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  • Gov. Ben Ayade and Dave Umahi visits Wike in Rivers state

    Gov. Ben Ayade and Dave Umahi visits Wike in Rivers state

    Cross River state governor Ben Ayade and Ebonyi state governor Dave Umahi, on  Wednesday, paid a visit to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, in his country home in Rumueprikon, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

    Details of the meeting could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

    It was learnt that Wike’s ally and the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, later joined the meeting.

    It was gathered that as soon as the guest governors arrived, they were welcomed by their host and immediately ushered into a closed-door meeting.

    Wike and four other governors have been fighting for equity and justice in the Peoples Democratic Party, insisting that the embattled National Chairman, Senator Iyorcha Ayu, must resign.

  • 2023: INEC publishes final list of candidates

    2023: INEC publishes final list of candidates

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for 2023 national elections.

    The general elections will be conducted for Presidential, National and State constituencies as well as governorship, but the list covered only the federal positions.

    The list of candidates for the presidential elections includes Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP), Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Party (NNPP), Sowere Stephen of the African Action Congress (AAC ), Kachikwu Dumebi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and 12 others with their running mates.

    Mr Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Tuesday in Abuja, said that INEC at its regular weekly meeting held on Tuesday approved the final list of candidates for the polls.

    Okoye said that the publication was in pursuant to Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and item 8 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

    He said that the publication of the full names and addresses of all nominated candidates follows the political parties’ conduct of primaries and completion of the nomination exercise.

    He recalled that at end of the process, the personal particulars of all nominated candidates were displayed in their constituencies nationwide as provided by Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act.

    “Subsequently, validly nominated candidates had the opportunity to voluntarily withdraw their candidature by notice in writing and personally deliver such notice to the political party that nominated them for the election.

    “Thereafter, political parties substituted such candidates under Section 31 of the Electoral Act for which the last day was 15th July 2022 for national elections and 12th August 2022 for State elections as clearly provided in item 6 of the Commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities.

    “Thereafter, no withdrawal or substitution of candidates is allowed except in the event of death as provided in section 34(1) of the Electoral Act or pursuant to an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.’’

    Okoye said that the list published contained the names of candidates validly nominated for national elections at the close of party primaries and the period earmarked for withdrawal and substitution of candidates.

    He added the final list of candidates for State elections (Governorship and State Constituencies) would be published on Oct. 4,  as already indicated on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

    “We note the fact that not all the political parties conducted primaries in all the constituencies, submitted the particulars of candidates that emerged from valid primaries or substituted their candidates after fresh primaries within 14 days as provided in Section 33 of the Electoral Act.

    “This has led to numerous litigations, some of which are ongoing.

    “Where the Commission was served with Court orders by aggrieved aspirants or candidates before the publication of this list, these have been indicated under the remark column.’’

    OKoye said that in summary, all the 18 political parties have fielded candidates and their running mates for the Presidential election.

    “For legislative elections, 1,101 candidates are vying for 109 Senatorial seats and 3,122 candidates for Federal Constituencies i.e. House of Representatives seats, making a total of 4,223 candidates contesting for 469 legislative positions.

    “In terms of gender distribution, 3,875 candidates are male, made up of 35 for Presidential and Vice Presidential, 1,008 for Senate and 2,832 for House of Representatives.

    “Similarly, 381 females comprising one for Presidential, 92 for Senate, and 288 for House of Representatives are contesting. There are also 11 Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the race.’’

    Okoye said that the list for specific constituencies was published in each state where they were located while the comprehensive nationwide list had been uploaded to the Commission’s website.

    He therefore appealed to all political parties to channel any observations on the list of candidates to the commission.

    He, however, added that such must be signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the political party and supported with an affidavit as provided in Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022.

    2023: INEC clears Umahi, 79 others for NASS elections in Ebonyi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Tuesday published the list of 80 successful candidates, including Gov. David Umahi, for the 2023 National Assembly elections in Ebonyi.

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Joseph Chukwu, disclosed this at a news briefing at the INEC headquarters on Tuesday in Abakaliki.

