APC accuses INEC REC, Mike Igini, of colluding with Obaseki over secret night meeting
…says REC left Governor’s residence with sacks of money
…demands investigation of midnight meeting
The All Progressives Congress has accused INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, of colluding with the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to rig the Sept. 19 election of the state following an alleged midnight meeting between the INEC senior officer and the PDP candidate in his private residence on Thursday.
In a statement forwarded to Igbere TV by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, it was alleged that Mr. Mike Igini met with the embattled Edo Governor in his private residence at 3am on Thursday alongside other political allies, including Mr. Anselm Ojezua.
He said Mr. Mike Igini and others left the Governor’s private residence with sacks of money after the meeting following an alleged deal to rig the election in favor of the PDP.
He called on INEC to investigate the meeting and commence an immediate sanitization of its internal staff to halt the alleged infiltration of the commission by Governor Godwin Obaseki through bribes and recruitment of past and present staff.
The statement read: “It is now glaring to us that the embattled and rejected Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his divided party of tax-collectors, the PDP, are planning a complete infiltration of INEC by luring both past and present staff with huge bribes and other inducements to facilitate and aid their plot to rig the September 19 Governorship election of the state.”
“Barely 24 hours after we blew the lid of the hiring of Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, INEC’s former Director of Publicity and Voter Education, by Governor Godwin Obaseki to obtain inside information on the result collation process of the electoral body in order to perfect their rigging plans, and videos of Mr. Osaze-Uzzi’s profligate mansion being constructed in Benin city have hit the internet, we have been reliably told of another secret meeting between Governor Obaseki and Mr. Mike Igini.”
“Mr. Mike Igini who is INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom, Mr. Anselm Ojezua, and another avowed ally of Mr. Godwin Obaseki drove into the Governor’s private residence around 3am on Thursday, August 27, for a secret meeting where they discussed ways and methods to rig the September 19 Governorship election, we have been reliably told.”
“After the meeting, Mr. Mike Igini and the other participants left with sacks of money which we are convinced was illegally sourced from the Edo State treasury to bribe and induce these persons into implementing the criminal plan to rig the election.”
“We wish to alert INEC, the people of Edo State, and all Nigerians to this evil plot by Governor Godwin Obaseki and Mr. Mike Igini to subvert the election and swap the votes of our people with fake ballots and pre-written results already being cooked up in the Edo Government House.”
“Before now, Mr. Mike Igini has been indicted in illegal conscription of Youth Corp members in Edo State on behalf of Mr. Godwin Obaseki as part of their efforts to rig the election.”
“We are demanding that INEC immediately investigates the secret midnight meeting between Mr. Mike Igini and Obaseki and commence a comprehensive sanitization of its internal staff involved in the Edo election to purge it of saboteurs who have sold their conscience to Mr. Obaseki in order to protect the integrity of the electoral body.”
Executive Director of popular online medium Igbere TV, Emeh James Anyalekwa, has condemned Sunday’s killing of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by security agents in Enugu State.
In a personally signed statement issued to journalists on Monday, in Abuja, Mr. Anyalekwa bemoaned what he described as “unprovoked attack” on Nigerians, while calling for calm.
He berated operatives of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police for opening fire on unarmed innocent citizens going about their lawful gathering.
Anyalekwa said, “I vehemently condemn the callous and unwarranted attack and killings of unarmed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra in Enugu.
“What happened on Sunday in Enugu is barbaric, heartbreaking and an open invitation to avoidable anarchy and must be roundly condemned by all.
“One wonders when the security agencies would show or deploy similar strength to confront the insecurity challenges threatening the very existence of Nigeria, particularly the bandits terrorizing the Northern part of the country.”
The Igbere TV boss expressed “utmost sadness and disappointment” in the security agencies, while calling for an inquiry into the incident with a bid to bringing those responsible to book.
“I call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-general of police and the Director of DSS to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.”
Describing the latest killings as “vicious, humiliating, senseless and highly provocative,” Anyalekwa said: “It is disgraceful and a clear manifestation of incompetence and unprofessionalism for security agents to have wasted such promising and innocent lives.”
He stated that there was no reason for security agents to be pulling the trigger without restraint, adding that IPOB members have always engaged in their businesses peacefully.
The Abia-born journalist, however, condoled with the DSS over the reported retaliatory killing of two of its men, “even though there are no evidence to this claim, unlike what we saw (videos, pictures) of fallen IPOB members.”
He said even though Nigerians including IPOB members have rights to freedom of association and lawful gathering, they must however not take law into their hands even in the face of provocation.
The Igbere TV boss, therefore, called on the leadership of IPOB to investigate the reported retaliatory attack and killing of security agents by its members, condemn same and bring those culpable to book.
Anyalekwa, who doubles as National President, Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), used the medium to equally condemn the incessant clampdown on protesters and journalists across the country.
The Igbere TV boss reminded security agents in the country that all Nigerians enjoy full and equal rights to freedom of association including lawful protests and must be respected at all time.
He also said the rate at which security operatives — particularly the police and DSS — clampdown on journalists over "unfavorable reports" was becoming alarming and worrisome.
He said journalists must be allowed to carryout their lawful duties as watchdog of the society, and the security agencies must learn to respect their freedom of access to Information without necessarily harassing them to disclose their source.
…insists he has no plans to return them back to the street
…accuses Obaseki of deceit, tax collection fraud
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Edo Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said he has no plan to return the loosely organized gangs commonly known as ‘AGBEROS’ to the streets of Edo State, Igbere TV reports.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu said instead, he intends to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into the society as useful and responsible participants if elected as the next Governor of Edo State.
