₦airaland Forum

Following a court order, the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been ejected from its Lagos state secretariat located at Adekunle Fajuyi way , Ikeja over unpaid rent.

Armed mobile police officers and court bailiff on Monday, effected the Execution Order.

The exercise it was gathered took over two hours, as properties in the building were forcefully evacuated.

The exercise attracted attention of the public as they watched officers threw away properties belonging to the party.

As of press time, the party spokesperson could not be reached for comment on the development.

A teacher based in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State has narrated his ordeal during an encounter with fighters of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The teacher, who pleaded anonymity, said he ran into the group while on his way to Biu Local Government Area of the state recently.

“They were so free and doing things as if it were normal,” he said.

[b]Our driver told us not to panic when he saw them approaching us. I was half dead but I summoned courage and the ISWAP fighter asked who am I? I told him that I am a petty trader and he asked me to buy detergents, bread and sleepers for him. He gave our driver N7,200 and asked him to do something for him,” he said.

Another commuter confirmed the presence of ISWAP fighters on roads in the area.

“They have three checkpoints along Damboa-Biu Highway for some time.”

“They normally stop commuters and search the car if there are any security personnel or humanitarian workers in the vehicles because they don’t treat them lightly,” he said.

Daily Trust reports that the dreaded ISWAP fighters on Saturday at about 9am ambushed the convoy of the troops at Askira town, (Askira Uba LGA of Borno state).

A Brigadier-General and four other soldiers died in the process.

They have also mounted checkpoints on the highway that links Damboa and Biu.

The Federal Government has raised the cost of both single-phase and three-phase electricity meters beginning from November 15, 2021.

It announced this in a circular dated November 11, 2021, issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and addressed to managing directors, all electricity distribution companies and all meter asset providers.

The circular, with reference number NERC/REG/MAP/GEN/751/2, was entitled ‘Review of the unit price of end-use meters under the Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations’.

In the document, the regulator raised the price of a single-phase meter from the current cost of N44,896.17 to a revised price of N58,661.69.

It also increased the price of a three-phase meter from the current cost of N82,855.19 to a revised rate of N109,684.36.

INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION

PRESS RELEASE

THE ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2021

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met today Thursday 11th November 2021 and conducted an initial review of the Anambra Governorship election. The Commission is awaiting the reports of all officials deployed for the election for an indepth review of the processes.

However, after the supplementary election in Ihiala Local Government Area on Tuesday 9th November 2021 and before the process was concluded, the Commission commenced a preliminary review of the functionality of systems, particularly the newly introduced Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The system performed two functions on election day. First is the accreditation of voters using both the fingerprint and facial authentication. Secondly, it snaps the polling unit level result sheets and uploads them in real-time to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. This aspect of the BVAS functionality performed optimally such that by the early hours of Sunday morning, results from 4,987 (88.5%) out of 5,634 polling units had been upoladed for public view. While still in the field, our ICT team responded to the identified glitches in the accreditation of voters and corrected them. Consequently, in the Ihiala supplementary election, there were no reported incidents of BVAS malfunction. We will carry out an in-depth examination of the system, review reports from accredited observers and the media and respond to all identified challenges ahead of the next major Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), holding on 12th February 2022.

We shall again test run the system in the bye-election (s) that may arise before then. The Commission remains convinced that despite some glitches experienced in Anambra State Governorship election, the deployment of technology in elections is better than the best manual process.

Presentation of Certificates of Return

Following the conclusion of the election and as provided for in Section 75 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), certificates of return will be presented to the Governor-elect and Deputy Governor-elect tomorrow Friday 12th November 2021 at our State office in Awka.

Appreciation

The 2021 Anambra State Governorship election was conducted under the most challenging circumstances. Never before did the Commission have to grapple with numerous issues ahead of an off-season Governorship election, including attacks on our facilities, withdrawals of critical service providers such as the ad hoc staff and transporters on the eve of the election and the general tension pervading the atmosphere.. Happily, the election passed off peacefully.

The Commission expresses its gratitude to the security agencies, election duty officials, political parties and candidates, the National Peace Committee under the leadership of our former Head of State, His Excellency, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR, religious and community leaders, socio-cultural associations, civil society organisations and the media for the enormous sacrifice and support in ensuring that the election was conducted and peacefully concluded.

We look forward to the support of all Nigerians in the forthcoming elections. We will continue to work hard to protect the sanctity of the ballot and to conduct free, fair and credible elections anywhere in Nigeria.

We remain resolute that only the votes cast by citizens at polling units will determine the outcome of elections.


Festus Okoye Esq
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.
Thursday 11th November 2021.

The Amendment of a bill to include Kogi, Lagos, Anambra, Gombe and others among the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) scaled second reading at the Senate on Wednesday.

The bill titled: “A bill for an Act to amend the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Act No 6, 2000 and for other related matters connected therewith, 2021”, was sponsored by Senator Adeola Solomon Olamilekan representing Lagos West Senatorial district.

Olamilekan in his lead debate submitted that the NDDC Act was activated over 21 years ago and since then, oil and gas have been discovered in Lagos, Kogi, Anambra, Gombe, Bauchi and other States, hence, the amendment would offer an opportunity for the Act to capture peculiarities of the new oil states.

In his contribution, Senator Ahmad Baba Kaita representing Katsina North Senatorial district, having supported the amendment proposal, recalled how a former GMD of NNPC told Senators previously that Nigeria would become one of the largest oil producers in the world if oil discoveries in the country are harnessed.

He said: “Thank you Mr President I remain Senator Ahmad Baba Kaita, Katsina North Senatorial district. Regarding the motion on the oil-producing States, I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander. In a state like Borno, where oil has been discovered, I remember the former Group Managing Director of NNPC arguing here that with such states coming on board, Nigeria will be one of the largest oil producers if we harness our resources.

