Breaking News: Supreme Court Upholds Nyesom Wike's Election As Rivers Governor

The place of Nyesom Wike as the governor of Rivers State has been cemented as the Supreme Court upholds the authenticity of his election.

The Supreme court has upheld the election of Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor of the oil-rich Rivers State.

The court gave the ruling Wednesday but did not provide reasons for its judgment. It said detailed reasons for the verdict would be provided on February 12.

 

Also read: Governor Wike fires Director General

 The Court of Appeal had on December 16  affirmed the judgment of the Rivers Governorship Election Tribunal. The appeal court had  ruled that Mr. Wike was not validly elected.

The Rivers Tribunal had earlier on October 24 nullified Mr. Wike’s election.

The tribunal, which delivered its ruling in Abuja, also ordered that a fresh governorship election be conducted in the state. After the tribunal’s ruling, the governor headed to the Court of Appeal, saying the judgment was untenable.

The petition challenging the election of Mr. Wike as Rivers State Governor was filed by Dakuku Peterside, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in the election.

The Rivers governorship election, which was criticised by local and international observers, witnessed the largest number of violence both in its build-up and after the elections.

 

Tori News

 

 

Governor Wike Fires Director General of Rivers Bureau of Public Procurement

 

 

 

The Director-General of the Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement has been sacked with immediate effect,

 

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has sacked Rivers state director-general of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Franklyn Nlerum.

The directive of the governor was conveyed in a terse government statement endorsed by Nkem Nwadibe, the special adviser to the governor on project costing and due process.

The statement  said the Rivers state government has directed Franklyn  Nlerum to handover all government properties in his possession to the manager of finance of the BPP.

The statement further said the sack of Nlerum,(a Lawyer by profession) is with immediate effect and that the announcement of the name of the acting DG would be announced later.

 

 

Tori News

Governor Wike in a Sad Mood as His Key PDP Allies Decamp To APC

Some of Governor Nyesom Wike’s trusted political allies have started pitching tent with the opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers state.

This is happening at a time when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is preparing to face the electorates once again in rerun elections following the massive nullification of federal and state legislative elections by the Court of Appeal.

The latest member of Governor Wike’s ‘kitchen cabinet’ to jump ship is Ndubuisi Nwankwo, who was only last month appointed as member of the governing council of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers state by the same governor.

Nwankwo, who led 87 leaders of the PDP in Omuma local government area of Rivers state to the APC on Sunday was a onetime commissioner for energy and natural resources during Dr Peter Odili’s administration.

The former PDP man and other members of the party were received by Asita O Asita, the deputy governorship candidate of the APC and praised them for their courage to make the shift as the PDP was no longer capable of leading Nigeria to the expected destination.

Similarly, Chief Matthew Aleru, a stalwart of the PDP in Ikwerre local government area and former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Basin Authority has decamped for APC.

In a similar fashion, Igochukwu Dim who ran for the Emohua/Ikwerre federal constituency seat under the PDP has moved with his teeming supporters to the APC.

Some weeks back, Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, a chieftain of the PDP, a two-time governorship aspirant who contested in the governorship primaries with Wike and others walked into the state secretariat of the APC to register and obtain a membership card.

The continued movement of some leaders of the PDP into the APC in Rivers state despite the avalanche of appointments recently released by Governor Wike, may be a fulfillment of an initial statement by the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr Dakuku Peterside, who claimed that 50% of the people Wike is appointing into various offices were already talking with his party on how to dump the PDP.

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As at the last count, the governor had appointed about 30 Special Advisers and 24 commissioners.
Some of the Special Advisers yet to be assigned portfolios are already grumbling over “floating appointments”.

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Rivers APC hails Apex Court's verdict over Wike's Dismissal

Mr Chris FineBone, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, said in a statement in Port Harcourt that the apex court had affirmed that the tribunal’s sitting was moved to Abuja because of insecurity.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict on Gov. Nyesom Wike’s application challenging the relocation of the Rivers Election Petitions Tribunal from Port Harcourt to Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Apex Court had dismissed Wike’s suit challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the petition of APC’s governorship candidate in the April 11 poll, Dakuku Peterside.

Mr Chris FineBone, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, said in a statement in Port Harcourt that the apex court had affirmed that the tribunal’s sitting was moved to Abuja because of insecurity.

"As a party, the APC is grateful that all seven eminent jurists of the Supreme Court unanimously agreed that there was sufficient violence before, during and after the elections to justify the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja.’’

It also commended the reason for the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja which was to safeguard the lives of the tribunal chairman, members and witnesses.

The statement said that the party was happy with the observation of the court that Rivers State was "a theatre of war’’ and as such protection of lives of members of the panel and interested parties was paramount.

The APC also noted with satisfaction that the justices for once again re-affirmed that they were always ready to dispense justice without fear or favour.