In a statement released on Monday by his Campaign Organization, forwarded to Igbere TV, Ize-Iyamu attributed the false report of his purported plan to return the gangs back to the state to terrorize residents as a deliberate falsehood manufactured and spread by the opposition to deceive the electorates and conceal the hypocrisy and alleged fraud of the incumbent Governor Obaseki.
He says Governor Godwin Obaseki continues to obtain tax with questionable and non-state actors such as Chief Odion Olaye, Austin Edosomwan, who was the former Vice to Comrade Tony Kabaka, Kelly Okungbowa (aka Ebo Stone), and many others despite awarding a corrupt contract to his personal firm, VIISAUS, to claim nearly 10% of all collected taxes.
Ize-Iyamu said while Obaseki has merely entrusted power to his own brand of loyal thugs who continue to fleece the state and terrorize the people, he would bring the problem to a conclusive end with a transitional program contained in the Manpower Development section of his SIMPLE agenda meant to rehabilitate and empower the agberos before their re-integration into the society to live responsibly and make useful contributions.
The statement read: “It is important to state categorically that there are no plans to bring “Agberos” to the state as being erroneously peddled by the opposition and their co-travelers.”
“Unlike the incumbent who merely politicized the situation and compounded it with his reckless actions that reflect the scattershot approach and unpreparedness of his administration to offer conclusive solutions to the problems confronting Edo State, our manifesto, the SIMPLE agenda has already captured and proffered solutions to the ‘Agbero’ situation, specifically under the ‘M’ which stands for Manpower Development and Training.”
“The government of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will not force all the actors or people referred to as ‘Agberos’ on self-exile to Libya or the Mediterranean Sea to die as they remain sons and daughters of Edo State. Instead, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will institute a transitional and rehabilitation program for the training and empowerment of these actors to help them become self-sustaining entrepreneurs in a chosen field to help them useful to themselves and the society at large.”
“Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will also take the actors through a re-orientation process that will make their future operations, if any, conform with current global best standards and practices in the revenue collector sectors.”
“These are practical plans that will bring this problem to an end. It is not enough to merely replace a set of collectors with another set as the incumbent government has lazily done, despite embarking on a campaign of deceit to blur the facts.”
“Edo people should ask the government of Governor Godwin Obaseki the roles and job functions of the following individuals and their companies in the revenue collection process at the state and local government level: Chief Odion Olaye (Olaye International Nigeria Ltd.), Pastor Sunny Erhahon (A.E Contractors Ltd.), Austin Edosomwan (former Vice to Comrade Tony Kabaka), Kelly Okungbowa (aka Ebo Stone), S.I. Ofeimu (Uniworld Integrated Service), Charles Momoh (Smart Jeff Nigeria Ltd.), Samuel Kelvin Ayo (Saeppin Nigeria Ltd.), Afigie Ogene (Baskyuy Nigeria Ltd.), Dirisu Shuabi O. (Schevshenco & Dad Ent Ltd.) and host of others who are all engaged in the so-called ‘Agbero’ or revenue collection in the state.”
“The real truth, which Governor Godwin Obaseki is trying to shield from the public knowledge, is that he had used the word ‘Agberos’ to blackmail Edo people while introducing his personal private company called VIISAUS that now collects a whooping percentage of 7% as service provider and 2.5% as technical partner on all total revenue collection of both Edo State Government and all the local government revenue collection in the state.”
“This runs into millions of naira every month outside the other charges for scratch cards and POS maintenance cost drawn by the Lagos companies."
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has been accused of attempting to steal credit for the construction of the ‘privately-owned’ modular refinery in Ologbo, Edo State "because his administration lacks any achievement to show for its four-year term."
The APC made this accusation in a press conference monitored by Igbere TV on Sunday where Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the Edo APC Media Campaign Council, condemned the Governor’s ‘irresponsible and mischievous’ latching on to the project "to enjoy undeserved plaudits" and challenged him to publicize the contribution of his government to the success of the project.
Explaining that the modular refinery is an FG-backed privately-funded project undertaken by the AIPCC Energy Limited in a joint venture between AFCOM and Peiyang Chemical Equipment Company of China, Mayaki said the Edo Governor, contrary to his media posture, frustrated the development of the project "with his disastrous economic policies and disregard for the rule of law which have driven investors away from the State."
He also challenged the Governor to name at least five projects that have emanated from the MOUs "he nomadically signed in four years", stating that "a Governor that failed to fulfill his own promises to build an industrial park and GeleGele seaport should not be laying claims to a private initiative to deflect blame and criticism arising from his failure."
The statement read, “As we draw nearer to September 19, the day Edo people will head to the polls to determine the leadership of the state for another four years, it has become glaring to Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his party of tax-collectors that their reign of falsehood, terror, and lackluster leadership will be brought to an end, and a new era of responsible and competent leadership under an APC government led by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will be ushered in.
“This realization, and the consequence it holds for this group of corrupt and irresponsible persons, has seen them scurrying around for survival, making truth, common sense, and decency easy casualties in their vile campaign of deceit and falsehood.
“As it stands now, no one can debate the fact that Mr. Godwin Obaseki is falsehood personified, a wrapped bag of lies that continues to give. From falsified and inconsistent academic records and credentials, the baloney has come to the point of broad daylight robbery of projects and initiatives. Today, the lie is with the Edo Modular refinery at Ologbo, a project that having been funded by both foreign businesses and the federal government, has neared completion and commissioning.
“And then, suddenly, Obaseki the MoU and sleeping governor emerges from his slumber, scheming to mount tape and ribbon at the site and take glory for a project he knew and contributed little to. To be clear, and for the records, it is important to state here that the Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company is owned by AIPCC Energy Limited, a joint venture between AFCOM and Peiyang Chemical Equipment Company of China and was built at the cost of 10.2million dollars. The refinery will be producing diesel, Naptha, and Fuel oil (LPFO).
