₦airaland Forum

It is a smooth sail for the Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel preferred successor, Pastor Umo Eno, as he continues to sweep endorsements from critical stakeholders in the state ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election.

The flurry of endorsements is coming on the heels of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s announcement of Pastor Eno, the States Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, as his preferred successor, a declaration that stakeholders insist was a master stroke that had saved the state the stress and distraction of the internal wrangling associated with party primaries contestation for the governorship seat.

Already the Akwa-Ibom State Executive Council had on February 15, 2022, unanimously endorsed Eno as Governor Emmanuel’s successor, followed by the entire 26 members of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, which on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, also unanimously adopted Eno as the candidate of the PDP that will be elected as the next Governor of the State.

The coast became clearer for Eno ahead of PDP governorship primaries, as statutory delegates, particularly those from Ikot-Ekpene, the political hub of the state have also adopted him. That was followed by his unanimous endorsement by delegates from Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika at a mega meeting in Abak on February 20, 2022.

Gaining more ground ahead of other governorship aspirants in the state, Pastor Eno has also secured the endorsements of professionals, businessmen circles as well as student community in Akwa Ibom State.

Professionals and businessmen under the aegis of Professionals for Development in Akwa Ibom rose from its strategy meeting on Monday February 7, 2022 in Abuja and announced their support for Eno.

National Coordinator of the group, Engr. Ufot Akan Umoren, described the choice of Eno as “a reflection of the shared expectation of the people in their quest to continue the sustainable peace and development in the state.”

Adopting Eno, the student community in Akwa Ibom, on February 26, 2022 declared him the sole candidates of the students for the governorship election in the state.

The National Association of Nigerians Students (NANS) Zone B adopted Pastor Eno via a motion by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Utibe Ekanem and seconded by the Student Union Government President, University of Uyo, Comrade Wisdom Emmanuel and resolved to mobilize student structures to ensure his victory at the polls.

Already, religious bodies in the state are also endorsing Pastor Eno as preferred candidate in the election. On Tuesday February 22, 2022, the Akwa Ibom State Territory of the Apostolic Church, Nigeria declared its total support for Pastor Eno’s aspiration.

The Chairman of the Territory, Apostle E. I. Uye who declared the position of the church congratulated Governor Emmanuel for his decision which noted was in line with the “will of God for the state”.

Meanwhile the Speaker of the the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey as well as a former Deputy Governor of the State and political leader of Oron nation, Chief Etim Okpoyo, among other prominent leaders in the state have also endorsed Pastor Eno.

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The father of late Sylvester Oromoni Junior has admitted to the Lagos Coroner’s Court that the deceased, his son Sylvester Jnr. was treated at home and not at the hospital.

The father, Sylvester Oromoni Sr., who was giving his evidence as a witness revealed this during questioning in the ongoing coroner inquest to determine the cause of death of his son, 11 year-old late Sylvester Oromoni Junior.

In his cross examination by Mr. Godwin Omoaka, the counsel representing one of the students alleged to have been responsible for Sylvester’s death, the witness told the coroner’s court that his son was treated at home after the family doctor told him that there was no private ward or room available at his hospital.

"He was taken to the hospital and the doctor said there was no private ward and he was taken back to the house. Later he was taken to St Leo Diagnosis for x-ray and scan.” Mr. Oromoni stated. When questioned further about the lack of evidence of a beating on the deceased, Mr. Oromoni responded that he would not be surprised as he noted that it depended on when the beating occurred. He said the beating did not occur on November 21, 2021. He further told the court that one of the students stated that Sylvester got injured on November 14, 2021.

Mr. Oromoni further confirmed to the court that he granted interviews to various media houses. Mr. Omoaka prayed the court to order and asked that the four video clips of Mr. Oromoni’s interviews be watched in the courtroom.

The counsel representing Dowen College, Mr. Tony Kpokpo however told the court that the video clips of Mr. Oromoni’s interviews are already before the court and went on to state that even though the coroner was not bound by the rules of evidence, a cross examiner is not ordinarily bound to frontload a document intended to be used to contradict a witness. By the basic rules of fairness, it was proper that the video be accepted especially, when it would help throw light in the darkness and unveil the fact as they are and not as they are contrived to be.

