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Tag: Anambra

  • Senatorial rerun: NSCDC deploys 1, 000 personnel to Anambra

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) has deployed 1,000 security personnel for the conduct of Jan.13 re-run election in Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    The State Commandant, Mr John Ahwen, who disclosed this to newsmen on Friday in Awka, said the number would support over 4, 000 personnel deployed by the Nigeria Police Force.

    Ahwen explained that 500 out of the figure would be deployed to the polling units, while others would assist in the patrol of the areas where the election will take place.

    The NSCDC official said the personnel with other security agencies have concluded arrangements on the re-run election, with expected high success level as was achieved during the Nov.18 governorship election in the state in 2017.

    He assured that security would be adequate in all the areas and called on the electorate to observe security measures during the in the exercise.

    Ahwen, who used the medium to review the operations of his command in 2017, said that officers and men of NSCDC were fully prepared for the exercise.

    “During the Christmas and New Year festivities, we made sure that all the flash points were manned and no single case of security challenge was recorded.

    “We thank Gov. Willie Obiano for donating power-bikes, five vehicles, and other encouragements to our command,’’ he said.

    Ahwen advised personnel under the command to be active in the discharge of their duties in 2018, as earlier directed by the Commandant- General.

    Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government has announced partial restriction on movement in some parts of the state ahead of Saturday’s January 13 re-run election holding in Anambra Central Senatorial Election.

    According to the statement signed by Mr Tony Nnachetta, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, movement of individuals and vehicles would be restricted from 6.a.m till 4p.m in the seven local government areas.

    The local government areas are: Idemili North & Idemili South, Njikoka, Dunukofia, Anaocha, Awka North and Awka South.

    He also said that all markets in the affected local governments would be closed between 6 a.m and 4 p.m.

    The commissioner also said that there would be no restrictions of movement along Enugu/Onitsha Expressway for interstate commuters.

    “These partial restrictions are to encourage registered voters in the affected local government areas to go out to exercise their civic responsibilities,’’ he added.

     

    NAN

  • 14 candidates to contest Anambra senatorial re-run

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Wednesday that 14 candidates would participate in the Jan.13 re-run election in Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka on Wednesday.

    He said the commission had already distributed non-sensitive materials to the affected seven local government areas in the senatorial district.

    “The sensitive materials would arrive the state on Thursday and once that happen, we will distribute them to the affected areas’’, he added.

    The election would hold in Awka North, Awka South, Idemili North, Idemili South, Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia local government areas.

    The INEC official said that a total of 7,670 ad-hoc workers would conduct the election in 1,548 polling units.

    Orji stressed that the commission had made all arrangements for the smooth conduct of the election and urged the electorate to shun violence or any form of fraud during and after the exercise.

    On the purported order of a Federal High Court stopping the election, the REC said the commission had not received such directive.

    “As a state office, INEC Anambra is not responsible for policy issues, we get our directives from INEC national headquarters.

    “And no such directive has been received asking us not to go ahead with Jan.13 re-run in Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    “We advised political parties to play by the rules, because we will ensure that we deliver free, fair and credible election, which is now a minimum benchmark for INEC in any election we conduct’’, he said.

    Orji while responding to questions from stakeholders condemned the issue of vote buying which participants complained characterized the last governorship election held on Nov.18, 2017.

    He said combating the menace require collaborative efforts of all political parties, security agents and INEC officials.

    The REC therefore called on the people to join hands with the commission to improve the conduct of elections. (NAN)

    NAN reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been barred by a court from participating in the election.

    The re-run followed the nullification of the election of the PDP candidate Mrs Uche Ekwunife, who was returned in 2015 as Senator for the zone.

  • Anambra senatorial rerun to hold Jan 13 despite court judgement – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday (INEC) said the Anambra Central Senatorial rerun election will hold as scheduled on January 13, despite a Federal High Court judgement asking it (INEC) to issue the PDP candidate, Mr. Obiora Okonkwo, a certificate of return as the duly elected candidate.

