Politics

PDP Warns Rivers APC Caretaker Chairman Against ‘Baseless Claims’

Published

2 years ago

February 28, 2024

The Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State has issued a stern warning to Tony Okocha, Chairman of the seven-man Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

The PDP emphasized that Okocha should focus on his responsibilities at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and refrain from spreading unsubstantiated falsehoods about the Rivers State government led by Governor Siminialayi Fubara.

Okocha had claimed that the battle against what he characterized as a “clueless, rudderless, directionless, and visionless” government in Rivers State led by Governor Fubara will be the easiest to win.

In response, the PDP, through its Publicity Secretary Sydney Tambari-Gbara, highlighted the satisfaction of Rivers people with Governor Fubara’s administration.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gbara said, “Fubara is a household name in the state due to the commitment he has shown in bringing development, good governance, and happiness to the people.

“In less than six months in office, Governor Siminialayi Fubara has embarked on several people-oriented projects cutting across the length and breadth of the State.

“Among the projects ongoing in the state are the multimillion naira Port Harcourt Ring Road, a major project that will cut through six local government areas, thereby easing movement of commerce and improving economic activities in the State.

“The Elelenwo and Bori Internal roads, the Ogoni- Andoni-Opobo/ Nkoro Unity road, among several others.”

The PDP spokesperson expressed amazement at Okocha’s discontent over Rivers women supporting Governor Fubara through a solidarity walk.

Tambari-Gbara clarified that such demonstrations are a global occurrence in politics, citing past instances in 2019 when women protested to protect electoral integrity.

The statement from the PDP urged Okocha to recognize the recurrent nature of such protests and reiterated the party’s confidence in the people of Rivers State to stand firmly with Governor Fubara, acknowledging his demonstrated capacity and competence in providing purposeful leadership.

“To boost food production in the State, Sir Fubara had paid an inspection visit to the abandoned Songai farm in Tai LGA, the Buguma fish farm in Asalga LGA, the Garri processing factory in Oyigbo LGA, with the view to revamp and put them to use to ensure food sufficiency.

“Governor Fubara also revived the Rivers State Micro Finance Agency, releasing the sum of N4Bn to the agency as loans to Rivers people interested in pursuing micro, small and medium scale businesses in the state.

“What about the payment of one hundred thousand naira to each civil servant, the promotion of civil servants who were not promoted for the last 8 years by the previous administration and other largesse to Rivers people during the Christmas celebration, the implementation of N30,000 minimum wage to Local Government staffs plus the ongoing employment into the Rivers State Civil Service.”

He said Rivers State representative on the NDDC Board should concentrate on his job and always cross-check facts before coming out to the media.

Politics

JUST IN: Mohammed Assumes Duty As PDP Acting Chair Amid Tight Security

Published

26 minutes ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

Heavy security was deployed at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja as former Vice Chairman for PDP North Central, Abdulrahman Mohammed, resumed his role as the party’s acting national chairman.

Earlier, Mohammed and his supporters gathered at the FCT office of the PDP, where he addressed the crowd, confirming that he would be taking over as acting national chairman.

Mohammed was declared acting national chairman by the Samuel Anyanwu-led National Working Committee (NWC), following the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagun, and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.

Politics

Why We Suspended Anyanwu, Bature, Others – PDP

Published

16 hours ago

November 2, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has disclosed why its National Working Committee, NWC, suspended the National Secretary and the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu and Umar Bature respectively.

The NWC-PDP on Saturday suspended Anyanwu, Bature, Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade and Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha for one month following a court ruling that halted the party’s planned national convention.

The NWC-PDP was said to have issued a formal warning letter on September 30, 2025 to Anyanwu and Bature.

The warning letter reportedly cited allegations of misconduct, including unauthorized communications, anti-party activities and actions that undermined party unity and protocols.

The letter was also said to serve as a final caution to Anyanwu and Bature, urging immediate compliance with NWC directives to avert further disciplinary measures.

“Despite these warnings, the pair’s continued involvement in activities deemed disruptive culminated in their suspensions.

“This underscores our commitment to upholding internal discipline, party democratic processes and transparency.

“The proactive steps, including the issuance of the warning, demonstrate the resolve to safeguard our integrity ahead of upcoming national engagements,” the party said.

Politics

Why Bayelsa Gov Delayed Defection To APC

Published

2 days ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

Facts have emerged on why the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, delayed his defection to the All Progressives Congress two weeks after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party.

A senior official of the APC at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja confided in The PUNCH that Diri had requested the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to hand over the party’s flag to him in a formal reception.

According to the APC official, the arrangement for the official reception delayed the governor’s defection.

Diri had, on October 15, announced his exit from the PDP during an expanded State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa.

The governor said the decision followed “extensive consultations” with key stakeholders in the state, adding, “I am not resigning alone. I am here with Mr Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and all the members of our party in the Assembly who are with me on this. So today, I have formally resigned from the PDP for very obvious reasons.”

According to the APC official, who is involved in the party’s plan to receive Diri, the party is done with the arrangements to welcome the governor.

He said, “Governor Diri is coming to the APC, and he will join us on Monday. The party has put up a reception plan, and it is the wish of the governor that the Vice President hands over the APC flag to him. The national secretariat and the VP’s office have worked that out.

“The governor wants an official and befitting reception, and he deserves it. That is why he delayed his defection. But we are done with the arrangements.”

Similarly, one of the senior administrative officers at the APC secretariat in Abuja disclosed that arrangements were in place to receive the governor into the party on Monday.

“I am aware that the secretariat is preparing to receive Governor Diri on Monday. The governor wants an official reception, and we are working on it. As I am speaking with you, nothing will change the governor’s plan to join the APC,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP has insisted that its leadership would not join the governor in defecting to the APC.

The State Publicity Secretary, Ebiye Ogoli, while speaking with The PUNCH, said there was no reason to leave the PDP with Diri, stating that the party’s leadership remained strong.

Ogoli explained that the leadership decided not to defect with the governor because he is in his second term and will not be contesting again; hence, there was no reason to move with him.

“We are not defecting with the governor. We stand by our last statement. The governor did not compel anyone to move with him. Before we took the decision, we considered the fact that the governor is not contesting again and, therefore, there was no reason to move with him.

“The party remains strong. It is not true that we want to defect with him.”

Findings by Sunday PUNCH also revealed that three members of the State House of Assembly — Godbless Oyinke, Ted Elemeforo, and Wisdom Fafi — have refused to leave the PDP.

This is as the Deputy Governor of the state, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has dragged the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, Abraham Ingobere; the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Matilda Ayemieye; the Bayelsa State Attorney-General, Biriyai Dambo (SAN), the Inspector-General of Police; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services before a Federal High Court in Abuja to avert a reported impeachment plot.

Ewhrudjakpo, who has remained in the PDP, said there was a plot by the lawmakers to impeach him because he did not resign his membership of the party with the governor.

The deputy governor, in an originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, according to TheCable, sought interim orders of the court to restrain the State House of Assembly from removing or impeaching him in violation of Sections 188(5)–(9), (11), and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), on the grounds of his refusal to defect from the PDP to the APC or any other political party before the end of his tenure.

Ewhrudjakpo also asked the court to restrain the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Bayelsa State Attorney-General from withdrawing his security protection as deputy governor, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

(PUNCH)