“In this case, it is only fair for us to consider those states that produce oil because the exploration is going to affect the environment. The idea behind that motion is consequences of oil exploration.”

However, Senator George Thompson Sekibo urged Senators to treat the amendment with caution.

He advised lawmakers to find out if those states have started contributing to the Federation account through their oil, adding that exploration of oil in commercial quantity was precedent since the derivation sharing was based on the quantity of oil produced

“Mr President, I congratulate these States where they said they have discovered oil. What I want to know is whether they are of commercial quantity and whether there are being drilled out now and the money is going into the Federal government Account.

“We have not confirmed that one yet but as oil has been discovered there, we want the oil to come out of every soil in Nigeria. Are they exploring the oil? Are they refining oil there and has oil caused devastation in those States.

“Mr President, the purpose of the Niger Delta Development Commission Act is not because they found oil there but because the oil has caused so much devastation and there was a need to remedy the place.”

Senator Mathew Uroghide representing Edo North Senatorial district disagreed with the proposed amendment completely, stating that the NDDC Act was specifically meant to address environmental degradation of the Niger Delta region.

According to him, the inclusion of some northern oil states in the Act will defeat the original intention of the Act.

He said: “Thank you Mr. President. I am Senator Mathew Uroghide representing Edo South Senatorial district. I consider it a privilege to contribute to a bill being sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan. I am not particularly against the sponsor of the bill, but I feel the bill must be properly presented.

“Let’s start with the name, “Niger Delta Development Commission”, NDDC. Today the area that is referred to as Niger Delta is very clear. The States that make up the Niger Delta region that the Commission is serving is very clear.

“Senator George Thompson Sekibo just mentioned the 13% derivation which each oil-producing States get which is a function of oil production.

“Oil production in Gombe and Bauchi and other northern States are already coming to a reality, but to take these States as the Niger Delta States is not right.

“But if there is any percentage for States that produce oil, be it Sokoto, be in Borno, of course, they should benefit, but that does not make them part of Niger Delta. To say other Sates are part of the Niger Delta makes a mockery of the original idea of the NDDC Act.

“The NDDC was created as an interventionist to media mediate in degradation of the environment due to oil exploration.”

After further contributions by lawmakers, Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan put the bill to voice votes and it scaled second reading.

A public hearing was expected to be conducted for a wider consultation preparatory for its final passage into law.

All appears not to be well within the All Progressive Congress as a meeting of the enlarged Tripartite Committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve disagreements in the party ended in a stalemate on Tuesday.

Stakeholders at the meeting which held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, all failed to agree on the use of direct primaries by parties to select their candidates.

At the meeting presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo the committee made up of the Executive, the Legislature and the APC as a party, could not convince members of the National Assembly on the need to provide alternative for the direct primary option.

The members insisted that direct primary was the way to go as they argued that it had been working for the electorate.

Former governor of Kebbi state and a serving senator, Adamu Aleiro, told State House Correspondents after the meeting that what the National Assembly had done in providing for direct primary for parties is the best for the country.

Speaking against the call by APC governors to dump the provision, he insisted the National Assembly had been cooperating with the Executive saying that “but on this, we cannot not be coerced to change our position.”

However, also speaking after the meeting, Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello said the fear of the Executive is the lack of alternative provided in case the direct primaries fail.

He said the final decision on the matter rests with President Buhari who he noted will decide whether to assent to the Electoral Bill as it is or return it to the National Assembly.

The Governor said if the president decide to return the bill, it will not be the first time, adding that if he assents to the bill, the governors will have no choice but to work for its implementation.

He said: “This is the Tripartite Committee set up by the the President being the executive, the legislature and our great party to ensure that every topical issue that affects the people of this country at various arms of government is well discussed by the party and taken good decision in the best interest of everybody,” he said.

On whether the governors are comfortable with the decision of the lawmakers, Bello said: “I don’t think any governor or anybody whatsoever as far as APC is concerned is afraid or have any reservations as far as our participation is concerned.

“The only concern is the implication of having only one option. In case an option fails what happened?
“If for instance now, INEC set a date for election and you can’t shift, what you do. And if circumstance beyond control arose what do we do?”

On if the decision to insert direct primary in the Electoral Bill can still be changed, he stated: “In their own wisdom nobody’s going to meddle into affairs of the legislature. So, whatever decision they have taken, if it is in the interest of the people so be it.

“If in their own wisdom that is how they want it, so, be it.”

Asked whether the governors will accept the direct primary, he said it is up to the President to decide what becomes of it.

According to him, “Whatever the legislature will pass and is acceptable by the executive, then everybody will have to buy in and make sure it works.

“It is yet to be signed into law. So, we’re waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari, the commander in chief. Once it’s sign into law, then we will make sure it works. If he does not, then it will be returned to the National Assembly or whatever action that can be taken.

“If it is returned to the National Assembly, it will not be the first of such bill to be returned. If it is assented to in the wisdom of the President, so be it, we will all work to ensure that it works.

VICTOR UMEH EJECTED FROM IHIALA HQ

Victor Umeh, a chieftain of APGA who arrived at the LGA headquarters with other party members, was turned back by the GOC, 82 Division.

"You are not supposed to be here,” the GOC screamed at Umeh who insisted that he was there “to ensure things go well".

Indication has emerged that the governors on the platform of the governing All Progressives Congress,(APC) are not comfortable with the resolution of the National Assembly on the direct option as mode of primaries for political parties to pick their candidates for general elections.

