News
APC will not be part of LGA elections in Rivers State – Okocha
The Chairman Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha has said that the party will not participate in the Local Government Area (LGA) elections scheduled for October 2024 in the state.
Okocha stated this at a press conference that was held at the APC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had scheduled the LGA elections for October 5th this year.
However, the Rivers APC filed a suit challenging the legitimacy of the local elections planned by the state government led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing its voter register to the Rivers State Government’s electoral body for the elections.
In his ruling, the judge, Peter Lifu, also barred the police and the State Security Service (SSS) from providing security for the state’s local government elections.
But in his reaction, the Rivers APC leader vowed that the party will not participate in the said elections even if it holds.
Here are his reasons; “Our concern is that from January 19, 2024, I joined the team of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and members of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). Our whole essence was to go to remind the chairmen and his colleagues that it was ripe for a Local Government elections because we are looking at the law of the state.
“The law of the state that is available stipulates that three months to the expiration of the incumbent chairmen and councilors of the Local Governments, an election should be conducted.
“When we were meeting with the chairman (IPAC chairman) after our presentation, the chairman pleaded with us that we should do everything and anything that is possible within the law to get the governor’s attention.
“The governor refused to fund the RSIEC to conduct Local Government elections. He knew clearly the expiration date of the incumbent and goes ahead to appoint a caretaker committee into the councils.
“There is no law that will permit elections again unless and until the governor is able to get the Assembly come to amend the law. Because the law states clearly, three months to the expiration of the incumbent, let there be Local Government elections. The incumbent had all left office in supposedly on the 17th of June, so which other law is he (the governor) going to follow?”
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
-
News6 days agoBill to establish National Cashew Production and Research Institute in Kogi passes first reading in Senate
-
Politics1 week agoCPDPL accuses Adeyanju of orchestrating smear campaign against FCT Minister Wike
-
News6 days agoReport of attack on Wike’s Port Harcourt residence false, misleading – Police
-
News6 days agoShehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence
-
News5 days agoPlateau gov’t expresses concern over violence in Shendam LGA, calls for calm
-
Sports1 week agoMerino gives Arsenal win over Chelsea
-
Politics3 days agoOpposition leaders announce coalition to challenge Tinubu in 2027
-
Interview6 days agoSenators Natasha-Akpabio saga should have been resolved privately – Rev. Mrs Emeribe