Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has described the visit by governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, as a miscalculation. On Friday, three governors of the APC — Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos — visited Wike’s residence in Port Harcourt, the state capital, for a closed-door meeting. Also present at the meeting was Ayodele Fayose, former Ekiti governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member. The development came amid speculations that Wike, who is a member of the PDP, might defect from the party after losing the presidential and vice-presidential tickets. Speaking with reporters during the Eid celebration in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, Saraki said Wike is important to the PDP and the party won’t let him go. “Wike is an important member of our party and I am very confident that in no distant time, we will sit down and address all the issues. There is no doubt about it that he has cause to feel the way he does, but there are better ways by which issue like this can be resolved,” Saraki said. “The good thing is that we are all talking to one another. We are on top of the situation and PDP will reunite and forge ahead to win the next elections. I assure you that PDP will definitely resolve its family issue that it currently has. “The fact that some APC governors went to see their colleague, trying to capitalise on what they think is an issue is a gross miscalculation. At the end of the day, their visit is going no where. “The APC governors know that it is this kind of a crack they need to latch on. Fortunately, we are not going to give him to them because the election ahead is too important. The destinies of millions of Nigerians are too important and even bigger than any party or individual. I appreciate that, all our stakeholders appreciate that and Governor Wike himself appreciates that.” Saraki said the APC government should lock itself up in a room and refuse to come out over its failures in governance.

  The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has charged commissioners, heads of ministries, departments and agencies to begin compilation of relevant information required to document as successes, covering from 2015, when his administration started. The Governor said he was determined to do a proper handover to his successor, despite the fact that his predecessor did not do a proper handover to him. Wike gave the charge after he had sworn-in five new commissioners and assigned them portfolios at the Executive Chamber of Government House in Port Harcourt on Saturday. The commissioners are Hon. Deinma Iyalla, assigned to the Ministry of Special Projects; Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom to the Ministry of Education; Hon. Boma Iyaye to the Ministry of Local Government Affairs; Hon. Christopher Green as Commissioner for Sports; and Burabe Anea-Bari Donald posted to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs. He informed that his administration was in its last lap and there was a need for the different ministries to begin compiling records of their activities in lieu of handover day This was contained in a statement issued by Kelvin Ebiri media aide to the governor and made available to newsmen. The statement read,”“Everybody should as a matter of fact put the records of their various ministries together. “You won’t wait till May 29, 2023. You have to start now since this administration started in 2015. State what we have done, and by the grace of God, when the new person (governor) comes, he will have a handover note and it will not be like me who didn’t get a handover note. “Everything we have done, all the records. What we have bought from ministry to ministry, you have to start compiling them. “I don’t want to hear a situation where you will say there is no time, there is plenty of time. You don’t need to wait till the last day. That is why things are difficult for some people.” Governor Wike told the newly sworn-in commissioners that his administration was in its finishing stage and so much was required of them to ensure a good ending. He urged them to serve the State with incontestable passion, demonstrate competence and leave an indelible imprint in their various ministries of posting. The governor acknowledged that some of them had served the State in different capacities as former commissioners and special advisers. He, however, urged them to utilise this present opportunity to further contribute to the development of the State. The governor described as an aberration the appointment of someone without requisite intellectual acumen to represent the State as a minister in the Federal Executive Council. He was making a veiled reference to Hon. Udi Udom who was recently appointed as Minister of State for Environment by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rted). Udom’s appointment followed the resignation of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to contest the Presidential position. “I have never seen an embarrassment like that in my life. Yes, you must appoint those who are loyal, but educated people are also loyal. It has never happened in our State. “Everything cannot be politics. The image of the state is key,” Wike added. The Governor also informed that his administration has completed more projects that are scheduled for inauguration. He therefore stated that the project inauguration ceremony will commence early August 2022 and will last for two weeks.

‘ Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo state, has asked All Progressives Congress (APC) members to ignore opposition parties that are “only strong on social media”. Uzodimma spoke on Friday during a meeting with party members and stakeholders in Imo. In what appears to be a dig at the Labour Party (LP), the Imo governor advised APC loyalists not to be deceived by opposition parties with no political structure. LP, which has Peter Obi as its presidential candidate, has been criticised for being more prominent on social media and not having adequate grassroots support ahead of the 2023 elections. “This opposition that is only strong on social media with no political structure on the ground, you are listening to them,” Uzodimma said. “Our people should not be deceived. Don’t let anybody deceive you. “If you follow a party that is reminding you of the agony of the past but is not interested in telling you how you will better your tomorrow, you don’t have to blame anybody. “But as a people, as a party, I am here as the governor of the state through a political party called APC. That is our political party.” Uzodimma advised the APC members to take a cue from the party’s recent victory in Ekiti state, adding that the victory will be replicated in the forthcoming Osun election.

  The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has asked the president of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio to approach the Federal High Court to seek redress if they’re not satisfied with their (INEC’s) decision with respect to their Senatorial tickets. JOURNALIST101 recalls that the electoral umpire didn’t publish the names of any candidate for Yobe North and Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial Districts; the senatorial zones of Lawan and Akpabio respectively. The duo claimed they won the senatorial tickets of the All Progressives Congress, APC, after failing to clinch the presidential ticket of the ruling party. While a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udom Ekpoudom say he’s the authentic candidate of the APC for Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial, Bashir Machina said he’s not letting go of the ticket for Lawan despite the pressure from the party’s national officers. Following the ongoing confusion, INEC didn’t publish the details of any candidate for the two offices. In a press statement issued by Festus Okoye Esq., National Commissioner and Chairman, information and Voter Education, the commission said it “stands by the monitoring reports received from our state offices. For this reason, the Commission did not publish the personal particulars of any candidate for the two Constituencies at variance with the State reports.” Okoye further stated that: “Right now, the Commission is funtus officio in the two cases. Aggrieved parties are at liberty to approach the Federal High Court and seek redress as provided in section 285 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and sections 29(3) and 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022.” He also assured that; “The Commission will continue to uphold the integrity of the electoral process, including the deepening of the deployment of technology to enhance the credibility of elections.”