Former governor of Kano state and current Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Kabiru Gaya has expressed his desire for the Southern region of the country to produce the next President of Nigeria. The Kano South Senator said that with the completion of President Buhari’s eighth year tenure in 2023, it would be unfair for the North to vie for the nation’s number one position again.

In this exclusive interview with Saturday Sun, the former governor of Kano State who is spending his 14th year in the red chamber of the National Assembly disclosed the reasons he engineered the de-registering of over 70 political parties, even as he disclosed further that more out of the current 18 political parties will still be de-registered. He answered questions from KENNETH UDEH on these issues and more at his office in Abuja.

This is your 14th year in the Nigerian Senate , can you describe how the journey has been so far?



First of all I thank Almighty God for giving me the opportunity, ability, life, and the strength to contest the senatorial seat four times and come back into the senate, I thank God for the opportunity and the ability. I really appreciate being here since 1999, there have been requests from my people since I didn’t get the governorship seat I should come back to the senate and I did . Initially, I rejected twice to join the senate, later on, I decided to join , I was able to win the election and then come into senate.

I don’t lie, it is a blessing to come into senate because, after being a governor of a state you come to senate, you learn more about the national politics and also the national problems and you as a senator or a legislator has to entertain and be able to solve those problems. Since my foray into the Senate we went through many things and I have made some contributions that affect the nation not only my senatorial zone or my state.

For example I had a bill on North East Development Commission and that is part of the things we do to improve the lives of the people but apart from that I have been chairman of many committees. I was the Chairman, Senate committee on States and Local Governments, where I was physically involved in trying to resolve the issues of the crisis in Rivers State House of Assembly in 2013.



During the crisis, my committee was sent by Senate to intervene in the fracas in the State Assembly where the National Assembly decided to send the senate committee on States and Local Governments to go and investigate and we were there and from our investigation, we were shocked to discover that only five state assembly members were able to impeach a speaker out of 32 members of the assembly and which was totally wrong.

We therefore intervened, we solved the impeachment and we closed the state assembly and from all the records we had, there was a lot of external influence, the party of the governor at that time was in conflict with the governor and the governor was in conflict with the state assembly members and the fracas started. Therefore we invited all the stakeholders and we held a meeting with them in Rivers State, which means in Port Harcourt and we were able to get the views of everybody.

We came out with a report to the National Assembly with about 19 video tapes and so many tendered documents and presentations and report from other stakeholders who were involved. The police also issued their report and the decision of the senate and our committee was to make sure that the assembly was closed and we took over the state assembly. We also took a resolution that there must be peace before we restore the assembly to open. Furthermore, we also indicted the commissioner of police at that time, Mr. Joseph Mbu and we told him he must be transferred.

Despite his indictment, he refused to agree. Even the report of our findings proved that his office was very close to the state assembly and from the first floor of the building you can clearly view what’s happening in the state house of assembly but he insisted he did not know what happened with all those fracas and with the trouble in the state assembly. Moreover, during the course of our investigation we discovered a strong evidence that he was partially involved and therefore he must be indicted and also the leadership of People’s Democratic Party also indicted including their national headquarters, which was fully involved in the fracas. A lot of issues were unearthed, and as a result of our report, I think I saved the state from further crisis.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), what efforts have you made to improve our nation’s electoral system?

When I was nominated to be the chairman of INEC by the current Senate President (Ahmad Lawan) of this ninth senate, initially I felt it was a big challenge, because I was the former chairman Senate committee on works, I did the best that I could and I was brought to INEC. Well, I said I will contribute so much and the reason they asked me to head the INEC committee was because I am an elderly person and I am more ranked in the senate and I was a former governor. So they believe with that experience that I would be able to make an impact. As the chairman, on the first day we had the meeting, at the inaugural meeting with the chairman of INEC, that is Prof. Mahmud, I told him that he must de-register some political parties, because these parties were too many. We had 91 parties and there was another one being registered, that was 92 parties, so we said no, that we must de-register because there is no way we can keep on registering political parties like anyhow. A major reason we had these numerous political parties was because of the conditions for registering political parties, which is all you need to have is an office in Abuja, if you, your wife and children and two of your friends in Nyanya or any village around Nyanya area, you pay N200 for annual rent of office and you will write to INEC that you have an office in Abuja and you want to register a political party. Two, we also decided that we must enhance the position or welfare of the staff of INEC because there is no basis, if you can increase the salaries of policeman who also oversees election and oversees a lot of people and because you don’t want him to be corrupt then I do not see any reason why you should not increase the salaries of workers of INEC. INEC staffs are the ones that supervise and control elections of all legislators including the President, the Governors, the Senators, the House of Representatives and State Assembly members and even the voters including Councilors and Local Government Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Based on that, I insisted that we must do that , the chairman gave me assurances that he will get back to me like in about a month and within the period of one month, they de-registered the political parties and reduced their number to eighteen from ninety two. I think that is good enough and we still need to cut more because we want to save tax payers money, there’s no basis for giving any money or support to a party when they don’t even have a Councilor in Nigeria. In that case, we need to have a guideline for which we can now say this political party should be registered based on their strength. We are also considering to review the electoral act such that political parties should have at least offices in at least two third of the states of the federation and they should try to have to have at least two House of Representatives members and one Senator if possible, otherwise we may end up having the same long list taking the tax payers money and producing a large paper. I remember during my last election, an old lady called me and said “Kabiru, come here I want you to show me Buhari’s picture”, because she could not recognize Buhari’s picture and if I had to show her, of course it’s wrong because it’s against the law to show someone where to vote. Imagine if the ballot paper is smaller in size, the picture will be bigger and if the number of the parties is smaller, then the pictures of the candidates will be bigger and bolder and people will be able to recognize them.

Another issue is having numerous litigations; this emanates from many political parties, once there is any slight mistake they look for the smallest loophole and then you have a party that does not even have a councilor will cause the state of the federation to conduct a fresh election.

