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Tag: Ayade

  • Ayade, APC tender 749 exhibits, seek to upturn election of Sen. Jarigbe

    Ayade, APC tender 749 exhibits, seek to upturn election of Sen. Jarigbe

    Former Gov Ben Ayade and the All Progressives Congress have tendered 749 exhibits to upturn the election of Sen. Jarigbe Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the ongoing National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) in Cross River.

    The sitting in Calabar, which continued to the late hours of Tuesday, was however adjourned to 10 a.m. on July 26 due to the poor lighting system in the courtroom.

    The petitioners, Ayade and APC, called four witnesses for cross-examination from Bekwarra Local Government Area, one of the LGAs in the northern senatorial district of the state where they alleged electoral irregularities.

    However, a mild drama ensued in the courtroom when the lead counsel of Sen. Jarigbe, Mba Ukweni, SAN objected to the right of two witnesses of the petitioners to identify evidence P39 brought before the court.

    Ukweni argued that for a witness to be able to identify or tender a document from the witness box, he or she must have mentioned or referred to it in an earlier deposition.

    “It is similar to the rule of pleading; if you don’t plead any fact, you cannot lead evidence on it.

    “So, if a witness does not refer to a document in his statement, he cannot also identify the document from the witness box or have it tendered, not just in election cases but also in civil matters,” he said.

    Vehemently opposing the counsel to the respondent, Lead Counsel of the petitioners, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, said a witness could mention matters relating to the document in his deposition if he is a polling unit agent for his party.

    “Our witnesses have mentioned register, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, (BVAS) and voters, the only thing they said they did not do was that they should have said voter register in their deposition.

    “Our witnesses said they are from their polling units and can identify the document, the document was already tendered as exhibit, they were not trying to tender them but to identify them.

    “A witness from a polling unit can be made to look at the register of voters or any document from that polling unit which he has identified,” he said.

    Ruling on the matter, Justice M. A. Sambo upheld the objection of counsel to the respondent, Jarigbe and the PDP that a witness can only identify and speak on an issue contained in the deposition which he tendered.

    This decision did not go down well with the counsel to the petitioners as he disclosed that they would challenge it in the end in their final written address.

    Ayade is contesting the Feb. 25 Cross River Northern Senatorial District election in which Sen. Jarigbe of the PDP was declared winner.

  • After 12yrs in govt, Ayade had nothing to show in his constituency -Sen Jarigbe reveals

    After 12yrs in govt, Ayade had nothing to show in his constituency -Sen Jarigbe reveals

    Wevole Ezin Calabar

    The Senator, representing Cross River State Northern Senatorial district, Jarigbe Agom has said that the immediate past Governor, Senator Ben Ayade has nothing to show in his constituency after twelve years in government.

    Jarigbe disclosed this in a statement titled; “Politics of Primitive Acquisition”. and made available to Newsmen on Thursday in Calabar.

    He explained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won four out of six seats in his constituency against Ayade ‘s All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general elections just because his people have rejected him.

    The Senator said the petition against him by the former governor at the Tribunal over the last Senatorial election, is what he described as ‘futile attempts’ to distract him from developing his constituency.

    The statement read: “A Man cannot have 4 years in the Senate and 8 years as Governor, without meaningful achievements and be rewarded with a Senatorial Seat or a Ministerial Position.

    “Everyone knows Ayade was rejected by our People. His rejection affected even the House of Assembly Elections, where his Party only clinched one Seat out of 6 HoA Seats in Cross River North. My Party (PDP) won 4 Seats. Is this not enough evidence to show that
    he was rejected?. He came on TV to shamelessly tell lies against the Police and Military, because they refused to bully the electorates and rig the elections for him.

    “The People of Cross River North are suffering indirectly, because of the distractions from Ayade. Resources that should go to our People are being spent to secure the Mandate given to me, by our People. He doesn’t want us to attract Infrastructural Development to our deprived communities.

    “The clandestine attempts at compromising Justice and the Mandate of our People will not succeed. The only issue is that, I am being distracted by AYADE’s futile attempts and I cannot concentrate to deliver on the Mandate given by our People.” Jarigbe lamented.

    The Senator representing Cross River North in the 10th Assembly also alleged in the statement that, “He is also at the Tribunal to compromise an election, I defeated him in, with about twenty thousand votes. This is a Man that I was in the forefront of making Governor in 2015, when Gov Imoke practically spoon fed him to becoming a Governor.

    “The problem with people like my Opponent is that, they believe it is possible to get everything in this World if you have acquired some money. Let us not forget that when money is made, at the expense of service delivery to the common Man, it haunts you for a life time. That is the baggage my Opponent has.

    He also disclosed that there are alleged plans by the governor to pay his way through the Tribunal.

    ” I have it on good authority that there is a failed attempt at conscripting INEC to give evidence against me. I trust INEC on this and they will never act arbitrarily.

    “Someone should advise him to apologize to our People, rather than inflict more pain. Where is the Ukelle Road he promised to do before the Elections? Why was he chasing the Contractors we sent there away? Wickedness personified. Only the Will of God prevails.” Jarigbe hinted.

  • Hold me responsible if my successor fails to perform – Ayade

    Hold me responsible if my successor fails to perform – Ayade

    Gov. Ben Ayade, says he should be held responsible should his successor fail to enthrone good governance in Cross River.

    Ayade made the declaration during a Thanksgiving Mass held at Saint Charles Wanga Catholic Church, Essien Town, Calabar, on Sunday.

    The outgoing governor, however, expressed confidence in the personality and capacity of the incoming Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, to perform.

    He stressed that the people would soon get to understand why he supported Otu to succeed him in office.

    “That is the kind of Governor you are expecting. A man who is ready to sacrifice, a man who is ready to surrender his comfort to ensure that the citizens of Cross River State sleep well.

    “No wonder, all the enemies started to ensure that today doesn’t happen, but God said devil you are a liar.

    “If it was somebody else, by now, arrangements would have been in place on how to demolish streets, demolish houses, but here we have a man of God who has compassion. A man with character, a man with integrity, a man with honour, and the fear of God.

    “If Bassey Otu does very well, glory to God, if Bassey Otu perform very well, after praising God, praise him for his goodness.

    “But, if Bassey Otu does not do well, hold me responsible, because this alliance and this commitment to hand over power to Bassey Otu was signed and sealed since 2014,” he stated.

    Admonishing the outgoing and incoming Governor, the officiating Minister, Rev. Fr. Malachi Ephraim, lauded Ayade for the love he has shown to the church.

    “This is a man who has showed the most love to the church than any other Governor in Cross River. As for Prince Otu, I beg you, from tomorrow, I beg you, just be Governor for Cross River State,” he pleaded.

    The Cleric who preached from the book of Genesis 11:1 to 9, where he drew lessons from the ancient story of the Tower of Babel, urged the people to be united to move the state forward.

    According to him, “Pentecost means that as people from Cross River, we must come together to build up a state for ourselves.

    “But the Lord told me that at this stage, you must do what is right in Cross River State. The spirit makes Senator Ntufam Bassey Otu qualify.

    And to Sen. Bassey Otu, Fr. Ephraim said It’s not going to be easy: if not for God, this seat is not for you, no be you for sidon here, So as you begin, rededicate yourself to God as you begin, go and serve your people,” the Cleric said.

  • 2023: Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi loses senatorial election

    2023: Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi loses senatorial election

    The Enugu state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who contested the Enugu North Senatorial zone under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has lost to the Candidate of Labour Party.

    Mr. Okey Ezea of the Labour Party has been declared winner of the Senatorial election held in Enugu North Senatorial zone on Saturday.

    Ezea defeated Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to emerge winner of Enugu North Senatorial Zone.

    The result of the election was announced by the returning officer, Prof. Chukwuemeka Ubaka, early Monday morning.

    He said Ezea polled 104, 492 votes while Ugwuanyi of the PDP garnered 46, 948 votes, the APC candidate, Eze Simon came third with 6,816 votes.

    Ugwuanyi joins Croos River’s Ayade as sitting governor who lost senatorial elections in the country.

  • Calabar Carnival tragedy: PDP condemns Ayade’s decision to proceed with activities

    Calabar Carnival tragedy: PDP condemns Ayade’s decision to proceed with activities

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned Gov. Ben Ayade’s decision to continue with the activities lined up for the annual Calabar Carnival after the death of eight persons on Tuesday.

    Mr Venatius Ikem, the State Chairman of the party, made the condemnation in a press statement made available to newsmen in Calabar on Wednesday.

    The eight deaths were recorded when a Camry Car lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers on day five activity of the carnival.

    Apart from the deaths, 29 others sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to Naval hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for medical attention.

    However, the Governor continued with the carnival on Tuesday night when he attended Miss Africa, a Beauty Pageant segment of the carnival.

    The PDP chairman described Ayade’s decision as a “singular action tantamount to rubbing salt on injuries.”

    He said that the governor’s action showed insensitivity to the mood and plight of the people.

    Ikem said, ”Indeed, we have been vindicated in our rating of Ayade’s government as inhuman, uncouth and unperturbed by the sufferings of the masses.

    ”It is unthinkable that a leader can proceed to a jamboree where he was seen beaming with smiles and cheering Miss Africa Beauty Pageant contestants after the bloody incident which claimed lives just a couple of hours apart.

    Ikem also stated that the disaster could have been avoided if standard best practices were applicable during the event, especially with regard to crowd and vehicular traffic control as well as the physiological state of the participants.

    Meanwhile, the PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Sandy Onor, has condoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the Calabar Carnival accident.

    He prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

  • Fire officer confirms fire outbreak in Cross River Govt. House

    Fire officer confirms fire outbreak in Cross River Govt. House

    Mrs Olumayowa Olomola, Commanding Officer, Calabar Command of the Federal Fire Service, has confirmed the fire incident that occurred inside the Cross River Government House.

    Olomola who confirmed the incident that the fire started from an electrical spark from a generator house.

    The Government House in the capital city houses the office of the Governor and some of the civil servants as well as aides to the governor.

    The fire which occurred between late hour of Satuday and the early hours of Sunday, was said to have affected some offices attached to Gov. Ben Ayade.

    It was gathered that some vital documents were also affected by the fire that lasted more than three hours.

    It took the intervention of the Federal Fire Service to put out the fire.

    Meanwhile, the Cross River Government has said that the fire incident did not cause major damage.

    Mr Christian Ita, Special Adviser on Media to the Governor said, “it was just a minor incident and no damage was caused by the incident. There was also no file damaged.

    “It was only a building attached to Governor’s Office and no major activity takes place there.”

  • Cross River judicial workers get 100% salary increase

    Cross River judicial workers get 100% salary increase

    Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade has approved 100 per cent increment in salaries and welfare package of the state’s Judicial workers.

    This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Calabar.

    According to the statement, Ayade made the announcement during the swearing-in of the new President of Cross River Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Anjor Mbe.

    He said that the new salary regime with effective from August 1, 2022, the state’s High Court judges salaries will be increased by 100 per cent.

    “Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal will also have their salaries increased by 100 per cent while those of Magistrates will be increased by 50 per cent, ” he stated

    He also announced the immediate recruitment of 500 workers in the ministry of Justice for the first phase.

    Similarly, the governor also granted all judicial officers in the state immediate land allocation.

    He expressed optimism that he had addressed the immediate challenges of the state judiciary.

    “As a matter of state government’s policy, any judicial officer sworn-in will have his or her official car ready for delivery.

    “We have witnessed massive vacancy in the Ministry of Justice occasioned by retirement.

    “To this effect, we have approved for the Chief Judge with the support of the Head of Service and the Civil Service Commission, the employment of 500 workers in the Ministry of Justice for the first phase alone.”

    He disclosed that his administration had equally approved the setting aside of 25 per cent of the gross emoluments to support judicial officers’ allowances.

    He said that the allowances covered vacation, travels, among others.

    Ayade pledged his administration’s readiness to support Judicial arm of government as the need arose.

    He said he acted in concert with the report of the State Judicial Welfare Review Committee set up in April.

    The Committee which had retired Justice Eyo Ita as Chairman, was charged with reviewing the salaries of Cross River judicial officers.

    “For our judicial officers, we know the challenges of this country, for Cross River State in particular, we are quite sensitive to all the concerns raised so far.

    “That is why we set up a committee to review the conditions of service of judicial officers to make for better service delivery.

    “So having studied the report of the committee and in order to enhance service delivery, Cross River State Government has hereby handsomely reviewed their salaries and welfare.”

    He commended the state Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, “for her diplomatic, studious and consistent push in achieving these goals,” he stated.

  • Just In: APC screening Cttee disqualifies guber aspirant, Sen Otu over alleged certificate scam

    Just In: APC screening Cttee disqualifies guber aspirant, Sen Otu over alleged certificate scam

    Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant and Gov. Ayade’s concensus candidate for the number 1 position has been disqualified by the Appeal Committee of the Party.

    Otu who was initially disqualified by the Screening commitee over series of petitions will not be contesting the APC primary.

    The Appeal Committee has submitted its report which they affirmed the decision of the Screening Commitee which disqualified Sen. Otu on the grounds of various petitions bothering on criminal allegations and certificate forgery.

  • 2023 election: Gov Ayade directs political appointees to resign

    2023 election: Gov Ayade directs political appointees to resign

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has directed his political appointees seeking elective positions in the 2023 elections to resign.

    The governor’s directive is contained in a release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita, on Wednesday in Calabar.

    He said any political appointee seeking any elective position should tender his/her resignation letter on or before noon on Thursday.

    Gov. Ayade also directed that any political appointee presently serving in his government but desire to seek elective position in the forthcoming 2023 election is at liberty to resign.

    “Such appointees should turn in their resignation letters on or before noon on Thursday. Such letters should be submitted to the office of the Secretary to State Government,” the governor said.

    Gov. Ayade thanked the appointees for their invaluable services to the state and prays God to bless their future endeavours.

  • Defection: Court dismisses PDP’s suit against Gov. Ayade

    Defection: Court dismisses PDP’s suit against Gov. Ayade

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suit seeking the removal of Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a judgment, said he was bound by the decision of a higher court which delivered a judgment on April 1 in a similar case in Enugu.

    An Appeal Court sitting in Enugu on Friday affirmed the ruling of the Ebonyi State High Court, which declared that Gov. David

    Umahi and his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, did not offend any provision of the constitution or the Electoral Act by defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Chief Mike Ozekhome, who was counsel for Ayade and his deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu, had written to Justice Taiwo on the Enugu judgement.

    Lawyers to all the parties were, however, directed to address the court on Wednesday and the judgement shifted to Thursday.

    Taiwo, while delivering the judgment, held that going by “the principle of stare decisis (judicial precedence),” he was bound by the earlier judgment of the appellant court.

    The judge said that though there were constitutional provisions for the removal of a governor or his deputy from office, defection was not part of the grounds.

    Taiwo said that Sections 180, 188 and 189 had already stipulated how an executive head could be removed from office.

    The judge, therefore, raised 10 questions for determination.

    “Are votes cast in election transferable to another party? Is defection tantamount to transfer of votes? Does the law permits such transfer? Can such transfer counts or be disallowed with attendant consequence?, etc,” he asked.

    According to him, it is not the function of the court to make law, but it is the duty of the legislature while the court interprets the law.

    “Therefore, defection from a political party is not one of the grounds for removing a governor or deputy from office,” he said.

    Taiwo, who said that the role of the judiciary is limited in the removal of a president or governor and their deputies, said it was the duty of the legislature to do this.

    “The 3rd and 4th defendants (Ayade and Esu) cannot be removed except by constitutional provisions.

    “Hence, this court has no power to declare their seats vacate except by constitutional provisions. I so hold,” he said.

    Speaking with newsmen shortly after the judgment, Ozekhome said Sections 180, 188 and 189 gave guidelines as to how a governor could be removed from office.

    He said: “these include when a governor dies, resigns from office, his tenure expires, by impeachment or if he is incapacitated.”

    According to him, the Supreme Court had once pronounced that though an act of defection might be painful, immoral and unquestionable, it is not illegal.

    PDP, through its counsel Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 before Justice Taiwo to seek for an order sacking the governor and his deputy over their defection to the APC, among others.

    Taiwo had, on March 21, ordered two House of Representatives members representing Cross River and 18 lawmakers from the state’s House of Assembly to vacate their seats over their defection to APC.

    The judge gave the order following a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/971/2021 filed on Aug. 27, 2021, by the PDP to challenge the 20 lawmakers’ defection to APC, alongside the governor on May 20, 2021.

    Justice Taiwo, in the judgment, dismissed the defence argument that the PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi (legal rights) to institute the case.

    He also dismissed other preliminary objections raised by the sacked lawmakers.

    NAN