Politics
Rivers By-Election: Police Restrict Movement Across Seven LGAs, Warn Against Violence and Vote-Buying
The Rivers State Police Command has announced a restriction of movement of persons, vehicles, and motorcycles across seven local government areas ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026.
The affected local government areas are Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo, and Opobo/Nkoro.
The election, which will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is being held to fill the vacant senatorial seat following the death of former representative Barry Mpigi, who passed away in February.
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In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the restriction will run from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, as saying the measure forms part of comprehensive security arrangements to ensure a peaceful, orderly, free, fair, and credible electoral process.
According to the police, the restriction is aimed at enhancing public safety, protecting electoral officials and materials, preventing electoral malpractice, and ensuring voters can exercise their civic duty without fear, intimidation, or harassment.
The statement read in part: “The Rivers State Police Command hereby notifies members of the public, particularly residents of Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, of a temporary restriction on movement ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District By-Election scheduled to hold on Saturday, 20th June 2026.”
“As part of comprehensive security measures put in place to guarantee a peaceful, orderly, free, fair, and credible electoral process, the movement of persons, vehicles, and motorcycles within the affected Local Government Areas will be restricted from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, 19th June 2026, until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, 20th June 2026.”
The command warned that anyone who violates the order or engages in electoral offences such as vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery, or any act capable of disrupting the election will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.
“The Command warns that any individual or group found violating the restriction order, engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process or participating in any form of electoral violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery or any other unlawful activity will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.”
The police urged political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of the affected LGAs to remain peaceful and cooperate fully with security agencies.
“CP Olugbenga Adepoju calls on all political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of the affected Local Government Areas to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and cooperative with security agencies to ensure a successful electoral exercise.”
The command assured that adequate security personnel have been deployed in collaboration with other agencies to protect lives, property, and electoral materials throughout the exercise.
“The Command wishes to reassure the public that robust security arrangements have been put in place, in collaboration with other security and relevant agencies, to ensure the protection of lives and property, safeguard electoral materials, and guarantee a peaceful, free, fair and credible election.”
Residents were also advised to stay alert and report suspicious movements to security authorities.
Politics
APC Sweeps Ebonyi LG Polls as Umahi’s Son, 12 Others Emerge Chairmen
The All Progressives Congress has recorded a clean sweep in the Ebonyi State local government elections, winning all 13 chairmanship and 171 councillorship seats contested in the poll.
The results were announced on Sunday by the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, Patrick Enyi, at the commission’s office on Onwe Road, Abakaliki.
Among the winners was Osborn Umahi, son of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who emerged chairman-elect of Ohaozara Local Government Area.
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Other candidates declared winners include Peace Agwu for Ishielu, Paul Ituma for Ohaukwu, Friday Nwuhuo for Ezza North, Chinedu Mkpuma for Ezza South, Chidi Nwode for Ikwo and Timothy Nwachi for Afikpo.
Also declared winners were Ikechukwu Ogbofia for Onicha, Michael Kalu Anyim for Ivo, Simeon Onuoha for Edda, Helen Aduga for Izzi, Chidiebere Alo for Abakaliki and Chibueze Odigwe for Ebonyi Local Government Area.
Enyi described the election as peaceful, free and fair, noting that other political parties participated in the exercise.
He commended voters for turning out to exercise their constitutional rights and appreciated security agencies for providing support throughout the election.
Speaking after his declaration, Umahi commended EBSIEC for what he described as the transparent and peaceful conduct of the election.
He pledged to prioritise rural development, youth empowerment and agricultural transformation during his tenure as chairman.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State APC Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, described the party’s sweeping victory as an indication of its dominance in the state.
Emegha said the outcome also demonstrated what he described as the growing acceptance of the APC across Ebonyi, expressing confidence that the party would record another victory in the 2027 general elections.
