The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of a fresh Governorship Election Primary in Abia State.
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This followed the death of its Governorship Candidate for the 2023 general elections, Prof. Uchenna Eleazar Ikonne, on Wednesday.
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba in Abuja on Friday, said the decision was pursuant to the provisions of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, the National Working Committee (NWC).
According to the timetable and schedule of activities released by the party, notice was given to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, Jan. 27.
It also fixed sale of nomination forms for Jan. 27 to Jan. 31, fixing last day for the submission of already purchased forms for Feb. 1.
The screening of aspirants according to the party, will hold on Feb. 2 and Screening Appeal on Feb. 3.
It stated that fresh aspirants were permitted to participate in the current exercise alongside those who contested in the earlier primary.
”The State Congress (Gubernatorial Candidate Nomination) is also scheduled for Feb. 4,” it stated.
The party advised all its leaders, critical stakeholders, member and supporters in Abia State to be guided by the statement accordingly.
The disqualified senatorial candidate of the Labour Party for Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, Chief Victor Umeh, has said he’s still contesting the 2023 general election.
Chief Umeh was, on Friday, disqualified from contesting the February 25 senatorial election, by a High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State capital.
The court, presided over by Hon Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, declared that Umeh violated the provisions of the Electoral Act by standing for elections in same senatorial zone under two different political parties. It also ruled that Umeh’s name was still in the membership register of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as at the time he emerged the Labour Party’s senatorial flag bearer for the zone on Sept 30, 2022.
The court further revealed that there was no evidence that the resignation letter purportedly submitted by Chief Umeh to APGA was actually received by the party leadership. It therefore nullified Umeh’s candidacy and faulted the publication of Umeh’s name as LP senatorial candidate for Anambra Central by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
To cap up its ruling, the court also issuing an injunction restraining Umeh from parading himself as a senatorial candidate.
However, Umeh, while addressing his supporters at a function shortly after the judgement, told them to remain unwavering, as he is still in the race.
He described the legal challenge as a machination to forestall his journey to the red chamber, even as he urged his supporters to come out en masse on the election and vote for the Labour Party, after which they should go home and relax, on the belief that they have voted capable hands and sane people into power.
He also reassured his constituents and Ndị Igbo in general of speaking their minds, giving them quality representation and empowerments, among other dividends of democracy.
Umeh further revealed that he has appealed the court judgement, while urging his supporters to remain calm, as he is optimistic of getting justice.
A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chieftain Dr. Haruna Garus Gololo has collaborated the statement credited to the Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC), Presidential Candidate that the current fuel scarcity and paucity of funds is targeted at him.
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had at a presidential rally in Abeokuta told the party supporters that the redesigning of currency and fuel scarcity was an act of sabotage.
Though the All Progressive Congress (APC), Presidential Council team has denied the allegations saying that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted out of context as according to Bayo Onanga, the spokesperson of the PCC , ” Tinubu was only drawing the attention of the Government to the sabotage by the opponents”
However, Garus Gololo, an APC Chieftain and one of the supporters and Coordinators of the Tinubu/ Shetima Campaign in the North -East told news in Abuja on Friday that “The scarcity and redesigning of currency is indeed targeted at Tinubu and Shetima”
“We have also come to the conclusion that president Buhari and some of his kitchen cabinets are working against the aspirations and candidature of Tinubu and Shetima presidency”
Gololo warned that unless something urgent is done to reverse the current hardship occasioned by the perennial scarcity and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), s redesigning policy the party and its candidates will face a major revolt from Nigerians.
“Buhari had enjoyed all the needed support when he was contesting. He contested thrice and lost, if not for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other patriotic members of the party, he couldn’t have won the election. For him President Buhari to turn round to use fuel scarcity and currency designs to weak our campaign is unfortunate, but we will not give up”
Part of the plan to sustain the campaign according to Gololo is the mobilization of 6000 bicycles and Carmel to continue with the campaign in the North – east.
Already the group over the weekend has begun mobilization of its members to sustain their campaign for Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Shetima for the February 2023.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gololo has sent a congratry message the Governor Oyetola of Osun state for his victory at the Tribunal saying it is a victory for democracy and the Electoral Act.
The Federal High Court 1 sitting at Awka,, Anambra state, presided over by Justice H. A. Nganjiwa has disqualified Chief Victor Umeh, the Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party, LP for Anambra Central Senatorial District from contesting the February 25, 2023 Senatorial election for the senatorial district.