Sadly, I told them we have to trim down, which they did and I am happy with that. Thirdly, we are not only reviewing the electoral act but also reenacting too, which means all the amended acts will be considered, now we have a fresh new electoral act, which we call electoral act 2020. Though we expect that it will be 2021, because when the president signs in 2021 it will bear the title “2021”, that will be the act that will be referred to in the courts. There are many coming up with the experiences we have had during the election. The problem that occurs during the primaries and during election, just like the issue of the former governor of Kogi state, Prince Audu, when he died, so what happens when a candidate dies during the election process? It was not clearly stated in the electoral act what happens in such circumstance.

However, we now have to state it clearly, because we never expected that a governorship candidate will die in the process of the election, when the whole result was announced and a lot of things like that. Among issues we have considered in the electoral act is the issue of primaries where the INEC must supervise the process properly and all those related items are what we really are working on.

The issue of using electronic voting is an area we were also thinking of, because initially people complained about technicalities when card readers were introduced and the people are not happy, however at the end of the day the card reader helps and people now understand how to use the card readers. On that basis, we are taking a step further by introducing electronic voting and we are working on that. The only issue where we might have crisis is the electronic transfer of votes. Even in United States of America, they had problem with the last election which led to series of accusations that another country interfered in their elections; now imagine a country like ours, Nigeria, somebody can go somewhere, insert a chip in the computer system and manipulate our election results and that will not be in the interest of the peace of this country.

Why did the Senate step down the nomination of a serving appointee of President Buhari in person of Lauretta Onochie as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC?

Well, let me use this opportunity to clarify that the Senate has not stepped down the nomination of Lauretta as commissioner or as resident electoral commissioner. The fact is that the President has forwarded her name to the Senate but it didn’t come to the Senate committee on INEC because once it is read on the floor, then that report will be submitted or be referred to the committee on INEC, that’s the following day in the order paper.

It had not come to the floor of the senate, therefore no decision has been taken about Lauretta, her name did not come to the committee, it is when her name is sent, that is the time we will take the decision so she has never been disqualified or thrown out of the Senate or the committee on INEC.

The APC appears to be gaining more grounds with the influx of new members both at the Senate and House of Representatives and just recently the governor of Ebonyi state, how would you react to this development?

I am happy about it because there is a saying that a good Friday starts on Wednesday, if your Friday won’t be good, then we have seen the signs on Wednesday. I believe that when personalities like the governor of a state, senators, members of house of representatives decamp from their party to the APC shows that there’s more prospect in APC than in another political party. I know we have our internal problems in the APC and we intend to correct those problems to say the least. I believe the APC would take over some state governments, and still continue at the federal government level Insha Allah. That being said, my fear and concern is that a number of people are saying we are putting too many eggs in one basket, but we are equal to the task to handle such.

With the 2023 general elections fast approaching, what are your thoughts on the debate on which region should produce the next President after President Buhari’s tenure?

On the issue of 2023, our party is going to elect or nominate a candidate that is going to be good enough to be the president come 2023 and I must tell you that the issue of zoning is equally important. However, I believe that the North has produced a president in President Buhari for eight years, so now, we need a president from the South, then we can get a vice-president from the North. This is my opinion and this is my thinking and I believe this could be the thinking of the party (APC) because if we now talk about having another president from the North, I believe a lot of people from the South would not be happy. We are talking about one Nigeria and uniting this country and if you feel that the North holds the means to be president, that does not mean you have to be the president all the time, we should let it rotate even to areas where they have minorities, we should give them a chance to lead this country and unite us. The reasons are not far fetched ,that unless Nigeria is united, we will not be able to achieve our collective desire as a nation. We should believe that we are brothers and we should love one another and support one another, I have never believed in this sectional reason, I don’t believe that whether I’m Igbo or Hausa or Yoruba I should think of my own people alone, that’s not the case, we do not know why God brought us together and I am sure God made put us together for one good reason that we should be united and prosperous. Nigeria is one country that is mostly loved by God; we don’t have earthquakes, volcano eruption, landslides, hurricane, desert and bush fire that burns a whole state, we do not have those extreme natural disasters. God loves us, Nigeria, he gave us a good fertile land and good people to withstand the weather and we are working hard and since God loves us , we should work hard and continue praying to God to bless Nigeria and move us forward. Ours is a country that is more religious than any other country in the world, we have excellent Muslims, good Muslims, we have good Christians who always pray to God for forgiveness and support so that’s why we are surviving. God loves Nigeria, we should not take that for granted, we should work as a team , we can not do this without one another and they say if you want to lift a roof you need many hands to lift that roof, so we need many Nigerians from all parts of the country to raise that roof and cover Nigeria for prosperity and better Nigeria. That’s my take on the issue of zoning, if we have the president from the North now, let’s have a president from the South next time and the north should support that.

Another issue which bothers me is the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket or Christian-Christian ticket, as for me I don’t care if we have Christian-Christian ticket or Muslim-Muslim ticket, all we need is to have a good leader who will lead the country. If we start talking about religion or who gets the ticket, then we are already divided or when you now start saying you must be an Igbo or Hausa or Yoruba or this or that. A good President can come from any part of the country, once that person is good and eligible to be the president of this country. We need a good leader and a good leader does not have to come from one single tribe, he can come from any part of the world or any part of Nigeria; all we need is for Nigerians to agree that we need a president who has Nigerians at heart, who can lead this country in the best interest of everyone.

Would you take a shot at Kano governorship contest in 2023 if you are asked to?

I thank God I served for two years as a governor of Kano before the military came in and booted us out and still, if I want to contest I can still contest for governorship but I have not decided up till today, but a lot of people are calling that I should contest for the governorship, I leave all that to God when the time comes we would decide whether to run but I can’t on my own tell you that I have decided to run. I have a lot of consultation to do with leaders and elders of my state and even outside my state for support, for the position of the governorship of the state, we have not made up our minds yet but a lot of people are pushing for it but I will always pray to God for it to work.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/2023-presidency-why-north-must-respect-zoning-power-rotation-kabiru-gaya-ex-kano-gov/

Controversial media personality, Daddy Freeze in a recent statement has hit out at the Churches and their leaders yet to lend their voices in the ongoing #EndSARS campaign against police brutality in Nigeria.

