News

No Ward Congress Election in Katsina, APC Faction Alleges, Threatens to go Court

Published

8 years ago

May 7, 2018

Eric

Some leaders of the Katsina State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have alleged that no ward election was conducted in the state on Saturday, and threatened to go to court if any result was released.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC ward congresses were conducted nationwide on Saturday, May 5, with results already being received from various states.

But a group of leaders of the party in Katsina State, led by Abdulkadir Damale and Hassan Isah, in a statement on Sunday in Katsina, claimed that the congresses were not carried out in the state.

“We wish to draw the attention of the national leadership of the APC that no ward congress was conducted in Katsina State.

“In Katsina State, the electoral officials sent from the national headquarters of the party were hijacked by officials of the state government.

“These state government officials sat in the government house and other undesignated venues and filled the result sheets with the names of people selected by government officials.

“We, therefore, reject any purported release of result as an outcome of the ward congress.

“We are calling on the APC national headquarters to set-up a committee to investigate this illegality,” the statement added.

It said that setting up a committee to investigate what happened was the only way to restore public confidence and ensure the support of party members ahead of next year’s election.

“We are prepared to proceed to the court if any result is announced,” the APC stalwarts warned.

Contacted, Mohammed Tanko, chairman of the ward congress election committee in Katsina State, dismissed the claims that no election was held in the state.

“We actually conducted elections in all the 34 local governments; the turn out was massive and we ensured that all aspirants were given equal opportunities.

“Since we arrived, we have not visited the government house; allegations that we sat at the government house and wrote names of government cronies are mere lies.

“Those making the allegations are suffering from inferior complex and may not even have come out to contest for any post. They merely want to smear our names,” he said.

Mr Tanko said that a committee had been set up to listen to complaints by aggrieved members, and advised those not satisfied to lodge their petitions.

(NAN)

News

Two Rivers Lawmakers Step Down from Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara, Sue for Peace

Published

10 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Eric

Two members of the Rivers House of Assembly, who are loyalists of former Governor Nyesom Wike, have withdrawn from the impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers.

The Minority Leader of the assembly, Sylvanus Enyinna Nwankwo, and Peter Abbey, who represents Degema State Constituency, urged their colleagues to exercise restraint and allow for dialogue to maintain stability in the state

In a video widely circulated on Facebook and an excerpt published by Rivers State Television, the lawmakers urged their colleagues to prioritise the overall interest and stability of Rivers above partisan disagreements.

Call for ‘cooling-off period’

The legislators stressed that the prevailing political climate demands calm, dialogue and a “cooling-off period” within the assembly to allow, in their words, “wisdom and truth to prevail” in the legislative chambers.

Although they did not expressly mention the impeachment process during the briefing, their intervention is being interpreted by political observers as a withdrawal from the impeachment push against Mr Fubara, which has heightened tensions in the state.

Background to impeachment moves

The Rivers assembly parted ways with Mr Fubara because of the feud between the governor and Mr Wike, who is the FCT minister.

The current impeachment notice on Mr Fubara is the third attempt in less than three years to remove the governor. The previous efforts had split the legislature into two factions, causing President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in the oil-rich state and suspend the governor, the deputy governor, and the lawmakers.

The lawmakers accused the governor of constitutional breaches and administrative misconduct, allegations his supporters have dismissed as politically motivated.

Source: Premium Times

News

I Won’t Surrender Rivers N700bn IGR to Anyone, Fubara Vows

Published

5 days ago

January 8, 2026

Eric

Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has resisted alleged pressure to hand over N700 billion, representing 35% of the State’s internally generated revenue (IGR), to anyone, sparking a heated power struggle with former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister.

The dispute has raised concerns about the welfare of Rivers State residents, with 4.4 million people living in multidimensional poverty.

The feud between Fubara and Wike, who unilaterally chose Fubara as his successor, has escalated into violent confrontations, defections, and legal battles.

Wike has threatened to make Rivers State “ungovernable” if Fubara fails comply, while his supporters have vowed to “deal with” Fubara.

In response, Fubara has warned that he cannot be intimidated, saying: “Rivers State is not a playground” and that he’s prepared to defend the state’s interest.

His supporters have also threatened to mobilise protests against Wike and his allies.

The crisis had paralysed governance, prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month emergency rule in the State last year.

The situation remains tense, with both sides maintaining their respective stance.

The outcome will have significant implications for Rivers State and Nigerian politics.

The dispute highlights concerns about godfatherism in Nigerian politics and its impact on governance.

Wike has accused Fubara of ingratitude, while Fubara sees the former’s demands as an attempt to undermine his authority.

News

Rivers Assembly Begins Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara

Published

5 days ago

January 8, 2026

Eric

The Rivers State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The legislature kicked off the process at plenary on Thursday.

The lawmakers are accusing Fubara and his deputy of gross misconduct.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, is presiding over the session.

The day’s proceedings bear the imprimatur of renewed hostilities between Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

On December 5, 2025, a horde of the Rivers assembly lawmakers led by the speaker, announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Days later, Fubara formalised his own switch from the PDP to the APC.

However, the sabre-rattling and thinly veiled remarks between Wike and Fubara, which culminated in the declaration of emergency rule in the state in March 2025, have persisted.

Most of the Rivers lawmakers have stayed loyal to Wike.

TheCable