Politics

Fubara Insists On LG Poll Amid Protests By Wike Allies

Published

2 years ago

October 4, 2024

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday, insisted that the state’s local government election scheduled for Saturday, October 5, will proceed, despite protests from loyalists of his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The governor warned against any attempts by groups or individuals to disrupt the electoral process, emphasising that he would not tolerate any actions aimed at creating confusion or instability in the state.

The Peoples Democratic Party members loyal to Wike and a faction of the All Progressives Congress led by Chief Tony Okocha (also a known Wike’s loyalist), had earlier announced their decision to withdraw from the election, citing irregularities and a lack of due process by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

However, the APC faction loyal to former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, led by Emeka Beke, maintained its participation, handing over party flags to candidates in 22 of the 23 local government areas in the state.

The Okocha-led APC faction had taken legal action against the RSIEC at the Federal High Court in Abuja, resulting in a temporary injunction that prevents the Independent National Electoral Commission from releasing the voter register for the election.

The court also restrained security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, from providing security for the exercise.

Despite the legal hurdles, the RSIEC expressed its readiness to conduct the election on Saturday, claiming to have access to the voter register, contrary to INEC’s position.

On Thursday, prominent PDP politicians and thousands of their supporters took to the streets to protest against the planned conduct of the election by RSIEC.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Governor Fubara criticised the protesters, acknowledging that he was also at a disadvantage because his party (the PDP) was not participating in the election.

“You know, in this election, I am the greatest loser because my party is not participating. But due to the Supreme Court ruling that there must be elected officials to manage the affairs of local governments, as governor, I have to comply,” Fubara stated.

He explained that following the Supreme Court ruling, a meeting was held with President Bola Tinubu, where they agreed to comply with the ruling within a 90-day timeframe. As a result, Fubara insisted that the local government election must proceed, even though the PDP was not involved.

The governor expressed frustration over the resistance to the election in Rivers State, noting that other states across the country had conducted local government elections using the 2023 voter register without such controversies.

“Ten states of the federation have conducted elections with the 2023 voter register. I don’t know why things in Rivers State are always different. Is it that when it comes to the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is interpreted differently for Rivers State?” Fubara asked.

He also alleged that some of the protesters were outsiders brought into the city from boundary towns between Imo State and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, and Akwa Ibom State, to foment trouble.

“No matter the guise or level of ‘aluta continua’ posture that the detractors adopt, the local government election will proceed as planned,” the governor emphasised.

Fubara concluded by urging registered voters and political leaders to be present at their polling units on Saturday to participate in the election and ensure the smooth conduct of the process.

PDP members protest

Earlier on Thursday, the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, led by its Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, staged a protest against the planned conduct of the local government election by the RSIEC, despite a court order restraining it.

The protesters, including current and former members of the National Assembly as well as immediate-past local government chairmen, are allies and loyalists of Wike. Among them were the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda; the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Dumnamene Dekor; his counterpart representing Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency, Kelechi Wogu; and a former chairman of the PDP in the state and former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Desmond Akawor.

Other notable figures at the protest included a former federal lawmaker, Emma Deeya; a former Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Fred Kpakol; and the immediate-past chairmen of Eleme, Gokana, Andoni, and Emuoha Local Government Areas, Obarimate Ollor, Confidence Deko, Erastus Awortu, and Chidi Lloyd, respectively.

The protest began around 7 a.m. at the PDP secretariat along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, with participants defying heavy rainfall as they marched through the old GRA area to the Department of State Services office to lodge their complaints.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “RSIEC, obey court order,” “Rivers State is not lawless,” “We say no to impunity,” and “Police and Army must not support RSIEC.”

A group of youths among the protesters chanted slogans such as, “Under the rain, under the sun, we will follow Wike,” “No election in Rivers State,” and “On your mandate we shall stand,” as they made their way to the DSS office, where they were addressed by an official.

From there, the protest continued through the streets of Port Harcourt, passing the popular UTC Junction, Azikiwe Road, Bank Road, and Moscow Road, before finally converging at the state police command headquarters.

There, they submitted a petition to a representative of the state Commissioner of Police.

Speaking at the command headquarters, Chukwuemeka stated that the protest was to remind the police about a Federal High Court judgment delivered on September 30, 2024, which restrained RSIEC from conducting the local government poll and directed security agencies not to provide any support for the election.

“We are here to submit a petition to you from the Peoples Democratic Party, led by my humble self, the state chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka,” he said.

“Attached to this letter is a judgment from the Federal High Court on September 30, 2024. In that judgment, it was expressly stated that RSIEC should not conduct the election. The Independent National Electoral Commission should not release the voter register to RSIEC, and the security agencies were told not to participate in the election.”

Chukwuemeka emphasised that the PDP would not participate in the election and warned that if RSIEC went ahead with the poll, the party would not stand by if it led to a crisis.

“No man is bigger than the law. We as a party are not going to participate, and if they go ahead with the election and cause a crisis, we as the PDP will not fold our hands,” he stated.

Responding on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Olusegun Adepoju, commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct and for informing the police ahead of the protest.

