The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election

  • Sylva’s running mate MacIver got  unconditional pardon, says PAP

    Sylva’s running mate MacIver got  unconditional pardon, says PAP

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has retracted its earlier statement that Joshua MacIver, the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State is not registered as one of the beneficiaries of the amnesty and unconditional pardon granted Niger Delta ex-agitators by the Federal Government.

    In a leaked letter, the Interim Administrator, PAP, Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retd) addressed to the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) and dated August 24, 2023, tendered an unreserved apology for his July 7th correspondence where he claimed that the name Joshua MacIver could not be found in the register of amnesty beneficiaries.

    The letter read in parts: “I am writing in response to your letter with reference: SGF.19/S/105/178 dated 7 July, 2023, as well as this organization’s reply under Reference OIA/PAP/IAO/VOL V/417 dated 7th July, 2023, concerning Mr. Joshua MacIver’s status as a beneficiary of the Presidential Amnesty Progromme (PAP).

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    “I would like to mention that due to the urgency of the confirmation, our Technical and Data Unit provided information hastily, as indicated by the dates of both the received letter and our response.

    “Upon thorough investigation, we have identified an oversight in our records regarding Mr. Joshua MacIver’s PAP beneficiary status. It has now been established that Mr. MacIver received an unconditional pardon from the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    When contacted, MacIver said he knew that there was a case of oversight because he was one of the group of five prominent agitators known as the G5, who led their foot soldiers to accept the amnesty offered by the Federal Government in the sole interest of peace in the region.

    He said that he had always had confidence that he is innocent of the allegations levelled against him by the opposition party.

    MacIver said despite all the antics of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the APC would emerge victorious in the  poll.

    He  challenged Diri, to prove his capacity to Bayelsans by engaging his principal and governorship candidate of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva, in a public debate, at least twice, before the poll.

  • Voters will stop Diri, says LP candidate Eradiri

    Voters will stop Diri, says LP candidate Eradiri

    The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, has said that majority of voters in Bayelsa State will not back the re-election bid of Governor Douye Diri, for failing to stop the sale of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to Oando Plc.

    Eradiri said Diri was only interested in pursuing an elusive re-election bid and failed to protect the state’s interest in the deal that would negatively affect many Agip host communities and indigenes of the state working in the oil firm.

    He said, if Diri had understood the essence of governance, he would have involved the state into the transaction to ensure Bayelsa was given the right of first refusal because of such a mega deal that primarily concerned the state.

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    Eradiri, who spoke at the weekend in his residence in Yenagoa, said Agip remained the only oil multinational close to the people and selling such a company’s interest without involving the government and the people would negatively affect the state.

    He said with such takeover deal, many Bayelsa indigenes eking out a living in the company could be sacked while other benefits hitherto accruing to the host communities might be cancelled by the new company.

    He said: “We heard that Oando is buying over Agip without the consent of the Bayelsans. Many Bayelsa people will be sacked. We know how they operate.

    “That is another poverty that is coming, another crisis that will come. What is the government doing? The government is quiet. Don’t forget that all the surveillance they are doing around Southern Ijaw and the rest is coming from Agip.”

  • Opu-Nembe chiefs, Diri’s camp clash over violence claim

    Opu-Nembe chiefs, Diri’s camp clash over violence claim

    The Opu-Nembe Council of Chiefs and the camp of Governor Douye Diri are trading words over claims of violence in the state.

    The chiefs accused Douye of secretly recruiting some known cultists ahead of the November 11 election. But the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Alabrah dismissed the claims.

    The council, in a statement yesterday by its Chairman, Chief Yusuo Theo-Iruo, said the governor and the party were planning to invade and overrun Nembe with their thugs and militants using a scheduled campaign as a cover.

    The council said known armed men, cultists and terrorists, who fled the communities when the Inspector-General of Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT’s) team entered the community for a peace mission, were being readied by PDP for a comeback to unleash violence on the people ahead of the poll.

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    The council in its statement said: “We are reliably informed of a sinister plot to reintroduce thugs and militant elements into Opu Nembe  during the planned ‘Campaign’ of the PDP in Nembe. The campaign is to serve as a cover for the invasion of Opu Nembe.

