CLAIM: A Facebook video was posted by one Umuchiukwu Writers with the caption “Igbos living in Lagos denied PVC registration by Federal Government. Only Biafra will save Biafrans.”
In the video, a voice was heard saying in Igbo that “We have not been allowed to register for PVC in Lagos and we have been here since 7am. INEC officials are only attending to those who speak in Yoruba and some Yoruba chiefs were present and allowing only Yorubas to register.”
Verification: It was obvious there was no queue nor did the video show any INEC official or Yoruba chiefs.
Daily Trust reached out to Umuchiukwu Writers to verify the authenticity of the video.
He said it was recorded “at Igbede and Ojo areas in the Ojo Local Government Areas of Lagos State on June 9, 2022.”
He however admitted that he was not present at the location.
“I received information from our Igbo brothers there,” he noted.
Meanwhile, in an interview with our correspondent, INEC National Electoral Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, denied that Igbo people were prevented from collecting PVCs.
He said, “The Commission and its officials will not engage in or tolerate any case of voter suppression. The commission has not received any official complaint of voter suppression other than the trending videos. Every Nigerian of registrable age living in any part of Nigeria is entitled to register.
“It’s a sovereign constitutional right. The CVR process has been on for 11 months. The present surge is a peculiar Nigerian 11th-hour syndrome. We have deployed additional IVED, fingerprint scanners, and Thermal Printers to states of acute pressure.
“We are monitoring the CVR process and will explore all options and do whatever is necessary to assist Nigerians register.”
Conclusion: Daily Trust can confirm that the video posted does not have enough evidence to the claim that INEC officials and some Yoruba chiefs prevented Igbos from registering for PVCs
Nigeria Civil War: Abonnema for Rivers state dey mark 50 years freedom from Biafra
21 June 1968 na date pipo for Nyemoni community alias Abonnema for Rivers state, south south Nigeria no go quick quick forget.
Dis na sake of say for dis day, 50 years ago, Biafra soldiers cari force enta di community to drag pipo comot go live for Igboland, south east Nigeria.
Tori be say dem march evribodi for di town to di Niger dock river so dem go enta boat wey go carri dem comot.
Di Biafra soldiers also arrest King Davies Bobmanuel wey be Abonnema traditional ruler for dat time.
Di King bin beg di soldiers say instead make dem comot im pipo for dia land, make dem carri only am go but di soldiers no wan hear.
But around 12 o clock for afternoon, u-turn happun as Nigeria soldiers enta Abonnema wit mission to fight di Biafrans and help Abonnema pipo.
Na from Buguma community di Nigerian fighters bin take enta Abonnema and e no tey before dem pursue di Biafra soldiers comot, come free di town.
Abonnema pipo use 21 June evri year to remember dia pipo wey die for Nigeria Civil War
From dat time, 21 June don turn special day for Abonnema to mark dia 'freedom' for di hand of Biafran soldiers during di Nigeria civil war.
E normal to see many pipo for di town to dey wear costume wey include army uniform and to act di tins wey happun for 1968.
Dis ceremony wey dem name, 'Go to Niger' na for evri year dem dey do am and na time to jollificate.
Di Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Gbobo Bobmanuel tell BBC Pidgin say dis year go mark 50 years wey dis tin happun and dem dey take di celebration to tell di young pipo wey no dey dat time wetin happun so dem no go forget wetin God di for dem.
Im say, "We dey prayerful and dey tell di younger generation di tori wey happun for dat time make dem dey peaceful and prayerful".
For dis Biafra tok wey di King hala, im still say, "Abonnema no be part of Biafra. We believe in One Nigeria so we no get any reason to want make Nigeria separate.''
''We wey be traditional rulers wetin we want na for our community to dey peaceful and to
[quote]A little story about Abonnema's GO-TO-NIGER Celebration. �
The lingua "ga'a-Niger" was adopted from the Ibo dialect which means "go-to". The "Niger" as a word was one of the multinational trading companies that existed right from the colonial days situated by the shore of river sombrero at Bestman's compound of the Briggs Oruwari House of Abonnema.
eventually when the Biafran army laid siege of ABM in 1966 and the aborigines were to be evacuated to "Agada waterside ",the evacuees were asked to "GO-TO-NIGER ". That was how "Ga'a-Niger" was derive.
The City of Abonnema was under siege for more than 18months within which period the innocent citizens who never accepted or cooperated with the Biafrans were dehumanized and atrociously executed on their fatherland. During the outbreak of the civil war, because of the existence of political differences among the indigenous elites of ABM as a result of the truncated first republic, the bitterness in them was carried into war. So, when eventually the Biafran army finally laid siege of the place, individuals who fell in favor of the Biafran forces used the ill-fated opportunity to victimize those of them whom they perceived to be their political opponents. This act led to the killing of their brothers and sisters and in most cases, raping of the women in the land. They introduced their Biafran currency as a legal tender and whosoever rejects it was tagged as a saboteur.
