₦airaland Forum

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday nullified the Abia State governorship primary election of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA which produced Gregory Ibe as the winner, ABN TV reports.

The court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako also ordered the conduct of a fresh primary election within 14 days.

A chieftain of the party, Sir Chikwe Udensi had approached the court, urging the court to declare him the winner of the primary election.

An Owerri division of the Court of Appeal on Wednesday sacked Hon. Emeka Atuma as the APC senatorial candidate for Abia Central and reinstated Hon. Sam Onuigbo, member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency as the duly elected candidate of the party, ABN TV reports.

The court sets aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Umuahia, presided over by Justice Evelyn Anyadike which declared Atuma the winner of the primary election of the APC in Abia Central.

Onuigbo had insisted that Atuma did not take part in the primary election that produced him as the winner.

The trial judge said that APC held Abia Central senatorial Primary on the 28th, and 29th of May 2022, which did not produce any result.

Justice Anyadike held that the party held another one on June 7th 2022, which produced Emeka Atuma as the real candidate for Abia Central senatorial seat, saying it will be wrong for Onuigbo to rely on an inconclusive Primary for his case.

Reacting to the judgment, the federal lawmaker noted that the judgement is an indication that the judiciary remains the only hope of common man.

According to him, a lot of work was put into structuring the 2022 Electoral Act, expressing hope that as one of those who worked hard to ensure the actualisation of the piece of legislation, it will take the country's democracy to the next level.

"A lot of work was put into structuring the 2022 Electoral Act and it is my belief as one of those who worked hard on it that this important piece of legislation will strengthen our democracy and take it to the next level," he said.

Onuigbo also expressed gratitude to God for the provision of resources while the legal battle lasted, his team of lawyers, family, and the media for their support.

"My appreciation goes to God for the strength, provision of resources, and wisdom in this quest to ensure that justice is done. I also thank my family, my friends, my political team, my legal team, the media, and all my supporters for solidly standing behind me as we joined Abians, Nigerians, and indeed young people across the country to ensure that impunity did not reign. This victory is a triumph of justice. May we always work hard to enthrone justice wherever we find ourselves?

"I appeal to our entire party leadership and members, and Abians, to join hands with me for us to move to the next stage of ensuring that we enthrone in Abia Central, a good representation which I have symbolized over the years as is supported by my verifiable achievements. When good representation is enthroned, it is the people who win," he added.

Theophilus Okafor: How Senator Abaribe Cheated, Looted And Abandoned Abia Residents For 16 Years

He is very popular with Nigerians, especially those of South East extraction, over his bombastic and grandstanding speeches on the floor of the Nigerian Senate. For 16 straight years, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has stuck to the National Assembly like a leach, serenading Nigerians with ear-tingling speeches and acting as the champion or voice of the East.

But, for those familiar with the politics of Abia State and Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Abaribe is a man filled with words without any action. He has nothing to show in his senatorial district for the 16 long years he spent in the Senate.

Recently, a businessman at Ariaria Market in Aba, Hillary Nduka, asked a reporter in Igbere, in Abia North Senatorial District, if it was the same Senate that Abaribe and Kalu have been.

He said he could not understand how Abaribe failed to return anything to his constituency, while Orji Kalu has done over 60 roads in just four years.

Speaking shortly after he saw a road inaugurated by Kalu in Abia North, the trader said: “My brother, please, are Abaribe and Kalu in the same Senate? Or is Abaribe at the section where they only talk without doing anything? I mean, can you compare him with what Kalu or Senator Ike Ekweremadu have done in their zones? Why are we this unlucky in Abia South?”

In fact, in Abia South, it is a known fact that Abaribe now goes about blaming the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari for his failure to accomplish anything meaningful. But that is contrary to the facts on the ground.

For one, Abaribe has been PDP senator from 2007 to 2022. After recently losing out on the PDP governorship ticket in Abia State, he jumped ship to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. He promptly paid N15 million to the holder of the APGA senatorial ticket and became APGA candidate for Abia South Senatorial District.

