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Tag: Senatorial Candidate

  • LP notifies INEC about death of Senatorial candidate

    LP notifies INEC about death of Senatorial candidate

    The Enugu State Chairman of LP,  Mr. Casmir Agbo, said on Friday the party had notified INEC about the death of its candidate for the Enugu East Senatorial election, Mr. Oyibo Chukwu.

    Chukwu was killed by gunmen.

    Agbo made this known while giving update on the death of the candidate during an interaction with newsmen.

    He said: “I have been in touch with the State Resident Electoral Commission (REC); he advised me on what to do which I did.

    “We wrote to INEC through our national office and the commission, in line with sections (31) and (34l of the Electoral Act.

    Agbo described the death of Chukwu as tragic and unfortunate and condemnable by any well meaning person who value human life.

    He called on relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate the death of the LP candidate and other politically motivated murder in the state

    “I have informed all security operatives in the state – the Army, the Police, the DSS and Civil Defence,” he said.

    According to him,  the death of Chukwu would be a turning point in the victory of the labour party in Enugu State.

    He called on party members not to despair but remain strong and hopeful in the “struggle to reclaim Enugu State.

    A competent INEC source confirmed to NAN that the party had initiated the notice, in line with the Electoral Act, but the commission was yet to announce it’s official decision on the matter.a

  • Court of Appeal affirms Umeh as LP candidate for Anambra Central

    Court of Appeal affirms Umeh as LP candidate for Anambra Central

    The Court of Appeal, Awka has affirmed Sen. Victor Umeh as the candidate of the Labour Party for Anambra Central Senatorial District of Anambra.

    The Court in its judgment held that the suit which supposedly disqualified Umeh at the Federal High Court, Awka was statute barred and lacked locus.

    Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, who read the judgment via zoom allowed the two appeals by the Labour Party and  Umeh to stand.

    Umeh was dragged to a federal high court by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Mrs Uche Ekwunife, the senatorial candidate of the PDP on the grounds that he did not resign from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, before picking the ticket on LP.

    The court presided over by Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa in a judgment on Jan. 27 granted the prayer and disqualified Umeh.

    The LP and Umeh through their counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, and Patrick Ikwetoh respectively appealed the judgment for lack of locus by the respondents and prayed the court to set aside the judgement.

    Reacting to the judgment, Chief Beluolisa Nwofor, SAN, counsel to Ekwunife said he will appeal the  judgment.

  • LP chair confirms killing of Enugu East senatorial candidate by gunmen

    LP chair confirms killing of Enugu East senatorial candidate by gunmen

    The Labour Party (LP), Enugu State chapter, has confirmed the gruesome murder of Oyibo Chukwu, the Senatorial candidate of the party for Enugu East Senatorial district.

    Mr. Casmir Agbo, State Chairman of the party, confirmed this on Thursday in a telephone interview with NAN in Enugu.

    “It’s true my brother. Just yesterday evening. It’s a terrible situation,” he said.

    Also, confirming the incident, Mr Norbert Okolo, Media Aide to the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Dr John Nwokeabia, said Chukwu was burnt in his branded vehicle alongside five of his aides.

    “This is terrible. It is very fearful. People should be very careful this time because you don’t know who are responsible,” he said.

    A security expert, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed shock over the incident but cautioned people that it is too early to apportion blame.

    “It’s too early to say who did this or that, because you don’t know those responsible.

    “My advice is that police should go into intelligence gathering as quickly as possible, while people should be extremely careful,” he said.

    In a related development, a branded vehicle belonging to the House of Representatives candidate for Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, Mr. Offor Chukwuegbo, was also burnt with the driver inside at Topland area on the same night.

    Chukwuegbo is a second-term member of the House of Representatives and currently contesting for third term on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Recalled that a group belonging to Simon Ekpa, a factional leader of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), had earlier placed embargo on election in the South East region.

  • Thugs attack Kano APC senatorial candidate

    Thugs attack Kano APC senatorial candidate

    The convoy of the All Progressive congress senatorial candidate for Kano Central, Abdussalam Abdulkarim was attacked by thugs in Gayawa village, kano State.

    According to Daily Trust report, the attack left 17 persons injured damaging several campaign vehicles

    Zaura’s media aide, Ibrahim Mua’azzam, told the publication that the incident occurred when they were returning from a condolence visit.

    He said; “Our interim assessment of the damage caused by this inimical act has so far revealed 17 minor and major casualties.

    “The major casualties are undergoing treatment at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital. We also have 17 cars damaged.”

  • 2023 General elections: Court declares Prof Ben Ayade as APC’s rightful Senatorial candidate to Cross River North

    2023 General elections: Court declares Prof Ben Ayade as APC’s rightful Senatorial candidate to Cross River North

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) rightful Senatorial candidate to the Cross River North Senatorial District in the 2023 General elections.

    The trial judge, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha, dismissed Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1232/2022, instituted by Cecilia Omonya Adams, who had claimed to be the rightful Senatorial candidate.

