Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared Thursday, March 17 and Friday, March 18, as work-free days for the re-run legislative elections in the state. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct elections for 22 of the 32 state House of Assembly seats, 12 of the 13 House of Representatives seats and the three Senatorial Districts on March 19. The governor, who made the announcement in a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday, March 16, in Port Harcourt, said the work-free days will enable workers in the public and private sectors participate in the elections. “Consequently, all public and private offices,…
Author: David Folami
Rivers Police Command on Wednesday, March 16, announced restriction of movement from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 19 for re-run legislative elections in the state. DSP Ahmad Muhammad, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, made the announcement in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt. The statement said the decision was taken after due consultations with relevant stakeholders superintending the elections. It said that the ban which will take effect from March 18 to March 20, will affect tricycles, motorcycles and engine speed boat with capacity of 200 horse power and above. “The Command…
According to the PDP, APC is already printing ballot papers and result sheets to enable them rig the elections. In a statement signed by Jerry Needam, Special Assistant to the PDP Chairman in the state, the party disclosed further that it has uncovered a list of election officers, returning officers, and other adhoc-staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), completely made up of APC card-carrying and active members. “The PDP is therefore calling on INEC not to use the list for the re-run election as it will compromise the standard of the election” the party said in the statement. According…
Umar Duhu was the first interim National Vice Chairman of the APC in the North East. He was instrumental in the registration of new members and ensured the victory of the party in those states. Findings show that Duhu’s quality leadership in the party endeared former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Former Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako and the present Adamawa State Governor, Umar Jibrilla Bindow to the APC. Speaking to Pulse on Wednesday March 16, 2016, Alhaji Baba Ali said some of them are calling for the return of Dr Umar Duhu to the office of the North East National…
Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said that the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill was rejected by some Senators because they disagreed with it along the lines of religion and tradition. The bill, which was debated on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, was thrown out by the lawmakers after it failed to pass the second reading. Saraki gave the explanation via a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Gender issues, Fatima Kakuri. It reads: “Today, we discussed the Domestication of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention Eliminating all forms of discrimination against women under A Bill For An Act To…
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the suicide attack which occurred in a mosque in a suburb of Maiduguri today, March 16, 2016. The attack, which left 22 people dead, was said to have been carried out by two female suicide bombers who were disguised as men. Buhari reacted to the incident via his official Twitter handle. Read his comments below: “I am dismayed by the news of a bomb attack on innocent worshippers in a mosque in Maiduguri this morning.” “This attack is yet another sign that Boko Haram is a mindless and godless group that in no way represents…
Senate President Bukola Saraki has advised Nigerian women to re-introduce the Gender Equality Bill, which was turned down by the National Assembly on Tuesday. This is contained in a statement signed by Ms Fatima Kakuri, Special Assistant on Gender and Equality to the President of the Senate and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja. NAN recalls that the bill seeking gender equality, sponsored by the Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Biodun Olujimi, was rejected by the Senate over alleged constitutional violations. Saraki therefore said that although the bill had suffered setback, it…
Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea signed an agreement to establish combined patrols to bolster security in the Gulf of Guinea, which has been plagued by piracy in the last few years, a spokesman for Nigeria’s president said on Wednesday. Garba Shehu said the agreement, which comes amid the backdrop of a rise in pipeline attacks in the oil-producing Niger Delta region of Africa’s biggest crude producer, was signed late on Tuesday by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Pirate attacks in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, a significant source of oil, cocoa and metals for world markets, pose a threat to shipping companies.…
Mr James Faleke, the running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu, has called on the State Election Petition Tribunal to declare him the validly elected governor of Kogi State. Faleke made the call in Abuja on Monday while being led in evidence at the tribunal by his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN). “I confirm to all the documents that were tendered this morning to be the ones I refer to in my petition. “I will like to adopt the documents in my witness statement on oath and as my evidence in the petition. “I want the tribunal to accept…
Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has expressed optimism that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 19, 2016 State and National Assembly rerun elections in the state. Amaechi said further that he intends to celebrate the APC’s victory at a nightclub in Governor Nyesom Wike’s village. The former governor, who is now the Minister for Transport, made the comments on Monday, March 14, 2016, during a campaign in the state, Daily Post reports. “One clear message I will send to Nyesom Wike is, I will come to his village on Friday;…
