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Tag: Imo State

  • Governorship election: Potential voters abandon PVCs in Imo

    Governorship election: Potential voters abandon PVCs in Imo

    Barely seven weeks to the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, registrants are yet to collect at least 134,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), INEC declared in Owerri on Wednesday.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sylvia Agu, told newsmen that INEC resumed the issuance of PVCs for the election on Sept. 11 and that the exercise would continue until Oct. 9.

    “INEC still has about 134,000 uncollected PVCs in Imo piled in the 27 local government council secretariats of the state.

    “I urge Imo residents to collect their PVCs at the INEC offices in their council areas, while those in Orsu Local Government Area should collect theirs at the state office in Owerri.

    “Apart from the 27 local government area offices, INEC has also created some centres for PVC collection for Registration Areas that have more than 1,000 uncollected PVCs,’’ she said.

    “Remember that PVCs cannot be collected by proxy and they must be exchanged with the Temporary Voter Cards.

    “INEC has gone a step further to gather the phone numbers of owners of uncollected PVCs in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi to send bulk SMS to them,’’ she added.

    Off-cycle governorship elections will hold in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi on Nov. 11.

    Prof. Agu also told newsmen that INEC was fully prepared for the election in Imo and that all non-sensitive materials had been received and would be distributed to the various local government areas appropriately.

    “The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security of which the police is the lead agency is on top of the security situation and shall draw up security architecture for the exercise.

    “INEC is poised to yet again conduct a credible, free and fair Election,’’ Agu assured.

  • Imo governor, Hope Uzodinma vows to track down killers of police, army, NSCDC officers in the state

    Imo governor, Hope Uzodinma vows to track down killers of police, army, NSCDC officers in the state

    Hope Uzodinma the  governor  of Imo State has vowed to track down the killers of security operatives in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state.

    Recall that unidentified gunmen, on Tuesday, attacked and killed no fewer than eight security operatives, including police, military and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

    In his reaction, after visiting the scene, Uzodinma expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident, assuring citizens that justice would be served.

    The Governor via a post on Platform X on Wednesday vowed to bring the perpetrators to book.

    He called on members of the community to remain calm, asking them not to be dismayed by the development.

    He wrote, “I was saddened at the news of an ambush by armed men, which led to the death of some security personnel on duty at Umuezeala Owerre in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

    “I have visited the scene of the crime; this barbaric act is unacceptable and I have directed a collaborative effort amongst the security units for justice.

    “However, I assured our people not to exercise any fear of reprisal attack or hostility, even as I appeal for cooperation from the community.

    “Ndi Imo nwe’m, let’s not be dismayed by this, as it does not in any way unbalance our ongoing campaign against criminality and its associated vices in our dear State.

    “Let us rest assured that we will track those behind this heinous crime and bring them to book. Once more, I commiserated with the security agencies whose men were involved in the ugly incident”.

  • Tribunal sacks Imo PDP Rep, orders supplementary election

    Tribunal sacks Imo PDP Rep, orders supplementary election

    The Imo Sate National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, has nullified the election of a member of the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Tribunal also ordered National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary  election within 90 days.

    This was contained in a unanimous decision on Sunday by a three-member panel of the Tribunal 3, which conducted its proceedings in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

    It held that Ugochinyere was not validly nominated by the PDP to contest the Ideato North/South Federal Constituency election that held on Feb. 25.

    In its lead judgment delivered by its Chairman, Justice Anthony Akpovi specifically directed the electoral body to conduct the supplementary poll.

    He said the supplementary poll should be in 55 polling units, where elections did not hold on Feb. 25.

    It held that the PDP and its candidate should be excluded from the supplementary election.

    The judgment followed a petition that was lodged before the tribunal by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Abazu Benson.

    It will be recalled that INEC had declared the PDP candidate, Ugochinyere, as winner of the election with a total of 13, 026 votes.

    Whereas the candidate of the labour Party (LP), Chigozie, came second with 5,696 votes, the petitioner who was sponsored by the APC, came third with a total of 2, 368 votes.

    Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the APC candidate filed a petition wherein he contended that Ugochinyere was not qualified to participate in the elelction.