His constituents said that for the critical period he was their senator, it was PDP that led at the centre, yet, Abaribe could not deliver a single project to his people.

“All the major federal roads in his constituency were not fixed, including Aba-Ikot Ekpene federal highway, Aba-Port Harcourt federal highway, and many others. Not even the road to his house was fixed,” a constituent said.

“Within the same period he has been at the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, Pius Anyim, and others ensured that many roads in their respective constituencies were fixed by the federal government, including the federal road leading from Okigwe to Afikpo, Achi-Mmaku-Awgu-Mpu-Okpanku- Akaeze road, Ugwueme-Nenwe-Ezere-Mgbidi-Mmaku-Agwunta and Obeagu roads among others,” said a constituent, who preferred not to be named.

Indeed, in the first 12 years, Abaribe was at the Senate, he was literally sleeping until PDP made him the minority leader. That was when he found his voice, especially when the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) became strong in the South East. He moved to secure bail for the leader of the group, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and made a political gain of it as the champion of the Igbo cause.

“We challenge him to show what he did on the floor of the Senate to better the lives of his people. Everything about Senator Abaribe is deceitful, including his public claim of signing a bail bond for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” a party leader said. “Reliable sources say that it was actually Senator Ekweremadu that posted the bond of N100 million and merely brought in Abaribe because he was the ranking senator from Abia State at that time. We challenge Senator Abaribe to come out publicly and contradict this fact.”

Said another PDP leader in his Constituency: “On the statement by Governor Wike that Abaribe was given money, we have since confirmed that the latter approached Wike for the money. He was initially given $100,000 and later N100 million. When Senator Abaribe received the initial $100,000, he lied to his supporters that it was given to him to support his governorship ambition under PDP, whereas it was actually settlement money. He later received another N100,000,000, and other agreed support being refund of his claimed campaign expenses and promised to remain in PDP as a result of that.”

He added that Senator Abaribe’s greatest political blunder must be his recorded denial of receiving money from Governor Wike because, unknown to him, the Rivers governor has evidence that he planned to publish.

After collecting $100,000 from Governor Wike, Senator Abaribe paid N15,000,000 to buy the APGA ticket from Don Ezenwa Nwankwo, who was then the APGA candidate for Abia South Senatorial District, to step down for him. Nwankwo, in turn, later used part of the money to acquire the senatorial ticket of YPP and is currently running against Abaribe, who has been threatening to “deal with him” for taking his money to run against him.

While Senator Abaribe is blaming Buhari and APC for his inability to achieve anything in his nearly 16 years at the Senate, he craftily forgot that he was also a senator during the years PDP held power at the centre with nothing to also show for it. Yet he wants another four years to waste at the Senate as if it is his birthright.

In four years of being in the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu has attracted more than 60 road projects to Abia North, whereas Abaribe’s highest achievement is abusing everyone that disagrees with his docile and ineffectual style of representation. He even boasted on television about his arrogance and neglect of Abia people.

Abaribe blamed PDP national leadership for the use of a three-man delegate during the primaries of the party but forgot that he was among the senators that voted and passed the 2022 electoral law that gave birth to it. It is instructive that he claimed not to have been aware of passing that clause because he has never spent one-second reading any piece of legislation but makes noise everywhere while his mates are achieving concrete results.

On the Electoral Act, Abaribe was on record to have said: “The National Working Committee of PDP misinterpreted Section 84 (, there was no amendment that has led to the wrong interpretation of the electoral act section 84( by our NWC.”

“Every party has a constitution, and parties are bound by their constitution. What this means is that the persons that should vote in primaries are well spelt out in their constitutions

“Section 84( of the electoral act states that “elected delegates” will vote in primaries and conventions. It will be subject to judicial interpretation if someone challenges it”

“It was to prevent such unnecessary litigation that NASS did an amendment to define what it means by elected delegates to include what is specified in the parties constitutions.

