leadership tussle in the House with Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree and Hon Evans Bipi who are both laying claims to Speakership. The National Assembly quickly intervened by taking over the functions of the House to avert further blood shed.
Governor Amaechi has not failed to blame the police for the current crisis rocking the state. He believed that the unseen hands from the presidency must have influenced the sudden removal of erstwhile State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Ndabawa who had replaced him with Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.
Amaechi had taken swipes at the Police for being partisan in their activities. Due to the compromised position of the police, Governor Amaechi has always raised alarm over deterioration of security.
With the crisis not abating, Amaechi had to join the ranks of the five aggrieved Northern governors- Wamako, Babangida Aliyu, Sule Lamido, Murtala Nyarko and Abdulfattah of Kwara State into the new PDP.
It was indeed glaring to him that the rupture in the PDP caused by the strong headedness of Bamanga Tukur-led exco to suppress and stifle the other voice will drag on hence the subsequent defection to APC in November. He told newsmen after arriving in Port Harcourt why he moved. He said that the peace and reconciliatory meeting with the presidency had broken down and there was no need to stay.
“ We can’t continue the way we are. The picture painted by the PDP is as if we were begging to come back to the PDP and the issues raised were not being looked into and so it’s important that we resolve it one way or the other. What has happened is that those of us in the new PDP have decided to move into the APC with our supporters, to position ourselves for the next elections.’’
On the prospects of the reconciliatory meeting with President Jonathan with the G-7 governors Amaechi responded, “ that I can’t answer because if you look at the press release by Niger State governor, he said he will join us after a meeting with the President. I don’t know whether we are qualified for the meeting anymore. I agree with him that we were supposed to have gone for the meeting because the meeting was supposed to be on Sunday but the President said he was indisposed. So the governors met on Monday and decided to meet with the APC leadership today. And the position we took if you look at the press release was to better democracy and ensure that Nigeria moves forward’’.
Amaechi has not always failed to take on his political detractors, especially those whom he described as spent and disgruntled politicians from Rivers State whose masters are remoting them from Abuja, “their aim is to loot and share the state resources.’’ Many of these politicians he said have cornered government contracts without executing them, “ You find out that if you give some of these people money for contracts they will pocket it. History will not be fair to me if I leave with abandoned projects’’.
He also accused the wife of the president of attempting to macro manage Rivers state. He told newsmen under the umbrella of the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) that he will resist attempts to influence Rivers Government from Abuja.
On why he has decided to take such strange stance, a position many pundits have described as the betrayal of the Niger Delta over the quest to snatch a second term for the presidency he said, “ the battle by the Grassroot Democratic Initiative(GDI) is not for President Jonathan. They want to take over power and share the money’’.
He went on to say “ We are losing using a South-South President. Tell me what Rivers State has gained since Goodluck became President’’. The governor had always raised alarm over the continous ceding of state resources(oil wells) to Bayelsa and Abia States. The Ubima-born politician said that this was a ploy to incapacitate and discourage him from fighting.
Amaechi has also insisted that since politics was a game of interest, the state interest should be uppermost and where he does not find such interest then he is bound to protest and obtainable justice.
Members of Rivers State House of Assembly, holding their meeting on Moscow Road as security operatives allegedly stopped them from gaining entrance into the Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt.
He said he would not hesitate to activate the recall process against any lawmaker found wanting, if he returns for a second term in office.
He stated this while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including those who lost out at the recently held national and state assemblies primaries and have become aggrieved and disrespectful to the party.
While emphasizing the supremacy of the party, he said decisions were taken in the overall interest of the party and the state and must, therefore, be respected by all members.
He warned lawmakers against being insolent and arrogant to their people to the extent of shutting them out after each election cycle, saying such would no longer be condoned.
“So I am appealing to all of you. If you were born with arrogance, please just drop that ticket here”, he said.
The governor hinted that after the next cycle of elections, the process of recalling lawmakers who made themselves “tin gods” would be activated.
“Well, they say they don’t recall people from parliament, but this will be the first time.
“Anybody whom the people say they are tired of will be brought back home. Anybody who goes and forgets his people completely and doesn’t care, thinking that during elections he will come and pretend to be a good man, will be brought back.
“And we are making this very, very clear. We will not fail in what we have said. I am working tirelessly; I don’t sleep. If you are going into office during this period, there will be no sleep for you”, he said.
He advised politicians not to ignore their people who hold the power, insisting: “You cannot overlook them and become so arrogant and pompous that you don’t know your people.”
