Politics

‘The Man I Defeated 32 Years Ago Hasn’t Forgiven Me’ – Ita-Giwa Laments Discrimination Against Women In Politics

Published

6 months ago

July 9, 2025

A former lawmaker who represented Cross-River South Senatorial District, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has expressed dissatisfaction over the challenging political landscape for women contesting political office in Nigeria.

In an interview with Arise News, that Ita-Giwa, stated that the election process has become terribly expensive.

She cited several obstacles, including violent political climates, the overbearing influence of money, and entrenched patriarchy, as reasons why most women are unable to gain meaningful traction during party primaries or general elections.

Recounting her difficult journey to office, Ita-Giwa further stated that the political culture in Nigeria is so intensely male-dominated and unforgiving, stressing that the man she defeated in the House of Representatives election in the 1990s has not forgiven her.

She said,“The women would have to contest the election, because if they don’t contest the election, they will not have a voice.

“And if it is just to select, I would not even talk about it, because somebody would just pick, put his hand in his pocket, and pick whoever he likes, which woman he likes to go and represent.

“But the good thing about this is that they’re going to contest the election. And also, it will be subject to review after, like, 16 years, that’s two election cycles, you understand?

“So, but because I’m being realistic, it is extremely, extremely difficult today for women to win elections. Election process has become so terribly expensive.

“Those in the Senate today, they are pioneers. Because somehow, in the course of my doing politics, I discovered that when men get very, very, very successful, and still want to go into the Senate, maybe to protect their empire. So, you’ll be going for an election against one billionaire.

“A poor woman, you understand, if you have your $100,000, the man has $1 billion to put in the election, because there are 40 electorates with too much money. So, the contest is too tough.

“The men prepare more when they are going to face women for election, because what will they go home to go and tell their wives that a woman beat me for an election?

“So, you know, they can’t fight it. Even when you win, they don’t forgive you.

“The man that I defeated 32 years ago, he has not forgiven me for beating him.”

Politics

What PDP Said About Wike’s Media Parley

Published

16 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of being a constant agent of provocation in the political space, alleging that he creates trouble to mask selfish intentions.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in response to Wike’s media parley with selected journalists in Port Harcourt, also held on Monday.

According to the PDP, remarks made by the minister on several occasions are proof that he falls short of being a locus classicus of anti-democratic adventurism.

The party said Wike’s conduct was not new, stressing that he has consistently acted as an agent provocateur in the political arena, stirring controversy to advance personal interests.

The PDP further stated that since Wike assumed office as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, he has remained a recurrent source of trouble within the party’s leadership.

“From the Sheriff era, where he was a forerunner in the Sheriff-for-National Chairman movement and later turned to fight and remove Sheriff; later he championed the Uche Secondus-for-National Chairman movement (in fact, he granted a very combustible interview that polarized the party just before the convention) and then was the same person fighting to remove Secondus.

“The same Wike led the movement to produce Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman against the advice of many party leaders, and so soon thereafter, it was Wike again who led the Ayu-must-go struggle.

“By his end-of-year media chat, Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for, and in fact declared that he is the ‘number one supporter’ of the presumptive candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 Presidential election, while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, confirming the basis of his expulsion from the PDP, for anti-party activities,” the statement said.

Politics

JUST IN: INEC Excludes PDP From Ekiti Governorship Election

Published

18 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his deputy were conspicuously absent as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the provisional list of party candidates ahead of the election.

INEC on Monday posted the list of candidates from 12 political parties vying for the state’s top job at its office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list shows that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

Other candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as deputy; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye as running mate.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action Peoples Party has Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi on its ticket.

The PDP’s absence may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.

Politics

Wike Speaks On Defecting To APC

Published

22 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, dismissed any possibility of dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Wike, however, disclosed that a lot of PDP leaders will join him if he decides to defect to the APC.

The Minister, who spoke during his media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said: “Today, if I say that I want to go to APC that will be the end of even talking about it.

“You will see other states, joining, leaders in other states joining, I’m not a leader that’s concentrated in the state. No.

“If today I say gentlemen, we have had enough of PDP we have to move, watch those who will decamp in Benue, Plateau, Abia, Edo.”

The Minister also declared that he is still a member of the PDP, hence Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is unhappy.

“I’m a member of the PDP, that’s why I’m still there and Seyi is not happy. That’s not correct, that you are a member of the assembly or council Chairman or National Assembly does not mean that there is no other person,” he added.