TheNewsGuru

Tag: Delta State

  • INEC begins voter register clean-up in Delta

    INEC begins voter register clean-up in Delta

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says that it has started the clean-up of the voter register so as to ensure credible, free and fair elections in 2019.

    The Administrative Secretary of INEC, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, said this on Tuesday at a news conference in Asaba.

    She said that the commission would display the preliminary Register of Voters (PRV) in all the 3,624 polling units of Delta between Nov. 6 and Nov. 12.

    Oriaran-Anthony said that the purpose of the display was to enable prospective voters, who had earlier registered, to make claims and objections where necessary.

    She, however, said that INEC officials would be stationed at the ward headquarters to address the claims and objections of prospective voters.

    She urged prospective voters across the state to check their names in the PRV to ensure that particulars such as names, ages and addresses, among others, were properly captured.

    Oriaran-Anthony said that objections on issues such as the inclusion of names of dead persons, underage persons or non-Nigerians would also be dealt with at the ward headquarters.

    She said that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be available for collection at the wards from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily during the period.

    She urged all the people of the state to promote the fulfilment of the exercise by supporting INEC.

     

  • Operation Crocodile Smile 3: Army donates food items to flood victims in Delta

    Operation Crocodile Smile 3: Army donates food items to flood victims in Delta

    The Nigerian Army has donated food items to over 2000 flood victims in Delta in order to alleviate their plight.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, presented the items on Saturday.

    The donation was made to the victims at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South-West Local Government Area.

    The army boss said that the succour came at the instance of the Chief of Army Staff (CAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    “The CAS sympathised with the victims of the recent flooding that ravaged houses and brought some untold hardship on them.

    “He has also directed that you consider what he called “Operation Crocodile Smile Three 2018’’. It means keeping the people safe,’’.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated included; bags of rice, gari, vegetable oil, several cartons of Indomie and table water.

    The “Operation Crocodile Smile Three 2018’’ was flagged off on Nov. 1 in Bayelsa while that of Delta started on Nov. 2.

    The GOC was flanked by officers including the Commander, Sector 1, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Col. Alhassan Grema, Commanding Officer 3 Battalion, Effurun, Maj. Salim Hassan.

    Addressing newsmen, Sarham said “Operation Crocodile Smile Three 2018’’ was basically to ensure safety of lives and property.

    “It is aimed at riding communities from crimes and basically to safeguard lives and properties.

    “We are not unmindful of the fact that there are criminal elements within the society here.

    “The Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies has designed an annual training exercise which they turned into operations to ensure that crime does not thrive in our communities

    “We are in the vanguard of national development and you cannot develop where there is no peace and security,’’ he said.

    The GOC and his convoy had earlier met with the people of both Aladja in Udu Local Government and Ogbe-Ijoh on the exercise.

    He said that the exercise was not to harm or disrupt peace but to curb violence, pipeline vandalism and other crimes in the Niger Delta region.

    The army boss, however, solicited for understanding, support and cooperation of the people throughout the period of the exercise and urged them to always use dialogue to resolve their differences.

    “We are here to conduct Operation Crocodile Smile Three 2018’’ in your domain, soldiers are servants of the people, we are agents of peace, we engender development,’’ he said.

    Sarham thereafter moved to the 3 Battalion (Rear) Tactical Headquarters, Egbokodo, Warri South to meet with the personnel.

    While commending the personnel for their good work, he warned them against being used by the saboteurs but to continue to uphold the ethics of the military profession.

    One of the flood victims, Mrs Elizabeth Bayo, 64 year and mother of four, commended the Nigerian Army for the donation.

    Coordinator of the IDP camp and a staff of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs Bridget Ezonfade, expressed gratitude to the Army, adding that she had over 2000 victims comprising children and adults in the camp.

     

  • Delta APC primaries crisis: Court issues contempt notice on Oshiomhole

    The Federal High Court sitting at Asaba has issued a contempt notice on the National chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole for disobeying its order not to submit list of Delta APC candidates to INEC and on the Chairman of INEC for disobeying its order not to receive and publish such candidates names from Delta State for the 2019 general elections until the resolution of the case.

