Saturday, December 21

Politics

LP Lawmakers Criticise Soludo’s Plan For State Joint Local Government Account
Politics

LP Lawmakers Criticise Soludo’s Plan For State Joint Local Government Account

The Labour Party caucus in the National Assembly has queried the alleged move by the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy. The caucus, led by Sen. Tony Nwoye (LP-Anambra), said this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday. Mr Nwoye expressed displeasure over ongoing moves by the governor to enact State and Local Government Joint Account law. He said that such a move was aimed at circumventing the landmark judgement delivered by the Supreme Court on local government financial autonomy. He tasked the speaker and members of the Anambra State House of Assembly to toe the path of honour by stopping forthwith further consideration of the obnoxious executive bill for posterity sake. Other federal lawmakers, w...
Labour Party Sets Up Seven-Member Disciplinary Committee
Politics

Labour Party Sets Up Seven-Member Disciplinary Committee

The Labour Party(LP) has set up a seven-man disciplinary standing committee to curb the excesses of members not ready to abide by its constitution and obey directives. Julius Abure, its national chairman, told journalists on Tuesday in Abuja that the decision was one of the resolutions reached at the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting. “The national leadership will not hesitate to discipline any member who is not ready to obey the constitution of the party and obey directives,’’ Mr Abure said. He listed members of the disciplinary committee as Kehinde Edun, the national legal adviser, as the chairman; Clement Ojukwu, deputy national chairman; Ayo Olorunfemi; and Dudu Manuga, the national women leader. Others are Callistus Ihejiagwa, chairman of the Imo chapter; R...
Edo Accuses Shaibu Of Impersonating As Deputy Governor
Politics

Edo Accuses Shaibu Of Impersonating As Deputy Governor

Edo State Government has accused Philip Shaibu, of impersonating Marvellous Omobayo as the deputy governor of the state. This is contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare on Monday in Benin City. The state government alleged that Mr Shaibu had been carrying out correspondence with individuals and organisations, claiming to be the deputy governor. Mr Nehikhare urged the public to disregard such correspondence from Mr Shaibu because the issue of his reinstatement as deputy governor was still in court. Recall that Mr Shaibu, who was impeached by the state House of Assembly, was reinstated on July 19, by a federal high court in Abuja. Mr Shaibu said the judgment that reinstated him was declarative and had to be carried...
INEC Promises Journalists Unrestricted Coverage Of Edo, Ondo Governorship Polls
Politics

INEC Promises Journalists Unrestricted Coverage Of Edo, Ondo Governorship Polls

INEC promises journalists unrestricted coverage of Edo, Ondo governorship pollsMr Yakubu urged media organisations yet to register for the election coverage to do so before the deadline. INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, gave the assurances at the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with the media on Wednesday in Abuja. He said, “INEC is working with the security agencies to ensure that accredited journalists are granted unimpeded access to voting and collation locations.’’ He, however, urged media organisations, yet to register for the election coverage in Edo, to do that before the deadline “As the Edo State governorship election approaches, I wish to remind media organisations that the portal for media accreditation (https://imap.inecnigeria.org) is still open. “As ...
Edo Deputy Governor Shaibu Defects From PDP To APC
Politics

Edo Deputy Governor Shaibu Defects From PDP To APC

The deputy governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, on Saturday, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Shaibu, along with other members of the PDP legacy coalition group, announced his defection at the inauguration of the national campaign council of the party for the September 21 governorship election in the state. Umar Ganduje, the national chairman of the APC, and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), who received the deputy governor, said they have come to add value to the party. According to him, the opposition party will certainly take over the state after the governorship poll. Mr Shaibu was also warmly embraced by Adams Oshiomhole, whom the deputy governor referred to as his father. Trouble sta...
Ganduje Hails Ex-Senate President, Pius Anyim’s Defection To APC
News, Politics

Ganduje Hails Ex-Senate President, Pius Anyim’s Defection To APC

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has described the defection of a former Senate President, Pius Anyim, to the All Progressives Congress, as ‘a huge blessing.’Mr Ganduje’s excitement was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu. The statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, quoted Mr Ganduje as saying that Mr Anyim’s wealth of experience would be beneficial to the APC. Mr Ganduje had earlier received Anyim, who defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the APC at a ceremony in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital. “I’m elated to receive such an important personality into our party. I want to assure you, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, that you are welcome to the largest political party in Africa. Be assured ...
Congresses: PDP Extends Deadline For Sale Of Forms
Politics

Congresses: PDP Extends Deadline For Sale Of Forms

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the deadline for selling forms for its 2024 congresses from June 17 to 28. PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday. Mr Ologunagba said the extension was approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) pursuant to its power under the party’s constitution. Mr Ologunagba added that the deadline for submitting completed state executive forms had also been extended from June 21 to July 5. He advised all party leaders, stakeholders and members to note the extension and be guided accordingly.
Ondo 2024: Gov. Aiyedatiwa Receives APC’s Certificate Of Return
Politics