Our people were flogged and beaten to death. Properties were vandalised, houses razed down to ashes. Our children recruited as agents to provide information. Curfews were imposed. Anyone caught escaping was arraigned at the water
Front and shot dead. Our girls were molested and abused sexually.
Suddenly the federal troops emerged via the swamp through the creek called "Alice Okolo" with higher and greater fire arms which kept the whole Biafran troops in disarray. It was exactly 12:00 noon in the month of June 21,1968 when the federal troops liberated ABM from these insurgents who contrived the killing and suffering of the people. There was ovation and shouts of "One Nigeria "everywhere. The Biafran insurgents took to their heels into the creaks not knowing how connected those creeks were. Unfortunately, they were encircled by the federal troops. It was after this incident that the Amayanabo of Abonnema stated "We should celebrate this day as liberation day annually in memory of those who suffered severe losses"
Today my hometown Abonnema and the entire Kalabari Ijaw Kingdom of Rivers State, Nigeria celebrates the liberation of the Kalabari people from the hands of the invading Biafran army. Our mothers were raped, killed and maimed. Our chiefs and children were forcibly relocated and little babies were slaughtered.
Our heritage as Kalabari Ijaw people was threatened.
With the efforts of a few wise, brave and defiant young men, the aid of the Nigerian Military government and God, we liberated our Land from the savage Biafran army.
This is one history that will Forever remain fresh in our hearts.
Hon Ben Nwankwo has approached the federal high court to sack Hon Chris Azubogu as the candidate of APGA for Anambra south senatorial zone.
According to a judiciary source who spoke to AIF Media, Hon Ben Nwankwo is asking the court to nullify the nomination of Hon Chris Azubogu as the candidate of APGA for 2023 Anambra south senatorial election alleging that he is still a member of PDP and can not hold APGA ticket when he is yet to defect officially.
According to the source, Hon Azubogu from their investigation has not officially announced his defection from PDP to APGA at the floor of the National Assembly. He told AIF Media that before a parliamentarian can defect to another party his letter of defection would be read by the Speaker and his defection to a new party announced to his colleagues at a plenary.
“In the case of Azubogu, he only went to obtain APGA membership card and participated in the Anambra south senatorial primaries without following the due process to announce his defection to APGA as specified by law at the Green Chambers”, the source stated.
He concluded that such a matter had been decided by a court of competent jurisdiction where it was decided that for an elected lawmaker to have deemed to have decmaped to a new political party, he must write to the Speaker and his defection announced at the plenary.
He added that Azubogu failed to follow that process knowing that if he officially writes the Speaker of the House of Representatives of his defection to APGA, his seat will be declared vacant as the courts including the Supreme court in many occasions have declared seats of some lawmakers vacant for defecting to another party.
He stated that their checks on the records of the house of representatives reveal that the purported defection of Hon Azubogu is not contained in any of the order paper of the lower chamber.
Hon Ben Nwankwo is therefore asking the court to determine if a lawmaker who fails to officially write the Speaker for his defection can hold the ticket of another party to contest for 2023 national assembly election.
Nigerian Navy’s newly constructed Landing Ship Tank (LST) 100 christened NNS KADA sets sail on her maiden voyage from UAE TO Nigeria. It will arrive May 27, totaling a period of 56 days and covering a distance of 8,414.34 Nautical Miles for her maiden voyage. https:///qY3Xa0kgxH
NNS Kada is the biggest LST in Africa and one of the most sophsiticated LST in the world. Obviously being a a new ship means it incorporates rhe latest technology available in the market. Two more of this will give it strategic optimization. https:///r4tHCvu6KO
At 1,300 tons, NNS Kada is the biggest naval vessel ever fielded by the Nigerian Navy. The vessel is a critical component of Nigeria's naval power projection for enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and beyond. https:///lFc4RtYCY98
NNS Kada is replacing the Type 502 class LCS, NNS Ambe and NNS Ofion. Both decommissioned in 2012. They played significant roles during the ECOMOG intervention operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as other peace support operations.
NNS Kada is the latest in the Nigerian Navy's Fleet Recapitalization Program. Its the biggest naval vessel in the Nigerian Navy and gives Nigeria the ability to conduct amphibious invasions at any location on foreign shores in the Gulf of Guinea and beyond. https:///i6JGEm6iFv
The Nigerian Navy’s newest Ship, NNS KADA, a Landing Ship Tank (LST), on arrival in Lagos, Nigeria, in May 2022, after 56 days of sailing from Sharjah, UAE, visiting 5 ports en route. The Nigerian Armed Forces are undergoing a major Fleet Recapitalization/Modernization effort. https:///uqRjunq5Wc
Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) buys 2,322 Made-in-Nigeria Gas Powered Buses from OMAA MOTORS. Jelani Aliyu of National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) was their to commission them . Zamfara State had bought 200 buses from the new plant.
Aftermath of the PDP Presidential Primaries, the party has been thrown into a quagmire as its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is now being faced with the tough decision of picking a credible Vice President and running mate for his ticket.
