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Tag: Governorship Candidates

  • Anambra Poll: Top governorship candidates sign peace accord

    Anambra Poll: Top governorship candidates sign peace accord

    Candidates in the imminent Anambra governorship election on Thursday signed a peace accord in Awka, the state captial.

    The election is slated for Saturday.

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, was present at the ceremony, which was facilitated by the National Peace Committee.

    The NPC is chaired by former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    Ifeanyi Uba of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress and Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were among the signees on Thursday.

    Others were Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Godwin Maduka of the Accord Party (AP), Etiaba Chukwuogo of the Action Alliance (AA), Nwankwo Chidozie of the African Action Congress (AAC), Onyejegbu Okwudili of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ohajimkpo Emeka of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ezenwafor Victor of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Nnamdi Nwawuo of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Uzo Godwin of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Okonkwo Francis of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    Anambra, as in much of the South-East, has witnessed several ‘gunmen’ attacks, casting doubts on the safety of the elections.

    The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has also threatened the sanctity of the election if its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is not released from detention.

    But the Federal Government has beefed up security in the state, pledging a free and fair poll.

    On Tuesday, Senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe urged voters to show up at the polls, noting that the elections will be safe.

    The accord is equally binding on the candidate’s political parties and is expected to encourage signees to take proactive steps “towards ensuring a conducive environment for the conduct of a credible electoral process.”

    The signees also pledged to “fully abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to respect the rules and regulations as laid down in the Legal Framework for Elections in Nigeria, and to adhere to best international standards.”

    Under the accord, the candidates and their parties are expected to “support all institutions of government involved in conducting or securing the elections – in particular INEC and the security forces – to act with professionalism, impartiality and transparency.”

    They are also to “encourage state agencies, institutions and public officers not to support partisan interests in any form” and to “encourage their political stalwarts and supporters to desist from propagating fake news and publishing fake results via social media and to ensure uninterrupted and uncompromised freedom of expression and information, both online and offline, throughout the electoral process.”

    The accord demands of the signees to “respect that the results can only be announced by INEC, and to accept the outcome of the vote, as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible, devoid of intimidation and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law.”

     

  • Anambra guber: Soludo speaks on INEC’s omission of his name on list of governorship candidates

    Anambra guber: Soludo speaks on INEC’s omission of his name on list of governorship candidates

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo has reacted to the conspicuous omission of his name by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the list of candidate for the November 6 governorship poll in state.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that instead of Soludo, INEC listed the names of Chukwuma Michael Umeoji as the governorship candidate and Urogbu Obiageli Lilian as the deputy governorship candidate of APGA.

    TNG reports that Soludo, a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had earlier emerged winner of the primary election conducted by the Governor Willie Obiano faction of APGA.

    Also, the commission did not list the name of any candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP both for governorship and the deputy governorship.

    The electoral umpire explained that its decision was based on a court order.

    Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Chukwuma Soludo Campaign in a statement signed by Joe C. Anatune said the former bank chief turned politician will contest and win the November 6 poll convincingly.

    It also directed its supporters not be dispirited by INEC’s publication.

    Read full statement below:

    Soludo Will Contest the November 6 Election and Win Overwhelmingly

     

    1. The Chukwuma Soludo Campaign has been briefed on a publication by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where The Honourable Chukwuma Umeorji has been published as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 6 2021 gubernatorial election in Anambra State. The INEC publication is based on a judgment by a High Court in Jigawa State, and the electoral body sensibly wrote that its inclusion of Umeorji as a candidate in the election is “By Judgment”.

    2. Our millions of supporters in Anambra State and elsewhere in the world are advised not to be dispirited by the publication seriously. Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo will participate in the governorship election as the APGA candidate. His nomination was strictly in line with the Electoral Law and INEC guidelines. INEC observed the APGA Congress on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, where he was nominated after winning 93.4 per cent of the valid votes cast in a free, fair and transparent manner which was broadcast live on national television networks as part of deepening the democratic process in Nigeria.

    3. Our team of dedicated and competent legal experts has studied the judgment and is confident of overturning it effortlessly. The party is at liberty to nominate the rightful candidate so long as due process is followed. Soludo’s nomination followed due process religiously.

    4. Therefore, there is no need for Anambra people and all lovers of progress in Nigeria to be worried about the judgment. The judgment will be set aside the way orders by Mr Justice Stanley Nnaji of the Enugu State High Court and Mr Justice Egbo Egbo of the Federal High Court in Abuja were thrown out when they embarrassed the legal profession with their decisions on the struggle for the governorship of Anambra State a few years after the inception of democratic governance in 1999. Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state were then toying with the destiny of a great state.