    The court noted that despite its order dated October 17, 2018, Comrade Oshiomole still went ahead to submit names of purported NASS candidates from Delta APC to INEC and that INEC also went ahead to receive and publish such names even when the order directed both parties in the case not to do so but to maintain “status quo.”

    It would be recalled that Chief Cyril Ogodo led executive of the APC in Delta State, had dragged the APC, Oshiomhole, INEC and 1 other to court in a suit, with Suit No: FA/ASB/CS/76/2018, over the issue of the authentic list of candidates that emerged from the parallel primaries conducted in the state through the two contending State Executives in the state. The primary of the Chief Cyril Ogodo led Exco produced Prof Pat Utomi and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor as Governorship and Senatorial candidates respectively while that of the Prophet Jones Erue led Exco produced Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as Governorship and Senatorial candidates respectively. The fourth defendant in the suit is Prophet Jones Erue and his parallel Executives.

    The court in its sitting, Thursday, 1st November 2018, issued against Comrade Oshiomole and the INEC Chairman Form 48, notice of Consequence of Disobedience to court order, and warned that: “Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order, you will be guilty of contempt and you will be liable to prison.”

    Earlier at the court, the defendants failed to file their responses claiming they were not given the statutory time and that the Judge should first rule on their motion on notice challenging the Jurisdiction of the court. Maintaining her previous order on all parties to maintain the status quo, the judge affirmed she will not rule separately on Jurisdiction but shall take all motions together with the main issues. She subsequently adjourned the matter to November 13th to give extended time to the defendants to file their responses. She also pre-warned that she would proceed either way with the case on the adjourned date if the defendants still failed to file their responses.

     

  • Passage: 245 cannons, 30 maids for David Dafinone burial

    As part of burial rites for late Senator David Dafinone, 245 cannons would be fired, and 30 maids would be allowed to observe traditional rites of dances.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the 30 maids would be allowed to observe traditional rites of dances round the late renowned accountant remains in batches on Wednesday 31st October till dawn.
    According to a statement by the Dafinone family, 21 cannons would be fired at Koko junction, the point of entry for Dafinone’s corpse before the journey continues to Amukpe roundabout where another 21 cannons would be expended.
    The “journey continues to Okirigwre by Total-New Ogorode road-Adeola- Adeola by Okpe Hall for traditional rites to be observed by Sapele Okpe community elders with 21 cannons to be carried out in a 7×3 pattern within Okpe hall Olympia proximity.
    “After about 15 minutes, the journey continues through Reclamation-Macpherson-Boyo road-market and finally at 7 Dafinone way where another round of 21 cannons would be ignited.
    “Egbotor Ogwa [maids] of about 30 in number will be allowed to observe the traditional rites of dances round Dads remains in batches till dawn,” the statement read.
    According to the statement, “all commercial activities will be suspended” in Sapele on 31st of October.
    “1st of November, 21 canons will be ignited. Egbotor Ogwa are expected to still observe a vigil with Dads remains till dawn for the second day in a row.
    “2nd November, upon the arrival of Ekakuros 21 cannons is expected to be ignited while they get set to accompany Dad remains to Bethel Baptist Church.
    “After the interment, another 21 cannons will be ignited when the church members have departed while reception at Athletic Club will be ongoing even when interment is still on.
    “3rd November, In-laws greeting day, 14 cannons are to be ignited, 7 each at morning and evening. 4th November, Outing Service, 14 cannons; 5th, Monday, Okpe Youth Council Day, 14 cannons, 7 each in the morning and evening.
    “6th November, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Day, 14 cannons, 7 each at morning and evening; 7th November, the grand finale, 42 cannons, 21 each at morning and evening, to be followed by the slaughtering of the native calf,” the statement further read.
     

