The Action People Party (APP) candidate for Abia North senatorial district, Adije Ifeanyichukwu Kingsley has announced his decision to step down from the contesting, supporting his APC opponent, the incumbent Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu.

This is coming barely 48 hours to the Feb. 25 presidential and National Assembly elections in which Sen. Kalu a former governor of Abia State is expected to slug it out at the polls with other contestants.

Mr. Kingsley told ABN TV on Thursday that Sen. Kalu is the most credible candidate among other contestants seeking to represent the senatorial district.

He urged his supporters to vote for APC in the senatorial contest and vote for APP candidates at other levels of the elections.

Mr. Kingsley assured his loyalists that Sen. Kalu will continue in his track record of outstanding performance in delivering democratic dividends to them.

Senator representing Abia North senatorial district, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu has said he is running his campaign on the record of achievements he has made since his election in the Senate, saying he has nobody challenging him in the Feb. 25 National Assembly election.

Sen. Kalu, the Senate Chief Whip who said he is almost a consensus candidate in the upcoming election boasted that he will record 85% of the total vote cast.

While noting that he has defeated the PDP candidate, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa in the past, the former Abia governor said he will trounce his opponents at the polls again.

Featuring on Arise TV's Morning Show on Tuesday monitored by ABN TV, Sen. Kalu said his constituents are happy with the massive projects he has attracted both in road infrastructure and empowerment, expressing hope that they will return him to the Senate on Saturday.

"You just read that I was given an award by the press corps of the Senate as one of the best Senators sitting in that chamber, they also gave me an award as best Senator that has human relations to interact with staff of the National Assembly.

"If one or two people decide to call themselves a group to campaign against me, that is a group, all the churches here have endorsed my candidature, I have the Catholic Bishop of our Diocese, I have the Prelate of the entire Presbyterian church, I have the Methodist Church, the Anglican Church, all of them have endorsed me.

"The election is just few days away and the results will show. I am very proud that I have represented my constituency very well, we constructed roads where there have never been roads, places where people used to carry farm produce on their heads to their villages.

"Go to Ohafia local government, go to Umuneochi local government, go to Isuikwuato local government, go to Bende and Arochukwu local governments, the story is the same.

"We are not only doing roads, just five days ago, but we also gave about 496 communities cassava grinding machines because I received a stewardship report and I saw that was a challenge.

"Let me tell you, we are running this election as almost consensus candidate, we are going to make 85 percent of votes cast on the ballots and that is the truth", he declared.

Chief Whip of the Senate and a stalwart of the governing All Progressives Congress APC, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu has said the party's presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will become the country's next president and will be sworn-in May 29 when the tenure of the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari will wind down.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGcKVAESEQk

The presidential election will hold on Saturday, February 25 in which Tinubu and 17 other contestants will slug it out at the polls to determine the next president of Nigeria.

Featuring on Channels TV's The 2023 Verdict on Monday monitored by ABN TV, Sen Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State said APC has the nationwide support to win the presidential election.

When asked if the lingering Naira notes scarcity will affect the chances of the party to retain the presidential seat, Sen. Kalu it will not, urging Nigerians to exercise more patience as the naira notes issues will be resolved.

"We are larger in number, we are bigger and we are going to win the election. Tinubu is the next President and Commander-in-chief of Nigeria", he said.

He added, "The membership of our party, we have huge followers, we also have huge support by the Nigerian people, this is what gives me the confidence".

A 32-year-old Mr. Ifeanyi Omai Kalu Ubaka, popularly known as Kabaka who was stabbed to death on Jan. 22 is set for final burial on Feb. 11, 2023.

ABN TV gathered that late Ifeanyi Ubaka was stabbed to death after a disagreement with a yet-to-be-identified person on Sunday evening 22nd January 2023 at Eket Street by Umuwaya Umuahia, Abia State, and his body was dumped at FMC Umuahia with a fake identity.

