Disturbed by the growing resort to destruction of its property and attack on its personnel by partisans, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened to blacklist political parties whose members or supporters go haywire during their Congresses and or conventions. INEC said it has watched with utmost dismay and profound concern the recurrent acrimony, violence, and destruction of property, including the Commission’s property and equipment, which have characterized some recent political party congresses across the country. National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, in a statement issued Monday in Abuja, noted that…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has advised Rochas Okorocha, a former Imo State governor, and his family members not to be discouraged by their current circumstances. Wike, who admitted he has braced for political travails after his tenure, advised Okorocha to continue to pursue his vision of a new Nigeria, adding that his present challenges are meant to dampen his spirit and force him to abandon his ambition. Okorocha has been having a running battle with his successor, Governor Hope Uzodinma, resulting in the seizure of properties belonging to his family members. He is facing a probe by the Economic…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed as false, the purported suspension of former Kano State Governor, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso from the party. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Sunday, the PDP also said former governor of Niger, Babangida Aliyu was also not suspended. Financial expert, Derin Phillips empowers young Africans in financial freedom masterclass for creative entrepreneurs The party was reacting to a document being circulated in which Kwankwaso was queried and suspended by the Kano State chapter of the PDP. The PDP dismissed the document, saying it was circulated by…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others critising the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow it efficiently and effectively perform its mandate. Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, the National Secretary of APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. “Whether the CBN prints money or not, is not an issue, the apex bank should be allowed to perform its mandate. “The CBN has several ways of creating new money,” he said, noting that money supply in the economy was at…
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami. PDP made the call following Pantami’s alleged link to Taliban and Al-Qaeda, an allegation the minister has denied. The party explained that the President should wield the big stick against Pantami due to the matter’s sensitive nature. In a series of tweets, the former ruling party also called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately invite Pantami for questioning. According to the tweets: “The party also demands that President @MBuhari should immediately sack the minister,…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State have cleared all the Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in the just concluded local government Council elections in the State. The Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, retired Justice George Omerejj declared candidates of the PDP winners of the elections out of seventeen political parties that participated in the election. Omereji after declaring the results, advised losers of the elections to accept the result and support the winners to provide good governance at the grassroots, while encouraging the winners to carry everyone along. The RSIEC said that Certificate of returns will…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked claims that former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has been suspended from the party. This was contained in a statement on Sunday. The statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan National Publicity Secretary of PDP said “The PDP states clearly that Senator Kwakwanso is not suspended from the party adding that any claim of suspension by any individual or group, purporting to be representing any organ of our party at any level, is mere fabrication and should be discountenanced. TheInfoStride recalls that there were reports of suspension of both former Governor of Niger and…
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the claim by former governor of Niger state, Babangida Aliyu that northern governors worked against his second term bid in 2015 because he reneged on the agreement he had with them. Aliyu had in a statement on Friday said Jonathan had an agreement with northern governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to complete the late President Umaru Yar’adua’s administration and a term of four years after that. He added that the governors rose against the ex-president when he was pushing for a second term bid. Aliyu’s claim subsequently…
The recent confusion over the veracity of the list spelling out zoning format for elective public and party offices preparatory to the 2023 General Elections by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) came up as part of the worrisome symptoms of the simmering disquiet threatening the party’s cohesion. The release of the controversial zoning format, as well as its immediate repudiation by the party’s leadership showed that each passing day, President Muhammadu Buhari’s warning that APC should not be allowed to become history after his exit in 2023, continues to bear credence. President Buhari’s ominous observation was made known to…
The Youth Party has urged the federal government to step up efforts to tackle insecurity, review some of its monetary policies and take urgent measures towards reforming key sectors of the Nigerian economy so as to tackle rising inflation and alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians. The Youth Party, in a statement by its Chair, Tomiwa Aladekomo, expressed disappointment over the mismanagement of the economy by the Federal Government which it noted has continued to drive inflation and unemployment, thereby inflicting pain and hardship on citizens. The Party was reacting to the March 2021 Consumer Price Index/Inflation Report released by the…