“I want to thank you for sending the letter earlier regarding this protest, for us to provide security, and for following due process,” he said. “We appreciate you, and we want you to continue like that. I will definitely send your letter to the Commissioner of Police, who will pass it across to the necessary quarters, and we will give you feedback. Please continue to remain peaceful.”

As the protest progressed, the number of participants swelled at the police headquarters, demonstrating the level of support for the party’s stance against the local government election.

Pro-Wike lawmakers oppose poll

Also, the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike opposed the conduct of the LG poll.

The Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly cautioned RSIEC against defying the court order to proceed with the Saturday poll.

During its 55th legislative sitting of the second session on Thursday, the Assembly, comprising 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike, called on RSIEC, chaired by Justice Adolphus Enebeli, to suspend the upcoming local government poll.

In a statement issued by the media aide to the Speaker, the Assembly urged RSIEC to comply with the ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, which directed RSIEC to halt the election until all legal provisions and procedures for its conduct were fulfilled.

The House condemned RSIEC’s refusal to respect the court’s directive, describing it as a violation of the rule of law.

The concern was raised after the Chairman of the Committee on Commissions and Agencies, Barile Nwakor, presented a report on the status of the proposed local government elections.

Speaking on the matter, the Speaker, Amaewhule, expressed disappointment over the development, stating that under Governor Fubara’s leadership, the state risked being seen as a “Banana Republic” due to RSIEC’s apparent disregard for judicial orders.

While reiterating the Assembly’s support for conducting the election, the Speaker stressed that the process must strictly adhere to the legal framework and relevant laws governing the exercise.

Following deliberations, the Assembly unanimously voted to send a formal letter to the RSIEC Chairman, urging the commission to suspend the Saturday poll in compliance with the court’s ruling.
PUNCH

Politics

2027: NDC Unveils Electoral Committee Members For Primaries

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has released list of Electoral Committee Members to Conduct primary election.

The exercise is for State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship and Presidential Primaries across all States in Nigeria and the FCT.

This was contained in a statement posted on its verified X handle on Thursday.

The party had provided updates concerning its upcoming Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship, and State Assembly primaries.

According to the party’s National Chairman, Moses Cleopas,
and Barr. Ikenna Alex-Morgan Enekweizu, National Secretary, the primaries are confirmed to take place across the nation on May 29, 2026, adhering to the previously established timetable of May 28 and 29.

Politics

APC: Fubara Has Been Treated Badly, It’s Dangerous For Tinubu – Otubanjo

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The director of research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Femi Otubanjo, has said the treatment of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in the just concluded All Progressives Congress’, APC, primary poses political danger to President Bola Tinubu.

Otubanjo stated this on Thursday while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he also criticised the role being played by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the political affairs of Rivers State and the All Progressives Congress.

According to him, the handling of Fubara’s political crisis remains one of the most surprising developments in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Otubanjo further argued that Wike, who is not a member of the APC, appears to be dictating political activities within the ruling party in Rivers State.The research director warned that the current political arrangement in Rivers State could negatively affect Tinubu politically, insisting that Wike was pursuing his personal agenda rather than that of the president.

He said: “The treatment of Fubara must be one of the American wonders of Nigerian politics. Fubara has been badly treated. We have a situation in which Nyesom Wike who is not even in the APC is taking the primary decision in the APC. I hope the tactical team of President Bola Tinubu is not sleeping.

“The reality is that what they have done is very dangerous for Tinubu. What has emerged in Rivers today is that Wike is pursuing his own agenda, not Tinubu’s agenda inspite of PBAT and all of that combination.”

“If Wike really wants to pursue Tinubu’s agenda, he must retain Fubara.”

Politics

In Defence Of Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe: The Generational Shift Reshaping Edo Politics

Published

22 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

By DAN Osa-Ogbegie

For decades, Edo politics remained trapped within a narrow and predictable cycle of political recycling. The same ageing actors moved endlessly from one office to another, from one administration to the next, and from one political alignment to another, as though leadership in Edo State had become the exclusive inheritance of a permanent political aristocracy.

Meanwhile, thousands of intelligent, energetic, and capable young Edo people watched helplessly from the margins while opportunities for leadership, governance, party administration, and public service remained tightly controlled by individuals whose political relevance dated back several decades.

That unhealthy political culture is now gradually changing.

Today, one of the most important political transformations taking place within the All Progressives Congress in Edo State is the deliberate transition from recycled political gerontocracy to a younger generation of political actors. That transition is unfolding under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State and Leader of the APC in Edo State, together with the State Chairman of the party, Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe.

Predictably, such a shift has unsettled entrenched interests.

Those who became accustomed to monopolising political relevance naturally feel threatened by the emergence of a younger generation that is increasingly assertive, visible, influential, and institutionally empowered. Yet, history teaches a simple lesson: no political structure survives indefinitely without renewal.

No serious political party can continue recycling the same exhausted political machinery forever while expecting innovation, grassroots energy, modern governance ideas, and long-term political sustainability.

That reality appears to be clearly understood by Governor Monday Okpebholo and Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe.

