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Tag: Anambra guber

  • APC ‘ll take over Anambra in 2025 – Chris Ngige

    APC ‘ll take over Anambra in 2025 – Chris Ngige

    The former minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take over power from the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra in 2025.

    Ngige, a former governor of Anambra said this  on Saturday while speaking to newsman at his home in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area, during the distribution of palliatives to party members, persons with disabilities and the advanced in age.

    He admitted that APC had two factions in the state but said the division would not stop the party from winning the 2025 governorship election as aggrieved members would be pacified before the election.

    “Of course there is APC 1 and APC 2 in the state. I will not deny that. I am both the father and face of APC in Anambra. I am certain that there are some new comers who have joined  us since 2021.

    “Because the party is like a church which you do not stop people from entering; you do not stop people from entering the party to look for salvation or to support the  government in power.

    “But the challenge is that the new entrants do not want to reckon with pioneer members who have laboured for the party.

    “The older members laboured for the party from the time we were in the  Social Democratic Party (SDP) to Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) to Action Congress (AC) to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and finally birthed as APC.”

    According to him, these are facts that are undeniable and palpable. But in politics you disagree to agree and if you do not agree, you bear the consequences. We did not agree in 2021 election and the repercussion was clear.

    “But it will be remedied this time. The party leadership both at the governmental level and party levels are mature politicians who are versed with the intrigues,” he said.

    Ngige, also a former governor of Anambra,  said he was optimistic that APC  would successfully resolved its crisis and work to take over the state in 2025.

    He said that victory was not won on platter but needed extra hard work, warning that the era of writing election results in hotel rooms was over.

    “Why won’t I be optimistic? If you are not optimistic in life, then suicide is the next option. I’m hopeful and optimistic that between now and 2025, we will put our house in order.

    “We need to be steadfast as party members and  you must live up to expectations of being a foundation member and demonstrate tolerance to others by showing them the light.”

    Ngige, however,  disclosed that he was still on sabbatical and resting, saying that by May 2025, he would decide on his next line of action.

    Speaking earlier, Chief George Moghalu, former managing director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and APC chieftain in Anambra,  warned against imposition of candidates ahead of the 2025 governorship election in the state.

    He also urged new party entrants to join the queue as anything contrary would frustrate chances of the party in producing Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s successor.

    According to Moghalu, it is an irony for a tenant to sack the landlord.

  • Anambra Guber: Ihiala LGA’s rescheduled election dangerous to democracy – Carl Umegboro

    Anambra Guber: Ihiala LGA’s rescheduled election dangerous to democracy – Carl Umegboro

    By Carl Umegboro

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) owes explanations to the public for failure to send or assign officials to conduct a scheduled poll at Ihiala Local Government Area on 6th November which deprived the indigenes and residents’ rights from exercising their civic responsibility like other LGAs. The alleged security threat given as reason is weak and absurd. The exclusion saga is similar to the plot against Anambra International Cargo Airport which was slated for inauguration a week preceding the election but frustrated with flimsy excuses using a designated federal agency. President Muhammadu Buhari must ensure that his appointees live up to expectation particularly on election matters which is essential in any democracy.

    If INEC could fail to assign officials to a whole LGA for a poll scheduled for one state, it suggests that the umpire under the present management cannot be trusted for a general election in 2023. Believably, the schemers had plotted to use Ihiala LGA as a ground for evil plots against sacred wishes of Anambra people. Had it been the machines malfunctioned, it would be a genuine reason for not conducting the election in some polling units, but not for a whole LGA. The alleged ‘security threat’ is baseless, unfounded and incredible.
    For INEC to deliberately fail to assign electoral officials and materials throughout the scheduled day of the poll to a whole local government area suggests that there was a conspiracy between the umpire and some politicians to use the LGA for a sinister motive. It is indeed sad and unbelievable that such a thing could happen in this present time when everyone had looked up to INEC for a credible, free and fair election, However, it must be noted that Anambra people will resist any attempt by any persons to impose or frustrate their legitimate mandate as their next governor. The ‘magic’ that transpired in Imo state in 2020 which ended up having a fourth position sworn in as governor cannot survive in Anambra state. This must be noted.