    This was revealed on Thursday by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Dr. Nkwachkwu Orji.

    He said the Commission had commenced training of ad hoc personnel in that respect.

    Anambra Central Senatorial District had been without a senator since 2015 when a Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, sacked the occupant of the position, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife.

    The court asked INEC to conduct a rerun in the district within 90 days, while disqualifying Ekwunife and her political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, from participating in the rerun.

    The PDP then challenged its exclusion in the rerun at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the court granting judgement in its favour.

    The candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, and APGA had contended that PDP should not field a candidate in the rerun since it was at its instance that the election was nullified on December 7, 2015.

    On Monday, November 20, 2017, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja delivered a judgment in favour of Umeh, in which it ordered INEC to conduct the rerun election within 90 days of the judgment, excluding the PDP from contesting in the rerun.

    Following this, INEC fixed the rerun for January 13, 2018.

    But on 13th December, 2017, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja declared Obiora Okonkwo of the PDP as senator representing Anambra central senatorial district in a judgement delivered by Justice John Tsoho.

    Tsoho asked INEC to issue Okonkwo a certificate of return, just as it ordered the Senate President to swear in the PDP candidate immediately as the senator for Anambra Central District.

    According to report by The Punch, the Anambra REC said its legal department had studied the judgement and asked it to go ahead with the election as ordered by the Court of Appeal, as against Tsoho’s Federal High Court judgement.

    The REC said, “We are going ahead with the election as scheduled.

    “We have started training ad hoc personnel in that respect.

    “Our legal department has asked us to go ahead and obey the Court of Appeal order against the Federal High Court judgement.

    “So, we are going ahead to conduct the election on January 13,” the REC stated.

  • Anambra to suspend production, sale of unregistered rice – NAFDAC

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on the Anambra Government to suspend production and sale of all unregistered rice labelled “Anambra Rice’’.

    Mrs Christiana Essenwa, a Deputy Director of NAFDAC, made the call on Monday during a visit to the state Ministry of Agriculture in Awka.

    Essenwa said that the call became imperative following a petition forwarded to NAFDAC by Stine Industries, Nnewi, over the alleged counterfeiting and illegal use of the trade mark by the state government.

    “Sometime this year, a petitioner, Stine Industries, came to our office with a petition that their products were being re-packaged illegally by some rice processors.

    “Stine Industries came to NAFDAC with a Certificate of Incorporation and the trade mark in 2016 for NAFDAC registration number but the state government surfaced with the same trade mark in 2017.

    “There is no way the Ministry of Commerce and Industry can give one trade mark to two individuals or companies.

    “We went on a raid and discovered that in truth, there were products branded ‘Anambra Rice’ but with no NAFDAC registration number,” she said.

    The deputy director stressed that there were a lot of dangers in consuming unregistered food items, including rice.

    According to her, rice has the tendency of harbouring aflatoxin and heavy metals called arsenic, which can cause cancer and kidney diseases.

    “The Federal Government is pleased with efforts to promote the local industry but at the same time, it is concerned with the health of the people.

    “The idea here is not to witch-hunt the rice processors or to throw them out of business but our aim is solely to protect the consumers,” she said.

    Essenwa said that the suspension was aimed at enabling the state government and Stine Industries to resolve their differences, while maintaining good manufacturing policies for food production in the country.

    Responding, Mr Leo Imoka, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, appealed to the agency to give more time to the two parties resolve their differences.

    He said that the state government was taking steps to acquire appropriate marketing authorisation for its rice production concerns.

    He said that the state government had registered the trade mark with the Federal Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry for the production of five commodities, including cassava, honey and rice.

    “This is because we heard that the Federal Government wanted to ban rice and that states should help in the mass production of rice, knowing the disadvantages of importing rice.

    “The state government keyed into all off-taker programmes for rice production in the country, which has attracted a lot of rice farmers, processors and marketers and led to an increase in rice production.

