Politics

Harris makes history as first female, Black, South Asian American VP-elect

Published

3 years ago

November 8, 2020

With Joe Biden now United States president-elect, his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, also solidified her place in history Saturday by becoming the first woman, the first Black American and the first South Asian American elected vice president in US history.

Harris’ political career has included many barrier-breaking moments, such as serving as California’s first Black female attorney general and being the second Black woman in history to be elected to the US Senate.

Harris, 56, the only Black woman currently in the Senate, was elected in 2016 after serving as California’s attorney general and, before that, as the San Francisco district attorney. The child of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, the native of Oakland, California, has said she was inspired to attend law school after attending civil rights protests with her parents.

Before Harris made history in the ivory halls of Congress and on the Democratic presidential ticket, her sharp debate skills and understanding of her multiracial heritage were honed at Howard University, one of the most prestigious historically Black colleges in the country.

Harris, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the historically Black sorority she joined while at Howard, will also be the first vice president from a historically Black Greek-letter organization.

Harris’ mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who immigrated to the United States at the age of 19 to pursue a doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology at the University of California, Berkeley, had an immense impact on Harris and her sister, Maya. The senator has spoken about how Gopalan, a civil rights activist, was a role model for her despite the challenges she faced as an immigrant and later as a single mother, forging a life in the United States.

Gopalan met Harris’ father, Donald, while participating in civil rights protests. They eventually divorced, with her raising the children on her own. Gopalan was cognizant that most people would see her children as Black and was “determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud Black women,” Harris wrote in her autobiography, “The Truths We Hold.” However, Gopalan also made efforts to nurture her children’s Indian heritage.

Picking Harris also provided the ticket with generational diversity. Biden, who will turn 78 later this month, is the oldest president-elect in US history.

Politics

Appeal court dashes PDP hope, affirms Otti as Abia governor

Published

8 hours ago

December 2, 2023

Trends Admin

Appeal court dashes PDP hope, affirms Otti as Abia governor

The court of appeal in Lagos on Saturday dismissed an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party against the election of Alex Otti of the Labour Party as the governor of Abia State.

Okey Ahiwe, candidate of the PDP, had earlier challenged the outcome of the election at the tribunal.

Ahiwe claimed that Otti was unqualified to run for the election as he was not a registered member of the LP.

He added that the governor forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

On October 6, the tribunal upheld the election of Otti as the governor of the state.

Reacting to the appeal court’s ruling, Ahiwe, in a statement by Victor Nwokocha, his media adviser, called on party members and supporters to remain calm.

He expressed confidence in God and the judiciary.

He said, “Our destination was clearly defined from the onset, and our focus is unchanged. So, at this juncture, our faith in God is renewed, as well as our solid confidence in the judiciary.

“I therefore encourage all my supporters to stay calm, keep praying to God, and look beyond the eclipse of transitional sunset.”

Politics

I won’t challenge my loss in court – Dino Melaye

Published

3 days ago

November 29, 2023

Trends Admin

I won’t challenge my loss in court – Dino Melaye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded Kogi State governorship election, Senator Dino Melaye, says he will not to seek legal redress over the outcome of the election.

The election held on November 11, 2023 was won by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo. Ododo won with 446,237 votes, defeating his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 46,362 votes.

Melaye said his decision not to challenge the results was based on the fact that the judiciary had allegedly become an arm of the ruling APC.

He said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said it was now public knowledge that the judiciary under the current administration had become the “lost hope” instead of the “last hope” of the common man.

Melaye noted that it was a shame that the judiciary watched helplessly as members of the ruling party boasted of their control over the judiciary during campaigns.

Politics

Updated: Edo gov poll: I’m unstoppable, says Philip Shaibu

Published

6 days ago

November 27, 2023

Trends Admin

Updated: Edo gov poll: I’m unstoppable, says Philip Shaibu

Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Monday said he remained resolute and unstoppable in his interest to contest the 2024 governorship poll in the state.

He said he would be contesting the election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He made his declaration at the Biohop Kelly Centre, Benin City.

The deputy governor was billed to declare his governorship bid at the Eterno Hotel but the hotel cancelled the event at the last minute, saying Governor Obaseki had a programme for the venue at same time.

Obaseki and Shaibu have been on war path over the latter’s governorship bid.

Shaibu said as home boy of the Edo who had felt the pains of the people, he was prepared to develop the state.

Shaibu called on the people to support him in actualizing his ambition of becoming the next governor of the state.