Politics

PDP Crisis: Drama As Fubara’s Candidates Contest Rivers Council’s Poll On APP Platform

Published

2 years ago

September 20, 2024

The political family of Rivers Governor Siminialayi Fubara has chosen the Actions Peoples Party (APP) to contest the October 5 local government elections following the crisis rocking the family’s original political platform, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Nation had reported that ahead of the grassroot poll, the Governor and his loyalists were seeking alternative platform to contest the local government because they were not in control of the PDP.

It was observed that since the political crisis broke out, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and his camp have been maintaining firm grip of the PDP’s structures across the state.

Wike’s camp was said to have finally wrestled the entire structures from Fubara and consolidated their stronghold for the next four years during the ward, local government and state congresses of the party.

Fubara and his loyalists boycotted the congresses after obtaining a court order halting the exercise but Wike’s loyalists relied on another court order to constitute the structures.

Though the outcome of the congresses had further deepened the crisis in the party, there were no indications that the PDP structures would be handed over to Fubara despite promises of some PDP leaders at the national level.

Sensing trouble, the Governor and his camp were said to have selected APP as their alternative platform to contest the elections.

Governor’s loyalists and social media aides had been promoting the activities of the APP making the little known party to gain popularity within the state.

Fubara’s interest in APP was hitherto a subject of speculation but with his loyalists emerging local government chairmanship and councilorship candidates, the matter had become a reality.

It was gathered that after the hullabaloo that characterised selection of candidates across the wards and local government councils, the camp published the final list of the chosen ones under the APP.

Most of the Caretaker Committee chairmen emerged chairmanship candidates while new persons were anointed chairmanship candidates in some local government areas.

Some of the anointed candidates were said to have sparked protests in some areas especially in Khana Local Government Area, where stakeholders marched to the Government House Port Harcourt and demanded that the governor should change the choice of one Martin Nwigbo as the chairmanship candidate.

It was gathered that all Fubara’s 23 chosen chairmanship candidates emerged from the APP platform.

Fubara’s loyalists, who emerged chairmanship candidates of the APP are Abua/Odua, Vincent Reuben Obu; Ahoada-East, Chibudom Ezu; Ahoada-West, Mr. Iyekor Ikporo; Akuku-Toru, Mrs. Tonye Oniyide; Emohua, David Omereji; Obio/Akpor, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo; Omuma, Promise Reginald; Opobo/Nkoro, Enyiada Cookey-Gam; Port Harcourt, Ezebunwo Ichemati, among others.

The APP Secretariat located at the new GRA in Port Harcourt was said to be a beehive of political activities as Fubara’s supporters were trooping in and out of the building.

Recently, 20 Councillorship candidates representing the 20 wards in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area undertook a familiarization visit to the APP Secretariat and held a meeting with the state party Chairman, Sunny N Wokekoro.
NATION

Politics

APC Primary: Edo Senator Kicks As Committee Releases Results

Published

5 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Editor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Primary Election Committee for Edo State has announced collated results with an incumbent Senator Neda Imasuen representing Edo South Senatorial District crying foul play.

INFO DAILY reports that Senators Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North and Joe Ikpea of Edo Central were returned while Imasuen of South Senatorial District emerged second in the results collated at the Urokpota Hall, Benin City.

In the results announced by the Committee Chairman, Muhammed Ajana, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama scored 27,154 votes, Imasuen scored 13,580 while Osagie Ize-Iyamu polled 6,785 votes.

He said the collation arose from votes cast in the seven local government areas made up of 77 wards whose election was conducted by members of the committee.

He said: “There are seven local governments that make up the Edo South Senatorial District; we have heard from the Returning Officers from the seven local government areas.

“This is the reflection of what transpired from the ward level to the local government and the Edo South senatorial district collation centre. With this, we await further directives from the National Secretariat; we have done our best by collating the results which are our mandate, to collate the results and send them to the National Secretariat.”

However, on his part, the senator representing the district condemned the exercise, describing it as a sham allegedly designed to favour a preferred aspirant.

Imasuen spoke while reacting to events at his polling unit in Umagbae North Ward 5, Urhokuosa where he said he was denied the opportunity to vote following what he described as a chaotic and manipulated process.

