Politics

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has asked the 27 members of the House of Assembly loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to commence impeachment procerding against Governor Similanayi Fubara.

Published

2 years ago

May 7, 2024

Governor Sim Fubara

Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, made the call at a press conference in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.

He said the governor has committed so many impeachable offences, hence the need to commence his impeachment process.

Okocha faulted the governor’s remark when he received a delegation of Ijaw leaders from Bayelsa state, on Monday.

Fubara had said the state House of Assembly was non existent.

Okocha said the Nigeria constitution recognized the three arms of government such as the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative, saying the governor has no constitutional power to declare duly elected members of the state Assembly non-existent.

He said, “We have directed members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence the impeachment process of a comatose government. The Governor’s head has become bigger than his pillow. He does not respect the law. He does anything he cares to do. We will not sit here as Rivers people to see Rivers State become a laughing stock in the comity of states, when we have a Governor who does not know his left from his right.

“A state as crucial and all important as Rivers State churned out a dunderhead. We cannot accept that. Our charge to the Assembly is to immediately commence an impeachment. And if they don’t do that there is what they call party discipline. We shall invoke the relevant section of the constitution.

“You know the history of politics. You know the constitution of Nigeria. The Governor said the Assembly members do not exist, that whatever thing they are doing is because he allowed them. In other words he has re-written the books. Elementary politics taught us the three organs of government and their roles. And goes further to talk about the separation of powers and checks and balances. Now what the Governor was implying clearly is that he is ruling Rivers State without laws.

“That Rivers State runs on executive arm and judiciary. So what that implies is simply absurdity. You can now see the tendencies of a dictator. As an opposition party in Rivers State, we will not keep quiet, we will shout. It is regrettable that the Governor has taken up to this point and we will not take it. The Governor was clear whether unambiguous in his deliberate attempt to denigrate the person of Mr President.

“All these while he has been sponsoring people to challenge the power of the President in the proclamation made by the President. The Governor said that the President’s intervention in Rivers State which he signed was not constitutional but a political solution. But he assented to it, not under duress. The agreement was signed in a friendly environment and the Governor assented to the proclamation and had the opportunity to speak where he thanked Mr President. So nobody forced him to sign the proclamation, he did it willingly. So at what point did the governor realize that the resolution was a political matter?

“The issue again to ask is each of those items for us to drive this home. Nine Commissioners resigned and they were brought back. Then you now began to talk about constitutional issues when the President advised you not to interfere in the funding of the State Assembly. Another area of the Constitution which the President delved into was the conduct of local government elections and the representation of the budget. Among these issues raised, which of these is the Governor talking about that is not constitutional?.

“What section of the constitution empowers the Governor to declare the Assembly non-existent? The role of the Governor is proclamation of the Assembly which is done once in four years. The constitution doesn’t allow him for quarterly proclamation of the Assembly. He dissolved the House and proclaimed the Assembly at the end of the tenure of the Assembly. Mind you the Assembly we are talking about is a representative of the people, they were duly elected. They are not his appointees. So where did the Governor derive his powers to say that the Assembly is non-existent.

“Meanwhile records are there about the correspondences between the Governor and the Assembly wherein he addressed Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. We want this to be on record as the Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, as the representative of Mr President, we won’t sit here to see the Governor declare on his own as if he is in court.

“He has become Daniel, who is sitting in judgement to declare the Assembly members’ seat vacant. To that extent in consultation with my party, we have directed and we are directing the Assembly members and as APC members who are in the Assembly to immediately commence the impeachment of Governor Sim Fubara.”

Reacting, Rivers Commissioner for Information, Mr Joseph Johnson, said Okocha is not the Chairman of APC in Rivers State.

“In our jurisprudence the 27 lawmakers have lost their seat on the day they defected to another party that’s what the law says. The Constitution of federal Republic of Nigeria section 109 clearly stated that and it’s incontrovertible. The law says you cannot put something on nothing.

“There is nothing at all to even put on something. The Rivers State House of Assembly does not exist, they are none existent. The governor said yesterday that they does not exist but out of his magnanimity has allowed them he even gone further to draw them closer but it does not appear that they don’t understand.”

Politics

Ireti Kingibe wins ADC FCT Senate ticket

Published

1 day ago

May 24, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe

The African Democratic Congress has formally announced Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe as the party’s flag bearer for the Federal Capital Territory senatorial race on Saturday.

The exercise, which produced clear outcomes across senatorial and House of Representatives contests, saw Kingibe secure a commanding total of 17,535 votes, far ahead of her sole opponent, Mubarak Tijjani, who polled 806 votes.

Declaring the results at the FCT ADC party secretariat, the chairman and returning officer for the senatorial and House of Representatives primary elections, Abubakar Adamu, affirmed the outcome of the exercise.

He said, “Having scored the highest number of votes of 17, 535, and the powers conferred on me as the returning officer for the Senate and House of Representative Primary Elections, Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe is declared winner of the election.”

The primary election also produced candidates for the two Federal House of Representatives seats in the FCT, with results indicating competitive but decisive victories across constituencies.

In the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, Bala Iyah emerged victorious with 4,937 votes.

He was followed by Yahaya Fatima Goya, who polled 2,015 votes, while Ma’aji Johnson Bello came third with 1,546 votes. Ismaila Ishak Ozigi trailed with 105 votes.

