Politics

I’ll Leave Our Enemies, Finish You First, Wike Tells Rivers PDP Rebels

Published

3 years ago

August 21, 2022

Some Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains who have differences with Governor Nyesom Wike over 2023 elections now avoid visit or stay in Rivers as the Governor deploys rage over perceived political enemies.

In guise of sustaining prevailing peace and security in Rivers, Wike in the last one week has ordered police closure and occupation of two hospitality centers and a fuel retail outlet, all belonging to estranged allies who have deserted him and shifted allegiance to PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The day after, the owner of the shut fuel station, Mega Tools Filling Station, Hon Chinyere Igwe, a serving House of Reps member was declared wanted by Governor Wike for alleged dealing on illegal petroleum products, an allegation the suspect has denied, accusing Wike of political victimisation.

The Governor declaring his fury on the perceived Rivers PDP rebels Friday as he ordered Police arrest of Hon Igwe made it clear that any party ally who has benefitted from his administration and now wants to align with his political enemies to run him down would not escape his wrath.

“If anybody fights our system, we will fight the person back. The moment you claim to be working with us and tomorrow, you shift to our enemy, we will take every might we have, we will even leave our enemies and finish you first”, he declared.

He had further warned, “Anyone who cares to listen, whether you’re in PDP, APC, you’re in SDP, you’re in Accord or any other party, if I catch you trying to breach the security in this state, you’ll go in for it.

“I will not allow anybody to destabilise this State. We have suffered insecurity and God has helped us together with security agencies to maintain peace. For me, whether it is true or not, I must make sure that I take action.”

Since the Governor invoked his fury against the estranged allies, many have gone out of public focus, declining response on the development. Along with those who dare talk back at the governor, virtually all Wike’s perceived Rivers PDP rebels have relocated to Abuja, aligned with party presidential flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar.

The dissidents, allegedly headed by former Deputy Reps Speaker, Chief Austin Opara, include Sen Lee Maeba and former Governor Celestine Omehia.

The target rebels also include Jones Ogbonda, former Rivers Assembly member, Ikechi Chinda, former PDP Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area and wanted Hon Chinyere whose business premises have already been sealed in the orders of Wike.

Reacting to the development, a top Rivers PDP source told Vanguard, “There is nothing new in what is happening and the rebels. That has always been his style. He deploys carrot and stick to enforce loyalty and rewards those who bow to his supremacy.

“Once that fails, he goes punitive, going any length to hound down a rebel. But in this instance, he is beginning to bite more than he can chew. He is already played out at the center of the party, now he wants to create enemies in his home. The politics of bullying and extreme intimidation that has sprang him to power and fortune is about to consume him.”

Why Wike is after us – Maeba

On the show of supremacy over Rivers PDP and the offensive against them, Lee Maeba said, “The governor was talking as if superhuman. When you apportion so much right to yourself, then you are superhuman. Austin Opara was Deputy Speaker of Reps when Atiku Abubakar was the Vice President.

“They attended caucus meeting together and National Economic Council Meeting. So, does it mean that Austin Opara, who has been friends with Atiku for over 20 years ago, will now start to beg Wike to go and see Atiku?

“I met Atiku first in 1992 in Jos for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) campaigns. We started working together in 2003 when I became senator. That time where was he (Wike)? When Austin Opara was working with Atiku, holding meetings, Wike was struggling to come into limelight.”

Uche Secondus who Wike helped become party chairman and later spearheaded his ouster said, “Wike, you cannot crush anybody, I cannot fight or join issues with you, only God can crush. No condition is permanent and nobody can become Governor of a state or President of this country forever.”

Politics

JUST IN: Rivers Cancels N134bn Secretariat Contract, Demands N20bn Refund

Published

9 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Executive Council has cancelled a ₦134 billion contract awarded by the former sole administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ikot Ete Ibas (retd), for the reconstruction of the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt.

The contract, awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation during the period of emergency rule under Ibas, was nullified by the Council at its meeting on Thursday.

Following the cancellation, the Council directed CCECC to refund the ₦20 billion mobilisation fee already paid for the project.

Also, the Council approved the constitution of a six-member committee chaired by Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu to assess and recommend suitable locations for the construction of Computer-Based Test centres across the state to support external examinations.

The Council also mandated the state’s flood control committee, also headed by Odu, to take urgent measures to mitigate flooding in affected areas, while cautioning residents against blocking drainage channels.

More to come…

Politics

Bode George Reacts To Mbah’s Defection To APC

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has expressed surprise over the defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, George said he did not anticipate the move despite several reconciliatory efforts by senior PDP figures to resolve internal issues in the party.

“I never saw it at any time. In fact, when Anyanwu was brought back as secretary to complete his assignment, he asked his people not to attend meetings. We were wondering what was going on in the South-East. Now that we have settled the matter and fixed the convention date, it’s only a question of time. Whatever position the East wanted to give him would have been his. So, what’s the essence of leaving now?” George said.

The PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member revealed that several party leaders had met with Governor Mbah to persuade him to remain in the party.

“The governor, we all waded in and convinced him. Many people went there, telling him, ‘Calm down, the convention is next month. You’ll get whatever is due to the South-East.’ But the rationale and emphasis he gave, it was like I was in a very long dream,” he added.

While wishing the governor well, George maintained that the PDP remains strong and resilient despite recent defections. He also criticised the ruling APC, describing it as a “private enterprise” owned by an individual.

“I wish him the best of luck. This is not the first time people are leaving. The PDP is an iroko tree. The APC is owned by one man; he publicly said, ‘I own the party.’ That man is President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

Recall Guardian reported that Mbah, in a public address on Tuesday, noted that while he has changed political parties, the cultural and regional identity of Enugu remains the same.

The governor explained that the decision to join the APC was based on the need for stronger representation and better alignment with the federal government to support development projects in the state.

“Let me be clear, I will represent our state and our region with the same strength of purpose as I have always done. Our Igbo DNA does not change; our destiny does not change. What changes is that our vision now finds stronger reinforcement at the federal level,” Mbah said.

He assured residents that all ongoing projects in the state, including schools, hospitals, roads, and other services, would be completed as promised.

Despite the development, George expressed optimism that the PDP remains “absolutely redeemable” and will continue to play a significant role in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Politics

Acting INEC Chair Outlines Preparations or Anambra Poll

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday held its third quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja, where key updates on upcoming elections and party registration were presented.

The meeting was the first chaired by INEC’s Acting Chairman, May Agbamuche-Mbu, following the exit of former Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on October 7.

In her opening remarks, Agbamuche-Mbu acknowledged the former chairman’s tenure, stating, “Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu gracefully bowed out of office, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, institutional strength and integrity.”

She outlined the commission’s schedule of elections, including the Anambra State Governorship Election on November 8, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections on February 21, 2026, the Ekiti Governorship Election on June 20, 2026, and the Osun Governorship Election on August 8, 2026.

Speaking on the Anambra election, Agbamuche-Mbu said, “The commission has completed 10 of the 13 key activities,” adding that the final activities include the publication of the notice of poll on October 25, the end of the campaign period on November 6, and the election on November 8.

She stated that all non-sensitive materials had been delivered to the state and that voter education was ongoing.

The acting chairman said, “The commission is committed to keeping strictly to the remaining activities as detailed in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities. Political parties are therefore called upon to be mindful of the last day for campaigns and keep strictly to it.

“The commission has been working assiduously and making arrangements for the successful conduct of the Anambra State governorship election and has had several engagements with the security agencies at national, state and local government levels.

“All non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the state, and voter education and sensitisation are ongoing.”

She also provided a report on the by-elections conducted on August 16 across 12 states, covering two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and nine state assembly constituencies, in addition to two court-ordered rerun elections in Enugu and Kano states.

“Declarations and return were made… and Certificates of Return have been presented in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022,” she said.

Agbamuche-Mbu confirmed that the Continuous Voter Registration, which resumed nationwide in August, will continue until August 30, 2026.

She described the response to registration efforts as encouraging and said weekly updates are published on the INEC website.

On party registration, the acting chairman said the commission received 171 requests for registration of new political parties, but only 14 associations met the requirements to proceed to the next stage. These were evaluated based on constitutional and electoral law provisions.

In response, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, welcomed Agbamuche-Mbu’s appointment, stating, “The nation will benefit from her impressive service record and wealth of experience at this moment in our democratic process.”

Dantalle said IPAC had recently submitted reform proposals to the National Assembly, including the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions, transferring local government elections to INEC, reserving special seats for women, restoring public funding for political parties, and removing the President’s power to appoint INEC’s leadership.

He described the Anambra governorship election as a critical test for the commission.

“The litmus test of the new leadership is the conduct of the November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election.

“INEC should get its act together and get it right,” he said.

He added, “With new leadership, citizens’ expectations are high, very high. The commission should justify the confidence the nation reposed in it. This is the only way to rebuild trust in the electoral process.”

Dantalle concluded by expressing IPAC’s readiness to support the electoral process, saying, “We are all in it together to build a better, greater, inclusive, prosperous and just democratic society.”

Yakubu was first appointed as INEC Chairman by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015, and was confirmed by the Senate on October 28, 2015.

He became the first person to be reappointed to the position, earning a second term in November 2020—also under Buhari’s administration.

President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office in 2023, accepted Yakubu’s resignation and decorated him with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger in recognition of his service.

On Thursday, the National Council of State approved Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman. The appointment is now subject to Senate screening and confirmation.

Until then, Agbamuche-Mbu will continue to oversee the commission’s affairs as acting chairman.

INEC had earlier confirmed that 2.8 million voters are registered to participate in the Anambra election on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

The electoral body released the final list of candidates and announced the official commencement of campaign activities.

Sixteen political parties met the submission deadline of May 12 and will field candidates in the upcoming election.
(PUNCH)