Much of the criticism unfairly directed at Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe in recent times stems from the fact that he has become one of the visible faces of this generational transition within Edo APC. Beneath the noise, propaganda, and political bitterness lies an undeniable truth: the party is consciously opening spaces for younger people in ways not seen for many years.

From the youthful Deputy Chairman of APC in Edo State, Sylvester Aigboboh, to several younger commissioners, Special Advisers, members of the State Executive Council, board chairmen, local government administrators, and strategic appointees across government, the evidence of deliberate political renewal is becoming increasingly impossible to ignore.

In Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Hon. Austin Imafidon has emerged as one of the young faces of focused governance and grassroots administration. Beyond politics, he has already established himself successfully in business, bringing into governance the mindset of productivity, enterprise, and modern administrative engagement.

In Etsako, Hon. Sunny Ekpeson has continued to attract national attention as the youngest ALGON Chairman in Nigeria, representing a clear departure from the era where local government leadership was treated as the permanent preserve of ageing political operators disconnected from younger demographics.

In Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Hon. Eric Osawaru represents another example of the younger political generation now entrusted with leadership responsibilities, while in Oredo Local Government Area, Engr. Gabriel Iduseri equally reflects the growing confidence being reposed in younger administrators within the APC structure.

In Owan, Hon. Aitalegbe Ernest, popularly known as “China Boy,” has also emerged as one of the prominent young political figures gaining traction as the incoming Chairman of the local government, further reinforcing the expanding generational transition currently taking shape across Edo State.

The same pattern is visible across government institutions and strategic agencies.

Pastor Stanley Dave Ighodaro, a successful entrepreneur with thriving business interests in Europe, now heads the Edo State Parks and Gardens Agency. His emergence reflects an increasingly important shift towards bringing professionally exposed and globally minded younger individuals into governance and public administration.

Similarly, Kassim Otono, who serves as Special Adviser on Oil and Gas to the Executive Governor of Edo State, represents another example of younger technocratic involvement within the present administration. His inclusion within such a strategic sector underscores the growing confidence being placed in younger professionals and politically aware technocrats within government.

This is how enduring institutions are built.

A political party that refuses to regenerate itself eventually becomes intellectually stagnant, structurally weak, and electorally disconnected from evolving social realities.

Governor Monday Okpebholo deserves commendation for recognising that governance in a rapidly changing society cannot remain permanently tied to political methods and leadership assumptions developed several decades ago. Contemporary governance demands adaptability, technological awareness, stronger grassroots engagement, administrative energy, and a deeper connection with younger populations.

Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe equally deserves credit for helping stabilise the party while managing this difficult but necessary transition process. Generational shifts are never easy within political systems historically dominated by established interests. Resistance is inevitable. Political resentment is expected. Internal anxieties naturally emerge whenever old monopolies begin to weaken.

Leadership, however, requires courage.

The recently concluded primaries further revealed this evolving direction within the APC. The emergence of candidates such as Rt. Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Osazee Igbinovia, Dr. Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu, Omosede Igbinedion, Sir Lucky Eseigbe, and Odianosen Okojie reflects a growing political philosophy that increasingly values capacity, grassroots relevance, contemporary appeal, and generational continuity.

Equally symbolic is the emergence of several young Acting Local Government Council Chairmen who are now candidates of the party in the forthcoming local government elections. That development sends a powerful message across Edo State that political participation is gradually becoming more accessible to younger people with competence, commitment, and organisational value.

For too long, many young people in Edo politics were reduced to political spectators, social media defenders, praise singers, or election-day foot soldiers while actual power remained tightly guarded elsewhere. Such a model was never sustainable.

A society that continuously sidelines its younger generation ultimately weakens its own political future.

The ongoing transition within Edo APC does not amount to hostility towards elders or experienced political actors. Experience remains valuable. Elder statesmen still possess institutional memory and political wisdom that younger actors can benefit from immensely. Mentorship, however, must never become political suffocation. Guidance must never evolve into permanent political domination.

Every generation deserves the opportunity to participate meaningfully in shaping the future it will eventually inherit.

That is precisely why the current direction of the APC leadership in Edo State deserves objective acknowledgement rather than emotional hostility.

Many of those attacking Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe today are not truly angry about party administration. Their deeper discomfort arises from the reality that political influence is gradually shifting away from old centres of control towards a newer generation of actors who may no longer depend entirely on traditional political gatekeepers for relevance or survival.

Societies evolve.

Political cultures evolve.

Leadership itself evolves.

No generation owns political power forever.

Ultimately, the future of Edo State cannot be built exclusively around recycled political veterans whose greatest political moments belong largely to the past. A forward-looking society must continuously create room for younger leadership, newer ideas, fresh administrative energy, and modern political thinking.

That future is already unfolding within the APC in Edo State.

History may eventually remember Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe and Governor Monday Okpebholo as central figures in the difficult but necessary political transition that began moving Edo away from recycled political dominance towards a broader and younger leadership culture capable of preparing the state for a different era.

Daniel Aroren Noah Osa-Ogbegie is a Benin based legal practitioner and public intellectual from Uhunmwode Local Government Area.