27 top politicians plotting to scuttle Rivers gov poll - Wike – Newstrends
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27 top politicians plotting to scuttle Rivers gov poll – Wike

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Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has alleged that some top politicians in the state are plotting to disrupt Rivers governorship and House of Assembly elections.

He accused them of planning to use armed thugs and cultists in military and police uniforms to scuttle the elections.

The governor listed 27 politicians and called for their immediate arrest and prosecution.

He said the state government had also petitioned Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff and other relevant authorities not to release military personnel to former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, or any politician to interfere in the election process holding on Saturday, March 18.

Majority of those the governor wants arrested are supporters of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and some members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state.

Wike, who spoke on Thursday night in a statewide broadcast, gave the names of the politicians as Dr. Lenoonu Nwibubasa, Bright Nwinyoodee, Barika Bareh, Friday Sinee, Dumbari Deezua and Neeka Ikina,

Others are Dr. Gabriel Pidomson, Giobari Poiba, Barisi Bonikoo, Hon. Mike Amachree, Paul Lawrence Paul, Anosike Orduwa, Mr. Ogbams Ojimah, Kenneth Chinda, Smile Azundah and Gift Welebe.

The governor said the state government decided on the petition based on credible intelligence indicating the plans by Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to overrun and disrupt the Saturday elections in the state with military personnel and civilian thugs as well as cultists dressed in army and police uniforms.

He alleged that Amaechi planned to unleash violence during the Saturday elections.

Wike said, “We have written to notify the Hon. Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, and the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, and requested that no military personnel is released to Rotimi Amaechi or any other politician to interfere with next Saturday’s elections in Rivers State.

“Furthermore, we have noticed that the Anti-terrorism Unit of the State Police Command continues to provide VIP security services to politicians in defiance of the Inspector-General’s order to withdraw all police personnel attached to VIPs during the elections.

“We, therefore request the inspector-general of police to enforce his order by ensuring that all political leaders are restricted to their polling units and prevented from moving about with police escort.”

The governor urged the security high command to live up to their assurances of providing adequate security throughout the state to forestall any breakdown of law and order during and after the elections.

He said, “We assure everyone that we will do everything within our power to resist and prevent a repeat of what happened in 2019 when the Nigerian Army was used to rig, kill our people and destroy property during the elections across the state.

Wike urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that this Saturday’s elections are free, fair, and credible, by allowing the electorate to decide their leaders.

The governor said with the level of progress his administration had made in the last eight years, it was evident that Rivers State would be more outstanding and closer to fulfilling its purpose if the development tempo was sustained for the next four years.

According to him, his successor should be someone who will consolidate and continue with the new Rivers vision and protect the state’s interests.

 

 

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2027: Why PDP shouldn’t field northern presidential candidate – Ex-Atiku campaigner

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

2027: Why PDP shouldn’t field northern presidential candidate – Ex-Atiku campaigner

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former member of Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, has called on the party to nominate a southern presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

In an interview in Lagos, Pearse, who headed the Directorate of Documentation/Reporting for Atiku’s campaign in Lagos, argued that fielding a northern candidate could harm the party’s prospects.

“The national opinion now, the tendency, the feeling generally, is that the PDP should field a southerner for president in 2027,” Pearse said. “We need somebody from the South to complete these four years, to complete the eight years of southern presidency, so that we can rescue Nigeria.”

Pearse emphasized that it would be unstrategic for the party to support a northern candidate, given the current sentiment across the nation.

No Need for Alliances
The PDP stalwart also dismissed the idea of a political merger or alliance with other opposition parties, such as the Labour Party (LP) or New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), stating that such collaborations have historically been unsuccessful.

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“An alliance in our politics, even abroad, is very difficult because it is hard for competing groups and leaders to give way for one or the other,” he explained. “It is not possible for PDP to go into any alliance in 2027. I personally think it is very unlikely.”

