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Bayelsa Guber polls: Another setback for APC as Lokpobiri settles Wike, Diri Rift
… Sylva still in trouble water
Another setback has hit the Bayelsa State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) following report that the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has smoothened the frosty relationship that existed between Governor, Senator Douye Diri and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyensom Wike.
Investigation revealed that Lokpobiri was the architect of the reconciliation between Diri and Wike.
Diri and Wike fell apart after the PDP presidential primary which produced former vice president Atiku Abubakar. It was alleged that Diri supported Atiku against Wike .
According to Concerned APC stakeholders in Bayelsa , Lokpobiri is leveraging on his friendship with Wike to settle the rift between in order to support Diri for the November 11 polls.
The group alleged that Lokpobiri’s intervention and reconciliation of the feuding politicians was part of his strategies to garner support for the re-election of the governor in the November 11 governorship election in the state.
The move , it gathered was meant to ensure that Sylva of APC fails in the forthcoming poll.
Wike was said to be livid that Diri despite that the assurance that Bayelsa delegates would support him at the primary but allegedly swayed the delegates to Atiku.
In a press statement by its coordinators, Mr. Nimi Benigha-Amange and Kopiamu Arikibai, they alleged that Wike, who is still unhappy with Diri had resolved to back the candidate of APC, Sylva, before he was persuaded to forgive and throw his weight behind the incumbent governor by the oil minister.
They stated : “In furtherance of his intention to frustrate the election of Sylva, Lokpobiri has brought former Governor Wike and Diri together in reconciliation on order to support Diri .
“Former Governor Wike has been unhappy with Diri before now but Lokpobiri has succeeded in reconciling them to enable him to foster and achieve his interest of ensuring Sylva fails in the election.”
“People like Lokpobiri, David Lyon and some serving and formers members of the state and national assemblies, especially those from Sylva locality are said to be playing along with APC, they are all known to be working with PDP to deliver Diri on November 11.”
“These prominent politicians do not hide their hatred for Sylva and they openly say it everywhere that Sylva cannot fly and that he is not going to anywhere.
“We are watching. The outcome of the election in their areas will show their political values. It will show what political value you have and people will judge you mainly by your results”.
In the meantime, the political pressure group has urged the National Working Commitee (NWC) of APC to sanction erring members and leaders of the party in the state.
“We seize this opportunity to call on our indefatigable National Chairman, His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje and members of the NWC of our esteemed party to wield the big stick against the saboteurs in our party in order to ensure victory for our candidate, Chief Timpreye Sylva, come November 11th,” the statement added.
A former aide to the erstwhile Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, Comrade Anas Abdullahi Kaura, has accused the current governor, Dauda Lawal, of disseminating falsehoods regarding the state’s finances to tarnish his predecessor’s reputation.
Kaura claimed that Matawalle left over N25.9 billion in the state’s treasury when he handed over power to Lawal in May 2023.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Kaura, who also served as special adviser on urban and regional planning during Matawalle’s tenure, described Governor Lawal as a “pathological liar” for alleging that the previous administration left the state’s coffers empty.
He insisted that the funds were available and documented, challenging Lawal to provide evidence to the contrary.
The controversy stems from an exclusive interview Lawal gave to Arise News on Sunday, where he alleged he inherited a mere N4 million in the state account, alongside widespread dysfunction and crippling debts.
Lawal described the state as being in “complete disarray,” with every sector in crisis and no functioning systems in place.
Kaura dismissed Lawal’s claims as those of a “pathological liar” and accused him of manipulating facts to paint Matawalle as a failure.
Providing a breakdown of the alleged funds, Kaura stated that Matawalle left N2.65 billion in the ACRESAL account, N14.33 billion in bond balance, N6.3 billion in UBE grants, and N2.7 billion in NG-Cares funds.
“If he claims he met only N4 million, where did he get the money to pay workers and offset debts as he boasted during the interview?” Kaura questioned.
The former aide further alleged that Lawal lacks commitment to Zamfara’s people, describing him as a power-hungry leader more interested in the title of governor than in delivering results.
Kaura pointed to worsening hunger, insecurity, and unpaid salaries that have left students out of school, accusing Lawal of failing to commission a single project since taking office.
