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Tag: Senatorial Election

  • Ohanaeze cautions Enugu politician against inciting violence

    Ohanaeze cautions Enugu politician against inciting violence

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide on Sunday called on senator-elect for Enugu North Senatorial zone, Okey Ezea, not to set the state ablaze with his comment on ‘do or die’.

    While reminding him that it would be very dangerous to throw stones into a marketplace, as the victim cannot be known, the organisation advised him to withdraw that comment for the sake of peace in Enugu State.

    Ezea was said to have told his constituents that the forthcoming governorship election would be a do-or-die affair.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, said Ezea’s alleged utterances should be condemned by all lovers of democracy.

    He described as shocking the fact that Ezea who benefited from the goodwill and political tsunami led by Peter Obi could turn around to instigate violence in his first public utterance as a Senator-elect to call on the youths to go and engage in crisis.

    He said, “We, the Ohanaeze youths, reject in its entirety the inciting statement credited to the Enugu North Senator-elect, Barr. Okey Ezea wherein he was describing the March 11 governorship election as a do or die affair.

    “We find it so awkward that Ezea’s first public utterance as a Senator-elect is to call on the youths to go and engage in violence. This is totally unacceptable and should be resisted by every Enugu youth.

    “The youths must say no to politicians who would want to use them to cause mayhem in Enugu State. We should not forget that it is very dangerous to throw stones into a marketplace, you never can tell who will be the victim.

    “We warn Okey Ezea to stop instigating violence in Enugu State that governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has made peaceful since the inception of his administration.

    “We call on him to immediately withdraw that divisive and inciting statement without further delay.

    “This should also serve as a serious warning to other politicians who may want to toe this path. The youths will not take it lightly with such a person. We shall employ all legal means to bring such a person to justice.”

  • INEC announces Zamfara Central election inconclusive

    INEC announces Zamfara Central election inconclusive

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday, declared the Zamfara Central senatorial district election inconclusive.

    The INEC Returning Officer of the senatorial district, Prof. Ahmad Galadima, said the cancellation affected not less than 74 polling units from 19 registration areas of Bungude, Gusau and Tsafe.

    According to him, the total number of Permanent Voter Cards collected were 43,881, which was more than the margin lead of the two political parties with the highest votes.

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate scored 93,120 while the All Progressives Congress polled 79,444.

    “With a lead margin of 13,676, the result can only be declared inconclusive,” Galadima said.

    Also, the INEC Returning Officer of Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency, Dr. Aminu Dabai, also announced the cancellation of 38 polling units affected from both Gusau and Tsafe Local Government Areas.

    According to Dabai, the results from the seven RAs had an insignificant lead margin between PDP and APC.

    The returning officers disclosed that the electoral body would communicate on fixing supplementary elections.

    Regulation and administration of elections
    The administration of democratic elections in Nigeria dates back to the period before Independence when the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN) was inaugurated in 1958 to conduct the 1959 federal elections. Prior to 1958, regional laws and government regulated and conducted elections.

    ECN was headed by an expatriate, Ronald Edward Wraith and four Nigerian members representing each region and the Federal Capital Territory of Lagos.

    The Federal Electoral Commission (FEC), established in 1960 conducted the immediate post-independence federal and regional elections of 1964 and 1965.[6] Prior to the conduct of the 1964 election, the Chief Electoral Officer, Kofo Abayomi resigned and some party officials from the NCNC and Action Group doubted the credibility of a free and fair election.

    The electoral body was dissolved after the military coup of 1966 in Nigeria. In 1978, the Federal Electoral Commission(FEDECO) was constituted by the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, organizing the elections of 1979 which ushered in the Nigerian Second Republic under the leadership of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. It also conducted the general elections of 1983.

    In December 1995, the military government under the leadership of general Sani Abacha established the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria which conducted another set of elections. These elected institutions were not inaugurated before the sudden death of General Abacha in June 1998 aborted the process.

    In 1998, General Abdulsalam Abubakar’s Administration dissolved National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    INEC organized the transitional elections that ushered in the Nigerian Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999.

    In January 2015, the “#BringBackOurGirls group raised the alarm over plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exclude Chibok and some communities currently under the control of the Boko Haram from getting the permanent voter cards (PVCs) for the February elections.

  • Court disqualifies Victor Umeh from Feb 25 Senate election

    Court disqualifies Victor Umeh from Feb 25 Senate election

    The Federal High Court 1, Awka presided over by Hon Justice H. A. Nganjiwa this afternoon disqualified Chief Victor Umeh from contesting in the fast approaching Feb 25, 2023, Senatorial election for Anambra Central.

    The court, in a 3- hour judgment which was described by legal practitioners as “erudite”, disqualified Umeh on the grounds of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act as it concern the membership status of one to contest a party primary.

    The court noted that there was no evidence that the resignation letter by Chief Umeh to the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) was actually received by the party. Hence his name was still in the register of members of APGA as at Sept 30, 2022, when he was said to have contested the party’s primary. And that his(Umeh’s) name was not in the register of members of Labour party as at June 3, 2022, date of primary of LP.

