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Tag: kogi

  • 3 ex-Kogi PDP House of Assembly candidates resign

    3 ex-Kogi PDP House of Assembly candidates resign

    Three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Kogi House of Assembly candidates for 2023 poll, Sunday Maiyaki, Daniel Jones and Joseph Olupeka, have resigned their membership of the party.

    The candidates, who lost their bid for the Assembly seats in the March 18 states Houses of Assembly election, said this in separate resignation letters addressed to the PDP Chairmen of their various Wards on Tuesday in Lokoja.

    Maiyaki was the PDP candidate for Yagba West, while Jones contested for the Mopamuro state constituency seat.

    Olupeka was the candidate for Ijumu state constituency.

    Maiyaki in a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman, Odo-Eri/Okoto Ward, Odo-Eri, Yagba West LGA, said: “I hereby resigned my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “I have been a party ardent since 1998 starting from the first National Convention in Jos, Plateau State, but today, I cannot longer cope with the array of impunity in the party.

    “The slogan ‘Power to the People’ is now ‘Power to the Few’.

    “I wish the party good tidings in their future endeavours. My party membership card is attached.”

    On his part, Jones in a letter addressed to the Ward Chairman PDP, Ward 03, Mopamuro LGA, said: “This is to inform you of my decision to resign as a member of PDP to pursue other interests.

    “Please, find attached the original copy of my membership card. I wish the party well in its future assignments.”

    Also, Olupeka in a letter addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman, Ileteju/Origa Ward, Ijumu LGA, said: “Please accept this as a formal communication of my decision to resign as a member of the PDP with the effect from today the May 8, 2023.

    “I wish the party well in its future activities. Please find attached the original copy of my membership card.”

  • WAEC sanctions: Kogi govt. vows to prosecute perpetrators

    WAEC sanctions: Kogi govt. vows to prosecute perpetrators

    The Kogi Government on Friday, vowed to prosecute perpetrators of examination malpractice that led to sanctions on the state by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

    The state’s Commissioner For Education, Science and Technology, Mr Wemi Jones, gave the assurance at the 2023 WAEC briefing of Principals, Supervisors and Examination officers in Ayigba.

    According to the commissioner, every individual involved in examination misconduct that led to WAEC’s sanctions in time past will be made to face the law after thorough investigation.

    Jones commended examination stakeholders for their tremendous improvement in the conduct of external examinations, especially the drastic decline in number of cases of schools’ Derecognitions and Warnings.

    He, however, expressed displeasure over the inability of some schools to consolidate on the state’s educational gains and  positive changes.

    The commissioner, therefore,  warned such  schools against sabotaging the efforts of the present administration.

    According to Jones, the WAEC result analysis from 2022 indicated that 61 schools were derecognised and 14 schools warned in the past,  describing it as unacceptable.

    He stressed that all perpetrators would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to  others, insisting that the state government had zero tolerance for examination malpractices.

    Jones commended the Principals and Schools that had toed the path of examination ethics and equally urged them not to relent in maintaining acceptable examination standards.

    He urged Supervisors to discharge their noble task with utmost responsibility, promising rewards for schools and principals with clean examination record from the ministry.

    Jones assured that the government was addressing the issue of shortage of teachers as evident in the ongoing recruitment and posting of teachers to schools.

    The commissioner promised that further effort would be made to cover more grounds.

  • Kogi Govt vows to fish out abductors, killers of traditional ruler

    Kogi Govt vows to fish out abductors, killers of traditional ruler

    The Kogi Government on Wednesday vowed to fish out kidnappers and killers of traditional ruler of Aghara Bunu in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state.

    The traditional ruler, Chief David Obadofin, was reportedly kidnapped in his resident last week by yet-to-be-identified attackers, who later killed him.

    Mr Kingsley Fanwo, State Commissioner for Information and Communication, in a statement issued in Lokoja described David’s abduction and murder as “horrendous , criminal and reprehensible. ”

    “The APC-led administration of Gov Yahaya Bello will not rest until the abductors and killers of the innocent traditional ruler are arrested and brought to book.

    “The joy of our action on this heinous act is that we are making significant progress at apprehending the suspected masterminds.

    “This is because we are working in collaboration with security agencies to ensure those behind the attack and kidnap face the full wrath of the law, ” he said.

    Fanwo expressed sadness over the attack on the hitherto very peaceful community of Aghara Bunu community by “coward anti-socials” who also killed a woman and a young lady during the kidnapping of the traditional ruler.

    The commissioner said that the state government would stop at nothing to ensure it gets to the roots of the attack and also ensure the masterminds are brought to book.

    He said, “In as much as we wouldn’t want to give out much information about our ongoing investigations, we wish to state that significant progress has been made.”

    Fanwo disclosed that few suspects apprehended were giving useful information to law enforcement agents.

    According to him, reports of the investigations would be made public once concluded.

    “Government will continue to strengthen its anti-crime architecture to prevent breach of the peace and respond rapidly to any breach of the peace.

    “It is the responsibility of Government to protect her citizens are we remain unbending in our unwavering commitment to secure the lives and property of our people,” he assured.