Freeze in a social media post acknowledged others who have spoken out and pleaded with the rest to publicly come out and stand for the people like late American Christian minister and activist, Martin Luther King Jr, did for his own people.

He wrote;

”The silence from the Churches/GOs regarding #EndSARS is so loud! Except for a few that spoke earlier, everyone else in church leadership is so conspicuously silent? Please, I plead with you, Stand with the people like Martin Luther King did! He was a reverend! ~FRZ #SARSMUSTEND’

https://thenigeriadaily.com/2020/10/13/the-silence-from-churches-regarding-endsars-is-so-loud-daddy-freeze/

Following his dissatisfaction with the worsening insecurity in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has again challenged the nation security agencies to rejig their strategies in the ongoing battle against insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes in some parts of the country.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Mongonu (retd), revealed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the National Security Council meeting, presided over by President Buhari at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

The president, according to the NSA, reaffirmed his last marching orders to the nation’s security chiefs that their best effort was not good enough.

Monguno revealed that since the issues involved were operational issues, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, “is working on something” likely to give a new direction to the security agencies.

The NSA also disclosed that the council noted that proliferation of drugs is driving insecurity in the country.

Monguno said the manner of killings of their victims could only mean one thing, that the bandits, kidnappers and terrorists are out of their minds.

He said President Buhari noted that Nigerians have lost confidence in the security sector and in he is determined to restore that confidence.

The NSA said his office presented a memo to the Security Council on the danger of drug abuse in the society as well as the need to urgently address the problem

He revealed that between 2011 and 2019, approximately 17 manufacturing laboratories of dangerous substances were located by the various security agencies and destroyed while an increasing activities of illegal cultivators of `Canabis’ were also recorded.

He said criminals had resulted to the use of illegal substances and dangerous drugs like Tramadol to unleash violence on innocent citizens in the society.

“Basically, what I told council was that this has taken on a worrisome dimension. Nigeria’s perception on the drug trafficking index has changed from the status from a transit hub to a production centre.

“Between 2011 and 2019, approximately 17 manufacturing laboratories of dangerous substances were located by the various security agencies and destroyed. That is a large number.

“At the same we have had increasing activities of illegal cultivators of Canabis in Nigeria.

“These people basically use extremely large space of arable land to cultivate this illegal substance, employing militia men to protect their farms and also their storage facilities.

“When you look at drugs, our main concern as security operatives is the ultimate destruction to the social fabric and economy of the nation.

“There is hardly any violence crime today in Nigeria that is not propelled by the use of these hard substances. And these hard substances have been coming in from all nooks and crannies,’’ he said.

Monguno believed that the reckless use of these dangerous substances had direct link to the insecurity being experienced across the country.

He, therefore, stressed the need for a collective, concerted effort to deal with the menace of dangerous drugs in circulation to safeguard the country from the bottomless pit of self-destruction.

The NSA boss disclosed that he later updated the Council on the security situation in the northwest and the north central, “in terms of looking at the issue of kidnapping, banditry and killing of innocent people.’’

“The Chief of Defence Staff, army chief, inspector general of Police, heads of the various intelligence agencies also gave synopsis each of the current security situation and what their various organizations and agencies are doing about these situations,’’ he said.

This is as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), registered their displeasure with the state of security, particularly the recent activities that led to loss of hundreds of lives.

Speaking under the platform the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), leaders of both faiths challenged Federal Government to quickly change its approach to issue of the rise in insecurity to avoid unfriendly reactions of Nigerians.

They condemned the terrorists’ attacks on innocent citizens in the north east part of Nigeria, and the various criminal activities in the various parts of the country, registering its concerns that the threats and killings are fast spreading across other parts of the country.

They particularly asked the security agents to mop up arms and ammunition in wrong hands, particularly criminals, and ensure a complete stop to the proliferation of all forms of arms and light weapons being used by criminals to terrorise and destroy lives and property.

Co-chairmen of NIREC, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of NSCIA, Sa’ad Abubakar and CAN President, Rev. Sampson Ayokunle, in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, by the Executive Secretary of NIREC, Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua, said they were constrained to call on government to provide security for the Nigerians.

They made reference to a recent statement credited to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, during his Sallah homage to the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, in which he said people of Borno were no longer safe due to increasing activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

He appealed that Maiduguri, in particular, should not be allowed to be run over by insurgents who have been throwing mortals, killing people, which is a pointer to the sorry state of security in the state and beyond.

The religious leaders reminded the government that over the past few days, over 76 people have been killed in Sabon Birni Local Government of Sokoto State; RuwanTofa Dansadua district in Zamfara State; Zagon Kataf Local Government Area in Kaduna State; Bethel Baptist Church Aguda-Dauruwan, Kogi State, and the attack on the convoy of the Borno State Governor in Baga.

NIREC challenged security agents to fish out the criminals so they can face justice. In addition to that, they must mop up arms and ammunitions in wrong hands, particularly criminals and ensure a complete stop to the proliferation of all forms of weapons that criminals use to destroy lives and property.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Bendel Province of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Dr. Cyril Odutemu has said it would be difficult for Nigeria to win the war against insurgency with the current security architecture.

Odutemu said the nation’s security architecture cannot address the incessant killings and displacement of innocent Nigerians by rampaging Fulani herdsmen and bandits.

He, therefore, suggested that the security architecture be restructured in such a way that members of the armed forces and the police are deployed to their areas of origin.

https://thenigeriadaily.com/2020/08/05/insecurity-expect-massive-shake-up-in-agencies-says-presidency/

Nigeria’s commercial city, Lagos, will soon be reopened for businesses and other endeavors, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, raised the hope on Sunday.

But business owners and religious centres must meet conditions set by the government...

Read more:

https://premiumreportersonline.com/2020/05/18/lagos-lists-conditions-to-reopen-businesses-worship-centres/

Former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the senate , Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has thanked Nigerians and Judiciary following his victory at the apex court on friday.