Gov. Otu also advised members of the ruling APC, who lost at the just-concluded party primaries in the state, not to defect to opposition parties like the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that they would suffer untold hardship and would not make any political headway, if they did.
“There are some kwashiorkor parties that are registering people. Such parties are wasting their time and not even my time. They cannot do anything.
“I don’t want anybody to suffer the fate I suffered. That’s why I’m warning those aggrieved aspirants who lost not to go the way of those parties to avoid unnecessary suffering.
“I don’t want anybody to go that route. It’s an absolute waste of time, energy and people’s future, because at the end of the day, you will drag people into that bottomless pit.
“And when you drag them there and can’t take care of them, you begin to rot, you begin to die. May God give me the energy and power to sustain.”
He appealed to the aggrieved APC members, saying: “There’s nothing that we cannot settle. God’s time is the best. Whatever we’ve done is for the common good of all of us.”
2027: INEC APPEALS JUDGMENT ON ELECTION GUIDELINES
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which nullified aspects of the Commission’s 2027 General Election Guidelines.
The appeal, filed before the Court of Appeal, seeks to overturn the judgment delivered on May 20, 2026, by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The trial court had nullified the provision in the guidelines directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as part of the conditions for participation in the 2027 General Election.
The suit challenging the directive was instituted by the Youth Party, which argued that the Commission’s timeline was inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline stipulated under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 regarding the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
However, INEC, through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, filed a notice of appeal dated May 25, 2026, asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment.
The Commission also filed a motion seeking an order staying the execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
INEC raised nine grounds of appeal, arguing among others that the trial court failed to determine the jurisdictional issue concerning whether the suit was hypothetical and academic in nature.
The Commission further contended that the respondent lacked the locus standi to institute the suit and urged the Court of Appeal to strike out the case accordingly.
INEC maintained that its actions were in line with its constitutional mandate to ensure the orderly conduct of elections and effective electoral administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
WHY I ENDORSE TINUBU’S SECOND TERM BID — ADELEKE
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has explained that his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027 was influenced by moral responsibility and the need to sustain developmental progress.
The governor said his endorsement was not based on political calculations alone but on what he considers appropriate in view of the relationship between Osun State and the President, as well as ongoing projects benefiting the region.
The position of the governor was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Mr Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke spoke on Sunday after conducting an inspection of the ongoing construction work on the Ibadan–Ile Ife–Ilesa Expressway.
During the visit, the governor reportedly commended President Tinubu for embarking on major infrastructure projects across Osun State and other parts of the South-West.
Gov. Adeleke noted that infrastructure development remains essential to economic growth and improved connectivity among communities.
He acknowledged the significance of road projects currently underway, stressing that such investments are expected to contribute to easier transportation, commercial activities, and broader development outcomes within the region.
The governor also highlighted the importance of leadership support in facilitating projects that have direct effects on residents.
He indicated that recognition should be given where efforts are being made to improve public infrastructure, particularly projects capable of enhancing movement between states and strengthening economic interactions in affected areas.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke’s remarks came while assessing the progress of the expressway project, which has continued to attract attention due to its strategic role in linking major cities within the South-West.
The governor reportedly used the opportunity to express appreciation for federal involvement in projects impacting Osun State.
His comments further reflected his view on political and regional ties, especially considering Osun State’s historical connection to President Tinubu.
Gov. Adeleke suggested that such considerations, alongside visible developmental initiatives, shaped his decision to openly support the President’s anticipated re-election effort in 2027.
He said, “I am the governor of the ancestral birthplace of Mr President. How can I have my own in the saddle and think twice before embracing him?”
IPAC specifically said that INEC guidelines cannot supersede constitutional provisions or extant electoral laws.
The Council, which stated these while appraising the judgement of the Federal High Court, stressed that the court judgement specifically addressed exclusionary conditions capable of disenfranchising aspirants and party members during primaries.
This is contained in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Mr Martins Egbeola, stating that the judgment was a reaffirmation of constitutional supremacy, democratic principles and the rule of law within Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC said that even though INEC possesses powers to issue election guidelines, such powers must however, operate strictly within constitutional provisions and electoral laws.
It noted that the court judgment represented a major victory for democracy, political parties and citizens participating in Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC also said that the court judgement had restored the constitutional rights of political parties to manage their internal affairs democratically without unlawful interference through administrative directives.
“The judgment would ensure equal opportunities for eligible members to participate in party primaries without discriminatory or exclusionary conditions.