“The Federal Government supported the project by granting duty waivers on refinery equipment and components. The PCC, equally, is a partner to the EPC. If the Federal Government that offered tangible support which if factored in cost would amount to millions of dollars not claiming credit for the project, why is the Obaseki-administration parading the premises of the refinery, claiming to have achieved a landmark project?
“The answer is clear: the Edo State Government of Godwin Obaseki has achieved nothing for the past four years they have been at the helm. Now, then, that it has come to a period where it is important to showcase its job portfolio, the administration is fumbling and biting dust, looking for whom to deceive and mislead.
“While Obaseki is desperate trying to be at the front, center, and back of a private project that his administration in fact frustrated with his disastrous economic policies and pulverizing of the strong economic structures in place before his tragic emergence, the sites of his promised Industrial Park and GeleGele Seaport remain desolate, standing as a symbolic portrayal of his entire four-year reign: empty, dull, and without any life.”
The APC Media Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship election has accused Governor Godwin Obaseki as the “mastermind” who consistently pursued the sanctioning of the Ojuromi of Uromi, HRH Anselm Aidenojie II, 'when he accused him of trying to block his emergence as the next Governor of the State' by allegedly backing the PDP in 2016.
The APC campaign council while condemning the ‘divisive message’ of Governor Godwin Obaseki, at the Palace of the Ojuromi of Uromi, accused the PDP candidate of seeking to turn the people against each other to earn sympathy votes following his visible lack of achievements.
Igbere TV recalls that the Edo Governor in his visit to the monarch earlier this week made references to his(monarch’s) 2016 dethronement. Governor Obaseki charged the King, and the people of Uromi, to rescue Edo State from the grip of ‘destructive people’.
However, in a swift response forwarded to Igbere TV, Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the Edo APC Campaign council, said the Governor and his “corrupt party of tax-collectors are the destructive people strangling the state and the people.”
Mayaki said the Governor has resorted to a vile and ignoble political campaign strategy to divide and turn the people of Edo State against each other using a combination of desperate rhetoric, promotion of falsehood, and poor revisionism of recent and past events to misrepresent reality and cast himself as an innocent victim when, in actual fact, he is the aggressor and mischief-plotter as he has been for years.
He said: “Rather than regale the people of Uromi with an account of what his administration has managed to achieve in the last four years of his administration, Mr. Godwin Obaseki went there with a divisive message seeking to breed bad blood in continuation of his ignoble strategy to poison the well of the campaign with hatred and intolerance.”
“Mr. Godwin Obaseki has been rendered sleepless by the united stance of Edo people to put him out of his misery and end his unfortunate reign on the 19th of September, hence his desperate adoption of depraved tactics to engender confusion and chaos by dividing the people along ethnic and religious lines with targeted falsehood.
“Obaseki’s unpalatable references to the 2016 saga involving the respected Ojuromi of Uromi is uncalled for and disgraceful, especially as he was the one who recommended and forcefully fought for the dethronement of the monarch over alleged involvement with the PDP during the heat of the 2016 electioneering campaign.
“As the Chairman of the Economic Team before he emerged the APC candidate in 2016, Obaseki undoubtedly had the ears of the Comrade Governor and it was he who consistently pursued the sanctioning of the Uromi monarch when he accused him of trying to block his emergence as the next Governor of the State by allegedly backing the PDP.
“Otherwise, why did it take Governor Obaseki one year after assuming office before restoring the monarch into his position, if he was indeed sincere and not approving of his initial suspension cum deposition?
“It is simply deceitful and fraudulent for the Governor to attempt to distance himself from a decision he recommended because he is now desperate for votes.
“It is equally shameful that Mr. Godwin Obaseki continues to drag ancient and respected traditional stools into his divisive politics. We expected a decent and sensible campaign from him and his party of tax-collectors but we are nonetheless unsurprised at the descent into the gutter because, after four years of abject failure, they have nothing noteworthy to sell to the people.”
Senate Chief Whip and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, on Saturday, stormed the Kuje correctional centre, in Abuja, months after his release.
Igbere TV reports that Senator Kalu arrived the Kuje centre unannounced in the company of others at about 1pm and left at about 5:15pm.
Our correspondent reports that the Abia North senator was at the correctional centre to visit the inmates and also inspect the solar electric power he donated to the Kuje community.
Igbere TV recalls that while being held at the correctional centre, Senator Kalu had donated a solar electric power to Kuje to connect the worship centres.
The lightening project was extended to both the churches and mosques to enhance the worship as well as other daily activities of both the inmates and prison staff.
Kalu had initiated the solar project for the Kuje correctional centre, by way of finding a lasting solution to the electricity supply problem in the community.
The project is said to be an inmates-financed project until now. It was cost at a whooping sum of N27 million, which was considered too exorbitant and was nearly abandoned.
During his short stay at the Kuje centre, however, Senator Orji Kalu was said to have donated N21 million naira towards the solar project.
Kalu’s arrival on Saturday erupted joy amongst both the inmates and staff, with many of them chanting “Kalu for President 2023”. Many of the inmates hailed his continued welfare initiatives despite leaving the correctional centre.
Senator Orji Kalu who spoke with some of the Kuje staff, also reiterated his commitment to reforms as well as welfare of the correctional centre.
Some of the staff and inmates who spoke under the condition of anonymity, expressed their desire for Kalu to become the next Nigerian president in 2023.
The excited inmates and Kuje staff described the Senator as a true nationalist who carries the welfare of all Nigerians at heart.