"The significance of all seven eminent justices of the Supreme Court speaking in one voice in today’s judgment is that the faith, hope and confidence of the ordinary Nigerian to get justice is assured in the Nigerian judicial system.’’

pulse.ng 

Shocking! I Left Over N8Billion For Nyesom Wike – Amaechi

The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has refuted claims by his successor, Nyesom Wike, that he left an empty treasury after his administration.

Mr. Amaechi was responding to claims by Opunabo Inko-Tariah, Mr. Wike’s Spokesperson, during a radio programme in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that his principal met an empty treasury when he took over government.

A total of N7.5 billion cash were left behind as balances in the State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account with Skye Bank, FAAC account with Zenith Bank, balances with Access Bank and funds in the State reserve fund account in First Bank,” Mr. Amaechi said in a statement by his media office, Thursday.

This is besides other balances in the state Government House account with Zenith Bank and other government MDA accounts, like the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP).

By the time you pull all these together, we are looking at readily available cash in the region of eight to ten billion naira left for the Wike administration.”

Mr. Wike, who defeated who defeated Dakuku Peterside of Mr. Amaechi’s All Progressives Con‎gress, has consistently stated that he met an empty treasury upon assumption of office.

The governor belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Last June, barely one month after taking over as governor, Mr. Wike had said that only one revenue account with Sterling Bank had some funds left by Mr. Amaechi’s administration.

I want to say on good authority that we did not meet N7 billion, as being speculated. The state’s FAAC account as at May 29 was in debit. That was the briefing I received from the Accountant-General,” Mr. Wike had said during a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government, Julius Berger Plc, and CCECC for the rehabilitation of 33 kilometre of roads in Port Harcourt.

In his statement on Thursday, Mr. Amaechi said that he did not only leave cash for his successor but also economic assets.

These assets that are scattered in diverse sectors of the economy were developed or built or procured with revenue that accrued to the state during Amaechi’s tenure,” the former governor said.

The assets belong to Rivers State, not Amaechi. Some of these assets are presently yielding revenue to the state coffers, and many can be easily and readily converted to cash, if the State so desires.

Mr. Amaechi further stated that it was “disingenuous and fraudulent” for Mr. Wike to claim that he met an empty treasury to justify the N30 billion loans he took within his first 30 days in office.

Rather than this puerile and silly distraction of always pointing accusing fingers at Amaechi, Wike should come out to explain to Rivers people what he took the loans for, account for and justify every kobo that has been spent from the loans.”

ritanaija.com

My administration will not witch hunt anyone – Wike

Rivers State Governor-Elect, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the only winner for the governorship election is Rivers State, noting that no candidate lost the election.

Speaking on Monday during a victory Thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated that with the release of the results, all attachments to party affiliations will be obliterated across the state.

He said : “ With the release of the governorship election results, there is no loser in the election because Rivers State has won. I want to appeal to all our members to set aside all political differences and embrace all Rivers people irrespective of their political leaning.

“We are members of the Rivers family. We have no indigene or non indigenes as long as you reside here and contribute to the development of the state. We have a lot of work to do and we must start very early to revive this state.

“This incoming administration will not witch hunt anyone. I make this pledge in the presence of men of God. We have a lot of work to do, therefore we will waste no time witch hunting people. What is important to us is to build a prosperous Rivers State anchored on development and opportunities for all”.

The Rivers State Governor-Elect reiterated his call to all the other contestants who vied for the position with him to join hands with him to develop the state for the good of everyone.

He particularly thanked God for making the victory possible, saying that based on the permutations of political analysts, he stood no chance.

The former Minister of State for Education assured that God will form the cornerstone of his administration, as he will be guided by the love of God and the interest of the greater majority in administering the state.
The Thanksgiving Service which was organised by the Rivers State Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) was attended by Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru, Former Rivers State Governors, Dr Peter Odili and Sir Celestine Omehia alongside eminent leaders of the PDP in the state.
Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant ( Media ) to Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Rivers State Governor-Elect.
—

Source: http://dailypost.ng/2015/04/13/my-administration-will-not-witch-hunt-anyone-wike/

55 Corps members released after 24-hour hostage in Nasarawa - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/55-corps-members-released-after-24-hour-hostage-in-nasarawa/#sthash.qrB0ryEg.dpuf

