Politics
George Condemns Tinubu’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Rivers Moves
Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has strongly condemned what he described as efforts of President Bola Tinubu to legitimise illegally in Rivers State by constituting an electoral body that will conduct local government elections in Rivers State under a sitting sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu, in a letter presented and read by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during a plenary session, requested confirmation for the appointment of a Chairman and six Members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), with reports saying that these nominees were proposed by Vice Admiral Ibas (rtd.), the sole administrator responsible for overseeing the state’s affairs.
The president, also in the letter, requested for confirmation of other appointments into key offices in the state, underscoring the necessity of such appointments to facilitate effective governance during the emergency period and to assist the administrator in managing state functions efficiently.
Chief George gave this position on Monday at a press conference which took place at his Ikoyi office and was attended by key leaders of the party, including former Deputy Governor Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Chief (Mrs) Aduke Maina, Chief (Mrs) Onikepo Oshodi, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor- Akerele, former Chairman PDP of PDP in Lagos State, Captain Tunji Shelle (Rtd), among others, insisting that giving room for a sole administrator to conduct local government election under a democratic system of government amounted to illegality.
The PDP chieftain, in his address titled: “Enough of executive recklessness and brigandage,” sadly noted that recent events in Rivers State were indications that the administration of the nation’s democracy remained problematic, citing the current move by President Tinubu to legitimize what he termed illegality in the state through the request he made to the Senate for approval of key appointments in the state as part of the measures instituted under the state of emergency.
George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yoruba land argued that the move implied that a person in office illegally was now being mandated to conduct council elections in this oil-bearing state, declaring that the step taken so far by President Tinubu had no doubt made Nigerians to doubt his claim of being a democrat.
“Twenty-six years after the restoration of civilian governance, a growing number of Nigerians are left questioning the authenticity of a government that claims to be of, by, and for the people. It is time for us to confront these challenges head-on and demand a democracy that truly serves its citizens.
“The president’s insistence on these appointments reveals a troubling disregard for democratic principles, this move raises serious concerns about the concentration of power and undermines the very fabric of our democratic institutions, suggesting a calculated effort to bypass accountability and manipulate state functions at a time when the people’s voice should be paramount.
“The implication of the above is that a person in office illegally is now being mandated to conduct council elections in this oil-bearing state.
“I want to reiterate that what the president is doing in this Rivers matter is completely illegal and Nigerians know this. Constitutionality is being disregarded and disrespected. It is not possible for illegality to overcome legality. It will never happen, now or later,” Chief George stated.
“Those in charge of the polity have closed their ears to reasoning and deliberately come out with policies capable of disintegrating the country. Pitiably, lovers of Nigeria are too timid to challenge them.
“It is disheartening that Nigeria is precariously and dangerously staggering on the path of self-destruction. I pray this trouble does not start from Rivers State.
“The president is not the government. The governor is not the government. It is the people that constitute governance and government. The moment you take the mandate of the people away, it is no longer democracy. That is exactly what is happening in Rivers State,” he added.
Speaking further, Chief George equally condemned some state governors and members of the PDP that left the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), assuring that the main opposition party remained a well-structured platform that can weather all storm.
The PDP chieftain assured that the party would bounce back strong and better, stressing that it is those leaving it that would regret their action and be put to shame, just as he urged them to go and learn from those who left the party in the past who latter retraced their steps back to the party.
Tribuneonlineng.com
Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has withdrawn his support for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, citing the continued marginalisation of the South-East geopolitical zone.
Okonkwo’s decision followed the official announcement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirming former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South, as Atiku’s vice-presidential running mate for the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the development, Okonkwo stated that any arrangement excluding the South-East from the top two executive positions in 2027 perpetuates unpardonable injustice against his people.
He emphasized that the region has not produced a President or Vice President since 1999 and noted that the ADC’s founder, Ralphs Nwosu, did not sacrifice leadership of the party in 2025 to enable the marginalisation of his own zone.
Okonkwo maintained that he would not campaign for any presidential ticket that fails to include a person of South-East origin as President or Vice President in 2027.
Okonkwo shared his decision in a statement released on his official X handle:
I heard from the social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.
This Geo-Political Zone has neither produced a President or Vice President since 1999. To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce the President or Vice President in ADC in 2027 will amount to perpetuating the marginalisation.
The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people.
I did not join the coalition to assist in marginalisation of my own people further. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027.
I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, Geo-Political Zone, or person will be marginalised.
The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his Vice.
If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as President or Vice in 2027.
Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has withdrawn his support for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, citing the continued marginalization of the South-East geopolitical zone.
Okonkwo’s decision followed the official announcement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirming former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South, as Atiku’s vice-presidential running mate for the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the development, Okonkwo stated that any arrangement excluding the South-East from the top two executive positions in 2027 perpetuates unpardonable injustice against his people.
He emphasized that the region has not produced a President or Vice President since 1999 and noted that the ADC’s founder, Ralphs Nwosu, did not sacrifice leadership of the party in 2025 to enable the marginalisation of his own zone.
Okonkwo maintained that he would not campaign for any presidential ticket that fails to include a person of South-East origin as President or Vice President in 2027.
Okonkwo shared his decision in a statement released on his official X handle:
I heard from the social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.
This Geo-Political Zone has neither produced a President or Vice President since 1999. To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce the President or Vice President in ADC in 2027 will amount to perpetuating the marginalisation.
The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people.
I did not join the coalition to assist in marginalisation of my own people further. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027.
I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, Geo-Political Zone, or person will be marginalised.
The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his Vice.
If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as President or Vice in 2027.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is coasting to victory in the chairmanship and councillorship elections in Adamawa conducted on Saturday.
The Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) will announce the official results later today.
According to Daily Trust, Emmanuel Abba, commissioner of logistics and field operations of the commission, told journalists on Sunday that collation was ongoing.
Abba said election results of 20 LGAs out of 21 have been collated, adding that Numan LGA is pending.
The commissioner said ADSIEC will officially announce the results of the 21 LGAs sooner.
He implored residents to be patient to enable completion of the entire electoral process.
According to Daily Trust, PDP has taken an early lead from results of the 20 local government areas announced at ward and LGA levels thus far.
FINTIRI ABSENT DURING LGA POLL
The Adamawa LGA election recorded low voter turnout as many polling units were without voters.
According to Punch, Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of the state, was not in Adamawa during the election.
Leader Leneke, Adamawa commissioner of information, told the publication that the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not campaign as vigorously as the PDP.
Leneke said people in the rural areas believe that LGA elections are for politicians in the ruling party.
“The PDP governorship candidate and the chairmanship candidates were going out every day for campaigns, but the ruling APC was not doing the same. So, if the PDP wins the election today, it is due to its hard work,” he said.
“There is voter apathy in today’s election because people in rural areas believe that local government elections are meant for the ruling party in government, so they see no reason to come out and vote.”
In February, Fintiri formally joined the APC from the PDP.
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