During his short stay at the Kuje centre, Kalu had extended his philanthropic gesture towards scores of the inmates by paying their legal fees.
Many who could not meet their bail conditions, Senator Orji Kalu personally helped to perfect the conditions and ensured their freedom.
He also fed inmates, paid for medicine supply for those who were sick, and upgraded power supply in the prison from its epileptic state to more than 18 hours per day.
West African leaders arrived in Mali on Saturday to try to push for a speedy return to civilian rule after a military coup in the troubled nation.
The delegation, headed by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, planning to meet members of the new junta as well as ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
Rebel soldiers seized Keita and other leaders after a mutiny on Tuesday, dealing another deep blow to a country already struggling with a brutal Islamist insurgency and widespread public discontent over its government.
Mali’s neighbours have called for Keita to be reinstated, saying the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to help “ensure the immediate return of constitutional order”.
A delegation official said they would meet members of the junta and later Keita, who is being held with prime minister Boubou Cisse in Kati, a military base northwest of Bamako where the coup was unleashed.
Adding to the international pressure, the United States on Friday suspended military aid to Mali, with no further training or support of the Mali armed forces.
– ‘We won’ –
But thousands of jubilant Malians took to the streets of Bamako on Friday to celebrate the toppling of Keita, who was reelected in 2018 but became the focus of widespread discontent.
The crowds gathered in Bamako’s central square draped in the national flag and blasting on vuvuzela horns.
The rally, originally organised as an anti-Keita protest by a loose coalition that has led months of mass rallies against him, was recast to “celebrate the victory of the Malian people”.
“I am overjoyed! We won,” said Mariam Cisse, 38.
Speaking at the rally Ismael Wague, spokesman for the junta which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, paid tribute to the public.
“We merely completed the work that you began and we recognise ourselves in your fight,” he said.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (2L) walks at the International Airport in Bamako upon his arrival on August 22, 2020 next to by Malick Diaw (L), the Vice President of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People. (Photo by ANNIE RISEMBERG / AFP)
...‘We Need More Righteous Men In Politics To Drive Positive Change’
The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Sept 19 Edo Governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, declared has declared that Nigeria needs more righteous men in politics to drive positive change and bring joy to the people.
Igbere TV reports that Ize-Iyamu was responding to a question as to whether he has been able to keep fidelity with his Christian faith as a politician and frontline leader in Edo State’s “cloak-and-dagger politics”.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, on Thursday, the APC Edo Governorship candidate said magisterially: “Politics is my mission field.”
Citing Proverbs 29 verse 2, which says “when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn,” Ize-Iyamu said he was on a mission to bring joy back to lives of the people of Edo State.
He stressed: “My calling, as a minister of God, is intact. I am a senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I still preach every Sunday.”
Ize-Iyamu said that conscious effort must be made to encourage good people to be involved in politics.
“Politics should not be left in the hands of criminals; otherwise there will be no hope for Nigeria,” he declared.
He appealed to Edo electorate to go out in their thousands on September 19 to vote, encouraging them not to be frightened by the violent conduct being exhibited in the electioneering of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, “If the good people of Edo State troop out to the polling booths to cast their votes and keep eternal vigilance, it would be difficult for those plotting to rig to write fake election results.”
He adverted attention to the statement by the State Governor and candidate of the PDP, Godwin Obaseki that his deputy and himself were the only ones who enjoyed immunity in the State, saying that should not make them foment trouble by encouraging thuggery during the election.
He said: “Without a doubt, the governor and his deputy governor enjoy immunity; but the thugs do not enjoy immunity. Therefore, if anybody is arrested in connection with violence and thuggery, the security agencies should let us know whether the arrested thugs are members of the APC or the PDP.”
Ize-Iyamu said in response to another question that if he lost the election, the worst he would do was to head to the tribunal, adding, however, that he had appealed to his supporters to shun violence and avoid bloodshed.
He said he was still worried over the continued destruction of his campaign billboards in Benin City and other parts of the State, stressing, “I find it disturbing that they sponsor violence and shift it to the doorsteps of the APC.”
2023 Presidency: Back South East, Group Urges Tinubu, Others
...Says Senator Orji Kalu capable
A pressure group, the Coalition Of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has called on the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support the call for South East to produce the President of Nigeria in 2023.
The group, in a statement forwarded to Igbere TV, also enjoined Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state, to jettison his rumoured plan to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari and support the emergence of a president of Igbo extraction.
COSEYL said everything short of electing an Igbo as president in 2023 would be regarded as a rejection and asking the Igbo to leave the country.
President General of the group, Goodluck Ibem, said COSEYL was ready to mobilize Ndigbo at home and in the diaspora, towards the realization of the dream which he said, was long overdue.
He said the Igbo nation, had, in the past, supported candidates from other zones to become heads of the Nigerian government, and produced leaders that helped to build the country.
The group stressed that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia State and Senate Chief Whip, was capable of leading the country and should be supported to emerge president in 2023.
It also listed other prominent Southeast sons like Peter Obi, former Senate president, Ken Nnamani, former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Charles Soludo, among others.
Meanwhile, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of Aviation, has backed the call for president of Igbo extraction in 2023.
He said doing that would help make up for the wrongs meted to Ndigbo in the past.
Fani-Kayode restated his position while responding to questions from newsmen at the premises of Anambra State Governor’s Lodge in Onitsha when he returned from a tour of some project sites with Governor Willie Obiano.
“I know that where I come from, there is a very large body of opinion now that is pushing for that. Ayo Adebanjo, who is the deputy leader of Afenifere, who speaks for us, made that position clear that as far as he he is concerned, the next president should come from the South East. And he spoke for us,” Fani-Kayode said.
