News

Court Restrains PDP From Dissolving Pro-Wike Excos In Rivers

Published

1 year ago

September 26, 2024

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, restrained the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, the party’s National Working Committee as well as the PDP Board of Trustees from tampering with or dissolving the Executive Committees of the party in Rivers State.

The court also stopped the defendants from constituting any interim committee to replace the officers of the party at the state, local governments and ward levels who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the order while delivering a ruling on an ex parte application brought before the court by the PDP Rivers State Executive Committee, led by Aaron Chukwuemeka, and his counterparts at the local governments and ward levels.

The plaintiffs, in the ex parte application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1396/2024, are Chukwuemeka, Oye Igenewari and ThankGod Bekee, who sued on behalf of themselves and state, local governments and ward executive committees of the Rivers PDP.

Listed as defendants are the PDP, its acting Chairman, Umar Damagum, Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, NWC, NEC, BoT, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Alhaji Bala Mohammed of the Governors’ Forum.

In the ex parte motion argued on their behalf by Dr Joshua Musa (SAN), the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants were making clandestine moves to dissolve the legally constituted state, local governments and wards executives committees of the Rivers State PDP.

They also alleged that the defendants and the PDP governors were attempting to put in place interim committees to replace them, to perform the duties and functions of the state, local governments and wards executives committees of the PDP in Rivers State.

The plaintiffs said unless the defendants were restrained from carrying out the unlawful act, they would be made to suffer injustice and losses.

In his ruling, after perusing the exhibits tendered by the plaintiffs, Justice Lifu gave an order restraining INEC from accepting or recognising any other person or groups other than those elected at the state, local governments and wards elections of the PDP in Rivers State.

Justice Lifu also ordered the PDP national body and others not to tamper with or dissolve the local governments and ward leadership of the PDP in Rivers State, who were said to have been elected along with the State Executive Committee this year at various congresses of the party.

In an enrolled order, the court ordered that on no grounds shall the tenure of the Rivers PDP executive Committees at the state, local governments and the wards be truncated by the defendants.

Justice Lifu also ordered that the defendants must not in any way allow or permit any other group or persons to perform the duties and functions of the PDP State, local governments and ward officers elected between July 27 and August 31, 2024.

The judge also ordered the plaintiffs to file a fresh undertaking to indemnify all the defendants in case it is discovered that the restraining orders issued against the defendants ought not to have been granted.

Hearing in the motion on notice was subsequently fixed for October 4, 2024.

Wednesday’s order comes on the heels of the face-off between Wike and the PDP Governors’ Forum, chaired by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on the leadership of the PDP in Rivers State.

The PDP governors had demanded the nullification of the ward, LGA and state congresses that handed the party’s control to Wike, rather than the incumbent Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The PDP governors have insisted that as the sitting governor, Fubara, rather than Wike, should be the leader of the PDP in Rivers State.

Seven of the 13 PDP governors are also pushing for the removal of the PDP acting National Chairman, Damagum, who is loyal to Wike.

News

Former Delta North senator Peter Nwaoboshi Dies

Published

6 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Editor

Peter Nwaoboshi, the former senator representing Delta north, is dead.

Details of the circumstances surrounding his death were unclear at the time of this report, but according to reports, the former senator died in Abuja on Friday, aged 68.

In a statement, Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, expressed “profound grief” over the demise of the former lawmaker.

The governor described his demise as a monumental loss to the state, the Anioma nation, and Nigeria.

In a condolence message signed by Festus Ahon, his chief press secretary (CPS), Oborevwori hailed the late Nwaoboshi as a dedicated son of Delta and a bold champion of Anioma interests, whose legacy in nation-building will endure.

The governor said the late senator’s distinguished tenure in the national assembly, particularly as chairman of the senate committee on Niger Delta affairs.

“Nwaoboshi lived a life of service to his people, his party, and the country, bequeathing a heritage of bravery, loyalty, and commitment to public duty,” Oborevwori said.

“On behalf of the Delta State government and people, I mourn my dear friend, Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi.