    “In order not to make the rice affordable to our citizens, we opened with the brand name `Anambra Rice’ to differentiate our rice from that of other rice producers until we are able to register under an umbrella with NAFDAC.’’

    Imoka said that an inter-ministerial committee was set up by the government to accredit rice producers and processors so as to ensure that only those with standard production environment were allowed to use the brand name.

  • Anambra, Delta Governments partner to ease traffic during Yuletide

    The Anambra Government and its Delta counterpart have strategized to ease traffic on both ends of Asaba and Onitsha during the Yuletide.

    Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra said this at the launching of the 2017 “Ember Month” awareness campaign in Onitsha on Tuesday.

    The theme for 2017 Operation Zero Tolerance campaign is: “Right To Life On the Highway Not Negotiable”.

    Flanked by the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, Obiano said the ultimate objective was to ensure that there was no casualty during the period.

    “Christmas is a time for merriment; we appeal and also warn road users to be careful with the way they drive.

    “I have provided 25 speed and alcohol detectors to be used on the road. Vehicles that are not road worthy will be impounded.

    “I want to emphasise that the use of cell phone while driving will not be permitted. Avoid speeding, overloading, one-way driving and ensure you fasten your seat belts and pedestrian bridges where available,” he said.

    The governor also said 40 ambulances would be made available in all major junctions for unforeseen situations, while doctors would be placed on alert during the period.

    The corps marshal assured that all the 22 critical corridors of the nation’s road network would be effectively managed.

    He warned all tipper drivers to remove the extra planks used for overloading, noting that any driver arrested would be prosecuted and have his vehicles impounded.

    He commended Obiano for creating enabling environment for social and economic development as well as his support for the corps in the state.

    The FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone RS5, Mr Kehinde Adeleye, explained that the choice of Onitsha for the campaign launch was informed by its economic activities and strategic location along traffic corridors.

     

  • 11 hospitalised as Cholera outbreak hits Anambra

    There was pandemonium in Anambra on Thursday as eleven persons were hospitalized over Cholera outbreak in the state.

    However, in a swift reaction, the State Ministry of Health deployed a rapid response team to assess situations on ground.

    The eleven persons were hospitalized in Inoma community in Anambra West Local Government Area of the state.

    The State Commissioner of Health, Dr Joseph Akabuike, in a statement issued in Awka, the state capital, by the state ministry of information said, “The team was dispatched by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike.”

    “The team is led by the State Disease Surveillance Officer Adaora Ejikeme, accompanied by the State UNICEF Consultant, Didien Gbofemi”.

    “The team was tasked to stem the spread as well as recommend measures at containing any replication.

    “Eleven patients, five boys and six girls within the age bracket of one to 10years old, had since been admitted into a health facility in the area.

    The patients, our correspondent gathered, showed symptoms of excessive stooling, vomiting, acute dehydration and malnutrition.

    The statement read in part”As part of the intervention to control the outbreak, the team supplied antimicrobial medicines such as Doxycycline tablets, flagyl infusions, flagly tablets, ciprofloxacin tabs, ciprotabinfussions, ceptraxone injections among others.

    “They also gave out sets of water guard, needles and syringes and bags of water to the Inoma Health facility.

    ” The team later paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Inoma Community, Igwe Emmanuel Oluta to sensitise him and his cabinet and other members of the community on the prevention and control measures for cholera.

    “A preliminary report released by the Rapid Response Team, showed that the main source of drinking water for the community was a contaminated stream”.

     

  • APGA will rule Anambra for 50 years – Soludo

    The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Saturday said the All Progressive Grand Alliance would Anambra for 50 years.

    Soludo said this on Saturday at Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, during the inauguration of Obiano’s re-election campaign committee in the area.

    He said, “APGA will rule Anambra State for 50 years during which time Anambra would have become one of the best economies in Africa. I can see the indices of modern economic development being put in place by the Obiano government. His agricultural transformation is unique.

    “I urge our people to vote for Obiano again so that he can sustain what I’m seeing in this state. After Obiano, I see a continuation of APGA government in this state for up to 50 years because, for the past 11 years, APGA has done marvelously well in this state. I don’t see a change of loyalty soon.”

