TheNewsGuru

Tag: governorship candidate

  • Anambra Governorship candidate steps down

    Anambra Governorship candidate steps down

    The Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Anambra, Mr Patrick Obianyo, has stepped down, ahead of the election slated for November 8.

    Obianyo, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, announced his resignation at the ADC Governorship Substitution Primary Election held on Friday in Awka.

    NAN reports that the exercise, which was monitored by INEC officials, saw Mr John Nwosu emerge unopposed as the new governorship candidate of the party.

    Obianyo cited the “burden of the aspiration” as his reason for stepping down.

    He said that his blood pressure had spiked “due to the stress occasioned by the position”.

    He said he was glad to hand over the baton to Nwosu “to lead us to victory” in the governorship race.

    He described Nwosu as a more capable hand.

    Obianyo said: “Please stop calling me ‘His Excellency’. That appellation has stopped today.

    “I am not regretting, rather I am happy that I am handing over the baton to a more capable hand.”

    Nwosu, a former Governorship Aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party, was elected unopposed through a voice vote.

    He was returned by the Deputy National Chairman of ADC, Chief Anayo Arinze.

    In a speech, Arinze said the exercise was in line with the constitution of the party and in accordance with the electoral guidelines.

    In an acceptance speech, Nwosu expressed his commitment to rescue Anambra.

    He said the occasion was “an important junction in the efforts to rescue Anambra”.

    He described his decision to join the party as “a welcome change”, and promised that his political structure, called “Mission and vision”, remained consistent.

    “I am glad to be part of the larger ADC family, much work remains to be done.

    “Let us go and get the job done.

    “We will partner with ADC, her alliance and coalition partners to form a formidable opposition that will dislodge the incumbent administration,” Nwosu said.

    In a brief remark, his Campaign Director, Mr Ben-Chuks Nwosu, said his principal was an ICT guru, “who has the tact and means to execute the election and turn Anambra around”.

  • I won’t betray your trust – Ighodalo promises groups

    I won’t betray your trust – Ighodalo promises groups

    PDP governorship candidate in Edo, Dr Asue Ighodalo, has promised not to betray the trust of the people if voted as the governor in the forthcoming Sept. 21 election.

    Ighodalo gave his word on Saturday at his campaign office at Aguobasemwin, GRA, Benin, while receiving the different groups drumming support for his aspiration.

    He expressed his appreciation for the groups’ show of love and promised to do everything to make the people proud of making him their choice.

    He, however, warned that the task ahead was enormous and must not be treated with levity or complacency.

    “I am, actually, overwhelmed and I want to thank you sincerely for coming. Some of you have put in so much effort and also sacrificed time to be here.

    “This suggests to me that you are more than ready to support us to the very end.

    “What I want to assure you is that I will not disappoint you; I cannot afford to fail you. I promise I will make all of you proud,” he said.

    According to him, with the cooperation of all, his mantra, which promises to move Edo forward to a level of prosperity for all; a level of being the best subnational government, is achievable.

    “The way to achieve this is to work together. It is not enough to say we want the government of the people for the people and by the people, or chorus fairness, equity and justice.

    “We must all come together and work as one to achieve our goal. Every vote is very important. It is not going to be a walk in the park.

    “So, ensure you talk to people about this project. I want to thank all of you for coming,” he said.

    The groups, announcing their unflinching support for him, stated they acted based on their convictions.

    The groups present are the Edo Market Women Association from the three senatorial districts of the state, Edo Queens’ Political Support Group, and the Asue-Ogie Support Movement (AOSM).

    Others are the Asue Ighodalo Youth Movement, Coalition of Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria (COAOEN), and Edo Women for Good Governance among others.

  • Ondo 2024: APC pegs form at ₦50m to pick governorship candidate Apr 25

    Ondo 2024: APC pegs form at ₦50m to pick governorship candidate Apr 25

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo state chapter has released its timetable and schedule of activities leading to the party’s selection of a candidate on April 25, 2024.

    This is following the November 16, 2024 governorship election schedule to hold in the State.

    APC’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaimon Argungu signed and  released the party’s timetable late Monday.