    The court, therefore, declared as null and void the publication of Umeh’s name as a candidate earlier by the Independent National Electoral Commission, as he failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the LP constitution.

    The court, therefore, declared the publication as null and void and of no effect.

    Court also issued an injunction restraining Umeh from parading himself as Senatorial candidate of LP. The injunction also prevented the LP from accepting or presenting Umeh as her candidate.

  • Former Plateau Governor, Dariye speaks on contesting for Plateau Central senatorial seat

    Former Plateau Governor, Dariye speaks on contesting for Plateau Central senatorial seat

    The former Governor of Plateau state, Joshua Dariye, who got released from prison last week Monday after being pardoned by the council of state has denied nursing any ambition to contest the Senatorial seat of Plateau Central in next year’s general election in the country.

    Dariye who was in the company of his wife, Mrs. Regina, visited the National Assembly Members as well as Members of the State Executive Council.

    However, speaking when the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, led a delegation from the State to visit Dariye and former Governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, to rejoice with them over their release from prison after being granted a pardon, Dariye dismissed the rumour of his senatorial ambition, saying he had no intention to contest for the position in 2023 whatsoever.

    The statement reads in part “Lalong told Governor Dariye that the entire State received the news of his release with joy because they had been praying for him since his travails and incarceration happened.

    “He said so much prayer and appeal was made towards the pardon granted to him, and thankfully, the President was magnanimous to accept to grant the pardon.

    “The Governor, while appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari for giving Dariye another opportunity, said this is the time for Chief Dariye to reflect and forgive people that may have offended him, as has been his practice during previous challenges.

    “He prayed to God to continue to give him sound health even as he offers to advise to the State while making available his vast knowledge for the good of the people.”

    “He advised politicians in Plateau to unite and rally around the Governor in promoting the interest of the citizens, saying governance is an opportunity for those in charge to do their best and leave posterity to judge their efforts as no one can finish the business of Government in a day.”

    Dariye, who was meant to serve 10 years imprisonment term for N1.126 billion fraud, was released last Monday after about four years in prison.
    Speculations were flying around that Dariye was interested in the Plateau Central senatorial seat and that he has perfected plans to defect to the Labour party in the state to actualize his dreams.
    Joshua Chibi Dariye assumed office as the Governor of Plateau State, Nigeria on May 29, 1999, during the 1999 Plateau State gubernatorial election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party

     

     

     

  • Senatorial Primary: Our decision on Akpabio is final-INEC

    Akwa Ibom state  Resident Electoral Commissioner Barrister, Mike Igini has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s decision on the Akwa Ibom North-West (Ikot Ekpene) senatorial ticket involving Senator Godswill Akpabio is final and will not be changed.

    Recall that Akpabio emerged the winner of a re-run primary conducted at the Skill Acquisition Centre, Ikot Ekpene, having polled 478 votes out of 512 accredited delegates for the election defeating DIG Udom Udo Ekpoudom (Rtd).

    But  while speaking on a Current Affairs programme on  Comfort FM Uyo , Igini said the re-run primary that led to the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the district is strange and unknown to law.

    According to him, the May 27, 2022 primary, which produced a former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Udum Ekpoudum (retd.), subsists because it was not cancelled, neither was it rendered inconclusive. He added that Senator Akpabio’s emergence is nothing but a “Nollywood fantasy.”

    He added that he knew Akpabio as  one of the  presidential aspirants for the All Progressives Congress who stepped down for Bola Tinubu, adding that, even if there was a re-run, it could only be conducted for aspirants that participated in the first primary.

    He further explained that politicians should study the new provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act as amended, so as not to continue with the hope that things were still the way it were with the repealed 2010 and 2012 Electoral Act, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    “By virtue of Section 31 of the 2022 Electoral Act, the only way somebody can be replaced in any form is that we no longer have substitution by political party. What you have now is withdrawal by individual or nominee and or death.

    “The law is not saying you should go and kill people so that you can have yourself on the ballot. No. The law is saying that those who have emerged at all levels up to the presidential level, you can decide that you are no longer interested. You can write an application signed by yourself, delivered to your party who will now deliver to INEC, but nobody can shave the political head of another person in his or her absence.

    “The report of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District APC primary as submitted to INEC headquarters in Abuja is final. It is concluded. The train has left the station. The timeline is clear. All those who are in politics should go and study the 2022 Electoral Act very well.

    “I hear people talk about substitution. If you look at Section 31 and Section 34 of the Electoral Act, those of you who are still carrying the old idea of the 2010, 2012 Electoral Act in your head, thinking you can substitute wilfully, it is no longer so.

    “Then number two is only in the case of death. Even at that, there will now be a fresh primary. This is the new law. So, what we are seeing going on is clearly a misnomer. The rerun can only be conducted between and among those who participated in the first Senatorial election of May 27, 2022 and the Senatorial primary for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District was not cancelled, was not nullified, was not inconclusive. It was conclusive, it was concluded and the report was written and it is final because you cannot reopen that anymore,” he declared.

