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BREAKING!!! Crisis Continues in Rivers as Former LG Chairmen, Youths Storm Secretariats for Protest

Published

12 months ago

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Rivers State

 

There is continued tension in Rivers State as former council chairmen of 21 out of 23 local governments have taken to the streets, rejecting the takeover of their offices.

The protests, which began early this morning, have seen the former chairmen and their supporters waving placards with inscriptions such as “Police, continue occupying the councils” and “Sim Fubara can’t continue to act as he likes.”

The crisis in Rivers State deepened last week when the Police Command prevented some chairmen from accessing their secretariats, following a directive to take control of all 23 local government council secretariats.

In Buguma, the headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), former Chairman Onengiyeofori George led a procession of supporters through the town’s streets, singing solidarity songs in support of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Meanwhile, in Abonnema, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA, a group of protesters gathered to show their support for the police’s continued closure of the council premises.

The former council bosses are allegedly loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike.

Last week, Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to assume leadership of the council areas, following the expiration of the three-year tenure of elected chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors.

However, the former chairmen refused to step down, leading to clashes between supporters of the two political factions.

A recent court ruling had annulled the tenure extension granted by the 27-member Assembly loyal to Wike, recognizing a three-man House of Assembly loyal to Wike instead.

 

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Politics

Imo Labour Party inaugurate LGA mobilisation coordinators for grassroots registration

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10 hours ago

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June 14, 2025

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The Imo State Chapter of the Labour Party, LP, has inaugurated its LGA coordinators of the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, DMI, across the 27 local council areas in the state for grassroots sensitisation and the registration of new members.

Addressing journalists after the inauguration at the party’s secretariat in Owerri, the state chairman of the party, Callistus Ihejiagwa, said that the move was to prepare the party ahead of the next general elections by ensuring its presence is well established in all the local council areas.

He stated that the DMI, as an organ of the party, is also saddled with the responsibility of promoting unity and integrating those who are not yet members into its fold.

The state party chairman recounted that when Peter Obi entered the party, he came with many followers who were not registered members, and now that the election is over, the party is looking for a way to make them full-fledged members in order to prevent any rancour that may arise.

Ihejiagwa charged the newly inaugurated coordinators to live up to their responsibilities and work according to the constitution of the party.
“You are the foot soldiers of the party in your respective LGAs. Don’t ever derail from the frame work already established in our constitution. Put your best to ensure the party moves forward.
You are not to work for individuals or aspirantes. Make the affairs of the party your overall interest,” he advised.

Speaking on the party leadership, Callistus Ihejiagwa maintained that the party is united both in the state and at the national level under the leadership of Julius Abure, who he said was democratically elected as National Chairman of the party during its convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State.

Ihejiagwa frowned upon those calling for Abure’s removal after participating in the process that produced him as the party’s national chairman. He accused them of double standards and inconsistency in character for demanding his removal without regard to the party’s constitution.

Earlier in her speech, the DMI state coordinator, Lady Kay Iwunze, explained that the inauguration of the structure followed a directive from the national leadership. She noted that the State Executive Councils of the DMI were inaugurated nationwide on December 6, 2024, which necessitated the move to also establish it across the 774 LGAs of the Federation.

Iwunze further explained that the DMI was initially known as the Obidient Harmonisation Committee, OHC, but was later renamed following the party’s decision to transform it into the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration to bridge the gap between the party, the Obidient movement, and other interest groups.

“Our mission is to mobilize and integrate new and old members into Labour Party. Grassroots sensitization with the core values of integrity and transparency.
“To whom much is given, much is expected, we are all mirrors of DMI in our respective LGAs. The change we seek starts from us,” she said.

The DMI state coordinator pledged allegiance along with the LGA coordinators to work for the interest of the party and also used the moment to thank the state leadership of the party for availing them the opportunity to serve.

The highpoint of the event was the official inauguration of the DMI coordinators by the state chairman of the party in the presence of other party officials and faithful.

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Politics

I’m sorry, was naive to have criticized you – El-Rufai’s son begs Goodluck Jonathan

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1 day ago

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June 14, 2025

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House of Representative member from Kaduna North, Bello El-Rufai, has said he was naive to have criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Bello, who is son of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said he is sorry for criticizing Jonathan’s administration.

The Kaduna lawmaker noted that he failed to realize that Nigeria had a good governance under Jonathan due to his naivety.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday evening, the lawmaker said he is wiser now.

Bello said his naivety came to the fore when he saw his father preparing to visit Jonathan for political consultation.

He recalled paying his father a visit and noticed that he was going out. He asked where he was going.

Bello said: “And he said he was going to see President Jonathan, and I paused because when I was naive or when I thought ego or gratification mattered, I used to be very active in criticising President Jonathan.

“I even forgot in my naivety as many young people do, that we had governance then and I found my father saying that he is going to consult President Jonathan. I said, ‘please when you see him, tell him I am very sorry, I am wiser now’.

“The system is a problem. Now, why did I mention President Jonathan? It takes a lot, particularly in Africa, to lose an election and leave, he did that.”

El-Rufai initially had a good relationship with Jonathan and he even urged him to contest the 2011 presidential election.

Reports said after Namadi Sambo’s emergence as Vice President, El-Rufai and his family members heavily criticized Jonathan’s administration.

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Politics

This is an abuse of power, Soludo cannot hold democracy hostage in Anambra by imposing illegal and undemocratic fee of N50m for campaign billboard advert— Moghalu Campaign organization ‎

Published

1 day ago

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June 14, 2025

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‎Governorship candidate in the upcoming Anambra state election, Chief George Moghalu of the Labour Party and his campaign organizers described the N50m advert levy imposed on candidates contesting the election as extortion.
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‎In a statement released on Thursday, the campaign organisation said it rejected the decision. According to the statement signed by Dr. Ikenna Agu, Director, Media and Publicity “The George Moghalu Campaign Organisation (GMCO) condemns in the strongest possible terms the outrageous and undemocratic imposition of a N50 million campaign billboard fee by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), under the directive of Governor Charles Soludo’s administration.
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‎”This illegal directive is nothing short of a well-calculated attempt to muzzle opposition voices, entrench tyranny, and commercialize our democracy to serve the narrow interests of the ruling party”
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‎”The action by ANSAA, which demands an extortionist N50 million from each of the 16 governorship candidates before they can legally advertise their campaigns, is a shameful assault on the fundamental democratic principles of fairness, inclusivity, and equal opportunity”
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‎”This illegal levy is a direct attack on our democracy and must be resisted by all well-meaning Anambrarians and lovers of freedom”
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‎”Let it be made clear: Governor Soludo and his agents cannot use state power to gag other candidates. They cannot use financial roadblocks to eliminate competition. They cannot hold democracy hostage in Anambra”
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‎They demanded for the immediate reversal of what they tagged “oppressive directive” stating that If the Soludo government has any respect for democratic values, it should allow all candidates to access campaign infrastructure on an equal and affordable basis, as guaranteed under the electoral laws and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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‎The George Moghalu Campaign Organisation called on INEC and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), civil society organisations, and the international community to intervene swiftly and hold Governor Soludo’s government accountable for what they see as an “abuse of power”
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