    INEC Collation officer for Ihiala LGA had on Sunday announced that no election was held across all the wards in the LGA on account of no availability of electoral officers and materials to the area, and at the end, the Commission claimed it was as a result of ‘security threats’ and rescheduled the poll thereby making an election that would have produced a winner instantly inconclusive. Even, by the failure to conduct the election on the same day as scheduled, the credibility of the election will be affected as people already know the outcome, and most likely, many may not even bother to go to vote on the rescheduled date which could affect the true bidding of the people.

    As a result, there must be explanations on why and how a LGA that is not even within an island but across a federal highway and adjacent to Ozubulu, Nnewi where elections held freely could be excluded with the claim of security threat, sadly in an election that only held in one state out of the thirty-six states of the federation with over 40,000 security personnel on ground deployed from all security agencies. INEC shouldn’t stop at the ‘makeup’ allegation of ‘security threat’ but from where to warrant suspension of a whole LGA on the scheduled date? The Commission must explain the nature of the threats and the towns in the LGA. Otherwise, it clearly shows it was a premeditated action to maneuver the outcome of the poll. So, INEC owes explanations and apologies to the people of Ihiala LGA for bringing Ihiala to the mud for mere political conspiracy. One therefore wonders how the umpire could conduct a general election across the country at the same time.

    Indeed, INEC’s failure to conduct an election at Ihiala LGA on the original date is suspicious, and clearly appears to be a deliberate act to maneuver the outcome of the poll in favour of a paymaster and politician. By this plot, INEC has compromised in the Anambra election and must be made to explain their actions and identify fellow conspirators. The failure to assign electoral officials and materials to the areas is an indictment to the umpire that it is not neutral and competent but vulnerable to playing scripts of some corrupt politicians. No one needs to be told that many Anambra people that possibly returned from place of residence outside the state to exercise their franchise may no longer be available for the rescheduled poll. Thus, INEC scores a mere pass mark in Anambra governorship poll.

    Instructively, an election can only be rescheduled with a credible reason, and not rescheduling part of a poll that was meant to take place concurrently to a later date using the Commission’s veto power without any just cause after announcing results. Thus, the umpire must ensure that the choice of the Anambra people is in no way thwarted or maneuvered by any means to avoid heightening the tension already ravaging the state over perceived intimidations from the center.

     

    Umegboro, a public affairs analyst sent this piece from Ihiala in Anambra State.

  • Anambra guber: Soludo Campaign Mocks Andy Uba, APC Candidate

    Anambra guber: Soludo Campaign Mocks Andy Uba, APC Candidate

    The Chukwuma Soludo Gubernatorial Campaign has challenged the purported candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 6 governorship candidate, Senator Andy Uba, to flag off his campaign in a big way, as Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, did on Saturday, September 25 at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital.

    “The APC purported candidate has been running away from the good people of Anambra State for weeks because he is afraid of his own shadow in the state”, the Soludo Campaign stated in a statement in Awka today signed by C. Don Adinuba, the Communications Director of the Campaign who is also the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment.

    Uba suspended rallies on September 30, claiming that it was due to the security situation in the state.

    But the Soludo Campaign dismissed the claim, saying the suspension has nothing to do with the state’s security.

    “After all, Professor Soludo, who was attacked on March 31 in his hometown of Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area while addressing a large number of youth in the town and in the process lost three gallant police officers, is holding huge rallies all over the state, touring two local government areas daily, together with the fearless Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano.

    “Uba is very afraid of Anambra people, the very people he wants to rule by all means”.

    Adinuba continued: “In fact, his fear of ndi Anambra borders on phobia because of what he has done to the state since his days in the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration when the state witnessed abduction of the sitting governor and his so-called resignation from office, as well as the forced movement of the governor to the Okija shrine in the dead of the night to swear an oath of critical and perpetual allegiance to a tiny clique of so-called godfathers, the mayhem of November, 2003, in which almost all institutions of the state were burnt down in broad daylight and the signing of the notorious Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs) through which billions of naira were starched away by a tiny clique of politicians whom Chinua Ache memorably described as ‘renegades determined to turn my home state of Anambra into a lawless and bankrupt fiefdom’.

    By claiming that the security situation is not good, according to Mr Adinuba, Senator Uba and his group are passing a vote of no confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and to whom all security and intelligence services in the country are answerable.

    The statement rather claimed that Uba’s inability to hold a big rally where his campaign will take off formally “springs from his growing unpopularity and outright rejection not only by the people of Anambra State but also by top members of his own party, including President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige who is the APC founder in the state and National Inland Waterways Authority chief executive George Moghalu”.