    The petitioner, among other things, argued that all the votes that were credited to the PDP candidate amounted to wasted votes.

    He told the tribunal that contrary to the express provision of the Electoral Act, the PDP conducted its primary election in a venue that was outside the constituency.

    The tribunal stressed that documentary and oral evidence that was laid before it, established that the primary election of the PDP conducted on May 25, 2022, which produced Ugochinyere was outside the constituency.

    It was held at Aladinma Shopping Mall, a location that was outside Ideato North/South Federal Constituency.

    Relying on the provisions of section 84 (5) (c)of the Electoral Act 2022, the tribunal held that PDP’s primary election was invalid.

    It held that a valid candidate could not have emerged from an invalid primary election.

    “Failure of the 3rd respondent (PDP) to abide by the sacrosanct provision of the Electoral Act invalidated its sponsorship of the 2nd respondent,” Justice Akpovi held.

    The tribunal maintained that for a primary election to be valid, it must be done in compliance with section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act.

    It held that in view of the fact that Ugochinyere was not validly nominated, he was therefore not qualified as at the time the House of Reps election held.

    More so, the tribunal held that owing to the principle of margin of lead, candidate of the LP, Chigozie, could but be declared the winner of the seat.

    Since INEC admitted that it could not hold election in 55 polling units in the constituency, owing to activities of unknown gunmen.

    It therefore, directed INEC to conduct supplementary poll in the remaining polling units with all the parties participating, except the PDP.

    Other members of the panel that concurred with the lead judgment, were; Justices Usman Kudu and Ibrahim Mohammed.

  • Guber Polls: Labour Party will win Imo state – Peter Obi boasts

    Guber Polls: Labour Party will win Imo state – Peter Obi boasts

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi has boasted that his party will win the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, saying that the party is known for performance and excellence.

    Obi made this known in Owerri, the State capital, on Tuesday, during the flag off of the party’s gubernatorial campaign.

    He added that the people of Abia State now have hope and are witnessing good governance because a “first-class brain” who knows what he is doing is now the governor of the State.

    He described the LP governorship candidate, Athan Achonu, as the only candidate of the party in Imo State, and Julius Abure, as the only duly recognized and authentic national chairman of the party, describing the process that produced Achonu as the party’s governorship candidate as credible.

    “LP wants to change Nigeria. We are asking Nigeria for the opportunity. Give us a chance in Nigeria, there will be change. In Abia State today, there is hope, that is what is called governance.

    “We want Nigeria to have leaders that will do what they preach. We know what it takes to change Nigeria. That is why we are here. We know what it takes to change Imo,” he said.

    The 2023 Imo State gubernatorial election will take place on 11 November 2023 due to the belated inauguration of incumbent Governor Hope Uzodinma in 2020.

  • JUST IN: Uzodinma dumps Deputy, unveils new running mate

    JUST IN: Uzodinma dumps Deputy, unveils new running mate

    Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State on Saturday unveiled Mrs Chinyere Ekomaru as his running mate for the November 11 governorship election in the State.

    The unveiling took place at an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri, where Governor Uzodinma also presented his scorecard under his 3R Government of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery from Jan. 15, 2020 to date.

    In a speech, he said his administration had laid the foundation for growth in all sectors of the economy and would consolidate on them to deliver an industrial, prosperous and safe Imo in the coming years.

    “We have so much to campaign with. Our works speak for us. So, today, we are here to reinforce our genuine claim to re-election.

    “I have picked a female deputy governorship candidate in the person of Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru. I believe she will add value to this ticket.

    “I expect Imo women to appreciate this gesture as my genuine appreciation of their innate strength and capacity to contribute to the growth of our state,” he said.

    Uzodinma said that the process of choosing Ekomaru was “all inclusive” and appealed “to all to accept and make peace with the decision”.

    He commended his outgoing Deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku, saying, “I enjoyed a good working relationship with him.

    “Let me use this opportunity to make it clear that I don’t have any problem with my deputy. He is a very loyal and committed partner in progress.

    “My confidence in him has not waned in any way. I want to assure you that he is still very relevant in our political family and his political career is not by any means over.

    “The truth is that as representatives of the people, we need to be sensitive to the ecumenical nature of the environment,” he said.

