Politics
Power belongs to God, Otti replies Deputy Speaker Kalu over 2027 Imo gov poll
Power belongs to God, Otti replies Deputy Speaker Kalu over 2027 Imo gov poll
Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has revealed why he chose not to respond to a recent claim by the House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu. Kalu had stated that Otti would be the last Governor of the Labour Party (LP) in Abia, predicting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would take over the state in 2027.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia, Otti explained that he decided to remain silent on Kalu’s remarks because he believes it is pointless to predict the future. He stressed that power belongs to God, not man.
“It is foolhardy for me to talk about what will happen tomorrow. I chose not to respond to Ben Kalu’s comment because I believe that power belongs to God, and He gives it to whom He wills. I cannot sit here and say what will happen in 2027. I do not subscribe to playing God,” Otti said.
Meanwhile, Chief Okezie Usim, a chieftain of the APC in the state, warned members of the Labour Party against attacking the Deputy Speaker. Usim defended Kalu’s comments, pointing to an interview by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, who stated that the LP would take over power from the APC in Lagos in 2027.
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Usim questioned the difference between Kalu’s Abia prediction and Rhodes-Vivour’s Lagos claim. “Only a hypocrite would praise Hon Rhodes-Vivour for his assertion but launch an attack on Hon. Ben Kalu for making similar predictions,” he argued.
He criticized the Labour Party’s response to Kalu’s comments, describing it as hostile and intolerant. Usim compared the reactions in Lagos and Abia, stating, “When Rhodes-Vivour expressed the desire to defeat and take over power in Lagos State, which is APC’s stronghold, nobody called for his head. The APC and their supporters took it in good stride and completely ignored Rhodes-Vivour.”
Usim further argued that it is troubling and anti-democratic for the Abia Labour Party to attack anyone who desires to take over from the LP Governor in 2027. “What is the sin of Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu in merely expressing his desire for his political party to replace the Governor in 2027? Why treat the two statements differently?”
He concluded, “If Hon. Rhodes-Vivour is praised for supporting the Labour Party to take over Lagos State Government House, why shouldn’t Hon Ben Kalu’s fearless claim of APC’s imminent victory in Abia State be commended?”
Power belongs to God, Otti replies Deputy Speaker Kalu over 2027 Imo gov poll
Politics
Senator Adeola to INEC: Adopt NIN, driving licence as voter’s card like Ogun
Senator Adeola to INEC: Adopt NIN, driving licence as voter’s card like Ogun
Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to consider alternative means of identification during voting.
Adeola, who’s the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation,
pointed out that accepting multiple forms of ID for voting will make the electoral process more inclusive and transparent.
He praised the use of National Identity Numbers and Driving Licences as voter identification at the ongoing Ogun State local government election, local government election, calling it a strategy to prevent voter disenfranchisement and ensure everyone can participate.
The Senator, who voted at the U.A.M.C. Polling Unit in Pahayi, Ilaro, noted that INEC can address challenges associated with the Permanent Voter’s Card and promote a smoother voting experience for Nigerians by exploring alternative identification methods.
He said, “I want to strongly believe that if we mitigate against this idea of disenfranchising people from casting their vote for one reason or the other, I will believe that it is not a bad idea to use other means of identification.
“The only thing is that there should be a lot of processes into this that will make it more legal, and that can show to the whole world the level of using it transparent. As far as that process is concerned, this will convince Nigerians that going forward into the future, aside from the PVCs, we can also use other legal means of identification, like a passport or the NIN card.”
Politics
Ondo gov: Aiyedatiwa leads in 13 LGAs, result collation resumes 5am
Ondo gov: Aiyedatiwa leads in 13 LGAs, result collation resumes 5am
Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Saturday’s governorship election Ondo State is leading in all the 13 local governments so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Aiyedatiwa is also the incumbent governor of the state.
The collation of the remaining five council areas would resume by 5am today (Sunday), the collation officer, Prof Olayemi Akinwunmi, said Saturday night.
Akinwunmi, who announced the recess, said it was to allow for the arrival of results from the remaining local governments.
He said, “We have five more local governments but we are going to take our recess now until 5am to receive from Akure North, Okitipupa and Odigbo, then Ilaje and Eseodo. We resume at 5am for these local governments.”
Politics
INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election
INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election
In less than 24 hours to the Ondo governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced that Olusola Ebiseni would be replaced with Olorunfemi Festus as the Labour Party candidate.
INEC stated on X on Friday that the replacement of Mr Ebiseni with Mr Festus followed a judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court ordered INEC to restore the name of Festus as the Labour Party candidate in the Saturday election.
INEC was served with the certified true copy of the judgment on Thursday, which set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
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“The FHC, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, had on Sept. 27 ordered the commission to accept Ebiseni as the candidate of the LP for the 2024 Ondo state governorship election.
“However, in the appeal with reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 filed by the LP, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, struck out the judgment of the FHC for lack of jurisdiction.
“In obedience to the court order, the commission has restored Festus, whose name was first published as the LP candidate for the 2024 Ondo Governorship election and uploaded the same to our website for public information,” INEC said.
INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election
(NAN)
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