He noted that the past five months has provided him an opportunity to learn invaluable lessons about Nigeria 

In a statement personally signed by him, the Abia North Senator  stated that the judgement reaffirmed his belief in the judicial system 

The full statement reads thus,” Today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave a judgment in my favor, quashing the conviction which the lower court had entered against me. By today’s judgment, the Apex court of our dear country affirmed my right to fair hearing and equal protection of the law.

“The past five months have been quite a profound period for me. As challenging as that period has been, it has provided me an opportunity to learn invaluable lessons about our country, our peoples, our justice system and the true meaning of love. I mean love for family, love for our country and love for humanity.

“I want to use this moment to thank my family, my colleagues, my friends, my supporters, the people of Abia State, and all Nigerians for their unflinching and unwavering confidence and trust in me through the very testing period. We all know today that their prayers have not been in vain. I also use this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Nigerian Correctional Service for the unalloyed professionalism and sincere humanity extended to me by its staff while I was in their custody.

“I  must accord a special mention to the Justices of our Supreme Court for their unwavering commitment to rule of law. We all stand reminded of the consistent and strategic relevance of the Nigerian Supreme Court in holding this country together, even in moments of great peril. As far back as in the 1971 case of LAKANMI V. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION, (the Ademola Adetikumbo-led Court) the Nigerian Supreme Court has severally rescued this country from the precipice. Also throughout the dark era of military rule in Nigeria, the Supreme Court neither wavered nor flinched in its commitment to justice and fairness. And despite some moments of distraction and mass hysteria, the Nigerian Supreme Court has remained the veritable compass to the highest ideals of justice attainable in this country. This long tradition of the court was exemplified in today’s judgment. I was humbled by the court’s boldness and sense of justice as shown in my case.

“Overall, my experience tested and reaffirmed my belief and confidence in our country, Nigeria. My case is a true Nigerian story with a bold MADE-IN-NIGERIA stamp on it. It is a story of initial injustice that was caught and ultimately corrected. It is a story of restoration. It is a story of how a wrong was righted and how justice and truth prevailed in the end. It is a story of the power of hope. My case should teach us all that even though we may not get things right at the first attempt, with patience and dedication, we shall get them right eventually. That is the lesson of my case and that is the lesson of our country – that with dedication and patience, we shall place Nigeria in its rightful place eventually.

“Before I end, I would like to let it be known that the events of the past five months gave me an added perspective on matters of justice and injustice in Nigeria. I have come to know that the course of justice will not be complete if it stopped at my case. It must continue until it touches the lives of millions of Nigerians who face injustice anywhere in this world. I shall be dedicating my time henceforth to ensuring there will be justice for all Nigerians whether they are in Sokoto or Akwa Ibom or in Lagos or Maiduguri or in Jos or Enugu, or wherever they may be. Justice for one man or for a few people will no longer be enough in this country. A system whereby over 70% of all prison inmates population is made up of people awaiting trial cannot be allowed to continue. Situations where innocent people are falsely charged with murder just to get them out of the way does not dignify our country and cannot continue. Justice must now mean justice for all. That is my pledge to Nigerians.

I look forward to rejoining my colleagues in the Senate as soon as possible.

Thank you and God bless all of you.”

https://premiumreportersonline.com/2020/05/08/kalu-speaks-after-victory-says-past-five-months-has-taught-him-invaluable-lessons-about-nigeria/

The Rivers government has directed its attorney-general and commissioner for justice to auction all vehicles that were impounded for violating the current 24-hour curfew in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Read more

https://premiumreportersonline.com/2020/05/08/lockdown-violation-wike-places-impounded-vehicles-for-sale/

Barely one week after helping to repatriate $311million (N118billionn) stolen by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, the United States says there is a separate $319million (N121billion) hidden in the United Kingdom and France.

Read more...

https://premiumreportersonline.com/2020/05/07/abacha-loot-us-reveals-another-319m-floating-in-uk-france/

The first batch of 270 Nigerians stranded in the United States will be repatriated home on Saturday, Premium Reporters has learnt.

They are part of about 700 Nigerians in the US who registered for the emergency evacuation on account of the coronavirus pandemic.

A notice by the Nigerian Consulate in New York informed the intending passengers on Wednesday that the Ethiopian Airline flight, ET8509, would depart Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, by 7:15 pm and arrive at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Sunday by 11:15 am.

Read more..

https://premiumreportersonline.com/2020/05/07/covid-19-270-stranded-nigerians-in-us-for-repatriation-saturday/

Following insinuations from some quarters that the election of the former governor of Abia state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu into the Nigerian Senate is in dispute, more fact proof has emerged that the INEC has duly certified Dr. Kalu the winner of Abia North senatorial District election.

Attached is a copy of the result sheet detailing how all the candidates performed in the recently concluded election in Abia North.

https://www.abnews247.com/2019/03/breaking-orji-kalus-victory-more-proof-emerges-attached-document/

More pictures

In what could be described as the mother of all political collaborations winner of the keenly contested Abia-North Senatorial election Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday met with APGA Chieftain and 3rd runner up in the Abia-North Senatorial election Chief David Ogba also known as Bourdex.

It can be recalled that Kalu was declared the winner of Abia North Senatorial District in the February 23rd Presidential/National Assembly elections.

The former Governor polled a total 31,203 votes to defeat the incumbent, Ohuabunwa who polled 20,801 votes and the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance Chief David Ogba who scored 11,410 votes.

Dr. Orji Kalu who had just returned to the state after his brief visit to the nation’s Abuja capital arrived the Abriba residence of the APGA Chieftain at exactly 7:15 PM. He was warmly received by the APGA Chieftain and Senatorial candidate both of them immediately proceeded upstairs for a closed door meeting.

Emerging from the closed door meeting Kalu recalled his long apolitical relationship with Chief Bourdex while also stating his resolve and total readiness to establish a formidable collaboration for the upliftment of Abia-North and Abia State at large.



According to the Former Governor, he and Chief Bourdex had maintained long standing family ties despite their political differences.

He said: “I and bourdex are brothers beyond our political affiliations, Infact his family and I have maintained close ties for many years. His children and my children are best of friends to the extent that their visit each other timely.