The former minister, who insisted that the Igbo deserve a shot at the presidency, however, urged the leaders and people of the South East to work hard for it.
Bayesla Guber: ANDP Had No Validly Nominated Running Mate, INEC Insists
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has insisted that the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) nomination for the Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship election was invalid, Igbere TV reports.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, stated this in a statement forwarded to Igbere TV in reaction to the nullification of the state’s governorship election which produced Sen. Duoye Diri.
Lucky King-George, candidate of the ANDP had asked the Tribunal to cancel the election because, according to him, he was excluded from the November 16, 2019 governorship poll.
INEC had explained that it excluded ANDP from the election because 34-year-old David Esinkuma, the party’s initial deputy governorship candidate, did not meet the age requirement of 35 years to contest in elections.
ANDP, however, submitted that Esinkuma was duly substituted within the allowed time frame, following his disqualification by INEC.
While delivering judgment on Monday, the Tribunal held that the election was unlawful due to the exclusion of ANDP and its candidate.
Yunusa Musa, the judge who read the judgement, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.
But in the statement forwarded to Igbere TV, INEC said the ANDP did not exercise its right guaranteed in the Fourth Alteration to the Constitution by filing its suit within 14 days of the accrual of the said right.
The Commission also gave indication that it will respond to some of the issues raised by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal when it gets full details of the judgment.
INEC said that the ANDP conducted party primaries and submitted the name of one Peter David as its Deputy Governorship candidate.
“As at the time of the submission of the name of the said candidate, he was 34 years-old, contrary to Section 177(b) of the constitution that makes it mandatory for a candidate for such office to attain the age of 35 years to be eligible to contest the election.
“In the candidate’s statutory declaration of age and affidavit attached to his form, the party stated that he was born on Feb. 10, 1985.
“On Sept. 13, 2019, the commission wrote to the party drawing their attention to the constitutional age requirement of 35 years for Governorship/Deputy Governorship candidates as stipulated in Section 177(b) of the constitution.
“The commission also informed them of the invalidity of their nomination for the Nov. 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State,” he said.
Okoye also recalled that on Sept. 21, 2019 and in response to the letter of the commission dated Sept. 13, 2019, the ANDP wrote the commission acknowledging the invalidity of it nomination and forwarding the name of one Miss Inowei Janeth as their new Deputy Governorship candidate.
“On Sept. 27, 2019, the commission informed the party that the deadline for the submission of nominations as provided for in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the commission on May 16, 2019 was Sept. 9, 2019.
“The commission also informed the party that since they did not submit valid nomination, they couldn’t validly substitute any candidate.
“Consequently the name and logo of the party did not appear and was not reflected in the ballot paper”, INEC insisted.
Diri, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was sworn in as governor after the supreme court sacked David Lyon as governor-elect 24 hours before his inauguration.
The apex court based its rulings on the premise that Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, running mate of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), presented forged certificates to INEC.
BREAKING: Igbere TV, Ibom Air to Partner on Fulcrum In-Flight Magazine
Popular online medium Igbere TV, has concluded a partnership deal with Fulcrum In-Flight Magazine, Akwa Ibom state-owned Ibom Airline’s novel print magazine.
The Fulcrum is a monthly in-flight magazine published by Ibom Air, with great readability and air passengers and VIPs as primary target.
The in-flight magazine is the best platform for advert placements and marketing for any brand or organization hoping to reach the crème de la crème of the society.
Ibom Air started with few routes in Nigeria, including Uyo to Abuja, Uyo to Lagos, Abuja to Uyo, and Lagos to Uyo and has increased it to include Lagos to Abuja and Abuja to Lagos.
The airline is lunching the Enugu routes in addition to the existing Southeastern routes, which also informed of its partnership deal with Igbere TV, a reputable global media agency.
Igbere TV is expected to provide content in the areas of VIP/celebrity interviews, advertisements and branding, according to contents of the agreement.
A business analyst, who lauded the move by Igbere TV and Ibom Air, described the Fulcrum magazine as the best platform for anyone aiming to reach the world with its products or wares.
According to the analyst, based in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, the Magazine boasts of a very wide reach, to be read by millions of people every month globally.
Complimentary copies are expected to be given to thousands of people who fly the aircraft every month, making The Fulcrum the best platform for adverts.
Copies of the magazine would also be at all Ibom Air terminals nationwide.
Meanwhile, the partnership deal is expected to be formally sealed on Monday, August 24 in Uyo. The signing ceremony would be witnessed by key players in the Igbere TV and Fulcrum Magazine’ boards including the parent company, Ibom Air.
Ahead of the Edo 2020 governorship election scheduled for Sept. 19, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has lampooned the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki for allegedly grounding the ‘COMRADE bus’ brought by his predecessor Adams Oshiomhole.
Igbere TV reports that Ize-Iyamu stated this at the Oredo governorship campaign rally held at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ekehuan campus in Benin City.
The APC candidate berated Obaseki for “using his fight” against his erstwhile godfather, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole “to punish innocent Edo people.”
“Obaseki decided to shutdown the transport company because of its name “COMRADE BUS”, knowing fully well that if he changes the name of the company, it will raise issues and further punch his drowning popularity so he decided to just remove the bus from the streets of Benin City and it’s environs”, he said.
At the rally, Ize-Iyamu taunted Obaseki and the PDP for “not being able to get the mammoth crowd at Urhokpota Hall, which the APC got on a platter”, stating that “even with the huge state funds used to massively mobilize people to the venue, yet their rally flopped.”