    Ayade had through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, argued that MRS CECILIA OMONYA ADAMS who had participated in the May 28 primaries of the APC, but did not participate in the APC primaries of 14th July, 2022, for the Cross River North Senatorial District towards the 2023 General Elections, has no locus standi to approach the court to challenge the candidacy of Governor Ben Ayade who was duly nominated by his APC party during the July 14, 2022 primaries.

    The Plaintiff had through an Originating Summons filed on 26th July, 2022, approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, praying amongst others, for “AN ORDER directing the INEC to recognize, accept and publish her name as the candidate of the APC for the Cross River North Senatorial District.

    She had also asked, in the ALTERNATIVE, for “AN ORDER directing the APC to conduct another primaries where only those who had bought forms to contest the primaries of 28th May, 2022, will participate; or that the Plaintiff be confirmed and returned as the candidate of the APC for the said election.

    Also joined as Co-defendants with Ayade in the suit challenging the APC primaries were the APC, INEC and Martin Orin, who had earlier won the May 28 Senatorial primaries, but had resigned to enable a fresh primaries be conducted by INEC. It was from this fresh primaries that Ayade emerged as the sole contestant and winner on 14th July, 2022.

    Justice Maha in her judgment delivered Wednesday, 30th November, 2022, while dismissing the Suit, agreed with the submissions of Chief Ozekhome, SAN, that MRS ADAMS lacked the locus standi to have instituted the suit against Governor Ayade having not participated in the APC primaries of 14th July, 2022, from which Governor Ayade duly emerged as the APC candidate for the Cross River North Senatorial District.

    The court held that Mrs ADAMS failed to establish or prove that Ayade was not properly nominated by his party; or that any of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC Guidelines, or the Constitution of APC, had in any way been breached by the APC or Ayade in his emergence as the APC Senatorial candidate.

    Justice Maha further declined to accept the argument of the plaintiff that the fresh primaries thus held were re-run elections, rather than by-elections.

    The court also held that even on the issue of “place holder” which the plaintiff harped on, the Electoral Act was silent on it as it has no provision pertaining to place holder.

    The court equally held that there was ample documentary evidence of the conduct of valid primaries in which Ayade who was the duly nominated candidate of the APC, solely participated and won, without evidence of the plaintiff participating in them.

    There was equally documentary evidence that the APC duly notified INEC of the primaries conducted on the 14th of July, 2022; and that the requirement of giving notice as contemplated under the Electoral Act is not to notify the plaintiff (Cecilia), but INEC.

    Ayade who had earlier in the year won his defection case from PDP to APC against the PDP before Justice Taiwo Obayomi Taiwo in a suit also argued by Ozekhome now has his coast cleared as the APC Senatorial candidate for the 2023 Cross River North Senatorial District.

  • Court remands Ebonyi LP senatorial candidate, Linus Okorie

    Court remands Ebonyi LP senatorial candidate, Linus Okorie

    The Magistrate’s Court in Ebonyi on Tuesday, ordered the remand of Linus Okorie, the Ebonyi Labour Party Senatorial Candidate and ex-lawmaker, at the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Abakaliki for alleged conspiracy and murder.

    The Magistrate, Linda Ogodo, ordered the remand over lack of jurisdiction.

    The accused was charged on April 5, 2022, for conspiring among others to commit a felony to murder, promoting inter-communal war and thereby committing an offence punishable under section 516A of Criminal Code Law, Cap 33 volume 1 Law of Ebonyi 2009.

    The count charges No. MAB/574/2022 against Okorie and others at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magistrate district, unlawfully caused the death of Mr Donatus Okoro.

    The offence is punishable under section 319 of the criminal code law, Cap 33 vol. 1 laws of Ebonyi 2009.

    Meanwhile, Mr Chikodili Nome, the lead Counsel to Okorie, alleged that the intendment of the charges against his client was to keep him behind bar, weaken him and his supporters.

    Nome also alleged that the state government was resorting to self-help.

    He stated that some charges on the magistrate’s jurisdiction was to entertain and be grant bail.

    “We have seen details of the charges. What happened here today is abuse to judicial proceedings.

    “Anyone who is not comfortable with the judgement should go to court of Appeal and not to resort to self-help,” Nome said.

    The court ordered the remand of the defendants at the correctional centre, pending issuance of legal advice and adjourned the matter for November 4, 2022.

  • LP Senatorial candidate arrested for drug-related offence – Police

    LP Senatorial candidate arrested for drug-related offence – Police

    The Police Command in Ebonyi, has said the Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Linus Okorie was arrested and abducted as alleged.

    SP Chris Anyanwu, Spokesman of the Command said, in a statement, he issued to newsmen in Abakaliki on Monday, that Okorie was only arrested.

    He said that Okorie, an Ex-House of Representative Member was arrested over drug-related matters and several other offences.

    Anyanwu urged the public to desist from painting pictures of insecurity in the state by propagating unfounded rumours.

    “Sequel to initial viral rumours renting the air, cum a Press Release accredited to one Dr David Ogbonna of Linus Okorie CaringHeart Foundation, purporting that the former member of House of Representatives, was abducted on Sunday.

    “The State Police Command swung into action and later traced the said Okorie, who had evaded many Police arrests/invitations, to the head office of the Ebubeagu Security Outfit at the Old Government House.