Mr. Andrew Efole, the Oromoni family lawyer responded that, "the submission of Mr. Kpokpo was not whether the video should be admitted or not.” He clarified that the issue was to playing the video and served them the clips.

Mr. Akin George, the lawyer representing Lagos State had earlier requested that the video of the interview be played in the court to throw light on the ongoing inquest.

Upon being led further in evidence, Mr. Oromoni told court that after his son passed on from the clinic, he recalled the people that wanted to go and bury the boy and asked that the body be brought back to him.

"The corpse was brought back home. He was brought to the front of my gate and the police came, they took some photographs of the deceased and also did a video the body."

When he was confronted with the fact that the family doctor told the court that no evidence of blunt force trauma was found on the deceased, the witness responded that he would be surprised. The coroner Magistrate on that note went ahead and adjourned further hearing to February 15, 2022

February 7, 2022

Press Statement

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vehemently rejects the confirmation of a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Rhoda Gumus, as a National Commissioner (South South) in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) despite widespread outcry by Nigerians

The PDP describes Prof. Gumus’ confirmation as INEC National Commissioner by the APC-led Senate leadership as a “coup” against Democracy and an open invitation to serious political crisis that can derail our hard-earned democracy and lead to breakdown of law and order if not immediately reversed.

In confirming Prof. Gumus, the APC-led Senate leadership has exposed itself as anti-people and completely insensitive to the aspiration of Nigerians for credible and transparent elections in 2023.

The action of the APC-led Senate is highly provocative and incendiary because it is in violation of Paragraph 14 (2)(a) of the 3rd Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which provides that “a member of the Commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity”.

Such violent assault on the Constitution and our electoral process by the APC cannot be allowed to stand.

The media space is awash with reports of Prof. Gumus as a member of the APC in Bayelsa State with APC Registration Form No: BAY/YEN/08/58315 and reportedly as number 27 in her APC Ward Register.

In nominating and confirming an APC card-carrying member into INEC, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC-led Senate leadership have recklessly violated the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which they swore to uphold and defend.

This action is designed to corrupt and compromise the electoral Commission and pave way for the APC to rig the 2023 general elections.

Nigerians can recall how President Buhari had earlier sought to impose his aide and card-carrying member of the APC, Lauretta Onochie as INEC Commissioner but was stiffly resisted by Nigerians.

The APC which thrives in impunity has again nominated and confirmed Prof. Gumus, another APC card-carrying member as National Commissioner in INEC in flagrant violation of the Constitution and total disregard for the Nigerian people.

Prof. Gumus must not be allowed to be used to pollute INEC. Her mission is already exposed and our Party is ready to mobilize our members and all patriotic Nigerians across the country by taking legitimate actions to protect the integrity of the electoral body.

Our Party therefore issues a stern caution to Prof. Gumus to, in the interest of peace, steer clear of INEC as there is no way she can function in that office as a card-carrying member of the APC.

Democracy is about transparency of elections. Nigerians cannot believe in the integrity of the process with Prof. Gumus in INEC. Her entry and continuing stay in INEC will be toxic and taint the Commission with bias and manipulations ahead of the 2023 elections since her appointment and confirmation is unconstitutional.

The PDP calls on President Buhari to immediately withdraw the appointment of Prof. Gumus as INEC National Commissioner in line with his oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This will assure Nigerians that Mr. President is committed to free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2023.

The PDP salutes and commends the efforts of the Civil Society which continues to remain relentless in the fight for credible electoral process from appointment of officers of INEC, processes of election as well as the collation and declaration of election results.

Our Party urges the Civil Society and all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to insist that appointments into INEC must be transparent and in line with the provisions of the Constitution and other relevant laws.

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary

Ratherunwell:
Quite an amazing line up of specs. I can forgive one or two things because na budget phone