Politics

2023: Rivers Yet To Decide On Atiku, Says Wike

Published

3 years ago

October 31, 2022

… Vows To Win Gov’ship, NASS, House Of Assembly For PDP

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, said the state was yet to decide on next year’s presidential election.

He declared that the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, all the House of Representatives, Senate and State House of Assembly will win in the 2023 general elections, saying the state was yet to determine what to do concerning the presidential election.

Wike spoke during the inauguration 319 Ward and 32 Constituency Liaison Officers in Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.

This was contained in a statement issued by Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant on Media to Governor Wike and made available to newsmen.

“PDP will win our state. I am not hiding it as far as the governorship, House of Reps, Senate and State Assembly are concerned. The other one (presidency), we have not decided until the right thing is done,” the Rivers governor said.

This is as Wike also took a swipe at the former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, saying he does not fill such a leadership position to speak on behalf of the state.

Dr. Sekibo is the Director General of the Peoples’ Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State.

The PUNCH reports that Sekibo, former governor of the state (now derecognized), Sir Celestine Omehia, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara and the former senator who represented the Rivers South-East district, Senator Lee Maeba, had fallen out of favour after they pitched their tent with the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2023 poll.

Wike said Sekibo was a self-seeking politician who has been unable to attract democratic dividend, of whatever kind, to the State while he served as minister and also to his hometown, Okrika local government area of the state.

“I watched a video when one Dr. Abiye Sekibo, while he was addressing people in his house yesterday (Sunday), said he is the director of Atiku’s Supporters in Rivers.

“I have no problem about that. But he does not have the capacity to speak on behalf of Rivers State.

“In that video, he said that Rivers State has been having a close relationship with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and that Rivers State has always benefitted from Atiku Abubakar.

“I want to correct one impression, Dr. Abiye Sekibo has a personal relationship with Alhaji Atiku, not Rivers State.

“Dr. Abiye Sekibo was Minister of Transport when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was the Vice president of Nigeria. Can you people mention one project in Okrika, I don’t even want to talk about Rivers State, in Ogu/Bolo, one project that he brought down to Rivers State. Is there anyone?”

Wike said leadership was not about personal aggrandizement, but serving the people, protecting their interests while building up others as competent successors.

He stated that people like Dr. Sekibo number among those who are never satisfied with the fortunes they have enjoyed in life, otherwise, he should have been silent in the public sphere for his failure in leadership.

“I was a minister, junior minister in that matter. But I am proud to say anywhere I go in this state (Rivers), I brought a dividend of democracy to Rivers.

“As a junior minister, I brought the Oil and Gas Polytechnic to Rivers State that is sited in Bonny. There was no Faculty of Law at the University of Port Harcourt since the creation of that institution, but I brought it.

“As a minister, I made sure Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic and the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, even if they are state institutions, I made sure they got a grant of N500M each,” Wike stated.

Wike also listed his several educational interventions at the primary-secondary school levels, which depict what true leadership should be.

He stressed that Dr. Sekibo as Secretary to the Rivers State government did not also execute any project of note in Okrika, saying while he, as Chief of Staff, delivered several road projects in Rumuepirikom.

Related Topics:2023 elections Atiku Wike

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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.