Orji Kalu and Bourdex
Orji Kalu and Bourdex meet in Abriba
Elections has been conducted and a winner has been democratically chosen. Irrespective of our political differences I and bourdex have decided to join hands to move Abia-North and Abia State forward.

As stakeholders in our various political parties we have realised that there is so much to be done especially in the area of infrastructure and empowerment of our people in Abia-North because of people have suffered enough. We have decided to jointly work together towards the emancipation of our people. Let me also salute the statesmanship of Chief Bourdex during and after the election it is worthy of emulation.

Orji Kalu and Bourdex meet
Abia North: Kalu, Bourdex meet vow to establish collaboration
Kalu also reinstated his commitment to use his position as the Senator of Abia-North to facilitate rapid development of not just the Senatorial Zone but Abia State in general.

In his response the APGA Chieftain and Senatorial Candidate Chief Ogba corroborated Dr. Kalu’s statement by recalling their long standing relationship.

Orji Kalu and Bourdex meet
Abia North: Kalu, Bourdex meet vow to establish collaboration
He also stated his willingness to work with Dr. Kalu for the progress of Abia-North and Abians in general.

In his words: “Although Dr. Kalu and I belong to different political parties but we have both come a very long way from many years back.

Orji Kalu and Bourdex meet
Abia North: Kalu, Bourdex meet vow to establish collaboration
“Just like he said elections has come and gone and a winner has emerged.

“As a party we put in all of our very best but the people have spoken with their votes and INEC has declared a winner. We have since moved decided to move forward because what’s most important now is working towards rebuilding all that has been destroyed and also empowering our people.

Orji Kalu and Bourdex meet
Abia North: Kalu, Bourdex meet vow to establish collaboration
“I congratulate Dr. Kalu on his resounding victory, it is a victory for the people. In my capacity I would ensure that we work assiduously together towards the general upliftment of our people.

Also present were Mr. Festus U. Mbisiogu, CEO blue diamond logistics., Hon. Chief Paul .O. Uche., APC Chieftain, Hon. Nnanna Kalu, former Member House Reps Aba North.

https://abacityblog.com/2019/03/05/abia-north-kalu-bourdex-meet-vow-to-establish-collaboration

Since the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2015, many political observers are of the view that the South East geo-political zone has not fared well in terms of political patronage.

They easily cite the fact that no one from the zone has occupied a prominent position in the security architecture of the country.

Even in political appointments, the zone only occupies ministerial positions, which every state in the zone is entitled based on constitutional requirements for such appointments.

This lopsidedness in appointments is often rationalized on the low number of votes from the zone in the 2015 presidential election.

But the recently held February 23, National Assembly polls seems to have witnessed a remarkable improvement from the position the ruling party was in 2015, going by the number of votes garnered by Buhari and APC. Whilst it had no senator then, today it boasts of two and several House of Representatives members.

As the nation marches to a new dispensation May 29, 2019, heralding the second four years of the Buhari administration, there is the need to make the Southeast have a sense of belonging in the political architecture of the country.

We urge the powers-that-be in the country, and the ruling party to consider seriously zoning the senate presidency to the southeast.

In the present political power structure in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari is from the North West, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (South West), while the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is from the North-Central zone. The North East has the Speaker in the person of Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

The Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is from the South South, thus leaving the South East with virtually nothing.

Similarly, in the nation’s security architecture, the National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno is from the North East, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin (South West), the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (North East), the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique (North East), the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas (South South), while the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu is from the North Central.

In the same vein, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, is from the North East, the Comptroller-General of Prisons, Alhaji Ja’afaru Ahmed (North West), and the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede is from the North West.

The South East is apparently the only geo-political without noticeable presence in the APC political power configuration. Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has been re-elected, the North West will have the presidency for eight years while the South West will also have the Vice Presidency for eight years.

From 1999 till date, the South West has had the presidency for eight years under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the North East has had the Vice Presidency under former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for eight years.

With the presidency of the late Umaru Yar’Adua, the position was held by the North West for three years until the demise of Yar’Adua. The South South under President Goodluck Jonathan held the position for about five years after being the Vice President to Yar’Adua.

The South East is nowhere in these power configurations. The Senate Presidency that was zoned to the South East during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration was so turbulent that it rotated among the five states in the zone not necessarily because the South East people wanted it to be so.

In view of the glaring absence of the South East zone from the power structure of Nigeria, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the APC leadership to commence the redressing of this lopsidedness in political appointments and abject neglect of the South East zone, by zoning the Senate Presidency for the forthcoming 9th Senate to the South East geo-political zone.

We also want to remind President Buhari that he should remember the zone in appointment of security chiefs and others, when vacancy exists in those positions.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sunnewsonline.com/a-senate-president-from-the-south-east/amp/

As normalcy permeates the polity, following the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, there is more work to be done, especially in the area of political balance. Nigeria, no doubt, stands on a tripod and any arrangement that does not put into consideration this tripartite background will continue to attract not only strictures but also create instability.

Right from the First Republic, the constitutional checks and balances functioned effectively with the unwritten understanding that at no time did any of the three major ethnic nationalities, that is, Igbo, Hausa/ Fulani and Yoruba, failed to have a sense of belonging in the three arms of government.

Today, President Buhari, born to a Fulani father, has as Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a Yoruba. Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who heads the National Assembly is Yoruba as well as Fulani. From Independence in 1960 to 1966 when the military struck for the first time, none of these three major groups was brushed aside in national equation.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo, moved from Governor General to President. Sir Balewa Abubakar Tafawa, from the Jere part of the North, became Prime Minister only because, his boss, Sir Ahmadu Bello, of Hausa/Fulani stock, gave him the go ahead.

The legislature had Dr. Dennis Osadebay, an Igbo, as Senate President. When he became Premier of the Mid-Western Region, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, another Igbo stepped in. The Yoruba did not in any way lose out. The judiciary was firmly under the leadership of Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, an Egba Prince from Abeokuta.

