Politics

2023: Bayelsa West Stakeholders Protest Over Seriake Dickson

Published

4 years ago

March 28, 2022

Some stakeholders in the Bayelsa West Senatorial District have opposed moves by some politicians from the area to return Senator Seriake Dickson for a second term at the National Assembly in the 2023 general election.

They, therefore, staged a demonstration against such moves which they described as attempts to undermine the existing zoning agreement between the Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas to alternate the Senate and House of Representatives seats.

They embarked on the protest at Sagbama town, the headquarters of the Sagbama LGA, on Saturday, following attempts by some persons during a stakeholders’ meeting to pass a vote of confidence in Dickson.

They insisted on the zoning arrangement, stressing that it was the turn of Ekeremor to produce a senator while Sagbama would go for the House of Representatives seat at the National Assembly polls next year.

The angry stakeholders chanted solidarity songs and carried placards with inscriptions like, ‘Zoning is what we stand for’, ‘Zoning must stand’, ‘Ekeremor/Sagbama stand for zoning’, ‘We say yes to zoning’, and ‘Zoning will bring peace to Niger Delta’.

The leader of the protesters, Barnabas Edure, who hails from the Sagbama LGA as Dickson, said that it was wrong for any group of persons to endorse the former governor at a time he should leave the senatorial seat in line with the age-long agreement.

He cautioned against the plot by the senator’s supporters to truncate the zoning formula, noting that such a confidence vote was totally unacceptable and morally wrong.

Edure, a former chairman of Sagbama council, said: “We have been operating zoning in Bayelsa West for over 40 years. Nobody can truncate the zoning agreement no matter how highly placed. Dickson is a beneficiary of zoning.

“A breach in the zoning formula of Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency is a breach of the trust and support of the people.

“Disregarding the zoning formula for personal ambition is an indication of bad representation and a leader who wants to truncate the zoning system does not have the interest of the people at heart,” The PUNCH quoted him.

He called on the people of Bayelsa West district to reject plans by some politicians to jettison the zoning agreement in the interest of peace, justice and equity for the two local governments that make up the district.

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.