While most Southern PDP governors are scheming to be picked, The chairman of the PDP governors forum, His Excellency, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has openly expressed that it does not have to be a sitting governor. Tambuwal has suggested that a former governor or a current member of the National Assembly will also be a good pick and he is currently lobbying for His Excellency, the immediate past Governor of Imo State. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha who is also a former deputy speaker House of Representatives and qualifies in his view and right so to be a vice presidential candidate.
A number of governors, His Excellencies, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Seyi Makinde, Okezie Ikpeazu and Samuel Otorm are supporting and lobbying for Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike to be Vice President and we have gathered that Nyesom Wike has declared that if it is not him, it should be Enugu state Governor, Ugwuanyi.
Wike has lobbied Northern leaders and some key party stakeholders. Wike has also said that over his dead body should Governor Okowa or Governor Udom be picked ahead of him, especially Okowa who hosted the Asaba declaration meeting. Wike has alleged that Okowa deceived all southern governors thereby betraying his colleagues and southern Nigeria as a whole to trade them for a vice presidential ambition and the governors have come to know that Okowa also funded Atiku’s presidential campaign at the elective convention.
A number of Southern PDP governors are angry and disappointed with Okowa. They feel it would have been different if he merely attended the Asaba declaration and not comply with it but seeing as he was the one who hosted the historic meeting, it was very disappointing to see that the Governor of Delta state, where Asaba is the capital was the first to betray the declaration and use it to negotiate for Vice President without consulting his colleagues in the south.
He may think he played smart politics by betraying the Asaba Accord but his ongoing betrayal of Ibori over a successor has polarized Delta state and the PDP is at the verge of losing the state as a result of that betrayal.
The PDP leadership is currently dialoguing with Ibori and he is adamant that if Okowa wants to be Vice President then he must concede the right to produce a successor.
Ibori will not allow himself to be humiliated at home and in Abuja.
Atiku and the PDP leaders are in a dilemma. As if that is not enough, Wike has declared that he will support the decision of Atiku and the PDP leaders to pick any other person except Okowa if they are not picking him but he has put forth himself and he is lobbying hard for himself and also Ugwuanyi who is his fall back plan.
For Tambuwal who is lobbying for Ihedioha and Wike whose option B is Ugwuanyi, if Atiku and the PDP decide not to go to the South-East, then what it means is that, their options will not be viable.
In the light of this quagmire and disagreements among the governors, some PDP elders and key leaders are of the view that the governors should be left out to focus on managing and winning their states than leaving their states to campaign as Vice President. This is because it is the win in their states that will culminate in a national victory for the party.
Most of these governors have tough succession battles with the APC challenge. A number of them are pushing for their successors to win the governorship while at the same time they are also on the ballot for senatorial slots that are not certain.
Investigation reveals that even the Party elders feel that governors need to be supported to enable them win such states like in Sokoto which PDP won by just 300 votes in 2019 as recently talked about by Wike.
Sokoto is a state that can go any way in 2023. The governor has spent a better part of his four year mandate trying to be president, going everywhere and not concentrating in developing the state and this has made the people angry.
What has saved him is his recent support for Atiku which is interpreted as a support for the North and the commendation that follows is giving him credit back home but Wamako, his master and leader of the APC in Sokoto is strong and the APC is coming up seriously, and with funding available as a result of Tinubu’s candidacy, Tambuwal has to be reminded to focus on his state as even his senatorial bid is now shaky.
Governor Ugwuanyi has a senatorial ambition and a successor to deliver but luckily Sen. Ike Ekweremadu has piped down but for a state like Benue, there’s a revolution around the APC governorship candidate, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, and everybody in benue is shouting ‘Yes Father’ with their own money and their own cost.
Ortom has jettisoned the popular candidate and at the dying minute and brought the speaker of the state assembly who is not considered to be popular. So, the national chairman and Ortom should be mobilizing to win Benue which is a tough call.
The other governor with Wike is Seyi Makinde. Before the election, Seyi Makinde’s management of the state and the party has led to the exodus of all key members of the party. Makinde is alone now and with a Tinubu as the flag bearer of the APC with Teslim Folarin as the governorship candidate, Oyo APC is stronger and all analysis shows that PDP is at the verge of losing the state.
Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu who came with Wike to lobby for him is also in serious crisis, not only is he known to have performed below par, Abia people feel that a more popular Abaribe would have been better. With the APC upsurge with Orji Uzor Kalu and Alex Otti in Labour Party with the Peter Obi’s Labour Party wind blowing, Abia state is a state that PDP has to watch out.
For Governor Wike, the odds are not really in his favor. The way and manner he has brought his successor, an unknown civil servant to the anger of all the key people who have backed and supported him.
Rivers PDP is sitting on the keg of gun powder and disgruntled stakeholders are waiting to strike. He is weaker as he did not get the presidential nomination and he is also lucky Amaechi did not get the APC presidential ticket but Amaechi has a candidate who is also formidable cash wise and this election will be conducted while the federal government is still APC. Luckily Wike has gone the Riverine way but he still needs to concentrate on the state, a key PDP state to be able to harness the votes in all elections. It will be wrong for him to assume, as he’s not as popular as he thinks.