  • AAC guber candidate mourns death of campaign DG, 2 others

    Governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Delta state, Frank Ufuoma Esanubi has expressed grief over the sudden demise of his campaign Director General, Omamode Ernest Ojegba.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Omamode and four other members of the AAC in Delta were involved in a tragic ghastly motor accident while returning from a political event in Kwale on Tuesday.
    The vehicle conveying them skidded off the road during a downpour and plunged into the Agbarho river on the East West road in Ughelli North Local Government Area.
    While two persons in the vehicle survived the tragic accident, Omamode, Pastor Abushe Jones and Idris Sanni Aigbe died in the process.
    “It is still difficult to come to terms with what happened,” Esanubi said in a statement on Thursday.
    He said he had known Omamode for half of his lifetime, and that Pastor Jones was his Delta Baptist Conference Royal Ambassadors Commandant in the 90’s.
    “When he accepted to serve as my campaign Director General, he brought with him unparalleled zeal, commitment, and vigor despite working with limited budget.
    “He was incurably optimistic of this project, despite several hiccups, he never gave up on the vision to take back Delta State,” Esanubi said of his campaign DG.
    The AAC governorship candidate described Jones as a strict disciplinarian, saying, “As soon as we reconnected earlier this year, he keyed into the project, and have since been our Church organizations liaison officer within the State”.
    “Young, and soft spoken Idris Sanni Aigbe was the man not just behind the camera, but also behind the mask. He handled the camera during our live streams, and responded to comments on my behalf in a way that he depended less on me for guidance.
    “Now, how am I able to continue without these people? What about the families that these wonderful men have left behind? These still hurt so badly,” Esanubi lamented.
    He solicited for prayers for the party, and especially for families the deceased left behind.
    AAC presidential candidate has also reacted to the loss of the party members.
     

  • Omamode: Sowore mourns death of campaign DG

    The African Action Congress (AAC) has expressed sadness over the death of Omamode Ernest Ojegba, Campaign Organization Director General of Frank Ufuoma Esanubi, AAC governorship candidate in Delta state.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Omamode died when returning from a political meeting in Kwale after the vehicle conveying him plunged into Agbarho river along East-West road in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
    In a statement, presidential candidate of the AAC and convener of TakeltBack Movement, Omoyele Sowore, expressed sadly, saying the party is grieved at the death of the three members.
    “The African Action Congress party is sad to announce that we have lost three members from the Delta State AAC family.
    “The men were returning from an outreach effort related to State AAC activities when their car fell into a river on a particularly bad stretch of road that has claimed many lives in the past.
    “At this dark time, we mourn the loss of these brave men, and ask all of our members to pray that their patriotic and revolutionary souls rest in peace.
    “We also use this opportunity to remember and pray for their families that they might find the strength to bear this tragic loss,” Sowore stated.
     

  • Breaking: Campaign DG to AAC governorship candidate in Delta dead

    Omamode Ernest Ojegba, Campaign Organization Director General of Frank Ufuoma Esanubi, African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in Delta state, is dead.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Omamode was returning from a political meeting in Kwale when the vehicle conveying him plunged into Agbarho river along East-West road in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
    Omamode, vibrant and leading the not-too-young-to-run campaign in Delta, was in his early 40s until his death. He had four other persons with him in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
    The accident was said to have occurred during a downpour on Tuesday, and two persons were said to have survived the tragic ghastly motor accident.
    When contacted, the state commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Rindom Kumven, said the Corps had not been briefed on the incident.
    The two other persons who died in the accident are Pastor Jones Abushe and Mr. Edris Sani.
     