LAFIA—Not less than 55 corps members, who were ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, deployed to serve as presiding officers in Nasarawa State were held hostage for 24 hours in Assakio, Ashige and Adogi in Lafia local government area on Saturday.
The corps members, who were rescued by security men and brought to the INEC Headquarter office in Lafia at about 4.00pm where collation of election result was ongoing, said they were held hostage by the host communities because there were no INEC returning officers to collate and return election results from the communities.
One of the detained corp members Mr Adamu Anzalu explained that the voters in the areas refused to let them go because the returning and collation officers failed to show up after the election had been held peacefully.
Anzalu stated further that they tried severally to put a call across to the returning officers but they refused to pick their calls.
The host communities who alleged foul play insisted that if the returning officers did not show up they would not release the presiding officers. It was after the security officers intervened and pleaded with the communities that the detained corps memebers were released. The presiding officers from Adogi and Ashige however left their electoral materials including the election result with the host communities.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alh. Abdullahi Danyaya while addressing the rescued corps members said he would ensure the materials in custody of the communities were returned to the commission.
He also assured that he would not cancel elections in the areas.
It would be recalled that Assokio and Ashige ward had their election results cancelled in the last election for irregularities.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/55-corps-members-released-after-24-hour-hostage-in-nasarawa/#sthash.qrB0ryEg.dpuf

55 Corps members released after 24-hour hostage in Nasarawa - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/55-corps-members-released-after-24-hour-hostage-in-nasarawa/#sthash.qrB0ryEg.dpuf

ABUJA—FORMER Military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Umar (retd) yesterday urged the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, retd  to be mindful of those he described as mere fair weather friends as he takes over governance in May 29.
In a statement issued yesterday, Umar also urged Buhari  to  ignore what he described as the treacherous actions of those opportunists who were presently dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC barely two weeks after the Presidential election.
The former military also assured President Goodluck Jonathan  of his  unalloyed  loyalty and “steadfast” friendship  as he prepares to face life outside power.
According to Colonel Umar in his statement, “A famous political scientist once warned that”the career of a politician is too uncertain to make any firm commitment to him. “Although I find this warning immoral and distasteful it truly represents the attitude and behavioural pattern of most of the so called friends and loyalists of men in power. Most are mere fair weather friends.
“Come 29th May 2015 President Jonathan will handover power to the winner of the 28th March 2015 Presidential election Gen Muhammadu Buhari. With this seeming loss of political power he will also lose a large retinue of friends and loyalists; people who would swear by his name a couple of weeks ago. The President like most of his predecessors will suffer the pain of betrayal.
“I however assure him that there are still genuine friends who will be by him through life’s challenges out of power.
“I also wish to advise him to ignore the treacherous actions of those opportunists who are decamping from his party, the PDP to APC at this late hour. These are people who will not hesitate to renounce God in their pursuit of ephemeral worldly power. They  are worthless and a great embarrassment to decent people and bad role models to future generations.
“Let me use this opportunity to dispel the wicked rumour that my closeness with President Jonathan has always been on account of some material favours he extended to me. Nothing can be further from the truth.
”I swear and affirm that I have never, directly or indirectly, been awarded an oil or non – oil contract by President Jonathan or his Government , as evidence will prove later. What I received and cherish above all is tremendous respect from the President. I intend to expatiate on this in due course.
“Let me also express my respect and admiration for President Jonathan’s nationalistic and altruistic decision to concede and congratulate the winner even before the final results were officially announced. The President behaved like the statesman I have always known him to be, thereby saving the country assured implosion had he behaved otherwise.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/beware-of-those-dumping-pdp-for-apc-umar-cautions-buhari/#sthash.tIro3Ewe.dpuf

ABUJA—FORMER Military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Umar (retd) yesterday urged the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, retd  to be mindful of those he described as mere fair weather friends as he takes over governance in May 29.
In a statement issued yesterday, Umar also urged Buhari  to  ignore what he described as the treacherous actions of those opportunists who were presently dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC barely two weeks after the Presidential election.
The former military also assured President Goodluck Jonathan  of his  unalloyed  loyalty and “steadfast” friendship  as he prepares to face life outside power.
According to Colonel Umar in his statement, “A famous political scientist once warned that”the career of a politician is too uncertain to make any firm commitment to him. “Although I find this warning immoral and distasteful it truly represents the attitude and behavioural pattern of most of the so called friends and loyalists of men in power. Most are mere fair weather friends.
“Come 29th May 2015 President Jonathan will handover power to the winner of the 28th March 2015 Presidential election Gen Muhammadu Buhari. With this seeming loss of political power he will also lose a large retinue of friends and loyalists; people who would swear by his name a couple of weeks ago. The President like most of his predecessors will suffer the pain of betrayal.
“I however assure him that there are still genuine friends who will be by him through life’s challenges out of power.
“I also wish to advise him to ignore the treacherous actions of those opportunists who are decamping from his party, the PDP to APC at this late hour. These are people who will not hesitate to renounce God in their pursuit of ephemeral worldly power. They  are worthless and a great embarrassment to decent people and bad role models to future generations.
“Let me use this opportunity to dispel the wicked rumour that my closeness with President Jonathan has always been on account of some material favours he extended to me. Nothing can be further from the truth.
”I swear and affirm that I have never, directly or indirectly, been awarded an oil or non – oil contract by President Jonathan or his Government , as evidence will prove later. What I received and cherish above all is tremendous respect from the President. I intend to expatiate on this in due course.
“Let me also express my respect and admiration for President Jonathan’s nationalistic and altruistic decision to concede and congratulate the winner even before the final results were officially announced. The President behaved like the statesman I have always known him to be, thereby saving the country assured implosion had he behaved otherwise.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/beware-of-those-dumping-pdp-for-apc-umar-cautions-buhari/#sthash.tIro3Ewe.dpuf