The APC Governors operating under the aegis of Progressives Governors Forum, (PGF) at the end of their meeting on Monday night rejected the National Assembly resolution. 

They also offered a hint to meet with the leadership of both chambers of Parliament to impress it on them to review the resolution ahead of presentation of the Electoral Act 2010 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2021 to President Muhammadu Buhari for presidential assent.

The Conference  Committee on the Electoral Act 2010 is yet to submit its report to the leadership of the National Assembly. 

The Senate had last month aligned itself with its counterpart in the House of Representatives which adopted Section 87 on mandatory direct primaries for all parties.

Section 87(1) of the  bill  reads:  “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Commission.”

Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that the APC 2014 Constitution (as amended) makes provision for direct, indirect and consensus options for the emergence of the party candidates for general elections.

Further investigation revealed that while direct primaries involve the participation of all party members in the selection of party candidates, the indirect primaries involves the use of delegates who are usually leaders and members of the executives at the ward, local government and state levels, to elect the party’s candidate(s) at a congress or convention.

Speaking with newsmen last night at the end of the meeting  held at Kebbi State Governors Lodge , Asokoro,Abuja, Kebbi State Governor and Chairman of the PGF, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, said the governors expressed strong reservations about the National Assembly resolution on direct primary.

While he maintained that political parties should be allowed to pick the option best suited for them, Governor Bagudu further noted that the  resolution was against the spirit of Executive Order signed by President Buhari which frowns at large gathering in the wake of the global pandemic, Coronavirus.

He further argued that direct primary was too cumbersome, unwieldy and would overstretch  the limited  resources of the Independent National Electoral Commission, statutory mandated  to oversee primaries conducted by political parties.

He said: “We discussed  the pros and cons. There has been concern that political parties are voluntary organisations. We express the concern that political   parties be allowed to choose  from the options that they so desire.  There is an Executive Order, signed by Mr. President  against large gathering. These are issues we discussee and hope that the best be achieved for Nigeria.

“We also noted that our  ward Congresses  were results of direct Primaries. The process  involves multiple roles by INEC. IF we have to involve INEC, their  resources will be overstretched.”

On the recently conducted State Congresses by the Governor  Mai Mala Buni led APC Careraker/ Extraodinary Convention Planning Committee, the Kebbi State Governor revealed that the governors appraised the exercise and adjudged it as satisfactory.

“The Congresses were conducted successfully and  we are taking steps to resolve crisis wherever they arise.”

Governor Bagudu was silent on a definite date for the conduct of national convention as he merely described it as a work in progress.

He recalled that states like Zamfara and Anambra were yet to conduct ward, local and State Congresses.

In attendance at the meeting were Dr Kayode Fayemi, Dave Umahi, Mai Mala Buni, Yahaya Bello, Simon Lalong, Gboyega Oyetola, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, governors of Ekiti, Ebonyi, Yobe, Kogi, Plateau, Osun, Kano and Jigawa states, respectively.

Others were Katsina state governor, Aminu Masari and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Abdullahi Sule.

The Ondo, Lagos and Kaduna State governors were represented by their deputies.

The Returning Officer of the Anambra State Governorship Election, Professor Florence Obi, has declared the election inconclusive.

She said the failure to conduct the election in Ihiala Local Government on election day has made it impossible to reach a definite conclusion under the Electoral Act on the result of the election.

She declared that the election process remains suspended until after a supplementary election is held in all the polling units of Ihiala Local Government.

The supplementary election will be held on Tuesday the 9th of November 2021.

Voting in the ongoing gubernatorial election in Anambra State has been extended till Sunday by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, disclosed this on Saturday at a press briefing at the Commission’s headquarters in Awka, the state capital.

Orji noted that the period for opening and closing of poll is from 8.30am to 4.00pm, saying that this revised closing time applied to areas where Polling Units opened after the commencement period of 8.30am.

According to him, “In line with existing regulations and guidelines of the commission, any intending voter who is on the queue by 4.00 pm shall be allowed to vote. All Polling Unit staff must comply with this directive.

“The extension of time arose out of several field reports that voters have had problems with accreditation. The Commission is currently investigating the reason the accreditation devices, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System , have worked perfectly in some polling units, but not in others. In some of the cases, it would seem that this resulted from software glitches.

“Our technicians have already built an update to the devise software to prevent further challenges. The update is currently being installed in the concerned BVAS and we request voters, candidates and agents to be patient and allow our technical staff to solve the problem.

“The Commission wishes to reiterate that in cases of sustained malfunction of the BVAS, the Presiding Officer must inform the voters and polling agents that accreditation and voting for the affected Polling Unit shall continue tomorrow or at another time determined by the Commission.

He added, “With this extension of time and the recommencement of accreditation where the BVAS consistently malfunctions, the Commission assures that no voter will be disenfranchised.

“Our deployment has also been adversely affected by transportation challenges in some locations. It must be noted that on account of security concerns, some of the transporters that were mobilized and collected 50% of their sign on fee backed out at the last moment, leaving some of our ad-hoc staff stranded.

“Also, some of the trained ad-hoc staff backed out at the last moment. The Commission is on top of these challenges and extant regulations and guidelines will be applied on a case by case bases.

“Consequently, we are harvesting areas where voting will realistically no longer take place today, including places where substantial disruption has occurred, to enable a possible recommencement of voting at another time, in line with extant laws and the regulations and guidelines of the Commission.

“We appeal to all voters, candidates, stakeholders communities and political parties to remain calm and law abiding. We assure you that the Commission is determined to a make all votes count.”

A Nigerian man, allegedly part of an international criminal network in which women are befriended on social media and promised lavish gifts and jewellery, for which they are made to pay money, has been found guilty on 10 counts of obtaining money by false pretense.