Ubaka who hails from Ndi Inyima compound, Ebem Ohafia in Ohafia local government area of Abia State was allegedly stabbed by unknown assailants and later taken to FMC Umuahia by some persons who submitted fake identities.

A burial arrangement released on behalf of the family by Uche Omai Ubaka said a candle night will be held in honour of the deceased on Friday, Feb. 10 at Crowther Street/Calabar road Umuahia, his former business premises.

He will be laid to rest after a church service in his country home, Ebem Ohafia Abia State on Saturday, Feb. 11.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has declared that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has no governorship candidate for the 2023 election in Abia State, ABN TV reports.

A unanimous verdict of a three-member panel of justices read by Justice Stephen Adah on Wednesday ruled that the failure of the party to conduct a valid primary within the time set by law robbed it of the opportunity to participate in the elections.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had in December 2022 nullified the May 29, 2022 primary of APGA in Abia on the grounds of irregularities in the conduct.

The court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako then ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days.

The primary has been marred by controversy with Prof Greg Ibe, Etigwe Uwa and Chikwe Udensi all laying claims to the governorship ticket.

A chieftain of the People's Democratic Party, PDP in Abia state, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, better known as Don Lulu has kicked against plans to introduce new contestants in the race to replace Prof. Uche Ikonne who before his death last week was the PDP governorship candidate in Abia.

Don Lulu in a chat with ABN TV on Tuesday said the new Electoral Act 2022 allows for a fresh primary in the event that a candidate is incapacitated, late or by reason of resignation.

He wondered why those who were not part of the primary election held last year will be part of the Feb. 4 contest to replace Prof. Ikonne.

"One of the things people are wondering about is, those people coming in as new contestants, they have not gone to the 17 local government areas to consult people, people were not invited, especially the party people, just like we did by moving around the 17 local governments.

"Moving around the 17 local governments enables you to know the people's needs, what they want, it's like interacting with the grass root", he said.

Don Lulu who was the youth ambassador of Prof. Ikonne Campaign Council wondered what the reason for introducing new contestants is.

He thanked the national leadership of the PDP for opening the contest for those who took part in the previous exercise that produced Prof. Ikonne as winner.

Don Lulu came second in the contest.

The Abia State leadership of the People's Democratic Party, PDP had micro-zoned its governorship ticket to Isialangwa North, the home local government of the late holder, Prof. Ikonne.

There are indications that the chief of staff to the Governor, Chief Okey Ahiwe may be the favoured aspirant.

Indications have emerged that Sir Okey Ahiwe the Chief of Staff to Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu may emerge as the replacement for the late Prof. Eleazear Uche Ikonne who before his death was the governorship candidate of the party in Abia, a reliable source told ABN TV.

This comes ahead of the Feb. 4 primary election in which a candidate is expected to emerge from Isialangwa North, the home local government of the late Prof. Ikonne, a former Abia State University, Uturu vice-chancellor.

The party had zoned the ticket back to Isialangwa North to make up for the chances of the zone following the passage of Prof. Ikonne in Abuja after a brief illness at the National Hospital in the nation's capital.

At the moment, Chief Sir Okey Ahiwe, Prince C. O Enweremadu who is the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Barr. Bob Ogu Commissioner for Works have all obtained their nomination and expression of interest forms and are ready to test their popularity among the delegates participating in the primary election.

A source who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity says though the three cabinet members are trusted allies of the governor, the most favoured is the chief of staff who is believed to have demonstrated capacity ever since his appointment by the governor as chief of staff.

His appointment last year followed the resignation of the erstwhile Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor ACB Agbazuere, from Isialangwa South who had quit to pursue his political ambition, where he is seeking to represent Isialangwa North/South Federal Constituency of Abia State.

Our source said Chief Ahiwe's closeness to the governor in the last one year has given him an edge over other contestants as the governor is believed to have narrowed his choice of a successor to his chief of staff.

Born in December 1966, Chief Sir Okey Ahiwe who hails from Umuire Village in Eziama Ntigha Autonomous Community of Isiala-Ngwa North LGA also has age on his side at 54. Aside from this, as the founding president of Ngwa Patriots Forum, he enjoys the support of the Ukwa la Ngwa political bloc as well as leaders of PDP from the zone.