  • INEC determined to conduct credible, conclusive election in Anambra – Yakubu

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, has assured Nigerians that the commission under his leadership will ensure it conduct a credible and conclusive election in Anambra.

    Mr. Yakubu who gave the assurance while speaking during a dialogue session with Covil Societies (CSO) said INEC is ready to make the Anambra governorship poll the first conclusive election after a long period of time.

    Tweeted on the official handle of the electoral commission, @inecnigeria boss said ‘We are determined and full of confidence’

    The governorship elections in Anambra State will hold on November 18.

    He furthers,

    “We have modified and customised the Form-60E to enable officials paste election results at various polling unit after collation.

    “In Sokoto, this weekend we will be piloting the electronic collation platform; but not to be used for declaration of result. Prof. Mahmood

    “We have reviewed the regulations and guidelines for the recall process; you can also find the [ Frequently asked Questions] FAQs for the recall process on our website. ”

  • Anambra 2017: ‘8,000 corps members ready for poll’ says NYSC

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says no fewer than 8, 000 corps members presently serving in Anambra will be available for the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election.

    Mr Ebenezer Olawale, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, said this in Awka on Sunday.

    Olawale said the data of corps members in the state had been transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for planning ahead of the Nov. 18 election.

    He said more corps members would be moblilised from neighbouring states in case of shortfall.

    “It is no longer news that the NYSC is partnering with INEC in the conduct of credible, fair and good elections, Anambra’s case is not different.

    “My office and that of the Resident Electoral Commission have been working assiduously to ensure that corps members participate fully in the exercise.

    “As we all know, corps members are supposed to be non-partisan, they are not from this state, so we expect them to be fair and they are evenly distributed across the state.

    “We have no fewer than 10,000 corps members in this state but assuming that not all of them will be interested in taking part in the election, we have 8,000 available for this purpose.

    “I have supplied INEC with the data of the available corps members in the state and where they are not enough, we shall mobilse from neighbouring states,” he said.

    Olawale also said the NYSC was working with security agencies to ensure the security of all corps members.

    He said the corps would soon embark on a tour of the state to sensitise corps members on their expected role in the election as well as allay their fears over their safety.

    “Very soon, we shall commence sensitisation visits to my members to ensure that they all participate and allay their fears too because when they do their work well there is nothing to be afraid of.

    “With regards to the security of my members, we have a strong inter-agency collaboration with the police and other security agencies.

    “They have assured us that there would be full mobilisation of security personnel to ensure that NYSC members taking part in the election are safe.

    “Moreover, Anambra is not known for election violence, they prefer to sort out their issues in the law courts rather than resorting to violence.

    “I want to use this medium to call on my corps members to conduct themselves in accordance with the manner and rules set by INEC; they should be fair and just to all political parties,” he said.

  • Anambra 2018: Obiano meets Buhari ahead of governorship election

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on Tuesday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in preparation for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had slated the elections for November 18, 2017.

    The governor, in an interview with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, said he was confident that he would win the forthcoming election with a landslide.

    Obiano, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, however, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to be impartial in the conduct of the election.

    He dismissed the claims in some quarters that his party was planning to rig the election in his favour.

    He said all necessary measures were being taken to ensure a peaceful election.

    The governor said, “Anambra remains the safest state in Nigeria today.

    “We don’t have cases of kidnapping, armed robbery or similar crimes. We have been firmly in control of that state and will continue to do so throughout my tenure as governor.

    “I am very confident that I will win the forthcoming election with a landslide.

    “All we want is for the umpire to be unbiased. A free and fair election is what we want and we will get the result.”

    Obiano said he had a very fruitful meeting with Buhari.

    He said the President likes state governors who are delivering dividends of democracy to their people.

    “He (the President) likes governors who work hard, who are delivering what people can see and are delivering dividends of democracy to their people. That is what the President wants,” he said.