POLITICS
Bayelsa: Dickson Gives Identity of Possible Successor
Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Seriake Dickson, has said his successor should be principled, bold and courageous enough to protect the collective interests of the Ijaw nation at all times.
A statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr.
Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Governor Dickson as having made the comment during a live media chat in Yenagoa, on Monday night.He noted that in view of the challenges facing the state, Bayelsa could not afford to have what he described as an establishment errand boy as governor.
He also stressed that the next governor should have a clear agenda and God-fearing to serve the people with a sense of humility and compassion.
His words: “The next governor òf the Ijaw nation must be courageous, he must be ready to defend the Ijaw nation at all times. He must not be the errand boy of any ethnic group. I will be sad to see the governor òf Bayelsa playing just politics, without being able to take a decisive position on issues.
Governor Dickson who said he has raised the standard of governance and expectations, promised to publish an audited account of his eight years stewardship in line with his administration’s policy of accountability and transparency.
“The shoes I am leaving behind are very big. Posterity will judge.
Only very few of the people who come to talk to me have the interest of the state at heart. There is no free money to give anybody in Bayelsa. Don’t kill for anybody, none has the power to make you a billionaire.
“Our people are oppressed. We have a lot of stories to tell Nigerians. When it comes to speaking for the Ijaw nation, I have not been found wanting. I want that tradition to continue. I want my people to be safe.
“More, than any other time, Bayelsa needs a governor with the requisite courage to lead the Ijaw nation. What is at stake is your destiny and survival. Our people are Balkanized into small units from Ondo State to many many other states.
“In the Niger delta, the Ijaw voice must be heard. I hope those buying the forms are aware of the enormity of the responsibilities of being the governor of Bayelsa state.”
Governor Dickson also attributed the peaceful atmosphere in state to the new political culture of tolerance and maturity, his administration had promoted over the last seven and half years.
Dickson who commended the political class for the current peace n the state in spite of the multiplicity òf aspirants, expressed the hope that all political parties and candidates would abide by the rules for the greater good of the state.
The Governor stressed that the Peoples Democratic Party had so many governorship aspirants in the state because it remained the only solid and robust platform that could win election in the state.
He described the development as a testament to his democratic style of governance where people are allowed to pursue their political ambitions without any form of interferance.
“In spite of the multiplicity òf aspirants, we have a new political culture, there is no incidence of violence. I am happy that the state is growing politically.
“I want to see more engagement, I want to see people talk about their dreams and visions, I want to see more of the issues being addressed. The fact that you have 21 or so aspirants gives the clarity that PDP is the only party that can guarantee success; the platform that can connect with our people.”
“It tells a lot about the capacity of the party and the leadership that I have provided to make it attractive.”
Speaking also on the August 10, local council polls, Governor Dickson decried the desperation of some politicians who according to him, do not mean well for the state.
However he stressed that the election will hold as planned by the State Independent Electoral Commission.
The governor also pointed out that the boycott of the council election by the main opposition party, APC would not in any way affect the credibility of the poll.
“What happened was unfortunate. It showed the desperation of some politicians in the state. I know people who are planning to forge identities of delegates.”
“You can imagine how they can come within the party to frustrate local government election.”
POLITICS
Use Anambra Election to Redeem Your Image – LP Candidate Tells INEC
The Labour Party governorship candidate in Anambra State, George Moghalu, has charged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to use Saturday’s election to redeem its image.
Moghalu gave this charge on Thursday while speaking in an interview on Channels Television monitored by.
INEC had scheduled November 8 for the conduct of the off-cycle governorship poll in Anambra State, where the incumbent governor, Charles Soludo, is seeking re-election for another four years.
16 political parties have been cleared by the electoral commission for the exercise, including the LP.
“Let’s give INEC the benefit of doubt. It would be most unfair of me to come here and write it off.
It has the responsibility to deliver free, fair and credible elections to the people of Anambra.“Let me say very emphatically that it is an opportunity for INEC to redeem its image. It is INEC’s responsibility to do what is right and restore the confidence of the people in our election,” Moghalu said.
According to him, trouble makers, including members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, have no power to truncate the election.
He, however, appealed to security operatives to be professional in the discharge of their duties, as well as create an enabling environment for voters to exercise their franchise on Saturday.
“The confidence is that the security agencies, once they become professional and do what they are expected to do, I’m certain that we have peace and a credible environment to have peace.
“I believe also, the IPOB, ESN, or whatever they go by, they don’t have the capacity to stop our election. The point I’m making here, since I have the platform, is to appeal to the security agencies to be very professional. Do what is right, provide security, provide the enabling environment,” he added.
POLITICS
PDP Crisis: Wike’s Loyalists Postpone Ekiti Guber Primary Election
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Loyalists of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike have purportedly postponed the Ekiti State gubernatorial primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier scheduled for Saturday, November 8th, 2025.
They said the primary election was postponed due to logistics issues.
This was disclosed in a letter signed by one Abdulrahman Mohammed and the suspended National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
The letter was addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan.
The letter reads: “We wish to inform you that the PDP Ekiti State Congress and Governorship primary slated for November 8th, 2025, has been postponed due to logistics reasons constraining this exercise.
“A new date will be formally communicated when decided.
“Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards. Kindly refer to our earlier letter to the commission on this subject matter.”
POLITICS
APC Not Responsible for Nigeria Drifting into One Party State, Says Senator Enang
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
Senator Ita Enang has said that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) should not be blamed should Nigeria drift into One Party State, blaming defecting politicians instead.
Speaking yesterday with journalists, the former Special Adviser to President Buhari on Senate Matters stated that
Nigeria is not becoming a one-party state by any machination of the APC or the Tinubu administration, stressing that it is happening because other political parties have failed to survive as true institutions.
“Most of them exist for a week or two in the news and disappear. Some collapse under internal disputes; others are bought up or enjoined by court orders.
“So, what party do you expect people to belong to? Naturally, they gravitate toward the one that is functional.
“My only concern is the status of members of the National Assembly and state assemblies who defect without a declared divisions in their parties.
“The Constitution is clear: if there is no court-declared division, and you leave your party, you lose your seat — whether it is formally declared vacant or not.
“The Supreme Court has affirmed that such defectors must even refund all salaries and allowances collected after defection”, he said.
Reflecting on the 2024 capital component which has barely 56 days left, Senator Ita Enang faulted its implementation with revenue generated in 2025, insisting that such affected projects should have been rolled into the 2025 fiscal year and budgetary provisions .
” Each year’s revenue should fund that year’s expenditure. Projects not completed in 2024 should have been rolled over and captured in the 2025 budgetary provisions .
“The reality is that the federal government does not have enough money to fund its responsibilities which is making it to borrow money for budget deficit funding .
” But the year of budget implementation and revenue generation supposed to have been same , not what we have at hand now where capital component of 2024 budget , is being implemented by revenue generated in 2025 due to extension of implementation of its life span from December 31st 2024 to December 31st , 2025 “, he said.
He however stated that the borrowing plans of the federal government, were in order , particularly those meant for funding budget deficit .
“To my knowledge, every budget — including those of 2024 and 2025 — has always contained a deficit, and provision for borrowing to fund that deficit. So, the current borrowings were anticipated in the Appropriation Act”, he said .
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