The immediate past Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, has refuted claims by his wife, Florence, that he was kidnapped and being forced to act against his will.

Nwaeke, who recently made serious allegations against the suspended Governor Siminalayi, clarified that he is safe in Abuja, contrary to his wife’s emotional appeal.

He stated that he traveled voluntarily to the Federal Capital Territory to report himself to security agencies regarding the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.

In a video that surfaced early Saturday, Nwaeke dismissed his wife’s claims as misleading, suggesting she had been misinformed and given a script to read.

“I am in Transcorp Abuja. I arrived this morning from Port Harcourt to meet security agencies and report myself, as well as the troubling events happening in Rivers State. I resigned as Head of Service on Monday because of these developments,” he stated.

Addressing his wife directly, he said: “I just saw a video of my wife trending. She was told I had been kidnapped and given a script to read. I want to make it clear—I am not kidnapped. I am in Abuja, working.

“When I was Head of Service, my wife was not involved in my official duties. That script she read is null and void. I am safe and sound. I will report myself to the appropriate security agencies because Abuja houses their headquarters, and I feel safer making my report here.”

A former Majority Leader in the House of Representatives and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the South-West, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to fielding only tested and trusted candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at an Iftar organized by the SDP Oyo State Chapter for stakeholders across Ibadanland’s 11 local governments, Akande-Adeola emphasized the need for leadership that genuinely understands and addresses the plight of Nigerians.

The event took place on Friday at the Nigeria Union of Teachers premises in Samonda, Ibadan.

Expressing concern over the level of hardship in the country, the former lawmaker urged party members to ensure they are properly registered at the ward, local government, and state levels to strengthen the party’s structure ahead of the elections.

“SDP would ensure that only tested, trusted, and credible candidates are allowed to fly the party’s flag. This suffering is too much. People are suffering, and we must all work together to present people with impeccable characters. People who know where the shoes are pitching their constituents,” she stated.

She further outlined the party’s vision for the presidency, stressing that the SDP would only support a candidate who prioritizes the people’s interests.

“Our plan, the SDP plan, is to support a Presidential candidate who will listen to the cry of the people. Those who are coming to SDP with ulterior motives will not succeed.

“You don’t just sit down and say you want to win an election and then go and bring out anybody. We must have the right candidates. Somebody tested and trusted, who has integrity that when people hear his or her name, they can rely on him or her. Someone who is dependable and reliable who will work for the people and not for himself or herself. Those are the qualities we are looking for,” she insisted.

Akande-Adeola urged party members to remain steadfast in their loyalty, stressing that her involvement in politics is no longer for personal ambition but for the greater good.

“It’s not about me. I have said several times that I am not contesting for any office anymore; it’s about the common good of the people of this state.

“I ran for Senate, and we worked for the present Governor of the State, Seyi Makinde. While we were working for him, he was working against me, it was something I have never seen before, it was a total betrayal,” she lamented.

On the defection of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the SDP, Akande-Adeola maintained that the party remains open to new members as long as they adhere to its principles.

“Politics is a game of numbers, and anybody who wants to come into the SDP is welcomed as long as they are ready to play by the rules of the party and not with the mind of taking the party from those who were there before,” she stated.

Earlier, SDP Oyo State Chairman Michael Okunlade called on members to regularize their membership at all levels.

He explained that the iftar gathering was meant to foster unity among members in the spirit of Ramadan and discuss strategies for strengthening the party.

Similar events, he noted, had been held in other zones within the state.

The event was attended by key political figures, including representatives of the “Major is Coming 2027” group led by its Director of National Mobilisation and Strategy, Ezekiel Akintola.

The group is aligned with the aspirations of former Action Alliance presidential candidate, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd).

Also present were the Chairman of SDP Lagos State, Femi Ferrari, and the leadership of the National Liberation Movement led by Suleiman Oyediran.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has highlighted the extensive costs and logistical challenges associated with the recall process, describing it as comparable to conducting a full-scale election.

During an X Spaces discussion on Saturday titled “INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024. BVAS and IREV: Facts and Myths,” the commission explained the complexities involved in recalling an elected representative.

Prof. Mohammed Kuna, Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, emphasized that a recall election requires significant resources, including staff deployment, technology, recall materials, and transportation.

He noted that it is even more expensive than a senatorial election due to the multiple phases involved.

“A recall process is like conducting an election itself. It has to do with mobilisation of staff, deployments of recall materials, technologies, transportation, among others,” Kuna stated.

He further elaborated on the scale of the process, saying:

“A recall process is like conducting three senatorial district elections because we will go back to the field three times. It is more expensive than conducting a senatorial election.”

Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, assured that the Commission remains committed to following due process in any recall effort.

“If constituents express the desire for a recall and fulfill the necessary requirements, we will proceed accordingly,” Oyekanmi affirmed.

He further clarified the procedure for filling a vacant seat in the National Assembly, explaining that INEC would conduct a by-election if notified by the relevant presiding officers.

“We prepare for all situations, as we are aware of the unpredictability of electoral events,” he added, emphasizing the Commission’s readiness for any eventuality.

The discussion comes amid a recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The petition, submitted by Charity Ijese on behalf of constituents, was officially received and stamped at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja by the Commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, on Monday.

The recall effort follows a series of controversies involving Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6 over allegations of “gross misconduct” after a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

She had previously accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.

According to the petitioners, over 200,000 registered voters—more than half of the electorate in Kogi Central—have signed in favor of the recall.

INEC confirmed that on Wednesday, a letter containing the contact details of the petitioners’ representatives, including phone numbers and email addresses, was submitted to the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

The next phase of the process, the Commission stated, will involve verifying whether the petition meets the constitutional requirement of securing endorsements from at least 50 percent of registered voters in Kogi Central.

Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have pushed back against Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri’s opposition to their planned rally, insisting it will proceed as scheduled.

Governor Diri, during a meeting with Bayelsa elders and security agencies on Wednesday, expressed concerns that the rally could lead to violence and urged security agencies to prevent any gathering that might threaten peace and stability in the state.

However, in response, George Turnah, the South-South Zonal Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and lead promoter of the rally, dismissed the governor’s concerns.

In a statement issued on his behalf by his media assistant, Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, Turnah stated that preparations for the event were in full swing and would not be halted.

Turnah expressed surprise at the governor’s stance, emphasizing that politics should not be defined by ethnicity.

He reaffirmed that the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly are guaranteed by the constitution.

According to him, the rally is designed to show solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Dismissing claims that he was working with a former governor to destabilize the state, Turnah clarified that he leads a grassroots political movement called New Associates, which is focused on mobilizing support for President Tinubu’s administration in the South-South region without any hidden agenda.

A promotional flyer obtained by DAILY GAZETTE in Yenagoa revealed that several high-profile figures, including Wike, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director Chief Samuel Ogbuku, are expected to attend the rally.

“The organization is set to officially launch in Bayelsa on April 12, 2025, and the arrangements are in top gear to ensure a hitch-free outing, including formal notifications to relevant security organizations in the state as required by law,” Turnah said.

He also addressed Governor Diri’s comments about Ogbia leaders and elders calling him to order, reminding the governor that these were the same leaders who, in 2019, advised him against supporting Diri’s candidacy—a request he had chosen to ignore.

“I am not only a member of the PDP but also a serving Zonal Secretary of the Party in the South-South. I wonder which other office the governor was accusing me of occupying if I am not a member of the PDP,” he stated.

Turnah expressed concern over the governor’s displeasure regarding his political association with Wike, reiterating his constitutional right to make personal political choices. He noted that this was not the first time he had made independent political decisions.

While acknowledging that the disagreements within the PDP in Bayelsa remain internal party matters, Turnah expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved in due time.

Despite the current tension, he commended Governor Diri’s achievements and assured him of continued support for his administration’s prosperity agenda.

Turnah also urged youths, women, and political figures across party lines, as well as supporters of President Tinubu, to attend the rally en masse to express their appreciation for the president and Wike’s contributions to Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.

Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has again criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State, describing it as a politically motivated move aimed at intimidating governors who may not support his re-election bid.

On March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing political unrest and attacks on oil facilities as justification.

As a result, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly were suspended for six months.

The president also appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of the state.

The decision has been met with widespread opposition, including from civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who argue that the move is unconstitutional.

Speaking in an interview with DW Africa on Friday, Amaechi strongly condemned the president’s actions, stating that the emergency rule was an attempt to instill fear in state governors who might not align with Tinubu’s political ambitions.

“It is between the president and the FCT minister. The president wants a power grab. They want to frighten governors who may not support them in 2027. So, there is a rumour everywhere that if you are not careful, the president will remove you,” Amaechi said.

He questioned the justification for the emergency rule, pointing out that insecurity exists in other parts of the country without similar actions being taken.

“If the president said it is because of insecurity, because they blew the pipeline, what about part of the country where there is insecurity? Is the president saying they should impose emergency rule on him too? They can’t because he is a democratically elected president. Nobody can impose an emergency rule on him because there is serious insecurity in the north-east, north-west — even in south-east and south-west,” he argued.