    Chukwu said that the list had been displayed at the state headquarters and INEC Offices in the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

    He said that the commission cleared 32 presidential and vice presidential candidates from the 18 registered political parties for the 2023 poll.

    He said the display of the list of cleared candidates was in compliance with section 32 (1) of the Electoral Act.

    The section provides that the names of candidates sponsored by political parties shall be published 150 days before the election.

    A breakdown of the list showed 29 Senatorial and 51 House Representatives candidates from the three senatorial districts and six federal constituencies of Ebonyi.

    Gov. Dave Umahi made the senatorial list as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Ebonyi South.

    2023: Ayade challenges INEC on free, fair poll in C/River

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Cross River.

    The Governor gave the challenge on Wednesday in Calabar when he received the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Alalibo Johnson.

    Ayade, however, assured the INEC of peaceful atmosphere before and during the 2023 general elections in the state.

    He noted that given the new REC’s track records and integrity, he had no doubt he would deliver.

    According to him, “On behalf of the good people of Cross River State, l hereby give you that commitment that we will guarantee you free and safe elections.

    “We also call on the INEC to please honour its pledge too so that we can have free, fair, credible, reliable and dependable elections.

    “Government is not going to in any way influence your process, but we want to say that we are available and willing to support you at all times that INEC will so require our services.”

    Ayade commended the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu “who has distinguished himself in this country”.

    Speaking further, he said “Never before have we had an INEC Chairman who has enjoyed the mutual trust from both the ruling party and the opposition parties.

    “This is one chairman who has conducted his elections and results returned based on what is on the ground.

    “He is not subject to any inducement, he is subject to the God that he serves and l want to say that his name would go down in history as one of the very best INEC Chairmen that we have ever had. God bless him and God will continue to sustain him.”

    Earlier in his speech, the new REC who harped on the need for a conducive atmosphere, noted that it is what is needed for free and fair elections to thrive.

    “There is no way we can conduct a free and fair election without security. We call on you to use your good offices to ensure that we have peace in the state.

    “Peace in the sense that people can move freely to vote for candidates of their choice, and also, we at the back end of INEC can do our job without intimidation,” he stated.

    The REC disclosed that about 90,000 uncollected PVCs were listed across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state and appealed to the registrants to come forward and pick up their PVCs.

    He also said that with the creation of new polling units, Cross River now had 3,281 Polling units.

  • JUST IN: Gov Ayade’s office, vital documents gutted by fire

    JUST IN: Gov Ayade’s office, vital documents gutted by fire

    A fire incident occurred inside the Cross River State Government House that affected offices attached to the State Governor, Ben Ayade.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Government House in the capital city houses the office of the Governor and some civil servants as well as aides to the governor.

    The fire incident affected vital official documents as confirmed by Mrs Olumayowa Olomola, Commanding Officer, Calabar Command of the Federal Fire Service.

    Olomola disclosed that the fire, which occurred between the late hours of Saturday and the early hours of Sunday, started from an electrical spark from a generator house.

    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”.

  • Gov Ayade grieves over Calabar market fire

    Gov Ayade grieves over Calabar market fire

    Gov Ben Ayade of Cross River has expressed sadness over the fire that destroyed goods worth millions of naira on Tuesday at the popular fruits Market at Marian in Calabar.

    The Cross River governor made this known in a statement by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mr Linus Obogo and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Wednesday.

    He described as sad and disturbing recurring fire incidents at the Marian Market.cWhile empathising with the victims over the incident, Ayade promised to urgently profer solution to frequent fire incidents in the market.

    “I am saddened by the news of the fire outbreak at the Marian Market and the attendant loss of goods and property.cI deeply sympathise with the traders whose goods may have been destroyed as a result of the fire incident.”

    “| am worried about the recurring incidents of fire outbreaks at the Market.cAs a government, we are looking into how we can put a stop to it. It has happened one time too many,” he stated.

    It would be recalled that the popular Market was gutted by fire in the early hours of Tuesday and over 30 lockup shops were affected by the inferno.

    Mrs Olumayowa Olomola, Commanding Officer, Calabar Command of the Federal Fire Service disclosed that the fire was caused by gas explosion in one of the lockup shops.

