Politics

It’s A Sham, Akinterinwa, Oke Fault Ondo APC Gov Primary

Published

2 years ago

April 21, 2024

Reactions have been trailing the Saturday’s governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress as two aspirants in the election, Mr Wale Akinterinwa and Chief Olusola Oke, have condemned the process of the election on Sunday.

The primaries held in 18 local government areas of the state was on Sunday declared by the head of the party’s organising committee and Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, as inconclusive.

Saturday’s exercise was reportedly characterised with controversy as some aspirants called for its cancellation.

In a statement issued by the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation’s spokesman, Mr Segun Ajiboye, the organisation described the exercise as a show of shame, saying the Ododo-led committee did not do well in the conduct of the shadow poll.

The statement read, “Without any fear of contradiction, we state here that no election was held in any part of Ondo State on Saturday to elect the candidate of the APC.

“It is on record with incontrovertible evidence that nothing in the semblance of a primary election was held in all the 203 wards in Ondo State.

“At best, what can be said to have happened was that the committee chairman, Governor Ododo, arrived in the state at about 8am on Saturday to write the result of an election that was never conducted.

“Saturday’s election presented our dear party with a rare opportunity to endear itself to the people of the state. All that was needed was for us to organise an election that would be hailed by all, even the opposition. But we bungled the opportunity with the sham organised by the electoral committee.

“The people have eyes, and they can see. But on Saturday, they did not see any part of the state where electoral committee members counted the votes as expected. Rather, what they witnessed was a crowd of our enthusiastic supporters who stood in the sun for several hours waiting for the elusive electoral officers to turn up. But we dashed their hopes and expectations of a robust democratic engagement.”

In the same vein, the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Mr Ojo Oyewamide, on Sunday , said the primary was a mockery of democracy.

“We insist that what happened in Ondo State yesterday (Saturday ) was a disheartening mockery of democracy. As a result, our party has become a boot of jokes in the hands of the opposition parties and the people of the state.

“We will like to categorically state that the Kogi Governor cannot impose a candidate on our party members through a shambolic exercise. It is unacceptable to us, ” the statement read.

The state is waiting for the committee to compile and announce the results of the primary today.

Politics

Rivers Crisis: Bad People Won’t Prevail Over Us – Wike

Published

2 minutes ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, says God will not allow “bad people” prevail in Rivers State.

Wike made the statement on Thursday during his ‘thank-you-visit’ to the Bonny Island area of Rivers State.

“I appreciate you because you have shown me love and shown that you are people that can be trusted.

“I have told people that I don’t believe in generalizing, if for example somebody in Bonny disappoints you, you said Bonny people are bad, that’s very wrong.

“There are different kinds of people.There are places you have armed robbers, you have good people who stay there. So you can’t say because someone is bad so everyone there is bad. That’s not it.

“The good people are more in number than the few people who want to rub us black, but God, in His infinite mercy, will not allow evil to prevail over light,” he said.

Wike’s statement is coming after the Rivers State House of Assembly began impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Politics

APC Leaders, Tinubu/Shettima Group Call For Wike’s Removal As FCT Minister

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

A coalition of leaders within the All Progressives Congress (APC), operating under the APC Leaders Forum (ALF) and the Tinubu/Shettima Solidarity Movement (TSSM), has issued a strongly worded open letter, calling for the immediate removal of Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), citing alleged insubordination, anti-party activities, and threats to national unity.

In the open letter dated 7 January 2026, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu through the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the groups accused Wike of actions they described as incompatible with his continued stay in the cabinet of an APC-led government.

The letter, jointly signed by leaders of the two groups, was made public on Wednesday as members staged a peaceful rally at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. The groups said the rally was part of a broader mobilisation to “defend party integrity, democratic values and the Renewed Hope Agenda” of the Tinubu administration.

The signatories—Dr. Emeka Okoro, Dr. Adekunle Balogun, Ibrahim Yusuf, and Abdulkareem Isiaka—who described themselves as loyal supporters of President Tinubu, said their decision to speak out was driven by what they termed “egregious misconduct” by the former Rivers State governor, warning that silence could endanger party unity and national stability.

Central to their grievances were allegations that Wike, who is not formally registered as a member of the APC, had launched sustained attacks on the party’s national leadership.

They cited remarks allegedly made by Wike during a visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on 5 January 2026, where he reportedly accused the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, of interfering in Rivers politics for personal gain.

According to the letter, Wike’s comments, including a warning that those meddling in Rivers affairs would “get their fingers burnt,” amounted to intimidation and a direct insult to the APC National Working Committee. The groups said such statements undermined the authority of the party leadership and violated the discipline expected of a serving minister.

The coalition also accused Wike of working against the APC-led government in Rivers State, alleging that he had persistently attacked Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whom they described as the party’s duly elected governor in the state. They claimed Wike had publicly ridiculed Fubara’s leadership, questioned the legitimacy of his emergence, and openly suggested that his election should be reversed in 2027.

The letter partly read: “Wike’s ongoing vendetta against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, our duly elected APC Governor in Rivers State, is nothing short of political sabotage. He has repeatedly mocked Fubara’s leadership, called his emergence a ‘mistake’ to be corrected in 2027, and accused him of betrayal and incompetence. These attacks have escalated in recent weeks, with Wike touring local governments to incite division and undermine Fubara’s administration.

“As a serving minister in an APC-led government, Wike’s actions amount to anti-party activities that weaken our hold on Rivers State—a key battleground for the APC’s future electoral success. How can we trust a man who actively works against our own governor while enjoying the privileges of your administration?”

They argued that such conduct amounted to political sabotage and anti-party activity, especially coming from a minister in an APC administration, warning that it could weaken the party’s foothold in the strategically important Niger Delta state.

The groups also accused Wike of making statements they said posed a direct challenge to presidential authority and national security. They pointed to remarks attributed to him suggesting that “nobody can enter Rivers State,” which they interpreted as an attempt to declare the state a no-go area for perceived opponents.

Describing the comments as a veiled threat, the groups warned that such rhetoric could inflame tensions in the Niger Delta and embolden lawlessness. They argued that any suggestion of restricting access to a Nigerian state was an affront to the President’s authority as Commander-in-Chief.

The APC leaders further criticised Wike for allegedly admitting to controlling “two political parties” while serving as a minister, describing it as a clear conflict of interest and a violation of party ethics.

They warned that retaining Wike in the cabinet could plunge the APC into avoidable crises ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging President Tinubu to act decisively.

The groups also announced plans to extend their protests nationwide, vowing to mobilise rallies across states and local governments until the Minister is relieved of his appointment.

While calling for swift action, the signatories urged the President to demonstrate that no individual is above the party or the country, even as they reaffirmed their support for Tinubu’s leadership and re-election bid.

Politics

BREAKING: Rivers Assembly Initiates Impeachment Proceedings Against Gov Fubara

Published

6 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

The political situation in Rivers State shifted again on Thursday as members of the State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Oduh.

At a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, formally read the notice detailing allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara.

The notice, which was endorsed by 26 lawmakers, accused the governor of actions allegedly in violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

Amaewhule announced that the notice would be served on the governor within the next seven days.

During the same sitting, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, read the notice of allegations and gross misconduct leveled against Deputy Governor Ngozi Oduh.