Uche Raymond Okoye, also known as Uche Parker, who was charged back in February, had been on trial for the offences before Magistrate Annette Singh in that Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. The convict has been further remanded to prison pending sentencing, which will take place on November 11.

Between October and November 2020, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $6,059,900 from 65-year-old Suruj Dei Balkaran by falsely claiming he had packages for her.

He had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. It was the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), which filed the charges against him. The SOCU said that Okoye solicited funds from women after befriending them on Facebook under an alias.

During that time, he informed the victim about the supposed packages containing the latest gadgets and electronic devices. He reportedly told the older woman that he would be sending the items, and that she would need to contact a representative who would clear the packages and deliver them to her. The representative he referred to was himself, the SOCU prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor, the Nigerian national sent the woman a WhatsApp number on which he could be contacted about the transactions. The woman paid the monies, expecting to collect the packages, but every time, she was told of some complications, and was instructed to send more cash via bank transfers and Western Union.

During Okoye’s trial, the elderly woman testified that she has been a vendor all her life, and that the monies she was scammed of were her life savings. She disclosed that she sent monies to him on 10 different occasions. Other witnesses testified that monies were sent to their bank accounts, and that they were paid a percentage of the sum upon withdrawing it.

Last November, Okoye appeared at a city court and pleaded not guilty to two counts of obtaining money by false pretense, one count of demanding money by menace, and one count of illegal entry.

The Police Force said the man entered Guyana from Brazil without presenting himself to the nearest immigration officer. The Police have said he is part of a criminal network that has been operating in Guyana which has links to the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay and other countries.

According to the Police, the perpetrators would send a Facebook friend request to the intended victims, particularly women, and seek communication via WhatsApp. Police informed that the mastermind, who is residing overseas, would express a romantic interest in the women, and would later tell them he would be sending gifts and jewellery.

The women would later receive a call from someone purporting to be employed at a shipping company about a box arriving at the airport for them. At this point, the Police said, the women would be instructed to pay various sums of money to several individuals to uplift the boxes and to avoid prosecution.

These monies are sent to identified persons through money transfer services or a post office. But once the money is sent, the mastermind is never heard from again, and the victim never receives the packages.

The Guyana Police Force has alerted citizens, particularly women, about this scam.

Momentum continues to build for Valentine Ozigbo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Saturday’s Anambra governorship election as Chidozie Nwankwo, the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), steps down from the race and endorses Ozigbo.

This high profile endorsement comes an eve to the November 6 election and is significant for being the only one of such endorsements in this campaign season.

With this move, Dr Nwankwo pledged the support of his entire campaign organisation, that of his Kingdom Care Foundation, and his Pentecostal groups to Mr Ozigbo and prayed for the success of the respected business leader at the election.

In a statement issued on Friday, November 5, 2021, Nwankwo urged his structures and supporters to offer the same support he received to Ozigbo.

“After due consultations with top aides, friends and family, we do hereby endorse the best candidate in this contest, Mr Valentine Chineto Ozigbo of the PDP, to win the governorship election,” the statement read.

“Consequent upon above, we hereby collapse our campaign structures, the Kingdom Care Foundation structure and all the Pentecostal structures supporting our candidacy in this election to support the election of Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the PDP.”

Just yesterday, the Labour Party pledged its support for Ozigbo and the entire All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aguata Local Government Area decamped and joined the PDP, pledging their support for Ozigbo, “the leader who will take Anambra to the promised land”.

The VCO Campaign Organisation, when contacted for a response, confirmed that the two men had spoken on the phone and that Ozigbo was grateful for the endorsement.

Valentine Ozigbo is a multiple-award-winning global CEO whose rise in Nigerian politics has captured the imagination of Nigerians. His Ka Anambra Chawapu message ignited a political movement that has been labelled “the most significant in the South East”.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Friday vowed to get to the bottom of last raid on the residence of a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili.

NBA also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set up an independent investigative panel to unravel those behind the incident at the judge’s residence

Mr. Olumide Akpata, President of the NBA made the disclosure while meeting journalists in Lagos. He further noted that if the President fail to act or do the needful legal action will be taken against him.

He said: In the next two weeks, if we don’t see any traction, we have to recaliberate. I have personally asked to see the President of Nigeria. I will follow up on this until I see the president and I am quite certain that I will.

Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, have separately denied authorising the raid or knowledge of it.

Similarly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Services (SSS), both of which were also linked to the invasion, had denied involvement.

The IGP has also ordered an investigation of his men involved in the incident NBA has however noted that the said policemen appeared to be from the AGF’s office, adding that because the AGF cannot investigate himself, “Malami would be reported to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), if he is indicted by any panel.

“A panel has been set up and a special investigator in person of Dr. Monday Ubani is to lead the investigation of the matter.

Ubani, a former NBA Vice President, will have a two-week mandate to begin to get answers from the government.
Akpata further disclosed that the Magistrate who signed the search warrant executed on Justice Odili’s house is under investigation by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

“If it means getting an ex parte order to make sure this never happens again, we will,” Akpata vowed.

He added: “As I speak to you, letters are being written to the President, National Assembly in the need to set up a panel and if we don’t get action in two weeks, then we will execute our plan B.

Inspector-General of Police(IGP) Mr Usman Akali Baba, has vowed that the Police and other sister agencies would see to the success of Saturday election in Anambra.

The IGP, also refuted the news making the round in the social media that former Commander IGP’S Intelligence Response Squad (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari ,had resumed duty, saying that Kyari remains suspended.

