Politics
Courts reinstate Soludo, Uba as APGA, PDP candidates
Senator Ugochukwu Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party and Prof Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance have been reinstated as candidates of their parties in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election.
The court has directed Independent National Electoral Commission to list the two politicians as candidates of their respective party.
Justice Obiora Nwabunike, who adjudicated on the case involving Uba, Valentine Ozigbo and the PDP, said the party erred by using what it called ‘super delegates’ without vacating a pending order by an Abuja court.
The judge said, “With the evidence before me and having heard from parties involved in the matter, I rule that Ugochukwu Uba is the duly elected candidate of PDP.
“It’s not for nothing that court judges are called My Lords. When a court makes a pronouncement, it must be obeyed. No matter how foolish or ugly, it must be obeyed.
“So, it was wrong for the PDP to go ahead to conduct the primary election at the Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre that produced Valentine Ozigbo, with what they called super delegates against a live judgment of a court, without overturning the judgement.
Read Also; Anambra 2021: Ozigbo says no cause for alarm over exclusion by INEC
“That action cannot be vitiated or mitigated by the argument adduced by defence counsel that party primaries are internal affairs of political parties.
“I order that Ugochukwu Uba’s name should be enlisted by the INEC without further delay and the defendants should pay a cost of N10 million to the applicant.”
In the other case, Justice C.C. Okaa reinstated Prof Soludo as the APGA candidate and ordered INEC to publish his name immediately.
The court also ordered INEC to remove the already-published name of Chukwuma Umeoji, ordering him to stop parading himself as the candidate of APGA
Justice Okaa reaffirmed Victor Ike Oye as the indisputable National Chairman of APGA and ordered Edozie Njoku and Jude Okeke to stop parading themselves as national chairmen of APGA.
The Jude Okeke-led APGA national executive kicked against the ruling reinstating Soludo as the party’s candidate.
The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, told reporters at a briefing in Abuja that an order by a High Court in Jigawa State was still subsisting.
He said, “We have invited you here today to brief you on the happenings in our party and the desperation of some anti-democratic forces to desecrate the judiciary and jettison the rule of law principle which is fundamental in a democracy.
“On Friday, 16th July 2021, the Independent National Electoral Commission published the list of candidates for the Anambra State Governorship election in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines for the election.
“In compliance with the judgment of two competent High Courts, INEC published the name of Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, as the valid and duly nominated candidate of our great party.
“All institutions of state must obey the judgment of courts; that is the position of the law.
“A case was filed by the Victor Oye-camp without notifying the Jude Okeke group. We heard of it on Friday, quickly mobilised our lawyers to apply to join the case but the judge refused because allowing the joinder would mean taking an adjournment for consequential amendment of the processes to reflect the new names joined.
“The judge dismissed the motion even when no lawyer in the case filed anything in opposition.
“Having failed to deliver the judgment on Friday, the judge this morning (yesterday) in a court surrounded by over 150 policemen and soldiers and wherein every person who was not a lawyer was chased out of the court delivered a judgment and predictably granted all the prayers of the applicants and even more.
“The judgment from Awka cannot vacate the judgment from Jigawa. They are courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“They cannot change the position of INEC with it. Hopefully, this matter will be sorted out soon and peace will return to APGA.”
Politics
Just in: Ex-Imo Gov Ihedioha heads for LP, dumps PDP
Just in: Ex-Imo Gov Ihedioha heads for LP, dumps PDP
Former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Politics
Aregbesola, Oyetola’s camps disagree over Osun shares
Aregbesola, Oyetola’s camps disagree over Osun shares
Fresh uproar has hit the camp of the former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, over the selling of the shares of Osun State at Omoluabi Bank, to private investors.
A leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijesaland, Adebayo Adedeji, yesterday insisted that Aregbesola sold the shares before leaving office.
READ ALSO:
- Gunmen attack Ogun community, kill one, shoot two local chiefs
- Marafa tackles Matawalle over remarks against Northern Elders
- World Bank approves fresh $2.2bn loan for Nigeria, says finance minister
Adedeji said in a statement: “In 2013, the government of Aregbesola went to the Nigerian Stock Exchange in order to increase the company’s share capital by N1.65billion so as to be above the N2.5billion minimum capital requirement set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for mortgage banks in the country.
“Wale Bolorunduro, who was recently nominated as chairman of the bank by Governor Adeleke, was the Commissioner of Finance in the state under Aregbesola. He has knowledge of it.”
Aregbesola, reacting to the claims through his media aide, Sola Fasure, in a terse message said: “It’s between Oyetola and the PDP administration in Osun. We don’t want to be dragged into it. But you may seek clarification from Dr. Wale Bolorunduro. He’s the new chairman of the bank.”
Aregbesola, Oyetola’s camps disagree over Osun shares
Politics
Ondo APC: Aiyedatiwa declared gov primary winner, other aspirants kick
Ondo APC: Aiyedatiwa declared gov primary winner, other aspirants kick
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has secured the nomination of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming November 16 governorship election, following his declaration as the party’s candidate.
Aiyedatiwa clinched the nomination with a resounding victory, amassing a total of 48,569 votes in the primaries. His closest contender, Mayowa Akinfolarin, trailed behind with 15,343 votes, while Chief Olusola Oke secured the third position with 14,865 votes.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo. Governor Ododo, reflecting on the competitive nature of the primaries, highlighted the rigorous contest that characterized the electoral process.
The primaries, held across the 18 council areas of Ondo State, witnessed fervent participation from party members and supporters.
READ ALSO:
- Nigerian man faces 20-year imprisonment in US over fraud, after pleading guilty
- Netanyahu vows to increase military pressure on Hamas
- Reno Omokri to Obidients: Name one school Peter Obi initiated as Anambra gov
With the nomination secured, Aiyedatiwa and the APC now shift their focus to consolidating support and rallying behind their candidate as they prepare to face off against opponents in the November election.
Returning officer in lfedore, Oliver Okpala said violence marred the exercise in the area, hence no voting in all the wards.
Speaking before the party’s electoral officers reeled out the results from the 18 council areas, Governor Usman Ododo said, “Let’s remember that the real election lies with all of us as members of this great party, the All Progessives Congress.
“We must always reflect on the words of our father and leader, President Bola Tinubu, who has maintained that a political contest is a quest to serve by brothers and sisters from the same family but leaving in the same room and must therefore live in the same house after the election has been won and lost.
“In our own room today, we are all in the same room as a family, and as such, we have no need to abandon the party, irrespective of today’s outcome.
” We must set aside our differences and unite behind our candidate.
-
Education4 days ago
Why we charge N42m fees for primary school pupils — Charterhouse Lagos
-
Business7 days ago
Govt paying N600bn for fuel subsidy monthly — Rainoil CEO
-
News5 days ago
Updated: More trouble for Yahaya Bello as Immigration places him on watch list
-
Auto4 days ago
We expect massive roll-outs of Nigeria-made cars by December 2024 – Minister
-
metro7 days ago
Edo court sentences three to death by hanging for kidnapping, murder
-
International5 days ago
Updated: Tragedy hits Kenya, Defence chief, nine others die in military helicopter crash
-
metro4 days ago
JUST IN : Borrow pit collapses, kills seven Qur’anic school pupils
-
News3 days ago
We’re not part of Yoruba Nation agitation, says MKO Abiola family