Politics

Why We Can’t Take Any Action On Umahi Now – INEC

Published

2 years ago

March 25, 2022

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it cannot yet take a stance on the controversy surrounding the ruling which sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.

A National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, said this at the end of the management meeting of the management meeting of the commission, on Thursday.

An Abuja court had ordered Umahi’s removal over his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All progressives Congress (APC).

The court held that votes cast in the 2019 election were for the PDP and Umahi could no longer hold office after leaving the party.

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The PDP had asked the electoral body to revoke the certificate of return it issued to Umahi and declare its candidate in 2019 as the new governor.

In its response, INEC had said it would make its position on Umahi known this week.

But in a statement on Thursday, the commission said it cannot take any action at the moment because of multiple court cases.

“It will be recalled that the commission met on Thursday 17th March on the matter, decided to defer its deliberation on the Ebonyi cases and stepped down the listed Memorandum to enable its Legal Services and Clearance Committee to study the new processes served on it in the light of the previously served ones and advise the Commission comprehensively.

“Since then, the commission has been served yet more Court Processes on the same matter, bringing the total to 12.

“The Commission deliberated extensively on these cases and decided to further suspend action on the defection of the Governor and Deputy-Governor of Ebonyi State and 16 members of the State House of Assembly from the PDP to the APC in the light of the conflicting judgements and orders served on it from Courts of coordinate jurisdiction,” he said.

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He said that INEC also considers it prudent to stay action on the conflicting judgements and orders being aware of the pendency of Appeals and Motions for Stay of Execution of some of the judgements before various divisions of the Court of Appeal.

On Osun State governorship election, Okoye said that the commission would on Friday 25th March publish in its state and local government offices in Osun State the list and personal particulars of the candidates that political parties propose to sponsor at the election.

He said that these must be candidates who emerged from valid primaries in line with Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022.

He said, “The commission will publish the list and personal particulars of the candidates of 15 out of the 18 political parties that conducted primaries. The nominations of the Action Alliance (AA); African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will not be published for their failure to comply with the commission’s Guidelines on Political Party Operations (2018) or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“The AA did not submit a nomination jointly signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the party while the ADC and APGA nominated candidates that do not meet the age requirements for the office of Deputy Governor as enshrined in the Constitution. The commission has already communicated this position officially to the affected Political Parties.”

DAILY TRUST

Politics

BREAKING: Agboola wins Ondo PDP primary

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Hon Ajayi Agboola

BREAKING: Agboola wins Ondo PDP primary

A former deputy governor in Ondo state, Hon Ajayi Agboola has won the ongoing People’s Democratic Party governorship primary election in the state.

Politics

BREAKING: APC NWC in peace talks with Aiyedatiwa, other Ondo gov aspirants

Published

14 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

BREAKING: APC NWC in peace talks with Aiyedatiwa, other Ondo gov aspirants

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) is currently holding a closed-door peace meeting with Governor Lucky Ayiedatiwa and fifteen other aspirants in the April 20 Ondo state governorship primary election.

All the aspirants but Hon. Wale Akinterinwa and Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke are in attendance.

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Those in attendance are Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema, and business magnate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho.

Others are Engr. (Mrs.) Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Hon. Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel, legal luminary, Chief Olusola Alexander Oke, SAN, Ohunyeye Olamide Felix, and Barr. Morayo Lebi.

Also in attendance are Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan, Prof. Francis Adebayo Faduyile, and Engr. (Mrs) Judith Folakemi Omogoroye, President Unilag Alumni (Worldwide), Engr. Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele and Hon. Omo’Oba Okunjimi Odimayo John.

BREAKING: APC NWC in peace talks with Aiyedatiwa, other Ondo gov aspirants

Politics

I broke the chains of godfatherism in Oyo politics – Makinde

Published

21 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde

I broke the chains of godfatherism in Oyo politics – Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says he has dismantle the shackles of godfatherism that once characterised the State politics.

Makinde said Oyo State was once known for ‘who is your father’ politics, stating that such style of political arrangement has ended with him.

Makinde spoke on Wednesday at Students’ Legislative Summit organised by the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly and chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, in conjunction with the Students’ Representative Council, University of Ibadan.

Makinde disclosed that his father was not wealthy or influential and the Oyo State people still gave him the opportunity to lead.

The governor underscores the need to get youths into leadership position, imploring Nigerian youths to become more actively involved in governance by increasing their participation.

Makinde said that the issue of leadership is imperative in preparing the youth for the future and governance.

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“For us here, we have seen the common situation where ‘who is your father’ was the order of the day but we have been able to break that in Oyo State. My father was a ‘nobody’ and the Oyo State people still gave me the opportunity to lead.

“We may not be able to prepare the future for the youth, but we can prepare the youth for the future. Please, don’t see this event as just an opportunity to look at the issue of leadership in this country. And, in me, Seyi Makinde, the youth have an ally and we will prepare the leaders of the next generation amongst the youth.

“I am here this afternoon to encourage the youth. If you look at the history of Nigeria, we had our independence in 1960 and six years after, in 1966, the person that became the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was 31 years and some months old. After him, during the Second Republic, former President Obasanjo retired as a General at the age of 39.

“You should dream big; people have ruled this country at very tender ages. So, for you, don’t think that at 29 or 30, you are too young to rule and I am glad, because this is almost like catching them early.

“You have the students here and in about three years, some of you will be out there to move on. If I were you, I wouldn’t start looking for work; I would start doing my own thing at a very early age of 24 or 25. With the kind of energy you still have, you can pull down the kingdom of Satan.”