The IG who was speaking yesterday in Lagos , during 2021 Capacity Building Workshop with the Theme: Internal security operations in a democratic dispensation, organized by Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, Mr Johnson Babatunde Kokomo, said he was affirmative that Anambra Election would be successful.

He said:” People should go out and exercise their franchise. We have provided two types of security in Anambra State. One,we are policing the election process to making sure that citizens excercise their franchise without molestation. Two, we are checkmating the activities of criminal elements like the Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Eastern Security Network (ESN), and other criminal elements, who don’t want people to excercise their rights. I advise the citizens to go out and excercise their franchise as adequate security has been provided for them. I am very worried about the situation in Anambra, we are doing our best even though we need improvement”.

The IGP who cleared the air on whether suspended DCP Abba Kyari, has resumed work, said:” Kyari has not resumed . That is what I can say, he has not resumed.

On the raid on the Abuja home of Justice Mary Odili, he said the perpetrators have been arrested while the case was still being investigated to know their motives:” I had taken my time not to speak quickly, because I want to appreciate the situation so if I speak, I should be able to give Nigerians the the real thing that happened. For now, and to the best of my knowledge, we have been able to arrest the perpetrators and we are investigating”.

The IGP also confirmed the attack by bandits on University of Abuja, saying the six students were abducted, adding that the Force was after the bandits ,” we are after the bandits and we are going to rescue those who were abducted.Six persons were abducted and we are going to rescue them”.

Akali who spoke on the importance of the workshop said the importance can not be overemphasized as it was aimed at collaboration and synergy among the security agencies,” It is all about synergy,collaboration and cooperations among the security agencies. I thank AIG Kokumo,for this wonderful initiative. We will hear from resource persons; learn more from them and apply what we gathered to our day to day job of policing .

Ogu State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who declared the two-day workshop open, said the laudable initiative of AIG Kokumo, was one of the best things that had happened to the two States of Lagos and Ogun,whose security agencies would benefit from the workshop,” the AIG has succeeded in bringing together the whole security agencies , including the police,Army , Navy, other paramilitary agencies and state approved security agencies. It will make up for more effective and efficient law enforcement agents.

” Security is not only arming security agencies with weapons, it goes beyond that. We need to engage our children and take them away from crime ,drugs cultism and other vices.We need to educate our youths and this will decrease the problems of insecurity in the country.”
His Lagos State Counterpart,Mr Babajide San-wolu, said the state would continue to assist the Force and other sister agencies through the State Security Trust Funds for effective policing of the State .

San-wolu,who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Folashade Jaji ,said the workshop was apt as the country was facing serious security challenges .

Earlier, AIG Kokumo, said his reason for the initiative was borne out the current security challenges which needed serious inter agency cooperation and collaboration to tackle .

Barely 24 hours after a Lagos State government official said only 15 floors were approved for the 21-storey building which collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos, the deputy governor has issued a contradiction.

Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor, said while addressing journalists at the site of the collapsed building on Tuesday morning that the owner of the building got approval for 21 floors.

On Monday, Gbolahan Oki, the general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), said the government approved 15 floors for the 21-storey building.

“He got an approval for a 15-storey building and he exceeded his limit. I am on ground here and the materials he used are so inferior and terrible,” Mr Oki had said.

But the deputy governor contradicted the claim.

“This particular one was approved for 21 floors, not 15. If you count, the second building was 14 or 15. The approval was done about three years ago, it is not something new, it is the construction that failed apparently from what we can see,” he said.

Mr Hamzat also confirmed the earlier sealing of the building by the state government over poor construction.

“It was sealed from June. It was sealed because the agency came in to do a structural test, they saw some abnormalities, so they shut it down for those things to be corrected.

“They were making corrective actions when this (collapse) happened,” Mr Hamzat said.

He added that the emergency agencies are not sure of the number of people that are trapped in the building because it is not a residential building and there is no list of people that were there when it collapsed.

As of the time of this report, 10 bodies had been recovered from the incident, while nine victims were rescued.

The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has recounted how the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, manipulated party election results as far back as 2011 under the old Action Congress of Nigeria.

The governor, in an interview with journalists, recalled that Mohammed was the old ACN frontman in Kwara and that he decided to throw him (AbdulRazaq) out because they had their choice candidates.

The governor noted that his days in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were also unpleasant because of the dominance of the former governor and ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

He said, “When this republic started, everybody was with Saraki in the All Nigeria’s People Party. Just a few of us were in PDP then. We launched the party, very few of us. We knew our goal, to remain in opposition and remove these people from power. That’s our goal from then up till now.

“Along the way, they started pulling out because most of them saw that they had a glass ceiling on the Saraki side. They started pulling out. We started in 1998. Where was Lai Mohammed in 1998? He was in Lagos.

“He came in 2003 to contest and went back. The other guy that was shouting was with Saraki. We remained here deliberately. We did not ask for anybody’s structure.

“We had people like Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, as well. He was with us. He was the first Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP. He has never been with Saraki. There were less than 10 of us. We deliberately continued to build our structure. In 2015, when Saraki moved to PDP, we left because we will not be part of it. We left the party for them. I moved out.

“I never contested for office, I was sponsoring candidates and building a party. I was even offered the position of Board of Trustees of the party. I refused. I said I have my business.

“Our goal was to change the system in the state. It was not until 2011 that we found ourselves in the ACN, but then ACN belonged to Asiwaju and Lai Mohammed was his frontman here. So, they had their candidate.

“We said let’s do free and fair primaries, they refused. Eventually, they threw us out and picked their own candidate.”

“The delegates were playing games so I stepped down to contest for Senate. I contested against Saraki. I believe they rigged the election.

“Many times, I have engaged with the traditional rulers, especially to say, let’s be accommodating, it will soon pass,” the governor said.

The suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has instructed lawyers to study the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, which dismissed his motion to halt the National Convention of the party in order to appeal it “immediately”.

Secondus, while reacting Friday through his media aide, Ike Abonyi, said no abuse of the constitution of the party should be allowed to stand and that impunity must be resisted.

The embattled PDP chieftain said he would appeal having been briefed of the ruling while the substantive case is still pending at the Court of Appeal.

He said: “I respect the position of the court even though I disagree totally with it. The issue is not about Prince Uche Secondus but about the sanctity of our party constitution and core democratic principles of justice and rule of law not only in PDP but in our democracy.

“I have been a witness to how much harm litigations have done to our party in the past and as a result I have been a strong advocate against settling issues in courts.

“This was why I resisted and rejected entreaties of those who wanted me to go to court to halt these forces when it was obvious that they were determined to disrupt my leadership and truncate my tenure in office with the sole objective of hijacking the party for their selfish ulterior motives.

“To allow this travesty to stand is to reduce our beloved party to a level where anybody can wake up over night and remove officers against the proscribed constitutional process and the National Chairman for that matter. And purporting to use the judiciary through an exparte order to legitimize same.

“I wish to, therefore, at this juncture thank and appreciate leaders and other stakeholders of our party who have called in to express their concerns on this matter and appeal for the understanding of all.

“If those who orchestrated and fostered this avoidable crisis had listened to wise counsel of party leaders and elders who advised the withdrawal of cases, this situation would have been avoidable. I wish the party well as always.”

Stakeholders of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Ondo State have reportedly resolved to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The resolution to join the PDP was reached at a meeting at the Ondo town residence of the national leader of the ZLP Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

This is the third time Mimiko will defect to the PDP.

Other ZLP leaders at the meeting were former Ondo Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi; Hon Gboye Adegbenro; former Ondo Speaker Jumoke Akindele; Chairman of Ondo ZLP, Hon Joseph Akinlaja; ex-governorship aspirant Banji Okunomo as well as former senior aides to Mimiko.

The former Governor, who held a closed-door meeting with four Governors of the PDP led by Oyo’s Seyi Makinde, said the ZLP was being invited to join the PDP to rescue the country from the brink of insecurity.

He explained that the meeting was to intimate members with outcomes of series of interactions with PDP leaders on the invitation extended to him.

The former Ondo Governor said leaders of the PDP have shown demonstrable commitment to fully integrate all willing defectors from the ZLP and accord them full membership rights in what promises to be a win for PDP members and Nigerians alike.

After deliberations, Hon Akinlaja called for a motion requesting for members of the ZLP in Ondo State to join the PDP.

The motion was affirmed by a yes vote by all present.

Mimiko was a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999 and served as Commissioner for Health in the late Adefarati administration.

He defected to the PDP and became Minister under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was however elected Governor on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) but return to the PDP before the end of his administration.

Mimiko, known as the Iroko, defected to the ZLP ahead of the 2019 general election where he contested for the Ondo Central Senatorial seat but lost.

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has deferred to Friday, judgement on Secondus’ suit seeking the stoppage of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The suspended National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, is seeking the stoppage of the national convention from holding, weekend.

Four serving Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are presently meeting with the former Ondo state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko behind a closed door in Ondo state.

Their visit to the former governor, according to sources, was in preparation for the 2023 general election

The meeting was held at his Ondo town country home.

They governors include the governor of Sokoto Aminu Tambuwal; Rivers Nyesome Wike; Oyo state, Seyi Makinde; and Abia state governor, Okezie lkpeazu.

Sources said that the meeting was the advanced level of talk by the leadership of the party to woo the former governor back to the PDP.

Recall that other leaders of the party have met in Abuja with Mimiko severally to woo him back to the party ahead of the 2023 election.

Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has reserved its decision on a suit by the former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, seeking the suspension of the party’s convention slated for Saturday.

The court fixed Thursday, 28th of October, to hear and rule on the motion for Interim order of injunction brought by Secondus against the PDP and others.

Secondus through his Counsel, Tayo Oyetibo SAN, is asking the court to suspend the October, 30th and 31st National Convention of the party and grant him the right to preside over the convention.

When the matter was mentioned in court, six other members of PDP drew the attention of the court on their application for joinder which was not opposed by counsel to Secondus and was subsequently granted by the three man panel of the appeal court.

However, the defendants’ Counsel including those who joined in the suit opposed to the motion for Interim injunction by Secondus’ counsel seeking to stop the PDP forthcoming National Convention, asked for time to respond to the process.

The three-man appeal panel led by Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani after listening to the argument from the parties, ordered counsel to the plaintiff to serve the process on the defendant’s Counsel within 24 hours.

Tsammani also urged respondents’ counsels to respond within 24 hours and adjourned till 28th of October, for hearing and possible ruling on the motion.

The Edo State Judiciary has denied the rumour presently making the round in the state that one of its judges restrained the National Vice Chairman, South-South, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Osi Orbih, a member of the House of Representatives, Dr Ogbeide Ihama & others from participating in the forthcoming party’s National Convention scheduled for October 30 and 31.

In a disclaimer dated October 23, 2021, with Ref. No. EDJ/PRO.2021/Vol.11/130 issued and signed by the Chief Registrar, Mr H. O. Osawaru, the state judiciary explained that there was no iota of truth in the media and online publications.

The registrar wrote: “The attention of the Edo State Judiciary has been drawn to the publications by some media outlets and online news publications to the effect that an Edo State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice J. O. Okeaya-Inneh retrained the National Vice Chairman (South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) Chief Dan Orbih and the State Secretary of the Party, Hilary Otsu and others from participating in the party’s National Convention scheduled for October 30 and 31, 2021.”