  • Man stabbed to death while trying to settle fight in Kogi

    Man stabbed to death while trying to settle fight in Kogi

    A Kogi-based man Sunday Orishagbemi has lost his life while trying to settle a quarrel between two men

    fighting in Zango Daji Quarters in the Adavi Local Government Area of the State on Friday.

    It was gathered that the tragedy started on Friday evening when a friend of the deceased, described as a vulcanizer at Ganaja junction, Lokoja, branched to urinate close to a building owned by one of the residents of the quarters.

    According to an eyewitness, the owner of the building resisted the action and a quarrel began between them.

    worried about the development, the deceased came in to settle the quarrel between his friend and the boy.

    In the process, the son of the owner of the house was said to have brought out a knife and stabbed Orishagbemi to death.

    Ayah, who confirmed the story in an interview with journalists in Lokoja on Saturday, said the deceased was killed at Okada Park at Zango Daji, adding that the suspect had been arrested by the police for investigation.

    He promised that the suspect would be arraigned in court for prosecution as soon as the investigation is concluded in the case.

  • 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.

  • Kogi’s deputy governor, 7 others withdraw from guber race as Gov. Bello unveils his anointed

    Kogi’s deputy governor, 7 others withdraw from guber race as Gov. Bello unveils his anointed

    Friday’s governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi took a dramatic turn on Thursday as the deputy governor, Mr Edward Onoja, stepped down for the state’s Auditor-General, Ahmed Usman-Ododo.

    Seven other aspirants, including a former Commissioner for Finance, Mr David Adebanji-Jimoh, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris and Mr Okala Yakubu, also stepped down following Usman-Ododo’s endorsement by Gov. Yahaya Bello.

    Others still are Mr Abdulkareem Asuku, Chief of Staff to Gov. Bello and the state’s Accountant-General, Mr Momoh Jibrin.

    Eight aspirants voluntarily withdrew from the race at a meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Lokoja on Thursday and presided over by Gov. Bello.

    Chairman of the primary election committee, Gov. Mohammed Bello-Matawale of Zamfara confirmed the development after Thursday’s meeting.

    “All other aspirants who have not withdrawn from the race are free to participate in Friday’s direct primary election to be held across the state.

    “The gentlemanly agreement was reached and announced at a stakeholders meeting of the party held on Thursday in Lokoja,’’ he said.

    Matawalle said Gov. Bello, who hosted the meeting, unveiled his anointed candidate in the person of Usman-Ododo.

    While announcing his withdrawal from the race, Onoja thanked his leader, Gov Bello and all his supporters for their love and prayers.

    Onoja enjoined his supporters to allow love, patience and perseverance to lead at Friday’s primary election and at the Nov. 11 governorship election in the state.

  • Kogi Assembly Majority Leader, Murktar Bajeh resigns

    Kogi Assembly Majority Leader, Murktar Bajeh resigns

    The Kogi Assembly Majority Leader, Alhaji Murktar Bajeh (APC-Okehi) has resigned his position in protest of the terrorist tag thrown at him and eight other colleagues.

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of the state had on March 23 branded nine of the 25 assembly members as terrorists for their alleged roles during the March 18 House of Assembly elections held in the state.

    Bello had requested the legislature in a letter to the Speaker, Mr Matthew Kolawale, to suspend the group of nine, including the Majority Leader, and investigate their roles during the assembly election.

    But Bajeh, in a letter to the house, informed them of his resolve to step down from the majority leader’s position following his disposition with the actions of the governor and the House.

    “I hereby wish to inform this House that I am no more interested in being your leader,  but have resigned forthwith,” the letter read.

    The speaker, who read Bajeh’s letter at plenary, asked for comments on the matter.

    It was at that point that a motion was moved by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Alfa Momoh-Rabiu, for the nomination of a substitute in the person of the Chief Whip, Mr. Ahmed Dahiru, to replace Bajeh as the Majority Leader.

    The speaker, quickly put a question to members, on the nomination of the chief whip to fill in the vacant position, and the members unanimously accepted Dahiru as their new Majority Leader owing to his capacity and ability to do the job.

    The speaker, however, said “the house having accepted the choice of Hon. Ahmed Dahiru, member representing Okene II, to fill in the gap left by Hon. Muktar Bajeh, we hereby declare him (Dahiru) our new Majority Leader from today”.

  • Kogi election: Court nullifies APC delegates list

    Kogi election: Court nullifies APC delegates list

    The Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday, nullified and set aside the ward and local government congresses conducted on Feb. 7 by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi.

    The congresses were conducted for the purpose of nominating a governorship candidate for the November governorship election in the state.

    Justice James Omotosho nullified and set aside the congresses while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by a group of aggrieved APC members led by Mr Realwan Okpanachi.

    The court voided the two congresses on the grounds that they were not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, and the constitution of the APC.

    The court barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC)  from recognising or using the unlawful delegates list that emanated from unlawful congresses for the party for the purpose of selecting its governorship flag bearer.

    Justice Omotosho ordered the APC leadership to conduct fresh congresses that would be in compliance Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Section 13 of the party’s constitution.