“I extend deepest condolences to his family, the Anioma people, members of the All Progressives Congress, and everyone touched by his life.

“May God grant his soul peaceful rest and comfort to all who grieve this irreplaceable loss.”

News

Grassroots To Global Podium: Edo Sports Commission Marks Enabulele’s First Year In Office

Published

21 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Editor

The Indoor Sports Hall in Benin City came alive on Wednesday as the Edo State Sports Commission rolled out the drums to celebrate the first anniversary in office of its Executive Chairman, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele. Management, staff, coaches and athletes gathered in an atmosphere charged with pride, reflection and optimism.

The colourful ceremony drew executives and members of various sports associations, officials of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), coaches, athletes and other key stakeholders in Edo sports.

In her welcome address, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. A. P. Amenze, praised Hon. Enabulele for what she described as focused and purposeful leadership. She said the past year had seen renewed confidence, discipline and energy return to the state’s sports ecosystem.

Adding excitement to the event were exhibition bouts and demonstrations by the Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwondo and Judo associations, staged in honour of the Executive Chairman.

Speaking for SWAN Edo State, Chairman Comrade Kehinde Osagiede commended Hon. Enabulele’s open-door leadership style and consistent support for sports development. He noted that the Commission had effectively driven Governor Monday Okpebholo’s “Catch Them Young” policy through practical grassroots programmes that identify and groom young talents across the state.

In recognition of his contributions to sports development and media relations, Comrade Osagiede conferred the Patronship of SWAN Edo State on Hon. Enabulele and presented him with a special anniversary card.

Goodwill messages followed from Executive Directors of the Commission, including Hon. Frank Ilaboya (Edo North), Coach Baldwin Bazuaye, MON (Edo South), Barr. Anthony Ikuenobe (Edo Central), and Mrs. Sabrina Chikere, Executive Director, Sports Development and Operations. Representatives of coaches, athletes and sports associations also took turns to acknowledge the progress recorded under the current leadership.

In his stewardship address, Hon. Enabulele expressed gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo and Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa for the trust placed in him, noting that their backing and shared vision had driven the Commission’s achievements.

He highlighted Team Edo’s third-place finish at the 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, where the state recorded its best-ever outing with 79 medals—33 gold, 18 silver and 28 bronze—reinforcing Edo’s reputation as a national sports powerhouse.

The Chairman also pointed to the impact of inclusive and grassroots sports programmes, citing Favour Ojeabu, a visually impaired para-cyclist who won three gold medals to emerge Africa’s champion at the African Track Para-Cycling Championship in Egypt.

Other milestones listed included outstanding performances by Edo para powerlifters on the international stage, historic achievements in cricket, weightlifting, cycling, judo and deaf athletics, as well as structural reforms such as the repositioning of Bendel Insurance FC and deeper investment in grassroots sports development.

Cultural performances added colour and tradition to the celebration, as stakeholders closed the event united in their assessment of the past year as a truly transformative period for sports development in Edo State.

News

Otuaro Tasks Media On Objective Reportage

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Editor

The Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Dr. Dennis Otuaro has charged media practitioners particularly members of the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum to promote ethical journalism through their reportage.

He gave the charge in Warri on Wednesday during the 2nd Annual Ijaw Media Conference organised by the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF).

Represented by Princewill Binebai, spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Otuaro while stating that the Niger Delta stories have been told in such a way that is quite different from what is obtainable in the real sense, said this, IPF must do everything possible to correct.

The administrator added: “I am happy that Ijaw journalists have boldly come out together to champion the Ijaw struggle in a very dynamic perspective”.

“The Ijaw story was misrepresented over the years, but IPF’s emergence had corrected this error and the story is gradually changing for better.”

Otuaro, however, challenged Ijaw media practitioners to be objective, truthful, accurate and fearless in their reportage to correct many years anomalies of the Ijaw struggle.

He admonished members of IPF to see themselves as brothers and love one another in the discharge of their activities to achieve a common goal.