He continued: “Let it be stated for record purposes that no such restraining order was issued by Hon. Justice J. O. Okeaya-Inneh. The applicants were only ordered to place the Respondents on Notice and leave was granted to the claimants/applicants to serve the originating process on the PDP outside the jurisdiction of the court and a further leave was granted to the Applicant to serve the originating process by substituted means. The enrollment order which the media houses based their publication on did not place a restraining order on anyone.”

Osawaru said that the disclaimer was necessary as the publications were false narratives with deliberate intention to mislead the unsuspecting public that Orbih, Ogbiede-Ihama, Chief Hillary Otsu and others were retrained by the High Court from attending, participating and voting at the main opposition party’s convention scheduled for next weekend.

As the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal rules on the suit seeking to restrain the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its National Convention on October 31, the Governors elected under the platform of the main opposition party will hold an emergency meeting to consider any emerging threats against the party’s national convention scheduled in Abuja, THISDAY has learnt.

A former special adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Dr. Umar Ardo, has however cautioned the PDP against nominating Atiku or any other northerner as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.
However, the emergence of the 69-year-old former President of the Senate, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the anointed chairmanship candidate of the PDP has dampened the prospects for the youths to take over the administration of the country in the 2023 general election.

THISDAY also gathered that the governors elected under the platform of the main opposition party may hold an emergency meeting to consider the emerging threats against the national convention of the party scheduled this week in Abuja.

The inability of the various organs of the party to broker a truce between the suspended national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus and the Rivers State governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, is casting doubt over the possibility of holding the national election convention of the party.

Justice Joy Okeaya-Inneh of a Benin City High Court on Friday issued an interim injunction restraining embattled National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, the State Secretary of the party, Hilary Otsu and nine others from participating in the national convention of the party, scheduled to hold from 30 to 31 October, 2021 in Abuja.

Others restrained from participating in the convention by the court order in the suit marked B/218/os/2021, include the member representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Hon. Samuel Saiki, Vincent Ekpomhoriri Umoru, Leslie Ebozoje, David Okoh Aigbodion (also known as Arizona) and Abdulkareem Kassim.

Others are Kayode Ogunubi, Mr. Oduwa Igbinosun and Mr. Friday Enaruna and the PDP which was listed as the 12th Defendant.

Justice Okeaya-Inneh while ruling on the motion ex-parte filed by Chief Idehen Manfred Ekundayo, Mr. Stanley Iduoze and Odior Omadimhe, restrained 1st to 11th Defendants from attending, participating, or voting at the National Convention of the PDP, the 12th defendant in the suit.

The court also granted “an order of interim injunction, directing the 12th Defendant (PDP), its servants, officers, agents, or otherwise whosoever, to deny admittance to the 1st-11th Defendants at the National Convention of the 12th Defendant (PDP) scheduled for 30th and 31st October 2021 or any other day and ensure that the 1st-11th Defendants do not vote or participate in any shape or form at the National Convention of the 12th Defendants scheduled for 30th and 31st October 2021 or scheduled for any other date(s), pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice herein”.

According to the enrolment order of the court, Justice Okeaya-Inneh granted leave to the Claimants to serve the concurrent originating summons on the 12th Defendant, outside the jurisdiction of the court at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, namely at the National Headquarters of the 12th Defendant (PDP) being Plot 1970 Michael Okpara street, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

The court also granted leave to the Claimants/Applicants to serve the originating summons and all other accompanying processes in the suit on the 1st-11th Defendants by substituted means, to wit, by Advertisement in a National Newspaper.

Justice Okeaya-Inneh cited the salient pressing issues raised in the processes before the court and ordered accelerated hearing of the Motion-On-Notice.

He further directed the Bailiff of the court to effect service as a matter of urgency of “all the processes in the suit on the 1st–11th Defendants and thereafter adjourned the hearing on the suit to November 2, 2021.

Dear Sir,

RE: CA/PH/341/2021: PRINCE UCHE I SECONDUS V IBEAWUCHI E. ALEX & ORS. AND PENDENCY OF APPLICATION FOR INJUNCTION TO RESTRAIN THE HOLDING OF PP NATIONAL CONVENTION

We act for the Appellant in the above captioned matter, PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS, who was
the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), prior to the institution of Suit
Number PHC/2183/CS/2021, and wish to bring to your attention the following facts:

1. On 23 August 2021 one Mr Ibeawuchi E. Alex and four others jointly instituted Suit No
PHC/2183/CS/2021 at the High Court of Rivers State, PortHarcourt Judicial Division against Prince Uche Seconds and the PP as Defendants.

2. On 10 September 2021, the High Court of Rivers State delivered its judgment in the Suit
whereby Prince Uche Seconds was, inter alia, restrained from performing the functions of the office of National Chairman of the PDP.

3. An appeal has been filed and entered against the judgment at the Court of Appeal, PortHarcourt Judicial Division.

4. In addition, an Application on Notice has been filed in which Prince Uche Secondus is seeking, inter alia, the following orders:

i. AN ORDER of injunction restraining the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, the 6th Respondent herein, whether by itself, its officers, servants, agents and or representatives from holding or conducting its National Convention scheduled for 30th and 31st October 2021 or any other date, pending the hearing and final determination of this appeal.
ALTERNATIVELY TO I ABOVE

ii. AN ORDER that the parties to this appeal, particularly the Appellant/Applicant and the 6th Respondent (Peoples Democratic Party) shall maintain the status quo ante as at 22 August 2021, when Appellant/Applicant was occupying the office of National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, pending the hearing and final determination of this appeal.

