Politics
I Won’t Decide My Successor Alone, Says Ikpeazu
Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, says he will consult with the State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on the choice of his successor.
Ikpeazu who stated this during the grand finale of the PDP State Working Committee’s tour of the 17 council areas, at Mgboko, headquarters of the Obingwa council, urged governorship aspirants to acknowledge that only one person would be governor at a time and assured that the PDP would do the right thing at the right time.
The governor explained the party’s tour of the 17 council areas would help to strengthen the PDP in securing victory for the party in the 2023 general elections and commended the state party leadership for the initiative.
“Those who are interested in governorship position should understand that leadership is ordained by God. I cannot decide alone but will meet with the PDP State Working Committee to take a stand based on reports they have gathered from the 17 LGAs of the State”, he said.
In his speech, the member representing Obingwa East at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu, assured the PDP leadership that the party had a stronghold in the council and would turn in more votes than past elections.
Earlier, State Chairman of the party, Chief Asiforo Okere, explained that the party embarked on the tour of the 17 council areas to make the PDP stronger and ensure success in all elections from House of Assembly to the Presidency.
He boasted that the governor had made the PDP proud in terms of too many projects to campaign with for the 2023 election.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders of the party, former Commissioner for Physical Planning, Elder Godwin Nna, said that the PDP had no rival in Obingwa council and would return 100% votes.
Meanwhile, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has lent his voice to the agitation for power shift to Abia North come 2023, arguing that it will help cement unity in the state.
According to the former Leader ECOWAS Parliament, rotation of power will not only guarantee and sustain the prevailing peace in Abia polity but also ensure mutual trust among all three Senatorial zones in the state.
“We need peace in the state to enable the governor to concentrate and finish well. So, my take is that the party must resolve this issue immediately as time is of the essence”, Ohuabunwa said.
He argued that since power began with Abia North in 1999, and had gone round all three districts, it would only be proper that “power rotates back to the zone where it first started”.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.