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APPRAISING LEGISLATIVE PERFORMANCE IN OBIO-AKPOR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

BY BOLAJI AFOLABI
Obio-Akpor is in Rivers state, and wears two caps; local government area headquarters and federal constituency. Situated in the metropolis of Port Harcourt, it is one of the biggest settlements in the oil-rich state. In fact, it is one of the major centres of massive economic activities in the country. Host to two of Nigeria’s biggest refineries, and numerous energy and manufacturing companies. Generally regarded as the economic behemoth of the Niger Delta region, it can be aptly classified as the financial pulse of Nigeria. It is one of the top five most developed LGAs in Nigeria; others being Eti Osa, Lagos Island, Bonny Island, and Abuja Municipal. Unarguably, Obio-Akpor is one of the most endowed and richest in terms of revenue generation. It is one of the two federal constituencies in Nigeria that has one LGA not two, three, or four as is common in others in the country. The other is Abeokuta South Federal Constituency. Fact is, it is one of the most strategically placed, and positioned in the “treasure base” of Nigeria; popular moniker for Rivers state. For economy, culture, and politics, it’s relevance cannot be shoved aside. In terms of location and population, it is ahead of many LGAs in the state. More importantly, it’s role in the economic growth, social transformation, and sectoral development of the state is huge, recognisable, and respectful. As a federal constituency, it consists 17 Wards, and made up of about 58 communities.
Densely populated, with pan-Nigerian composition amongst residents, and visitors as well as it’s economic and socio-political importance, every chief executive of the state; civilian and military accords Obio-Akpor huge measures of attention, focus, and direction. In many ways, it is the melting pot of Rivers as citizens from different and diverse ethnic nationalities of the state have taken occupation in Obio-Akpor. A first-time visitor may naturally feel at home as s/he will most likely notice people freely communicating, transacting, and relating in any of the three major languages and others. Given the high number of industries located in Obio-Akpor, human movement and vehicular traffic is enormous. This has also impacted positively on commerce, trade, and economic activities. The chain value of these engagements cannot be easily wished away. Many residents argue that this has affected costs of living. Some believes that residents deserve more attention by respective tiers of government. Few reiterated the need for private organisations to extend their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to the nooks and crannies of the area. However, it has experienced (still experiencing) varied developmental challenges.
Over the years, Obio-Akpor has witnessed variation of stifled, stunted, and measured growth. Since it’s creation in 1989, it has passed through different stages of evolution. With its command-and-obey governance structure, the military despite long-term dictatorial rulership did not make appreciable impact in the LGA. Though it’s revenue base shored up, during this period but it had minimal impact on the general well-being of citizens and residents. Complaints of environmental degradation, infrastructural decrepitude, and residents neglect were the regular rhymes among people.
With Nigeria’s return to civilian governance in 1999, Obio-Akpor has passed through different stages of development. Between 1999 and now, personalities that have had the opportunity to be chairmen of the LGA, at various times contributed their quota towards it’s development. Indeed, it recorded massive infrastructural and institutional development between 1999 and 2007 when Chief Nyesom Wike was chairman. According to empirical records, empowerment and upliftment of the social standards of people was key to every initiative and programme carried out during his tenure. Many people believe that his overwhelming achievements as chairman has been the springboard for Wike’s continued relevance in politics and public service.
As a federal constituency, Obio-Akpor has been represented in the House of Representatives by three individuals at different periods since the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1999. These are Chukwuma Godswill, 1999 to 2003; Chinwe Ike, 2003 to 2011; and Kingsley Chinda, the incumbent since 2011. While Chukwuma and Chinwo served for one-term, and two-terms respectively, Chinda is on his fourth term. That the constituents decided to invest their electoral franchise on him for four consecutive terms; which will be 16 years of unbroken representation in 2027 speaks volume about his acceptability and deliveries.
According to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the roles of the legislature, as the second tier of government is legislation. An elected legislator at the state or national assembly is expected to be involved in lawmaking, oversight, and representation. The first two responsibilities are what lawmakers do internally, within the chamber, and routine checks of MDAs. Representation is what constituents see, and value. In Nigerian parlance it is described as “what he brings home.” Sadly, this has been the compass through which every lawmaker is assessed and verdict delivered on tour of duty by the constituents. Curiously, given the numerous economic challenges, social malaise, and developmental disequilibrium that pervades and ravage the country, majority of Nigerians rates the performance or otherwise of lawmakers on the basis of what the individual can attract to his/her constituents in particular, and the constituency in general.