    The governor said he could rightly and proudly claim that he kept the social contract he entered into with the Imo people when he assumed office in January 2020.

    According to him, the security situation in the state has improved as the wanton and unprovoked killing of citizens by mercenary criminals had abated while the indiscriminate attacks on security agencies have been checked.

    He further said that the state had regained its pride of place as the hub of hospitality.

    The governor cited the hosting of high profile events and conferences, including those by the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Guild of Editors in the state to buttress his point.

    He also said that his administration had put in place a fully automated system in the civil service,; eliminated corruption and abolished the menace of ghost workers.

    Other achievements in the state civil service, he said, included the renovation of the entire secretariat blocks, provision of relevant equipment, regular payment of salaries, payment of 13th month salary and other welfare packages.

    “Our roads, which were mere death traps when I assumed office, are now motorable. At the last count, this administration has done more than 100 good quality roads across the entire state.

    “These include the dual carriageway of Owerri – Okigwe Road and Owerri – Orlu Road, while the construction of five kilometers of roads in the 27 LGAs is at various stages of completion.

    “The reconstruction of Owerri -Mbaise – Obowo – Umuahia and Orlu – Mgbidi – Akokwa- Uga Road is also on-going,” he further said.

    “In education, we recovered the KO Mbadiwe University.

    “We also established the Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Umuagwo to ensure that our children are availed more admission spaces, while creating employment and boosting the economy of the state.

    “We are also effectively funding a polytechnic and a college of education and our primary and secondary schools are enjoying equal attention,” he said.

    Uzodinma also said that similar efforts were being replicated in the health sector, where his administration recovered the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu from decay.

    He said that his government ensured that medical students graduated from the institution after eight years of stagnation.

    “IMSUTH remains a truly tertiary health institution with the requisite experts and consultants. Through our collaboration with the Federal Government, the Federal Medical Center, Owerri has been converted to Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Owerri,” he said.

    He further disclosed that three new well-equipped general hospitals would be commissioned soon.

    The governor said he had ensured the recovery of Adapalm Nigeria Limited and was in the process of doing the same at Imo Shoe Industry, the Rubber Company, Avutu Poultry and Nsu Ceramic Industry, among others.

    “Through a friendly tax regime and creation of new business opportunities, we have also created the enabling environment for investors to establish industries and create employment opportunities in the state,” he said.

    The governor also said that the ongoing dredging of the Oguta – Orashi – Degema to the Atlantic Ocean project would help to rejuvenate the state economy and that of the entire South-East, when completed.

    Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Dr Macdonald Ebere, acknowledged the good work done by Uzodinma’s administration and expressed the need for continuity.

    Ebere said, “We are not unmindful that the increasing strength, popularity and visibility of our party in the state as reflected in the just-concluded election, the litany of defections from major political parties are attributable to your pacesetting infrastructure development and economic re-engineering of our state.”

    He said that the party was firmly positioned to take advantage of the achievements of the “shared prosperity administration” to secure once again the mandate of the people by November 11.

    “We are very optimistic that our people will once again speak through their votes, to revalidate their implicit vote of confidence in our party and the shared prosperity administration of our governor,” he said.

    In an acceptance speech,  Ekomaru, accompanied by her husband, thanked the governor for choosing her as his running mate and promised not to betray the confidence he reposed in her.

    She said that she had been in politics for more than 40 years and assured the governor that her choice meant winning supporters from the Anglican Communion, academia and social groups, where she belongs.

    She further expressed the confidence that the party would win more votes from the judiciary, where her husband belonged, health sector, where her child belonged and the numerous women social groups, where she also belonged.

  • Imo residents ignore Nnamdi Kanu, observe sit-at- home order by Simon Ekpa

    Imo residents ignore Nnamdi Kanu, observe sit-at- home order by Simon Ekpa

    Many shops and offices were under lock and key across the 27 councils in Imo state yesterday, as it was observed that the majority of the indigenes complied with the sit-at-home order issued by Simon Ekpa-led faction of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), despite calls for the economic empowerment option introduced by the incarcerated leader of the group, Nnamdi Kanu.