The Chief of Staff is also believed to be experienced in the handling of government affairs, especially with his closeness to authorities since April last year. He is also one of the front runners without any trace of corruption or any invitation from anti-corruption agencies.

Sources say his loyalty to the governor is unquestionable and is most likely to emerge as the party's flag bearer after the Feb. 4 primary election. The governor is yet to however visibly canvas for support for any other three cabinet members jostling to succeed him.

The dream of a Chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Abia state, Prof. Gregory Ibe to lead Abia may still be tall as the West African Examination Council, WAEC says it does not have his certificate which he had submitted to INEC as part of his academic qualifications.

This comes as one Prince Uchechukwu Adiele institutes a legal action against Prof. Ibe before a chief magistrate court in Aba, Abia State.

In an affidavit obtained by ABN TV and deposed to by one Mrs. Charles-Ekenma Chioma Ugoeze, the head of administration of West African Examination Council, WAEC Owerri zone, Imo state the council said it could not verify whether a candidate bearing the name Ibe Gregory sat the 1992 November/December School Certificate Examination as such name was not found in its record.

It says rather the name that matched with the examination number 04834360 which Prof. Ibe parades is Ibe Joseph and not Ibe Gregory.

The court had mandated WAEC to produce the certified true copy of Prof. Gregory Ibe's academic record as a witness.

The affidavit reads in part, "That candidate 04834360 according to the Council's records belong to one IBE JOSEPH.

"That the West African Examination Council does not produce or custody duplicate copies of Notification of Results or certificates and is unable to provide any.

"That the physical entry forms for 1992 WASSCE examinations have been disposed of but the entry details for candidate 04834360 for the 1992 Nov./Dec. school certificate examination are as captured and attached herewith as Exhibit WA1.

"That the West African Examination Council certifies that the Candidate on its records is IBE JOSEPH with the entry details as attached.

"That the West African Examination Council states that by its records the Candidate with Examination Number 04834360 bears the name, IBE JOSEPH and not IBE GREGORY and that both names are not attached to the same Candidate's examination number.

"That this Statement on Oath is made in compliance with the Order of this Honourable Court.

"That I verily believe the above-stated facts to be true to the best of my knowledge as found in the West African Examination Council's records".

A 1992 true copy of the original certificate with the number 04834360 bore the name Ibe Joseph.

It was certified on Dec. 5, 2022 by one Akinola Omole, the Deputy Registrar, private candidates' examination department.

This may lay to rest the controversy surrounding the founder of Gregory University founder's academic record.

His victory as the governorship candidate of APGA is currently being contested as an Abuja Federal High Court earlier voided the primary election that produced him and directed a fresh primary within 14 days.

He has however appealed the judgement.

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has denied allegations by Abia State chapter of APC that he is playing anti-party politics against the party, saying there is no truth in such.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_JjEq4ZWcQ
The former Abia governor featuring on a TV programme monitored by ABN TV said he only has a younger brother, Mascot Uzor-Kalu who is seeking the governorship of the state, noting that he will not deny his brother his constitutional right to aspire for a political office.

He insists he is a loyal member of the APC and will always work for its success, dismissing claims that he is subtly working for Mascot's success at the polls as against Ikechi Emenike who is the APC governorship candidate in Abia.

"My brother has a right to contest to become governor, I am not my brother, my brother can aspire to anything he likes as far as the people take him into confidence, but me as a man, I cannot betray my party.

"I will vote for my party, I will stand by my party, and anybody who wants to say anything, let the person go ahead and say it. I am APC man, the national chairman (Sen. Abdullahi Adamu) was my colleague, he knows I am a man of a very strong character", he stated.

He said he has never campaigned against his party the APC and at the same time can't stop his brother from seeking election.

The Abia North Senator called on the people to ignore what he called gossip, stressing that the people of Abia will choose who they want as their governor.