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With this development, a deadly blow appeared to have hit the Labour party as it would no longer parade any candidate for the senatorial district unless the Court of Appeal reversed the lower court verdict on or before the election day.
Delivering a judgement yesterday in a suit filed against the Labour party and Senator Umeh, by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its Anambra Central Senatorial candidate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, the court, in its three-hour judgment, disqualified Umeh on the grounds of non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act as it concerns the membership status of one to contest a party primary.
The court noted that there was no evidence that the resignation letter by Chief Umeh to the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA was actually received by the party, hence his name was still in the register of members of APGA as at September 30, 2022 when he was said to have contested APGA primary.
The court contended that Umeh’s name was not in the register of members of the Labour party as at June 3, 2022, when the Labour party held its own primary election.
The court therefore declared as null and void the publication of Umeh’s name as a candidate earlier by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as he failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the LP constitution.
The court therefore declared the publication as null and void and of no effect.
Court also issued an injunction restraining Umeh from further parading himself as Senatorial candidate of LP henceforth, adding that the injunction also prohibited the LP from accepting or presenting Umeh as her candidate.
Meantime, reactions have continued to trail the court verdict.
In his reaction, the Anambra Chairman of Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council, Chief Joel martins Uzodike has described the judgement as an error on the ground that the suit is a matter for election petition tribunal as according to him, the plaintiffs have no business meddling into an internal affair of another political party.
Uzodike who to newsmen on phone, shorty after the judgement, said the verdict would have no negative effect on the Labour party or its Candidate, Umeh because it would not take them much to rush to the Court of Appeal to appeal against the judgement and at the same time file a stay of executive and continue with his campaign programmes.
He therefore urged party faithfuls not to lose sleep over the verdict but to remain calm, focused and watch events as they unfold.
Also an aide of Senator Umeh who spoke on to newsmen on phone on anonymous condition, said Umeh may not have heard of the verdict or might not be perturbed about it as he was eveñ busy that yesterday carrying out his campaign programme at Achalla community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra state.
The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the National Youths Service Corps programme despite all odds and urged those posted to Imo State to see the place as their home.
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Governor Uzodimma however expressed delight seeing young men and women who reported to Imo State from their various States in the country to perform the annual ritual of giving one year of their life in the service of their fatherland.
The Governor spoke on Friday at the official opening of the Orientation Course for 2023 Batch A’ Stream ‘’I’’ Corp members deployed to Imo State at the NYSC Permanent Camp Eziama Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government of Imo State.
Addressing the Corps members after their swearing-in and signing of their oath before the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Theresa Chikeka, the Governor reminded them that “NYSC is to deepen National Unity and National Integration.”
He then charged them to shun all forms of discrimination, noting that “the delineation of Nigeria into geo-political zones is purely for the purpose of development and no matter the zone, what is important is for all Nigerians to be proud of Nigeria.”
The Governor assured the Corps members that they should see Imo State as their own State, hence they are guaranteed all the rights and privileges of Imo Citizenship as they go about their businesses.
“You should see yourselves and your host communities as brothers and sisters.”
Furthermore, the Governor reassured them that his administration will continue to support the Federal Government through the State augmentation policy for their welfare packages to enable them show more interest and commitment to the National Youth Service programme.
He therefore charged them to contribute their quota to National development, promising that the State will at the end of their programme reward those who showed outstanding performance in the course of the exercise.
Again, the Governor pointed out that it has become necessary in the history and life of Nigeria to deepen National Unity, encourage National Integration and foster cohesion, adding “we must rise as citizens to preach the gospel of unity.”
“To achieve the above, there is need to encourage each one of us to shun all forms of discrimination, be it religious, ethnic, or political. We should understand that the brain box of our national life is the ability to live together as brothers and sisters.”
Governor Uzodimma reiterated his promise to continue to support them, not only through welfare, but by helping them get befitting jobs in their areas of chosen endeavour.
To that effect, he urged them to show commitment to National Service, emphasizing that it is for them that government exists, hence they must be part and parcel of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Governor Uzodimma told the Corps members to ignore the rumour making rounds that Imo State is not safe for people to settle and urged them to relax and do their work as government will rise up to her responsibility of ensuring that what man can do government will also do to secure lives and property of all Imo citizens including the Corps members.
However, he reminded everyone that God Almighty is always with us and the ultimate Security Officer of the Universe.
