News
Wike seals Atiku/Okowa campaign office, chases staff away
Rivers State campaign office for Atiku Abubakar and his deputy, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa in Portharcourt has been sealed on the directive of the governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.
The governor, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ordered the sealing in the guise that political activities going on in the office constituted noise.
The office is located at the GRA axis of Port Harcourt, and Rivers government said, there was no approval form the building to be used as campaign office.
CAPITAL POST gathered that staff who are working in the office were chased away before the office was sealed.
Rivers official cited Executive Orders 21 and 22 as bases for sealing the office.
It waas gathered that the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers had written an application seeking approval to use the office premise for its political activities, but weeks and.months passed without any response.
The media team of the state’s PCC described the seal on the office as anti-democratic and a violation of free expression.
“We condemn this act because it rubs off on our fundamental right to free expression of interest. Furthermore, this egregious move by the Rivers State Government, seen in the prism of politics, tends to militarise our democracy and renders our dear state politically recessive when juxtaposed with other states in the country,” the media team said in a statement.
“The public is hereby informed that the sealed premises had no bill board or poster, since the approval had not been given, yet it was sealed off, a sign that the delay in the approval is premeditated and computed to cause this sort of unlawfulness.
It further advised the leaders of the party in the state to seek legal redress per the provisions of the constitution.
“We urge our dear leaders in the state to challenge this illegality in a court of competent jurisdiction so that friction can disappear from our political space.
“The right to campaign for preferred candidate is enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria, which is the grand norm from which every other law derives its power.
“Thus, every clash between the Constitution and any other made law should be resolved in favour of the Constitution. The Rivers State Government, we dare say, is subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended).
“It is our duty to remind Gov. Wike and his co-travelers that they, like everyone else, are subject to the Laws of Nigeria.
“Meanwhile we charge the Rivers State PDP PCC, our dear leaders, to see to it that this unlawful disruption of campaign activities does not rattle their cage. They must continue to function as they always had prior to the existence of the Secretariat.
“Tyranny will expire in our state. If the Nazi Regime could die in Germany, then this facsimile of such will die even much faster to the glory of God and liberty of Rivers State.”
Kogi State Police Command has called for cancellation of rally organized by the Constituents of the Central Senatorial District to host Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement sent to CAPITAL POST in Lokoja on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, said it became operative for the scheduled to be put off, citing security threats.
The statement said: “Following the intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State and the subsequent ban on all forms of Rally and procession by the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Police Command has called on the organisers of planned rally at Okene to cancel such event in the interest of the peace in Kogi State.
“The call for cancellation becomes necessary, noting that intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the State. The Command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the State is currently enjoying.
“In view of the security threat received on the planned rally, the Kogi State Police Command is therefore advising the organisers to cancel the event so as to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the State. As the Command will not hesitate to apply the full wrath of law on any one who causes disturbance of peace and order in the State.”
Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Isah Jibrin (Echocho), has condoled families who lost their loved ones in the windstorm that rocked Itobe and other communities in Ofu Local Government Council.
Saddened by the devastation of the rainstorm that led to death of two persons and destruction of properties worth millions of naira, the lawmaker said, the victims wouldn’t be left alone at this trying period, stating that everything possible would be done to mitigate their pains.
In a statement issued by the Media and Communications office of the lawmaker on Monday said, his attention has been drawn to the incident even as he is out of the country, but will offer his personal contributions in cash and in kind towards alleviating the suffering of the victims during his visit to the affected communities upon his arrival.
He stated that attention of relevant government agencies will be drawn through a motion which he will sponsor when the Senate reconvenes from Sallah and Easter break to the natural disaster with a view to quickly provide succour for the victims and resettlement of displaced households.
The lawmaker said, he was aware that over 500 residents in communities of Itobe, Adumu, Itagidi, Oladebu, Ajegwu, Ofoke and others in Ofu Local Government Council were left homeless in the first rain disaster, adding that the disaster wasn’t their making.
“I shall offer my personal palliative for immediate succour to the victims as soon as I am back in the country.
“Also, I assure the victims that I will sponsor a motion that will draw attention of relevant government agencies to mobilise materials and resources to mitigate their pains, especially those rendered homeless as a result of the disaster.
Senator Isah Jibrin, further called on the National Metereological Agency to do a wider publicity on the signals and looming dangers of windstorm for citizens to be properly informed and to take caution.
Kogi State government has banned rallies and crowd related reception in the State, citing security challenges.
This was even as the suspended female Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was billed for homecoming on Tuesday 1st April, 2025 which a grand reception was reportedly planned by her constituents.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Commisioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo and obtained by CAPITAL POST on Monday in Lokoja, it cited security concerns and stressed that the State Government was committed to safety of lives and properties.
The statement said, the ban on convoys entering the State and any form of public gatherings was a proactive step to nip in the bud, breach of security as intelligence reports available to the State Government was indicative of looming crisis.
It said, the State government has just quelled crisis in parts of Kogi Local Government Council in the Western Senatorial, saying that government was committed to ensuring peace across the entire State.
Part of the statement said: “In light of credible intelligence reports, the government has deemed it necessary to take proactive measures to prevent any form of security breach that could destabilize the state.
“It is heartwarming to note that the State witnessed a peaceful Sallah, however some security threats are threatening the peace of the State. In Kasemiya, Katubo and Umozu Ette all in Kogi Local Government Area in Kogi West, fishing activities have resulted in serious crisis, leading to the loss of two lives.
“All fishing activities in Kogi Local Government Area is hereby suspended until peace is completely restored. Security operatives have been deployed to the affected areas to restore peace and implement our directive.
“Also, in Ankpa Local Government Area, specifically in Enjema District, a communal clash between Ika-Odele and Ika Ochala is threatening the peace of Kogi East.
“The State Government has deployed security to also calm the situation to avert further loss of lives and property.
“The ongoing peace meeting between the two communities as facilitated by the State Government must be sustained.
“In Kogi Central, intelligence at our disposal point to the fact that some elements are planning to stage some violent rallies in the guise of political and religious agitations. This is to create a platform for wanton destruction and breakdown of law and order.”
Meanwhile, Natasha’s homecoming invitation which has already gone wide showed that the reception was to be held in her honour on Tuesday.
CAPITAL POST recalled that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months by the 10th Senate for allegedly breaching Senat3mStandinb Rules.
She also accused the Senate President,Godswill Obot Akpabio of sexual harassment and while she had attended the Interparliamentary Union, IPU in Geneva to speak on her harrowing experiences in the Senate.
At the time of filing this report, no statement has emanated Natasha’s media minders in response to the ban issued by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo government.
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