After a distinguished public service career as Commissioner for Environment in Rivers state in the mid-2000s, Chinda was elected as the Member representing Obio-Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in June 2011. Thus, he rose from being a state-wide public officer to a peoples-servant, and representative at national level. Conscious of the high expectations of his constituents, the glaring micro and macro challenges, and the records of his predecessors, he realized that he is condemned to perform. Chinda, a former student union leader, and legal practitioner has since took up the task of offering responsive and responsible representation to the people. How well has he done in eliciting the commendation, or criticisms of his constituents?
In over a decade, Obio-Akpor federal constituency has been in the news for very positive reasons. It has been promoted to national discourse and federal noticeability in quality measures. From the 7th to the 10th House of Representatives, the federal constituency’s name, and image has shown up as one of the few whose representative performed (still performing) brilliantly in lawmaking; oversight; and representation. At all levels of engagement, the constituency is consistently projected through the brilliance and intelligence of the representative. It has witnessed numerous projects, programmes, and initiatives that has cross-ethnic and broad-based impact on citizens and residents. From education to agriculture, skills development, capacity building, and other sectors there are visible achievements in each of the 17 wards.
This includes, but not limited to: yearly distribution of over 2,000 free JAMB forms; adult education scheme; regular payment of school fees for identified constituents in tertiary institutions and secondary schools; medical support to some constituents with health challenges. Also, constituents have benefitted from various skills acquisition, vocational, and entrepreneurial training programmes such as ICT, solar powered, welding, chalk production, snail farming and many others; medical outreaches and medical interventions. Equally, youths, women, and men have secured employments at the federal and state levels, as well as the private sector; many benefitted monetary incentives such as grants and loans for entrepreneurial ventures by MDAs and more.
In terms of Lawmaking and Oversight, Obio-Akpor federal constituency occupies the top-most level in the country. Ever driven by quest for national development through meaningful and realistic legislation, Chinda has continually written the constituency’s name in gold. Deploying his multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional credentials and expertise he has over 80 Motions to his name and constituency. Each of these motions which are people-centred and development-driven have elevated his status and constituency to national prominence. Fact is, he belongs to the “exclusive list” of lawmakers with the highest number of motions to their names and constituencies. With over ten Bills, at different stages of legislative interrogation, and considering their importance to nation building, Chinda has further played frontal role in deepening the constituency’s commitment to national development. At oversight functions, committee meetings, and other forum his enviable brilliance, profound understanding, and deep knowledge of issues which elicits commendations ushers inspiring and impactful positives to constituents and the constituency.
To every dispassionate and discernible follower of legislative developments since 1999, Chinda can rightly be described as a first-class legislator. Also, given his attributes as a courageous and committed lawmaker with deep knowledge of legislative ethos and rules he represents the perfect example of who and what a parliamentarian should be. For many of his past and present colleagues in the 7th to 10th Assemblies, his emergence as the Minority Leader is worthy testament to his serially-proven and time-tested legislative competencies, akin to icing on the cake for an illustrious parliamentary career. Being the first from Obio-Akpor federal constituency to attain such prominent position in the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly in general, the constituents are happy and appreciative of the impact made by him. As Oliver Twist, while they are asking for more, Chinda whose passion and commitment to community empowerment, and constituency development has been unequivocal is responding to this charge. Barely a year in office, he has facilitated some projects including two-day medical outreach; digital skills & artificial intelligence training for youths; digital skills training and few others. Majority of the constituents, affirms that he has done very well in projecting the enviable virtues of Obio-Akpor federal constituency which hinges on hard work, sincerity, boldness, selflessness, and dynamism. The unanimity of opinion is that he should continue to attract more developmental projects and programmes towards further elevating the status of the constituency, and deepening the well-being of people.
BOLAJI AFOLABI, a development communications specialist, was with the Office of Public Affairs in The Presidency.
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A’Court reserves judgment on Kano LG poll dispute

A special panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reserved judgment in five separate appeals arising from the legal disputes surrounding the conduct of the 2024 local government elections in Kano State.
The appeals stem from two rulings delivered by the Federal High Court in Kano, which, among other declarations, nullified the composition of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission.
The cases include Appeal No. CA/KN/20/2025, filed by KANSIEC with the Independent National Electoral Commission and four others listed as respondents.
Another, CA/KN/233/2024, was filed by the Kano State House of Assembly and another party, with Aminu Aliyu Tiga and 14 others as respondents.
Appeal CA/KN/290/2024 was brought by the Attorney General of Kano State and six others against the All Progressives Congress and three others.
Additionally, Appeal CA/KN/291/2024 was filed by KANSIEC and eight others, with the Kano State House of Assembly and six others listed as respondents.
In the appeal marked CA/KN/233/2024, the Kano State House of Assembly and another appellant, represented by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), urged the appellate court to overturn the judgment of the Federal High Court, which had barred KANSIEC from conducting local government elections.
Awomolo argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, noting that the suit filed by Aminu Tiga and the APC was statute-barred at the time of filing.
He also contended that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to initiate the case.
Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court had, on October 22, 2024, restrained KANSIEC from conducting elections in the 44 local government areas of Kano State.
The judge ruled that the electoral commission’s members were card-carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party, in breach of Sections 197 and 200 of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Amobeda further directed INEC not to release the national voters’ register for the purpose of the local government elections in the state.
Additionally, he barred the police, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies from providing support or protection for the polls.
Unhappy with the verdict, the Kano State House of Assembly and other affected parties approached the Court of Appeal, arguing that local government election matters are under the exclusive purview of the state and can only be adjudicated by a Kano State High Court—not the Federal High Court.
After hearing all arguments on Tuesday, the three-member appellate panel led by Justice Georgewill Ekanem announced that judgment had been reserved and would be delivered on a date to be communicated to the parties involved.
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Ondo poly workers commence strike action over unpaid wages

Workers at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, in Ondo State on Tuesday embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of salaries by the Ondo State Government.
The striking workers, who are members of the Non-Academic Staff Union and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, staged a peaceful protest on the institution’s campus to express their grievances.
The aggrieved staff revealed they are being owed six months’ salaries and accused the government of failing to implement the national minimum wage.
They carried placards with messages including, “We are hungry, pay our six months’ salaries,” “Mr Governor, please implement our 2025 budget,” and “Acting Rector, please clear our 2022, 2023, and 2024 promotion arrears.”
During the protest, the Chairman of NASU, RUGIPO chapter, Mr. Julius Olugbenga-Aro, and his SSANIP counterpart, Mr. Saka Olokungboye, called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently address the workers’ demands.
They lamented the hardship faced by their members, saying many are unable to meet basic needs due to the unpaid wages.
Olugbenga-Aro stated, “This protest is to express our frustration over the non-payment of six months’ salary arrears and the failure of the Ondo State Government to implement the national minimum wage for polytechnic staff.”
While acknowledging some of the governor’s developmental efforts at the institution, including the recent approval for the polytechnic’s conversion to a university, the union leaders appealed for more urgent actions.
They urged the state government to approve immediate payment of the outstanding salaries, ensure full implementation of the 2025 institutional budget, and begin payment of the new national minimum wage.
They also warned that failure to act swiftly could result in prolonged disruptions to the academic calendar, further affecting students and the institution at large.
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Court imposes N100m damages penalty on Abuja school over student’s death

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Tuesday awarded the sum of N100m in general damages against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence of duty of care which led to the death of a student.
Mr Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim had sued the school for negligence that resulted in the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Kamzie,
In the suit marked CV/1738/18, Ikpeatusim alleged that the school’s failure to provide adequate medical attention after Kamzie who fell ill shortly after her admission and resumption in the school led to her untimely death.
Kamzie, who was admitted as a boarding student in September 2017 became severely ill by October 2 and died a few days later.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji, while delivering judgment in the suit brought before the court after awarding the N100m cost, ordered a 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment.
He also awarded an additional N300,000 as the cost of the suit.
Justice Oriji while pronouncing the decision of the court, held that the evidence presented showed the school and its agents acted negligently by failing to attend promptly and adequately to Kamzie’s medical needs.
“The claimant established his allegations of negligence against the school.
“There is no amount of money that can bring back the child to life,” he stated.
Justice Oriji however acknowledged the fact that one significant outcome of the case was the improvement of the school’s sickbay following the incident.
He noted that the presence of doctors attending to students twice daily was a commendable development.
While the claimant had asked the court to order the school to name one of its structures in Kamzie’s name in her honour, Justice Oriji noted that the improvement in the school’s sickbay was sufficient enough to know the school is making amends from its mistake.
“The court thinks that the improvement in the sickbay, ensuring doctors are available twice daily, is in honour of Kamzie, as part of reforms recommended by her family.
“The claimant should take solace in the fact that Kamzie has been honoured by the school through these improvements.”
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