    The judge agreed with the plaintiffs that the APC in Kogi failed to conduct ward and local government congresses as stipulated by relevant provisions of the law.

    He also agreed with Mr Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, and counsel to the plaintiffs, that the APC breached Section 84 of the Electoral Act and Section 13 of its own constitution.

    He said this was by concocting the purported list of delegates and submitting same to INEC without the knowledge of registered members of the party in the state.

    The judge held that during the trial of the case, the APC failed to disclose the venues and times where the purported ward and local government congresses were held.

    He said the party also failed to show the report of INEC officials that purportedly monitored the elections.

    He further held that the APC failed to produce the result sheet to show the scores recorded by the participants in the purported congresses.

    The judge said that the major document put at the disposal of the court to justify the conduct of the said  Feb. 7 congresses, did not contain a single name of any human being.

    He said it rather had signatures of imaginary participants at the purported congresses.

    With the absence of names on the documents, the judge said that the exhibit was worthless and that no probate value could be attached to it because it was against Section 133 of the Evidence Act.

    Earlier,  the judge dismissed the preliminary objections raised by APC that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

    Plaintiffs in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/329/2023 are Realwan Okpanachi, Yahaya Nuhu, Omaonu  Arome, Mustapha Idoko, Aku  Goodman and Abu Onechiojo.

    The APC and INEC are the 1st and 2nd defendants.

    NAN

  • APC adopts direct primaries for Kogi governorship polls

    APC adopts direct primaries for Kogi governorship polls

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted direct mode of primaries for the conduct of forthcoming Kogi Governorship Primary Election slated for April 14.

    The party informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its decision to adopt the direct primary mode in a letter dated April 6.

    The letter, which was signed by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, followed an earlier one to the commission dated Jan. 25

    The letter read in part: “We refer to our earlier letter dated January 25th 2023, with reference no: APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/023/191.

    “Wherein we notified the commission of the mode of primary election for the conduct of the Gubernatorial Primary Election in Kogi.

    “However, our great party, the APC, has reviewed the modalities for the conduct of the gubernatorial primary election in Kogi.

    “And has, therefore, resorted to adopt the direct mode of primary election instead of the indirect mode as earlier communicated,” it said.

    According to the letter, there would be a Special Congress to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at the primary election in the state scheduled for Saturday, April 15.

    An Abuja Federal High Court, on Wednesday, nullified the Kogi APC delegate list for the purpose of nominating a governorship candidate for the party.

    The composition of the delegate list had raised concerns among the party’s critical stakeholders in Kogi who said they were not carried alone during its compilation.

    Justice James Omotosho, while delivering judgment, voided the party’s ward and local government congresses conducted on Feb. 7 in Kogi, saying they were not conducted in compliance with 2022 Electoral Act and the APC Constitution.

    However, stakeholders of the party across the country had said that the judgment was only an academic exercise as the party had already decided to adopt the direct mode.

    The Kogi governor election had been fixed for Nov. 11 by INEC.

  • Kogi 2023: You can’t impose your MC, Dino on us – Kogi PDP Elders tell Atiku

    Kogi 2023: You can’t impose your MC, Dino on us – Kogi PDP Elders tell Atiku

    …allege plots to alter Delegates’ List, impose guber candidate

    Elders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state have alleged that the party’s presidential candidate in the last general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of sinister plots capable of undermining the party ahead of November 2023 governorship election in the state.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Ibrahim Dansofo as the party elders called on Atiku to retract his steps and allow the original delegates’ list from the 21 local government areas of Kogi state scale through without further delay.

    Dansofo said the state chapter of the party stood by Atiku in the just concluded elections but he has decided to pay them back in bad coin by trying to impose Senator Dino Melaye as the governorship candidate of the party and deprive other nine aspirants the opportunity for free, fair and credible primary election.

    He alleged that the authentic list of delegates is being altered to allow Senator Dino Melaye have his way, adding that the former Senator has changed the whole list to favour him during the party’s upcoming primary election.

    The group accused Hon. Umar M. Bature, the National Organizing Secretary of the party, of deceit.

    They alleged that Bature is trying to use Kogi state as “mere compensation for Dino Melaye whose major contribution was being the compere for Atiku Abubakar.”

    The group threatened to leave PDP enmass and empty the party if the plot scales through.

    Dansofo said since Melaye joined the party, “all he is known for is embracing short-cuts and jumping the political process”, insisting that this will not be allowed to continue.

    The group accused Melaye of working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate in Kogi West, Sunday Karimi instead of the party’s flag bearer, Hon Tajudeen Teejay Yusuf, in the last election.

    They urged Atiku to allow the authentic delegates list from the state to stand.

    Recall the screening committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had cleared Dr Reuben Atabo (SAN) and nine others as aspirants for the party’s primary election. Other aspirants cleared were; Senator Dino Melaye, Engr. Musa Wada, Senator Atai Aidoko Ali, Barr. Mohammed Kabiru Usman, Arc. Abayomi Awoniyi, Dr. Bolufemi Olarotimi, Abdullahi Haruna (SAN), Gideon Ojata and Idoko Kingsley Ilonah.

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