    The Soludo Campaign recalled that on the two occasions the APC in Anambra State announced last month that President Buhari would flag off its gubernatorial electioneering effort, the President ignored the party.

    “Even when it announced that Vice president Osinbajo would flag off the campaign in September, in Onitsha, Professor Osinbajo ignored those using his name in vain because, as a Christian pastor, he didn’t want his name to be soiled by Uba who emerged the APC candidate in a sacrilegious manner.

    “It is unconscionable for Uba to claim that he scored a whole 320,201 out of a so-called 348,490 votes to win the phantom primary election on June 26, 2021, when the entire APC membership in the state is not up to 30,000.

    “No one person voted in the alleged primary election as no electoral materials were brought to Anambra State.

    “Anambra State has long passed this kind of gangster politics”.

  • Anambra Poll: INEC completes 12 out of 14 activities

    Anambra Poll: INEC completes 12 out of 14 activities

    Non-sensitive materials for the Anambra governorship election have been delivered in readiness for the November 6 election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.

    The Commission expressed satisfaction with the current level of preparation.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a statement, disclosed that the Commission has successfully implemented 12 out of 14 activities in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election.

    According to the statement: “So far, the Commission has successfully implemented 12 out of 14 activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities. The Commission has today published the Notice of Poll at its State and all the Local Government offices in Anambra State.

    “By Section 46 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Commission shall, not later than 14 days before the day of the election, cause to be published, a notice specifying the date and hours fixed for the poll; the persons entitled to vote and the location of the polling units”.

    It added: “In the same vein, today is the last day for the submission of names of polling agents by political parties. By Section 45 of the Electoral Act, each political party may by notice in writing addressed to the Electoral Officer of the Local Government, appoint a polling agent for each polling unit and collation centre.

    “The notice shall set out the name and address of the polling agent, accompanied by two passport photographs of each polling agent, and sample signature of the agent at least 14 days before the date fixed for the election.

    “Political parties are strongly advised to adhere strictly to the law and the guidelines for the deployment of polling agents. Only duly accredited polling agents will be allowed to operate at the polling units and collation centres.

    “The Commission is satisfied with the current level of preparations. Virtually all non-sensitive materials have been delivered in readiness for the election. The training of ad-hoc staff is also going on as scheduled.”

     

  • Anambra guber: IGP warns Squadron Commanders to be apolitical, to deploy 34,587 officers

    Anambra guber: IGP warns Squadron Commanders to be apolitical, to deploy 34,587 officers

    The Nigeria Police Force is set to deploy over 34,000 personnel to Anambra State, ahead of the November 6 polls.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba disclosed this while meeting with various state police commissioners and heads of formations in Abuja.

    According to him, three helicopters will also be deployed for surveillance during the poll in addition to animals and other equipment.

    IGP Alkali Baba further stated that the police are collaborating with sister agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the conduct of a peaceful election in the state.

    Earlier on Wednesday, the IGP had also assured the nation of the commitment of the force to securing public space and upholding the democratic values ahead of the gubernatorial election.

    During a strategic meeting held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, with Commanders of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadrons in the country, IGP Alkali Baba said the force will channel its resources to contain the activities of criminal elements in the South-East.

    The police boss further stated that the leadership of the NPF has commenced the reorganization, re-equipping, training and re-orientation of the PMF with the goal of strengthening its operational capacity and re-situating the unit to accomplish the task of confronting violent crimes in the country.

    He charged the Squadron Commanders to upscale their supervisory roles to ensure their personnel demonstrate a high level of professionalism, firmness, courage and respect for human rights while carrying out their duties.

    The police chief also noted that the NPF in the coming days will be implementing a robust national security action plan to refocus the internal security dynamics of the country.

    In his words, an integral part of the plan would be to protect personnel and materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The IGP noted that the Police Mobile Force, “will as usual, form a critical component of the operational plan, to deter any subversive elements that could threaten or disrupt the smooth conduct of the election”.

    He reiterated that the force will continue to do all within its powers to combat all forms of criminality including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, and violent extremism, amongst others, across the nation.

  • Anambra guber: Soludo formally presented as APGA candidate as party kickstarts campaign

    Anambra guber: Soludo formally presented as APGA candidate as party kickstarts campaign

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has flagged off its campaign for the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.