In the Second Republic, the Hausa/Fulani and Igbo got a fair share of Executive and Legislative positions. President Shehu Shagari had Dr. Alex Ekwueme as Vice President. Speaker of the House of Representatives was Chief Edwin Umezuoke. Again, the Yoruba headed the judiciary through Justice Atanda Fatai-Williams.

When he retired, another Yoruba, Justice George Sowemimo took his place. The tripod was therefore intact. This concrete balance continued under the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidency. President Obasanjo, of Yoruba parentage, picked Atiku Abubakar, a Fulani as vice president. The five Senate Presidents from 1999 to 2007, were all Igbo. From Chief Evan Enwerem to Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, Adolphus Wabara, Anyim Pius Anyim to Ken Nnamani.

The headship of the judiciary had changed hands to the Hausa/Fulani in the person of Justice Mohammed Uwais. The coming of President Umaru Yar’Adua, a Fulani, turned the national equilibrium upside down. With a Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, an Ijaw, the Senate President, David Mark, came from the Idoma group.

The Judiciary was led by Justice Idris Kutigi, a Nupe from Niger State. Jonathan became President in 2010 after the passage of Yar’Adua. The Hausa /Fulani got the position of Vice President through Namadi Sambo and also Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal. This position was reserved for the Yoruba to maintain balance.

Strange enough, the Yoruba members of the House worked against the zoning arrangement. President Buhari came in 2015 and expectations were that the Igbo, schemed out of top positions in the previous Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, would get the Senate President slot. Unfortunately, there was no Igbo in the Senate.

The closest they had was Dr. Chris Ngige who could not make it to the Upper Legislature. It was so disturbing that Governor Rochas Okorocha nearly broke down, praying for Ngige to scale through. President Buhari is back and he still has Prof. Osinbajo as his Vice.

The good news is that in the new Senate, there will be two Igbo senators, Orji Uzor Kalu and Okorocha elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Kalu served in the House of Representatives between 1992 and 1994. He was influential as Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation.

The import is that, perhaps, time is now for the Igbo to be given a due sense of belonging in the Buhari administration. The President performed better in the South- East, making 25 per cent and above in at least three of the five states. Kalu and Okorocha will be going to the Senate as former governors. And we have to stress that if the country could invent the phrase, ‘Doctrine of Necessity’, to enthrone Dr. Jonathan as President in 2010, the same could be done to choose the next President of the Senate from the South-East. We cite the example of Godswill Akpabio, whose first time in the Senate fetched the position of Minority Leader, ahead of some ranking senators.

Therefore, there is no hurdle of any kind to stem the desire of the South-East. We call on President Buhari and the leadership of the APC to zone the Senate Presidency to the South-East for equity sake ahead of the inauguration of Ninth Senate in June.

Fomer Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar has met and congratulated the Abia North Senator Elect of the All progressive Congress (APC) and former Governor Dr Orji Uzor Kalu. Both of them are currently in a closed door meeting .

This was disclosed in a tweet by the S.A. on Media to the former Governor @iamkennethcole he wrote :

Former Head of State, General Abdul salami Abubakar has congratulated Dr Orji Uzor Kalu(MON)on his Abia-North Senatorial victory,they are currently holding private meeting together in Abuja.

Reacall that Dr. Orji Kalu Kalu had in the results declared by INEC polled 31, 208  votes beating Mao Ohuabunwa of the PDP who scored 20, 801 votes &Chief DAvid Onuoha-Bourdex of All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA)11,410 votes.

https://twitter.com/iamkennethcole/status/1101515487618519041?s=19

The Orji Kalu Media Office has blasted Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for misleading the general public on the February 23 National Assembly election in Abia North.

The media office said this in reaction to a fake report being circulated on social media that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the National Assembly election in Abia North inconclusive

INEC returning officer for Abia North, Dr. Charles Anumudu had, on Sunday, February 24, in the presence of all other party agents and the media, at Ohafia Girls Secondary School (OGS), Amaekpu Ohafia, Ohafia Local Government Area, declared Kalu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the senatorial election.

Kalu polled 31,208 votes to beat Ohuabunwa, who scored 20, 801 votes and Chief DAvid Onuoha-Bourdex of All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) 11,410 votes.

“Upon declaration of the results by the designated returning officer, we expect all contestants to accept the results in good faith or seek redress in the court of law.

“We are, by this statement, advising the public to disregard the malicious and fake news being circulated by the PDP candidate and his cohorts.

“We express our gratitude to the people of Abia North, for their unflinching support for Kalu and the APC. We urge members of our party to remain calm and steadfast.”

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/abia-north-inec-didnt-declare-election-inconclusive-kalu-remains-winner-aide/

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all”.

The above quotation from Dale Carnegie, an American writer, appears apt in describing Orji Uzor Kalu’s tortuous journey to the Nigerian Senate after two previous attempts.

In 2007, many thought he was going to run for the Senate, but the former Abia governor thought otherwise.

Explaining why he shelved the idea at the time, Kalu in a recent interview with Daily Sun, said that “… the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the issue of third term, in which he (Obasanjo) was deeply involved, though he denied it. The governors alive knew he called us in numbers to plan how he could continue in office. Senators were given money. The late Senator Uche Chukwumerije showed me his own N50 million, which we agreed he should send back to them. He sent it back. For doing that, I shelved my plan to go to the Senate. I asked him to go for second term. That was how I paid him back for standing with me. Ask people like Senator Chris Adighije and Prof. Maurice Iwu. I told them why I would not go to Senate at that time. I told them I had to support Chukwumerije who supported me during the Third Term battle. The business of politics is support. He supported me and I needed to support him and I did, “Kalu said.

Daily Sun recalls that in the build up to the election that year, he floated a brand new party; Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) which also produced governors of Abia and Imo.

But towards the build up to the 2011 elections, he fell out with his successor, Theodore Orji, who later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from the PPA.

Kalu, who accused Ohakim and Orji of abandoning the platform that brought them to power, further said “the two governors we made had their own agenda. One of them was ambitious and wanted to be the vice president or the president, which was (Ikedi) Ohakim. The other one was just treacherous; so, they caved in, to leave the system we had made.