     Alabrah said Governor Douye Diri had suspended all chieftaincy and youth activities in Bassambiri community until further notice in order to stabilise the security situation in the area.

     “Therefore, the so-called Opu-Nembe Council of Chiefs is not recognised by the state government at the moment and it will not take issues with an illegal body, ‘’the CPS added.

  • Call Kogi politicians to order, CLO urges Tinubu

    Call Kogi politicians to order, CLO urges Tinubu

    • Police launch investigation into violence cases

    Director, Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Steve Aluko, has urged President Bola Tinubu to call  politicians  participating in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State  to order.

    CLO said this was necessary to forestall the breakdown of law and order .

    Speaking to reporters in Jos, the Plateau State capital on the pre-election violence that is  erupting in parts of the state, the Director said the news of attacks on party supporters and campaign offices, especially the Social Democratic Offices (SDP) is unacceptable.

    Citing cases of violence during the 2019 election in the state, Aluko called on the President to declare emergency on security in the state.

    He also said all political parties should be given equal rights and freedom to contest and campaign  without fear of intimidation.

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    Aluko stressed that this is the first election being conducted under President Bola Tinubu’s watch, and he should  nip in the bud the brewing crisis .

    He also urged the security agents to live up to their responsibilities and avoid partisanship.

    He called on all stakeholders  to  ensure the election is devoid of violence.

    Meanwhile, the Kogi Police Command has  launched an investigation into alleged reports of political clashes and violence.

    Police  Commissioner  Onuoha Bethrand, in a statement  in Lokoja through the Command’s Spokesman, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, said that the police would not tolerate any act of lawlessness in the state.

    The commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to begin a thorough, diligent and holistic investigation of all acts of political violence, accusations and counter-accusations on all the political parties and actors with a view to bringing all offenders to book.

  • How I’ll transform Imo if elected, by LP candidate Achonu

    How I’ll transform Imo if elected, by LP candidate Achonu

    Imo State labour Party governorship candidate,  Senator Athan Achonu has pledged to restore peace in  the state if voted the governor in the November 11, election.

    Achonu, accompanied by his wife, Aisha, made the pledge when they attended a special service at the Lifeline Assembly Inc.

    The couple joined fellow worshippers in their first Sunday anointing service, a monthly programme to reinforce their faith in God and service to humanity.

    During the service, the LP candidate addressed the congregation, espousing his vision for sustainable development of Imo State through constructive engagement with stakeholders to restore peace, reintegrate restive youths into active and gainful employment.

    He also pledged to bring sanity into governance, construction of two industrial parks in each of the three senatorial zones including a Pharmaceutical Park in Orlu Zone; education and skills development, full autonomy of the local government and infrastructural/human capital development.

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    Recognizing the challenges faced by Imo State, he emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to address the security concerns and to foster economic growth.

    Achonu pledged to work tirelessly to implement policies and initiatives that would enhance security and create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, ultimately leading to increased employment opportunities for the people of Imo State.

    In his sermon, the founder of Lifeline Assembly Church, Bishop Maxwell Korie, who spoke about keeping God’s covenant as God blesses those who keep their covenant with Him, prayed for Achonu and his team and wished them well in their endeavours.

  • Bayelsa ex-acting governor  Seibarugu, supporters join PDP

    Bayelsa ex-acting governor  Seibarugu, supporters join PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has suffered a huge blow following the defection of the Seibarugu Political Dynasty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The influential group in the APC, comprising thousands of members across the state, is led by a former Acting Governor and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu.

    At a  declaration during a meeting with Governor Douye Diri in Government House, Yenagoa, the Coordinator of the Seibarugu Dynasty, Mr. Ebiye Waripamo, said they were attracted to the PDP by the governor’s leadership style that is peaceful and development-oriented.

    Waripamo said after assessing Diri’s performance in almost four years, particularly the prevailing peace and security as well as the ongoing developmental projects across the state, they were left with no choice but to join hands with him to move Bayelsa forward.

