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Tag: Governorship Election

  • APC begins sale of governorship election forms for Ekiti, Osun

    APC begins sale of governorship election forms for Ekiti, Osun

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the sale of forms for Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.

    Sen. John Akpanudodehe, National Secretary APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    According to the statement, sales of expression of interest and nomination forms for Ekiti governorship election will begin on Nov. 16, while that of Osun will begin on Nov.18.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has fixed June 18, 2022 for Ekiti governorship election and July 16, 2022 for the same exercise in Osun.

  • Anambra 2021: INEC ready for Nov 6 governorship election – Yakubu

    Anambra 2021: INEC ready for Nov 6 governorship election – Yakubu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is set for a hitch free Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election.

    Prof. Mohammed Yakubu, National Chairman, INEC said this when he briefed newsmen on Tuesday in Awka at the commission’s Anambra headquarters.

    “When the commission released the time table for the conduct of election, eleven months ago, the feeling was that the time will not come.

    “The time is already here, we only have just four days left and we are go to go as a commission,” Yakubu said.

    He said that the commission was prepared to deliver free, fair and credible election.

    Yakubu noted that the only challenge before the commission was how to ensure that the newly registered voters took part in the election.

    “To ensure that the newly registered voters take part, we decided to contact them through their email and Gsm numbers to inform them of the locations to get their cards, “he said.

    Yakubu who said that the visit was to address stakeholders meeting on Wednesday said the meeting would involved the signing of peace accord by candidates featuring in the poll.

    He urged all voters to come out and participate as every arrangement has been made to ensure peaceful election.

    Mr Echeng Echeng, the State Commissioner of Police said security agencies were also prepared for the election.

    Echeng said there were enough vehicles, boats and helicopters to patrol the entire state, adding that sister agencies have equally made enough deployment.

    He said that security operatives would restrict movement of people from the mid night of Friday Nov.5, to check infiltration of bad eggs into the state.

  • Anambra guber election: Insecurity in South East worries INEC

    Anambra guber election: Insecurity in South East worries INEC

    Ahead of the governorship election scheduled to hold in Anambra State on 6 November 2021, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed worries over the state of security in the South East.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the INEC especially expressed concern about the safety of voters and Election Day staff, including security officials who have also become the targets of these attacks.

    Recall that in May, the State Office of INEC at Awka was attacked and all the non-sensitive materials assembled for the election at the time were destroyed.

    In addition, INEC’s store, collation centre and the main office building were either totally or substantially damaged, with the Commission also losing several vehicles to be used for the election.

    Speaking on Tuesday during an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said that although the Commission had recovered from the losses, there are concerns that specific electoral facilities and materials could once more become targets of attack.

    “You would recall that during our last quarterly meeting held about four weeks ago on 9th September 2021, we received briefings and reviewed preparations for the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship election.

    “You may also recall that a major concern raised by members was the security situation in the State in particular and the adjoining States in general and how this might affect preparations and possibly the conduct of the election.

    “Unfortunately, the situation has deteriorated markedly since our last meeting. Many innocent lives have been lost and property destroyed.

    “From the reports we have received, the stated goal of many of the attackers is that the Governorship election scheduled for 6th November 2021 must not hold. This is worrisome for the Commission.

    “Happily, we have almost fully recovered from that attack. The destroyed buildings have either been completely repaired or are nearing completion and we have fully replaced the materials destroyed.

    “This rapid recovery has only been possible because this is an off-season election. We have sourced some of these materials such as the 326 electric generators and vehicles destroyed in the attack from neighbouring States.

    “We are deeply concerned that specific electoral facilities and materials could once more become targets of attack. Should we again lose vital materials and facilities, the ongoing preparations will be adversely affected.

    “The Commission is particularly concerned about the safety of voters and Election Day staff, including security officials who have also become the targets of these attacks.

    “The thousands of young Nigerians that we intend to deploy for the election, most of them National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and university students, need to be reassured of their personal safety.

    “At the same time, deployment for the election will involve the movement of huge consignments of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the 21 Local Government Areas of the State, 326 Wards or Registration Areas and 5,720 Polling Units.

    “That means over 6,000 locations to be protected. If we add that to about 26,000 officials that will be deployed for the election, we begin to appreciate the magnitude of the challenge of securing the Anambra Governorship election which is only thirty-two (32) days from today.

    “Perhaps never before in our history has the importance of election security in a Governorship election been this urgent. The Commission is aware that this is by no means an easy task.

    “We appreciate the enormous challenges that the security agencies are presently facing in Anambra State, which entail not only securing the electoral process, but also enforcing law and order generally. This is particularly worrisome because the security agencies have also become prime targets of these mindless attacks.

