Politics

Guber Election: Rivers PDP, Opposition Parties Trade Words Over Alleged Plans To Rig Poll, Bomb INEC Offices

Published

3 years ago

March 16, 2023

By Joseph Kanjo

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State and other opposition parties are at loggerhead over alleged plans to rig Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

While opposition parties comprising the All Progressives Congress (APC), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), and Action Democratic Congress (ADC) alleged that the ruling party- Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has put machinery in place to rig Saturday’s elections, the ruling party in the state alleged that the opposition parties have concluded plans to bomb INEC offices in the state ahead of the elections.

A statement by the Director of Publicity & Communications, Rivers PDP, Ogbonna Nwuke, “The banter of half-wits who are busy quarrelling with even the air they breathe while they quarrel with their tools.”

He added: “We have heard about the plot of some political parties, including the APC, Labour and the SDP, to bomb INEC offices at the grassroots.

“These political parties accusing INEC and everybody, including security officials involved in the electoral process of conspiring with the PDP to rig Saturday’s elections in the State are like farmers who failed to take advantage of the early rains to plant their crops.

“We urge Rivers people to ignore them. We also urge Rivers people to vote massively for Siminalayi Fubara and all the candidates of the PDP.

“We have a track record in good governance that cannot be ignored. Governor Nyesom Wike has fulfilled the social contract entered into with the people,” he said.

But the opposition parties during a joint conference put together by their governorship candidates, however urged INEC not to succumb to pressure from the PDP.

Reading out their communique, the candidate of the APC, Tonye Cole demanded that government officials should not be allowed into collation centres even as he alleges a plot to rig the election.

Responding to questions, NRM governorship candidate, Sobomabo Jack Rich made a case that the security agencies must obey the INEC guideline.

In his own reaction, the Accord candidate Dumo Lulu-Briggs represented by his deputy governorship candidate, Tambari Hilda Deidam, said the opposition are united in their resolve to have free fair and credible elections.

Politics

Oshiomhole Blasts Amaechi, Says He Built Railway To Niger Republic Instead Of Port Harcourt

Published

21 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole on Monday criticised former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of poor judgment and misplaced priorities during his tenure in office.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Oshiomhole said: “Rotimi Amaechi is the most terrible. Look at the choice of language. A guy who shut down Rivers judiciary because he wanted to appoint his own personal favourite as chief judge of Rivers State. Once he couldn’t have his way, the Rivers State judiciary was shut down for almost two years.

“Look at the crisis in the railway system that he superintendent over for eight unbroken years. He was unable to get the priorities right, playing to the gallery.

“Now he rather constructed a rail, not to Kano, not to Port Harcourt, where he came from, but to Niger Republic.

“Which goods are we sending to Niger Republic? He was a minister. And if you were a minister under Buhari, you will be fair to him, life or death, that Buhari gave anyone he appointed free hand to do the job he assigned to you. That is what Buhari was.”

Politics

State Police Can No Longer Be Delayed – South-West Governors

Published

22 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

The Southwest Governors Forum is set to create a South West Regional Security Fund to strengthen responses to insecurity in the region.

This initiative aims to address the rise in kidnapping, banditry, illegal mining, and unregulated interstate migration.

The decision was reached during a meeting of the six governors on Monday at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State.

In the communiqué issued at the end, it was agreed that all six states would support coordinated operations, joint intelligence sharing, and rapid-response initiatives across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states.

The governors also emphasised that the establishment of state police “can no longer be delayed.”

They applauded President Bola Tinubu for security interventions in states affected by kidnappings, while urging sustained attention on regional development.

Politics

JUST IN: Atiku Officially Joins ADC, Registers With Party In Adamawa

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State, signalling a major development in Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The registration took place on Monday, following Atiku’s announcement to ADC supporters and stakeholders in Adamawa over the weekend.

Abdul Rasheeth, an aide to the former vice president, had confirmed the development in a statement obtained by The PUNCH.

Videos and photos from the event showed Atiku’s convoy arriving in the town to the cheers of supporters, who beat drums, sang, and carried placards with his image.

Atiku waved and greeted well-wishers from his vehicle as he received his ADC membership card.

In a brief X (Formerly Twitter) post on his handle shorty after his registration, Atiku wrote,” It’s official. -AA”

This move formalises Atiku’s association with the coalition party, which he had previously endorsed in July as a platform for opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Babachir Lawal, to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Until now, Atiku and other opposition leaders had delayed their formal registration with the ADC.

The former vice president’s registration is expected to strengthen the party’s profile and consolidate the opposition ahead of the next general election.