5. The application has since been served on you and other Respondents in the appeal.

6. Notwithstanding the service of the Application for injunction, it has come to the Notice of our client that the PP and its officers continue to prepare to hold the National Convention on 30 and 31 October 2021.

7. This letter is intended to draw your attention to the position of the law of Nigeria on this subject as encapsulated in the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the celebrated case of GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE vs. CHIEF EMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU (1986) I NWLR (Part 18) 621 @ 637, in which the court, reviewed various decisions on the point, and approved the following principles as the correct position of the law, that is:

“The rule is well settled …… that where a suit is brought to enjoin certain activities ……of which the defendant has notice, the hands of the defendant are effectually tied pending a hearing and determination even though no restraining order or preliminary injunction be issued…..

The conclusion to be drawn from all the cases is that after a defendant has been notified of the pendency of a suit seeking an injunction against him even though a temporary injunction be not granted, he acts at his peril and subject to the power of the court to restore the status wholly irrespective of the merits as they may be ultimately decided.”

8. The same position was taken by the Court of Appeal in CHIEF ELIAS OKEKE-OBA vs. IKWUKA OKOYE (1994) 8 NWLR (364) 605 @ 617-618, where the court said as follows:

“The general practice is that on application for an order for interlocutory injunction, all activities affecting the res, ….are automatically terminated as a mark of respect to the court before whom the application is pending.…..if..parties to the suit senselessly rush their tortious trespassory activities…in the spacious belief that that would promote their unfounded claims to the res. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Such heedless posture is, to say the least, a fragrant disrespect to the court. It clearly, in my opinion amounts to intransigence for a party against whom an order for injunction is sought to intensify his interference with the res.. The court cannot be hoodwinked by such impropriety of unlawful acts in relation to the res.……Nor can the person in such disrespect be allowed to take advantage of his default and flagrant intransigence.”

9. The logical corollary of the foregoing pronouncements of the courts is that having been served with an application seeking to restrain the holding of its National Convention pending the determination of the appeal filed by Prince Uche Seconds, the PDP would be embarking upon a collision course with the court if it proceeds to hold the National Convention before the hearing and determination of the Application.

10. Should such contumacious conduct of holding the National Convention before the hearing
and determination of the Application be embarked upon by the Party however, we shall not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law against all national officers of the Party that are responsible for such conduct of contempt of court.

11. Quite apart from the fact that such contumacious conduct would impinge on the integrity of the Party, we would on our part, swiftly take steps to invoke the jurisdiction of the court to nullify any decision, action or step taken at such Convention.

We trust that you will wisely advise the Peoples’ Democratic Party and its officers in this regard.

Yours faithfully,

TAYO OYETIBO, SAN, FCIArb, FNIALS.

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Armed Forces and other security agencies in Nigeria to ensure that nothing stops the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

This is as the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno (retd), has said that the new leader of the Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP, Mallam Bako was two days ago killed by the military.

Recall that the Chief of Defense Staff, CDS, Lucky Irabor had told State House correspondents last week Thursday that the ISWAP leader, Abu Musab Al-barnawi was eliminated by the military.

Briefing journalists after the meeting of security chiefs presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the NSA, said President Buhari gave the armed forces the marching order in response to the heightened security challenges in Anambra state.

Monguno said, “The President has directed that under no circumstances will anything be allowed to stop the elections from taking place successfully. The people have a right to vote and select their leader.

“No group or individual will be allowed to stimulate anarchy and chaos, leading to murderous activities.

“The President has made it very clear that the Armed Forces and all law enforcement agencies must make sure that the elections take place even if it means overwhelming the entire environment with the presence of security agencies.

“There are so many implications for elections to be sabotaged by non-state actors; in the first place, we are in a democracy, secondly it is important to note that if these non-state actors should succeed in destroying the potentials for orderly elections, then it is natural that other parts of the country would also want to copy this same situation.”

He further said that in the last two months, the military has recorded a lot of successes in the fight against insurgency in the North-East zone of the country which put pressure on the ISWAP and the Boko Haram Islamic terrorists.

“The fact again is that the armed forces, the land forces have done an excellent job because in the span of one month we have been able to take out the leadership of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) – that is Abu Musab Al-barnawi.

“Two days ago, the man who succeeded him, one Malam Bako, one of the prominent leaders of the Shura Council of the Islamic State of West African Province, was also taken out.

“They are also contending with leadership crisis. You know these things are also accompanied with inherent issues of trust, conflicts, mutual suspicion and other things.

“So, the operations being conducted by the armed forces in the Northern parts of the country put a lot of pressure on the Islamic State of West African Province, Boko Haram and also the tangential group known as Islamic State in the Greatest Sahara.”

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, who also attended the meeting, reiterated that the Police are ready to ensure there is peace in Anambra and all other parts of the country.

He said, “In particular, we talked about the Anambra governorship election coming on 6th of November and we want to assure the people of Anambra State and all Nigerians that the government is committed to conducting that election.

“The election has to be free and fair, we are going to put every machinery in place to ensure that people are well secured. That is the only way to ensure that we promote democracy and good governance in this country.”

Among those at the meeting were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; and the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).

Others are the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao; Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Supreme Court in Abuja has declared Mr Valentine Ozigbo the authentic candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

The apex court, in a judgement delivered at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja on Thursday, October 21, reportedly threw out all the challenges to Ozigbo’s candidacy and awarded damage of N5 million against Senator Ugochukwu Uba.

The panel of justices, led by His Lordship, Justice Inyang Okoro, according to the report, affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal Awka Division delivered on September 3, which declared Ozigbo the authentic governorship candidate of the PDP.

Mr Ozigbo was present at the Supreme Court along with former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, and Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.