Investigations reveal that there is a lot of anger, frustration over his leadership style and his management of the state which people will show at the right time.
Wike and his people should not forget that in the last election, it was the court that held that the APC was not on any ballot in Rivers state and it was not because of his strength, popularity or performance. APC had no candidate for any elective offices but even then he knows the fight he fought with an unknown AAC. This time, APC will be on the ballot and every seat will be contested for. He should be advised to focus on the state.
Because of all of these, PDP leaders and stakeholders are in agreement with Tambuwal that the options for the VP candidacy should not be limited to only serving governors.
This is where names like Emeka Ihedioha, senator Chimaroke Nnamani, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Senator Sam Egwu, and in the South South, Senator Liyel Imoke, Donald Duke, Celestine Omehia, Austin Opara, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Senator Seriake Dickson and Mike Oghiadomhe should be considered.
Even in the APC, the same scenario is playing out as sitting governors are fighting over who would be vice. If Tinubu gets a Christian, Lalong happens to be the only APC Christian governor, but is Lalong considered Northern enough? Others are pushing for Boss Mustapha, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation who is from Adamawa state. Will Adamawa people abandone their son Atiku who is a presidential candidate for a Vice Presidential candidate?
Some are pushing for Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the House of Representatives who only controls two or three local government in his constituency. Can he even deliver his state how much more the whole North? That is the dilemma. The APC leaders are now looking for other viable Christians but which Christian VP candidate can Tinubu pick that can sweep the entire North even with his supposed assumed goodwill?
So, other governors are now saying that they should be on the ticket and this include, Governor Badaru of Kebbi State , Governor Bagudu of Jigawa State, Governor Elrufai of Kaduna, Governor Ganduje of Kano State and this struggle has created a confusion and people like Governor Zulum of Borno State is the only one who has declined to be Vice President, instead he is on the same page with Tambuwal of PDP, saying that his boss and predecessor, Kashim Shettima should be considered as a running mate.
And if any of these governors or Shettima are chosen, it means that the APC and Tinubu will be presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the first of its kind since Abiola Kingibe in 1993
The consensus generally emerging now is that, The ego contest and political challenges the governors are managing is such that both flag bearers may be advised to leave the governors alone to focus and win their states.
Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial district in the National Assembly Prof Nora Ladi Daduut ,has congratulated the former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu, for clinching the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general elections.
It could be recalled that Tinubu on Wednesday defeated 14 other contestants to emerge as the presidential candidate of the ruling party for the 2023 elections .
He polled 1,271 votes to win the ticket defeating Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who got 316 votes to place second while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo came third with 235 votes.
Seven of the 23 contestants withdrew from the race to support Mr Tinubu.
Senator Daduut in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos on Thursday described Tinubu as the best man for the Job .
Prof Daduut who has empowered over 10,000 of her constituents since she got elected about a year ago described Tinubu as a man who had toiled and sacrificed far beyond any other politician in the struggle to ensure civilian rule, which the nation and its teeming mass of people are witnessing today.
She said with Tinubu’s victory, APC stands a good chance of retaining power in 2023, noting that Nigerians across the board recognize his contributions to our nation’s development.
The statement further reads that ” I congratulate our national leader His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on your victory at the APC 2022 special convention for presidential primary to be the flag bearer of our great party.
I urge all our party members and Nigerians to rally support for Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, come 2023 because he has been tested and trusted ,his good works in Lagos state as Governor says a lot ”
We will continue to pray for your victory come 2023 and we believe that our country will progress in Africa.
I also laud my sister Mrs Oluremi Tinubu for her support to her husband at all times .
Senator Daduut further pledged that she would work to ensure that the APC Presidential candidate emerges victorious at the polls .
‘ I am confident that the people of Plateau South Senatorial district would support you and ensure you emerge victorious at the polls ” ,she further added .
Senator Daduut vowed to continue to put the interest of her constituents’ first in all her dealings .
My attention has just been drawn to the expensive joke purportedly enacted by the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. The speculation is rife that the Chairman took a flight of fancy and decided to make a pronouncement beyond his competence. https:///roNH0nMV2i
He has, allegedly, made public his preferred choice as the candidate of the APC for the Office of the President in the next general elections.
This alleged pronouncement runs contrary to the position of majority of Northern Governors in APC and their counterparts in the South.
Our agreement is unanimous on this issue. The office of the President should be contested for by qualified persons from the Southern part of the country if the move to get a consensus candidate fails. There has been no shift from this settled issue.
Let it be known that the Chairman or anyone who holds a contrary opinion does so at a personal level. He is at best embarking on a frolic which reasonable people will consider dangerous.
We are grieving but have not forgotten that Power MUST shift to the south. On this we stand.
Signed: Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN. Governor, Ondo State and Chairman, Southern Governors’ Forum June 6, 2022.
FIB-IRT intercepts illegal arms and ammunition supplies to South-East
… IRT chief Tunji Disu acted valiantly on sweeping order of IG, Usman Alkali Baba to bring suspect to book.