Amaechi emphasized that security is the responsibility of the federal government, not the state governor, and insisted that Fubara was being unfairly punished.

“Rivers governor has no security responsibility; it rests squarely on the president. So why punish a man who did not commit an offence?

“The president acted outside the Constitution. Section 188 states how a governor can leave office, either by death, resignation, or impeachment. It didn’t say that one day you wake up and a man called the president of Nigeria will throw you out of office, which makes democracy unstable,” he added.

The former governor urged Rivers residents to resist Tinubu’s actions through democratic protests, calling on them to stand against what he described as an erosion of democracy.

Commenting on the ongoing political feud between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Amaechi dismissed the conflict as a struggle for financial control.

“The fight between the current governor of Rivers State and the FCT minister is about sharing money. If not, what is the quarrel? Nigerians don’t dislike corruption anymore. I’ve not seen anybody on the street querying what the problem is. Can both of them speak to the public and tell us what the problem is?” he asked.

Amaechi further lamented the state of governance in Rivers, arguing that the emergency rule had effectively placed the state under military rule.

“We are now denied democracy. Rivers State is the only state in the country currently not enjoying democracy. They have imposed military rule on us,” he concluded.

Abuse, LP National Chairman, 

Labour Party has officially cleared George Muoghalu and John Nwosu to participate in its upcoming Anambra governorship primaries scheduled for April 5.

In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, the party’s national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, confirmed that both aspirants had successfully undergone screening by a committee led by Hon. George Ozodinobi, deputy minority whip of the House of Representatives.

The screening exercise took place on Friday, after which the committee submitted its report to the party leadership.

Ozodinobi commended the aspirants for their dedication to the party and their track records, emphasizing their loyalty to its leadership.

“We will work according to the laid down rules, and we want to assure you of the highest level of transparency throughout the process of the selection,” he stated.

He further assured party members that the selection process would be free from bias and aimed at ensuring that the most qualified candidate emerged.

“We will work to ensure that we approach the election as a united house, without rancour.

“It is going to be a brotherly contest where everyone in the party will join our flag-bearer in the onerous task of campaigning and winning the November governorship election for the salvation of Anambra,” he added.

George Muoghalu, an administrator and business executive, has held key positions in national politics, including serving as the pioneer national secretary of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), a former national auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the former managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

John Nwosu, an IT expert and global business entrepreneur, also played a role in the 2023 elections as a director in the ObiDatti presidential campaign council.

A group of constituents from Edo South Senatorial District has initiated a move to recall their representative, Senator Neda Imasuen, citing allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and failure to deliver on his mandate.

During a press briefing in Benin City on Friday, representatives from five of the district’s seven local government areas issued a 14-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Senate, and anti-corruption agencies, urging them to act on a petition for Imasuen’s removal.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, has been at the center of controversy following his role in the dismissal of a sexual harassment petition filed by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The petitioners, including Kola Edokpayi (Oredo), Caesar Garrick (Ikpoba-Okha), Aghatise Raphael (Ovia South West), Ogbu David (Uhunwode), Okorie Kingsley (Ovia North East), and Hanson Orako (Egor), expressed concerns over what they described as Imasuen’s lack of engagement with his constituents.

“We have created a platform to raise awareness and facilitate the recall process of failed legislators in Edo South. We don’t need to consult the Oracle of the Hill and Cave to tell us that Senator Neda Imasuen has maintained grave silence in the Senate, prompting us to conceive the process of his recall,” they stated.

The group further accused the senator of failing to implement constituency projects, distancing himself from the electorate, and withholding critical information about his professional history.

A key allegation against Imasuen involves his reported disbarment by the New York Supreme Court in 2010 over accusations of fraud and misappropriation of client funds.

The constituents are calling for a thorough international investigation, involving INTERPOL, into the circumstances of his disbarment and his subsequent political career in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was recently suspended from the Senate, has also filed a petition with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee seeking Imasuen’s disbarment from the Nigerian Bar.

Her petition alleges that he failed to disclose his disbarment in his electoral documents submitted to INEC.

The controversy surrounding Imasuen intensified after the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order on March 4, 2025, preventing his committee from proceeding with an investigation against Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged misconduct.

However, despite receiving the court order, the committee went ahead with the proceedings, leading to her suspension on March 6, 2025.

In her petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Imasuen of contempt of court and procedural bias, arguing that while he dismissed her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio on procedural grounds, he aggressively pursued disciplinary action against her.