“Before the merger that produced APC, PPA was talking with ACN, when it was only (Babatunde) Fashola as governor of Lagos State. We had a lot of discussions with ACN then on what we were going to do. The merger of APC started then. Senator Bola Tinubu was committed. Fashola was also committed, but the two governors from PPA were not committed. They wanted to get back to PDP; that was the beginning of the destruction of PPA. But I give thanks to God. They were not genuinely democrats and this is why I would say Igbo are not good politicians. They could be good in other fields of endeavours, but they are not good politicians. They do not understand the polity called Nigeria. Nigeria is a polity made up of a lot of intrigues.”

In spite of Orji’s defection to the PDP, Kalu went ahead to run for Abia North senatorial district. However, rather than pay Kalu back by supporting his ambition to go to the Senate in 2011, Orji, who was bent on decimating Kalu politically, mobilised men and resources against his benefactor, to the extent that Kalu was prevented by security operatives from coming out of his house to exercise his franchise.

In 2015, the story was slightly different. Kalu fully participated in the electioneering. He ran again on the platform of the PPA. He exercised his franchise. But Orji again was alleged to have used the state machinery against him. Kalu went to court to challenge the election and the court ordered for a re-run in 2016. But Kalu again could not make it.

But he refused to give up because like most Africans, especially those who have abiding faith in God, Kalu believes that “a man’s life is preordained and ruled by God”.

Two years before the electioneering process began; Kalu gave an indication that he was going to run for the Senate again. But he pitched his tent with the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party an average Igbo appears not to want to touch with a long pole.

Speaking on the perception of APC in the South-East and Abia State especially, Kalu said “APC is quite on ground here despite what people are saying. The other time, they said it was an Hausa party, but Atiku is not an Igbere man. Both Buhari, in APC, and Atiku, in PDP, are from the North; whatever they call us does not make any meaning. The most important thing is that we are going to use the vehicle in which we are in to get something for the region as members of the union. They will vote for me. We will win because our people are not voting for party but for individuals who will contribute meaningfully to the development of the area.”

Asked why he was interested in going to the Senate, the former Abia State governor again said “the Senate needs people like me. With my experience as a House of Representatives member and governor, I have a lot to contribute in the making of laws for good governance. The current Senate could have done better by forging a good relationship with the President, coming from the same party. There are things they have done that are good, but in their relationship with the President, they have not done well,” adding that “it would be unfair to my people in Abia North if I stay and a novice would be our representative. People who have what it takes must represent us.”

Before last Saturday’s election, Kalu was very confident he was going to win the contest this time. His confidence, Daily Sun gathered, stemmed from his past stewardship as the governor of the state.

Addressing his supporters in his country home, Igbere, two days to the election, Kalu noted that his popularity across the state would give him victory to enable him provide quality representation to the zone.

He also said that the people of the zone would vehemently resist any attempt by anybody to rig the elections.

According to him, as a firm believer in democracy, he need not connive with officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before winning any election, adding that the incumbent Senator, Mao Ohuabunwa, does not deserve to be re-elected, insisting that the lawmaker was in Abuja for sightseeing.

He further said that in a free contest, Ohuabunwa would never defeat him. “My goodwill in Abia will give me victory in a free, fair and credible poll. I am not afraid of election because of my popularity. My antecedents and accomplishments in all spheres of life will continue to speak for me. I have paid my dues in business, politics and philanthropy. My desire to represent the people of Abia North in the red chamber is borne out of my passion for community service and good governance.

“During my stint as governor of Abia, I offered free education and free healthcare. Salaries and pensions were paid on or before 25th of every month. I understand the challenges of our people and I have the right contacts and political sagacity to take our communities to the Next Level,’’ the former governor said.

He called on INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders to be vigilant to ensure the exercise was not manipulated, noting that Abia people were tired of falsification of election results.

“We must remain vigilant to frustrate any plan by anyone to thump-print ballot papers and fill result sheets before the poll,’’ he declared.

True to Kalu’s prediction, after last Saturday’s election, he was declared a Senator-elect by Sunday evening after polling a total 31,203 votes to defeat the incumbent, Ohuabunwa, who polled 20,801 votes and the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief David Ogba, who scored 11,410 votes.

According to the result announced at the Abia North Collation Centre, Ohafia, Kalu won in four, of the five local government areas that make up Abia North, including Arochukwu, the PDP candidate’s local government, where he scored 1,166, to beat Ohuabunwa’s vote of 843.

In Ohafia, Kalu got 5,523 votes, against Ohuabunwa’s 4,861; in Isuikwuato, 8,317 to PDP’s 4,609; Bende, Kalu’s home local government, he polled 10,701 to PDP’s 4,875. But at Umunneochi PDP polled 5,613 against APC’s 5,496.

Kalu reacts

Speaking shortly after the declaration of the results, Kalu noted that his victory was a testament to the robust goodwill he (Kalu) enjoys among the electorate.

In a statement issued and signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewunmi, the former governor, urged his co-contestants in other political parties to join hands with him in advancing the cause of Abia North.

“The people of Abia North senatorial district came out en-masse to cast their votes for President Muhammadu Buhari, my good self and other APC candidates in the presidential and national assembly elections.

“I salute the courage, boldness and patriotism displayed by the electorate in choosing their preferred candidates. The people of Abia North senatorial district had been deprived of qualitative representation for many years. Iwill use my network of contacts and political dexterity to uplift our communities.

“The challenges facing our people have been diligently articulated with possible solutions highlighted. Having served in different capacities in the public sector, I will bring to bear my experience in discharging my duties. Politics is not a do-or-die affair and, as such, I will adopt, as always, an all- inclusive and participatory approach in my legislative responsibilities.”

He also commended the INEC, security agencies, the media, international and local observers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders for ensuring a hitch-free and credible poll, just as he promised to live up to expectations.

The former governor also applauded chieftains and members of the APC for demonstrating maturity, despite the provocation and intimidation by the PDP, saying that the ideals of the APC are based on genuine leadership and good governance.


