Politics
New LG Chairmen And Burden Of Leadership
The euphoria, tension, suspense and political permutations among political parties that participated in the just concluded Rivers State Local Government elections, especially during the primaries, political campaigns, election proper and emergence of winners climaxed on Monday, April 19,2021 with the presentation of Certificate of Return to the newly elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors.
The People’s Democratic Party candidates won all the contested positions in the 23 LGAs and the 319 wards of the state indicating the strength of the party in the state.
The winners of the election revelled in victory amidst massive solidarity in contention of the challenges ahead in fixing the various Local Government Areas based on their electroneering promises.
A major feature of the 2021 LG polls in Rivers was the vigorous campaigns by participating political parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), whose campaign trains went round the length and breadth of the LGAs.
With the assumptions that Local Government Administration were mere transient political platforms, the new crop of political leadership at the grassroots are startled to a new era of leadership.
Repeatedly, Governor Nyesom Wike had made it clear that any local government chairmen that did not perform creditably would not have a second term.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Ikwerre Local Government Secretariat in Isokpo on December 2, 2020 the governor who was represented by the state chairman of PDP, Ambassador Desmond Akawor reiterated his resolve on second term bid of local government chairmen that had executed people-oriented projects.
“His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike has made it clear that if you perform well, you will come back and if you did not perform, you won’t return.
“I, as the party chairman in the state, reiterated with the governor that if you do not perform as a chairman, don’t even think of buying form a comeback”.
Wike, however, endorsed the Ikwerre Local Government Chairman, Samuel Nwanosike, following what he described as outstanding performance on project execution.
The scenario that played out in the PDP primaries where performance was placed as a criterion of return for second term in office deprived many serving LG chairmen a second term in office, except for few that passed the litmus test.
Governor Wike had during the political campaigns across the 23 LGAs stated that LG chairmen must respond to their statutory obligations of providing the dividends of democracy to the grassroots through the execution of people-oriented projects.
The governor who was speaking at the local government grand finale rally at Oginigba Primary School Field on April 13, 2021 stated that since the inception of his administration, the State government had not touched any money that belonged to the local government councils.
“The state government had provided the enabling environment for every local government in the state to perform.
“As a policy of the state we have also decided to address vigorously the security challenges in the state, that is to enable them (Council chairmen) perform their duties of delivering democratic dividends to our people”.
Represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr. Emeka Woke, the governor explained that before his assumption of office, the local government councils under the previous administration owed past councilors, elected council chairmen and political appointees huge sums of money.
According to him, the state government expeditiously set up a committee to verify the actual amount of money owed past political appointees and ensued that the council caretaker administration paid the debts.
The development made it possible for the elected council chairmen that took over from them to have a seamless transition
As stated by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, shortly after casting his vote,
“the 2021 LG polls in Rivers State is a confirmation of Governor Nyesom Wike’s commitment to deepen democracy at the grassroots”. Nsirim also gave Kudos to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for the peaceful and credible conduct of the Rivers LG polls.
Also in his comments on the LG polls after casting his votes, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic in Rivers State, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, said the Rivers LG polls was successful because of the high sense of political awareness at the grassroots now. The PDP chairman lauded the efforts of RSIEC, security agencies and other stakeholders that participated in the electoral process.
Observers from other states of the country also applauded the peaceful conduct of the 2021 Rivers LG polls. Chairman of the Ebonyi State Electoral Commission, Chief Jossy Eze, who led a team of his colleagues from the 36 state of the Federation on a monitoring tour of the LG polls said, “The peaceful and credible conducts of the LG polls in Rivers State sets the state on an exemplary pace in the conduct of LG polls, we are satisfied with what is on ground in Rivers State, I want to commend the Rivers State Government and the state Independent Electoral Commission for their committed efforts in organizing a credible and fair election contests in Rivers State, we want the experience to be domesticated across the 36 states of the federation.
The whopping victory of the PDP across the 23 LGAs, and 319 wards of the state also proves the party’s supremacy mettle in Rivers State.
According to a lawmaker representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Hon Dumnamene Deekor, “Rivers State is a PDP State, the people-oriented projects executed by Governor Nyesom Wike has earned the love of Rivers people for the party, the peaceful conduct and massive victory of the PDP at the last LG Polls shows that PDP is fully on ground in Rivers State”.
While savouring their electoral victories, during the presentation of Certificates of Return to them at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, the new grassroots political helmsmen in Rivers State affirmed that they would live up to their electoral promises by bringing the dividends of democracy to their various LGAs.
Drawing from Governor Wike’s declarations that LGA Chairmen and their councilors must live in their LGAs to dispense democratic dividends to the people, there is a relative alertness on the part of the new LGA Chairmen and Councillors.
Pundits, however, envisage fears that the LG chairmen may as well droop to the temptations and lures of hibernating in the cities and shirking their responsibilities of overseeing their political domains. With the die already cast, many will outstand themselves and earn a second term based on the parameters already set, while others will fizzle out.
