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Tonye Princewill (born 4 January 1969) is a Nigerian investor, politician, film producer and philanthropist [1] who was the 2015 Labour Party [2] and 2007 Action Congress nominee [3] for Governor of Rivers State. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the son of King T.J.T. Princewill of the Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, Nigeria.
Tonye Princewill was born in the UK to the family of the King (Prof) T.J.T. Princewill, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom of the Amachree Dynasty of Rivers State. [4] His father was a Professor of Medical Microbiology before he became a monarch. His mother, Ibiere Princewill, an entrepreneur and notably successful in Distribution and Farming, passed away in 2000.
Princewill started his early education in the United Kingdom before returning with his parents to Nigeria, where he enrolled at Hillcrest High School in Jos from 1976–1980. He then attended Federal Government College (Port Harcourt) where he obtained his West African Senior Certificate/ General Certificate of Education O'Level in 1985. In 1990 he attained a BEng in Petroleum engineering at the University of Port Harcourt and later returned to the UK to successfully complete a master's degree in Mineral Resources Engineering at the Imperial College London in 1994.
Princewill produced the film Kajola, a film that explored the implications of the continuous neglect of the masses, the widening gap between the rich and poor and the ensuing catastrophic outcomes stemming from such neglect. [5] Princewill also produced the film, Nnenda, which was geared towards creating awareness for the less-privileged in society. [6] He produced other films such as Valour, a movie that deals with the Niger Delta and Boko Haram issues. [7]
He is one of the executive producers of '76 (film).[ citation needed ]
Princewill's political career started when he was nominated as the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress for the governorship of Rivers State in 2007. [8] He was supported by the then former Vice-President of Nigeria and the AC Presidential candidate in 2007 elections, Atiku Abubakar and former Governor of Lagos and National Leader of ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Princewill's campaign attracted significant grassroots support. He lost the election under contested circumstances to the People's Democratic Party's (PDP) candidate, Celestine Omehia.
Princewill launched a legal challenge against the newly elected governor shortly after the election results were released. He offered evidence to prove to the electoral tribunal that the election was rigged. In a newspaper interview, he alleged that Celestine Omehia offered him a Naira 1.5 billion (approximately USD 10 million) bribe to withdraw the case before the tribunal, which he rejected. [9]
Following a Supreme Court decision to replace Celestine Omehia with another People's Democratic Party candidate Rotimi Amaechi, he withdrew his case at the tribunal following a local party decision of the Action Congress in Rivers State, a move which drew criticism from some quarters. [10] Tonye Princewill said in a report that "we took the decision at the time that the enemy of your enemy is your friend," indicating his opponents were Celestine Omehia and his 'godfather', Dr. Peter Odili, the former governor of Rivers State, when Rotimi Amaechi was installed by the court. [11] He claimed that the decision to withdraw the case was made even easier because the same people who offered to give him 1.5 billion to withdraw his case, came back to offer him 1.5 billion and evidence of how they rigged the election against him to keep his case in court. This was hoping he would remove Amaechi.
Princewill later led members of the opposition parties in Rivers State under the banner of the Forum of Organized Opposition Political Parties to form a unity government with Amaechi's administration. [12] Tonye Princewill's support of the Amaechi's government received mixed reviews. Some viewed it with scepticism, while others saw it as necessary for the development and stability of Rivers State. His announcement in 2010 that he was returning to the People's Democratic Party was controversial and weakened opposition in the state. [13] But he insisted that threats being issued by national officers in AC to hand the structure of the party to his opponents if he didn’t bring money from Amaechi were no longer tenable. He joined PDP, but took a back seat.
In 2013, he joined the management committee of People's Democratic Movement (PDM), the founding movement behind the People's Democratic Party. [14] Princewill has since removed his support of the PDP but PDM remains a movement. He currently serves as its Director of Organisation.
At the beginning of 2014, after several months of speculation on his political future, Princewill indicated his interest to succeed Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State. [15] Then in April 2014, he announced the formation of a committee to explore the viability of his candidacy of running for governor of Rivers State. [16] Princewill was a governorship aspirant candidate for the People's Democratic Party, but in November 2014 announced that he had been disqualified on the instruction of Nyesom Wike, former minister of State for Education and fellow Governorship aspirant on the grounds of "not being a PDP member". [17]
Princewill left PDP and in January 2015 was chosen as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Rivers State. [18] Again, he lost that election in what was described as the most violent election ever as PDP and APC exchanged gunfire. [19] In 2017 Princewill joined APC to challenge the PDP government. [20]
Princewill was appointed Director of Strategic Communication for APC’s Tonye Cole during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign in Rivers state. [21] The APC was expelled from contesting in the 2019 election. [22]
Princewill writes a weekly column in the Vanguard newspaper. [23] He has expressed concern about the use of youth in Nigeria, particularly during elections, for violence and thuggery. [24]
Following the heavy floods that ravaged parts of Nigeria in 2012, [25] he organised relief activities for Niger Delta communities through the Princewill Trust. [26] He has launched several initiatives to support Nigerian youth, rural women, orphans and widows. [27] In June 2012, Princewill sponsored Nigerian youth delegations on tours to Dubai and Ghana to learn about entrepreneurship, governance, leadership and self-development. [28]
In January 2013, in celebration of his 44th birthday, Princewill released a documentary titled "Man. Mentor. Maverick" in which he speaks about his vision of equal opportunities for all. [29]
Princewill sponsored several baseline studies in 2013, covering the state of education, environment, and health in Rivers State. [30] In education, research showed that a large number of Model Secondary and Primary Schools were not finished and had been abandoned. [31] The management of oil spillages in Rivers State, a catalyst for youth restiveness, was seen as ineffective across local governments in the State. Survey respondents reported that funds which ought to have gone into cleaning and sanitisation of their communities were diverted by local officials. These findings also support press reports about corruption in government allocations to oil-producing areas. [32] In the area of health, there is widespread disenchantment about the lack of improvement within the sector. Weak health service delivery in Rivers State is forcing many patients to seek medical attention at unregulated traditional medicine shops. [33]
Sir Celestine Ngozichim Omehia was the fourth Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria from 29 May 2007 to 25 October 2007. He is a member of the former national governing People's Democratic Party (PDP). He is married to Mrs. Anthonia Omehia and they have three children.