    He assured the governor and members of the PDP of their unalloyed commitment to the governor’s re-election on November 11, 2023.

    He said: “We left Jerusalem and went to Egypt but now we are back in Jerusalem and this is where we will stay. We are not going back again.”

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    “Your Excellency, we have seen your developmental strides in the state and we are impressed. We came back to PDP because of your leadership style.”

    Also speaking, the PDP National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyengikuro, said he led members of the party in the Gbarain-Ekpetiama axis of Yenagoa Local Government Area to formally introduce the Seibarugu Dynasty to the governor.

    Responding, Governor Douye Diri expressed appreciation to the leader of the Seibarugu Dynasty and described Chief Seibarugu as a man of conviction and integrity.

    He commended his decision to return to the PDP with thousands of his supporters.

  • NGO to INEC, security agents: be neutral

    NGO to INEC, security agents: be neutral

    A group, Equity Crusaders (EC), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to be impartial and provide a level-playing field for political parties in Bayelsa State.

    Its Chairman,  Mr. Christopher Abarowei, spoke in Yenagoa. He said the irreducible minimum required from the electoral umpire and security agencies are free, fair and credible polls.

    Abarowei warned against the repeat of the hijack of the electoral process in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state in 2015 where a particular candidate manipulated the result of the poll.

    The human rights activist said: “We call on the INEC and the security personnel across board to live above board so as not to bring their high calling of impartiality into disrepute.

    “The call becomes necessary knowing the antecedents of the opposition party in the state. It is on record that the opposition candidate contested for the same position in 2015. The concocted figures brought from Southern Ijaw LGA made the INEC to order a rerun in that LGA and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the council by a landslide.

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    “In 2019, we can say without fear of contradiction that the figures allocated to the opposition party were unacceptably outrageous. We are already seeing the hand of the monkey in the soup following the recent violence in Opu-Nembe (Bassambiri) in Nembe LGA.

    “It is on record that three persons were brutally murdered in the community in February 2023. The violence still lingers on as we speak. Petitions were written to the police and until date, persons so mentioned are still moving about freely as if they killed chickens not human beings.”

    He noted: “As we speak, the spirit of fairness in the coming election is fast evaporating into thin air as most persons have deserted the once-bubbling community because of fear of losing their lives.

    “Calls by well-meaning Bayelsans on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to withdraw SWAT team have been ignored including the same appeal made by the elected members of the National Assembly from Bayelsa State.

  • No reason for poverty in Kogi, says  AP candidate 

    No reason for poverty in Kogi, says  AP candidate 

    Former Chief of Naval Staff and governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Rear Admiral Jibrin Usman (rtd) has said that  Kogi State has no reason to be poor. He said that the state  is richly endowed with  both mineral and human resources. 

    Usman, who lamented the high level of poverty in the 32 years old state, assured the people that his government will take millions of residents and citizens out of poverty, if he wins the November 11 election.

    He addressed the critical stakeholders and party supporters during town hall meetings in the five local government areas of Western Senatorial district of the State, Yagba West, Yagba East, Mopamuro, Ijumu and Kabba/Bunu respectively.

    The AP candidate, who said he is vying to rescue the state from misrule, urged the stakeholders to work hard for the success of his party at the poll.

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    He said Accord Party will address all the problems confronting Kogi State, pledging the determination of his party to reposition the state.  

    As part of efforts to move youths out of the streets, Usman said his administration would establish the Kogi Information Technology Agency and others to address the youth restiveness and joblessness.

    He pledged to employ all the students with distinctions into the State civil service, while those with lower qualification would also be empowered one way or the other.

    Usman pledged that within the few months in office, no fewer than 50 women would be made to become millionaires across the state  through government interventions.

    He stated that if elected as governor of Kogi State in November election , his administration is determined to reposition the State civil service , salaries would be paid as at when due, while pensioners would be  adequately taken care of. He also pledged that education sector would be geared toward technology driven economy to enable the state to harness resources for the overall development of Kogi State in general.