.. Cross-Country Arms trade foiled as police teams speedily intervene
The operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Police’s Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) have arrested two men suspected to be suppliers of weapons of war to hoodlums in the eastern part of Nigeria.
Acting on credible intelligence for over two months, the FIB-IRT have been on the trail of a network of illegal arms dealers. They traffic arms and ammunition from the northern part of the country to the eastern part of the country.
According to the Commander IRT, DCP Olatunji Disu, while addressing the press, “this is a new method of transferring illegal arms from one place to another to ensure they beat security without being discovered.”
One Babong Audu, a 35 years-old native of Namu village in Qua’anpan Local Government area of Plateau State do sell illegal weapons. He was transporting an order of illegal arms to Anambra for some criminal elements when the consignment was intercepted by the operatives of the FIB-IRT.
One Chimezie Okolie, a 44 -year-old native of Ehembosi village in Anambra State, had contracted Babong to supply him the weapons with a payment of N575,000 on the 26th of April, 2022.
Babong had bought a bag of beans, repackaged, and concealed the weapons inside them purposely to beat police and other security check points without being detected while transporting the weapons at night. He has reached the Namu Motor Park along Assakiyo-Namu Road in Lafia, Nasarawa State, and had loaded the bag of beans on a commercial J5 bus for onward transportation to Nasarawa State where the receiver, Chimezie was waiting to take delivery before he was arrested.
Two AK47 rifles, 53 live ammunition, four AK47 magazines and a bag of beans were recovered by the IRT operatives. Further investigation also led the operatives to arrest Chimezie in Jos. Both suspects have confessed to the crime.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba, has further charged all police operatives across the nation to do more in checking arms dealers selling illegal weapons to criminal gangs, rebels, and terrorists purposely to discourage black-market for illegal sales of arms and ammunition in Nigeria.
He also advised transporters and the general public to be more vigilant and promptly provide useful information to the police whenever they noticed anything suspicious.
...Hon. Taleb Tebite JP remains authentic winner of PDP House of Representatives primaries.
The primary election that was adjudged as free and fair by all observers and participants on the 22nd of May 2022 has been marred by series of illegality by the camp of Hon. Solomon Awhinawhi, a former two term Member, of the House Representatives who lost the PDP Primaries as a Sitting Member and Defected to another Party SDP and Lost d 2019 General Elections which Cost our PDP Candidate a loss to d APC Candidate and on d 22nd he Came in a distance 3rd during the primaries conducted and witnessed by INEC, PDP and other agencies.
In the wake of the victory at the primaries, Hon. Taleb Tebite was handed the original result as signed by the PDP returning officer but to explain how Hon. Solomon Awhinawhi came about the fake result from an illegal re-run has left the constituent in total disarray.
The people of Ughelli North, South, Udu are calling The Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP National Chairman and its Working Committee the Delta State Chairman and all well meaning sons and daughters of Ughelli Federal constituency to step into this ambiguity set in play by a defeated Hon Awhinawhi to discredit a free and fair primaries.
Under section 84(14), an aspirant who feels that something was not done right in the primaries CAN ONLY SEEK REMEDY IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT.
It states as follows: “14) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act or rules of a political party, an aspirant who complains that any of the provisions of this Act and the guidelines of a political party have not been complied with in the selection or nomination of a candidate of a political party for election, may apply to the Federal High Court for redress.”
The Act does not confer the power of adjudication on the party. Hon. Solomon Awhinawhi and his advisers are taking a big risk which might leave PDP with no House of Representative candidate in Ughelli.
As it stands, Hon. Taleb Tebite JP remains the authentic candidate and they can’t change this legal reality.
See Section 84(5)(c)(i) & (ii):
(5) A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate SHALL adopt the procedure outlined -
(c) in the case of nominations to the position of a Senatorial candidate, a Member of the House of Representatives and a Member of a State House of Assembly, the political party *SHALL*, where it intends to sponsor candidates—
(i) hold special congresses in the Senatorial District, Federal Constituency and the State Assembly Constituency respectively, with delegates voting for aspirants of their choice in designated centres on specified dates, and (ii) the aspirant with the highest number of votes cast at the end of voting SHALL be declared the winner of the primaries of the party and the aspirant’s name SHALL be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party ;
See paragraph 4(e), fair hearing was not given to Hon. TALEB TEBITE JP. Therefore everything the appeal panel did is a nullity
Declaration of a well conducted primaries on the 22nd of May which was Hon. Taleb Tebite won and was declared by the returning officer which Nigerian Police, INEC, DSS and other agencies where witnesses and also Party officials from PDP National Headquarters and a result issues which cannot be withdrawn unless by the Federal High Court as in the Electoral act.
In case of An appeal by any of aspirant all the aspirant that contested the Election must be invited to appeal at the panel by a letter and it must be announced on the News not social media.
It is worthy to note that no information on the purported Kangaroo re-run was made available to Hon Taleb Tebite JP and other aspirants which remains unacceptable to the People. In a wise move, the winner of that election did not attend the staged re-run because He had won the election and declared winner in a primary which was rancour free and fair.
