LP reclaims Delta Reps seat, appeal court sacks Elumelu - Newstrends
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LP reclaims Delta Reps seat, appeal court sacks Elumelu

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LP reclaims Delta Reps seat, appeal court sacks Elumelu

The court of appeal in Abuja on Thursday upturned the judgment of the national and state houses of assembly election tribunal in Asaba which declared Ndudi Elumelu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election for Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency, Delta State, as the winner.

The court affirmed Ngozi Okolie, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), as the duly elected lawmaker.

Kenneth Ibe, the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had announced that Okolie polled 53,879 votes to defeat Elumelu, who got 33,456 votes.

However, Elumelu filed a petition before the tribunal on the grounds that Okolie was not duly sponsored by the LP since he was not a member of the party as of May 28, 2022, when the party’s primary election was held.

The three-member panel of the tribunal, headed by A.Z. Mussa, in its ruling then agreed with Elumelu and disqualified the LP candidate.

But the court of appeal faulted the tribunal for voiding Okolie’s election.

The appellate court agreed with Mahmud Magaji, counsel to the LP that contrary to the findings of the tribunal, Okolie was duly nominated and sponsored by his party.

The appeal court also stated that Okolie resigned his appointment as a senior special assistant (SSA) in the Delta State government before the election.

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I’m under pressure to share money or risk second term – Akwa Ibom Governor

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10 hours ago

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September 24, 2023

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Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State

I’m under pressure to share money or risk second term – Akwa Ibom Governor

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has said he is under intense pressure and threat by the political class to share money or risk forfeiting his second term.

Addressing newsmen in Uyo at the weekend, Eno, appealed against  distraction from politicians, saying he was on a mission to address the challenges confronting the common people under the rural development programmes as enunciated in the ‘Arise Agenda’ blueprint of his administration.

“I have received lot of threats from the political class that I won’t do second term. I am putting money in rural development because a good first term is better than a useless second term.

I don’t want to put more money in one person’s hands to the detriment of the 7.9 million population,” he said.

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Urging politicians to exercise patience by giving him time till December to put the governance structure on the right footing, Governor Eno noted that the challenge of youth unemployment was a clear and present danger that must be settled for the already rich politicians to be at peace, adding that if the restive youths are not properly handled, rich politicians would not enjoy their wealth in peace.

He, therefore, stressed the need to create jobs for youths at the grassroots level for them to be meaningfully engaged in order to curb rural-urban migration, which he said, informed his decision to impress it on the House of Assembly to enact the law compelling local government chairmen to relocate from Uyo, the state capital, to their council areas in order to engage the youth in meaningful ventures and oversee grassroots development.

On the allegation by a section of the media of paying N20 million monthly to his political mentor and former governor Udom Emmanuel, the governor described it as a “blatant lie” deliberately orchestrated to inflame the polity so as to put him at loggerheads with his political godfather.

He wondered why people should resort to blackmail and insult on former leaders of the state who had contributed in no small measure to elevate the state to its current level.

I’m under pressure to share money or risk second term – Akwa Ibom Governor

 

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Amosun’s men return to APC after 5 years, team up with Abiodun

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18 hours ago

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September 24, 2023

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Amosun’s men return to APC after 5 years, team up with Abiodun

Loyalists of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun have returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State and teamed up with the Governor Dapo Abiodun’s faction of the ruling party.

The development is coming after about five years of political infighting between Abiodun and Amosun.

They were led into a meeting by a former Chairman of the APC, Derin Adebiyi, whose tenure was dissolved in 2019 by the truncated Adams Oshiomhole-led APC National Working Committee, for alleged anti-party activities.

Our correspondent gathered that the politicians have Amosun’s blessing to return to the ruling party, having left the APC for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) during the 2023 governorship election.

Amosun had during the election refused to support Abiodun, as he sponsored Biyi Otegbeye to contest against the incumbent in the ADC.

Abiodun received Amosun’s men at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, on Friday.

The governor said: “I want to congratulate your sense of loyalty to leadership, which I will say is not only commendable, it is enviable.

“This is a culture that we must promote and entrench. It is a culture that is fast eroding; it is a culture that we are fast losing. Loyalty is 100 percent.

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“For some others, they move once things are not working well, but for you, you stay put. This sense of loyalty is worthy of emulation. We must appreciate the fact that there can only be one leader in a party at a time.

“Even when we have ambitions and desires, we must subordinate ourselves 100% to leadership and believe that it is in that subordination that will allow us to flourish and achieve our objectives, our dreams, our desires and aspirations, not by forming factions or by breaking away.

“Because by so doing, it only weakens the fabric of that collective union that we call our party. You must appreciate that there can be only one leader of the party at a time in the state, and that leader is the governor.

“As the leader of the party, I appreciate the task bestowed on me and it is my duty to work towards individual and collective welfare of our members,” the governor noted.

The governor urged all members to put the past behind them and work towards repositioning the party to achieve its aims and work for the socio-economic development of the state.

“Let us the past behind us. Let us promote what unites us as a family. I welcome you back. The future of Ogun State is in your hands and it is for us for the taking. The same joy the father of the prodigal son received his lost son back home, the same way I receive you today.

“To those who did not leave, please let us receive our brothers and sisters back. To those who are joining us, please let us display a sense of loyalty. I can assure you, you will be fully integrated. ”

The State Chairman of APC, Yemi Sanusi, said in every human relationship, there is bound to be disagreement, adding that even in time of war, there is always a place for peaceful settlement of conflict, calling the returnees to fully integrated themselves with other members of the party.

Leader of the returnees, Adebiyi said they have all agreed to return to the mainstream to contribute to the development of the party and the State in general, thanking the governor and the party members for receiving them back.

Amosun’s men return to APC after 5 years, team up with Abiodun

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JUST IN: Benue Governor floors PDP at tribunal, appreciates residents

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1 day ago

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September 23, 2023

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Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia

JUST IN: Benue Governor floors PDP at tribunal, appreciates residents

The Benue State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi Saturday dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Titus Uba, seeking the nullification of the election of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) had announced Alia winner of the poll with 473,933 votes.

Uba came second with 223,913 votes.

Dissatisfied with the results declared by INEC, the PDP asked the Tribunal to nullify the election of the governor on the grounds of invalid nomination and sponsorship by his party.

But in its verdict on Saturday, the three-man panel chaired by Justice Ibrahim Karayeup held Alia’s election.

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The tribunal held that issues raised by Titus Uba were pre-election matters that ought to have begun at the Federal High Court within the stipulated time frame.

Reacting to the judgment on Saturday, the governor appreciated the people of Benue state for voting for him.

He promised not to let them down.

“Governor Alia rededicates himself to the service of the people and the strengthening of democratic values across the state.

“He appreciates and recognizes the fact that his victory is that of the people to whom sovereignty and power truly belongs.

“He enjoins all and sundry including members of the opposition to put their hands on deck and ensure that the state is moved to very heights of greatness away from the current mess of misery, poverty and maladministration,” the governor said, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Tersoo Kula.

JUST IN: Benue Governor floors PDP at tribunal, appreciates residents

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