Politics
Why I’m backing C’River PDP gov candidate – APC chieftain
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State, Chief Sam Bassey, has pledged his support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Sandy Onor.
He made the pledge along with community leaders in the Biase Local Government Area at a stakeholders’ meeting on Sunday at Biase, near Calabar.
Bassey said he and his followers took the decision to work for the success of Onor while still in the APC.
He noted that their action would not in any way amount to anti-party activity, adding, “It is meant to correct the injustice meted out to our constituency.
“The zoning structure adopted by the state chapter of the APC in their primaries election is in itself anti Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, where we all hail from.”
Bassey, a member of APC Legacy Group, said time has come for the political class and political parties to demonstrate equity, fairness and justice in sharing political offices.
He pointed out that using zoning or rotation to deny or marginalise other minority segments of the state is against the spirit of brotherhood.
Lashing proponents of back-to-south zoning arrangement, Bassey maintained that the agitators of rotation are mostly those who want to continually dominate the other sections that make up a zone.
He stressed that every senatorial zone has credible people and resources to lead the state.
He regretted that both the APC governorship and senatorial candidates are from Efik and one local government area.
While noting that this arrangement was with the exclusion of Akamkpa and Biase local government areas, he said it was an attempt to perpetually marginalise the minorities in the South.
Bassey said, “I am vehemently opposed to this kind of arrangement where some people will remain underdogs and cannot occupy certain positions.
“Against this background, I, some community leaders and hundreds of our followers in Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency have endorsed and adopted the PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor, ahead of 2023 polls.
“I believe that Senator Onor can help us. We have discussed. He is very approachable and has a listening ear. We would try our best to mobilise for the election.”
On whether his support and campaign for the PDP candidate would amount to anti-party activity, Bassey said, “I am still in the APC and a legacy member of the party.
“I have not defected, but the truth is that I am supporting the PDP because that is where the happiness of my people comes from.
“Besides, if my people are not happy in politics, I cannot even call myself a politician.”
He advised all the candidates and parties to play by the rules rather than engaging in politics of propaganda and sentiments.
Also speaking on behalf of some community leaders, Chief Emmanuel Ogban said, “Some of us have already made up of our minds and are mobilising our people to work for the PDP governorship candidate to fight marginalisation in the south.
“We have been neglected.
“This 2023 election is not about party affairs, it is about capacity and credibility as well as who can deliver and redeem us from sufferings and economic doldrums.”
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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