“That our party chose to define it that narrowly was a function of a meeting in the last couple of days between NWC and PDP Governors without NASS members, who actually would have provided more insight into it.

“So you can see that it has nothing to do with any conflict(s) between legislature and executive,” he further stated.

Moreover, while Abaribe was negotiating for his APGA ticket, he never informed other PDP gubernatorial aspirants he was misleading them, and they all ended up withdrawing from the primaries to pave way for the emergence of Abaribe’s schoolmate as PDP candidate.

When some of the PDP aspirants realised what happened, they all dissociated themselves from Abaribe and his treachery. He also failed to negotiate with APGA leadership for his supporters when he left the PDP, as is typical of the fabled most selfish politician in Abia State, thereby leaving them stranded.

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has lost his campaign council chairman, Hon. Mazi Nnanna Ngwu, ABN TV reports.

Hon. Ngwu died on 23rd November 2022 in an undisclosed hospital in Owerri, Imo state after a brief illness.

He hails from Amuvi in Arochukwu LGA, Abia State.

Late Ngwu's daughter Mrs. Chinatu Akwiwu confirmed his death to ABN TV in a WhatsApp message on Monday.

"It’s with deep sense of sorrow and sadness we announce the passing of our Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, pastor and Friend (Hon) Mazi Nnanna Ngwu.

"A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. These are very difficult times for the family," she said.

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has said the only political party existing in the state is the People's Democratic Party, PDP and that the rest are mushroom political parties, some of which he has not heard before until recently.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCKiCiimj6g


Speaking at the official flag-off of the governorship, National, and state Assembly campaign in Umuahia on Thursday, the governor said some of those jostling to win elections in the state have no electoral value.

According to him, they were picked from the dustbin where the PDP dumps dissents and recalcitrant people and as such are no threat to the victory of the party's candidates in the 2023 general elections.

"There is no other political party in Abia state apart from the PDP, I have seen some few individuals that are jostling for various offices in some small mushroom parties, some of them we've not heard about it before until late days.

"Incidentally the candidates of these small parties were shopped from the dustbin of the PDP, we have a big dustbin where we throw away relegated and recalcitrant people.

"They went there and picked a few dregs, individuals without consequence at all and of zero electoral value. That is why today we are sure and confident that all our candidates in the PDP will win elections clearly and squarely," he said.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has expressed optimism that all PDP candidates would emerge victorious in the 2023 elections because his administration has affected Abians positively and that PDP candidates are of men of character.

The governor stated this on Thursday at Umuahia Township Stadium at the official flag-off of Abia PDP electioneering campaigns for the Governorship, National Assembly, and State House of Assembly candidates in next year's elections.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3U-5SSKXWI

According to the Governor, no other political party exists in Abia State and those that claim to exist are people of zero electoral value, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said in a statement.

The governor he said expressed hope the incoming administration of the party's governorship candidate, Prof. Uche Ikonne would sustain his legacies in the State.

The release read in part, "In their various speeches, the members of the G-5 PDP Integrity Governor's Group including Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State urged Abians to remain resolute in PDP, assuring that they are ready to take Nigeria out of its present challenges. They said what they stand for is equity fairness and justice and assured they are strong in their States and are committed to wining elections.

"The Governors, who congratulated all candidates that received flags, expressed hope that they would win and assured that the G5 would support the PDP candidates in the State. They described Governor Ikpeazu as a performer and man of integrity who is trusted.

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has blasted a certain Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who is from Obingwa local government area of Abia state, accusing him of not having integrity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imKQJCXHMlw
He said the Senator came to him, threatening to leave PDP, and when asked what he wanted, he said he needs funds.

Speaking at the flag-off of the Abia governorship campaign and other elective positions in Umuahia on Thursday, Wike who came along with members of his G-5, popularly known as Integrity Governors urged the people of Abia South not to vote for the Senator again, saying a person who lacks integrity cannot represent a people.