  • Imo State: Former governor Ohakim withdraws from senatorial race

    Former Imo state governor Ikedi Ohakim has withfrawn from the Imo North Senatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress scheduled to take place in about six local Governrmnt Areas in the district on Saturday.

    Ohakim, who was the governor of Imo state between 2007 and 2011, announced his withdrawal from the race in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Adamu, through the chairman of the party in Imo State.

    The former Governor confirmed his withdrawal from the race through a letter dated Friday,27 and sent to the party secretariat.

    The letter was titled “Withdrawal from senatorial primary election”

    The three-paragraph letter read, “It is with the highest sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my withdrawal from the senatorial primaries for Imo North scheduled for Saturday, May 28, 2022.

    “The decision to withdraw from the race was arrived at after due consultations with my family and close associates and after a thorough review of events in the last couple of days.

    “I wish to assure the leadership of our great party at all levels of my commitment to the success of the party both now and in the future.

    “May I also seize this opportunity to thank you for your encouragement and moral support while I was in the race.”

    Findings show  that the ex-governor withdrew from the race after a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Maurice Iwu and a businessman, Tony Chukwu, insisted that Ohakim will not fly the flag of the party.

    They rather preferred a former member of the National Assembly, Patrick Ndubueze, over Ohakim.

  • Akpabio opens can of worms on frosty relationship with Gov Emmanuel, loss of senatorial election

    Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West District in the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has opened up on his relationship with Governor Udom Emmanuel

    Akpabio said stood by him (Emmanuel) to emerge governor despite opposition from over 28 other candidates within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party he (Akpabio) has since dumped for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The former Senate Minority Leader however noted that despite his perceived hatred for joining the APC, his “dream” for the state “lives on”.

    Recall that Akpabio lost his bid to return to the Senate for a second term; he was defeated by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chris Ekpenyong.

    He is at the tribunal to challenge the election result.

    Mr Akpabio’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), lost almost all the elections in the state, including the governorship and the presidential elections.

    “My dream for Akwa Ibom lives on. My love for Akwa Ibom and Nigeria waxes stronger,” Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, said in a post-election article.

    The article titled, The Lies and Liars of the Election, was released by Akpabio’s media office.

    Akpabio said in the article that men, including clerics, have been paid to lie against him during the elections.

    He said some persons went as far as lying that he equated himself to God and that he also planned to “sell the state to Moslems for the establishment of cattle colonies”.

    “I am happy that God is not like some of His priests,” the senator said.

    “Ever since I decamped to APC, they have been praying against me and they have joined in peddling the lies about me.

    “Very well-known Church prelates and Bishops that dined with me for eight years while I was governor, despite my benevolence to them and their families joined the fray calling me killer herdsman for joining APC.

    “But some of these ‘men of God’ were in this same country in 2012 when the farmers/herdsmen clashes claimed the lives of over 1000 people in the Benue/Plateau/Mambilla axis. At that time, a Christian was the President but was not accused of being a killer of Christians.

    “I am happy that God does not condemn a man based on one man’s testimony, but He sees the heart and judges our motives and intentions. Whether one is a Christian or Muslim, we all worship the same God who will at the appointed time judge us from our deeds in words and actions,” he said.

    Akpabio said having enjoyed God’s mercies there was no way he could have blasphemed against God.

    “In 2015 my wife was in a coma for months and the best doctors in the world with the help of the best life-support equipment gave her less than five percent chance of making it. Doctors and science gave up on her. The press wrote that she had died. But we held on to God and God brought her back to life. Science could not explain this awesome testimony.

    “In 2015, I was involved in an accident, which details are still suspect. I survived against all odds because God showed up for me.

    “Can a man who has seen so much favour from God, turn around to blaspheme him? Can such a man seek to play God or seek to share His glory with Him? Such a man can never say ‘where was God when I made Udom Emmanuel governor?’” the senator said.

    Akpabio after leaving Government House, Uyo, in 2015, fell apart with his successor, Udom Emmanuel, whom he had helped to become governor against all the odds.

    The senator in the article wrote about his relationship with his successor, Mr Emmanuel.

    “I met Udom Emmanuel performing the duties of a deacon in Qua Iboe Church, Surulere. I immediately adjudged that as a deacon, he would superintend over the affairs of the State with the fear of God.

    “Whether I was right or wrong is for history to judge. Nevertheless, I picked him to succeed me and by the grace of God and the votes of Akwa Ibom electorates, he won the election. So God made him governor.

    “Yes. I made enemies out of 28 other aspirants who desired that same office. That remains my cross,” he said.

    Akpabio added, “I call on those who have been sucked into this axis of evil to stop the lies, the smear campaigns, the propaganda, and the deliberate falsehood.

    “I wish to serve notice that I would remain undaunted and focused in serving humanity.”