He said the rumours against him is borne out of hatred, calling on Igbo to stop hating themselves and observe fairness at all times.

Mascot Uzor-Kalu, a former chief of staff in the state is seeking governorship office on the platform of Action Peoples Party, APP.

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has called on the federal government to obey the Court of Appeal ruling that discharged and acquitted the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of terrorism charges.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pG9XJY9yxI

Sen. Kalu, representing Abia North senatorial district made the call on Wednesday while featuring on a TV programme monitored by ABN TV.

"If court of competent jurisdiction says you should give him bail, give him bail, because we are a country of law and order", he said.

Sen. Kalu, a former Abia State Governor cited a case where a water project was ordered stop in Aba by Court of Appeal during his tenure as state chief executive, saying the project is still where he left it over fifteen years after he left office.

He urged the government to obey orders of the court irrespective of their misgivings, in the spirit and letters of the rule of law and separation of power.

The lawmaker said building a new Nigeria will start with respecting court decisions, urging that the window of appeal should be utilized instead.

Appeal Court had discharged and acquitted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of terrorism charges brought against him by the federal government.

After months of speculations on the whereabouts of the People's Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate in Abia state, Prof. Uche Ikonne, the state Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has finally opened up, saying the former ABSU vice chancellor is ill and recovering gradually and progressively.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ4FMmezlww
According to the Governor, Prof. Ikonne had attended some rallies organised by the PDP in Abia, including "the biggest rally that has happened" in Umuahia when the G-5 governors came to the state to flag off the campaigns.

Speaking on Flo FM radio programme on Monday monitored by ABN TV, Gov. Ikpeazu said Prof. Ikonne was also present in his house when a gala night was organized in honour of the G-5 Governors till 2am where he managed to give a speech "and then he took ill".

"It is unfortunate that he is lately indisposed but I want to report some progress and the progress is that Prof. Ikonne is recovering gradually and progressively.

"He has left the hospital and is going through convalescence. I am sure that he will be strong enough in the future to join," he said.

The governor insisted that his party the PDP is "very very powerful" in the state, maintaining that there is no other party that can boast of the strength PDP wields.

"Some of them may have supporters in one or two local governments but across Abia, they can't put 100 people each across Abia" he said.

He called of the people of the state to keep hope alive, saying the governorship candidate will soon bounce back, stating that his absence at this time will not define the progress of the campaigns or agenda of PDP in the state.

The governor said it might be the wish of their detractors that Prof. Ikonne's absence will linger, stating that when he (governor) was ill, permutations changed and people were allocating positions to themselves.

"I'm sure they even appropriated my wife to themselves," the governor said.

Member representing Bende federal constituency of Abia State and spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu has said the presidential candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has the welfare of Igbo man at heart, calling on all sons and daughters of the region to support him win the Feb. 25 presidential election.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlKnjE2Kbuo

He said his support for Tinubu’s victory as a party man is not borne out of sentimental considerations but reality, stating that the GDP of an Igbo average Igbo man in Lagos has increased as a result of mechanisms Tinubu put in place while he was governor of the state.

Featuring on ABN TV's current affairs programme, Political Perspective, the lawmaker said Tinubu’s innovations have raised so many millionaires of Igbo extraction in Lagos State in the area of commerce and industry.

Rep. Kalu also said Tinubu has an enviable track record of appointing Igbo persons into his cabinet while he was governor, one of whom has ascended the ladder to become the director of Budget Office, a department in the ministry of finance.

"An office as strategic as that, Mr. Ben Nwabueze cut his teeth as a member of Tinubu’s cabinet which has seen him where he is today, he didn't give it to a Yoruba man, he didn't give it to Hausa man, he called my brother, a sound mind, a God-fearing man to hold that position.

"He has ruggedly held that position for the benefit of Nigeria through thick and thin, who discovered him? Not Igbo man but Tinubu.

"The Igbo man holds one of the most important positions in this country and that is Ben Nwabueze, he runs the country's budget, he decides what goes where, nominated, appointed, supported, showcased, started by Bola Ahmed Tinubu", he stated.