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https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sunnewsonline.com/kalus-tortuous-journey-to-senate/amp/

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia chapter, has rejected result of the February 23 presidential election in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, yesterday, declared 219, 698 and 85, 058 votes for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

Stressing that the election result was falsified, the APC scribe in Abia State, Perfect Okorie, pointed out that the total votes cast in Aba North and Aba South local government areas was 8,100 as against over 103,000 votes declared.

While urging INEC and other stakeholders to investigate the inflated figures from the two local government areas, Okorie emphasised that the inflated result in Aba North and Aba South local government areas negatively affected the votes declared in favour of the APC.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the APC secretary, maintained that the PDP scored 116,698 votes as against 219, 698 declared by the INEC, adding that the APC is waxing stronger in Abia State.

“The result of the presidential election in Abia State was manipulated in favour of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

“We strongly condemn and reject the figures declared by the INEC.

“The genuine result is 116,698 and 85, 058 votes for the PDP and the APC respectively.

“The APC candidate for House of Representatives In Aba North and Aba South federal constituencies, Mascot Kalu won the race, but the result was falsified.

“We urge relevant stakeholders to correct the anomalies for the sake of Nigeria’s democracy.”

The APC scribe commended Abians for voting en-masse for President Buhari and other APC candidates across the country.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/abia-apc-queries-presidential-election-result/

All hope lost for PDP, as they lost their senatorial return ticket to APC. The independent national electoral commission(INEC) has declared the All progressives congress(APC}candidate, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu as winner of the senatorial position for Abia North senatorial District, in the just concluded Presidential and national assembly election conducted yesterday, 23rd of February.
Dr Orji Uzor Kalu defeated his PDP counterpart, Sen Ohuabunwa with a wide vote margin.

Here is the breakdown of the figures:
Arochukwu
APC: 1166
PDP: 843

Bende
APC: 10701
PDP: 4875

Isuikwuato
APC: 8317
PDP: 4609

Ohafia
APC: 5523
PDP: 4861

Umuneochi
APC : 5496
PDP : 5613

Total :
APC: 30,203
PDP: 20,801

Difference: 10,402

There was pandemonium yesterday, during the Presidential and National Assembly elections after the Deputy Governor of Abia security operatives and Aides allegedly stabbed two persons at Ndielu ward in Ohafia Local Government Area.

An eyewitness who spoke to Igbere TV under condition of anonymity revealed that the violence was “caused by the Deputy Gov. Security detail and aides in Ndielu ward in his desperation to cling to power.”

Two persons were stabbed on the chests. One is about dying. “

” I reported to the DPO and sent petition to EO Ohafia. Am staying in Ohafia to make the presentation, ” he added.

Meanwhile, efforts by Igbere TV to get the Deputy Governor or his aides to comment on the accusation proved abortive as at the time of writing this report.

http://igberetvnews.com/579529/breaking-tension-abia-deputy-govs-security-aides-stab-two-persons-graphic-photos/

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded Abia North senatorial election has been declared winner in the five local government Areas making up Abia North .

This is even as President Muhammadu Buhari wins massively in the five LGAS of Bende , Umunneochi, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Arochukwu.

Meanwhile, information reaching our newsroom is that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted with massive shootings and maiming in the local governments. There is a heavy tension as armed thugs overpowered some security officers leading to fear and unrest.

As of the time of writing this report , Security operatives are yet to be fortified in the LGAS and the INEC officials are being intimidated to tamper with the results .
https://www.abnews247.com/2019/02/breaking-ouk-buharis-wins-in-abia-norths-5-lgas-as-pdp-unleashes-terror-on-collation-centers/

Leading Senatorial Candidate of the APC Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has reacted to his victory his polling unit.

He tweeted:

"Charity they say begins from home. I have honourably delivered and the people have spoken.

PDP - 15

APC - 154
Onu Ibina, Igbere

#NextLevelAbiaNorth
#NigeriaDecides2019
#ElectionDay
#NigeriaDecides"

Breaking ��� !!!

OUK Votes

#Orji Uzor Kalu Media Office

The incoming Senator of Abia-North Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has just been duly accredited and has fulfilled his civic rights by voting in Today's Presidential and National Assembly elections at his Polling unit . Onu Ibina Igbere.

#NextLevelAbiaNorth
#JustVoteAPC

Photos: Kenneth Udeh

The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for tomorrow’s Abia North senatorial election , Senator Mao Ohuabunwa on Friday evening, escaped being lynched at Arochukwu local government Area of Abia State after he led a team of young youths suspected to be thugs to snatch sensitive INEC materials at the local government.

Ohuabunwa who arrived at the local government with three Hilux vehicles and three SUVs took the INEC officials and party agents by surprise when after greeting some persons suspected to be familiar to him aggressively moved towards the location of the sensitive materials with his youths .

According to eyewitnesses, the youths clothed in black suit took some of the materials and was about loading in their vehicles when the police and other security agents attached to the local government intercepted them .

At the time of filing this report , the amount of materials carted away was yet to be disclosed as Ohuabunwa and his team abandoned some of the materials and drove off to an unknown destination.

It is confirmed that police and other security agencies has shown huge intervention and is already on their trail for immediate arrest

https://abacityblog.com/2019/02/22/breaking-sen-ohuabunwa-on-the-run-after-failed-attempt-to-snatch-inec-sensitive-materials/

It's no longer news that the campaigns  for the February 16th general elections formally  came to close yesterday however the All progressive Congress (APC) candidate for Abia North senatorial zone  and fomer Governor Dr Orji Uzor Kalu hit the streets of ABA in Abia State for an unexpected mobilization street walk.

The former Governor who is famously known for record successes with Enyimba club of ABA  played football with the residents and entered a popular bar for and sipped beer to the admiration of the people.

See Video:

#KennethCole


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL6kOzIASkU

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As the campaigns for the February 16th general elections formally  came to close yesterday the All progressive Congress (APC) candidate for Abia North senatorial zone  and fomer Governor Dr Orji Uzor Kalu hit the streets of ABA in Abia State for an unexpected mobilization street walk.

The former Governor "Nwa Aba" as he is also called took a long walk on the streets of ABA in his usual manner engaging in various activities to the admiration of the people.

See pictures