    According to the party, the sale of nominations, expression of interest and delegates forms for contestants will begin on April 3 and end on April 10, 2024, while primary election is slated for April 25, 2024.

    Like its governorship primary in Edo State which produced Monday Okpebholo as the flag bearer, the APC pegged the price for the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at N10m and N40m respectively for Ondo.

    The party said female aspirants and persons living with disabilities are to pay for Expression of Interest while the Nomination Form is free.

    “Youths from 25 to 40 years are to purchase Expression of Interest forms with a 50% discount on Nomination Forms,” the APC stated.

    Some of the top contenders for the APC ticket in Ondo include Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former Ondo deputy governor, who succeeded the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu after the latter’s death on December 27, 2023. A former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Wale Akinterinwa; as well as Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim, also want the party’s ticket.

     

  • Ahmed Ododo emerges APC governorship candidate in Kogi

    Ahmed Ododo emerges APC governorship candidate in Kogi

    Alhaji Ahmed Ododo has emerged as the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kogi.

    According to Patrick Obahiagha, Secretary of the Kogi APC Primary Election Committee, Ododo scored 78, 704 votes to beat six other contestants.

    Obahiagha who announced the result of the governorship primary on Friday in Lokoja, said Salami Momodu got 1, 506 votes, Abubakar Yahaya-Ashemogu, 1, 159, and Shaaibu Abubakar-Audu, 763 votes.

    He added that Stephen Ocheni garnered 552 votes, Sanusi Ohiere, 424, and Smart Adeyemi 311 votes.

    Obahiagha said that out of the 93, 729 voters, 83, 419 who were accredited, voted for candidates of their choice.

    “Ododo, having scored the majority of the lawful votes cast at the direct primary election conducted on April 14, 2023, in Kogi, is hereby declared the winner of the APC primary election 2023.

    “Ahmed Usman-Ododo is hereby returned as the duly elected governorship candidate of APC for the November 2023 governorship election,” he said.

    Obahiagha congratulated party leaders and members for the peaceful primary election.

    The committee secretary also thanked Gov. Yahaya Bello, for making the democratic process possible.

  • Plateau AA governorship candidate, others defect to APC

    Plateau AA governorship candidate, others defect to APC

    The governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Plateau, Mr Amos Adamu, and his supporters, have defected to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Similarly, some members of working committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADP) and officials of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with their supporters have also joined force with the APC ahead of Saturday elections.

    Adamu, who spoke at a brief ceremony in Jos on Wednesday, said that the decision to rejoin the APC with his supporters was to work for the victory of APC governorship candidate, Mr Nentawe Yilwatda.

    Adamu said that Yilwatda “has the potential to pilot the affairs of the people of Plateau at all levels.

    “It is on that note and for the interest of the good people of Plateau that I am stepping down my ambition to support somebody that I believe can do better than me at this moment in time.

    “I will go back to my unit, ward and the entire 17 local governments and mobilise our supporters to work assiduously to ensure that Yilwatda emerge as the next governor of Plateau”.

    Also speaking, ADP State Chairman, retired Capt. Fire Venmap, said that he also defected with the party executive members to join Yilwatda in actualising the victory of APC in the state.

    Venmap said that he was returning home (APC) because he was one of the people that formed the APC in the state.

    “I want to proudly tell you that we are giving 100 per cent of our support for the victory of Yilwatda/Botmang on Saturday,” he said.

    The state NNPP Treasurer, Mr Luka Abok, said that they were in APC because it remained the party to beat in Plateau.

    Abok described Yilwatda as a competent hand that could transformed the fortunes of Plateau and they needed to team up with him.

    APC State Chairman Chief Rufus Bature who welcomed the defectors, said they were home in APC and would enjoy all privileges with other members.

    Bature assured them that the party would not take their return to the APC for granted, pointing out that “every single person is important to the party.

    “I assure you that we will work together so that Plateau will be better at the end of the day because of the quality material we have as governorship candidate.

    “I am sure that you have seen those qualities that is why you have collapsed your structures to joined forces with the APC,’’ he added.