“Obaseki claim to come from Oredo but denied his own people of their mandate by depriving them of quality representation from their state lawmakers, Oredo West and East. Obaseki also went further and conspired against the good of Edo south by refusing to inaugural the state assembly”, he declared.
Ize-Iyamu, later enlightened the people about his ‘Manifesto of Hope’ – The SIMPLE Agenda. The Oredo campaign rally rounded off the weeklong Edo APC gubernatorial campaigns across the 18 LGAs of the state.
The Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has approved the appointment of Dr. Barth Ezugwu as the Government House Chief Protocol.
This was disclosed in a statement forwarded to Igbere TV, on Monday, in Enugu State, by the Media Office of the Enugu State Governor.
Igbere TV reports that Dr. Ezugwu is the immediate past Transition Committee Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area and a former Commissioner for Transport in the state.
He also served as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Youths Mobilization and Empowerment as well as the Administrator of Adada Development Area in Uzo-Uwani LGA.
Nominations has finally kick-started for the much anticipated award event of the century, the Igbere TV Leadership Excellence Awards, 2020.
The prestigious Igbere TV Awards recognises and honours the outstanding impacts of leaders across both the public and private sectors and industries in Nigeria.
It promotes outstanding leaders and personalities whose impacts have been felt in Nigeria’s political, social and economic spheres.
The Award also applauds excellence, achievements, performance, humanitarian activities and philanthropic gestures.
The 2019 edition which held 28th November, 2019 at the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja saw several captains of industry, public figures and leaders cling on to the various Award categories.
In a statement issued to journalists on Monday, in Abuja, the Executive Director of Igbere TV, Emeh James Anyalekwa, said nominations for the 2020 edition were now open.
Anyalekwa noted that the 2020 edition of the Leadership Excellence Awards would be held in compliance with the NCDC and World Health Organization guidelines and protocols on COVID-19.
While disclosing that nominations for the Award programme would close August 30, 2020, the Igbere TV boss, asked Nigerians to send nominations to igberetv@gmail.com.
Some of the Award categories include:
# Man of the Year
# Best Performing Governor of the Year
# Businessman of the Year
# Best Performing Minister of the Year
# Best Performing LGA Chairman of the Year
# Footballer of the Year
# Sportsman of the Year
# Sportswoman of the Year
# Brand of the Year
# Bank of the Year
# Philanthropist of the Year
#2020 Man of Integrity
# Best performing Assembly Speaker
# Senator of the Year
# Female Lawmaker of the Year
# Best Performing Rep Member of the Year
# Security Expert of Year
# Airline of the Year
# OAP of the Year
# Educationist of the Year
# Most Outstanding Legal Practitioner of the Year
# Most Outstanding Health Worker of the Year
Etc.
In the 2019 edition, while President Muhammadu Buhari was recognised with the "2019 man of Integrity (in government)" award, Las Vegas-based Nigerian billionaire Medical Doctor, Godwin Maduka was honoured and unveiled as the "2019 man of the year".
While the "Best Performing Governor of the Year" Award was presented to Enugu State Governor, HE Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the "Best performing Senator" Award went to President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan.
The prestigious award ceremony which was well attended by influential leaders in public and private sectors, public service officers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, captains of industry, legislators and stakeholders in every sector of national development, also recognised former President Goodluck Jonathan with the "Award for Peace and Democracy".
The Minister of Transportation and former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi was unveiled as "Best Performing Minister of the Year", while the award for "Best Performing New Legislator of the Year" went to Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Spokesman of the House of Representatives.
Other distinguished award recipients include Oil Magnate and Managing Director, Dozzy Oil and Gas, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, who was recognised with the "Businessman of the Year" Award title.
Others are, Femi Adesina (Award for Media Excellence), Sen. Ita Enang (Best Executive/Legislative Diplomat of the Year), Abia Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji (Best Performing State Assembly Speaker); and Rep Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (2019 Best Performing Female Rep Member).
Former governor of Imo state and senator representing Imo West senatorial district, Senator Owelle Rochas Okorocha was named "2019 Most Outstanding Personality in Educational Development".
Others include Nollywood’s Rose Meurer (Actress of the Year), Innoson Motors (Best Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year), Sir Chikwendu Udensi (Most Outstanding Security Expert of the Year), Chairman of Peace Mass Transit, Dr. Maduka Onyishi (2019 Man of Integrity in Business); Alex Nwankwo of AlexReports (Publicist of the Year), and Cleric Satguru Maharaj Ji (Humanitarian Service Award).
Those also recognized include, SeaHorse Lubricants Ltd (Best Lubricant Manufacturing Company of the Year), Engr. Ajibola Abiola (Media Administrator of the Year), Anyim Nyerere (Humanitarian Service Award), Kaduna North LGA Chairman, Saleh Shaibu (Local Government Chairman of the Year); Gregory University Uturu (Best Private University of the Year), Barr. Philip E. Umeadi Jnr. (Award for Peace and Democracy), First Lady of Kebbi state, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu (First Lady of the Year - Health); and heavyweight champion, Osita Offor alias De Ultimate Commander (Lifetime Achievement Award in Wrestling).
Some distinguished personalities, who graced the 2019 Award ceremony include, Buba Galadima, an ally of President Buhari and chieftain of the PDP; Samson Siasia, former Super Eagles head coach; and Titi Abubakar, wife of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Others were Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo, Billionaire Oil tycoon and Anambra state governorship aspirant; Mike Okiro, former police IG; Actor Kenneth Okonkwo, Nollywood icon; Hon. Prince Cornelius Nnaji, Honorable Member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency; and other distinguished personalities across the country.
There was mild drama on Thursday at the Edo State House of Assembly, located at Ring Road axis of Benin City, as thugs were seen pulling down a dummy mace mounted at the roof of the Assembly.