Ondo 2024: Gov. Aiyedatiwa Receives APC’s Certificate Of Return

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has presented the certificate of return for the Nov. 16 Ondo state governorship election to Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the April 20 primaries. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has presented the certificate of return for the Nov. 16 Ondo state governorship election to Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the April 20 primaries. Speaking, Mr Aiyedatiwa appreciated aspirants who contested the April 20 primaries for being good sportsmen and women. Mr Aiyedatiwa also thanked President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shetima, the party’s leadership, members of its National Working Committee (NWC) and the state’s stakeholders for their commitment to keep the party united. He commended their efforts and the way they had decided o...
Court To Hear Suit Seeking Ganduje’s Suspension May 27
Politics

Court To Hear Suit Seeking Ganduje’s Suspension May 27

The Kano High Court has adjourned until May 27 to hear three applications in the ongoing case seeking the suspension of APC national chair Abdullahi Ganduje. The applicants Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani-Barguma, through their counsel, Ibrahim Sa’ad, filed a motion ex parte together with a 13-paragraph affidavit in support and a written address dated April 16, sworn to by the second applicant, Mr Barguma. The applicants, who claimed to be the chairman and secretary of APC in Ganduje Ward in Dawakin Tofa LGA, are seeking the court to determine an order of interim injunction on Ganduje’s suspension. The respondents in the suit are the APC National Working Committee, the party’s State Executive Committee in Kano, and Mr Ganduje. When the case came up for hearing, counsel to the ap...
LG Polls: PDP Wins All 33 Chairmanship Positions In Oyo
Politics

LG Polls: PDP Wins All 33 Chairmanship Positions In Oyo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the chairmanship seats in all 33 local governments in Oyo State following Saturday’s council elections. The chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Isiaka Olagunju, announced the results at a news conference at the commission’s headquarters in Ibadan on Sunday. Mr Olagunju attributed the success recorded in the exercise to the support given by Governor Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders in the state. The OYSIEC chairman, who doubles as the chief returning officer, however, acknowledged that there were some aspects of the elections that required improvement. He said such areas would be reflected in the election report that would be submitted to the state government. Mr Olagunju commended such stakeholde...
LG Poll: OYSIEC Apologises For Lateness, Blames Insufficient Vehicles
Politics

LG Poll: OYSIEC Apologises For Lateness, Blames Insufficient Vehicles

A Presiding Officer, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, Abiodun Iyiola (Ward 11, Unit 15, Ibadan South-West), has apologised for the lateness of officials and materials experienced in some Local Government Areas on Saturday. Mrs Iyiola attributed the lateness to lack of enough vehicles to convey electoral officers to their different units. “There are not enough vehicles to bring us, and I was able to reach here because I joined security operatives in their vehicle,” she said. Mrs Iyiola, however, urged the citizens to come out and vote, saying they could also use their passport and not only their voter cards as a means of identification. “They can also use their NIN, passport or voter card as we were told officially; but I don’t know if it’s only for this local govern...
LG Poll: Ibadan Residents Defy Movement Restriction As Security Agents Desert Streets
Politics

LG Poll: Ibadan Residents Defy Movement Restriction As Security Agents Desert Streets

Contrary to reported deployment of 12,000 security agencies for the ongoing local government elections in Oyo State, policemen and other security agents were conspicuously absent in major roads within Ibadan metropolis. Besides, the restriction of human and vehicular movements appeared ineffective as people and vehicles were seen moving freely within the city. The state Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamza, on Friday said about 12,000 security personnel were deployed for the local government elections. Mr Hamzat, at a joint media briefing by heads of security agencies and Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, said the personnel included 8,000 policemen and 2,125 from other security agencies, excluding the military. The police commissioner also said there would be a rest...
APC Primaries: Campaign Group’s Elder Commends Party Members in Irele
Politics

APC Primaries: Campaign Group’s Elder Commends Party Members in Irele

A leading member of the Elders Council of Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) for Irele Local Government area of Ondo State, Barrister Victor Akinfe, has praised members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area, for their abiding loyalty to the candidature of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Akinfe, at a meeting in his Ijagba countryhome to appraise the success of last Saturday's primary election, said from all indications, more people would defect from opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, to boost the chances of Governor Aiyedatiwa in the November governorship election. "We can all see from the outcome of last Saturday's primary election in the APC, that the other aspirants were not on ground in Irele, including ...
Ondo APC Primaries: Time for Unity, Grace in Defeat Not Frivolous Lawsuits
Politics