For the Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje Federal Constituency, Alhassan Salihu who secured the party ticket with a total of 9,016 votes, defeating his only challenger, Khalid A. Haruna, who garnered 2,955 votes.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were present to observe and monitor the conduct and outcome of the primaries.

Speaking after his emergence as the candidate for AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, Iyah expressed confidence in the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said, “I want to assure you that with this victory I am ready, by the special grace of God, come 2027 election. Because my people are ready for this election.

“As a grassroots politician, I am ready and I have the capacity because I am not just a novice in politics, that is number one.

“And I am a great mobilizer in politics, because it’s been a long time since I’ve been in politics. Since the June 12th election, I started my politics. And I want to tell you, I know the terrain of AMAC/BWARI Federal Constituency.”

He further stated that it’s very simple, because my people love me and they like me to be there. That’s why you can see the victory, the mandate they have given to me. For sure, that day is just a walkover, by the special grace of God.

“And we are ready, not because of the money but because of the acceptance. And because of the good things I have been doing for my people,” he noted.

Politics

After Winning Presidential Primaries, APC Fixes Date To Present Tinubu With Certificate Of Return

Published

1 day ago

May 24, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Sunday receive the certificate of return and flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The presentation is scheduled to take place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja following the nationwide collation of results from the APC presidential primary election.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the ceremony will be attended by APC governors, members of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, lawmakers and other party leaders.

The APC had earlier conducted its presidential primary election as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The presentation of the certificate and party flag formally confirms Tinubu as the APC’s presidential candidate for the next election cycle.

President Tinubu had emerged winner of the APC direct primary held across the nation. Tinubu defeated his lone challenger, Osifo Osayamen Stanley.

Speaking earlier, Tinubu described the 2026 APC primaries across the country as proof that the ruling party is allowing its members to fully participate in the democratic process.

The President spoke on Saturday after casting his vote during the APC presidential primaries at Ikoyi-Obalende Ward L2 in Lagos State.

President praised party members for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves during the exercise. He also commended their participation and commitment throughout the process.

According to him, the primaries have been organised properly from the ward level to the local government stage. He said governors and party officials in different states handled delegate accreditation, membership registration and other electoral activities in an orderly manner.

Tinubu said the process reflected a healthy democratic system within the APC and showed that every member had the opportunity to be part of decision-making at the grassroots level.

Politics

PEACEFUL PRIMARIES STRENGTHEN IMO ADC’S 2027 AMBITION

Published

1 day ago

May 24, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

By Ihezie Dede Walax

The Imo State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has successfully concluded its National Assembly and House of Assembly primary elections, producing credible, capable, and widely accepted candidates for various elective positions across the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The primaries, which were conducted on Thursday, May 21, 2026, across the 305 wards in Imo State, were widely praised as peaceful, transparent, orderly, and credible. Party officials, delegates, stakeholders, and observers commended the exercise for its excellent organization and strict adherence to the party’s constitution and established electoral guidelines.

Following the successful completion of the electoral process, the party officially unveiled its candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives seats in Imo State.

FULL LIST OF IMO ADC NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES

SENATE

* Hon. Vincent O. N. Iwuchukwu — Imo West Senatorial Zone
* Engr. Ofoegbu Uchenna Daniel — Imo East Senatorial Zone
* Barr. Mrs. Ibekwe Nkiruka Imma — Imo North Senatorial Zone

FEDERAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

* Amadi Samuel Okechukwu — Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Federal Constituency
* Ogbonna Chukwudi Joseph — Ihitte Uboma/Ehime Mbano/Obowo Federal Constituency
* Iheanyichukwu Emmanuel Egejurum — Onuimo/Isiala Mbano/Okigwe Federal Constituency
* Mbaoma Ikechukwu Callistus — Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency
* Okoro Rex Chikwesiri — Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte Mbaise Federal Constituency
* Anselm Nwoko Ikwu — Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency
* Peters Uchenna Richard — Ohaji Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency
* Bismarck Chike Iheomazuroke Akanno — Nkwerre/Isu/Njaba/Nwangele Federal Constituency
* Kingsley Nnamdi Okwarabizie — Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency

The successful conduct of the primaries has been largely attributed to the effective and purposeful leadership of the Imo State Working Committee, ably led by the State Chairman, Prof. James Okoroma. His commitment to internal democracy, transparency, unity, discipline, and effective coordination ensured a smooth and credible electoral process across the state.

Party delegates, aspirants, and members of the electoral committee commended the leadership of the party for providing a conducive atmosphere that promoted fairness, discipline, peaceful participation, and a rancour free exercise throughout the primaries.

Party leaders further described the exercise as a clear demonstration of the ADC’s growing political structure, organizational capacity, and preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

The party also expressed strong confidence in the competence, experience, popularity, and grassroots acceptance of its candidates, stating that they possess the leadership qualities and political strength required to secure victory in the forthcoming general elections.

Consequently, the ADC called on party members, supporters, youths, women groups, stakeholders, and the general public across the state to remain united and mobilize massive support for all the party’s candidates as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.

ADC — Arise and Shine

Ihezie Dede Walax
DG, Imo New Media