“The INEC Chairman should deepen engagement and consultation with political parties on issues concerning electoral administration and reforms.
“Greater dialogue and collaboration between INEC and political parties would help prevent avoidable disputes and litigation arising from controversial guidelines,” IPAC stated.
Prof. Yilwatda stated this while speaking on a live television interview programme.
According to him, the ruling APC was not focused on fighting opposition parties, claiming that the political battle was currently between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He said, “In the last three weeks, the APC has not been fighting ADC or NDC. It is NDC versus ADC or ADC versus NDC.
“Actually, I watched with fun all the insults that the ADC is raining on the NDC and the NDC is returning those fireworks on the ADC.
“I watched the videos, and I laughed. The self-implosion is in the opposition rather than in the APC.”
When asked whether he was orchestrating the crisis in the opposition, Prof. Yilwatda denied the allegation but said weakening the opposition was part of politics.
He said, “No, I can’t. But I will be happy if I can do it. That’s my job.
“If you are opposing me, should I be happy? If you oppose me because you are in the opposition, what’s my job? Of course, to stop the opposition.”
The APC chairman also said the ruling party had stronger conflict resolution mechanisms than other political parties.
According to him, the party had committees at national and state levels to resolve internal disputes arising from congresses and other activities.
Speaking on the APC membership register and the votes secured by President Bola Tinubu during the party’s presidential primary, Prof. Yilwatda said the party relied on data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its registration process.
“To register as a member of the APC, your name and primary data are sourced from NIMC. That’s the same primary data that is used across the country to open a bank account, get a driver’s licence and secure an international passport.
“So we’re the only political party that sources our primary data from NIMC. This is why people have seen the APC as one of the most politically viable and stable parties. We are a data-driven political party,” he stated.
RIVERS ADC PRIMARY: ASPIRANT REJECTS OUTCOME, ACCUSES AMAECHI OF IMPOSITION
The governorship primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has been thrown into turmoil after aspirant Mr Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart rejected the outcome and accused former governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi of imposing a candidate.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart described the exercise as a “shambolic charade” and said it had produced three separate governorship primary “winners” within the same party.
“Right now, we have three governorship candidates in one party, all thanks to Amaechi’s high-handedness,” he told journalists in Abuja on Monday.
He warned that the situation could plunge the opposition party into crisis ahead of the 2027 elections if the national leadership fails to intervene.
According to him, while the party’s timetable fixed May 23 for the primary, aspirants were informed late Friday that the exercise had been moved forward.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he was mobilising supporters across the 23 local government areas when fellow aspirant, Hon. Farah Dagogo, informed him that a parallel process had already been conducted.
He accused the state party chairman, Mr Chukwudi Dimkpa, of inviting only five aspirants loyal to Mr Amaechi while excluding himself and Hon. Dagogo. The arrangement, he alleged, was designed to clear the path for Dr Gabriel Pidomson, whom he described as Mr Amaechi’s preferred candidate.
He further alleged that three aspirants were persuaded to step down for Dr Pidomson in what he described as a disguised consensus arrangement, despite the party’s public stance against consensus.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart claimed Hon. Dagogo later approached him to jointly resist Mr Amaechi’s camp but asked him to publicly congratulate him as the winner.
“He told me to go on air and congratulate him, saying we are from Atiku Abubakar’s political family and should unite. I told him to stop rubbishing Atiku’s name. Atiku will not be part of this nonsense,” he said.
The aspirant said he rejected the offer and subsequently declared himself winner after Hon. Dagogo made a similar announcement.
“As it stands, Farah declared himself winner, Thompson was declared winner by the state exco, and I also declared myself winner. Three winners in one primary that never held. This cannot stand,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart accused the Rivers ADC leadership of sidelining him despite being the only aspirant who formally notified the party in writing of his intention to contest.
He also faulted Mr Amaechi for allegedly imposing candidates while demanding transparent presidential primary at the national level.
“How can someone who is demanding transparent presidential primaries at the national level turn around and impose a governorship candidate in Rivers?”, he queried.
He urged the ADC National Working Committee to nullify the exercise and either conduct a fresh primary or adopt a lawful consensus arrangement in line with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The most pragmatic thing now is for the NWC to order a rescheduled primary or quickly adopt a lawful consensus option. Time is running against us,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he would pursue all grievances within the party’s constitution and warned Hon. Dagogo against invoking Atiku’s name to bolster his claim.
“We will exhaust every legal channel within the party. I will not rock the boat unnecessarily, but the party must recognise that I won the primaries,” he said.
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