Politics
When Obasanjo Came To Rivers
Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi played host to
former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo early last week. The former president was in the state for two days on the State Government’s invitation to commission projects embarked upon and executed by the Amaechi-led administration.
Chief Obasanjo had last visited the state during the administration of former Governor, Dr Peter Odili in 2007. On Monday, the former president and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces arrived Port Harcourt via a chartered flight about 11:20 hours in the morning from the airport. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo went on to unveil the newly expanded Chief G.U. Ake Road, the Rumuobiakani-Elekahia Road, the former Stadium Road, but now renamed Ken-Saro Wiwa Road. He ended the day’s visit after he inspected the Integrated Songhai Farm at Bunu Tai.
On the second day of the visit, the former General commissioned Number I Field, and Basket Ball/ Indoor Games in the Old Port Harcourt Township. He later branched to inspect the ongoing Rivers Monorail along Azikiwe Road from where he proceeded to St Andrew’s Model Primary School, and later unveiled the new Kelsey Harrison Hospital in Diobu area.
A short reception was held for the former President Obasanjo who danced to the local Iriabo drum at Buguma Fish Farm in Asari-Toru Local Government Area. Chief Obasanjo was full of praises for the Rivers State governor. He remarked that Amaechi understands what the people want, adding that that is what transformational leadership was about.
As a farmer, he said he had seen development projects in Rivers State, but advised the state governor to think of ways of consolidating on the various projects across the state. He charged the governor to continue in his good works despite the antics of the opposition.
Chief Obasanjo was later accosted by journalists on his departure after the visit. He told the newsmen that he was still a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Obasanjo, however, commended Amaechi for the Monorail and Fish Farm projects, which he described as visionary.
On Wednesday, Governor Amaechi played host to the new General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Shehu Yusuf. He thanked the Army Chief for the support and professionalism the military has displayed in beefing security in the State.
In his words: they have helped us with a lot of other internal security arrangements, that again we would want you to commend our Brigade Commander. He has always responded to what he considers as minimal assistance to civil policing to enable the State have peace. If there is any other thing that the Brigade wants or the division wants, please do contact us. We will be willing to assist.”
On Thursday, the state governor through his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru hosted foreign investors from China with a dinner in Government House.
Amaechi assured that his administration believes and is ready to partner with Chinese investors to enhance development of all sectors of the State’s economy, stressing that “whatever we are doing today will bear fruits in the future for the next generation.”
On Saturday, Governor Amaechi paid a condolence visit to the family of Late Madam Kilali Joy Ababia Young Arney at Buguma.
The governor explained that late Joy Young Arney would feel fulfilled over the success and achievement of her children, and advised her husband, Hon. Edwin Dakoru to continuously play his fatherly role and ensure that unity and peace prevail in the family.
Rt Hon. Abbas secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Rt Hon. Abbas.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Mallam Balarabe informed members that Rt Hon Abbas was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Rt Hon. Abbas as the party’s flag bearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Rt Hon Abbas would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his declaration, Rt Hon. Abbas expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
The incumbent Reps including Emily Inyang and Godwin Offionio, in separate interviews
protested the handling of the primaries conducted by the leadership of the party in the state, saying it was skewed against them.
The aspirants further described the primaries as a charade and an embarrassment to the state.
According to them, the House of Representatives primaries fell short of the provisions of both the Electoral Act as amended in 2026 and the party’s constitution.
They accused the leadership of the party in the state, backed by Governor Bassey Otu, of violating the party’s constitution in the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries across the state on Saturday.
Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, particularly expressed disappointment with the primary that allegedly disenfranchised registered members of the party in his constituency.
Hon. Offiono asserted that having failed to arrive at a consensus, the party leadership opted for a direct primary to decide the candidate for the 2027 election.
“But what I witnessed today was not only alarming, but quite disheartening that our electoral system have not shown any improvement, especially now that we have a man of God in the person of the governor as the leader of the party.
“How do you declare a result by 9:00am even when the electoral materials were yet to arrive at Yala.
“As an aspirant, I couldn’t even vote or see the materials for my own primary at my Okuku ward in Yala Local Government Area, where I come from. But no matter what happens I am still in the race and have not stepped down for anybody.
“The governor had all the time in the world to drive the process of consensus but he never did. As a representative, I cannot even see my governor. I called, no response. I sent text no reply. I am treated as an out cast,” he lamented.
In an emotion laden tone during a telephone interview, Hon. Offiono further said: “I could not believe that first term NASS members like me can be treated in this shoddy manner even when I don’t know my offence.
“I have been a loyal party man. I appeal to the governor to do the right thing, follow the Electoral Act and party constitution in electing representatives.”
Similarly, Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency said he still remained in the race and had not stepped down for anybody.
According to him, “If this shenanigan called primary is allowed to stand, it would affect the party’s fortune in the general elections.
“My appeal to the governor is to allow the people to decide. And if they so voted against me, I will rest and not fight over anything.
“There was no stakeholders meeting held to decide on anything before now, and someone can not be unilaterally imposed on us all in the name of compromised primary,” he stated.
A coalition of support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the disqualification of former presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, from the Rivers West Senatorial race ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a statement issued on Saturday morning in Abuja, described the action of the party’s screening committee as unjust and capable of worsening internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Bilal Galadima, and General Secretary, Hon. James Ogenyi, accused the party leadership in Rivers State of favouring politicians loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, while sidelining long-standing members of the APC.
The coalition alleged that only aspirants aligned with Chief Wike were cleared to contest for elective positions in the state.
“How can our party allow only one man who is not a member of our party to make decisions or dictate the direction of our party?”, the group queried.
The coalition specifically faulted the exclusion of Mr Jack-Rich, describing him as a loyal party member who had supported the APC for more than 13 years and previously contested the party’s presidential ticket.
It also questioned the alleged clearance of Chief Felix Obua, whom it described as a recent entrant into the party and an ally of Chief Wike.
“How can our party disqualify Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant who has been loyal and supported our party for the last 13 years, only for our party to choose Felix Obua, a Wike loyalist who only joined the party three months ago?”, the statement read.
The group warned that failure by the APC leadership and National Working Committee (NWC) to address the matter as it could weaken the party’s structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on party leaders to uphold internal democracy, reward loyalty and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
INEC TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AS POLITICAL PARTIES SUBMIT REGISTER
All 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”
He recalled that following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a statement issued on the 27th of March, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
Mr Haruna noted that political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added, “INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.”
The Commission restated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
-
Environment8 hours agoMOSOP – Tinubu Not Sincere With Ogoni People For Oil Resumption
-
Nation6 hours agoRSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Hold Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria
-
Maritime9 hours agoProducts, Others, To Arrive Lagos Ports Today — MPA
-
Oil & Energy8 hours agoSEED: FG To Train 6,000 Energy Professionals
-
Environment8 hours agoNEWSAN Urges Investment For Water And Sanitation services
-
Environment8 hours agoNGOs Task Media On Investing In Climate Literacy
-
Education7 hours agoUNIPort Senate Grants Two-Year Amnesty to U2010–U2018 Students
-
Politics8 hours ago
Primaries: Diri Lauds APC’s Unity, Cohesion In Bayelsa