Politically Motivated Killings: Court Stops Gov Amaechi’s Commission of Inquiry from Sitting

Justice Eche Nkachiwa of the federal high court in Port Harcourt has issued an interim order restraining the Rivers State Commission of Inquiry on politically motivated violence and killings from sitting pending the hearing and determination of a suit before the court against the setting up of the commission.

The suit was instituted by the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State challenging the setting up of the commission of inquiry by Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi.

Counsel to the PDP, Dike Odena told newsmen that the interim order means the commission of inquiry will not sit until the 6^th of May when the matter was adjourned to.

Odena said: “My client went to court to enforce their fundamental right against the commission of inquiry. The court just granted them interim order restraining the commission from sitting. So, what that means in effect is that the commission of inquiry will not sit pending when they would come before the court to explain themselves. Especially, there is this motion for interlocutory injunction which has been fixed for the 6^th of May. But the interim order is to restrain them from sitting between now and then. So, they are not supposed to sit until after when then come for the hearing of the motion on notice on the 6^th of May.”

South-east, South-south Group Want to Break Away from Nigeria…Push for Self-Determination

A regional advocacy group, The Lower Niger Congress has advocated a referendum of the people of the South-south and the South-east regions.

The Secretary-General of the Congress, Tony Nnadi, said at the Solemn Assembly of Ethnic Nationalities in Port Harcourt that the people of the two regions at the occasion unanimously agreed to seek a referendum by the people to decide the future of Nigeria, as Scotland did in relation to the United Kingdom.

PDP Challenges Gov Amaechi’s Panel of Inquiry in Court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has instituted a suit at the federal high court in Port Harcourt challenging the setting up of a panel of inquiry by Governor Chibuike Amaechi to investigate the politically motivated violence and killings for and during the just concluded general elections in the state.

The PDP in a suit said governor Amaechi is not qualified to set up a commission of inquiry having been partisan and personally involved in the subject matter of the proposed inquiry of which he accused the PDP of masterminding.

The PDP said that the subject matter of inquiry which relates to allegations of politically motivated killings and violence against persons and property in the state are criminal in nature which only the police and the judiciary has the powers to investigate.

Rivers PDP Accuses Amaechi, APC of Setting Aside N4.5Bn to Bribe Election Tribunal, Conduct LG Election

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has alleged that Rivers State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have set aside N2 billion to bribe judges of the election petition tribunal  sitting in Abuja to nullify the April 11 governorship election in the state.

The media and publicity secretary of the PDP campaign organisation in Rivers State, Emma Okah also alleged that the Rivers State Government has approved N2.5 billion to conduct the proposed local government election. 

The PDP said Governor Chibuike Amaechi allegedly directed his financial officers to effect the deal in a meeting it had with them at the Rivers State Government House in Asokoro, Abuja.

The party further alleged that the entire N4.5 billion would be paid to the account of the state government as a conduit to cover the money he amassed for the planned inducement of the tribunal.

Rivers Govt Declares Support for Holding LG Election May 23rd

The Rivers State Government has declared its support for the conduct of Local Government Council elections in 22 out of 23 local government areas of the state come May 23.

A statement issued by the State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Ibim Semenitari said the timing of the elections meets with the provisions of Rivers State Local Government and Electoral Commission Law.

They said the plan and election was also consistent with Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s declaration that local government elections would hold after the 2015 general elections.

Another Member of Rivers NMA Kidnapped

The Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said unknown gunmen have abducted one of its members, Dr S.N. Amaechi.

The association said the abductors killed a policeman attached to their colleague during the operation.

NMA Chairman in Rivers State, Dr. Furo Green said the incidence occurred last Friday night close to Dr. Amaechi’s residence at Orazi axis at Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

House of Assembly Elections in Rivers to Be Concluded on April 18

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State has fixed Saturday, April 18, for a rerun of House of Assembly elections in four local government areas of the state where elections were declared inconclusive.

The affected local governments are Emohua, Opobo/Nkoro , Ahoada East Constituency I and II, Etchie Constituency I and II.

The Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gesila Khan in a statement on Wednesday, said elections would hold only in the wards and units where elections were declared inconclusive.