The months and years ahead will however determine the fate of the LG Chairmen and their Councillors. The court of public opinion is also complementing Governor Wike’s unwinking surveillance on the LG Chairmen and their councilors.
By: Taneh Beemene
The lawmaker representing Ethiope East/West Federal Constituency of Delta State, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, has said that her defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) complied with the relevant sections of the constitution, hence there was no need for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to declare her seat vacant.
This is just as she filed an affidavit to support her originating summon, listing her reasons for dumping the PDP for the APC.
Deposing the affidavit at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja recently, the lawmaker listed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the House and PDP as defendants.
She said her purpose for leaving the 3rd defendant was as a result of protracted crises in the party.
Ibori-Suenu said: “For over a year, the 3rd defendant has been enmeshed in a series of unresolved leadership crises at the national, which crisis has driven the party into two implacable camps.
“The 3rd defendant (PDP) started grappling with the internal strife before the 2023 presidential election, particularly after the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries conducted for the election of the party’s presidential candidate.
“Upon the selection of the party’s vice presidential candidate for the presidential election in 2023, the internal disputes in the political party deepened resulting in division amongst the National Working Committee and creation of the (G-5). That is, Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Seyi Makinde and Okezie Ikpeazu (then governors of Rivers, Benue, Enugu State, Oyo and Abia states, respectively).
“Following the decision of a High Court which restrained lyorchia Ayu from acting as the party’s national chairman, an Acting National Chairman was appointed for the party.
“But his appointment generated massive discontent, which further divided the party at the national level.
“However, the division in the national leadership lingered due to the continued stay of the Acting National Chairman of the Party and the inability of the party to convene a meeting of its National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting for consideration of a replacement for the substantive National Chairman of the Party in compliance with Article 45(2) and 47(6) of the PDP Constitution (amended in 2017).
“Attached and marked Exhibit IB 2 is the PDP Constitution (amended in 2017).10. On October I1, 2024, the 3rd Defendant’s National Working Committee was embroiled in series of suspension and counter-suspensions amongst the members of the National Working Committee of the party.
“PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, announced on behalf of a faction of the National Working Committee that the Acting National Chairman, Iliya Umar Damagum and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, were suspended with the National chairman being replaced by Alhaji
The National Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo, has urged members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party to end the Supreme Court victory celebrations and focus on work in their respective states and localities.
The National Leader made this statement over the weekend in Abuja during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to mark the end of the fiscal year 2024.
Gov. Soludo also extended a hand of fellowship to Nigerians, inviting them to join APGA, which he described as “the most progressive party in Nigeria at the moment.”
Gov. Soludo said, “We want to unite all aggrieved members of the party for progress and the new Nigeria we all desire. I want to tell you that the Supreme Court victory is over and remains a call for unity.”
He expressed joy over the appointment of Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu as a cabinet member in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“Under this administration, a member of our party is appointed a minister, and the President moves outside APC. We shall grow from strength to strength because APGA is built to last,” he stated.
Reflecting on his administration in Anambra State, Gov. Soludo highlighted efforts to leave behind a lasting legacy, including a free education policy and significant infrastructural development, which he described as “promises kept to walk the talk.”
The National Chairman of the party, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, while welcoming delegates from across the country, expressed optimism about the party’s future following years of struggle for survival and a protracted court case that recently ended at the Supreme Court.
While chronicling APGA’s journey, its founding dreams, and its role as a political voice for the South-East, Ezeokenwa noted that despite recent internal challenges orchestrated by “political merchants,” the party had grown from a regional movement to a national entity.
He acknowledged Gov. Soludo’s pivotal role during the party’s legal battles, describing the governor as an invaluable asset throughout APGA’s struggles.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has overruled the expulsion of Ikenga Ugochinyere by the Imo State chapter of the party.
On Saturday, Imo PDP announced the expulsion of Ugochinyere, the lawmaker representing the Ideato Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, from the party.
The state’s party chapter said the legislator was expelled over alleged misconduct and anti-party activities.
However, a few hours later, the party’s NWC described Ugochinyere’s expulsion as “null and void and of no effect”.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, the party said the move by its chapter in Imo was not “consistent with the express provision of Sections 57 (7) and 59 (3) of the constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down rules of our great party”.
“Section 57 (7) of the Constitution of the PDP is clear in providing that “Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no executive committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, deputy governors, or members of the National Assembly,” the statement read.
“Also, Section 59 (3) of the Constitution of the PDP is unambiguous in providing that “Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level except the National Executive Committee shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Ambassadors, Special Advisers, or member of any of the Legislative Houses.
“It is therefore clear that no ward, local government, or even state chapter of the party has the power to suspend, expel, or discipline a member of the National Assembly in any form whatsoever without due recourse to the National Working Committee as provided by the Constitution of the PDP”, it added.
The PDP NWC added that Hon Ugochinyere remains a party member with all rights, privileges, recognition, and obligations.
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