Igbere TV reports the move comes following the foiled forceful takeover of the Assembly complex by 17 lawmakers of the APC and loyalists of the Party's Governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The order was reportedly issued by the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu who have since decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the APC.
Igbere TV had reported how security agencies, believed to be drafted from Abuja, on Thursday, stormed the Edo Assembly complex to provide security cover to the 17 APC lawmakers and Ize-Iyamu’s loyalists.
The move, which was to allow fresh inauguration of the APC loyalists, and the impeachment of the Speaker, Frank Okiye; the Governor and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, was however foiled when Obaseki, Shaibu and supporters stormed the complex.
Our correspondent later observed that thugs were immediately drafted to forcefully pull down the mace over fears that it may be used for the impeachment plans against Obaseki and his 5 loyalist-lawmakers.
The original mace is currently at Government House where sittings have been taking place for over a month by the pro-Obaseki lawmakers, claiming the Assembly complex was being fumigated over COVID-19 scare.
Earlier, heavy duty trucks from Government House were seen heaping sand and other construction materials at both the entrance and exit gates of the Assembly to prevent entry.
The roofs of the Edo Assembly complex were also forcefully removed on the alleged orders of Governor Obaseki, under the guise that they were old and needed to be replaced.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State will officially flag off its campaign for the September 19 Edo Governorship election Saturday, August 8, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV gathered on Wednesday that the flag off ceremony will take place at the Main Bowl of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Sports Complex, Ugbowo campus, in Benin City.
Already, a presidential order or directive, Igbere TV learnt, had been issued to management of the University of Benin led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, to allow the event take place.
An official of the University and a top member of the APC National Campaign Council, who craved anonymity, confirmed the development to Igbere TV separately, on Wednesday night.
On the choice of venue, our source said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led Edo state government had denied the APC access to the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium and a school field in the state.
“Obaseki denied us access to the Ogbe Stadium, even though we wrote earlier. We also learnt there are plans to disrupt and cause mayhem at the other optional venue, Garrick College, like they did before”, he alleged.
Efforts to reach the Governor’s Spokesman, Pastor Crusoe Osagie, to confirm or deny the allegation, were not successful. His known phone line was switched off as at press time.
It was gathered that the Governor had concluded plans to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of the School, should management allow their field to be used for political rally.
Garrick Memorial College is a privately-owned school by a chieftain of the APC. It was the venue the Party candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu was billed to received during his official decamping some time this year, but was disrupted by hoodlums.
Ize-Iyamu was later officially received into the APC by Party leaders at his private residence at Ugbor, GRA, where he decamped with his hundreds of followers and supporters.
For the Saturday flag off, Igbere TV gathered that the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is leading the Presidential Delegation, on behalf of the President, Muhammadu Buhari.
A presidential source who spoke in confidence, told Igbere TV Wednesday night that President Muhammadu Buhari won't be attending the flag off due to the COVID-19 pandemic protocol.
“President Muhammadu Buhari will not be at the rally. You know he has drastically reduced his public functions in the past few months because of the COVID-19 pandemic”, he said. Buhari's last visit to Benin City was in 2016 when Oshiomhole was governor.
Those expected at the flag off event include, National Leader of APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; President of the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; and Deputy President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
Others are All APC governors, All former National Chairmen of APC - Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Members of the National Assembly, Members of the APC National Campaign Council led by Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Ministers are also expected.
Meanwhile, Igbere TV reliably gathered that President Buhari is meeting the party’s candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in a few hours, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Ize-Iyamu, who is already in Abuja for the meeting with the president, met with members of the National Campaign Council for the Edo State governorship election on Monday night.
Those who attended the meeting included former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State; Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State; and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, among others.
The Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Yekini Idiaye has been impeached, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV reports that Idiaye was impeached on Wednesday during a plenary session at the Edo State Government House, in Benin City.
Idiaye’s impeachment comes barely 48 hours after himself and four other legislators declared support for the APC and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The deputy speaker and the four other legislators had refused to decamp alongside the rest five sworn-in members to the PDP with the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
Following his impeachment on Wednesday, Hon. Roland Asoro, member representing Orhionmwon II State Constituency, was named Deputy Speaker.
The Edo State House of Assembly is a 24-member House. While 10 members loyal to Obaseki were inaugurated, 14 others loyal to Adams Oshiomhole, were not.
With the declaration of support for Ize-Iyamu and the APC by five lawmakers, only five were left with the PDP and Obaseki - and may be responsible for the impeachment moves.
The Edo Assembly, last month, relocated its sittings from its Complex to Government House - following Obaseki’s defection to PDP - over fears that the governor may be impeached.
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has taken a swipe at APGA chieftain, Chief Smart Iheoma, dispelling corruption allegation against Sen. T.A Orji and his son. Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji.
COSEYL, in a statement obtained by Igbere TV, stated that the appeal made by the APGA chieftain published on The Nation newspaper of Sunday, August 2, 2020 in which he sought the investigation of former Abia governor and the Senator representing Abia Central, Sen. T.A Orji and his son Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji is diversionary.
Signed by the President General of COSEYL Hon. Goodluck Egwu Ibem and the Secretary-General, Comrade Kanice Igwe it insisted that Sen. T.A Orji during his tenure as Abia governor managed the resources of the state judiciously for which he was recognized.
It reads, “A man who is a thief ordinarily believes that the next person is equally a thief like him. However, we are sorry to disappoint Smart that Senator Theodore Orji managed the state resources prudently, a fact attested to by all and sundry including reputable international organizations that bestowed on him myriad awards as a great manager of lean resources. His son Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji was not a government agent, appointee, or contractor and had no hand, whatsoever, in the government when his father held sway as governor. Dragging him into what he had no knowledge of because his father is a one-time governor is a joke taken too far; a diversionary scheme from the axis of evil.