    This comes six weeks to the date announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the poll across the local government areas of the state.

    Party faithful, in hundreds, thronged the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital on Saturday where a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Soludo, was formally presented as the candidate of APGA in the November 6 election.

    His emergence as the party’s flagbearer in the poll followed a series of disagreements – that led to court cases – among party leaders over the choice of candidate for the poll.

    Incumbent governor, Willie Obiano, who has served the state on two terms, was physically present at the event, along with his wife, Mrs Ebele.

    The couple, Soludo, and APGA National Chairman, Victor Oye, among other party leaders, took turns to address the crowd of party supporters at the event.

    Upon taking the stage, Oye who was the first of the aforementioned four to speak reeled out the achievements of the party over the years.

    “APGA has performed in Anambra State,” he said. “Our records in Anambra State are impeccable; our records in Anambra State, nobody can erase it. Our governor, Willie Obiano, has performed creditably and the incoming governor (in his view), Chukwuma Soludo, will perform superlatively.

    “There is no political party in Nigeria that has the capacity to turn around the lives of the people as much as APGA has done.”

    Oye also took a swipe at the two frontline political parties in the country – All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying, “Very soon, both of them will go into an irreversible coma, and APGA will become the ultimate undertakers.”

    In her remarks, Mrs Obiano whose had a majority of her speech delivered in Igbo canvassed support for the party.

    According to her, it is important for the people to vote for the party’s candidate in the coming election in order to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy in the state.

    Thereafter, Soludo was presented the party’s flag – symbolising his status as the party’s candidate – by Governor Obiano and Mr Oye.

    He began his acceptance speech with a song titled ‘Who Can Battle With The Lord?’ after which he thanked the party leaders and members for their support all through the events that led to his emergence as the party’s candidate.

    “With a deep sense of humility and gratitude to Almighty, gratitude to our lovely party that gave me the opportunity to be able to fly this flag, we accept to fly this flag,” the party’s candidate said. “By the special grace of God, the will and wish of the people have been expressed.

    “There are 32 support and self-funding groups with a membership of over 500,000 across Anambra, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, everywhere, that have worked tirelessly for over two years.

    “The next thing that should happen in Anambra will be to consolidate the wonderful works that are ongoing, especially under the 16 years of APGA in Anambra State.”

    Governor Obiano, in his remarks, explained why he believes his party will win again in the forthcoming election.

    “In the last 15 and half years, we have delivered the dividend of democracy to Anambra residents, and particularly in the last seven and half years,” he said. “That is why our candidate will win, and win landslide.

    “So many things have been said about my achievements which most of you know but let me show some examples. The international cargo and passenger airport in Anambra that I built in 15 months, the runway is the second-longest in Nigeria. It has the tallest tower in Nigeria and the most modern terminal building, and I built this airport without borrowing a kobo.”

  • Anambra guber: Buhari endorses APC candidate, Andy Uba

    Anambra guber: Buhari endorses APC candidate, Andy Uba

    Ahead of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, President Muhammadu Buhari has received the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Andy Uba.

    The President said he is anxious for the party’s success in the election.

    “I am happy to formally welcome you. I certainly wish you the best of luck. I’m anxious for your success, and will closely follow,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.

    President Buhari met Uba on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja along with APC Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.

    Five other governors were also present at the meeting.

    Briefing reporters after the meeting, Senator Uba said he was surprised at the endorsement of President Buhari.

    Uba noted that the President said he has been looking forward to seeing him as the party’s candidate and would closely monitor the situation with the hope that Anambra would be an APC state.

    He said there have been meetings between the Uba family and the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma to straighten grey areas.

    “Well, we have been talking with the governor of Imo, can tell you that we have had meetings; we’ve agreed on what am I going to do? That’s why I said, there are many things you can say he agreed on what we’re going to do. So let the Governor explain to you what you’ve done,” he said.

    “Well, if you talk about being divided, we are not divided. And I will tell you for sure that we are not divided. At the end, everybody will see that we are not divided. We’re going to win Anambra state, APC will win Anambra state under me.”

    While affirming to have a cordial relationship with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, Uba said his family is not divided.

    On his part, Governor Uzodinma maintained that the APC is united with a single sense of purpose of winning the upcoming governorship election in November.