The People of Ughelli constituency are calling out Hon. Solomon Awhinawhi and his advisers to drop the fake results from their staged re-run on the 30th of May, 2022 which was not signed by the Returning Officer of the party from National Secretariat, Abuja who witnessed the primaries of 22nd May, 2022.
Hon. Solomon Awhinawhi if truly understands the implications and wordings of the law, should seek redress in a Federal High court and stop dragging the PDP into the mud knowing fully well that no returning officer was sent by the National Secretariat to witness his staged re-run.
Hon. Awhinawhi should exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship and congratulate the winner, Hon. Taleb Tebite JP as declared by the PDP returning officer on May 22nd, 2022.
The Betrayers of the “Asaba Accord” . When will Southern Nigeria learn?
The just concluded People’s Democratic Party primaries in Abuja has been applauded by observers as peaceful and democratic. Indeed it renewed a lot of hope on observers and neutrals that the PDP is ready to take back political power from the APC and set the country on a course of revival.
However, the event did not go without one or two surprises that have kept analysts talking. At the end of the day, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerged as PDP’s candidate defeating Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike but this did not happen without a shocking turn of events.
The governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa openly reneged against an agreement that was made amongst Southern governors which he hosted in Asaba in May, 2021 dubbed the Asaba declaration which dominated airwaves locally and internationally and raised the hope of Southerners.
You would recall that The Southern Nigeria Governors’ Forum (SNGF) meeting had made a profound statement. It was loud and resounding. For the first time in recent times, they deliberated with sincerity of purpose.
Two months after their May 11 meeting in Delta State tagged the ‘Asaba Accord’, the Southern Governors Forum also met in Lagos State where it declared that Nigeria’s next president should be from the southern part of the country
So, It came as a rude shock to many of us from Southern Nigeria to see Asaba Accord discarded in the dustbin of history at the venue of the PDP primaries over parochial interest by some governors. There should have been efforts to agree on a suitable and generally acceptable candidate from amongst them..
From all indications, it seemed that Nyesom Wike decided on his own to be on a one man show of power and he wasn’t the southern candidate as he may claim as his colleagues did not unanimously l endorse him.
The failure from the southern governors was in not agreeing for an acceptable candidate which the forum would have brokered.
The moment, the governor of Sokoto, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stepped down for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in such an unlikely manner, this should have sent a strong signal to southern governors to immediately close ranks and support one of their own in clinching the ticket, alas, they went into the contest divided thereby denying Southern Nigeria the only unique opportunity to produce a viable candidate under a major political party.
Posterity will not be kind to the actors for allowing personal interests to trump regional agenda, including Nyesom Wike for antagonizing other Southern aspirants and thinking he could do it alone without his colleagues.
I know for sure that many of these leaders, betrayal runs in their DNA and it’s not surprising that they betrayed our region for their personal interests.
Well, the governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike should not cry too much. Himself is an epitome of betrayal and treachery for if he had not betrayed and destroyed Uche Secondus, Uche Secondus, the chairman who brought him as governor, the outcome of the primaries would have been different. He was the one who cut his nose to spite his face. A Secondus as chairman would have not allowed Tambuwal to come out to announce he was stepping down.
It was Wike who gave the north the PDP chairmanship away from his Southern brother and now the north have produced the Presidential candidate. Wike was simply beaten in his game of treachery.
The way he treated Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who appointed him as Chief of Staff and later nominated him as minister, the way he treated Patience Jonathan and her husband who made him Governor, and the way he has treated every one around him. Is he qualified to complain of betrayal from Tambuwal or Southern governors?
For Governor Emmanuel Udom, a young man and account officer to Akpabio and his wife who was brought in to displace Umana Umana who had nothing to do with Akwa Ibom politics or government, was appointed Secretary to the Government and eventually made Governor. The way he has undermined his predecessor Godswill Akpabio, smacks of betrayal and wickedness but for Buhari’s rehabilitation of Akpabio’s political career, he would have been history by now.
For Godwin Obaseki, every Nigerian knows how Oshiomhole sacrificed all to make him Governor and how he (Obaseki) is known to have betrayed every person who helped him at every turn both Oshiomhole and every one who helped him even when he decamped to PDP. It is said that betrayal runs in his veins.
For Governor Diri, the current Governor of Bayelsa, it is too early to judge but from a distance he appears unstable judging from the way he is managing the relationship with his predecessors and benefactor, Jonathan, Dickson, Timipre Sylva, Dickson and Timi Alaibe. He creates conflicting signals and does not look like a man that can take a frontal and principled position and appears to be swinging from side to side. I am very sure it will not be long before we start hearing of complaints of betrayal and ingratitude as all Nigerians know, how he came into office in Bayelsa state. He acted and appeared like to also be Wike’s friend and supporter but joined in the betrayal.
