Politics

Rivers crisis: We’ll know who’s in charge when time comes – Wike

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, has mended fences and realigned with his estranged friend and Southsouth Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Victor Giadom.

Wike, who was hosted by Giadom at his Bera country home in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday, said he was happy to be back to his friend.

Though the former Rivers governor described the event as a private visit devoid of politics, it reinforced speculations that Wike was preparing the ground to defect to the APC and lead a solid team to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The event attracted serving senators and members of the House of Representatives from Rivers, leaders of APC and the PDP; two former chairmen of Rivers PDP, Felix Obuah and Amb. Desmond Akawor; Southsouth Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih; PDP National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu; traditional rulers, local government chairmen, youths, and women among others.

Clarifying the purpose of his visit, Wike said: “I didn’t come here for politics. I came here to visit my friend, Giadom. Let nobody misinterpret why I came here. That is why I came with PDP and APC leaders. It is a private visit to my friend”.

Wike said Giadom only gathered his people to show he was still politically relevant, noting that politics was about making impact on the people.

Addressing Giadom, he said: “I have never been in doubt about your capacity to relate with your people. Politics is about impact. If you want to be a successful politician you must impact on your people so that when you call them they will answer you”.

Speaking about how people valued him across the country and how they always posed for pictures with him, Wike said it was a testament of his service to the people.

He said: “Forget about these hungry noisemakers on the road. When the time comes, we will know who is in charge and who is not in charge. There is a time for everything.

“This is not time for politics. When the time comes, we will know who is who. If you like, abuse me as you want. If you like, employ everybody on social media. I have never bothered myself one day to know who is abusing me. Politics will come. We didn’t contest the election based on social media. We spoke to the people, they listened and believed in us”.

Speaking on his realignment with Giadom, he said: “Party will come and go and friendship will remain. We have made our mistakes, we are all humans but friendship remains.

“When I was appointed a Minister, Victor Giadom led a team to congratulate me. It does not matter where you belong to. What is important is the interest of Rivers. If you want to be a successful politician, greedy ones will not like you. Nobody has done well in politics without enemies. Those who hate you are in the minority. Those who love you are in the majority”.

Wike recalled his capacity when he held sway as the Rivers governor insisting that he would continue to support the administration of President Tinubu.

He said: “When I was governor, Nigeria heard about Rivers State. That is what I have always preached. So, nobody should be afraid. I have no regrets when I stood by with my colleagues and friends that the presidency must go to the South.

“There was nothing I was not offered. But I said no. That is why I will continue to support the government of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. As I am going back home, I am going with the satisfaction that my friend is back.

“This visit I came today will cause a lot of trouble. Some people will start visits now. Follow who knows road. Continue to support Victor and all your leaders that mean well for all of you.

“For the first time in history, Ogoni man is the chairman of works. I am happy that Ledum Mitee is a member of the NNPCL. Let nobody do community problems. When you do that, development will not come”.

Earlier, Giadom referred to Wike’s visit as the homecoming of a brother, a friend, and a leader and assured him that they would support a team he would lead in Rivers.

Giadom said: “Today is homecoming of a brother, a friend, and a leader. I stand here on this ground to let you know that we have lived well, paid our dues, and contributed to the development of this place.

“Be rest assured that we will support the team you will lead in Rivers to provide support for our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the main reason we are all here today. This place, nobody can challenge any visitor on this soil. We are in firm control of this place”.

Politics

Katsina court throws out PDP leadership dispute

A High Court in Katsina State has dismissed a case filed by prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the conduct of the party’s leadership elections at the ward, local government, and state levels held last year.

The case was brought forward by Alhaji Mustafa Inuwa, a former Secretary to the State Government, alongside eight other senior members of the party. They alleged that certain members were denied access to nomination forms for leadership positions during the elections. The plaintiffs claimed to be acting on behalf of 7,905 aggrieved party members dissatisfied with the process.

In response, the PDP, represented by its legal counsel, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, as it pertained to internal party affairs.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Abbas Bawale agreed with the PDP’s argument, ruling that the court had no jurisdiction over the dispute. He clarified that issues relating to party congresses and leadership elections are internal matters that fall outside the court’s mandate.

Citing precedents from previous court rulings and provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, Justice Bawale emphasized that courts only have jurisdiction over disputes concerning political party primary elections.

While addressing the PDP counsel’s claim that the plaintiffs failed to explore internal resolution mechanisms, the judge noted that the plaintiffs had adequately exhausted the party’s internal processes before approaching the court.

Nevertheless, Justice Bawale ruled that the case was outside the court’s jurisdiction and dismissed it accordingly.

Politics

Conducting elections in Nigeria is a huge burden – INEC Chair Yakubu

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has decried the cost implications of conducting elections in Nigeria, describing it as exorbitant and burdensome.

Yakubu stated this on Friday while defending the 2024 budget implementation before the National Assembly.

According to him, despite INEC being one of the largest employers in the country, it operated on a reduced budget of N40 billion, significantly lower than the N80 billion initially requested.

The INEC boss stressed the financial strain this has placed on the commission’s ability to carry out its responsibilities effectively.

He appealed to the lawmakers to organize a retreat where both the legislature and INEC can collaborate, exchange ideas, and find solutions to the pressing issues affecting the electoral process in Nigeria.

“We need a major conversation, the commission cannot continue conducting elections all year round,” he said.

He further lamented the deteriorating state of INEC’s facilities, particularly the 860 buildings across the country, which are in urgent need of repair.

Yakubu, therefore, called on the National Assembly to ensure that the electoral body, which has now submitted a 126 billion naira budget proposal, receives adequate funding.

Politics

Ganduje defends APC spokesman, Morka dismisses threat allegations against Obi

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, on Wednesday threw his weight behind the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka.

Ganduje also described claims attributed to the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, as misleading, an act he said incited his online supporters to troll Morka.

He disclosed this in a statement by him in Abuja.

His clarification comes a few hours after the APC spokesman claimed that he and his family have received 200 death threats.

Morka alleged that the threats were triggered by Obi’s accusation that his remarks during a Sunday interview on Arise Television constituted a threat to the Labour Party candidate’s life.

His earlier interview on Sunday sparked an outrage after he accused Obi of “crossing the line” in his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, asserting that Obi “deserved whatever came his way”.

His remarks prompted Obi to tweet, asking Nigerians if he had truly crossed the line by attempting to hold President Tinubu administration accountable to the people.

But Ganduje described the former LP presidential candidate’s approach as mischief and emotional blackmail meant to draw public sympathy.

According to him, at no point in the interview did Morka threaten Obi or his family.

Ganduje said, “By falsely claiming that Morka threatened his life, Mr Obi has libelled him in the extreme and incited his online supporters to issue death threats against Morka and his family.

“Morka’s comments during the interview were strictly in response to a question referencing ‘prophets of doom’ and ‘voodoo economics’. Nothing in his statement constituted or suggested a threat to Obi or anyone else.

“Does Mr Obi expect the APC to fold its arms and allow the opposition to propagate falsehoods without any response?”

Continuing, Ganduje stressed that the APC will continue to counter baseless allegations with facts against President Tinubu-led administration.