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a Nigerian politician, who served as the federal minister of transportation of Nigeria from 2015 to 2022 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. He resigned to contest for Nigeria's presidency under the governing All Progressive Congress (APC). He had previously served as governor of oil-rich Rivers State, from 2007 to 2015 and earlier, as speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007. On 9 April 2022, Amaechi declared interest to contest in the presidential election in 2023. He polled second position in the APC presidential primaries held in June 2022 behind eventual president Bola Tinubu with 316 delegate votes against Tinubu's 1271 votes.
Chief Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas was a Nigerian politician who was appointed Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture in 1989, then Minister of Aviation in General Ibrahim Babangida's cabinet. In 1999, he was appointed Minister of Labour and Productivity, and in 2000, Minister of Tourism in the Olusegun Obasanjo cabinet, leaving office in January 2001.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is one of the two major contemporary political parties in Nigeria, along with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Founded on 6 February 2013 from a merger of Nigeria's three largest opposition parties, the party came to power following the victory of party candidate Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election. This marked the first time in Nigerian history that an opposition party unseated a governing party and power was transferred peacefully.
Ezenwo Nyesom Wike is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who has served as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory since 2023. He previously served as the governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023.
David Nweze Umahi is a Nigerian politician who serves as the minister of works of Nigeria. He previously served as the senator representing Ebonyi South senatorial district from June to August 2023, and as the governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023; and deputy governor from 2011 to 2015.
The election for Governor of Rivers State took place on 11 April 2015. People's Democratic Party candidate Ezenwo Wike, a former Minister of State for Education defeated All Progressives Congress candidate Dakuku Peterside and Labour Party candidate Tonye Princewill.
The Rivers State gubernatorial election took place on 9 March 2019, concurrently with various other Nigerian state level elections. A rerun of the vote was held in Abua–Odual, Ahoada West, Gokana and Opobo–Nkoro on 13 April. One-term incumbent Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike of the People's Democratic Party was eligible to run for re-election. He won in 2015 with 87.77% of the vote.
Alfred Agboola Ajayi is a Nigerian politician, lawyer, and businessman who served as deputy governor of Ondo State from 2017 to 2021.
The 2020 Ondo State gubernatorial election was held on 10 October 2020. Incumbent APC governor Rotimi Akeredolu won re-election for a second term, defeating PDP Eyitayo Jegede, ZLP Agboola Ajayi and several minor party candidates.
The 2016 Ondo State gubernatorial election occurred in Nigeria on 26 November 2016, the APC nominee Rotimi Akeredolu won election, defeating Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP.
The 2011 Rivers State gubernatorial election was the 7th gubernatorial election of Rivers State. Held on April 26, 2011, the People's Democratic Party nominee Rotimi Amaechi won the election, defeating Celestine Omehia of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
The 2012 Ondo State gubernatorial election occurred on October 20, 2012. Incumbent governor, LP's Olusegun Mimiko won election for a second term, defeating other party candidates. Mimiko received 43.79% of the total vote and won in 13 of the state's 18 LGAs, closely followed by PDP's Olusola Oke who won in two LGAs with 26.25% of total votes, while the ACN candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, who won in three LGAs came third with 24.15% of the votes. Mimiko becomes the first Incumbent governor of Ondo State to be re-elected.
The 2020 Nigerian gubernatorial elections were held on 19 September 2020, in Edo State, and 10 October 2020, in Ondo State. The last regular gubernatorial elections for both states were in 2016. The All Progressives Congress' Rotimi Akeredolu was defending the Governor's office of Ondo while APC-turned-PDP Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki was defending his office. Both won reelection, leading to no net change in terms of overall party control of governorships.
The 2023 Nigerian gubernatorial elections were held for state governors in 31 out of 36 Nigerian states. All but three elections were held on 18 March—concurrent with elections to every state house of assembly, three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections—while the Imo State, Kogi State, and Bayelsa State elections will be held on 11 November. The last regular gubernatorial elections for all states were in 2019. All states have a two term limit for Governors which makes 18 incumbent governors ineligible for re-election.
The 2023 Cross River State gubernatorial election took place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Cross River State, concurrent with elections to the Cross River State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent APC Governor Benedict Ayade was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term.
The 2023 Delta State gubernatorial election will take place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Delta State, concurrent with elections to the Delta State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent PDP Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.
The 2023 Kebbi State gubernatorial election will take place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Kebbi State, concurrent with elections to the Kebbi State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent APC Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.
The 2023 Rivers State gubernatorial election will take place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Rivers State, concurrent with elections to the Rivers State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent PDP Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.
Hon Bernard Barida Mikko is a Nigerian politician and businessman from Gokana LGA in Rivers State. He served as a member of the 4th parliament of the Nigerian National Assembly delegation from Rivers state, representing Khana/Gokana constituency from 1999 to 2003. In 2022, Mikko declared his interest to participate in the 2023 Rivers State gubernatorial election under APC, however, Tonye Cole won the primary election and emerged as the party's candidate..
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