Politics

Shun Rivers Votes, Lose Election, Wike Tells PDP

Published

3 years ago

August 19, 2022

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday warned the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on the risk of shunning the votes from his state.

He stressed that Rivers State is too strategic politically to be ignored by any serious- minded politician who wants to win election.

In a veiled reference to his ongoing spat with the former vice-president, Wike said he knew how to win elections and urged others to “show that you have what it takes for the candidate to win election.”

The rift between Atiku and Wike started after the governor’s ambition of becoming the party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections failed following the emergence of the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as Atiku’s running mate.

A reconciliation panel set up to resolve the crisis between Wike and Atiku had scheduled to meet in Abuja on Friday (today) but the governor’s camp is insisting on the resignation of the PDP chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, a condition that the Atiku loyalists rejected.

It is uncertain the meeting would hold as the two camps have also not agreed on the venue.

But speaking in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Wike claimed more politicians in the state are renouncing their membership of other political parties and joining the PDP in droves.

He said the new entrants are doing so because they were delighted at the ongoing infrastructural development by his administration and they believed the PDP was a better party to associate with.

The governor stated this during the flag-off of the 11th flyover project, which was performed by a former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, at the Rumuola- Ikwerre Road-Rumuokwuta Roundabout in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued by the media aide to the governor, Kelvin Ebiri, and made available to newsmen.

The governor explained that the ongoing collapse of the membership strength of other political parties in the state was an electoral advantage for the PDP.

Wike said, “We have collapsed every other party. Every day people from All Progressives Congress are joining our party. We are here doing that and some people are in Abuja; ask them how many persons have they brought to the party.”

In a subtle attack on his adversaries, he said, “It’s not to say ‘I’m supporting our candidate.’ How many people have you brought to help your candidate? We are here every day bringing people to join our party and you are there following your candidate from Abuja to Adamawa. Is it there you’ll win the votes? Come back home.”

He restated the futility of the claims by those who professed that they know the PDP presidential candidate, yet they are not in the state where they can mobilise votes to secure electoral victory.

“This local government alone, Obio Akpor, where I come from; we registered not less than 600, 000 voters. This local government beats two states in their electoral strength.

“So we are not a state that you can take for granted, not to talk about the local government where I come from,’’ Wike warned.

Hinting that he would not pursue reconciliation with the PDP presidential candidate, the governor insisted that Atiku must seek him out if he was interested in taking advantage of the vote bank in Rivers State.

He said, “I believe that they must know us here because we have what it takes to deliver. They must come and know us. I’m not going to find anybody.

“You must come here. You can’t take six hundred and something thousand votes away from my local government; you can’t take 3.2 million votes from my state just like that.’’

He emphasised that gone are the days when supporters and the electorate offer their votes for nothing.

Continuing, he said, “If we were Father Christmas before, we won’t be Father Christmas again? You must tell me what is there for me if I should vote. So nobody should bother himself. At the appropriate time we will talk to our people and our people will understand.

“If you say we don’t exist, we will tell you that you don’t exist. I am not a son to anybody; I am a son of Rivers state. I am working to attract what will benefit Rivers state.”

Politics

PHOTO: Rivers Residents Throng Govt House To Welcome Fubara

Published

1 hour ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Rivers State’s capital is a sea of jubilant supporters on Thursday as Governor Siminalayi Fubara is expected to triumphantly return to office following the end of the state’s six-month emergency rule.

Throngs of residents, politicians, and key stakeholders have converged on the Government House in Port Harcourt, eagerly awaiting the governor’s arrival.

The atmosphere is one of profound relief and celebration, with various groups dressed in their uniforms, standing outside the gates and anticipating the moment their leader will make his appearance.

The collective joy reflects the widespread satisfaction with the restoration of democratic governance.

Residents who spoke with Nigerian Television Authority expressed their delight, with many voicing hope that the state will now usher in a new era of development and progress.

As the governor prepares to resume his duties, all eyes are on the renewed promise of stability and accelerated development for the people of Rivers State.

“Although the governor has yet to arrive at the Government House, various groups clad in their uniforms are standing outside the gate, anticipating his arrival”, NTA report indicated.

Residents of the state who spoke with NTA News expressed satisfaction over the restoration of democratic rule in the state, expressing hope that the state would now witness more development.

Politics

Rivers: Supporters Disappointed As Fubara Fails To Show Up

Published

2 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Thousands of supporters who had thronged the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday morning to welcome Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, went home disappointed after waiting for hours.

Many of the supporters, who came as early as 6 a.m. from different parts of the state, including rural areas, started leaving the Government House entrance between 12 noon and 1 p.m.

Some of their leaders, including the immediate past local government chairmen loyal to Fubara, were seen making frantic calls as the whereabouts of the governor remained unknown as of 1 p.m.

Among the sacked LG chairmen who led their supporters to the Government House in anticipation of the governor’s return were the former chairman of Obio/Akpor, Chijoke Ihunwo, and his counterpart from Port Harcourt City, Ezebunwo Itche-Mati, among others.

Politics

JUST IN: Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-month Suspension

Published

5 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State House of Assembly has resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Thursday.

President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.

The plenary is being presided by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule,at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.

The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex.

On March 18, Tinubu declared emergency rule in the oil-rich state in the wake of a prolonged political crisis arising from the rift between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

More to come…