    “It is in the light of these recent and seemingly escalating threats to the election that the Commission has convened this emergency meeting. We will continue to work with the security agencies and in consultation with respected opinion leaders in Anambra State and the National Peace Committee to ensure that these hit-and-run attacks do not derail the electoral process.

    “We wish to assure the people of Anambra State that the Commission is determined to proceed with the election as scheduled. To underscore this determination, the Commission is implementing two more activities on the Timetable for the election in the next few days. The register of voters will be presented to political parties in Awka on Thursday 7th October 2021. On the same day, the Commission will publish the final list of candidates for the election.

    “We are confident that at the end of this meeting, we will firm up on specific measures necessary to further guarantee the safety of all persons involved in the election from the voters, election officials, observers, media organisations and the security of election materials,” Prof Yakubu said in his remarks during the emergency meeting.

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court declares Valentine Ozigbo valid PDP candidate for Anambra Guber election

    BREAKING: Appeal Court declares Valentine Ozigbo valid PDP candidate for Anambra Guber election

    The Court of Appeal Abuja Division, has declared Mr Valentine Ozigbo as the validly elected governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Nov. 6 governorship election in Anambra.

    Delivering judgment, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem who led a three- man panel of justices held that the appeal filed by Valentine Ozigbo, challenging the judgement of the Akwa High Court had merit.

    The appellate court set aside the decision of the Akwa High Court and declared it null and void.

    It also awarded the sum of N10 million exemplary cost in favor of Ozigbo.

    The judgment of the Awka High Court had barred Ozigbo from parading himself as the PDP candidate in the Anambra gubernatorial election coming up on Nov. 6.

    It, thereafter, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of Ozigbo and his running mate as the duly elected candidates of the PDP in the forthcoming election.

    While urging the electoral umpire not to allow itself to be distracted in preparation for the election, the court advised INEC to wait for the decision of the final court in the land and not hurriedly comply with the judgments of trial courts.

    In July, INEC dropped Ozigbo’s name from the list of candidates for the election in obedience to a court order.

    But an unperturbed Ozigbo stated INEC’s reliance on a court order in not publishing his name as the PDP candidate was “a matter of procedure and temporary”.

    He said the PDP had mobilised men and resources to ensure the said order was vacated to enable INEC update its records with his name as the rightful candidate for the main opposition party.

    The PDP candidate insisted that the party had forwarded only his name to INEC as its candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra.

  • INEC raises alarm, says multiple court orders threatening conduct of Anambra governorship poll

    INEC raises alarm, says multiple court orders threatening conduct of Anambra governorship poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the multiplicity of Court Orders constitutes a major threat to the conduct of the November 6 Anambra governorship election.

    The electoral umpire observed some of the Orders have “the tendency of eroding the powers of the Commission and compromising its independence, powers and timelines for the conduct of the upcoming election”.

    The Commission also noted it is becoming increasingly difficult to obey Court Orders and judgements that are the latest in time or the first in time as some political parties and candidates have perfected the art of shopping for the first in time or the latest in time.

    It insisted the planning and preparation for election require certainty and adherence to timelines.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, raised the concern at the implementation meeting of the voter education and publicity department.

    According to him: “The Commission has variously and consistently complained at the frequency and consistency with which courts of coordinate jurisdiction from different jurisdictions all over Nigeria assumed jurisdiction and delivered judgements and issued orders with far-reaching implications on the conduct of the Anambra State Governorship election.

    “Some of the Orders have the tendency of eroding the powers of the Commission and compromising its independence, powers and timelines for the conduct of the upcoming election”.

    He added” “In our Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of Elections as well as the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the Commission issues access code to the National Chairman of Political Parties with which they upload the Personal Particulars and List of their candidates electronically.

    “This obviated the demonstrations, fights and violence normally witnessed in the premises of the Commission by different factions of political parties and the National and State branches of political parties.

    “Unfortunately, some of the judgements and Orders were given especially on the primary elections in Anambra State have bypassed our portal and sought to restore the manual submission of the List and Personal Particulars of candidates.

    “It is also becoming increasingly difficult for the Commission to obey Court Orders and judgements that are the latest in time or the first in time as some of the Political Parties and the candidates have perfected the art of shopping for the first in time or the latest in time. The planning and preparation for election require certainty and adherence to timelines.

    “The leadership of the Bar Association and the Leadership of the Judiciary must wade into this descent to forum shopping and the multiplicity of Orders and judgements from courts of coordinate jurisdiction. This is urgent, it is imperative and cannot be carried over to the 2023 general election”.

  • Anambra guber: Nwoye pulls out of PDP primary in solidarity with delegates

    Anambra guber: Nwoye pulls out of PDP primary in solidarity with delegates

    Dr. Tony Nwoye, an aspirant in the Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) governorship primary contest, has pulled out of the contest due to the exclusion of the party’s newly elected ad-hoc delegates and executive members from the process.

