Politics

PDP, APC Stage Joint Protest in Rivers as Court Bars LG Poll

Published

1 year ago

October 3, 2024

editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State have come together to stage a joint protest in Port Harcourt. The protest follows Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s declaration of public holidays on Thursday and Friday in anticipation of Saturday’s local government elections, which have been mired in legal controversy.

The Federal High Court in Abuja recently issued an order barring the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) from conducting the elections. The court also restricted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC, effectively halting preparations for the election. The case that led to the court ruling was filed by the caretaker committee of the APC in Rivers State, led by Tony Okocha, who has since been sacked by a state court.

Mr. Tony Okocha, a close ally of former Rivers State Governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had challenged the legitimacy of the upcoming elections. His legal battle is part of a broader political rivalry with Governor Fubara for control of the political structure in Rivers, one of Nigeria’s most economically significant states due to its vast oil wealth.

The joint protest by both the PDP and APC stems from a shared frustration with the election process. Both parties have decided to boycott the local government elections, citing the court order that renders the election illegal. PDP officials, traditionally the dominant force in Rivers politics, and members of the APC are united in their stance against what they see as a violation of the rule of law and due process.

However, the political infighting within the APC adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Following the dismissal of Tony Okocha’s caretaker committee, a state court reinstated the leadership of the APC under Emeka Beke. Beke, a known ally of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, wasted no time in mobilizing APC members to participate in the local government elections scheduled for Saturday.

The power struggle between the Okocha and Beke factions of the APC is emblematic of the ongoing division within the party, which intensified after the 2023 presidential election. While Okocha remains loyal to Wike, Beke represents the faction aligned with Amaechi, a two-time governor of Rivers State and a former Minister of Transportation. Amaechi, who narrowly lost the APC’s 2023 presidential primary to President Bola Tinubu, continues to wield significant influence in Rivers politics through his allies, including Beke.

Beke’s leadership was initially dissolved by the APC national leadership after the party’s success in the 2023 general elections. However, his reinstatement has reenergized Amaechi’s faction within the APC, setting the stage for further political battles as the state heads towards the local government polls.

The political dynamics in Rivers have become a reflection of the larger power play between Wike and Amaechi, two former governors with longstanding rivalries. Wike, now FCT minister, is locked in a bitter contest with his successor, Governor Fubara, over the control of the PDP structure in the state, while Amaechi’s return to prominence within the APC is part of his larger political ambitions.

News

ADC: Nigerians Agree APC Government Has Failed

Published

6 minutes ago

January 16, 2026

Samson Adeyanju

By Olokuta Rofiat

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has claimed that Nigerians are largely agreed that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government has failed to meet expectations and tackle the country’s major challenges.

In a statement on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, cited persistent economic hardship, worsening insecurity and rising living costs under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as evidence of what it described as poor governance.

The ADC said growing public dissatisfaction reflects frustration with the APC’s inability to deliver on its promises since coming to power.

The party urged the federal government to address the concerns of ordinary Nigerians and called on citizens to hold leaders accountable ahead of the 2027 general elections.

News

Impeachment: Rivers Assembly Asks Chief Judge to Set Up Panel to Probe Fubara, Deputy

Published

9 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Samson Adeyanju

By Patrick Idowu

The Rivers State House of Assembly has directed the Chief Judge of the state to constitute a seven-member committee to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, gave the directive during plenary on Friday, citing relevant constitutional provisions guiding impeachment proceedings.

Amaewhule said the House, in line with Section 188 of the Constitution, resolved by voice vote that the allegations against the governor be investigated.

He added that the resolution would be immediately communicated to the Chief Judge for further action.

“By this voting, the Rivers State House of Assembly has resolved that the investigation into allegations of gross misconduct against the Governor shall proceed,” the Speaker said.

The development followed a reversal by four lawmakers who had earlier called for reconciliation between the Assembly and the executive.

At a press conference in Port Harcourt on Friday, the lawmakers said the impeachment process should continue, accusing the governor and his deputy of encouraging attacks on the Assembly through their media aides.

They said their appeal for a political solution was ignored, insisting that the process was now unavoidable due to what they described as persistent constitutional violations.

The lawmakers stressed that the matter was constitutional, not ethnic or political, and vowed to allow the impeachment process to run its full course.

Abuja Reports

FCTA Approves Multi-Billion-Naira Infrastructure Contracts

Published

11 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Samson Adeyanju

By Patrick Idowu

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Executive Committee (EXCO), chaired by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has approved the ratification of several multi-billion-naira contracts aimed at improving key infrastructure and essential services in Abuja.

The approvals were given at the committee’s first meeting of 2026, held at the minister’s official residence in Life Camp.

Briefing journalists, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said EXCO ratified a N3.79 billion contract for the emergency rehabilitation and resurfacing of roads within the Presidential Villa.

He explained that the intervention, handled by Julius Berger Plc, addressed over 30 years of wear on the roads.

EXCO also ratified a N9.8 billion contract for the construction of the Kabusa/Ketti road, completed and commissioned in June 2025. Dauda said the project was fast-tracked to address insecurity and improve access following past kidnapping incidents in the area.

In addition, the committee approved a N1.7 billion emergency contract awarded to SCC Nigeria Limited for erosion control and the restoration of major water transmission lines from the Lower Usuma Dam to avert disruption of Abuja’s water supply.

The Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo, disclosed that EXCO also ratified a N62 million facility management contract for the Korea Model School, noting that the FCTA has fully taken over its management to sustain high standards in basic education.