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman National Youth Service Corps Governing Board Imo State, who is also the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo thanked the Governor for honouring the invitation to the programme.
Okoronkwo commended the Corps members for ignoring all negative rumours and chose to come to Imo State to serve and reassured them of peace and security.
He also urged them to be free and relate with the people around them as Imo State is relatively a literate State. He told them to always be good patriots of Nigeria and give in their best to their calling.
In her address, the State Coordinator NYSC Imo State, Mrs. Rachael Idaewor expressed delight over the Governor’s encouragement to NYSC in Imo State and announced that the Governor has shown tremendous magnanimity to the body.
Some of the largesse from the Governor to them include; approval of the payment of N10,000 monthly stipend to Corps members serving in the State, regular release of meal subsidies to augment the feeding of Corps members during Orientation courses; approval of the release of Nkwerre General Hospital Complex in Eziama Obaire to NYSC to ease accommodation challenges and to serve as Ultra Modern Camping Clinic and Community Hospital to the host and other adjoining communities.
Mrs. Idaewor further told the audience that she stands to be challenged that the Corps members in Imo State enjoy the highest level of welfare packages among all Corps members in the whole federation.
The Coordinator informed that barely two days of registration, close to 1,000 Corps members, comprising 318 males and 682 females, had registered just as registration still continues for the next five days.
She expressed her profound appreciation to the Corps members for quickly adjusting to the Camp environment and hoped they will display good conduct throughout their stay on Camp and even when they commence their primary assignment programmes.
To encourage them further, she reminded them that those that distinguished themselves in the course of the service will be rewarded with a Local, State or National honours award respectively.
She thanked Governor Uzodimma for his invaluable support and assistance to the NYSC Scheme in the State and equally expressed her sincere gratitude to the Sole Administration of Nkwerre LGA, Eng. Frank Onyejiaka and the good people of Eziama Obaire and personnel of the collaborating agencies for living up to expectations.
Highlights of the programme were the Governor’s review of the Parade of Honour mounted on his behalf; oath taking by the Corps members; signing of oath register by Platoon leaders and presentation of souvenir to the Governor by the State NYSC.
The Federal High Court 1, Awka presided over by Hon Justice H. A. Nganjiwa this afternoon disqualified Chief Victor Umeh from contesting in the fast approaching Feb 25,2023 Senatorial election for Anambra Central.
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The court, in a 3- hour judgment which was described by legal practitioners as “erudite”, disqualified Umeh on the grounds of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act as it concern the membership status of one to contest a party primary.
The court noted that there was no evidence that the resignation letter by Chief Umeh to the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was actually received by the party. Hence his name was still in the register of members of APGA as at Sept 30, 2022 when he was said to have contested the party’s primary. And that his (Umeh’s) name was not in the register of members of Labour party as at June 3, 2022, date of primary of LP.
The court therefore declared as null and void the publication of Umeh’s name as a candidate earlier by the Independent National Electoral Commission, as he failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the LP constitution.
The court therefore declared the publication as null and void and of no effect.
Court also issued an injunction restraining Umeh from parading himself as Senatorial candidate of LP. The injunction also prevented the LP from accepting or presenting Umeh as her candidate.
The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which convened in Osogbo, has removed Governor Ademola Adeleke as the state’s duly elected governor.
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The tribunal ruled by a vote of two to one that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should revoke Adeleke’s Certificate of Return and reissue it to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
According to the majority judgment, which was read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume, Oyetola received 314,931 lawful votes to Adeleke’s 219,666.
“Life isn’t a matter of milestones but of moments” -Rose Kennedy
Over time, the idea of 100 days in office has been used to measure the success or failure of governments. How right or wrong is this?
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100 is a number, it is a factor not a whole. 100 days in office is a tradition, a ritual that officeholders are wont to mark without any consideration for its significance or purpose. It says little or nothing about the landmark reached and it is not enough to determine efficiency or otherwise.
According to the famous American author, 100 days should not be the ideal yardstick to establish the success or otherwise of a leader or government. He further stressed that success or otherwise in 100 days does not really translate into an enduring success afterwards.
The marking of 100 days should not be blamed on Nigerian leaders as it did not originate from them. Like all else imported, they have so celebrated it in Nigeria that it has become jejune, naive, simplistic and superficial.
Pundits wait for an elected office holder’s 100 days in office to analyse his high and his low. Rather than be object focused, they are subject focused. Rather than see it as a prism through which the mood in the environment is measured or the barometer to gauge or control certain influences to which the new government is responding to, wailers will see the 100 days as an opportunity to bash the office holder while hailers will see it as an opportunity to hail him.