The Kaduna state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused Senator Shehu Sani of planning to sabotage President Buhari during the 2019 elections. The Kaduna APC spokesman, Salisu Wusono said “The APC in Kaduna State hereby warns suspended Senator Shehu Sani against his irresponsible utterances about our party and its elected leaders. “This is a man who seems unable to believe his good fortune at riding on the Buhari wave to become a senator. “He hardly waited to arrive in Abuja before enlisting as an agent of the forces who began to plot for 2019 before they were…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has said that it is well prepared for the coming March 19, 2016 State and National Assembly rerun elections in the state. This was disclosed by Rivers APC spokesperson, Chris Finebone, according to Vanguard. “The party is very well prepared for the coming rerun election. We have done the needful, we are going to win and we will do a mega rally on the last day of campaigns which is on Thursday,” he said. “We are galvanising our supporters all over the local governments and we believe that we are doing well.…
Kaduna State Senator, Shehu Sani has warned Governor Nasir El-Rufai to stop eyeing President Muhammadu Buhari’s position but instead focus on governing the state. Sani, who represents the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, made the comments during a recent interview with The Interview Magazine, The Cable reports. “El-Rufai should do his job and stop putting his eyes on the presidency,” the senator said. “It would be counter-productive for the governor to start thinking of evicting Buhari in 2019 to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added. Sani and El-Rufai have been at loggerheads since the latter assumed…
Former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru has said that ex-governor, Rotimi Amaechi is powerless to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from winning the March 19, 2016 State and National Assembly rerun elections in the state. Ikuru also urged PDP supporters in the state to resist any form of intimidation from security operatives, according to Daily Post. “He (Amaechi) is only barking. I know him very well. When he was governor, he bragged that he has the Police in his right pocket, that he has the army in his left pocket, that he has the Airforce and the…
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has again criticised President Muhammadu Buhari’s foreign relations, stating that he has abandoned governance. Fayose queried the President’s condemnation of Sunday’s terrorist attack on the Grand Bassam Resort in Cote D’Ivoire, describing it as hypocritical and insensitive as he never made any statement about the various recent attacks in Nigeria. The Governor stated this in a statement released on Tuesday, March 15, by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka. “If President Buhari could afford to pick his phone and call the Ivorian president, Alassane Ouattara, immediately after the attack, Nigerians must ask the President why he kept…
There is division in the camp of the All Progressives Congress over who would emerge as the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, ahead of a crucial meeting of the Board scheduled for next week, reports have it. The National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, had on Monday, March 14, said that the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved March 21 for the national caucus meeting, while the BOT and the NEC will take place on March 22nd 24 respectively. Report said candidates of two zones, the South-west and North-east, are top contenders of the Chairmanship position. The former interim…
President Buhari has condemned the rising spate of violence and cult related clashes in Rivers state. This is coming on the heels of a plea by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Federal Government to look into the level of insecurity in the oil rich state. Mr. President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said “henceforth, government would deal decisively with perpetrators and sponsors of violence, irrespective of their status in the society. “Violence in any form will no longer be tolerated before, during or after elections.” Meanwhile, President Buhari…
Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has criticised President Buhari for issuing a statement condemning the recent terror attacks in Cote D’Ivoire. You will recall that suspected terrorists attacked the Grand Bassam Resort in Cote D’Ivoire, on Sunday, March 13, 2016. Buhari in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, condemned the attacks and said “…That is why the world has to come together, present a common front and deal with these merchants of evil.” Reacting to the statement, Fayose said Mr. President’s comments were hypocritical. He also accused Buhari of being insensitive to…
Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano state has threatened to expose the atrocities of his former boss and ex-Governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Ganduje and his former boss have been locked in a battle of supremacy for some time now. Recently, Kwankwaso’s supporters at the funeral of the Kano Governor’s late mother, called for the removal of President Buhari. However, Governor Ganduje in a swift reaction, said it was unacceptable for the ex-Governor to choose the occasion of his mother’s burial to launch his presidential campaign. According to Premium Times, the Kano Governor said “some works done (by Mr. Kwankwaso)…
Renowned lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze has reportedly said that President Muhammadu Buhari lacks the intellectual capacity to govern Nigeria. Nwabueze also warned Nigerians not to expect much from the Buhari administration. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) made the comments during an interview with the Daily Sun. Excerpts below: Are you satisfied with the direction President Buhari is going? The President is not going in the direction of democratic rule. He is not going in that direction. He declared himself to be a born again democrat. He said that after his election and installation. But I don’t think the way…