  • UPU accuses Soldiers of aiding killings in Delta, calls for probe

    UPU accuses Soldiers of aiding killings in Delta, calls for probe

    The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government and security authorities to probe allegations of partisanship on the part of soldiers drafted to quell crisis between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports, Aladja, an Urhobo community, and Ogbe-Ijoh, an Ijaw community, both in Delta State, have locked horns in crisis, running years, leaving several persons, including children reportedly killed.
    President-General of the UPU Worldwide, Olorogun Moses Taiga, who was speaking against background of renewed clashes between the two warring communities in which over eight persons were feared dead, stated that “Soldiers were grossly partisan in the recent incidence by firing shots at helpless residents of Aladja”.
    “For how long are we going to allow the breach of peace of peace and the disregard for the sanctity of human lives in these two communities because of other considerations not favourable to truth, justice, equity and peaceful co-existence?.
    “I call on the federal government to investigate allegations that Soldiers were grossly partisan in this recent incidence by firing shots at helpless residents of Aladja, killing many,” Taiga stated.
    He also called on Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to show political will and summon moral to, as a matter of urgency, resolve the lingering dispute between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State.
    The Leader of the Urhobo ethnic nationality frowned at allegations that certain individuals in high places are exacerbating the crisis, submitting that “such persons, if it is true, should search their consciences and be warned that history and the Creator will be unkind to them for any role they play in the wanton killings and destruction.
    “This dispute has lingered for too long and has taken much blood, lives and property. I call on the State Government led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to show political will by looking at the reports of the various committees set up to look into the dispute and carry out their recommendations fearlessly.
    “Governor Ifeanyi Okowa should etch his name into the golden books of history by resolving this crisis permanently by upholding the tenets of truth and justice, no matter whose ox is gored,” he said.
     

  • 2019: Legal adviser urges Delta APC to carry out constitutional duties

    2019: Legal adviser urges Delta APC to carry out constitutional duties

    Legal Adviser of the Prophet Jones Ode Erue led executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, has said the party is at liberty to carry out its constitutional duties.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the APC State Legal Adviser, E. V. Onojeghuo Esq, in a statement on Thursday made this known, stressing that there are no legal restraints imposed by the court.
    The statement by the Legal Adviser reads: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress, Delta State has been drawn to the above mentioned subject currently being circulated in various social media platforms and news outlets.
    “This case was instituted by one Chief Cyril Ogodo who participated and lost the congresses to elect a new executive committee. In his claims before the honourable court, he is seeking amongst other things a declaration as the authentic State Chairman of the Party and order restraining defendants from submitting names of candidates to INEC.
    “On 16th October 2018, when the case came up, the defendants informed the Court of their inability to file responses to the Claimants application for injunction. After much argument, the case adjourned to today the 17th of October for hearing.
    “In today’s proceedings, Counsel George Onaho Esq for the 1st and 2nd defendants (APC and the National Chairman) served their Counter affidavit and the Notice of preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the Court. The counsel for the Claimants O.J. Oghenejakpor asked for a stand down to react to the preliminary objection which was granted.
    “On resumption, counsel to the Claimants served his reply to the preliminary objection on the counsel for the 1st and 2nd defendants whereupon the counsel for the 1st and 2nd defendants applied for an adjournment to file a reply on points of law which was opposed to by O.J. Oghenejakpor who insisted on going on with the motion for interlocutory injunction.
    “At this point, the honourable court informed O.J. Oghenejakpor the counsel to the Claimants that the motion for interlocutory injunction cannot be taken as the prayers in the motion are substantially the same as the main reliefs in the substantive suit. The court thereafter adjourned the matter to 1st and 2nd of November 2018 for accelerated hearing of the substantive case and preliminary objection to be taken together and the parties to maintain status quo.
    “The implications of today’s proceedings are: No Order restraining the defendants was made by the honourable court. The status quo to be maintained simply means that the State Executive Committee under the chairmanship of Prophet Jones Ode Erue remains the authentic structures in the State.
    “It stands logic on the head to assume that the Court has technically restrained the defendants by asking parties to maintain status quo when the honourable court has rightly observed that the motion for interlocutory injunction carries the same reliefs as the substantive suit and even refused to entertain the said motion.
    “The defendants are therefore at liberty to carry out their constitutional duties as there are no legal restraints imposed by the honourable court.
    “In the light of the above, we appeal to all faithful members of our great Party to remain calm and not be sway by social media pranks as the records of the Court are sacrosanct”.
     