  • LP’s governorship candidate directs supporters to vote for Tinubu

    LP’s governorship candidate directs supporters to vote for Tinubu

    Governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Adamawa, Alhaji Umar Madawaki, on Thursday in Yola directed his supporters to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the presidential election.

    Madawaki told a news conference that he had adopted the APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the candidate of choice on Saturday

    He said the LP had completely side-lined him and other party candidates in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.

    “We have been deliberately disrespected by the party structure at the national and state levels.

    “It is in light of this that we entered into discussions with the APC and after exhaustive negotiations, we have resolved to collapse our entire structure for the APC and particularly, for the presidential election.

    “I therefore call on all my supporters to go to the polls on Saturday and overwhelmingly vote Sen. Bola Tinubu as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ Madawaki told newsmen.

    He added, however, that on March 11, voters should cast their votes for him as governor.

    “My commitment is to run an administration that will embrace everyone regardless of ethnicity, location and religion.

    “I will work committedly to build a state that is strong, rich and safe for everyone,’’ he stressed.

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court sacks A’Ibom PDP governorship candidate

    BREAKING: Appeal Court sacks A’Ibom PDP governorship candidate

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday evening sacked a member of the House of Representatives Micheal Enyong as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Akwa Ibom State.

    In his place, the court restored Mr Umo Eno, a former Commissioner for Land whose nomination by the party was set aside by a Federal High Court in Abuja on January 20, 2023.

    In a judgment delivered in an appeal filed by PDP against the Federal High Court judgement, Justice Hamma Akawu Barka voided the judgment of the Federal High Court and set it aside on the ground that it was predicated on errors.

    Justice Barka agreed with counsel to the PDP, Mr Paul Usoro and Uwemedimo Nwoko that the Federal High Court judgment was delivered in error and that the court was misled by the plaintiff in the matter to arrive at an unjust conclusion.

    The appellate court held that the issue of statutory delegates who voted at the primary election is an internal affair of the party and that the lower court ought not to have inquired into the issue.

    Justice Barka also agreed with Usoro that only the National Working Committee, NWC, of a political party has the power to conduct primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for the general election.

    The appellate court further held that since the lower court has no jurisdiction to inquire into the internal affairs of PDP, the judge has no discretion in law to exercise in the matter.

    Justice Barka thereafter upheld the appeal of the PDP and vacated all orders made by the Federal High Court in favour of Michael Enyong.

    Besides, the Court of Appeal ordered Enyong, a House of Representatives member from Uyo Federal Constituency, to pay a sum of one million naira to the appellant as the cost of litigation.

    Reacting to the judgment, Usoro said that the judiciary has done justice to the unlawful orders issued by the Federal High Court against PDP.

  • 2023: My biggest wish is to help free people from lack and deprivation – Oborevwori

    2023: My biggest wish is to help free people from lack and deprivation – Oborevwori

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), governorship candidate in Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has shared his vision of becoming the next governor of the state.

    Oborevwori, who is also the incumbent Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, said his biggest wish was to see how he can be of help to free people from lack and deprivation in society.

    Ahead of the 2023 elections in February, he assured Deltans of good governance, and also noted that politics is an important means of affecting the people for good.

    In an interview with selected journalists, which will be fully published by TheNewsGuru.com on Saturday, Oborevwori espoused extensively why he wants to become the governor of Delta State, he revealed that from childhood he has carried the burden of taking up the responsibility of making life better for the people.

    “I should begin by telling you about my mission in politics. It is really about the people. And I have come to understand quite early in life that the most important means of affecting the people for good is politics. When I was growing up, I saw a lot of deprivation and poverty in society and my biggest wish was to see how I can be of help to free people from lack and deprivation. As I went through primary and secondary schools the role of politics and government in making life better for the people was made central in our social studies, government, and economics lessons and textbooks”, he said.

