Politics

LG Boss Alerts FG On Imminent Bridge Collapse

Published

7 years ago

August 9, 2019

Worried by the state of the Aleto Bridge in Eleme Local Government Area, Chairman of Council, Phillip Okparaji has written to the Federal Government, saying the bridge is in a state of imminent collapse.
The Tide reported that the bridge is located on the Eleme axis of the East West Road that links all four local government areas in Ogoni land and adjoining communities, as well as the only access road to Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
Some residents of the area and motorists had taken to social media, decrying the dilapidated situation of the bridge, saying it needs shore protection to avoid collapse as water has continued to wash off the sand.
Okparaji in a chat with newsmen expressed worry that the bridge might cave in anytime if urgent action is not taken to fix it stressing the need for reinforcement of the pillars holding the bridge.
The local government chairman therefore advised motorists and commuters to be careful while using the bridge even as he said that the council doesn’t have the necessary resources to carry out rehabilitation work on the bridge.
He said: “We are aware of the state of the Aleto Bridge. It is in a very bad state and it may cave in anytime if something is not done urgently.
“We have appealled and written to the Federal Government through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works and even the Rivers State government that there is need for urgent attention.
“If the bridge collapses today, the economy of Eleme has collapsed. So we are appealing for an urgent attention. You know our (Eleme council) finances cannot give us the necessary mandate to embark on rehabilitation or reinforcement of that bridge.
“We are creating the necessary awareness on the people plying and using the road to be careful that the bridge is in a total state of collapsing. Even the trucks, we have directed that no truck should park on that bridge again,” the LGA chairman stated.

Dennis Naku

Politics

Primaries: Diri Lauds APC’s Unity, Cohesion In Bayelsa

Published

6 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said that internal unity and cohesion were the strength of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Governor Diri spoke on Saturday shortly after the party’s House of Representatives primary election at his Sampou/Kalama Ward 6 in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

The exercise witnessed the endorsement by consensus of the incumbent member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Oforji Oboku, by 2,565 members of the party in the ward, including Governor Diri.

According to the governor, “In Bayelsa, we have been able to bring the APC together, and we are acting as one family. What you have witnessed is being replicated across the other four federal constituencies in the state. The leadership of the party has worked tirelessly to ensure unity, avoid division, and position the party for success in the forthcoming general election.”

The governor expressed satisfaction with reports from other constituencies, noting that the peaceful and orderly conduct of the primary in the ward was consistent with developments across the state.

He equally described the outcome of the primary as a clear demonstration of confidence in Hon. Oboku’s leadership and representation.

“There is only one aspirant, and that aspirant is the incumbent legislator representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency. This is clearly an endorsement of his aspirations. The turnout witnessed here reflected the overwhelming support for Oboku,” he said.

The APC Returning Officer for the ward, Hon. Fortune Panebi, after the exercise, announced that out of the 3,411 registered members of the party in the ward, 2,565 members voted and unanimously endorsed Oboku.

The Returning Officer duly returned him as the party’s candidate for the federal constituency’s contest in next year’s election.

Politics

RIVALS CLAIM VICTORIES AT APC’S REPS PRIMARIES IN EDO

Published

6 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

According to reports reaching The Tide, controversy trailed the House of Representatives primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in parts of Edo State last Saturday, as rival candidates in Edo Central and Owan Federal Constituencies each declared themselves winners, raising fresh concerns about unity within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal Constituency, confusion emerged after two leading aspirants announced separate victories.

The sitting lawmaker, Hon. Marcus Onobun, insisted he won the primary through a legitimate and officially recognised process.

However, former commissioner and rival aspirant, Mr Lucky Eseigbe, also declared himself the winner, claiming that a parallel primary produced him as the party’s choice.

The conflicting claims left party members divided, with supporters of both camps presenting different results as authentic.

As of the time of reporting, the APC leadership had yet to issue a clear resolution, fueling fears of a widening internal rift if the matter is not urgently addressed.

A similar situation unfolded in the Owan Federal Constituency, where the House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, and another aspirant, Hon. Andrew Ijiegbai, both claimed victory.

Their supporters held separate celebrations, each side insisting their candidate had secured the party’s ticket.

These disputes stood in contrast to other parts of Edo State where the primaries reportedly went smoothly. In Akoko-Edo, Oladele Bankole-Balogun emerged winner with 3,368 votes, defeating Paul Afeghase, who scored 1,663, while Adetutu Owolabi polled 793 votes.

In Etsako, Hon. Anamero Dekeri defeated four other contenders. Other winners included Dr. Paddy Iyamu in Oredo, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion in Ovia, Hon. Odinose Okojie in Esan South-East/Esan North-East, and Igbinovia Felix Osazee in Egor/Ikpoba-Okha.

Reacting on the outcome of the exercise, Edo APC chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, described the primaries as free, fair, and credible, stating that the party had successfully presented strong candidates for the 2027 elections.

He expressed optimism that internal disputes would be resolved and party unity maintained despite emerging disagreements in some constituencies.

Politics

LAGOS SPEAKER GETS APC’S HOUSE OF REPS TICKET

Published

7 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A massive crowd of party supporters and card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend thronged Agege to validate the emergence of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, as the party’s consensus candidate for the Agege Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

The primary election, which was conducted peacefully, witnessed a large turnout of APC members who endorsed Rt Hon. Obasa’s candidacy, reinforcing his strong grassroots influence in the constituency.

Rt Hon. Obasa’s emergence came days after he formally declared his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Agege on May 13.

Speaking after the validation exercise, the Speaker expressed appreciation to party leaders and members for the confidence reposed in him.

“I am deeply humbled by the confidence reposed in me by our leaders and members. Today’s validation is not just about me; it is about our collective resolve to continue building Agege and Lagos State on the foundation of progress and development,” he said.

He also pledged to sustain people-oriented representation if elected into the National Assembly.

“My commitment has always been to serve with integrity, to amplify the voices of our people, and to ensure that Agege continues to stand tall in the comity of constituencies. This validation strengthens my resolve to deliver more dividends of democracy,” Rt Hon. Obasa added.

With the conclusion of the APC primary, the Speaker is expected to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming general election, a development many party faithful believe will further consolidate the APC’s political dominance in Agege.