Politics
2027: ‘Wait for My Final Order’ — Goje Speaks Amid Defection Rumours
Former Gombe State Governor and Senator representing Gombe Central, Danjuma Goje, has denied reports that he is planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Goje made the clarification on Saturday while addressing his supporters at his residence in Gombe, amid speculation over his political future following his loss of the APC senatorial ticket.
SEE MORE: 2027: Uzodimma Gives Imo APC 32 Buses, Demands 100% Victory
The former governor said he was consulting with political stakeholders and would announce his next political move at the appropriate time.
He urged his supporters to remain loyal to the party’s leaders and disregard what he described as attempts to mislead them.
“Do not listen to betrayers, go home, prepare, be loyal to our party leaders and wait for my final order,” Goje said.
He further stated, “I am not defecting to any party now, however I am consulting stakeholders, but I promise I will be with my supporters with or without a Senate ticket.”
The development comes after Goje’s name was omitted from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Goje had contested the APC senatorial primary for Gombe Central but lost the party’s ticket to another aspirant. Reports from the primary indicated that Mohammed Ahmed emerged as the APC candidate for the district.
His supporters had earlier rejected the party’s consensus arrangement that replaced him as the proposed candidate, with his camp questioning the process.
The situation has fuelled speculation about Goje’s next political move, particularly amid reports of overtures from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to offer him its senatorial ticket.
Despite the speculation, Goje has not announced any decision to leave the APC, insisting that he is still consulting stakeholders before taking a position.
Goje served as governor of Gombe State from 2003 to 2011 and was elected to the Senate in 2011. He was re-elected in 2023 for a fourth term representing Gombe Central.
With his name absent from the 2027 senatorial candidates’ list, political attention is now focused on whether Goje will remain in the APC, support another candidate or eventually move to another political platform.
For now, the former governor has asked his supporters to remain calm, loyal and ready for his “final order.”
Politics
2027: Uzodimma Gives Imo APC 32 Buses, Demands 100% Victory
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has presented 32 buses to leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state to boost grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Uzodimma presented the vehicles on Saturday at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre, where he charged the party to secure a 100 per cent victory in Imo, insisting that anything less would be unacceptable.
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The 32 buses comprise 27 vehicles for APC Local Government Area chairmen, three for the party’s zonal chairmen, and one each for the state women and youth leaders.
Speaking at the event, Uzodimma said the APC had enough achievements to campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, expressing confidence that even opposition supporters would vote for the President.
“We have the material to campaign because President Bola Tinubu has done tremendously well. Even our opponents will vote for President Tinubu,” Uzodimma said.
The governor said the party must deliver a complete victory in the state in the 2027 elections.
“Imo is APC and APC is Imo. We will deliver 100 per cent. 99.9 per cent will be unacceptable,” he noted.
Uzodimma also urged those who regarded themselves as his friends to demonstrate their support by voting for the APC and Tinubu.
“If you are my friend, the only way you can let me know you are my friend is when you vote for APC and support President Tinubu,” he said.
According to the governor, the vehicles were provided to strengthen the APC at the grassroots and enable party leaders to take its message to communities across the state.
“Today we want to support our party chairmen for the tasks ahead. If you say that party is supreme, this is the time,” he said.
Uzodimma, however, cautioned the beneficiaries against using the buses for purposes outside party mobilisation.
“Please use the vehicles for the party. It is important that the vehicles must be used to work for the party,” he added.
The APC State Chairman, Austin Onyedebelu, thanked the governor for the gesture, saying the buses would help the party expand its reach across communities in Imo.
Onyedebelu pledged that the party would work towards delivering all APC candidates, from the President to candidates contesting seats in the state Houses of Assembly.
The APC South-East Zonal Vice Chairman, Ijeoma Arodiogbu, also commended Uzodimma for providing the buses, describing him as “a man of grace.”
Arodiogbu urged party officials to deploy the vehicles effectively for grassroots mobilisation, warning that excuses would not be tolerated as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.
The 32 buses are expected to be deployed across Imo’s 27 local government areas as the APC intensifies its mobilisation ahead of the elections.