“His counterparts, like Uba Sani in Kaduna and the Sokoto State governor, are commissioning projects, while he is busy flying to Abuja and abroad, enjoying himself,” Kaura said.
Kaura also defended Matawalle, now the Minister of State for Defence, saying he is focused on national projects assigned by President Bola Tinubu and is unconcerned with Lawal’s accusations.
“How can anyone with a right sense of reasoning believe a governor would leave just N4 million in the state account? Lawal has turned himself into a laughingstock,” he added.
Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will continue to dominate the state, saying it would soon become a one-party state.
The Governor disclosed that about four members of the House of Representatives from the opposition parties had decamped to the APC, adding that members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly from different zones had also decamped to the party.
Governor Uba Sani, who spoke at Zaria on Monday, argued that the defection of opposition members to the APC “is a good sign, and that shows that we are doing something positive; we are carrying everyone along in Kaduna state.”
House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas distributed 117 vehicles, comprising 20 Hilux, 2 ambulances, 20 18-seater buses, 50 Sharon vehicles, and 25 sedan/saloon cars (Golf, Corolla & Peugeot 406). At the same time, 200 tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, and 1,000 motorcycles were given to various beneficiaries.
At the event, Governor Sani praised Speaker Abbas, saying that Kaduna State and the entire country are proud of his stewardship. He added that the laudable projects he was interested in in the state had his blessings.
In his address, Speaker Abbas thanked his constituents for their continued support and noted that he would do his best to attract people-oriented projects to them.
The electricity power generation companies (GenCos) have warned that the over N4 trillion unpaid invoices owed by the federal government and stakeholders for electricity generated threatens their operations.
In a statement on Monday, signed by Sani Bello, chairman of board of trustees, Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), the GenCos asked the federal government and key stakeholders to urgently address the issue.
According to the association, the issue is currently threatening the continued operation of their power generation plants.
“It is no more news that the power generation companies (GenCos) have continued to bear the brunt of the liquidity crisis in the Nigerian Electric Supply Industry (NESI),” the statement reads.
The association said they have made large-scale investments and have continued to demonstrate commitment by increasing capacities that align with their contract, spanning over 10 years.
The GenCos said expectations of being settled through external support such as “the World Bank PSRO has also been dampened due to other market participants’ inability to meet their respective distribution linked indicators (DLI), enshrined in the Power Sector Recovery Program (PSRP)”.
Moreso, they said the 2024 payment collection rate dropped below 30 percent, and “2025 is not any better, severely affecting GenCo’s ability to meet financial obligations”.
“Tax and Regulatory Challenges: High corporate income tax, concession fees, royalty charges, and new FRC compliance obligations are further straining GenCos’ revenue,” the GenCos said.
“Outstanding Payments: GenCos are currently owed about N4 trillion (N2 trillion for 2024 and N1.9 trillion in legacy debts). No possible solutions, including cash payments, financial instruments, and debt swaps, are in sight.
“Budget Allocation Concerns: The 2025 government budget allocates only N900 billion, raising concerns about its adequacy to cover arrears and future payments.”
Furthermore, the group said that liquidity challenges are further worsened by the various policies introduced.
As a result of the policies, the association said “no one is under pressure to ensure GenCos invoices are fully settled”.
“The implication of this is that GenCos only get paid a portion of their invoices (9%, 11%) from whatever amount is left,” the association said.
The GenCos demanded immediate implementation of payment plans to settle all outstanding GenCos invoices.
“Reprioritization of payments under the waterfall arrangement to give full priority to a hundred percent payment of GenCos’ invoices as at when due. A clear financing plan to backstop the exposures in the NERC’s Supplementary Order to the MYTO and the DRO 2024,” the association said.
They also requested the provision of payment security backed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to guarantee full payment to GenCos to enable them to meet their critical needs, ensuring adequate generation and expansion.
The GenCos urged the federal government to liberalise the market to create confidence and ensure the viability and creditworthiness of the power sector.
Also, the association demanded “full effectiveness of all market agreements, firm monitoring, and enforcement of the rules by the regulator on all market participants”.
In light of the severity of the issues, the GenCos requested that immediate action be taken to prevent national security challenges due to their failure to sustain Nigerians’ steady electricity generation.