  • Igbo spiritual leaders back YPP candidate

    Igbo spiritual leaders back YPP candidate

    The governorship ambition of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate, Chief  Kemdi Chino Opara, in Imo State, has received the blessing of Igbo spiritual leaders.

    The leaders, through the ndi Nze na Ozo, represent Igbo ancestors in human form. 

    They gave the Mbieri-born philanthropist their full backing, thereby adopting him as their preferred candidate.

    This endorsement has given Opara’s support base a boost ahead of the election.

    During the adoption, which took place at the country home of Opara in Obazu Mbieri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, the Nzes known to be the spiritual heads of their various communities and operating under the aegis of the Imo State Council of Ndi Nze na Ozo expressed their eagerness to form a strategic synergy with the YPP flagbearer and his team so as to help him win. 

    The spiritual leaders Nze Kelvin Nwosu, said they would also support the YPP candidate to actualize his election promises in his manifesto when he is sworn-in as governor.

    He disclosed that ndi Nze na Ozo from the three Senatorial zones of Imo State and are legitimately in possession of the Ofo and Ogu that symbolize authority and justice.

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    Exercising their prerogative, they endorsed Opara for the Governorship position; noting that their decision to give him their strong backing emanated from the fact that he is eminently qualified and his vision-driven manifesto is endearing.

    The traditional leaders held as the custodians of Truth in their various communities maintained that his educational background and international exposure instills confidence in them that he will perform exceptionally well in enthroning the long desired good governance and quality leadership in the State. 

    According to him, they will also play advisory roles to help him succeed in governance and industrialization of the state.

    Thanking the group for the endorsement,  Opara, assured them of running an all-inclusive and people-oriented government. He said 75 percent of the cabinet will be made up of youths if he secures the mandate of Ndi Imo to be Imo Governor.

    He reiterated his commitment to pursue vigorously his 5-point development agenda of  restoring peace and security, free education, quality healthcare delivery, massive infrastructural development and ensuring sustainable economic prosperity in the State.

  • Bayelsa govt ‘pledges peaceful, credible  poll’

    Bayelsa govt ‘pledges peaceful, credible  poll’

    Bayelsa State government has reiterated its commitment towards peaceful, free, fair and election on November 11.

    The government said it is working closely with relevant authorities and institutions to protect the credibility of the election.

    Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo stated this when the Bayelsa Elite Women Support Group visited him in his office in  Yenagoa yesterday.

    Ewhrudjakpo urged the people  to come out and exercise their franchise on November 11 without any fear of molestation or harassment.

    He urged women, youths and other support groups of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to vote and defend their votes during the election.

    The deputy governor promised that there was nothing to worry about as government is working in partnership with lovers of democracy within and outside the country to ensure a violence-free governorship contest.

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    Speaking on the prospect of the PDP, he said the party would coast to victory because of the impressive performance of its standard bearer, Governor Douye Diri, stressing that no right thinking Bayelsans would ever vote for a candidate that recklessly betrayed their trust in the past.

    Ewhrudjakpo, however, emphasized the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other electoral duty officials to be above board in carrying out their assignments.

    While thanking the women for supporting the PDP, he urged them to caution their children not to allow any politician to use them for thuggery and violence. He said government would not fold its hands and watch such happen in the state.

    He said: “We really appreciate the support you are giving to your government and our party. We believe you have the capacity to mobilize not only the women but also your husbands and children.

    “But one other thing I want you people to do is to talk to your children for them to resist the temptation of being used as thugs or play any role that will negatively affect the forthcoming election. Remember nobody who brings out his head to break coconut eats that coconut.

    “Those contesting with us know they can’t stand us because all right thinking Bayelsans see and appreciate what we are doing as a government to develop this state.”

    Earlier, in their separate remarks, leaders of the Bayelsa Elite Women Support Group, Mrs. Ebikaboere Pela and Ashanti Bekewari, expressed delight at the level of performance of the administration under Senator Douye Diri.

    They specifically commended the current state government in the areas of economic empowerment programmes, peace and security as well as building of critical infrastructures such as the three senatorial roads, among others.