News
Don’t set Kogi ablaze, APC cautions PDP, SDP candidates
Don’t set Kogi ablaze, APC cautions PDP, SDP candidates
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, Dino Melaye, and that of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Yakubu Ajaka, against setting the state ablaze through their actions and utterances.
Addressing newsmen at the APC national secretariat on Thursday in Abuja, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said instead of seeking redress in court after suffering defeat in the election, Melaye and Ajaka have been blackmailing the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and making statements capable of “inciting violence” in the state.
Recall that there have been violent incidents in the state before and after the elections in which INEC declared candidate of the APC, Ahmed Usman Ododo, winner.
The APC said it welcomed the decision of Kogi Police Command to investigate the alleged attack on the Secretary to the election tribunal and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Hale Longpet, and asked security agencies to do a thorough job on the matter.
The APC said, “Despite substantial compliance with electoral laws and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the conduct of the elections, the post-election situation in Kogi has been bedeviled by contrived controversies and orchestrated violence that now threaten the peace and security of the good state of Kogi.
READ ALSO:
- Man, 35, arrested for defiling lover’s daughter in Ogun
- P&G exit : Why more investors will leave Nigeria – Atedo Peterside
- ECOWAS court declines Niger junta’s request to lift sanctions
“The opposition parties that contested that election, particularly the SDP and the PDP are severely conflicted between accepting or challenging the result of the election. Rather than carry out comprehensive evaluation of the reasons they were rejected at the polls, these parties have continued to peddle falsehood and promote ethnic and social unrest in the state.
“We condemn, as dangerous, the incendiary rhetoric of opposition figures in Kogi State who continue to inflame passion and incite strife. Their actions and utterances provide a charged atmosphere for escalation of violence in the state.
“We especially condemn the reported attack against the Secretary of the Election Tribunal, Mike Umar David, on Monday, December 4, 2023, in very spurious circumstances. The SDP clearly has a lot of explaining to do regarding this incident. Their utterances and actions, prior to, and since, that incident, betray suspicious special knowledge of the incident.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem has relocated the Kogi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal from Lokoja to Abuja.
A statement by David Umar Mike, Secretary of the Tribunal, said that its sittings would now be at the National Judicial Institute on Umar Yar’Adua Way.
Don’t set Kogi ablaze, APC cautions PDP, SDP candidates
News
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibas
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibok-ete Ibas
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (Retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The administrator was sworn in on Wednesday after a short meeting with the President.
Tinubu announced the appointment of the retired naval chief at a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly members.
The President said his decision was based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking concrete action.
The suspension of Fubara and other elected representatives has been rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, groups such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigerian Bar Association.
However, the emergency rule has been praised by the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, accusing Fubara of contravening the Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the state.
Ibas was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.
He is from Cross River State where he had his early education.
The new sole administrator went to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 from where he proceeded to have a successful career in the Navy, rising through the ranks to the very top.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff conferred him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.
News
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the protracted political crisis in the state.
Tinubu made the declaration during a nationwide broadcast, saying it is for six months.
He announced the suspension of the Executive Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months.
He immediately named an administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retd), to take charge of the affairs of the state for the six-month period.
Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.
A state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety. (Channels TV)
News
BREAKING: Tinubu addresses Nigerians on Rivers political crisis
BREAKING: Tinubu addresses Nigerians on Rivers political crisis
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night will hold a nationwide broadcast to address the crisis in Rivers state.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the broadcast will be transmitted by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
The broadcast is expected to be held by 7pm today.
Video: President Tinubu has declared state on emergency on Rivers state effective immediately, suspends Governor Fubara, his deputy governor and house of assembly members for six months.
He also nominated an administrator pic.twitter.com/jD1g9FHOez— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) March 18, 2025
-
Auto2 days agoLanre Shittu Motors offers support for EV bus design competition in universities
-
International1 day agoUK announces new passport application fees starting April 2025
-
metro2 days agoIbas: 18 things to know about Rivers administrator
-
News3 days agoBreaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
-
metro2 days ago
Soldiers take over Rivers Government House after state of emergency declaration
-
News3 days agoTinubu holds emergency meeting with service chiefs
-
metro2 days agoPipeline explosion hits Bayelsa amid Rivers state emergency declaration
-
metro1 day agoCourt lifts order stopping Senate probe on Natasha Akpoti