    5. Millions of Ndi Anambra are understandably shocked that there are still desperate politicians in the state who want to reenact the years which the locusts consumed. They are determined to go to any and every length to acquire power for its own sake. We thought that the state had passed the stage where some of its politicians were moving from one end of the country to the other in the dead of the night in search of judicial orders to impose themselves on the people as their rulers, not leaders.

    6. Our supporters and indeed all Anambra people, who have been waiting patiently for Soludo’s leadership of the state, are advised not to be deterred by the Jigawa State Court order. They should rather remain supremely confident of not only Soludo’s participation in the November 6 gubernatorial vote but also his triumph in the polls with a big margin which will lead to a new era in our state for the benefit of all. The campaign for Soludo’s emergence as the successor to Governor Willie Obiano has become a movement of the people through and through. The movement will come to fruition.

    Signed

     

    Joe C. Anatune

     

    For CeeCee Soludo Campaign

  • Ondo 2020: INEC releases provisional list of governorship candidates

    Ondo 2020: INEC releases provisional list of governorship candidates

    The provisional full list of all the governorship candidates and their running mates in the October 10 election in Ondo State is now on display across the state and the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The list was posted yesterday by the commission in line with the Electoral Act.

    All the candidates are male.

    On the list are the incumbent, Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who is seeking a second term, and his main challenger, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The remaining 15 candidates are:

    Rotimi Adeleye Akindejoye – Accord Party

    Joshua Oluwafemi Adewole -Action Alliance (AA)

    Adeleye Adekunle Peter – African Action Congress (AAC)

    Adelegan Adedapo Oluwaseyi – African Democratic Congress (ADC)

    Martin Kunle Olateru-Olagbegi -Action Democratic Party (ADP)

    Olowoloba Dele – All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)

    Aminu Akeem Olanrewaju – Allied Peoples Movement (APM)

    Adesanya Olaoluwa – Action Peoples Party (APP)

    Okunade Taiwo – Labour Party (LP)

    Ojajuni Joseph Eniola – New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)

    Funmilayo Jenyo Ataunoko – National Rescue Movement (NRM)

    Babatunde Francis Alli – Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)

    Fasua Peter Oyeleye – Social Democratic Party (SDP)

    Ojon Dotun – Young Progressive Party (YPP)

    Benjamin Jairus Olarotimi – Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)

  • Adamawa governorship candidates who are enmeshed in corruption allegations

    As the campaign season kicks in, there are palpable fears in Adamawa, in the camps of four of the leading gubernatorial candidates, because of various corruption cases hanging over their candidates.

    Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the State are among the various candidates stomping round, soliciting for support to emerge the Governor who will take over the Government House, Yola, come May, 2019.

    The four candidates are the incumbent Governor, Senator Umaru Jibrilla Bindow of the APC; a former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, the Rt. Hon Umaru Fintiri; the Senator representing Adamawa Central, Senator, Nyako Abdul-Aziz; and a former lawmaker, Hon Emmanuel Bello.

    As the election campaign gathers steam from this week, TNG, (TheNewsGuru.com), has launched investigations into the background of various persons in Nigeria, across party lines, who are vying for political offices.

    In Adamawa State, TNG found out that the following candidates, at various times were accused of corrupt practices.

    Umaru Fintiri

    One of the governorship candidates eyeing the Adamawa governorship seat, Mr. Fintiri was Adamawa’s State House of Assembly Speaker and one time Acting Governor for over 74 days before he was sacked by the Federal High Court Abuja and replaced with Barr. Bala Ngillari. On September 21, 2019, Mr. Fintiri declared his bid to contest on the ticket of the PDP in Yola, the state capital.

    But his ambition is dogged by allegations of corruption while he was in office as Acting Governor for 74 days.

    In June 30th, 2008 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and a company linked to him, Mayim Construction and Properties Limited before Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 5-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N2.9billion.

    Fintiri, a former speaker, who also served briefly as the acting Governor of Adamawa State, allegedly laundered monies through his naira and dollar accounts domiciled at Ecobank Plc., and made large cash payment for the purchase of a property at Plot Number 7, Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja.

    He was also accused of making other large cash payments for the purchase of landed properties in Abuja during the three months he held sway as the governor of the state.

    Ibrahim Welye, former Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, told newsmen that certain contracts awarded by the former acting governor, including the electrification of Kirshinga Village in Madagali Local Government Area of the State, had no approval.

    Welye had in a petition dated May 11, 2015 to the EFCC, alleged that Fintiri fraudulently diverted N497million meant for the construction of a lecture theatre for the Faculty of Law, Adamawa State University, Mubi, laying only the foundation and never completed the project.