Dressed in his traditional ishiagu attire and red cap, Wike said, "Today we commissioned a road in Obingwa local government and I am sure that person is from Obingwa local government.

"I don't want to tell you what I did, he promised me that he will not leave PDP, and I came and told your governor, your brother said he will not leave PDP.

"And I said, what do we do, he said he needs some money, we gave him the money today, three days time, he left the PDP. Do they have integrity?"

Residents of Umuahia, Abia State capital are currently in fear following the discovery of another lifeless body in the street in the early hours of Wednesday, ABN TV reports.

This is one of the series of lifeless bodies discovered in the street of the capital city in recent times.

The latest was sighted around Ozuitem by Owerri road Umuahia, sending fear in the minds of the residents.

They told ABN TV that they woke up to the development but could not identify him or tell what led to his death.

The police have since evacuated his corpse for autopsy and possible investigation.

Former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah says he dedicated the court judgement affirming him as the authentic governorship candidate of APC in Abia to the entire people of the state who had waited patiently for the day to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W56j27SCaXA
The court by the judgement sacked the erstwhile governorship candidate of APC, High Chief Ikechi Emenike.

"I want to thank all Abia's people who hoped for this day to be realised. I want to say thanks to all of them.

"To the party, I appreciate them, all the party members that have worked hard, our women that have been in prayers, our youths that have been in prayers, our men that have been in prayers, all of them, I say thank you," he told ABN TV in Abuja on Friday.

He said God has made the 11/11 a great day for all Abians, even as he appreciates those who have called for the "landmark victory".

According to the former minister, it was like it was not going to happen but God made it happen when He took control.

Abia State government has said it is not against Peter Obi's visit to the state where he is scheduled to hold a rally on Thursday or any other presidential candidate for that matter but expressed concern that it does not want the peaceful atmosphere to be detailed.

The government in a statement on Thursday signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barr. Eze Chikamnayo said the state Governor has a profile of political tolerance and enhancing democratic participation and will not stop the visit of Peter Obi for his political engagements.

The government, therefore, called for the maintenance of the existing peace and stability in the state and urged for proper use of the facility, even as schools remain in the section at the planned venue for the rally, the Ngwa High School Aba.

The statement read in part, "That the venue of the Proposed Rally, Ngwa High School, Aba is one of the Government Schools recently released to some Religious Institutions and other Groups on the probational basis as contained in the Executive Council Resolution authorising the exercise. Thus, the control, use, and or misuse of such privilege by any of the beneficiaries will determine Government decision as it affects such Institutions.

"Therefore, those ignorant political pretenders purporting that Ngwa High School is an independent, self-governing island within the Abia State territory are only hallucinating. Their purported approval from their misguided moles will only lead them to oblivion as there can never exist two Governments within the elected authority in Abia State.

"That all Schools in Abia operate a uniform calendar as per resumption, mid-term breaks, and conclusion of terms as approved and supervised by the Ministry of Education, Abia State. Willful alteration of the such calendar to pander to vested political interests by any Institution within the State will be met with commensurate sanctions.

"That management of Ngwa High School or any other public Institution entrusted by Government with the solemn responsibility of protecting the overall interest of Abia Children cannot recklessly purport to unilaterally discharge that responsibility without first obtaining the written approval of the government through the relevant supervising Ministry in accordance with extant laws.

"Regrettably, a certain diminutive, perennial Governorship Candidate whose questionable antecedents in the mismanagement of public institutions is common knowledge in Abia State is latching in on the genuine aspiration of Mr Peter Obi to instigate unrest and garner undeserved attention. This desperate individual together with his bitter gang of political dropouts knowing that they lack integrity, reputation and capacity are creating an erroneous impression that the goodwill enjoyed by Mr Peter Obi and other Presidential Candidates from the Government and people of Abia State can be used as a smokescreen to cover their notoriety and lack of acceptable.

An Abia state high court in Umuahia Abia state in the early hours of Tuesday sealed the First Bank PLC headquarters off bank road and Uzuakoli road branch in Umuahia, ABN TV reports.

