Politics
You Are Enemy Of Rivers State -PDP Tells Akpabio
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, has declared Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as an enemy of the state, following his alleged past and present actions and utterances on issues concerning the state.
The party was reacting to a recent statement credited to Akpabio during a function at Isiokpo where he allegedly attempted to ridicule Governor Siminalayi Fubara by asking him to resign if there was no need to struggle to kill for power.
The PDP, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Sydney Tambari Gbara, condemned Akpabio’s statement and expressed worry that he had consistently shown disdain, unimaginable level of disrespect and hatred for
Fubara through his utterances at public functions in the State.
The statement reads in part: “His actions against Rivers people had never been pleasant but embarrassing, as he seems to have taken advantage of the political impasse in the State to perfect his evil enterprise of igniting more crises to the detriment of the State.
“The PDP also recalled that in 2021 when Youths from Rivers State in conjunction with Niger Delta youths blocked the Akpajo -Onne section of the East/west road in a peaceful protest following its dilapidated nature, Senator Godswill Akpabio, then Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, deceived the youths by hiring some road construction equipment, moved them to the road, thereby raising the false impression that the contractors had moved to the site to commence work on the failed part of the road, but not long after the youth withdrew from the road that Senator Akpabio, removed the equipment at night from the road, leaving it worse than it was and causing a number avoidable death of Rivers people and other users of the road.
“Another instance of display of obvious hatred for Rivers people by Senator Akpabio was the harassment and attempted abduction of an illustrious daughter of the State, Gbene Joi Nunieh from her house here in Port Harcourt, during her appointment as NDDC Acting Managing Director, just to make sure that she was removed.
“Recently, at a church service in Tai local government area, the same Akpabio had made a ridiculous remark regarding the 2027 Governorship election in Rivers State.
“At the service, Akpabio had called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to look for somebody from the Ogoni extraction who will take over from Governor Siminialayi Fubara in 2027. Such a statement was a huge embarrassment which could provoke a crisis as the Governor has not told anyone that he would not seek reelection in 2027.
“All these have exposed Senator Godswill Akpabio’s desire to stir up sentiments and aggravate the political crisis already confronting the State.
“It is indeed sad that rather than Senator Akpabio who is a Statesman in his position as Senate President to play the role of a mediator in resolving the crises, as a South-South son, he is joining forces with the enemies of the State in fanning the embers of war, disunity and destabilization, through incisive and provocative comments each time he visits Rivers State, something he does not do in his home State of Akwa Ibom, also a PDP controlled State, noting that in Akwa Ibom Senator Akpabio preaches peace, unity and progress in public functions but does the opposite in Rivers State.
“The PDP therefore uses this medium to advise Senator Akpabio to refrain from verbal attacks on the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminialayi Fubara as the people of the State would no longer take for granted, such comments capable of further dividing the people”.
The party warned that if however, Senator Akpabio decides to continue to choose the path of dishonour by making negative unprovoked utterances against Governor Fubara, he may not be welcomed into Rivers State again.
It said: “While appealing to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu to call Godswill Akpabio to order as his consistent throwing of tantrums at the State Governor and the people is capable of provoking crisis in the State, which is against the tenets of the Peace Proclamation Mr President brokered.
“$We also advise him to concentrate more on his job as Senate president and avoid delving into petty issues in Rivers State.
“We enjoin Rivers people to continue to have faith in the present administration as it is poised to deliver democratic dividends to the poor and downtrodden people of the State, while also appealing to Rivers people to resist petty actions and utterances capable of derailing the direction of our focused administration under the leadership of Governor Fubara, no matter who or where it is coming from, and join forces with the party, to defend our people against enemies of the State.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday nominated Mr Jude Ezenwafor as its candidate for the Nov. 8 governorship election in Anambra.
Dr Cornell Onwubuya, Chairman of the Anambra Governorship Election Congress Committee, said Ezenwafor was the sole aspirant and secured 798 ‘yes’ votes.
He added that 26 votes were declared invalid, while 853 delegates were accredited out of 999 listed for the congress.
The congress took place at the Women’s Development Centre, Awka.
Onwubuya said the process followed the PDP constitution and electoral guidelines.
“By the power vested in me and in line with PDP rules, I hereby declare Jude Ezenwafor our candidate,” he stated.
In his remarks, Ezenwafor said the PDP was on a rescue mission in Anambra and urged voters to support their bid to reclaim leadership.
He said he joined the race to return the PDP to the Anambra Government House.
“If you support me, the dream will come true. They say PDP is dead, but I will prove them wrong.
“All LGA and Ward Chairmen are now automatic coordinators in their areas. Our journey to Government House has begun,” he added.
Mr Chidi Chidebe, PDP Chairman in Anambra, said the party was heading into the election rejuvenated, united and strong.
He said Anambra regretted rejecting the PDP in the past and was ready to make amends.
According to him, many who left the PDP returned after discovering worse conditions in other parties.
Chidebe said PDP remains Nigeria’s most liberal party and had built the core governance structures in place today.
