The governorship candidate of Action Peoples Party (APP) in Abia State, Hon. Mascot Kalu has said he fits well into what the people are yearning for in filling the leadership vacuum in the state.

Mascot, a former chief of staff said he is young, vibrant, and energetic, expressing hope that he will emerge victorious at the March 18 governorship election in the state.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sc3qBRbX7o

"I fit the profile of what Abia people are looking for, they want a young man who is experienced, I am a young man, I am experienced.

"So I fit the profile of what the people want, it will be a very competitive election, I hope to still come out standing tall", he told reporters shortly after the signing of peace accord among the governorship candidates on Thursday in Umuahia, the state capital.

Mascot said he is committed to the peace and stability of the state as someone who has not been associated at any point with acts of violence.

He commended the electoral management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC for shifting the date of the election from March 11 to 18 in order to get it right especially with regard to the reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) after the presidential and National Assembly elections.

He noted that the Feb. 25 National Assembly and Presidential polls witnessed logistics challenges, particularly with the late arrival of materials experienced, which resulted in elections continuing till late in the night, a development he said could give room to shenanigans and malpractices.

Mascot while urging INEC to adhere to their promises of conducting a free and fair governorship and state assembly elections said the 2023 election is an improvement from that of 2019.

A support group of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC Youths Sentinel has advised the national leadership of the party to zone the office of the Senate President of the 10th Senate to the Southeast geopolitical zone to reduce the separatist agitation in the region.

The group said this has become important in order to do justice to the political agreement between the North and the South, and to enhance national integration.

In a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Southeast Coordinator of the group, Mr. Brown Agunanne, the group said that, in line with the resolutions of the Progressives Governors Forum of the party that power should swap between the North and the South, the Office of the Senate President should naturally be zoned to the Southeast, since the outgoing occupant of the office hails from the Northeast geopolitical zone.

The group noted that in the South, the Southwest produced the Vice President and Speaker for the outgoing administration but now has the President-elect.

The South-South already has the office of the Deputy Senate President while the Southeast only has the Senate Chief Whip despite being one of largest ethnic groups in the country.

The Governorship candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Prof Greg Ibe has revealed how God has been saving him from diabolical attacks, known as juju.

This is even as he has appealed to Christian leaders in Abia State to partner with him in liberating Abia State from what he called evil powers and elements of backwardness.

Prof Ibe stated these at his campaign office in Umuahia during a meeting with leaders and members 5 blocks of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Abia State chapter.

Ibe revealed that his health began to experience some challenges immediately he declared his intention to contest for the 2023 Abia Governorship race but expressed appreciation to God for keeping him strong.

Ibe who used the meeting to reel out his plans for Abia if elected Governor, lamented the travails of Abia civil servants and pensioners who he said, are in terrible conditions occasioned by non-payment of their wages and stipends.

Ibe who dismissed the claims that he was dead or amputated, explained that the false stories were peddled by enemies of Abia State who are afraid of the coming developmental revolution.

The APGA guber candidate revealed that he has suffered several diabolical attacks by enemies of Abia, assured that God's hands of protection has kept him stronger in the tick of all the challenges.

"Subsequently, there is nothing they have not done to stop this mission of liberating and developing our State. In a desperate bid to stop me, they began spreading false rumours about me. They attacked my health with Juju and began to circulate evil reports that I have been amputated. They enlisted the partnership of some aggrieved politicians who went as far as falsifying someone's WAEC certificate and alleged it was mine."

"In order to make people hate me, they lied that former Governor T. A. Orji is sponsoring me. They even went as far as deploying money that would have been used in bettering the life of our people in funding some collaborators to go to several Courts against me. But no matter what they did, God of Ndi Abia said No!"

On why he offered 500 scholarship to intelligent students from poor homes, Ibe said the educational programs has been extended to Abians and non-Abians which in return, would produce well-trained future leaders.

Ibe, who also explained his free medical scheme in 17 LGAs of the State, said the free health program was used to save the lives of Abians, especially during the period of multiple industrial actions by different government-owned medical facilities.

He further alleged that some powerful persons in PDP denied him guber ticket for his refusal to share the State's resources to a few individuals, which he said, made him to quit PDP.

"Our State is decayed. Hospitals are not functioning. Civil servants and pensioners are being owed in our State. I offered free medical service to Abians in the 17 LGAs which the Abia State government could not give to Abians."

Prof Ibe also alleged that the Abia State government tried to eject his campaign office in Umuahia in a bid to frustrate his guber ambition.

In their responses during the interactive meeting, the Abia priests promised to work with Prof Ibe in the liberation of the State, if he wins the Abia guber.

The last may not have been heard of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries in Abia State which returned Chief Okey Ahiwe as the flag bearer of the party in the forthcoming March 11, 2023 election.

Reason: One of the aggrieved aspirants Mayor Lucky Igbokwe (Don Lulu) has approached the federal high court, Abuja in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/138/2022, which was transferred to the federal high court in Umuahia presided by Hon Justice E.N Anyadike, where he is seeking a nullification of the second primaries and the candidacy of Chief Ahiwe.

It could be recalled that the PDP Abia State chapter conducted its governorship primaries on 25 May, 2022 which produced the late Prof. Uche Ikonne. In that election Mayor Lucky Igbokwe was the first runner up, behind Ikonne.

However, as fate would have it, the PDP candidate (Ikonne) kicked the bucket before the conduct of the General Election. Rather than elevating the first runner up to become the party's standard bearer, the PDP National and INEC called for a fresh governorship primaries which returned Chief Ahaiwe as the new candidate of the party.

In the amended originating summons filed by Dr J.A AKUBO, SAN, the plaintiff claims among others, a Declaratory relief that he is the authentic candidate of PDP for Abia State Governorship election.

He also sought for Court's declaratory order that Ahiwe is not qualified to contest the fresh primary having not participated in the previous primary election hence his election should be nullified.

The ruling All Progressive's Congress Abia State has dismissed reports that it has suspended its Abia North Senatorial Candidate and Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu.

Denying the report which emanated from the "Vanguard Newspapers", the Party's Spokesperson, Okey Ezeala described the reports as the handiwork of the People's Democratic Party.

According to a terse statement signed by Ezeala the party distanced itself from the report stating that there is no iota of truth in it, the party also described the report as false, identifying the Vanguard Reporter "Steve Oko" as paid agent of Kalu’s PDP opponent Mao Ohuabunwa.

Ezeala said that the malicious write-up is occasioned by the PDP's fright to accept tomorrow's imminent defeat. According to the party, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu remains the candidate of our great party as both the party and his constituents are satisfied with his performance.

On the allegation of anti-party activities and other offenses, the party labeled the accusations as entirely false, stating that Orji Kalu has always remained a committed member of the party and its progress.

The party's Spokesperson added that there is no record of Orji Kalu campaigning against any of its candidates nor has the Senate Chief Whip campaigned for any other political candidate besides those of the APC.

The party urged its party faithful and the general public to disregard the report and head to their various polling units to cast their votes for its candidates.

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.