Author: Mercy Wai-Ogosu

The recently inaugurated local government chairmen in Rivers State have assumed duties in the various council headquarters and have begun the appointments of aides and supervisors. The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), had on Monday sworn in the 23 newly elected Local Government Chairmen with a charge to embrace transparency, accountability, and grassroots development. The ceremony, held at Government House, Port Harcourt, signaled another step in the state’s return to democratic governance after months of federal intervention following a breakdown of law and order. Ibas reminded the council chairmen that public office was a trust, not…

The Rivers State Local Government elections held on Saturday recorded a low turnout of voters across most areas, despite being largely peaceful. The polls, conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), featured only candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), both reportedly endorsed by the Nyesom Wike political platform. The exercise had been trailed by controversy, with civil society organisations and opposition parties questioning its constitutionality and legitimacy up to the last moments. In Eleme Local Government Area, voting took place in all ten wards, but counting was not done at…

A traditional ruler in Ukpata clan in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Otowarikpo, has expressed his kingdom’s willingness to practice gender inclusiveness. He made the disclosure on the side line of a one day workshop organized by the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), in collaboration with the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal, to commemorate the Day of the African Woman. The traditional ruler said that he and members of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, are open to dialogue, compromise, and innovations, on how to create a balance between customary practices and the law.…

Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, has said the affirmation of his election by the Governorship Election Tribunal would further commit him to serve the people of Rivers State better. Speaking at a special thanksgiving service at Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor said the judgment consolidated the mandate given to him by the people of Rivers State in the March 18, 2023 election. The thanksgiving was attended by some members of the State Executive Council and political leaders. He promised that he would not disappoint the expectations of Rivers people from his administration. He explained that the place…

Africa’s leading civil society organization, Connected Development (CODE) has admonished the Rivers State government to address some of the infrastructural decay and deficit impeding development in the oil-rich State. As one of the States in the Niger Delta, a major region for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, Rivers State has suffered prolonged conflict resulting from the negative impacts of oil exploration and tension between host communities and oil-producing companies. In 2021, with support from Ford Foundation, CODE initiated the second phase of the project “Empowering Oil-Rich Communities for Improved Service Delivery (EMOC) in Rivers State aimed to amplify the demands…

Lawyers and civil society organizations have called for more activation of the Rivers State Female Inheritance Law passed last year to enable women claim their entitlements from family estates. Respondents who spoke to National Point on the activation and implementation of the law said many women were yet to take advantage of the law and were losing their lawful entitlements and inheritance in their fathers’ estates. They said government and civil society organizations need to elevate sensitization campaigns to reach more women especially in poor neighbourhoods and rural communities to tell them about the law and their rights under it.…

The one day event, put forward by Foreword Communications Limited, publishers of National Point Newspapers with support from the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Reporting, WSCIJ and Mac Arthur Foundation, had as theme, ‘Ensuring Electoral Accountability and Inclusive Governance.’ Participants included respected personality in the region, politicians, activists, persons’ with disability, women, youth, media and community leader from Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Edo states. The highly interactive session, which, featured contributions from several key  speakers, Persons living with Disabilities (PWDs) and female political candidates, left many with a renewed and redefined vigour with guides for ensuring inclusiveness and accountability in…