Ever since the South-East governors announced the formation of a regional security outfit, Ebube Agu, there have been mixed reactions from the zone. Instead of widespread optimism, skepticism over the prospects of the agency continues to grow. The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, which had earlier threatened that anyone found associating with Ebube Agu should be ready to meet his ancestors, in this interview, explains its opposition to the outfit. IPoB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, who speaks on behalf of the group, dismisses Ebube Agu as an imaginary outfit that won’t work. The South-East governors woke up from what seems like…
Foremost rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to go the whole distance in ridding the federal government of all sympathisers of the ideals of terrorism in the country. This is even as the group called on the Commander-in-Chief to immediately relieve Communications and Digital Economy Minister, Isa Ali Pantami of his duties over his comments in a viral video which portrayed him as a sympathizer of global terrorist sect, Al-Qaeda. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA charged President Buhari to be courageous in arresting…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday commenced training of its heads of Electoral Operations across the 36 states and the FCT on modalities for the expansion of Polling Units (PUs). INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu said the two-day workshop in Abuja was to build the capacity of officers on the proposed conversion of voting points to PUs across the country. Ibeanu, who is the Chairman of, INEC Committee on Electoral Operations and Logistics, said the workshop was critical in the implementation of the process aimed at deepening voters’ participation in future electoral processes. He said the training…
Mr Erastus Awortu, chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Andoni local area council has emerged winner in the just concluded council poll having pulled the highest number of 107,658 votes. Mr Michael Blessed, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Returning Officer, made the declaration on Saturday shortly after results collation in Ngo town, headquarters of the local government area. The returning officer stated that the election was keenly contested and all the party agents were also on ground to monitor the process. “The result were as follows: total votes cast was 115,776, total valid votes was…
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have risen in defence of Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, following the attack on him by governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over his claims that the federal government resorted to printing of currency to meet its obligation in the month of March, this year. Obaseki had while lamenting difficulty ocassioned by the economic squeeze in the land, stated that things got so bad that government had to print the sum of N60 billion to share among the federating states; a claim dismissed as false by Finance,…
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has again failed to cast his vote at the local Government election in his home, Obio/Akpor Ward 9, Unit 7. This is the second time Wike failed to participate in local council election. In the 2018 Local government elections, which brought the outgoing chairman and his ward counsellor into power, he reportedly shunned the exercise. Journalists had arrived the governor’s home Rumupirikom Polling Unit in Obio Akpor Local Government Area as early as 8am to witness him cast his vote, and perhaps respond to the widespread voter apathy that characterised the election. Sadly, Wike failed to turn up during the voting…
No fewer than 1000 supporters of former Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa from Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State have dumped the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and embraced the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The decampees were yesterday evening received earlier by the PDP State Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani Maikatako who later presented them to Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle at his residence in Gusau, the state capital. The leader of the decampees, Comrade Abdullahi Danda Bungudu said they were at the Governor’s residence to register their support as they had declared their defection earlier at…
The Local Government Council Elections in Rivers State was faced with widespread low turnout of voters. This was as many irregularities further worsened the well publicised council polls in the state. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, had distributed sensitive and non-sensitive material for the elections on Friday to allow for earlier commencement of the process, Saturday. But, regrettably material for the polls arrived most polling units late, while in few places material for the elections did not show up at all. At voting time, some polling stations had few voters, who are believed to be from particular political…
Former Governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid in 2015 was opposed by northern governors because they felt threatened by his perceived victory in the north. Aliyu said the governors believed their region would be in a disadvantaged position if Jonathan won the 2015 presidential election. He also said the ex-president had an agreement with the north to complete the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’adua and then run for only one term. He added that Jonathan’s insistence on going for another term in 2015 was against the agreement he had with…
Former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang has reacted to the claim by the ex-governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu on why the north didn’t support the second term bid of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan. Aliyu had on Friday, April 16, 2020, revealed that northern governors opposed Jonathan’s reelection because they felt their region would be in a disadvantaged position if Jonathan won the 2015 presidential election. He also said Jonathan had an agreement with the northern governors that he won’t seek a second term, adding that north governors opposed him when he reneged on the agreement. The ex-governor…