By Chris Oji Enugu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has expelled Okey Ogbodo and four others.

Chairman Ben Nwoye announced their expulsion at the swearing in of the caretaker committee.

Nwoye, who was returned as the caretaker chairman, said their expulsion followed their failure to withdraw their lawsuit against the party as directed by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

He said: “Acting on the directive of the party’s National Legal Adviser, we set up a disciplinary committee to investigate members found wanting.

“Deacon Okey Ogbodo and his cohorts – Chike Omeje, Rufus Nwagu, Rev. Onuorah Ani and Chinedu Okosisi – in disregard to NEC resolutions failed to withdraw their cases at the appellate court.”

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

About 557 repentant cultists in Bodo and other communities in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State have surrendered their weapons to the police.

It was gathered the weapon surrender marked the end of a disarmament programme that began on December 3.

Commissioner of Police Joseph Mukan said the arms mop up was done in partnership with other security agencies.

According to him, a system had been set up to monitor the repentant cultists despite their decisions to submit their weapons.

Read Also: Police arrest seven ‘cultists’ in Ikorodu

He said: “It was a collective retrieval of arms and ammunition comprising the police and the Army. We are trying to see if they are genuinely repentant so they can be rehabilitated and pardoned. But we have to monitor them to be sure they have truly repented.

“We urge the youths to resist any temptation of returning to their old ways or face the law.”

Facilitator of the programme Rev. Abel Abulu harped on the need to take repentant youths through spiritual exercise as a post-disarmament programme.

He regretted that Bodo community was a flashpoint of violence, saying the youths were exposed to non-violence programmes to help reshape their minds and thinking.

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has redeemed his N171 million scholarship pledge for children of war veterans in the state.

A statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said the governor fulfilled his promise yesterday after the Emblem Appeal Fund Launch to mark the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The governor also donated N20 million to launch the emblem, and urged the 23 councils to donate N1 million each towards the cause.

Wike restated the need for government to institute an enduring reward system for war veterans to justify their ultimate sacrifice to keep Nigeria safe and united. According to him, this would motivate officers to quality service.

Read Also: PDP greets Wike at 53

The statement reads: “Many soldiers return with injuries while many die in battle. You don’t understand what it takes for someone to volunteer to protect the country’s territorial integrity.

“Government must find something to put permanently on ground to assure them it’s indeed worthy to died for the country.”

Governor Wike promised that his administration would continue to offer members of the Nigerian Legion necessary support to cushion economic hardship.

Chairman of Nigeria Legion ACG Justice Chichi said security agencies were ready and committed to confront the Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and other forms of insurgency.

Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia 

PERSONS living with disabilities in Abia State have vowed to sue the State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) if any of its members is disenfranchised in tomorrow’s local government election.

Chairman of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) David Anyaele, at a news conference in Umuahia, lamented that despite efforts to ensure that people with disability are factored into ABSIEC’s programmes and preparations for the election, the electoral body was bent on denying them their rights.

Anyaele said members of the group would be sent across the 17 councils to monitor the election and report the level of participation of members. He vowed that the association would call for a cancellation of the election if reports say its members were disenfranchised.

The chairman said the group would challenge the credibility of the election if it failed to meet expectations.

He said: “We are worried that the system will not recognise us during the local government election. This is because despite our letters to ABSIEC to share with us its plans, we have not gotten any response, be it positive or negative.

“We are worried because we requested for partnership with the commission, which it approved, and we highlighted joint activities to promote proper voting access for people with disabilities. Other correspondents that should elicit cooperation in removing the barriers around us have not been attended to.

Read Also: Police assure quick release of kidnapped Abia Catholic priest

“We don’t know the materials to be used. The last time I checked, it seems ABSIEC is clueless about the participation of persons with disability and it is worrisome.

“Where we discover the deliberate exclusion of the group, we will not hesitate to ask the court to cancel the election, even if it has been conducted, because you cannot conduct elections and exclude more than 15 per cent of Abians which make up the disabled community…”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to play by the rule in tomorrow’s council elections or face the courts.

Chairman Donatus Nwankpa addressed party faithful yesterday at the secretariat in Umuahia. He inaugurated and swore in members of the State Working Committee (SWC), Non-Working Committee and council chairmen.

Nwankpa added that the APC is more grounded that the ruling party which is giving the PDP jitters.

He said: “If they want to rig, let them do it at the polls. We don’t want them to write the results. The only thing is for them to play to the rules or we will sue them to court.”

The chairman promised that APC will not undermine security as it was priority, not minding political differences.

By Bisi Olaniyi, Benin and Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

The Justice Yunusa Musa-led Edo State governorship election tribunal will hear four petitions separately on January 11, 12 and 13 2021, it was learnt on Wednesday.

Governor Godwin Obaseki; Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are respondents in the petitions.

The tribunal is sitting on the petitions following the December 11 dismissal of a petition by the Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship candidate, Ukonga Onaivi, against Obaseki, PDP and INEC, for failing to file pre-hearing notice.

The four other petitions were filed by Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its candidate Iboi Emmanuel; Action Peoples Party (APP), without joining its candidate, Amos Areloegbe; Allied Peoples Movement (APM), excluding its candidate, Igbineweka Osamuede; and Tracy Agol, without her party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

APP and Agol’s petitions would be heard on January 11, APM (January 12) and ADP (January 13).

Read Also: Insecurity: Ize-Iyamu berates Obaseki’s silence

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered accelerated hearing at the Federal High Court, Abuja, of the suit seeking to sack Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State for alleged certificate forgery.

A three-man panel of the Appeal Court, presided over by Justice Stephen Adah, rejected an application for stay of proceedings filed by Obaseki.

Justice Adag held that the constitutional provision which stipulates 180 days for the hearing of pre-election cases did not permit granting of a stay of proceedings in such matter.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and a party member Williams Edobor are seeking Obaseki’s disqualification.

They alleged that Obaseki forged his Bachelor of Arts Degree certificate which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the last governorship election in Edo State.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed (before whom the case is pending at the Federal High Court) elected, in a ruling on Tuesday, to adjourn proceedings indefinitely pending the Court of Appeal’s decision on Obaseki’s application for stay of proceedings pending the hearing of an appeal he filed against an earlier ruling of the trial court.

At the hearing of the application at the Court of Appeal yesterday, the appellate court disagreed with the position of Justice Mohammed, saying Section 258 of the Constitution does allow for a stay of proceedings in a pre-election or election matter.

The panel in its unanimous decision ordered a return of the case to the trial judge.