    The petitioner corroborating his petition said:

    “I still stand by the content of my petition regarding the renovation of Adamawa State House of Assembly, the construction of Mararaba Garta to Kamale roads, the construction of road network Malamre Ward in Yola, as well as the reconstruction of five roads and storm water drains in Yola.” The Welye, however, added that he had no knowledge of any virement granted by the State’s House of Assembly, in respect of the projects.

    “Investigations reveals that , Ahmadu Umaru (Alias Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri) and Mayim Construction and Properties Limited on the 9th October 2014 did indirectly disguise the origin of the aggregate sum of N550,000,000 (Five Hundred and Fifty Million naira) through a term loan of twelve months purportedly granted to him by Ecobank Plc for the acquisition of a tea plantation farm from Nigeria Agricultural Bank in Taraba State which loan he will repaid within three months as acting Governor of Adamawa State, a fund he diverted to his personal use.

    Abdul-Aziz Nyako

    Mr.Abdul-Aziz was a Navy Commander before he resigned under controversial circumstances and joined politics. In 2015. He was elected into the senate and has since been there.

    Senator Nyako and his father, Admiral Murtalal Nyako rtd who was a former Governor of the state are facing a 37-count charge bordering on corruption.

    Senator Nyako and his father were specifically accused of allegedly laundering state funds to the tune N40billion.

    Others charged with the money are Zulkifik Abba and Abubakar Aliyu, while the firms allegedly used in laundering the funds are Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.

    Nyako, in connivance with other accused, allegedly diverted the said sum from the Adamawa State treasury between January 2011 and December 2014 during his tenure as governor.

    EFCC Documents show the transfer of about N1, 384, 525,000 diverted from the Adamawa State government, during the tenure of Murtala Nyako,

    to the account of Crust Energy Limited.

    Chinedu Ayogu,a compliance officer with Diamond Bank, corroborate The Finder Newspaper investigation while being led in evidence by O.A. Atolagbe, told the court that the bank received request with respect to some companies linked to the defendants.

    “We received a request from the EFCC to provide the account opening packages of Sentinel Production and Exploration Limited and the statements of account which consisted of the Naira and Dollar accounts, and we complied,” Ayogu said.

    Ayogu identified the various documents sent to the EFCC in response to the anti-graft agency’s request, which were subsequently tendered as exhibit against them. There was no objection from counsels to the defendants, as to there admissibility, and they were accepted and marked as exhibit AD.

  • 2019: APC NWC upholds Ogboru candidacy, clears 23 other governorship candidates

    2019: APC NWC upholds Ogboru candidacy, clears 23 other governorship candidates

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared 24 governorship aspirants as its candidates to contest the 2019 governorship election in 24 states.
    The party’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena, announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
    Nabena said the decision was taken following the conclusion of the governorship primaries in the states involved, at the end of the NWC meeting on Thursday.
    According to him, the NWC at the meeting ratified the reports of the various Electoral Committees and adopted the under-listed as the party’s governorship candidates for the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
    1. ABDULLAHI UMAR GANDUJE – KANO STATE
    2. MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR – BAUCHI STATE
    3. SIMON LALONG – PLATEAU STATE
    4. NASIR EL-RUFAI – KADUNA STATE
    5. MOHAMMED BADARU ABUBAKAR – JIGAWA STATE
    6. AHMED ALIYU – SOKOTO STATE
    7. ABUBAKAR ATIKU BAGUDU – KEBBI STATE
    8. AMINU BELLO MASARI – KATSINA STATE
    9. ABUBAKAR SANI BELLO – NIGER STATE
    10. BABAGANA UMARA-ZULUM – BORNO STATE
    11. MAI MALA BUNI – YOBE STATE
    12. ABUBAKAR A. SULE – NASARAWA STATE
    13. EMMANUEL JIMME – BENUE STATE
    14. BABAJIDE SANWO–OLU – LAGOS STATE
    15. TONYE COLE – RIVERS STATE
    16. UCHE OGAH – ABIA STATE
    17. NSIMA EKERE – AKWA-IBOM STATE
    18. ADEBAYO ADELABU – OYO STATE
    19. DAPO ABIODUN – OGUN STATE
    20. GREAT OGBORU – DELTA STATE
    21. OWAN ENOH – CROSS-RIVER
    22. INUWA YAHAYA – GOMBE STATE
    23. SUNNY OGBOJI – EBONYI STATE
    24. SANI ABUBAKAR DANLADI – TARABA STATE
    The APC governorship primary was yet to hold in Imo, Zamfara, Adamawa and Enugu among some other states due to some challenges, according to the party’s national leadership.
    All political parties are expected to conclude their primaries by Oct. 7, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines.