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Tag: rivers

  • Rivers assembly re-elects Ibani as Speaker as Adams resigns

    Ikunyi Ibani of Andoni Constituency has been re-elected Speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly.

    Ibani emerged speaker after Daborotudima Adams resigned his appointment as the speaker of the House.

    The development came shortly after the former speaker administered oath of office on 12 newly elected members.

    The Deputy speaker of the House, Marshal Uwom presided over the election of the new speaker.

    Ikunyi Ibani was speaker of the Assembly between June and December 2015 but resigned after the Election Tribunal Appeals Court annulled his election.

    He was returned elected after the December 10 legislative re-run poll.

    In the meantime, the Rivers State House of Assembly has sworn-In 12 members into the Assembly. Among those sworn-In include members elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state.

  • Satan is at work in Rivers, we need prayers to overcome – Wike

    Satan is at work in Rivers, we need prayers to overcome – Wike

     

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said the state needs to intensify prayers and believe in God because Satan, the adversary is at work.

    The governor however noted that despite this, no power can bring him down because he is “solidly and comfortably rooted” in God.

    Wike, who made this remark at the Rivers State Headquarters of the Living Faith Church in Port Harcourt during a special Christmas church service on Sunday, explained that the state would continue to overcome trials and oppressive tendencies through God’s grace.

    The governor in the company of his wife, children, and other top executives of the state pointed out that while other states were battling economic downturn, Rivers State had been operating “a Jesus economy,” which entailed divine provision and sustenance.

    In his words: “No power can bring me down because I am solidly and comfortably rooted in God. My belief in God strengthens me at all times. We want you to continue to pray for this state because Satan is at work.

    “If God be for us, nobody can be against us. We have had turbulent times, but we have always come out victorious. This state is a Christian state. Therefore, we shall continue to collaborate with the Church,” the governor said.

    He assured the people that the state government would support schools owned by churches with grants, adding that the ongoing construction of the State Ecumenical Centre would be completed by May, 2017.

    Wike recalled that the Church stood by him right from the campaign period till date.

    The governor called on the Church to continue to pray for his administration for God’s protection and wisdom.

     

  • Beheading of Police Officer: Rivers APC chieftain denies involvement

    Mr. Augustine Wokocha, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, has denied involvement with the beheading of a police officer during the Dec. 10 legislative re-run elections.

    Wokocha, the immediate past Commissioner for Power in the state, made this known during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    NAN reports that Mr Muhammed Alkali, a Police DSP was beheaded during the election in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

    He said that linking him to the beheading of the officer was a fabrication by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    According to Wokocha, he was detained with others all through the period of the election and the last of them was released on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

    “Let me say without equivocation that there is no iota of truth in this fabricated allegation.

    “On the election day, I conducted myself peacefully throughout the exercise against all provocation, even when I was illegally detained,” he said.

    Wokocha urged the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegation against him to ensure that the truth was laid bare.

    He said his political opponents in their desperation to prove their supremacy, recruited boys who allegedly committed several murders of so many APC members and made the local government area ungovernable.

    “Today, the same people who were disturbing the peace and alleged to have masterminded some high profile killings in the area, are now enjoying amnesty from the PDP led state government.

    “It is therefore condemnable that these same characters extended their dastardly acts to the law enforcement agents who came to maintain peace during the legislative re-run elections.

    “What I find most shocking and amazing in this sad, most regrettable, ignoble act and situation, is the determination of the mischief makers to ensure that the killing is credited to me,” he said.

    Wokocha, a former lawmaker in the Rivers House of Assembly, said he had never been associated with politics of violence, in defence of his responsible pedigree.

  • Policeman beheaded in Rivers buried in Minna

    Policeman beheaded in Rivers buried in Minna

    Mr Mohammed Alkali, a police officer killed on Saturday in Rivers State while on election duty, was buried in Bosso, Niger State, yesterday.

    Alkali was killed along with some of his colleagues in the violence that characterised the rerun elections to fill vacant legislative seats.

    The corpse, which arrived Minna about 1.30 a.m., was received by the deceased’s father, Alhaji Yakubu Alkali, a retired Commissioner of Police, family members and many sympathizers.

    The funeral rites were witnessed by top government officials that included Alhaji Zubairu Muazu, Commissioner of Police in Niger State. The deceased is survived by his parents, one wife and three children.

  • PDP won Rivers East, West senatorial districts, Wike declares

    PDP won Rivers East, West senatorial districts, Wike declares

    Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Wike has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to release the Rivers East Senatorial District and Rivers West Senatorial District results while declaring that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates have already won both elections based on results from polling units.

    Wike also called on INEC to immediately release the results of Andoni /Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency and Andoni State Constituency also won by the PDP.

    In an interactive session with journalists on Sunday , Governor Wike said it has never happened in the history of elections that the Rivers East Senatorial District result declaration exceeded 24hours

    According to him , the result of Rivers East has been held down by the plots of INEC , the Army and the Police to manipulate the results of Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas for the purpose of concocting the senatorial results in favour of the APC .

    He said: “As I speak with you, they are doing everything possible to rewrite the result of Emohua Local Government Area to ensure that the APC wins”.

    The governor said that since the conclusion of voting, INEC has been playing pranks, moving collation back and forth from Emohua to Port Harcourt to create room for rigging.

    “For now, all the collation officers have refused to be compelled to declare false results. As such, the collation officers have left and INEC has resorted to using her internal staff for the collation of results.

    “Release Rivers East Senatorial District where Senator George Sekibo has won clearly . Release Rivers West Senatorial District where Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu has won clearly . INEC should release Andoni/ Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency where Abiante has won and Andoni State Constituency where Ikunyi Ibani has won clearly “, he said.

    He described as unfortunate the deliberate use of the Nigerian Army to deny PDP agents access to collation centres , so that INEC staff can concoct results.

    “It is most unfortunate that that they will descend to the level of win at all costs”, he said.

    The governor reiterated his statement that the Nigerian Army and SARS personnel were deeply involved in the violence that characterised the elections , pointing out that the violence claimed five lives in different parts of the State .

    He said that the half hearted denial of the military evaporates in the face of overwhelming evidence of their misconduct during the polls.

    “When the security is apolitical , you have free and fair elections . But when the security descends into the arena, the entire process is compromised”, the governor noted.

     

     

  • #Riversrerun: Abe thanks Amaechi, extends ‘hand of friendship’ to Wike in victory speech

    #Riversrerun: Abe thanks Amaechi, extends ‘hand of friendship’ to Wike in victory speech

    Senator elect of Rivers South East Senatorial district, Senator Magnus Abe, on Sunday, said he has extended a hand of friendship to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in the interest of the state while urging that Wike should officially congratulate him on his win.

    Abe who made the declaration in his victory speech thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the people of Rivers State for their unflinching support.

    His words in full: “His words, first are to say that this has been a titanic struggle; it has been a very difficult two years for Rivers people and for all of us.

    My victory in this election is a reward for faithfulness. I have been faithful to my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). I have been faithful to my people, the people of the Rivers South East Senatorial District and I have been faithful to my leaders and I think God in his infinite mercies has rewarded me with this unprecedented victory. There is no victor, no vanquish.

    I want to thank my friend and brother, Distinguished Senator Olaka Nwogu for his very kind and peaceful words, which he has expressed to the people of this state.

    I also want to use this opportunity to extend a hand of friendship to the executive Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike and to say to him that he had promised that there was nothing personal in this contest and he has said that if I win he will congratulate me.

    The only barometer for measuring success in an election in this country is the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the commission has declared me the winner, I want to call on the governor to keep his words and send me his letter and words of congratulation because I have won.

    I want to also say that Rivers State has suffered enough and that it is time for us to bring this contest to an end.

    I want to thank my leaders, President Muhammadu Buhari, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, my wife, my family and most importantly, the people of Rivers South East Senatorial District.

    You have spoken and you have spoken loud and clear. We should respect your views. We should work together to make this district a better place for Nigerians to live.

    I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their kind words, friendship and support and I look forward to joining them in the red chamber as soon as possible.

     

  • #RiversRerun: APC in early lead Rivers East Senatorial district

    The All Progressives Congress is in clear lead in Rivers East Senatorial District after the re-run legislative elections conducted on Saturday.

    Friday Nkeeh won the Rivers State House of Assembly seat for Khana Constituency 2. Nkeeh polled 15,000 votes to defeat Dinebari Loolo of the PDP, who scored 4,000 votes.

    For House of Representatives, Hon. Maurice Pronen of the APC scored 68,219 votes while Dum Deekor of the PDP scored 20,329 votes for Khana/Gokana constituency.