From the above, the current governors we have in the South-South and in the south generally do not seem to have capacity to take principled positions that can be of benefit to our people and are simply scheming for advantage
I must with all sense of gratitude, thank the trio, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for their steadfastness and sheer faith in the candidature of Nyesome Wike who was the leading Southern candidate in that primaries. These governors demonstrated an uncommon will for a progressive Southern Nigeria and posterity will be kind to them.
Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s betrayal of Asaba Accord is quite unfortunate and it tells a lot about his person. If he could betray James Ibori, a man who supported him against all odds, who then can he not betray?
It was gratifying for those who are old enough to see the Iboris, the Alamieyeseighas, the Attahs and the Odilis working together to push the resource control agenda from 1999 to 2007. It is also refreshing to remember that our Governors, Seriake Dickson, Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Okowa and Udom Emmanuel under the auspices of the South South Governors Forum, spoke on issues bordering on the NDDC and condemn in strong terms, the injustice that was being meted out to Justice Walter Onnoghen. The communique alone from that meeting, shook the country to its foundation.
They also sued the Federal Government of Nigeria for alleged huge loss of oil revenues to oil companies between 1999 and 2015.
In a landmark judgement, the court ordered the Federal Government to pay huge sums to the various State governments that were part of the suit.
This is the kind of solidarity that we expect. Even if the Governors are not friends or political Allie’s, they should be able to come together on core issues that affect our people as the Governors during 1999- 2007 did before on issues of the Niger delta.
Now that the presidential ticket is lost, we hope that the Southern Governors will be wise enough to close ranks and get a suitable vice presidential candidate whether it is a serving or past Governor or a leading influence in the National Assembly or any other suitably qualified party stalwart or professional from the South South or the South East. They must rally around that person and drop the “it must be me” approach.
According to an Ethiopian proverb, Fine glass vase goes from treasure to trash, the moment it is broken. It is about time we unite and chart a new course for our region.
Dr Andrew Enakpore, Chairman of Southern Nigerian Solidarity Forum writes from Lagos
The real party man and one that can win next presidential election for APC has taken his nationwide consultations to Cross Rivers State ahead of the parth primary next week Monday.
Only Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ticks all the boxes in President Muhammadu Buhari's address to APC Governors yesterday.
The All Progressives Congress has moved its presidential primary election to June 6 and 7.
This followed INEC’s bowing to pressures by parties by extending the dates for primaries by six days.
WesternPost had exclusively reported that the party was planning on postponing the presidential primaries
WesternPost learnt the postponement was one of the issues discussed during a meeting APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu; and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha had with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The planned postponement as exemplified in the delay in the commencement of activities towards the APC convention is already causing apprehension in Abuja.
This was the second time APC was shifting the dates for the presidential primaries after initially moving it from the first scheduled date of May 31 and June 1.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, in his consultations with South East Leaders, ahead of this weekend’s PDP Presidential Primaries, has reportedly said that he will only serve one term.
In his meetings with National Delegates and Leaders from the party on early Friday morning, the former Vice-President stated that he will only serve one term if elected Nigeria’s President in 2023, highlighting the fact that he was committed to an Igbo Presidency.
“The former Vice-President spoke like a true statesman. He understands that for there to be unity in the country, we need to include the South East in all political considerations. This is why we are proud that with our support, we can achieve an Igbo Presidency by 2027,” a high-ranking PDP Chieftain said. Recall that in October 2018, following the selection of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, the leadership of the party in the zone had, after the announcement of Obi, summoned an emergency meeting in Enugu, as several South East leaders had been offered the position.
With Peter Obi’s withdrawal from the PDP Presidential Primaries and resignation from the PDP, the former Vice-President has reportedly been meeting with South South and South East leaders to determine who he should select as his Vice-President.
In the last few weeks, he has held consultations with former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel; and former Senator, Ben Obi.
Atiku Offers 4 PDP Leaders Vice-Presidency
Former Vice-President and leading aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has reportedly met with 4 leaders of the main opposition party about the Vice-Presidency.
According to sources in Atiku’s camp the former Vice-President, who seems confident about Saturday’s poll, has met with two Governors from the South South, and two ranking Senators from the South East region.
“The former Vice-President is confident that with his ground game, vast political network, war chest and delegate activation, he will be emerging as the presidential candidate of the PDP.
“This is why, stage three of his plan, which is the immediate announcement of a VP once the convention is over has now moved into full gear. We have about 7-months between now and the general election, and we need to moving into full gear,” the source said.
Recall that in October 2018, following the selection of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, the leadership of the party in the zone had, after the announcement of Obi, summoned an emergency meeting in Enugu, as several South East leaders had been offered the position.
A political group known has the All farmers association of Nigeria have endorsed the candidacy of APC presidential aspirant , Ibrahim Bello Dauda for president in 2023.
The group spokesman made this known during a press conference .
These young people these days, no sense, no brain just doing falafolo up and down.
Poor woman will probably be hustling to feed her siblings or give them and education and this one is her swearing on the poor woman's life talking about how her life isn't worth much. Of course her life can't be worth much is she is this dumb
Segun Sowunmi, on Wednesday emerged the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State.
Sowunmi contested the election with two other aspirants, Jimi Lawal and Ladi Adebutu.