ABUJA—FORMER Military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Umar (retd) yesterday urged the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, retd  to be mindful of those he described as mere fair weather friends as he takes over governance in May 29.
In a statement issued yesterday, Umar also urged Buhari  to  ignore what he described as the treacherous actions of those opportunists who were presently dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC barely two weeks after the Presidential election.
The former military also assured President Goodluck Jonathan  of his  unalloyed  loyalty and “steadfast” friendship  as he prepares to face life outside power.
According to Colonel Umar in his statement, “A famous political scientist once warned that”the career of a politician is too uncertain to make any firm commitment to him. “Although I find this warning immoral and distasteful it truly represents the attitude and behavioural pattern of most of the so called friends and loyalists of men in power. Most are mere fair weather friends.
“Come 29th May 2015 President Jonathan will handover power to the winner of the 28th March 2015 Presidential election Gen Muhammadu Buhari. With this seeming loss of political power he will also lose a large retinue of friends and loyalists; people who would swear by his name a couple of weeks ago. The President like most of his predecessors will suffer the pain of betrayal.
“I however assure him that there are still genuine friends who will be by him through life’s challenges out of power.
“I also wish to advise him to ignore the treacherous actions of those opportunists who are decamping from his party, the PDP to APC at this late hour. These are people who will not hesitate to renounce God in their pursuit of ephemeral worldly power. They  are worthless and a great embarrassment to decent people and bad role models to future generations.
“Let me use this opportunity to dispel the wicked rumour that my closeness with President Jonathan has always been on account of some material favours he extended to me. Nothing can be further from the truth.
”I swear and affirm that I have never, directly or indirectly, been awarded an oil or non – oil contract by President Jonathan or his Government , as evidence will prove later. What I received and cherish above all is tremendous respect from the President. I intend to expatiate on this in due course.
“Let me also express my respect and admiration for President Jonathan’s nationalistic and altruistic decision to concede and congratulate the winner even before the final results were officially announced. The President behaved like the statesman I have always known him to be, thereby saving the country assured implosion had he behaved otherwise.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/beware-of-those-dumping-pdp-for-apc-umar-cautions-buhari/#sthash.tIro3Ewe.dpuf

ABUJA—FORMER Military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Umar (retd) yesterday urged the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, retd  to be mindful of those he described as mere fair weather friends as he takes over governance in May 29.
In a statement issued yesterday, Umar also urged Buhari  to  ignore what he described as the treacherous actions of those opportunists who were presently dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC barely two weeks after the Presidential election.
The former military also assured President Goodluck Jonathan  of his  unalloyed  loyalty and “steadfast” friendship  as he prepares to face life outside power.
According to Colonel Umar in his statement, “A famous political scientist once warned that”the career of a politician is too uncertain to make any firm commitment to him. “Although I find this warning immoral and distasteful it truly represents the attitude and behavioural pattern of most of the so called friends and loyalists of men in power. Most are mere fair weather friends.
“Come 29th May 2015 President Jonathan will handover power to the winner of the 28th March 2015 Presidential election Gen Muhammadu Buhari. With this seeming loss of political power he will also lose a large retinue of friends and loyalists; people who would swear by his name a couple of weeks ago. The President like most of his predecessors will suffer the pain of betrayal.
“I however assure him that there are still genuine friends who will be by him through life’s challenges out of power.
“I also wish to advise him to ignore the treacherous actions of those opportunists who are decamping from his party, the PDP to APC at this late hour. These are people who will not hesitate to renounce God in their pursuit of ephemeral worldly power. They  are worthless and a great embarrassment to decent people and bad role models to future generations.
“Let me use this opportunity to dispel the wicked rumour that my closeness with President Jonathan has always been on account of some material favours he extended to me. Nothing can be further from the truth.
”I swear and affirm that I have never, directly or indirectly, been awarded an oil or non – oil contract by President Jonathan or his Government , as evidence will prove later. What I received and cherish above all is tremendous respect from the President. I intend to expatiate on this in due course.
“Let me also express my respect and admiration for President Jonathan’s nationalistic and altruistic decision to concede and congratulate the winner even before the final results were officially announced. The President behaved like the statesman I have always known him to be, thereby saving the country assured implosion had he behaved otherwise.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/beware-of-those-dumping-pdp-for-apc-umar-cautions-buhari/#sthash.tIro3Ewe.dpuf