  • INEC deadline: Delta APC at risk of missing out in 2019 elections

    It appears the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state is at risk of missing deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) for the submission of forms CF001 and CF002 for candidates vying for Senate and House of Representatives positions.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports INEC form CF001 is affidavit in support of personal particulars of persons seeking election, and form CF002 is form for the submission of names of candidates by a political party.
    INEC had fixed October 18, 2018, for the submission of forms CF001 and CF002 for Presidential and National Assembly and December 1, 2018, for Governorship and State House of Assembly.
    A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, chaired by Honourable Justice Toyin Adegoke, according to Fred Okpowhoro Olokor, Esq, the legal team lead of the Cyril Ogodo led executive, had given an order on October 17, 2018 barring either factions of the APC in the State from submitting names of candidates to the INEC.
    This follows a suit by Cyril Ogodo and two others brought against National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole and others, that all parties maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
    At the resumed hearing of the case, Counsel to the Plaintiffs (O. J. Oghenejakpor, Esq.) who had filed a Motion on Notice to restrain 1st and 2nd Defendants (i.e APC and Oshiomhole) from submitting any list of candidates from Delta State to INEC other than the list of candidates that emerged from the Cyril Ogodo led executive’s primaries, which was duly served on all the Defendants, urged the Court to hear the Motion on Notice.
    But because the Defendants served counsel to the Plaintiffs their processes which included preliminary objections in court on the 17th of October, 2018 the motion was not moved.
    In a bid to diligently prosecute the case, the plaintiffs’ counsel applied for a stand down for a few hours to respond to the preliminary objections filed by the Defendants and served in court. The stand down was granted.
    And before the resumption of hearing after the stand down, the Plaintiffs’ counsel was able to file his response to the preliminary objections and was ready to argue the said preliminary objections and the substantive application.
    However, the Defendants vehemently argued that they were not ready to respond on points of law orally. They insisted on filing a reply and applied for an adjournment of the case.
    The Plaintiff Counsel thereafter called upon the court to preserve the res in the matter which is to restrain the APC from submitting any list of candidates from Delta State to INEC for the 2019 general elections except candidates that emerged from the Cyril Ogodo anchored primaries.
    TNG reports the court then inquired from the Counsel to the INEC if any list of candidates had been submitted to INEC as at 17th of October, 2018. The INEC counsel confirmed to court that no list of candidates for Delta State have been submitted yet.
    At this point the Honourable Judge ordered that all parties should maintain status quo. The clear meaning and intent of the Status Quo, therefore, is to preserve the res by ensuring that no list of candidates is submitted to INEC until the determination of the substantive matter.
    The judge then ordered for accelerated hearing and fixed November 1st and 2nd 2018 for the hearing and determination of the case.
    Going by this, the Delta APC might miss deadline for the submission of candidates for Senate and House of Representatives in the 2019 elections. The party might also miss out in submitting candidates for Governorship and State House of Assembly if the case is not decided by November 2nd.
    Reacting to the development, the legal team lead of the Cyril Ogodo-led faction, Fred Okpowhoro Olokor, has warned the Prophet Jones-led faction against contempt if they go ahead to flout the court order.
    “It is pedestrian and mischievous for anyone to suggest or argue that the Federal High Court in Asaba did not restrain APC from submitting any list of candidates for Delta State to INEC.
    “The counsel to the 1st and 2nd Defendants (APC and the APC National Chairman) was in court and clearly understood what the order meant.
    “Counsel will thus be unduly exposing his clients to the risk of contempt proceedings if he allows them to be misled by the mischievous interpretation of the Prophet Jones factional Legal Adviser as is being circulated in the media.
    “Let it be known that anyone who violates the clear orders made on the 17th of October, 2018 stands the risk of having contempt proceedings initiated against them,” he stated.
    Meanwhile, Legal Adviser of the Prophet Jones Ode Erue led executive, E. V. Onojeghuo Esq has said the party is at liberty to carry out its constitutional duties.