Sowunmi polled 554 votes to defeat his closest rival, Lawal who scored 30 votes, while Adebutu polled 15 votes.
The election which was held at secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Abeokuta, the State capital, was conducted in the presence of security.
The election which was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, NEC, and members of the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, was peaceful, free and fair.
The chairman of the electoral committee, Abayomi Daniel, announced Sowunmi the winner of the election after the votes were counted.
According to Daniel, a total number of 778 delegates were accredited, 702 votes were casted while three votes were voided.
“By the power conferred on me by the national leadership of our great party as the chairman electoral committee of the PDP governorship primary election in Ogun State declared Hon. Segun Sowunmi as the winner of the election having polled the highest number of votes and he is hereby returned and elected”, Daniel said.
Sowunmi in his acceptance speech, commended members of the party for their support and promised not to let them down.
Sowunmi called on other aspirants to work together with him to secure victory for the party in the 2023 general elections.
Sowunmi said, “I humbly accept the nomination as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Ogun State.
“I thank all the delegates, I thank all relevant authorities and the security for their efforts.
“I am particularly impressed by the orderly manner of the primaries.
“I wish to extend an olive branch of peace and camaraderie to my brothers fellow aspirants.
“It is the beginning ot a new dawn in the PDP and a sure step towards a defining moment in our beloved Ogun State.”
The Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has been returned as the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party Senatorial primary for Bayelsa West.
Senator Dickson polled 57 votes from the ad hoc delegates to defeat his challenger, Pastor Donald Daunemeghan, who scored 3 votes.
While announcing the result of the election which held at the Local Government Service Commission Centre, Sagbama, the returning officer Mr Godspower Akeh, said the election had a total of 62 votes.
Akeh said that Dickson polled 57, to his opponents 3 while the votes of two delegates were voided for voting for both aspirants.
Dickson who spoke to journalists shortly after his victory thanked the Almighty God, the Governor and party leaders for their sustained support over the years.
He was also full of gratitude to the ‘almighty delegates’ for their abiding faith in him for the sixth time that he had contested elections and won all in the state.
He observed that this is the first time the primary process would exclude party leaders (past or present) from the critical list of delegates, and by implication excluded them from the decision-making process.
He called on the top leadership of the party to show understanding on the curious development which for the first time excluded them from the process of decision making.
Senator Dickson urged the national leadership of the PDP to take proactive steps to address what he described an extreme and rare development in the party’s primaries.
He urged them to direct the leadership of the party in the states to come up with a process of reconciliation designed to assuage the feelings of those who are hurt by the curious development which was happening for the first time.
His full reaction:
“As you know in all things, you give thanks to God for his mercies. I want to thank the leaders of our party in our state, beginning with the governor, who traditionally is the leader of the party. I thank and appreciate the abiding support and solidarity that I have enjoyed all these years from the good people of this senatorial district and the elders of our party who have always been solidly behind us.
“Today, I thank the organising team that came with the party leaders, I thank INEC and the security people for providing a very conducive atmosphere and I thank the all mighty delegates, they are our bosses in this process. Let me say as someone who has contested a number of elections, this is the sixth time I am on the ballot on the platform of the PDP. So you can understand why this party is special to some of us and why over the years, particularly from 2015 against all odds, we never spared anything to keep this party from the control of our state.
“In all these six times, this primary process has proved to be very different. This is the first time that leaders of our party, previous and serving are not delegates. They are not part of the decision making process. You all understand why it is so and that I know as someone who has administered the party, who has contested several elections, I know it portends some challenges for our party.
“I want to plead for understanding on the part of all the leaders, who for the first time are not part of the nomination process of our party.
“Leaders of our party, office holders, legislators, governors, even party executives, because of this special circumstance are not part of the decision process. This is the first time in the history of our party that a few number of people, have to determine the fate of leaders.
“So I want to call for understanding on the part of our leaders because I can feel the pain and the pulse of people. I can also appreciate the feelings of those who have lost out one way or the other because of the numbers involved. Six people, Nine people, Twelve people now have to elect the flagbearer of the Constituency.
“This is a call I am making to the national leadership of our party. We are all stakeholders and they should take note of this very extreme and rare development. They should ensure that party leaders in all our states are directed and enjoined to unfold a program of reconciliation to assuage the feelings of those who have been hurt by the decisions that ordinary members of our party from the grassroots have to make about their fate. It has never happened before. We understand why it is so.
“So, I know the feelings and as a major stakeholder, I want to use this opportunity to call for understanding because if I don’t, who will? We want our party to survive, to be strong and to win elections.
“I call for understanding on the part of those who may have ill feelings and to say that we should rally behind those who have won, rally behind leaders of our party so that together, we can move to sure victory.
“As you all know, this is a PDP State and I count on all your support as we join the Governor, who is the leader of our party in the state to campaign for all our candidates.”
Politics › Fact Check: Did INEC Prevent Igbos From Registering For PVC In Lagos? by AnonPoet(op): 2:12pm On Jun 22, 2022
