Drama as INEC declares APC winner of Imo North bye-election - Newstrends
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Drama as INEC declares APC winner of Imo North bye-election

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Despite not fielding any candidate for Saturday bye-election in Imo North, the Independent National Electoral Commissioner has declared the All Progressives Congress winner of the election.

INEC’s Returning Officer for the poll, Hakeem Adikum, on Sunday morning announced the APC as the winner of the election without returning any candidate.

Adikum said, “I hereby return the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the bye-election held in Imo North on Saturday, December 5.”

The returning officer announced that the APC scored 36,811 votes, while Emmanuel Okewulonu of the People Democratic Party came second with 31,903 votes.

This caused disquiet in the hall, as the supporters Ifeanyi Araraume and Frank Ibezim, the two candidates laying claims to the APC ticket, who were waiting to jubilate outside, felt disappointed.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Prof Francis Ezeonu, told journalists that the commission was unable to return a particular candidate from the APC as the winner of the election because of what he called several court orders for and against Araraume and Ibezim of the APC.

Recall that an Abuja Federal High court had on Friday barred Ibezim from contesting elections, having found him guilty of perjury based on the credentials he submitted to INEC and his party.

The same day, a Court of Appeal in Owerri sacked Araraume as the candidate of the APC and declared Ibezim as the authentic candidate of the party.

Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenem ordered INEC to immediately enlist Ibezim’s name as the candidate of the party for the bye-election.

Meanwhile, the details of the election results show the APC won in five out of the six local government areas in the senatorial district while PDP won in one LGA.

While PDP won in Obowo LGA where its candidate hails from; the returning officer said that APC won in Okigwe, Onuimo, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano and Ihitte/Uboma LGAs.

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NNPP caucus denies coalition talks with PDP

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NNPP caucus denies coalition talks with PDP

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) House of Representatives Caucus has refuted claims of engaging in discussions for a possible coalition or merger with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or any other political party.

The denial comes amidst widely circulated rumours suggesting ongoing talks between the NNPP and the PDP.

In a statement released by Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin on behalf of the NNPP House Caucus, the party categorically dismissed the rumours as baseless and entirely false.

The party clarified its stance, asserting an open policy for collaboration, alliances, or mergers with various political entities, including the APC, PDP, and LP.

The NNPP emphasized that there are no ongoing discussions or meetings related to coalition or merger with the PDP or any other party. The party denounced the spread of such misinformation, labelling it as mischief.

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The NNPP House Caucus urged the public to disregard these unfounded rumours, affirming the party’s unwavering commitment to political neutrality while remaining open to potential collaborations with diverse political groups.

The statement read:

“Our attention has been drawn to a widely circulated message in some sections of the media that our great party, NNPP is in talks with the PDP and other parties for possible coalition.

“There is no any element of truth in this. It’s a blatant lie. Our party has consistently maintained a neutral stand that we are open for collaboration, alliance and even merger with the APC, PDP, LP and any other political party.

“There is presently no any talk whatsoever ongoing and the party did not attend any meeting to discuss coalition or merger with PDP or any other party. It is an act of mischief makers and should be regarded as such.”

NNPP caucus denies coalition talks with PDP

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Tinubu approves APC’s blueprint for total takeover of southeast states

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu approves APC’s blueprint for total takeover of southeast states

National chairman of All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, says President Tinubu has already approved party’s blueprint for political liberation of Southeastern states.

With the newly approved blueprint, Ganduje expressed his optimism that Anambra would  become an APC controlled state in 2025.

Ganduje stated this when he received Senator Ifeanyi Uba, Senator Uche Ekwunife and other party stalwarts from Anambra state at the APC, national secretariat in Abuja.

He said, it would be in the best interest of the South-East geo-political zone pushing to produce an occupant of the exalted seat of the presidency to join the APC fold.

He added that, the liberal revolution is starting from Anambra and the party will test its popularity with the citizenry in the South-east geo-political zone with the 2025 Anambra state governorship poll.

“I will like to let you know that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved our blueprint for political liberation of South-east to the APC, he approved the political emancipation and political de-marginalisation of the region,” Ganduje said.

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“Be with one voice because if you speak with one voice, it will be bigger, wider for  negotiating the political leadership of this country.

“We will win the next gubernatorial election and will win the National Assembly, the State Assembly, and all other grassroot elections, in Anambra state.

“So what I’m telling you is that the South East geopolitical zone is coming into the national politics and the region will be dominated by APC,” he added.

Meanwhile, Imo state governor and chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodinma who was at the party secretariat also re-echoed the position of Ganduje.

“It is important that APC as a political party become the vehicle for the South-east region to be fully integrated into the national project.

“Consistent to that, we are going to do our best to make sure that the five states in the South-eastern region are dominated by APC, by endearing our party to the people of the South-east region,” he said.

Other governors in attendance include: Kwara state governor and Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state and governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state.

Tinubu approves APC’s blueprint for total takeover of southeast states

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2027 election: INEC receives application from 25 new political parties

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Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

2027 election: INEC receives application from 25 new political parties

In Nigeria, 25 political associations have requested to be recognized as political parties ahead of the general elections in 2027.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), revealed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the Public Presentation of the ‘NEEDS Assessment of Political Parties in Nigeria’, which was organized by the Kukah Centre and the European Union (EU).

Sam Olumekun, a National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, represented INEC.

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He said: “Despite harsh criticism that INEC has passed through, especially in the last couple of months, we have the National Assembly that emerged from the political parties. There was a time we had many political parties before they were pruned down by legal requirements to 19.

“As at today we have about 25 political associations that have applied that they want to register as political parties. If political parties are not functioning well, why are groups coming up to seek registration as political parties?” Olumekun queried.

Also, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Senator from Anambra Central Senatorial District, Chief Victor Umeh, said that since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s political landscape had witnessed significant transformation, which can be attributed to the relentless efforts of various stakeholders and institutions, including Nigerians and political parties.

2027 election: INEC receives application from 25 new political parties

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