More South-East governors, leaders will join APC, says Uzodinma – Newstrends
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More South-East governors, leaders will join APC, says Uzodinma

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There may be mass movement of politicians in the South-East from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress in a desperate attempt by the region to secure an automatic ticket of a major party for the 2023 presidential election.

Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, gave this indication, saying many South-East governors would soon follow Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, to join the APC.

He spoke in Abuja on Monday when he visited the APC’s national secretariat, stressing that more political heavyweights of Igbo extraction would also join the party.

He said, “If you recall when I addressed you here couple of months ago, I told you that the moment I resume office in Imo State, the impression and perception of our party in South East will change and the resultant effect will be that more credible individuals and governors will even join the party.”

He said it would be in the best interest of the South East to join the APC.

Uzodinma said, “Today, I am vindicated because we’re hearing it and I am sure few hours from now we get a confirmation that one of our best will be joining the part;  Governor of Ebonyi State. Of course, I will be very glad and it will be my joy to welcome a governor and more governors, not only him, we’re still talking more governors to join.

“The APC is the ruling party and for the interest of national integration and cohesion, Imo and South East indeed, needs to become part and parcel of the ruling party to make the Nigerian project a complete project.”

The governor also said he came “equally to our great party to meet with critical stakeholders and officers of our party as to the status and going on of events in our great party and I had a private audience with the National Chairman and some members of the caretaker committee and also to be able to touch base with our preparedness for the upcoming bye-election.

“Of course, you know any moment from now, there will be a Senatorial bye-election in Imo State, Imo North Senatorial District and I think our party is  prepared. In Imo too we are prepared. APC is the party to beat in Imo State. The most important thing is APC to win the election.”

He, however, said only the party could decide the candidate of the party in line with the Electoral Act.

He said, “The party has internal mechanism of confirming who the candidate is. The Supreme Court has said it; the Electoral Act has said it. Every party has the right and it is only the party that sponsors a candidate.

“Of course, we have our candidate. There are some few legal issues going on. I don’t want to go into that because the matter pending in court.”

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Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest

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Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest

The National Union of the Police Retirees, Kaduna State Branch has arranged for what it called a mother of all protest to remain at the National Assembly until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs the Pension Exit Bill.

The Bill to exit the Nigeria Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme and the bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Pension Board, as the police retirees are patiently waiting for, and there is the tendency that, the promise may not be fulfilled, as September is winding up.

This is contained in a press release signed by the chairman of the Police Retirees Kaduna State Chapter, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria Rtd and the Vice Chairman ASP Danlami Maigamo Rtd and distributed to journalists in Kaduna.

CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria Rtd lamented that the police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme are dying immensely due to poverty and hunger.

“The union is also pleading that, as the death toll is on the increase among the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme and the prices of commodity of any type is also on the increase.”

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He said: “Federal government should come to the aid of the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme before they all perish, by immediately paying the following allowances to the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme.

“Two point five percent differential, the Federal Government Palliative and three consecutive pension increases by the Federal Government as well as the minimum wage increase.

“During the Police Retirees, Kaduna State Branch monthly meeting held last Wednesday at Police Officers Mess Kaduna. Members became shocked and worried, as there is a sign of unfulfillment of a promise that began to manifest itself because it can be recalled that, on 22/09/24.

“The National Union of the Police Retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme carried out a nationwide peaceful protest to the National Assembly Abuja.

“During the protest, the Chairman of Senate Committee for Police Affairs, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Malamadori, addressed some of the retirees in his office, where he promised the retirees that, before September 24, they would be exited from the Contributory Pension Scheme to the Define Benefit Scheme (DBS) that the two Police Bills would be Harmonize.

“Sequel to this, the blood pressure of many concerned police retirees has risen above maximum. Therefore, the Kaduna Branch has unanimously agreed that, if by the end of this September, the Nigeria Police is not exempted from the contributory Pension Scheme,” he said.

Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest

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Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo

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Senator Monday Okpebholo

Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has ordered a judicial review concerning the criminal summons issued against Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the upcoming Edo governorship election.

The court’s decision follows an application submitted by Okpebholo’s legal counsel, Adaze Emwanta.

The presiding judge, Justice O.C. Agbaza, delivered a ruling after hearing an ex-parte motion on Wednesday. He agreed to the reliefs sought by Okpebholo’s counsel, setting the next hearing for October 28.

The criminal summons was initially issued by Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar of Wuse Zone 2, who had ordered Okpebholo to appear in court on September 20.

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The summons stemmed from allegations that the APC candidate provided false information regarding his date of birth on forms submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The case, which was filed by an Edo indigene, Honesty Aginbatse, accused Okpebholo of conflicting dates of birth in his nomination documents. In response, Okpebholo sought intervention from the FCT High Court to prevent the summons from proceeding. His legal team argued that the criminal charge was part of a plot to tarnish his image ahead of the election.

According to Okpebholo’s defense, the issue of his birthdate had already been addressed and resolved at the Supreme Court’s registry through a Deed of Regularisation, which was officially gazetted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in August. The APC candidate also alleged that the summons was not served to him directly but circulated on social media to damage his reputation on the eve of the election.

Meanwhile, in a separate but related case, the Federal High Court in Abuja is set to rule on a motion filed by the APC seeking to amend its summons in a lawsuit involving INEC, Asue Ighodalo, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Justice Peter Lifu has reserved his judgment on the case, with both the PDP and Ighodalo contesting the jurisdiction of the suit.

The legal battles surrounding Okpebholo continue as the Edo governorship election approaches, raising questions about their impact on the candidate’s campaign.

Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo

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JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election

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JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election

The Edo government has declared September 20 as a work-free day to facilitate travel for workers and residents ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The election is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, across 18 LGAs in the state.

In a statement, Joseph Eboigbe, secretary to the state government (SSG), assured that adequate security arrangements are in place for a secure and democratic election process.

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“This is to enable workers and other electorates travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State” he said.

“The government wishes everyone journey mercies and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair and credible election.”

JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election

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