    “Police detectives were briefed on why he was arrested which includes; his activities and utterances that incited and provoked the violence that engulfed Onicha Community which led to suspected gunmen to unleash mayhem in the area in 2021.

    “Hence, the case has now been taken over by the Police Command for a scrupulous investigation.

    “Secondly, Okorie was severally invited by the Security and Intelligence Bureau of the Command over a petition dated, March 23, authored by the State’s Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, alleging that he was spreading fake news against Gov Dave Umahi.

    “When invited by the SIB over the false allegations/petition, Okorie in his characteristic pompous manner refused vehemently to report. Rather he chose to file fallacious suits against the Police Command.

    “It is also pertinent to mention that Okorie also have a pending case in which he is implicated in a drug-related offence where the suspects purported to be his agents were arrested for Hard drug sales and use at his City Hub Inn, Mile 50, Abakaliki,” the Spokesman stated.

  • BREAKING: More palaver for Lawan as INEC confirms Machina as senatorial candidate

    BREAKING: More palaver for Lawan as INEC confirms Machina as senatorial candidate

    More palaver for Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the Independent National Electoral Commission has put its stamp of affirmation on the candidature of Bashir Machina.

    The Commission has recognised Machina as the winner of the governing All Progressives Congress primary for Yobe North Senatorial District ticket.

    A certified true copy of INEC’s report from the May 28, 2022, election showed Mr Machina scored 289 votes out of 300 delegates.

    This tallies with Machina’s repeated public claim that he won the primary election and remained the party’s candidate and not the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who did not participate in the senatorial district primary election.

    The document, certified by the electoral office on June 23, 2022, did not mention Ahmad Lawan, the Senate President who has been labouring to supplant Mr Machina in collusion with the party’s national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

    Adamu had listed Lawan as the candidate of the APC for Yobe North senatorial election slated for February 2023, claiming that a primary poll had secretly held in which Lawan purportedly emerged winner.

    Even though Machina has been certified winner by the electoral office, he still expects additional fights ahead when INEC will post candidates standing for election across different political parties in the coming weeks.

    INEC had said it lacked the powers to pick a candidate in an election, even though its authentication was necessary to certify that an election held.

    Lawan started making attempts to seize the ticket from Machina after losing at the ruling party’s presidential by convention, which was won handily by Bola Tinubu on June 8.

  • Declare Stella Oduah unfit as PDP senatorial candidate – Party Chieftain tells court

    A PDP Chieftain, Chief John Emeka, on Thursday prayed to a Federal High Court, Abuja to declare that Sen. Stella Oduah is unqualified to contest in the Anambra North Senatorial District seat for the 2023 general elections.

    Oduah contested and won the party’s May 27 primary election for Anambra North Senatorial seat.

    Emeka, in an originating summons, told Justice Inyang Ekwo that Oduah, in the information she supplied in an affidavit of facts she deposed to on Oct. 23, 2014, as to the loss of her original copy of her NYSC Certificate which she incorporated in her INEC Form CF001 for the said primary, was untrue.

    The application, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/841/2022 dated and filed June 8, was brought by his lawyer, Mbanefo Ikwegbue.

    Emeka also names the PDP and INEC as defendants.

    Oduah currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

    Emeka, who was also an aspirant in the primary election, prayed the court for an order, nullifying the lawmaker’s participation in the poll.

    He also sought for an order directing the INEC not to recognise the lawmaker as the party’s candidate for the 2023 election.

    He further prayed the court for an order, declaring him as the PDP candidate for the Anambra North Senatorial District’s seat for the 2023 poll, having participated in the May 27 election.

    Emeka, in the application, alleged that Oduah lied on oath in both her expression of interest and nomination forms, including the INEC Form CFO01.

    When the matter was called on Thursday, Emeka’s counsel, Ikwegbue, told Justice Ekwo that Oduah allegedly refused to collect court documents when the bailiff made an attempt to serve her.

    But lawyer to Oduah, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, disagreed with Ikwegbue.

    Ikpeazu described the submission as a misconception.

    Ikpeazu was consequently served with the documents in the open court following the judge’s directive.

    “I am putting this matter for hearing in the next adjourned date.

    “There is sufficient time for all the parties to file their processes,” Ekwo said.

    The judge, who adjourned the matter until Sept. 26 for hearing, ordered that hearing notices be issued to parties in the suit.

  • Bulus Audu emerges Kaduna South APC senatorial candidate

    Bulus Audu has emerged as the Kaduna South senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general elections.

    Audu’s emergence followed the withdrawal of his only opponent, Chief Tony Hassan, from the race shortly before the commencement of the primary election.

    Addressing newsmen shortly after his opponent stepped down, Audu promised to offer credible representations for his people if given the mandate in 2023.

    According to him, Southern Kaduna is blessed with both human and material resources but needed sound and visionary leadership to fully maximise it’s potentials.

    He said a vote for him in the general elections was a vote for development and economic prosperity of Southern Kaduna.

    The senatorial candidate explained that the APC was the party for Nigerians as it had their best interest at heart.