  • Court of Appeal Justice Demands Punishment for Jigawa, Imo High Court Judges for Dabbling into Anambra Gubernatorial Matter

    Court of Appeal Justice Demands Punishment for Jigawa, Imo High Court Judges for Dabbling into Anambra Gubernatorial Matter

    Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal has demanded punishment for the judge of the Jigawa State High Court, Justice Ubale of Birnin Kudu, and his counterpart in the Imo State judiciary, Justice B. C. Iheka, for what she described as their unprofessional conduct by dabbling into the Anambra State gubernatorial election controversy and for giving consequential judgments on it.

     

    The Court of Appeal justice also wants lawyers who took the cases to the state high courts in Jigawa and Imo states disciplined for professional misbehavior.

     

    Justice Nwosu-Iheme made the demand while ruling today on a motion by Chike Onyemenam (SAN), counsel to Jude Okeke, who claims to be the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to stop the execution of the order made earlier on July 18 by Justice Charles C. Okaa of the Anambra State High Court in Awka directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Professor Charles Soludo, as the APGA candidate in the November 6 gubernatorial election in the state, in line with the outcome of the June 23 APGA Congress and primary election which Soludo won by almost 94% and monitored by INEC.

    INEC had on July 16 published The Honorable Chukwuma Umeoji of the House of Representatives as the APGA candidate following an order by the Jigawa State High Court on June 28, but was not made known until the eve of the INEC’s unveiling of names of various candidates.

     

    The consequential order was based on the argument that Okeke was the APGA acting national chairman who purportedly took over from one Edozie Njoku.

    INEC, which regulates Nigerian political parties, has no record of either Njoku or Okeke as having ever been the APGA national chairman, as it has in the last few years recognized only Chief Victor Oye as the party’s chairman.

     

    Still, Justice Iheka, presiding over the Imo State High Court in Owerri, on July 30 gave a judgment affirming Okeke as the APGA chairman and Umeoji the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

     

    The Court of Appeal justice accused Anambra politicians of going round the country shopping for judgments to enable them to contest in the November governorship election rather than appear before the courts which have the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the election.

     

    She regretted that some judges and lawyers indulge such politicians and as a result bring the legal profession into public contempt.

     

    Justice Nwosu-Iheme, therefore, called for strong punishments to be meted out to the state high court judges in Jigawa and Imo states who gave judgments on the Anambra APGA controversy and the lawyers who brought the cases before them.

     

  • Anambra guber: Confusion in APGA as another candidate, Edozie Njoku emerges flagbearer after Soludo

    Anambra guber: Confusion in APGA as another candidate, Edozie Njoku emerges flagbearer after Soludo

    from Chuks Collins, Awka

    A factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku has been elected governorship flagbearer of the party in the forthcoming Nov 6,2021 election in Anambra state.

    Chief Njoku who commended the very peaceful disposition of the party delegates all through the process thanked them for believing in him.

    He reiterated that “the party had to move swiftly immediately the court order which had prevented the party primary from holding before now elapsed yesterday”.

    Flanked by other bigwigs of the party including the National Youth Leader -Chuks Nwoga and the Anambra state chairman of the faction -Chief Freedom Henry Okwuchukwu said his group carefully complied with all the electoral guidelines as enunciated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and it was well acknowledged by the Commission.

    He reminded the delegates who thronged the Finotel Suites, venue of the event that their efforts was to reposition and strengthen the party. He lamented that things had been left in decadence for too long.

    Taken up on the fears of members over the festering crisis within the party leadership, and the possibility that it could hamper its fortunes in the coming Nov 6 Anambra governorship election, but Chief Njoku allayed everyone’s fears and apprehensions. He pointed out that APGA has challenges, but that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has even bigger challenges, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenges are multifarious.

    On the Jude Okeke factor, who was claiming leadership of a third faction of the party, the new flagbearer said he “never know or hear about Jude Okeke, he only emerged June 15,2021 from nowhere.

    “And if he emerged June 15, he need to give INEC 21 days statutory notice, and which is not possible. His emergence was all because the right things were not done by the party.

    He therefore assured that soon all the disagreement would be sorted out and go ahead to win the coming Nov 6,2021 governorship election.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Prof. Chukwuma Soludo had last week emerged the party’s flagbearer.

    Soludo scored a total of 740 votes out of 792 valid votes cast by delegates.

    Declaring the results of the exercise, Samson Olalere, the Returning Officer said Soludo fulfilled the provisions of Electoral Act and APGA guidelines.