    According to her, “The fire started from one of of shops where the occupant, a woman who was boiling beans, slept off.

    “The woman in question had other cylinder filled up with gas in her shop and this led to the explosion when what she was cooking got burnt.”

    She, however, said that no life was lost in the incident.

  • Ayade threatens to sanction erring civil, public servants

    Ayade threatens to sanction erring civil, public servants

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has threatened to sanction erring civil and public servants in the state’s establishment to achieve enhanced productivity.

    The governor made this known in a statement signed by his Deputy Press Secretary, Mr Linus Obogo on Tuesday in Calabar.

    Ayade said he had directed Mr Timothy Akwaji, the state’s Head of Service, to step up monitoring of civil and public servants to entrench discipline and efficiency in the workforce.

    He said effective monitoring became necessary to achieve the desired productivity in the state’s Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) as well as curtailing the excesses of officers.

    “This directive which is to ensure punctuality as well as deal with issues of truancy among civil and public servants, is intended to reawaken the zeal and virtues that make the service unique.

    “In light of this, any member of staff found wanting shall face appropriate sanction in line with the provisions of the civil service rule,” he said.

    In an interview with NAN a civil servant who preferred anonymity, said civil servants in the state were coping in spite being owed salaries.

    “It is sad that the state government would always want to pick on the civil servants who are actually sustaining the state.

    “We are in August and some workers in the state are still being owed June salary and no one has received anything for July, yet workers are still going to work.

    “I think the governor should rather commend the workforce,” he stated.

    Another civil servant from the Ministry of Education, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said no one should give the civil servants in the State a bad name.

    He said that civil servants in the state were trying their best in spite not getting their legitimate salary as and when due.

    The source said that it was also difficult for civil servants to get their gratuity and pension when they retire from service.

  • 2023: Ayade, Akpabio, Lawan, others did not violate Electoral Act by obtaining multiple forms – INEC

    2023: Ayade, Akpabio, Lawan, others did not violate Electoral Act by obtaining multiple forms – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that aspirants who obtained multiple forms for party primaries have not violated the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye was clarifying Section 115 of the Electoral Act 2022 when he made this known.

    Recall that President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State; Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and some others obtained multiple forms for the primary elections their political party conducted.

    Lawan, Akpabio, Ayade and Umahi who were presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were also said to have purchased senatorial forms for their various senatorial districts.

    Section 115(1) (d) of the Act provides that any person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment.

    Section 152 of the Act defines a candidate to mean a person who has secured the nomination of a political party to contest an election for any elective office.

    Reacting on Tuesday in an interview with a correspondent of PUNCH Newspapers, Okoye said those who obtained and signed multiple forms were aspirants and not candidates as defined by Section 152 of the Electoral Act.

    “Before someone will come within the compass and contemplation of the law as a candidate, the political party must conduct valid primaries and the sponsoring party must upload the list or information relating to the candidates they intend to sponsor to the commission’s candidates nomination portal and this is in compliance with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    “Thereafter, the personal particulars of the candidates will be displayed in the constituencies where they intend to contest the election and this is for claims and objections.

    “After this process, the candidates will now fill nomination forms (Forms EC13A, EC13B, EC13C, EC13D and EC13 E) in compliance with Section 30(1) of the Electoral Act.

    “Section 30(1) of the Act provides that a candidate for an election shall be nominated in writing by such number of persons whose names appear on the register of voters in the constituency as the commission may prescribe.

    “This is the process covered by Section 115(d) of the Electoral Act. The last day for the submission of nomination forms for presidential candidates and National Assembly candidates is August 8, 2022 while that of governorship and state assembly candidates is August 18, 2022.

    “During the conduct of party primaries, the persons you referred to are aspirants as defined by Section 152 of the Electoral Act. The forms they filled as aspirants are the forms of their political parties and not that of the commission.

    “The list submitted by the political parties under Section 29(1) of the Act is the list of candidates the party proposes to sponsor.

    “The only documents signed by the candidates are the affidavit deposed by them. That is not the nomination form as contemplated by Section 115(d) of the Act,” Okoye said.