“If there is any place the EFCC should beam its satellite, it is in APGA were Smart Iheoma was the custodian of the party’s purse. It is no secret that Smart is a man of questionable character and we, therefore, urge the EFCC to move into action by investigating him for various corrupt activities perpetrated by him in APGA in times past.
“It is not only government money that is accounted for, in any public and exalted office, political parties included, where resources are generated, but those saddled with the responsibility of managing resources of such organizations and who held the position of trust by so doing are also duty-bound to account for any dime and farthing – to the very last – collected and spent. Smart Iheoma must account for funds generated from party expression of interest and nomination forms sold to aspirants and donations made by party members and patrons including, as is often the case, all the largesse given to the party out of loyalty.
“We urge the EFCC to disregard the diversionary statement of people like Smart who for the time being is jobless and needs to run his mouth in order to stop his bills from overtaking him.
“A man who was not around when a corpse was buried will exhume the corpse from the feet, our people say. Smart was not in Abia when Senator Theodore Orji lavished Abians with dividends of democracy and legacy projects, it is, therefore, no surprise his opinion of the distinguished senator is in the negative?.”
COSEYL insisted that APGA, a party where Chief Iheoma belongs to is known for corruption, adding that he has a case to answer and not Sen. Orji and his son.
“For the record, Smart Iheoma is working with Alex Otti to destabilize APGA. He instituted a frivolous suit against Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji was struck out on June 1, 2020, by a federal high court sitting in Abuja. He is an impostor as he has been expelled from APGA. Otti his boss has since joined APC. He doesn’t have any constitutional, moral or legal right to speak for APGA, a party that did all it can to him and Alex Otti with governorship ticket in 2015 and 2019 respectively.
“We want to remind Smart Iheoma that Abia state was not run like he ran APGA were corruption and high-level extortion of prospective aspirants was the order of the day then. It is no secret that the political party – APGA – of which he was a member was indeed a cesspool of corruption, reason Abians rejected them on many occasions more than ones at the polls.
“It is on record that the former governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who once contested for the governorship ticket under the platform of APGA, publicly told the world and all who cared to listen then that the kind and level of corruption and horse-trading perpetrated by APGA leaders part of which Smart Iheoma was second to none. A man of such character and status is capable of nothing good.
“In the same party (APGA) where Smart acted as National Treasurer, the 2015 and 2019 gubernatorial candidate in Abia state, Chief Alex Otti, openly exposed the level of rot going on within the party ranks from which he later decamped thus beginning this smear campaign. Then who is corrupt here? The answer is simple: Smart Iheoma and his associates. Testimony of two or more persons is true, usually, as our people say.”
The media team of the Senate Chief Whip and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has reiterated the privacy of the visitors to the home of the Senator.
Igbere TV recalls that following his first entrance into the Southeast after his release from the Kuje custodial centre, visitors have continued to troop in to Kalu’s private residence located in Igbere, Abia State.
In a statement made available to Igbere TV, Monday, Kalu’s Office stated that pictures of visitors to the residence of the Chief Whip circulating all over the media were not sent out by the Senator’s media team but by the visitors themselves.
The statement partly reads, “We are under strict instruction not to send out pictures of visitors to our principal's residence to the press. This instruction has been in place from the day he was released till now and has been strictly adhered to.
“We have witnessed an influx of very important personalities paying solidarity visits to the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate and have maintained the privacy of such visits
“The very few pictures circulating in the press are either the ones made available by the visitors themselves or released on request by them. Majority of them which remained private visits have never been made available to press men.
“We however cannot stop any visitor to the home of the Senate Chief Whip from making public, pictures of such visits.”
The State Media Campaign Council of the APC for the Sept. 19 Governorship election has accused Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP of “continuing its onslaught” in Edo State against the APC with “renewed attacks and destruction” of the party's outdoor billboards and other campaign materials.
In a statement forwarded to Igbere TV on Monday by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the State Media Campaign Council, the APC said “Governor Obaseki is venting his frustration over widespread rejection by the people” on its campaign billboards by allegedly asking his thugs to continue their criminal acts of destruction.
He said: "Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the outgoing Governor of Edo State, is a frustrated man. He is venting his pent-up anger and frustration, made worse with the complete abandonment of his already wrecked re-election bid by his family members and closest aides who continue to resign in large numbers, on our innocent campaign billboards and other materials.
"If not a sign of frustration and indication of intolerance, why is the Governor jittery at the sight of our erected billboards in the State to the point where he gave explicit instruction to his recruited thugs and cultists to destroy them in the cover of the night?
"We have recorded this mindless vandalism of our billboards at new locations where local residents testified that the crime was carried out by armed thugs who made no pretense to the fact that they were carrying out the instructions of the Governor.
"Everyone listened to Mr. Godwin Obaseki on Sunday when he irresponsibly boasted of his immunity while charging his "boys" to go on a rampage because they are the government.
"We have since alerted the Police, INEC, and other relevant stakeholders to the glaring fact that Mr. Godwin Obaseki, having realized that he stands no chance against Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has decided to mar the election with violence and subvert the will of the people.
"We are repeating our plea to these stakeholders to enforce the rule of law in Edo State and protect our campaign materials and supporters from the tyranny, lawlessness, and violence of Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his state goons."
Politics › Re: APC Accuses INEC REC, Mike Igini, Of Colluding With Obaseki To Rig Edo Poll by BleedingPen(op): 5:28pm On Aug 27, 2020
