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Protester’s Death: Rivers APC Kicks As Police Invite Gov Candidate, Tonye Cole

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The Rivers State Police Command on Tuesday invited the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Tonye Cole, for questioning over the death of a Peoples Democratic Party’s supporter who was allegedly shot during a protest in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Supporters of the PDP had protested at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission along Aba Road on Monday, demanding a joint inspection of documents used for the March 18 governorship election but the protest turned violent.

Cole, accompanied by the state APC Chairman, Emeka Beke, and few other party leaders, arrived the GRA junction area of Aba Road on Monday to proceed to the INEC office to keep a date with the promise by the commission for them to inspect the Certified True Copy documents to enable the party proceed to the tribunal.

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: Political Thugs Attack, Beat Up Tonye Cole, Rivers APC Chairman In Port Harcourt

On hearing that Cole was nearby, the protesters raced towards his direction and pelted him with pure water sachets and stones; but for his security details who shielded him, he could have been mobbed.

Cole in an interview with newsmen later said, “They slapped me, they pushed me, threw stones at me and I was injured on my back.”

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A clash ensued between Cole’s security men and the rampaging youths, resulting in indiscriminate gunshots by security operatives to disperse the crowd, even as it was gathered that some thugs also shot indiscriminately and the man was hit in the crossfire.

READ ALSO: Why Arrested APC Lawyers Were Released – Rivers Police

The injured PDP supporter bled profusely on his left leg and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

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But speaking to our correspondent, the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Sydney Gbara, said the injured man later died in the hospital.

From the information we are hearing now, the man is dead,” he said.

When contacted, the State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, confirmed in a text response that Cole had been invited, saying, “It is just an invitation.”

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READ ALSO: Why We Arrested Rivers APC Lawyers – Police

On Monday, Cole was seen in a video shouting and calling on the Commissioner of Police to come and rescue him at the APC secretariat, saying some thugs laid siege on the party’s office along Woji Road, GRA, in Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile it was gathered that a formal letter inviting Cole was sent to the state secretariat of the APC.

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The State APC Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, who confirmed that Cole was invited for questioning, questioned why the police had failed to invite the PDP leaders named in the attack on its governorship candidate, Cole.

“It is shocking that the police are inviting our candidate, Cole, for questioning over a said killing. What is the identity of the person killed?

“They attacked and chased us away. They are now inviting him (Cole) for questioning. How? Does it add up?” he queried.

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On his part, the State APC Chairman, Chief Emeka Beke, noted that though he had yet to see any invitation, it was laughable, The PUNCH reports.

Beke said, “There were just seven of us and they were many. They did not even allow us to get to the INEC office. Just by the GRA junction, they started attacking us. At what point will anybody kill somebody?”

 

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Politics

Fubara Sacks Commissioners, Others

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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has sacked all commissioners and other public office holders serving in his administration.

The decision, according to a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday evening by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, takes immediate effect and followed the recent Supreme Court judgment.

The governor, during a valedictory session with his cabinet to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary at Government House, Port Harcourt, thanked the outgoing officials for their services and contributions to the state’s development over the past two years.

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The statement read in part, “Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has thanked members of his cabinet for their services and contributions to the development of the state in the last two years.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Gov Fubara Dissolves Rivers Pension Board

The governor highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s Independence, and called on all Nigerians to work together with Mr President to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous country and a brighter future for all.

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“Furthermore, the Governor has relieved all Commissioners and other public officers affected by the recent Supreme Court judgment of their appointments with immediate effect.”

Fubara also reiterated his commitment to serve the state “with renewed vigour,” while expressing gratitude to Rivers people for their support and wishing Nigerians a happy Independence anniversary.

READ ALSO:Why I Refused To Challenge Emergency Rule – Fubara

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Recall that the immediate past administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), upon assumption of office during the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu, suspended all commissioners, special advisers, and assistants appointed by Fubara. Ibas also dissolved boards and suspended heads of parastatals he met in office.

Since Ibas exited the state on September 18, the fate of Fubara’s appointees had remained uncertain. The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its first sitting after the lifting of the emergency rule, had called on the governor to submit a fresh list of commissioner-nominees for screening, alongside the 2025 budget for passage.

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2027: Crisis Rocks Kaduna ADC Over Power Tussle

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The Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is enmeshed in crisis as a fierce power struggle among leading figures threatens the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

ADC stalwart, Malam Salihu Lukman, raised the alarm on Wednesday, warning that the party may not make a meaningful impact at the polls if the internal rift persists.

In a statement, Lukman alleged that some party leaders have aligned with certain aspiring candidates for the 2027 elections to the exclusion of others.

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He called on former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Malam Jaafaru Sani, Alhaji Bashir Saidu, and other opposition leaders in the state to halt what he described as “the madness” of candidates bent on hijacking party structures.

READ ALSO:Ex-Tinubu Campaign Coordinator Resigns From APC

According to him, “anybody who is not ready to work as part of a united opposition in Kaduna State is consciously or unconsciously working for the APC.”

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Expressing concern over the infighting, Lukman said his efforts to mediate had largely failed.

“The fact that Senator Musa Bello is aggressively seeking to control structures of ADC in Zone 2 is a reflection of my failure, largely because I am associated with him.

“Senator Lawal Adamu (Mr. La) has avoided all my requests to meet him. I have met Malam Jaafaru Sani on this matter and had discussions with Malam Nasir. Sadly, we are not united, and the perception is that I am part of the problem.”

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READ ALSO:Why APC Candidates Contested 2023 LG Election Despite Intimidation — State Chairman

Lukman stressed that he has no political ambition but remains committed to building a united front. “As a citizen from Kaduna State, I am willing to make every necessary sacrifice to move our state forward. Without sounding immodest, I made every sacrifice to contribute to forming the coalition and negotiating the agreement with ADC.

“May I therefore appeal to Malam Nasir and all our leaders to please seek to unite us. It is only if we are united in ADC that we can unite our people in the state to defeat the APC in 2027. We must bear in mind that it is not just about defeating APC but about producing a government controlled by our party based on collective leadership.

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“We need to put an end to the era when we produce emperors as governors. Anything short of a government managed by collective leadership under ADC will be unacceptable.”

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Ondo PDP Spokesperson Resigns, Gives Reason

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The Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, Mr Leye Igbabo, has resigned from his position, citing an unfriendly and hostile environment.

Igbabo’s resignation letter was addressed to the state secretariat of the party and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Akure.

He alleged that the working environment has become “hostile” to him, hence the need for him to resign.

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“It is disheartening to know that the secretariat has become hostile to me, and this is affecting the effectiveness and efficiency of my duties as the Director of Media and Publicity.

READ ALSO:2027: Presidency’s Attack On Jonathan Shows Fear Of PDP, Says Zamfara PDP

“I note with pain, utter deceit, huge compromise, and gross indiscipline that there is no more sincerity of purpose, and under such circumstances, I do not want to be labelled as an incompetent official.

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“My continuously staying in such an unproductive environment amounts to a precious waste of my time and energy.

“I, therefore, resign my appointment as the Director of Media and Publicity of PDP in Ondo State with immediate effect,” he said.

(NAN)

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