    In a statement issued on Saturday morning ahead of the election, he said that with the exclusion of 94% of the delegates that only 6% of the delegates would be allowed to choose the candidate, a decision he said has turned the process into a mockery of democracy.

    He further lamented that those excluded were the engine room of the party whom he said he had also counted on to win the primary and the main election.

    It would be recalled that the National Working Committee, NWC of the party citing what it claimed as court orders excluded the ad-hoc delegates, party executives from all levels from partaking in the election.

    By the decision, the party left only serving and former office holders belonging to the party to choose the party’s candidate for the November 6, 2021 governorship election.

    Giving his decision to withdraw from the election, Nwoye, a former state chairman of the party, a former member of the House of Representatives in a statement issued on Saturday morning said:

    MY POSITION ON THE PDP GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR 26TH JUNE 2021.

    Great Party Members, Members of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen.

    We all have been witnesses to the disconcerting flurry of events in our party in the last 36hours. Developments which should be of grave concern to every true democrat and believer in the inalienability of the rights of true party people to freely choose the party’s flagbearer in the upcoming gubernatorial elections in our beloved state, Anambra.

    On Thursday, I was still actively traversing the hinterland in my last minute consultations/mop-up with the duly elected ad hoc delegates of the party in the 326 electoral wards of Anambra, ahead of the primaries slated for Saturday 26th June when I was jolted by the news of the party’s National Working Committee’s(NWC) release concerning the party’s primaries.

    In the NWC release, the entire ward level executives of our party, the L.G.A executives and State executives of our party(who by our edicts are bona fide statutory delegates) and also the elected ad hoc delegates(3 from every ward), who emerged from the duly conducted delegate election of the party that held on 10th June, 2021 will no longer be voting in the primaries election. Instead, only a handful of automatic/super delegates whose names appeared in a made-up list will be deciding who flies the party’s flag at the Nov 6 governorship polls holding in the state.

    • For avoidance of doubt, under our Party’s Constitution, Article 25(1) of the said Constitution provides that in the composition of the State Congress for the nomination governorship candidate,

    the bulk of the members and delegates that ought to vote at the primary election are the State Executive Working Committee, The Local Government Executive Working Committee, the ward

    executives from all the electoral wards (all as statutory delegates) and the 3 ad hoc delegates elected in the delegates election for the purposes of the congress are to constitute the electorate at the state congress. What is at play now is that the afore-listed groups have been excluded from voting in today’s Primary Election.

    These excluded statutory and duly elected ad hoc delegates constitute over 94 percent of the total number of expected Delegates to vote at the Primary election! The import is that the primary election as is being purported will only be by a paltry 5 – 6% percent of eligible voters. There can be no doubt that this runs against the grain of the basic tenets of participatory democracy of which I am an uncompromising proponent of.

    Owing to this development, I have consulted with my campaign team, teeming supporters – most of who are the bedrock of our Party at the grassroot level where I belong, and my ever supportive family, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that the process has been greatly flawed. A process that ignores the very engine room of not just our party but of democracy itself, which is the participation of the true repository of power, the people in the primary election is against the principles I hold dear in politics. Aborting the rights of the people who represent the kindle to our possible success at the election, cannot have my participation at the Primary election.

    I therefore in standing with all the teeming excluded 3 elected ad hoc delegates, ward executives, local government, and state delegates that have been so unjustly disenfranchised for the primary.

    For the reasons stated above, I hereby withdraw from participation as an aspirant in the PDP Primary election of 26th June 2021.

    I salute the courage of my dependable team, my fans, teeming supporters and loving family. I enjoin them to understand this painful decision which I have no doubt is the right course of action at this time.

    Our resolute commitment to changing the lot of the common people of our dear state for good through the instrumentality of party politics remains on course as is our personal conviction that whatever happens, power ultimately belongs to God.

    My Supporters and fans who are delegates are at liberty to vote for any aspirant of their choice.

    Thank you.

    Dr Tony Nwoye

    Aspirant,

    2021 PDP Governorship Election

  • INEC publishes official notice for Anambra governorship election

    INEC publishes official notice for Anambra governorship election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has published the official notice for the Nov. 6, Anambra governorship election in all its offices across the state.

    The commission disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman.

    Oyekanmi said that by Thursday activities for party’s primaries and collection of nomination forms from INEC Headquarters for the election were expected to start.

    He recalled that on Jan 19, the commission published the timetable and schedule of activities for the state election, outlining 14 activities.

    “In continuation of preparations for the election, the commission has today, Wednesday June 9, implemented the first activity on the timetable by publishing the official notice for the election in our offices in Anambra State.

    “Tomorrow, Thursday June 10, the next two activities will kick off namely: the commencement of primaries by political parties to democratically nominate their candidates for the election as well as the collection of nomination forms from INEC Headquarters,” Oyekanmi said.

    The commission, according to Oyekanmi, reiterates appeal to political parties to conduct credible and rancour-free primaries in compliance with the law and INEC regulations and guidelines.

  • Alex Ekwueme’s daughter joins Anambra Governorship race

    Alex Ekwueme’s daughter joins Anambra Governorship race

    Lady Alexandra Onyemelukwe, daughter of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme has joined the race for the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

    Onyemelukwe spoke with newsmen shortly after submitting her nomination and expression of interest forms at the PDP National Secretariat on Thursday in Abuja.

    She said she was optimistic after picking the party’s ticket for the election.

    “Yes, new things are happening and the world is changing. Women are coming up in different places.

    “Anambra already has two women senators, which has never happened elsewhere in Nigeria.

    “In Anambra, we the women are special and innovative and we are daring. This time it will be different and we will see the difference a woman can make,” she said.

    She said that she was not afraid of big weights in the contest because she was also a big weight with God as her political father.

    “Basically politics for me is not a game, it is a passion.

    “I grew up in politics and I come from a political family and I know you don’t go on such a journey without God.

    “I have the most high God with me and I believe that since I have Him I will not fail,” she said.

    She said she was in the race because she had a lot to offer the state inaddition to her passion for the people.

    “I am a second generation PDP woman. I have the fear and love of God, and a sense of selfless service to offer to the people of the state, ” she said.

    Onyemelukwe promised to harness the skills and innovations of the people for the development of the state, if elected as governor.

    “Anambra people are known for industry, hard work, skills and innovations.

    “The state is actually an industrial hub. We have the Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka zones in the state.

    “It is a matter of harnessing what we already have so that we can achieve optimum best and shine as the light of the nation,” Onyemelukwe said.

    She also pledged to give priority to women and youth empowerment.

    “As a woman and a mother I believe that I am in a better position to know what is the best not just for the children and women, but for the men as well, because I am also a wife and daughter and a sister.

    “Our children need to have quality and affordable education. That is the most important thing.

    “In that way we are training the next generation and the generations to come. The world is moving on, it is not about moving along with them but we catching on and then moving on.

    “Anambra women are strong. As I said we already have two senators out of three. We need to harness our women in terms of having industrial clusters, SMEs,” she said.

  • PDP NWC reacts to conflicting issues relating to Anambra governorship election

    PDP NWC reacts to conflicting issues relating to Anambra governorship election

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) on Sunday said that any decision on zoning of elective offices at the state level remains the exclusive preserve of the state chapter of the party.

    The Party National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday, while making clarification on the issue of decision of zoning on Anambra governorship election.

    Ologbondiyan said the attention of the NWC of the PDP had been drawn to conflicting reports regarding its position on issues relating to the coming Anambra governorship election.

    “For the avoidance of doubts, the NWC wishes to state that any decision on zoning of elective offices at the state level remains the exclusive preserve of the State chapter as such falls under its regulatory purview and administrative prerogative as prescribed by the Constitution of the PDP.

    “The NWC notes that Section 24(2) of the PDP Constitution is clear on the functions of the state chapters in party administration including identifying and resolving political, social and economic issues of concern in states.”

    Ologbondiyan re-emphasised that the party recognised the current chairman of the Anambra chapter led by Sir Ndubisi Nwobu and the structure of the party in the state.

    He urged all stakeholders in Anambra to continue to work harmoniously for the overall success of the party in the state.

    It will be recalled that the South East PDP Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) in a communiqué issued after its emergency meeting held on July 3, made available to newsmen resolved that there would not be zoning in the upcoming Anambra governorship election.

    The ZWC in the communiqué jointly signed by Deacon Austin Umahi, the National Vice Chairman, and Casmir Ugwu, the Zonal Secretary of the zone, assured all the state gubernatorial aspirants of the assurances of PDP National Chairman of a level playing field and transparent primary.

  • Ondo governorship: PDP constitutes screening appeal panel

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a screening appeal panel for the Ondo State 2020 gubernatorial primaries.

    The party, in a statement issued by its National Organizing Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), on Sunday in Abuja, said the panel would be chaired by Sen. Gyang Dung.

    Akobundu said that the nomination of the party members to serve on the screening appeal panel was approved by the party’s NWC.

    Members of the panel include Mr Dayo Ogungbenro, Chief Austin Umahi, Chief Dan Orbih, Chief G.T. Kataps, Theophilus Shan, Sen. Ibrahim Kazaure and Sen. Kola Balogun.

    Others are: Dr Bolanle Ogundiran, Hon. Rimamde Shawulu, Hajiya Hassana Dikko, Mrs Christine Akpan, and Uzoma Abonta as Secretary.

    “The Panel is mandated to consider appeals arising from the screening of all aspirants for the upcoming 2020 Governorship Election in Ondo State,” Akobundu said.