    ALSO READ || BREAKING: Ayade not eligible to run for Senate in 2023 – INEC

    Notwithstanding, INEC had earlier said it did not monitor the primaries that produced some of the aspirants as senatorial candidates, and therefore are not eligible to run in the 2023 elections.

  • BREAKING: Ayade not eligible to run for Senate in 2023 – INEC

    BREAKING: Ayade not eligible to run for Senate in 2023 – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the incumbent Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade is not eligible to run for Senate in the 2023 general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mike Igini, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) made this known when he featured on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme.

    According to Igini, the APC ought to have at least notified INEC 21 days before conducting her primary as stipulated in the electoral act 2022, and before conducting her re-run but the memo was only served on the 6th and the election was conducted on the 13th of July, which is against the commission’s guidelines.

    “Secondly, only death is statutory for the substitution of candidates as INEC has no room for placeholders in the electoral act,” the INEC’s REC argued.

    TNG reports Governor Ayade last Thursday emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Cross River North Seat at the National Assembly for the 2023 poll.

    Ayade, who emerged unopposed, was elected at a fresh primary election at the Ogoja Local Government Area (LGA) of the State. The election followed the voluntary withdrawal of Mr Martins Orim, who won the ticket at the May 28 primaries.

    Mrs Sameera Tabo, Chairperson of the APC Primary Election Committee for Cross River North declared the Governor winner with 252 votes. The total votes cast was 255, while three votes were invalidated.

    According to Tabo, following Orim’s withdrawal, the fresh primary election was to ensure that the party fielded a candidate for Cross River North under the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    In his acceptance speech, Ayade expressed gratitude to the delegates for electing him. He said that after running for the office of the president of Nigeria, he returned home and then came under pressure from his people to contest for Senate.

    “They said I did very well when I was a Senator from 2011 to 2015 and insisted I go back; today I have answered their call. Of course, they recognised that this country requires a legislator that has both executive and legislative experience.

    “I am very experienced, I know the challenges of our people and possess the essential elements that will help us make the appropriate laws and legislation that will change the narrative of our people,” he said.

    The governor said he was well equipped for the senate and would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the upper legislative chamber if elected.

    Meanwhile, speaking further, Igini stressed that it is an offence under the electoral act 2022 for politicians to obtain multiple nomination forms.

    “A person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election [commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years],” section 115 (D) of the electoral act 2022 reads.

    Igini said by “constituency”, the electoral act 2022 refers to separate elections whether it is presidential, governorship, senatorial, the house of representatives or that of the state assembly.

    He said any candidate who runs afoul of this law is liable to be jailed for two years, and that section 115 (3) even states that any attempt to obtain multiple forms is an offence.

    “Section 115 (D) of the 2022 electoral act stipulates that no person shall sign, obtain more than one form as a candidate for different elections,” he said.

    “And the offence for that under subsection K, beyond the financial, he will go two years’ imprisonment.

    “Some people are claiming that they participated in one election, that they filled two forms; it’s ignorance of the law and it’s not an excuse.

    “We are preventing them from being candidates for prison and they are calling our names everywhere.

    “There are many candidates that have done this. INEC can only point you in that direction; that’s what we can do.

    “People walk their way to prison when they say that they bought two forms. Section 115 (D) prohibits that.

    “In fact, subsection 3 of 115 says that even that attempt itself will be treated as the offence.

    “If you bought two forms for different constituencies at the same time as a candidate. If they bought two forms like we have been hearing, they have run afoul of the law already.

    “Because a state assembly election is a constituency, house of representatives is a constituency, senatorial is a constituency, governorship is a constituency, presidential is one constituency.”

    Igini had insisted that INEC did not monitor the primaries that produced Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom, as the senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom north-west.

    Akpabio had contested the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but he withdrew from the race on June 7, and asked his supporters to back Bola Tinubu, former Lagos governor.

    Prior to the presidential primary election, on May 27, Udom Ekpoudom, former deputy inspector-general of police (DIG), had won the primary election organised for the Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial ticket.

    However, a parallel primary election was conducted that was won by Ekperikpe Ekpo, but which was later cancelled over irregularities, while a rerun was conducted on June 8, with Akpabio declared as the winner of the exercise.