3 Rivers Governorship Candidates Call for Cancellation of April 11 Elections

Some governorship candidates in Rivers State have called for the cancellation of April 11 elections in the state.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Charles Ari, at a press briefing on behalf of APC and SDP counterpart; Dakuku Peterside and Minibi Harry, said the elections were marred by irregularities.

Ari also alleged that the election witnessed widespread shooting, maiming and intimidation of voters all over Rivers State.

He said: “the high levels of violence and misconduct recorded in almost all areas of the state leave us as bearers of our people’s destiny with no choice other than to insist that the purported said elections held in Rivers State today April 11^th 2015, must be cancelled because it does not reflect the will of our people.”

Wike Wins Rivers Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, as winner of the Rivers State governorship election.

The Returning Officer of the election and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Fayode Oruwese, declared the result, today April 13, at the INEC headquarters in Port Harcourt.

He said Nyesom Wike won in 20 local government areas with over a million votes to defeat his closest challenger and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside who pulled 124, 896 votes.

Oruwese also said the Labour Party candidate, Prince Tonye Princewill, came third with 10, 142 votes.

“ I professor Fayode Oruwese hereby certify that i was the returning officer for the Rivers State election held on the 11^th day of April, 2015. Dr Dakuku Adol Peterside of APC received 124, 896 votes. Wike Ezenwo of PDP received 1, 029 102 votes and that Wike of PDP having satisfied the requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and is retained elected,” Oruwese said.

Amaechi Describes Governorship, House of Assembly Election in Rivers as Sham

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has declared the governorship and state house of assembly election in the state as a sham.

Amaechi came out with shortly after voting in Ward 32 unit 14, Obima Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

He said he received reports of numerous hijack of election materials by hoodlums and the killing of about five persons including a policeman in the state following election violence.

INEC Declares Inconclusive Saturday’s Election in some Parts of 6 LGs in Rivers

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State has declared inconclusive election in some wards and units in six local government areas of the state.

The affected local government areas are: Abua/Odual Ward 1 in unit 1-20, Asari Toru Ward 13, Bonny Ward 12, Emohua Ward 4 and Obio/Akpor Ward 15 and 16.

Others are Degema Ward 11 and 12, while INEC said no election was conducted in Degema Ward 13.

INEC Resident Election Commissioner, Gesila Khan, however, said elections took place in all the 23 local government areas of the state.

Patience Jonathan Replies Ameachi’s Allegation that She’s in Rivers to Rig Election

Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has denied allegations made by the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, that she was in the state to pressure INEC’s Resident Electoral Commission in the state, Gesila Khan, into rigging the governorship election in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and by implication, Nyesom Wike.

The First Lady, who arrived Rivers State on Wednesday April 8, said she was only in the state to be welcomed by her kinsmen who had applauded her for the support she gave to her husband.

In a statement released by Director of Information in her office, Ihuoma Priscilla, she said:

Ghanain Actor, John Dumelo Robbed!

Handsome Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo, said he was robbed yesterday by thieves in labone, Ghana.

John Dumelo said the thieves broke into his car, took his travelling bag that contained his laptop, passport and other valuable items and also some amount of money.

He is pleading with everyone to be on the lookout and inform the police of any information that could lead to the recovery of the stolen items.

See his plea which he made on social media and a clearer picture of his car after the cut...

Minister of Sports Alleges Amaechi is Pressuring Army to Release Arrested APC Thugs

The Minister of Sports, Tammy Danagogo has accused the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, of pressuring security operatives some suspected armed political thugs caught in Abonima in Akuku Toru Local Government Area.

Danagogo in a telephone interview on Friday said those arrested were not indigenes of Abonima and were seen by community vigilante group who went on a search of the area and discovered that thugs were armed to teeth with sophisticated weapons.

He said: “the governor came here and what the public is saying he came to do is to press the army to release armed thugs that were arrested. Over 100 armed thugs were arrested over the night. Apparently they were brought in by the APC and the people went and reported and the army arrested them. As i talk with you now, they are detained.”

Rivers Election: APC Accuses PDP of Haijacking Result Sheets in some LGs

With just few minutes into the commencement of accreditation process for the voting, there are already reports of malpractices in some areas from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Obio/Akpor, Tony Nwokocha, alleged that sensitive materials have been hijacked by a rival party.