According to a source who spoke with ABN TV, the development hampered operations in the bank as the enforcement team stormed the bank, sealing the gate at 7am.

The sealing is not unconnected with a judgement debt totaling 5 million dollars.

Metrix147:
Following the escalating insecurity in recent times especially at the wake of a terror alert by the United States on Abuja, a leading online media company in Nigeria, ABN TV has announced the postponement of its 2022 service awards earlier billed to hold in this year.

The organisation says it is concerned about the safety of guests who will be flying in from various parts of the country and beyond, announcing that the award ceremony will take place at a later date when security situations improve.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the chairman central planning committee of ABN TV Service awards, Amb. Alex Nwankwo while expressing regret over the shift in date apologized to award nominees and partners who had been looking forward to this event.

Amb. Nwankwo, therefore, noted that the company's management will announce a new date when the award will hold in Abuja.

He also cited the closure of the Sheraton Hotel Hotel by the new management for renovation as further reason for the postponement of the award.

It was billed to take place at Sheraton Hotel Abuja but security concerns in recent times has caused a change in date, a development the company says it regrets.

In recognition of men and women who have impacted humanity through selfless services, ABN TV had set up the award to spur them to do more.

Source: https://abntv.com.ng/news/abn-tv-shifts-2022-service-awards/

Cc; lalasticlala, Mynd44, Seun, OAM4J

Following the escalating insecurity in recent times especially at the wake of a terror alert by the United States on Abuja, a leading online media company in Nigeria, ABN TV has announced the postponement of its 2022 service awards earlier billed to hold in this year.

The organisation says it is concerned about the safety of guests who will be flying in from various parts of the country and beyond, announcing that the award ceremony will take place at a later date when security situations improve.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the chairman central planning committee of ABN TV Service awards, Amb. Alex Nwankwo while expressing regret over the shift in date apologized to award nominees and partners who had been looking forward to this event.

Amb. Nwankwo, therefore, noted that the company's management will announce a new date when the award will hold in Abuja.

He also cited the closure of the Sheraton Hotel Hotel by the new management for renovation as further reason for the postponement of the award.

It was billed to take place at Sheraton Hotel Abuja but security concerns in recent times has caused a change in date, a development the company says it regrets.

In recognition of men and women who have impacted humanity through selfless services, ABN TV had set up the award to spur them to do more.

A 34-year-old man identified as Offor Uchenna has been stabbed to death by a soldier attached to a Chinese construction company in Umuahia, Abia state, ABN TV reports.

ABN TV gathered that an altercation ensued between the duo at about 10am on Saturday around Umuahia railway station.

The private soldier, Saeed Sabo of the 82 division of Nigerian Army Enugu was said to have stabbed Uchenna, a native of Olokoro Umuahia in Umuahia South Abia state on the right hand of his chest, below his breast.

He was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia for treatment where he was certified dead.

ABN TV reports that the suspect has been handed over to the Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The deceased has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

The Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, Professor Azubuike Onyebuchi has spoken on what he intends to do with donations, gifts, and all proceeds from his father's burial which took place recently.

Pa Micah Onyebuchi, a former deputy local government chairman in Abia state and a former chairman of Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), was given Thursday aid to rest at his country home last week Amuzukwu Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA.

He passed on at the graceful age of 90.

Speaking to ABN TV shortly after the funeral his son, Prof. Onyebuchi disclosed that the burial proceeds will be channeled into endowing a charity foundation in honour of the memory of his late father.

This he further said was the last instruction his late father gave to him before passing away last June 2022.

The foundation to be named after his father is also to immortalize his love for humanity.

Prof. Onyebuchi said as means of encouraging the good virtues of his late father, the family will institute a Foundation under his name, “All the proceeds, all the things, support people gave me in burying my father will be used as seed money as an endowment fund for the foundation, I am not touching anything, I am going to use it in establishing a Foundation," he stated.