“We are the strongest party in Anambra. Only PDP can defeat the ruling party here. Let’s unite and make it happen,” he said. (NAN)
Politics
Labour Party: Return to founding ideals of inclusivety and worker solidarity or perish- LPPMC opines
By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
The National Coordinator of Liberal Progressive and Patriotic Members Congress (LPPMC), Dr. Kingsley Okundaye, has called on the Labour Party (LP) to return to its founding ideals of inclusivity and worker solidarity, or perish as a relic of one man’s ambition following the leadership crisis the party has found itself.
According to him, “The ball is now in Senator Nenadi Usman’s court and the hands of Labour Party members ready to reclaim their party’s soul.”
A statement he issued and made available to Daily Post, said, “The Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria has been embroiled in a leadership crisis that encapsulates the tension between democratic principles and autocratic maneuvering. At the heart of this turmoil is Julius Abure, whose controversial rise to power, legal battles, and eventual judicial rebuke by the Supreme Court offer a stark lesson in the consequences of constitutional disregard and judicial overreach.
He alleged that “Abure’s scheming, a blend of legal loopholes and political coercion collapsed under judicial scrutiny”, saying that the Supreme Court’s judgment reaffirms that legitimacy flows from democratic processes, not court rulings.
Okundaye lamented that under Abure’s leadership, LP was crippled in the sense that 12 House of Representatives members, 4 senators, and 21 state legislators defected, saying that the LP scored less than 2% in the Ondo governorship election and lost all 23 chairmanship seats in Edo LG polls while members deserted to the PDP and APC, citing Abure’s “toxic unilateralism”.
According to the National Coordinator, “The verdict affirmed INEC’s stance: Abure’s tenure expired in March 2024, and his convention was illegitimate. For Usman, this was vindication, though the apex court stopped short of installing her, urging the LP to resolve its crisis internally.”
He explained that the Supreme Court’s ruling offers the Labour Party a lifeline, pointing out that Senator Usman’s leadership must quikly convene a legitimate convention that adhere to the NLC’s consent judgment and LP Constitution, ensuring worker unions and NEC members participate.
Okundaye stated that the party should
reintegrate fractured blocs, mend ties with Peter Obi’s base, youth groups, and the Obidient Movement as well as ebrand for 2027 and prioritize internal democracy, credible candidates, and grassroots mobilization.
He explained that Julius Abure’s path to the LP’s national chairmanship began with a brazen political coup in Edo State, as National Secretary, he exploited factional divisions to orchestrate the removal of Maria Labeki, the constitutional successor of the late chairman, saying that Abure installed himself as chairman, violating the LP Constitution, as the move set a precedent for his subsequent power consolidation.
By 2023, he noted that Abure’s leadership faced legal scrutiny, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), a critical stakeholder, sued him for sidelining workers’ unions in party decisions, stressing that the case (NLC v. LP & Anor, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1626/2023) culminated in a consent judgment on March 15, 2024 where Abure agreed to conduct an “all-inclusive, expansive national convention” within one year as well collaborate with the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to reorganize the party.
“Instead of complying, Abure staged a sham national convention on March 27, 2024. INEC flagged irregularities, noting the LP failed to provide the mandatory 21-day notice under Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022,” he explained.
He opined, “The LP’s survival hinges on heeding the lessons learned and ensuring no future leader becomes a second Abure.”
The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has cautioned Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Alex Otti, governor of Abia state, over alleged anti-party activities.
In a statement released after a national executive council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday, the faction cautioned Obi against any actions that could undermine the unity and integrity of the party.
“NEC in session in exercise of its duties, hereby caution the former presidential candidate of our great party not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace, unity, and integrity of the party as the NEC will not hesitate to issue stiffer penalties if found culpable,” the statement reads.
The party also took aim at Otti, accusing him of engaging in conduct contrary to the interests of the LP, including holding “unauthorised” stakeholder meetings and conducting LG elections using another political party.
According to NEC, Otti has been attempting to factionalise the party by convening what it described as an “illegal NEC” meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
The faction further alleged that the governor is plotting to destabilise the LP before defecting to another party ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
“NEC in session notes the various anti-party activities of Gov. Alex Otti, including calling of unauthorized stakeholders meeting and usurping the powers of NEC,” the statement reads.
“He also conducted LGA elections using another political party. The governor has also intensified his effort to factionalize the party leadership by calling an illegal NEC schedule to hold on Wednesday.
“The leadership of the Labour Party is also aware of the governor’s plot to cripple our party before moving to another political party where he hopes to contest the 2027 governorship election.
“His anti-party activities are unbecoming of a highly respected personality and can no longer be acceptable. NEC stated that it will not hesitate to discipline him in line with Article 19 of the Party’s Constitution.
“NEC in session noted that it would not hesitate to discipline any other erring member who violates the party constitution regardless of how big or powerful such individuals may be.”
On Monday, Obi and Otti announced a stakeholders’ summit set for Wednesday, April 9.