The lawmaker accused leaders of the party of openly adopting a preferred candidate ahead of the exercise and intimidating members into supporting that aspirant.

“There’s nothing satisfactory about this sham of election they did today and it is very unfortunate because as a loyal party member, I expected something better than this,” he said.

Politics

APC Senatorial Primaries: National Organising Secretary Clears Oden Ewa For Cross River Central, Others

Published

10 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Editor

Ahead of the ongoing scheduled All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Primaries holding across the country today, Oden Ewa and seven others have been cleared by the National Organising Secretary (NOS) of the party at the just concluded screening exercise, to contest the primaries.

This was made public by NOS after the screening exercise in the State.

Ewa, the immediate past Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, was cleared alongside the incumbent Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, who is planning for third term.

The contest in Central Senatorial District is said to be a hot chase between Ewa and the incumbent, however, Ewa is believed to have an edge as he is seen as a fresh start with new ideas for the district.

He is popular among the party leaders and commands huge following within the party followers and the Senatorial district for his various contributions to the development of the district over the years.

His aspiration also enjoys the support of the teeming youths in the area with many youth groups in the district lining behind him. He is said to fit into the aspirational needs of the youths and others within the district who are calling for new and fresh representation.

Others cleared by NOS for the primaries include; Asuquo Ekpenyoung (South); Adans Cecilia Omoniya, Senator Jarigbe Agom, Dr Johna Onyi Agba, and Mary Ogoba Ekpere Eta (North).

Politics

APC Members In Ikole LG Condemn Attacks On Members During Reps Primary

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2026

Editor

….Seek safer venues for remaining primaries

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Òkè-Àkò Ekiti, Irele-Ekiti and Ijowa-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State have strongly condemned the violence, intimidation and attacks that characterised the House of Representatives Primary Election held in Ward 11, Ipao-Ekiti.

The APC members lamented that the exercise, which ought to have reflected the democratic ideals of the party, was unfortunately marred by violent attacks carried out by political thugs against party faithful perceived to be supporting a different aspirant from the one backed by the attackers.

Among those attacked were Hon. Samuel Adetiba and Mr. Ore Bamidele, the latter, who was beaten into a coma and is presently in critical condition at a private hospital in the locality where he is receiving medical attention.

Beyond the physical attacks on members, cmpaign banners belonging to the aspirant opposed by the attackers were also vandalised and destroyed during the incident.

The APC members expressed disappointment that the incident was orchestrated by one of the chairmanship candidates for the Among Local Community Development Authority (LCDA), in the presence of the APC leader in the Ekamefa area, Hon. Samuel Abejide, who did nothing to stop the attacks of the party faithful.

In addition to the physical assaults, properties belonging to APC members in Ipao-Ekiti were reportedly damaged, while elderly men and women from Òkè-Àkò Ekiti, Irele-Ekiti and Ijowa-Ekiti were allegedly molested, threatened and forcefully removed from voting queues simply for supporting aspirants of their choices.

Olaiya Ajibulu, who spoke on behalf of the affected party members expressed deep concern over what they described as a growing atmosphere of fear and political intolerance capable of undermining unity within the party and threatening the safety of members participating in future exercises.

Consequently, Ajibulu said that the affected APC members from the three communities appealed passionately to the leadership of the party in Ekiti State, as well as His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, to urgently intervene in the matter.

They also requested that subsequent APC primary elections involving the three communities be moved away from Ipao-Ekiti to a neutral and safer venue where the lives and rights of party members could be adequately protected.

“Alternatively, we appeal that Òkè-Àkò Ekiti, Irele-Ekiti and Ijowa-Ekiti should be allowed to conduct their remaining primary elections at a separate venue where members can freely exercise their democratic rights without intimidation, harassment, or fear of violence.” Ajibulu reiterated.

The affected members also sympathised with all victims of the attacks and prayed for the speedy recovery of those currently receiving medical attention, particularly Mr. Ore Bamidele.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals of democracy, peaceful coexistence and party unity, while urging all stakeholders to ensure that future political exercises are conducted in an atmosphere of peace, fairness and mutual respect.