Politics
Goodboy Sokari, A Principled People’s Representative
Clearly, the state of affairs in our country is such that it has become compelling to salute the few compatriots who stretch out their necks for the guillotine in their quest to serve the common good.
It is evident that, in order to make impact in the Nigerian political turf, one must be made of a sterner stuff mentally, emotionally, morally, intellectually, physically, ideologically and every other relevant material credentials. This is why a great many decent men and women have steered clear of the “rumbling in the jungle”, not being certain of their calling and conviction for genuine leadership.
It is against premise that one cannot but recognize and identify Hon. Goodboy Sokari Goodboy as one of the heroes of Nigeria’s democracy today, and particularly in Rivers State, alongside Rt Hon. Edison Ogaranya Ehie (DSSRS), Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, and other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are standing for the emancipation of the less privileged in society against politics of goodfatherism.
Hon. Goodboy is presently the House Leader who has demonstrated steadfastness along with his colleagues in the Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo-led Rivers State House of Assembly, writing their names in gold in the political sands of time by the way they have stood for truth, and against falsehood, deceit and dishonesty in the highest echelon of management of state affairs.
Certainly, when bookmakers re-write our history, his contributions will be included. He has represented his constituency, Ahoada West Local Government Area, very well and the people are happy.
Hon. Goodboy Sokari Goodboy had meritoriously served as the President of Abua/Odual, Engenni and Ogbogolo special area of the highly respected Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide. He is a proud son of Ijaw from Engenni extraction who has vowed to make Ijaw proud in any field of human endeavour he is called upon to serve humanity.
Hon. Goodboy Sokari believes that now that the nation is paying attention to the advocacy that governance be entrusted on the youth to protect and preserve, it behoves on youths like him in positions of authority to uphold that trust for posterity. This singular line of belief is the driving force for his firm and unflinching support for our indefatigable governor, Sir Siminialayi Joseph Fubara (GSSRS) and his Chief of Staff, Rt Hon. Edison Ehie.
He maintains that his constituents are stoutly behind the governor because of his people centered policies, programmes and projects aimed at changing the ugly developmental narrative of the people since his Inauguration as the Chief Executive Officer of the state.
Hon. Goodboy Sokari Goodboy, without doubt, is of the school of thought that His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has started well. He has, as expected, shown that he knows the collective yearning and aspirations of the people and his constituents are proud they gave the governor their mandate.
Hon. Goodboy Sokari is a man to be relied upon; he knows that laws are meant to protect and better lot of the general public, not to satisfy individual needs.The truth is that Ahoada West Local Government Area and all patriotic citizens of Rivers State are happy with the bold step the lawmaker has taken to stand for the undiluted truth in line with the oath of office he took at his inauguration, not minding whose ox is gored.
Hon Goodboy, the Rivers State needs you around; your constituency desperately needs your wisdom, your raw courage, your inextinguishable energy and zeal to fight the good fight of Democracy and justice.
To say the least, the youth and your teeming supporters in the Ijaw nation, as well as established and up coming politicians, are proud of you whenever they remember that, in their feeble state, they see a political pillar in you to lean on.
Hon. Goodboy Sokari, and your fellow lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly, it’s an understatement to say that people of the State are grateful to you for standing tall behind our governor in the time of trouble till now. Your firm position on the struggle to emancipate our state from economic hostage and mental slavery by imperial powers of darkness, definitely stand you out as crusaders who are not afraid confront evil behaviours of some of our leaders.
You and your eminent colleagues are being variously described by society watchers as passionate, focussed, humane and highly committed to any cause you believe in for the betterment of society. It shows that you have undying love and passion for politics and the people you represent. You have proven to be true democrats of the finest order.
I dare say that for Rivers State to join the league of progressive and prosperous States in Nigeria, our people must resolve to live up to the highest moral creed expected of them and that includes shunning godfatherism and keeping to our conscience instead of their pockets or bank accounts.
As Rivers people, we must be willing and ready to stay with the best by supporting the present administration of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
No two people can captain a ship. Today, as it stands, Governor Sim Fubara at the helm of leadership of the State and he is the captain. He is the number one citizen of Rivers State according to government and governance. The power and authority of implementation of policies and programmes are domiciled with him as the governor.
Hon.Goodboy Sokari Goodboy, your constituents are hugely proud of you for your solid support and determined resolve to be counted among the courageous few on the side of the governor and the people of Rivers State when it mattered most. God bless and give you the wisdom of King Solomon to stay the course and win for (and with) the people.
OSUNDU, Public Affairs Commentator, writes from Port-Harcourt.
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.
-
Maritime4 hours agoProducts, Others, To Arrive Lagos Ports Today — MPA
-
Environment3 hours agoMOSOP – Tinubu Not Sincere With Ogoni People For Oil Resumption
-
Environment3 hours agoNEWSAN Urges Investment For Water And Sanitation services
-
Oil & Energy3 hours agoSEED: FG To Train 6,000 Energy Professionals
-
Environment3 hours agoNGOs Task Media On Investing In Climate Literacy
-
Maritime4 hours agoLagos Records Major Gains In Road, Rail, Water Transport —Osiyemi
-
Oil & Energy3 hours ago‘Trans Niger Pipeline Records Zero Infraction ‘ ……..As FG Hits 99.2% OPEC Target
-
Maritime4 hours agoCustoms Harps On Human-led AI Governance –As Customs Digital Reforms Generate N230Bn