    “We also got taught that the surest and legitimate way into government is politics. So from childhood, I carried the burden of taking up the responsibility of making life better for the people. That was my motivation. Now joining politics at the grassroots saw me growing and evolving. I served as a councilor and I also served different governments as special assistant, senior special assistant, and as special adviser. I made sure I put the interest of the people and loyalty to the government above my personal consideration. Then the good people of Okpe constituency decided that they wanted me to represent them in the Delta State House of Assembly. I contested and won the election and became a member of the State House of Assembly”

    “Not too long after, my colleagues and fellow lawmakers elected me as the Speaker of the House and by that, I became the head of an arm of government in Delta State. This marked a turning point in my political career and evolution. I was no longer just a Member representing the Okpe constituency, but the Speaker presiding over the State legislature. That act made me a Pan-Deltan and it changed my consciousness and perception. As Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the entire state became my constituency. That position enabled me to appreciate what Delta State is all about, her development aspirations, her challenges, and the colourations and preferences of the people. After the general elections in 2019, my colleagues in the House of Assembly expressed a vote of confidence in me by returning me as Speaker for a second time, that gesture opened my eyes to new vistas of possibilities for me and Delta State”.

    “My return as Speaker is unprecedented in the history of Delta State. My colleagues said that they were returning me as Speaker because I am a Pan-Deltan and that I easily build consensus. They also said that I showed a deep understanding of the development challenges of Delta State and that for the State to develop without obstruction, I should continue to lead the legislative arm”.

    “I took time to evaluate what my colleagues said and I realized that I have unconsciously promoted politics in the service of the people in the House of Assembly and by extension the State. I soon started receiving encouragements to take my peoples’ politics ideology higher by seeking to be governor of Delta State. I am not one to run away from a challenge especially when it has to do with the people. I thought seriously about it. I also prayed. As a political scientist who is in practical politics”,

    “I thought of so many possibilities. I sat down to collate my thoughts arising from my burning desire to use politics to promote the welfare of the people. I also asked myself, after speakership, what next? How else do I serve the interest of the people? It was at that point that I resolved and listened to the call to run for the governorship of Delta State. So, the response to your question on why I want to be governor is to serve the people of Delta State and enhance their welfare and security. My reason and justification is people-centric. It is all for the people”.

  • Umahi denies supporting PDP guber candidate for 2023

    Umahi denies supporting PDP guber candidate for 2023

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, has refuted claims that he is supporting the state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. IfeanyiChukwuma Odi for 2023 poll.

    This is contained in a statement in Abakaliki by Mr. Chooks Oko, his Special Assistant on Media.

    Oko said that the governor said this at his hometown Uburu, in Ohaozara Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, when he received members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    Umahi, also Ebonyi South senate candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the insinuations were far from the truth.

    “Those who are saying that Odii is a tool in our hand are very wrong. If they know the attack I face every day, they won’t say that.

    “If I were to support, I would prefer someone else, who came from a tiny constituency, not someone, who came from my own zone,” he added.

    Umahi admonished CAN, elders, founding fathers and all stakeholders to support zoning and power rotation, for sustainable peace in the state.

    “When we were contesting in 2015, the North and Central supported us; their leaders stood with us,” Umahi added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Odii, Ebonyi PDP governorship candidate for 2023 poll shared the same zone with Umahi.

    Rev. Father Abraham Nwali, chairman of CAN in southeast, said the visit was in the spirit of Christmas to felicitate the governor.

  • Popular Akwa Ibom Guber candidate to spend 42 years in prison for corruption

    Popular Akwa Ibom Guber candidate to spend 42 years in prison for corruption

    The governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Bassey Albert, has been sentenced to 42 years in prison for corruption.

    A Federal High Court in Uyo, on Thursday, convicted and sentenced Mr Albert who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    He has been taken to Ikot Ekpene prisons, Akwa Ibom State, to serve his prison term.

    Mr Albert, a serving senator representing Akwa Ibom North East District, was accused of receiving bribes of 12 cars worth N254 million from an oil marketer, Olajidee Omokore, during his (Albert’s) tenure (2010 – 2014) as commissioner for finance in Akwa Ibom State.

    The convicted senator was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, the ruling party in the state, before he defected months ago to the YPP, where he secured the party’s ticket for the 2023 governorship election.

    He was a major challenger to the PDP candidate, Umo Eno, in next year’s governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

    Details to follow…