Ondo APC Primaries: Time for Unity, Grace in Defeat Not Frivolous Lawsuits

By Marindoti Oludare The aftermath of the APC primary elections, which saw Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa affirm his position as the party's flag bearer, is a beautiful exercise in democracy. The first time in the state history when all party member are allowed to chose their flag bearer in a free and fair manner. The recent lawsuit filed by Olusola Oke, challenging the election's credibility, is not only regrettable but detracts from the democratic process that is fundamental to our political landscape. While it is understandable that Mr. Oke might feel disappointed by his shift from a frontrunner to a distant third in the race, his repeated electoral disappointments can be attributed to 2 major factors (1) he is just not “lucky” (2) he is strategically deficient. Attributing h...
APC Primaries: Aiyedatiwa Campaign Group Rejoices, Knocks Opposition PDP
Politics

APC Primaries: Aiyedatiwa Campaign Group Rejoices, Knocks Opposition PDP

Amid jubilations across Ondo State over the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) has expressed profuse gratitude to the people of the State. It, however, cautioned opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against playing "the role of a peeper and an interloper in the internal affairs of rival APC, through uninformed condemnation". State Director of Information of the LACO-FSIC, Mr. Kayode Fasua, in a statement in Akure on Monday, said the emergence of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the primary poll held between Saturday and Sunday, had lent credence to the general demand for continuity of the Aiyedatiwa-led...
Lucky Aiyedatiwa Clinches Ondo APC Governorship Ticket
Politics

Lucky Aiyedatiwa Clinches Ondo APC Governorship Ticket

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo state, has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket for the November 16 election. Usman Ododo, Kogi state governor and chairman of the election organising committee, declared Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the party’s primary in the early hours of Monday. Ododo said Aiyedatiwa secured 48,569 votes to defeat his closest challengers — Mayowa Akinfolarin who had 15,343 votes and Olusola Oke who polled 14,915 votes. Aiyedatiwa won in 16 of the 18 LGAs in the state while Oke won in Ilaje local government area. The election was cancelled in Ifedore LGA due to issues of violence. The primary election which many aspirants have said is full of irregularities.
Ondo APC Governorship Primary Declared Inconclusive
Politics

Ondo APC Governorship Primary Declared Inconclusive

The All Progressives Congress 2024 governorship primary committee in Ondo State has declared the Saturday primary inconclusive. This is contained in a statement by the chairman of the committee, Governor Usman Ododo, on Sunday morning. The statement said that a rerun election would take place in all 13 wards of Okitipupa Local Government, with a total of 9,515 registered voters. Having received reports of the primary election from the 203 wards in the 18 local governments of Ondo State, the Primary Election Committee has decided that the election will be conducted in all 13 wards of Okitipupa Local Government, with a total of 9,515 registered members. “ We have validated reports that the exercise did not hold in the local government due to the late arrival of electoral materia...
LG Poll: Senator Alli Donates N13m To Party, Candidates
Politics

LG Poll: Senator Alli Donates N13m To Party, Candidates

In a show of solidarity and support ahead of the upcoming April 27 Local Government election in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli (APC-Oyo South) has donated a total sum of N13 million to the party and its candidates. According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Akeem Abas, Senator Alli's donation was aimed at enhancing the campaign efforts of the party and its candidates. The announcement of the donation was made during a meeting with the candidates at the party Secretariat in Ibadan, where Senator Alli reaffirmed his dedication to fostering unity and progress within the party. The significant contribution was distributed strategically to support the nine local government chairmanship candidates in Oyo South with N300,000 each, while the 99 councillors rece...
Ondo guber: APC Chief Assures Aiyedatiwa of Block Vote in Akure
Politics

Ondo guber: APC Chief Assures Aiyedatiwa of Block Vote in Akure

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Hon. Dare Aliu, has assured Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of block vote in the Akure axis in next month's primary election of the party. Aliu, who is Director on Diaspora Matters for the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS) gave the assurance in a statement issued on Sunday, after a mega rally by the organisation in Akure. In the statement issued through LACO-FS State Information Director, Mr. Kayode Fasua, Aliu noted that he and key figures of the APC had interfaced with political stakeholders in Akure South and Akure North federal constituency. He said they were impressed with enthusiasm shown towards the aspiration of the governor to continue for another four years. "Without equivocation...
Aiyedatiwa’ll Ensure Even Distribution of Amenities, Campaign Group Assures
Politics

Aiyedatiwa’ll Ensure Even Distribution of Amenities, Campaign Group Assures

Mainstream campaign group for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS) at the weekend assured of even distribution of amenities and empowerment programmes across all communities. The group, in its campaign tour of five local government areas of the Southern senatorial district covering Ileoluji-Okeigbo, Irele, Okitipupa, Ilaje, and Ese-Odo, assured that no community would be isolated in the development programmes of Governor Aiyedatiwa. A statement issued by the State Director of Information for the LACO-FS, Mr. Kayode Fasua, quoted the group's Deputy Director-General for the Southern district, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan, as assuring communities in the zone of better days ahead. Igbasan, who is the state Commissioner...