Pearse downplayed the potential contributions of LP and NNPP, noting that both parties only secured one governorship seat each in the last general elections.

He said the PDP has sufficient resources to win the next election with a southern candidate, citing the party’s 12 governors and a significant presence in the National Assembly.

Reuniting the Party
Pearse stressed the importance of reconciling with former members who had defected, particularly to the Labour Party.

“We just need to strengthen our party. We need to reach out to our members that have left the party. If 60 percent of them return, we will win the next election,” he stated.

He highlighted efforts underway to bring back youth members and others who supported rival parties during the 2023 elections, emphasizing the need for unity within the PDP.

Lessons from 2023
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Pearse attributed the PDP’s loss to internal divisions, particularly regarding zoning issues.

“The party went astray last time because they did not clarify the constitutional tenets that said if the national chairman comes from the North, the presidential candidate cannot also come from the North,” he said.

He criticized the inability of former National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to step down when a northern candidate emerged, calling it a key factor in the party’s defeat. Pearse stressed that lessons had been learned, and the party would avoid such missteps in the future.

“We are not going to allow it to happen now,” he added.

 

2027: Why PDP shouldn’t field northern presidential candidate – Ex-Atiku campaigner

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Gbajabiamila speaks on his rumoured Lagos governorship ambition

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Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu

Gbajabiamila speaks on his rumoured Lagos governorship ambition

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu, has dismissed speculations about his potential bid for the governorship of Lagos State, stressing that his current focus remains on his duties in the presidency.

Speaking at the general assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday, Gbajabiamila attributed the rumours to detractors attempting to undermine his political progress.

“Some people are saying he came back from America about 20 years ago. After spending three to four years, he became the principal officer to the Minority Whip, from there he became Minority Leader, then Majority Leader, and from Majority Leader, he became Speaker,” Gbajabiamila said.

He noted that some individuals see his rise in politics as a threat and believe he might return to Lagos to contest for governor.

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“They think with the way I’m progressing, it’s time to quickly drag me down so I won’t have any standing in Lagos,” he stated.

However, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives made it clear that the governorship race is not on his agenda for now.

“Please tell them it’s not yet time for governorship. There are still two and a half years left—it’s still far. God Almighty knows who will become the next governor,” Gbajabiamila noted.

Addressing the challenges of his current position, he added, “My current job as Chief of Staff is so demanding that I can’t even finish it. I don’t have the time to be thinking about governorship.”

The remarks come amid growing speculation surrounding potential contenders for the Lagos governorship seat, with names like Lagos State Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, also being mentioned.

 

Gbajabiamila speaks on his rumoured Lagos governorship ambition

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Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has shed light on his role in the removal of Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at a PDP gathering in Rivers State, Wike explained that his decision was fueled by Secondus’ opposition to Siminalayi Fubara’s governorship ambition in 2023.

According to Wike, Secondus had pushed for his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to secure the PDP ticket for the governorship position, a move Wike said he could not support. This, he revealed, was the primary reason he championed Secondus’ ouster from the party’s leadership.

Reflecting on the ongoing tensions between himself and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike accused Secondus and former Rivers Governor Celestine Omehia of hypocrisy. He alleged that the duo only began backing Fubara after benefiting personally from the relationship.

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Wike, who was once a close ally of Fubara, claimed that Secondus and Omehia were the true enemies of the governor, not him. He criticized their actions, arguing that their newfound loyalty to Fubara was insincere.

“I heard Secondus recently in Bori, saying I awarded the Bori Internal Road as governor. I paid 50% with the hope that we had a governor we all supported to continue the projects,” Wike said.

He continued, “Secondus claimed his enemies are the governor’s enemies. But who are the enemies of the governor? Secondus, who initially opposed him becoming governor and wanted his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to get the position?

“I orchestrated Secondus’ removal as PDP National Chairman when he tried to impose his cousin as governor. Now he calls himself the governor’s friend while labeling me the enemy. To God be the glory,” Wike declared.

 

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

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