    Ahmad Lawan, senate president, after losing the APC presidential ticket reportedly asked Bashir Machina, winner of the Yobe North senatorial primary election, to relinquish the ticket.

  • 2023: Cross River will deliver 100 percent for Tinubu – Ayade

    Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade on Tuesday disclosed that the state will work hard to ensure the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 Presidential election.

    Speaking for the first time after the party’s Presidential Primaries, Ayade said he remained committed to the victory of the party at the polls regardless of the outcome of the presidential primaries.

    Ayade who addressed the Press at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, said: “As for my presidential ambition, indeed, l am grateful to God that He gave me the opportunity to showcase to the country what I had to offer. I am happy because sincerely, l like the reactions that l have received from various people about my speech at the primaries.”

    Continuing, the governor said “there was a clear indication that everyone knew that l had something to offer this country, but it was not my time, it was not my day. It was someone else’s and l am happy for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has taken the ticket of our party.

    “Based on the principle of our party, we will all work to deliver him come 2023. Cross River will ensure a hundred percent votes for our presidential candidate.”

    On his recent foreign business trip, Ayade disclosed that the object of his visit to Spain was to explore opportunities for the take off of Cally Airline as an entity.

    “I just got back from Spain where l went for an extensive meeting and discussions with the intent to actually bring oxygen to Cally Air. As you are well aware, Cally Air has two aircraft and we need three to be licensed to actually run an independent airline. That has been a challenge for sometime now.”

    According to the governor, “We had a useful and fruitful conversation with some companies out there with the intention to provide us one aircraft that will enable us have three aircraft, so we can run in full swing.”

    Additionally, Ayade further hinted that “we have spoken to some cargo companies to see how they can partner with us for the Obudu Cargo Airport. Work at the airport has reached a very advanced stage and l am very convinced and confident that before long, the Obudu Cargo Airport should be fully operational. So we need to start having a foot falls ahead of time. That explains why l really took out time to get that done.”

  • 2023: Ben Ayade denies participating in senatorial primary

    Cross River state  Governor Professor Ben Ayade has denied participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial primary election held in the state on Saturday.

    APC report sheet showed that the Cross River state Governor polled 52 votes against Adams Cecelia, who scored 140.

    However, Ayade has released a statement through his media aide Chris Ita, denying any involvement in APC Senatorial primary election.

    The statement reads in part  ”Ayade is a presidential aspirant and will be taking part in the APC presidential convention slated for June 6.

    ”We make bold to say that the so-called parallel primary election as contained in the said video was at best a poorly scripted skit comedy shot by three persons sitting in a room.

    “The sham video is indeed a joke taken too far. It was a vapid, infantile but failed attempt at manipulation, as the clowns behind it tragically forgot to also manufacture ballot boxes, delegates, observers and APC panel members,” it said.

    The State government said the result circulating on social media was the handiwork of political desperadoes who are out to embarrass the governor.

    ”We wish to assure teeming APC members and supporters, particularly in Northern Cross River, that there was no parallel Senatorial primaries in the district.

    ”The only valid and recognised senatorial primaries that took place in Ogoja and which was won by the former Chief of Staff to the Governor, Martin Orim and which does not have Ayade on the ballot, was monitored by the INEC and representatives from APC’s National Secretariat.

    “The purported video suggesting a parallel exercise should, therefore, be ignored,” it added.

  • Cross River Governor Ben Ayade loses APC senatorial ticket

    Cross River Governor Ben Ayade has lost his All Progressive Congress APC senatorial primary election in the state TheNewsGuru.com can confirm

    Ayade  joined the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2021 and took part in the APC Senate primary election  in Calabar.

    Results of the primary show Mr Ayade polled 52 votes to crash out against Adams Cecelia, who scored 140. Another aspirant Martin Orim scored 61 votes.

    The development comes barely a few days after videos of Mr Ayade in a room with a person reported to be his mistress. He did not comment on the scandal, and it was not immediately clear whether it affected his chances with delegates.

    Mr Ayade, an academic, was elected twice as governor while a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, which he abandoned in May last year.