Success is a process, nay, a journey, not a destination. Sometimes during that journey, there are stones thrown at you which you would have to convert to milestones. Nelson Mandela, symbol of African struggle for independence was of the belief that one must celebrate, not any particular day(s) but those milestones as one journeys through the road.
Milestone is a stone by the side of a road that shows the distance in miles to a specified place or an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development.
With increasing distance and challenges along the way, knowledge fades and fades rapidly and, sometimes, the leader reaches a dim boundary, where he is compelled to measure shadows and search among ghostly errors of measurement for landmarks that are scarcely substantial. This is when it would dawn on such leader that counting landmarks are more important than counting days.
Now, if we must count the first 100 days of Gov. Oyebanji in the Ekiti saddle, we should neither hail nor boo his strides. Rather, we should ex-ray the good, the bad and the ugly circumstances that have influenced the landmark.
The good:
The first good Gov. Biodun Oyebanji built upon in his first 100 days in office is the continuity factor. Continuity of democracy, seamless baton exchange and continuity of governance.
Had the transition been an unsmooth one as we had in the past before the last one between ex-Gov John Kayode Fayemi, JKF and current Gov. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, BAO, the story would have been different from what we have today. We would have been talking of BAO still trying to navigate his way through and blaming his predecessor for false steps. There would not have been anything to build upon, but a lot to cry about. The succession was smooth and so the environment is peaceful today.
The second good is the activities Oyebanji quickly embarked upon. Because he is not looking for any vain glory, the governor made maintenance of existing infrastructure his low hanging fruit. He worked on roads and light up the highways. He looked at all the pacts in the critical sectors like education, health, agriculture, etc., and ensured that the tempo was sustained. He pushed the credit rating of his predecessor further with the development agencies and inherited not just all his friends, but converted his predecessor’s perceived enemies to friends as well.
The bad:
First is the global economy. The economy refers to the wealth and resources of a particular area, and this time, we are talking of the entire world. The global economic instability heralded Oyebanji to government. Ekiti is not insulated from the meltdown the world economy is experiencing. Economic instability and inflation often go hand-in-hand. The factors that influence an economy are currently out of balance. When an economy becomes unstable as we have presently in Ekiti as the rest of the world, there is inflation, which is a decrease in the value of money. This leads to higher prices, higher unemployment rates, and general angst among the people who are trying to survive financially. In other words, people are naturally not happy with the state of the state, whereby people who are supposed to invest are not doing so and people cannot afford to buy much, either. This causes the economy to slow down even more.
The second bad is the rating of the State among the comity of States in the country in terms of all financial indices. Ekiti enjoys low credit rating and has no bragging right to financial independence. Ours is the poorest among the South Western States and second poorest in the country, talking about what we get from the federation account. The state cannot perform much in the area of internally generated revenue either, considering the low yield of investments at the moment. Ekiti, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has a total IGR of less than N7bn and a total GDP of $2.8 billion. This is the reality Gov. Oyebanji is contending with.
The ugly:
The first ugly to war with in his first 100 days in office is the perennially excruciating fuel crisis. It got so bad that a particular party in opposition had to accuse the governor of deliberately stopping the filling stations from selling petrol during its mega rally in the state capital. Place this side by side with the comparably lean pockets of the people in the poor state, then you will understand why the street is not smiling let alone laughing at the moment. However, like every ugly scene, it is a phase that will sooner than later pass.
The second ugly scenario is passing already. The poor security architecture, characterised by the spate of kidnapping. This is also a national malaise and when compared to other states in the federation Ekiti has faired well in curbing it. No one can blame the development on the governor, even if any had happened in the course of the first 100 days at all. But, if you ask me, it isn’t increasing, it is decreasing in the state.
The BAO factor:
There is no denying that the person of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, BAO is warm and affectionate. He is widely acceptable to all and sundry. He is a governor without boundary, spiritually inclined and gives assurances of better days ahead. He does not pretend to be what he is not, neither does he promise what he cannot do.
No sooner he mounted the saddle than he started engaging everyone on the way forward. He promised to chart a new course for Ekiti development through a six-pillar roadmap, which includes Human Capital Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Arts, Culture and Tourism and Governance. Not in the first 100 days but during his four years in the saddle.