While agreeing that the Igbo needs to be president of the country as well, Rep. Kalu said the region needs the support of other geopolitical zones as votes from South East alone cannot produce the country's president.

According to him, without a structure that will embrace other regions, producing a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction will be difficult.

"Peter Obi is a good man, but you need more than a good man to be president, Peter Obi is educated, but you need more than an educated man to be president of Nigeria.

"I'm not talking about structure or no structure, how long has he built inter-regional politics? How much has he invested in making his name a household name in the hinterlands of the North, hinterlands of the Yoruba land, and other groups across Nigeria" referring to the presidential candidate of Labour Party who hails from the South East region.

While stating that Peter Obi has started a good step, he expressed doubt if the step is enough to produce the desired result in the upcoming election.

He called on the people of South East region to support Bola Tinubu to become president for the good of the region.

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu says he will stand as surety for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu if granted bail again.

“I will stand surety for him (Kanu) if the Federal Government wants to release him to me,” Kalu said on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm programme aired on Tuesday monitored by ABN TV.

Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, also believed the Federal Government will respect the next court judgement on the bail of the embattled IPOB leader.

The federal lawmaker said he is close to the family of Kanu in the Afaraukwu Ibeku area of Abia but the IPOB leader and his family did not listen to his counsel.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State says he is satisfied with the legacy of peace and harmony his administration has entrenched in the State which he said has given rise to the colourful celebrations, busy streets, while public places are swamped with an unprecedented influx of people from all over.

The governor in his new year message on Sunday said the peace and tranquility in Abia State is not a fluke or a by-the-way occurrence but a product of a deliberate State policy.

"Policy of justice and equity to all tendencies. Policy of accommodation and civility. Policy of mutual love and understanding. Policy of political tolerance and accommodation. Policy of nobody’s ambition is worth the peace of Abia State.

"After almost 8 years, I make bold to state that my greatest achievement as Governor is the fostering of an atmosphere of peace and unity in Abia State which has enabled tremendous developments across sectors", the governor said.

While stating that Abia is easily the most peaceful State in the South East and one of the most peaceful states in the whole Federation, Governor Ikpeazu thanked all the stakeholders, especially the security agencies and their personnel, who have played enormous roles to keep the peace in Abia State.

He also thanked Abians across every strata for being peaceful and law-abiding.

"We will work until our last day in office to continue to maintain the peace in the state. Above all, we are grateful to God as a people. As is inevitable, our second 4-year tenure will wind to an end on May 29 this year when I shall be handing over to the next elected Governor of Abia State. I however hasten to remind us all that Government is a continuum. It is a relay where you pass the baton to the next racer after you complete your own circle. I shall be completing my circle on May 29, 2023, and will –God keeping us alive – hand over to my successor.

"I am proud of the State I will be handing over to my successor. I state unequivocally that I will be handing over an Abia State far better than the one I met across diverse parameters.

"I state without reservation that our administration has made the most investment in critical infrastructure since the creation of Abia State. From roads to hospitals, schools to public buildings and other critical segments, we have definitely made indelible marks.

"Our administration is bequeathing the first fly-over in Abia State at Osisioma. Our administration has built the highest number of roads in Abia State since inception. To date, we have completed more than 160 roads and counting.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has enlisted the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency of Abia State, Rep. Sam Onuigbo as the authentic candidate of All Progressives Congress APC for Abia Central senatorial district.

This follows the ruling of Court of Appeal Owerri division which pronounced Onuigbo the authentic candidate for the senatorial district.

The court has sacked Hon. Emeka Atuma as the candidate of Abia Central Senatorial District, saying the election that produced him did not follow due process.

A check by ABN TV on INEC list indicates that Hon. Atuma's name has been replaced with Rep. Onuigbo.

The lawmaker has since hailed the Appeal Court ruling which pronounced him the authentic candidate for the senatorial district, saying it is an indication that the judiciary remains the only hope of common man.