    In Owerri, the state capital, many business premises were closed, including banks, markets and other food outlets, ignoring the state government’s directive for businesses to open or risk being sealed.

    There were a handful of vehicles on the roads, even as security operatives, on joint operations, were patrolling the city. It was the same story in other parts of the state.

    It was observed that the few persons who opened for business only provided skeletal sales and services, hiding and selling to their customers.

    Streets in Owerri , such as Wetheral, Douglas, Okigwe, Egbu, Mbaise, Nekede, Bank, including adjourning roads in Aladinma, Ikenegbu Layout, among others, were deserted.

    Few days ago,  Kanu had, through his special lawyer, Aloy Ejimofor, directed an end to sit-at-home, citing economic losses by South East people. But Ekpa, who is based in Finland, objected to the directive, referring to it as fake.

    A trader on Wetheral Road, popularly known as Tagboo, said the only way to end the sit-at-home is for President Bola Tinubu to issue a directive, freeing Kanu from detention.

    He said: “They know what to do. Let Tinubu free Kanu. That is the only thing that will make us believe the end to sit-at-home on Mondays. When we see him, he would say it and we would believe him.”

    Many Igbo leaders have accused Simon Ekpa of causing confusion with the sit-at-home order.

  • Labour Party kicks over timing of LG polls in Imo

    Labour Party kicks over timing of LG polls in Imo

    Sen. Athan Achonu, the Labour Party candidate in the November 11 governorship election in Imo, has faulted plans by the state government to conduct council polls a few months before the election.

    Achonu made his stance known while addressing newsmen in Owerri on Wednesday.

    Recall that the Imo Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma had, in a meeting with leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state last April, promised to conduct local government elections not later than July 2023.

    The timetable for the elections has, however,  not been announced five days to the end of July.

    Achonu, represented by the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Mr Chime Nzeribe, argued that council polls should be conducted by governors upon their assumption of office rather than months to a governorship election.

    He decried the delay in the conduct of the council polls describing it as a “betrayal of the real motive” behind the election.

    According to him, the timing of a Local Government election should reflect, not a desperate desire to groom supporters at the grassroots level for the ruling party but a sincere desire to empower the local governments and make them work in the interest of the masses.

    “We are at a loss why a government that has almost exhausted its constitutionally guaranteed four years in office, has woken up on the eve of its exit, to perform a very crucial task it bluntly ignored when it had all the time in the world to do so.

    “The choice of this seeming odd hour to conduct local government election underscores the fact that it’s being motivated by  re-election desperation, and not the collective welfare and well-being of Imo electorate, especially the millions of rural dwellers.

    “As your governor, I will conduct local council elections upon assumption of office and not weeks to the next election as seen today.

    “Local government autonomy will solve some of our problems ranging from insecurity to grassroots development and youth empowerment among others“, he said.

    He urged Imo people to keep faith with his ‘Take-Back-Imo ‘ agenda as it will bring unprecedented prosperity to the state.

  • Achonu remains our governorship candidature in Imo, says LP

    Achonu remains our governorship candidature in Imo, says LP

    The Labour Party (LP) in Imo State has said that Sen. Athan Achonu’s candidature for the November 11 governorship election in Imo has not been voided by any Court.

    This is contained in a release signed by the Party’s Chairman in Imo, Mr Calistus Ihejiagwa and made available to newsmen in Owerri, on Friday.

    Ihejiagwa, while reacting to reports in some sections of the media that Achonu had, on Friday, been sacked by an Appeal Court sitting in Owerri, described the reports as “deceitful and mischievous” and maintained that Achonu remained the party’s candidate.

    He said that Mr Basil Maduka, a member of the party, had approached a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, asking the Court to replace Achonu with Chief Joseph Ukaegbu, another member of the party.

    Ihejiagwa said that on June 23, the Court, presided over by Justice B.O. Quadri, dismissed the suit for lack of merit and ruled that the Court lacked the jurisdiction to preside over the matter.

    The court ruled that Ukaegbu did not participate in the party’s primary election, and as such, “lacked the locus standi to institute the action”.

    He also said that the Appeal Court, on Friday, only reemphasized the implication of lack of jurisdiction in a motion for leave to appeal as an interested party, filed by Achonu, stating that it lacked necessary jurisdiction just as the Federal High Court also held.