    Dr. Innocent Barikor of APC was also declared winner of the election with 24,624 votes in Gokana State Constituency, while Dr. Barry Mpigi of APC also won the Tai/Oyigbo/Eleme federal constituency seat.

    As at the time of this report, APC had polled 48,760 votes to PDP’s 11,737, with the results from Emohua and Ikwere LGAs still being awaited.

     

     

  • #RiversRerun: APC defeats PDP in Gokana

    #RiversRerun: APC defeats PDP in Gokana

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate has won the House of Representative seat for Khana/Gokana constituency, in the rescheduled Rivers rerun legislative election held Saturday.
    Maurice Pronen of the APC got 68,219 votes, while Dum Deekor of the PDP secured 20,329 votes.
    The returning officer for Khana Local Government, Prof. G.G Osuagu of Michael Opara University, announced the results, Sunday afternoon.

  • Rivers rerun: Wike accuses security operatives of hijacking election materials

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Saturday accused the Nigerian Army and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS) of the Nigerian Police of hijacking election materials in Rivers South-East district.

    Wike made the remark while reacting to the alleged mass shootings by security operatives in Khana, Gokana , Akuku-Toru and Etche Local Government Areas (LGAs) during the elections.

    He also accused the security operatives of killing PDP agents, and working to deliver a particular candidate in the senatorial district.

    Wike alleged that the security agents were deployed to the state to manipulate the result of the polls, a claim that ran contrary to INEC and Police interim report about the election.

    ”The military have been used to rig rerun elections in parts of the state,” he claimed.

    He lamented that some wards in Khana, Gokana, Etche and Opobo/Nkoro LGAs, electoral materials were snatched and accused the security personnel of masterminding the act.

    Wike claimed that one Mr Charles Anyanwu, an Etche APC Chieftain was arrested with two AK47.

    He alleged that the security agencies might release him.

    He said that “in all my political career I have never experienced this kind of invasion by security agencies.

    ”What causes violence is when you give certain persons undue advantage.

    “Be assured that we are resisting it; it may take our lives, but we will resist it to the last.

    ”That is what is expected, when you are fighting for freedom, you must make sacrifices,” the governor said.

    Wike however said that he had informed a National Commissioner of INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner on the problems in Khana Local Government Area and Gokana LGA.

    He said that he was assured that action would be taken.

    Meanwhile, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers, Mr Aniedi Ikowak, has hailed the peaceful conduct of the rerun legislative elections.

    Aniedi made the remark while monitoring the election at Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

    He said reported cases of rumours on skirmishes would be investigated.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations (DIG), Habila Joshak, also scored the conduct of the election high.

    He said contrary to some reports of violence, the exercise was generally peaceful.

    Joshak also hailed the people of the state for conducting themselves orderly.

    He urged the media to verify information before going to press.

  • Election: Voting commences in #RiversRerun

    Voting has commenced in Rivers re-run legislative election taking place in eight Local Government Areas.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that accreditation and voting began at 8.30am in Wards 10 and 16 of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.

    At Ward 16, unit 1, a voter, Mr Christian Aniakor, said the process was peaceful, cordial and smooth.

    “ I voted at 8.35 am. It was a peaceful exercise and I am impressed with the security arrangement, early arrival of election materials.

    “ This has indeed, reduced the pre-election tension which made it look as if it will be bloody,” he said.

    Mr Jeffrey Chuku, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agent at the Ward, said he was impressed with the conduct of the election in the area.

    “ We are satisfied with the conduct of the election in the ward. It has been peaceful so far,” he said.

    M Chibuike Maraihe, All Progressives Congress (APC) agent at the ward said, the election began early and had been peaceful.

    “ I am impressed with the conduct of the election in the ward. The exercise has been free and fair here and as you can see, there is heavy security presence in the ward,” he said.

    At Ward 10, Unit 12, Mr Edmund, Naaku, the agent of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said though voter turn-out had not been much, voting commenced at 8.55am.

    “ My take is that the exercise here has been peaceful. We have not recorded much voter turn-out. I am optimistic people will come to vote later in the day,” he said.

    NAN also reports that the card reader machine was used to accredit voters while the incident form was used in units where the card reader did not function.

    INEC Presiding Officers in the wards said the election had been peaceful and smooth.

    In Akuku-Toru Local government Area, materials arrived late in the five units where election will hold.

    NAN reports that INEC officials had commenced distribution of materials to the affected units while voter turn-out was impressive.