BAO quickly showed a transparent determination to boost the State’s economy, by commencing talks with agencies of the Federal Government and development partners in Abuja, FCT. He attracted a boost in agriculture, he gave a midas touch to education and health by continuing from where his predecessor stopped. He may not have initiated new ideas yet, but he is putting enough energy into making a success of the existing ones. The infrastructures are receiving a boost. Government facilities are being well-managed. The workers have no reasons to grumble as they get their dues as and when due. BAO has started strong, he is going on strong and he will surely finish strong. No half measures. That, to me, should be his 100-days’ rating.
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-Segun Dipe is the Ekiti State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule as confirmed that the killings of about forty Fulani herders was carried out by a drone which bombed an area where some Fulanis who went to retrieve their impounded cattle in Benue State were settled. The Governor also confirmed that the Rukubi attack was carried out by an unidentified drone not airstrike.
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He stated this during an expanded meeting with over 200 leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore at Government House, Lafia.
He disclosed that, following revelations from the victims of the attack, his administration will take up the matter with the Federal Government, aimed at finding lasting solution to similar incidences.
Herders massacred in Nasarawa airstrike
He further disclosed that, he has spoken with his Benue State counterpart, Governor Samuel Ortom on the incidence, following which the Benue Governor agreed to release about 230 cattle impounded free of charge.
The Governor said he has taken it upon himself to arrange for the leaders of the Miyetti Allah, alongside Fulani community leaders and survivors of the attack, to meet with top security chiefs in Abuja, with a view to taking steps to forestall feature occurrence of similar attacks.
Governor Sule indicated that the meeting was part of effort of peace building and showing sympathy to the victims by inviting the national leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
“We are lucky, the national chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo came along with some of the other Ardos as well as security agencies from what you saw, roughly about 200 other leaders of Fulani community from Nasarawa State and part of Benue attended the meeting”.
“We are also trying to schedule a meeting where some of the leaders of Miyetti Allah will also have the opportunity to meet with some of the security chiefs in Abuja, for the purpose of finding lasting solution to what is happening right now“.
“We have spoken also to the Governor of Benue State a few times and the Governor has given the go ahead for all the remaining cattle, over 230, currently in custody, to be released without any payment from any Fulani, who usually pay roughly N300, 000 for every cattle and sometimes up to 700, 000 for the feeding of a cow,” he stated.
The National chairman of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, appreciated the Governor for intervening and working assiduously to resolve the matter with a view to ensuring lasting solutions to the reoccurring attacks on mostly Fulani herders along Nasarawa/Benue borders.
He said, “We condoled with the Governor over the killings of Fulani. The Governor is taking everybody along in his efforts to bring about lasting peace. He has been able to convince his Benue State counterpart to release all our cattle held in custody in Benue State. We have agreed to follow him and to support him in his efforts to resolve the issue. We also agree to meet with security chiefs in Abuja so that we can tell them first-hand about the incidence towards finding lasting peace.”
Also commenting, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Muhammed Baba, said his command has taken adequate steps to forestall reprisal attacks in the area, with mobile policemen deployed to the area to maintain peace.
It could be recalled that the Nasarawa State Police command had yesterday indicated that 27 Fulani herders were killed in Kwatan Angulu, a border town of Nasarawa and Benue State.
As part of its efforts towards ensuring strict adherence to master plans, Anambra State Government, on Thursday, pulled down another new building in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.
It was said that the building was not only illegally constructed on government land, but also blocked a major access road to the popular Electrical Market Obosi, thereby causing the traders and the residents untold hardship in accessing the market.
The demolition exercise which was spearheaded by the Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB), was, however, carried out by the Anambra State Joint Taskforce, which also reclaimed the said blocked access road.
According to the Chairman of Anambra Physical Planning Board, Barr. Chike Maduekwe, the Board received report last year from the market leadership about the construction of the building, which, he said they investigated and found to be truly obstructing and illegally constructed, after which they served several warnings to the developer, which he ignored.
While warning developers to always get approval from relevant government agencies before building; Barr. Maduekwe also advised them to help in the actualisation of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of making the Anambra State a livable, green and prosperous homeland where law and order thrive.
He further reiterated that the demolition exercises carried out by the state government are not aimed at causing hardship to the people, but primarily to ensure that things are done the right way.
Recall that the Soludo-led Government of Anambra State Government has carried out a series of demolition (of old and new structures) in different parts of the state since its inception, with the intent of facelifting the state structurally, safely and otherwise.
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