    He urged members of the public to disregard the reports of Achonu’s purported sack by the Court, describing the reports as “dirty politics and misrepresentation of Court”.

    “Sen. Athan Achonu is and remains the valid governorship candidate of our great party, LP.
    “All peddlers of propaganda against our party, misinterpreters of Court and detractors have failed,” he said

  • Gunmen invade palace, kill Imo traditional ruler

    Gunmen invade palace, kill Imo traditional ruler

    Gunmen, on Monday, reportedly shot and killed the Traditional Ruler of Ezuhu na Amadi Autonomous Community in Abor Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo, Eze Nnamdi Mmirioma.

    It was learnt that the incident occurred at about 3.00 p.m. when the gunmen allegedly invaded Mmirioma’s palace and shot him severally.

    The reason for the dastardly act on the deceased could not be easily ascertained at the time of filing the report. The incident had thrown the community into palpable fear and panic.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Barde, confirmed the incident to NAN, describing it as gruesome.

    In a statement issued by the command’s Spokesman, ASP Henry Okoye, the state police boss noted that Mmirioma died while receiving medical attention at Ndubuisi Hospital.

    “The Commissioner of Police has set up a high powered investigation into the incident to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law,” Okoye stated.

  • Uzodimma raises workers salary, announces N5bn loan for farmers

    Uzodimma raises workers salary, announces N5bn loan for farmers

    Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has announced a new minimum wage of N40, 000 for workers in the state to ease the pains caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.

    The governor also announced N5 billion revolving loan for farmers, as well as free transportation and medical care.

    Uzodimma made the announcement during a special meeting with critical Imo stakeholders, on Saturday in Owerri.

    The governor said the free transportation, feeding and medical care was for civil servants.

    He said other palliatives include the establishment of marketing and commodity boards, mass housing and recruitment of more teachers.

    Uzodimma said that the government had also a initiated scholarship scheme for Imo students, while retirees will be paid promptly.

    “It is clear to me that our people are suffering, particularly the low-income earners and those in paid employment.

    “I have therefore convened this special meeting with the leadership of Organised Labour, Traders, Farmers and Artisans, to announce the comprehensive palliative measures we are putting in place, which I am sure will ease these sufferings,” he noted.

    He expressed confidence that the measures would stimulate the economy, create additional jobs and enhance workers’  wages.

    “Let me say, however, that although the impact of the fuel subsidy removal policy appears harsh in the short-run, it will, in the long run, bring positive results.

    “There shall be an immediate upward review of the salaries and wages of workers in the state.

    “The minimum wage is hereby raised to N40, 000 with discretionary consequential adjustments.

    “At least your salaries would be able not only to take you home, but to also provide your basic necessities to enable you to make ends meet,” he said.

    Uzodimma directed state Head of Service to work out the modalities for daily free meal for civil servants as well as free medical treatment in designated hospitals.

    For farmers, he said the N5 billion revolving loan will be released immediately to stimulate production in the value chain.

    “Farmers will also be encouraged to form cooperatives to facilitate organized farming.”

    On teachers recruitment, he said it would be for all public schools.

    “There will be recruitment exercises for new teachers from primary to secondary and tertiary levels to boost employment and income generation, particularly among our graduates.

    “The government has approved bursaries for students in tertiary institutions,” he added.

    He said the government would train 100,000 youths annually in digital skills through the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government.

    “So far, 5,000 of them have been successfully trained and equipped with relevant kits and tools.

    “Another batch of 15,000 are currently in training and they will graduate in a few weeks,” he added.

    He assured retirees that the government would source funds to commence the payment of their gratuities from 2008/2009.

    The governor also assured the stakeholders that efforts would be intensified at providing mass housing for Imo people, including the completion of the ongoing mass housing estates in Mgbidi, Anara and Nekede.

    The Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. David Onuoha, commended the governor for taking the lead in providing solutions to the suffering of the people.

    Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr Philip Nwansi commended Uzodimma for his leadership qualities which he noted had started yielding results in South East.

    Nwansi urged the governor not to relent despite the challenges he may be facing.