By Nsa Gill, Calabar

A cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has launched Operation Akpakwu to flush out criminals from the state, especially kidnappings.

The outfit draws personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil Defence.

To enhance its operations, the governor handed over 100 patrol vehicles fitted with cutting edge communication gadgets, ten power bikes and drones.

Ayade promised to return the state, particularly Calabar, to the paradise it once was. According to him, the state will henceforth be too hot for kidnappers and other criminals, asking them to quit or face the wrath of his government.

He said: “Cross River State statistically remains the safest state in Nigeria. In recent past, there has been an increase in the number of crime within the Niger Delta and the country as a whole, arising from the difficulty orchestrated by #EndSARS protest and COVID-19 which brought general poverty and hardship upon the world.

“The instruction is very clear from Abuja – deal decisively with any form of criminality, banditry, cultism and kidnapping. Let this therefore be a strong message to every Cross Riverian and non-indigenes alike, as far as you are resident in Cross River, today is the end of that criminality.

“Today is the end of robbery, banditry and others. We have received very clear instructions from the Federal Government and I have supported them. I stand strong with all my military men and the police that they must comply with the obligations, instructions and orders of government.”

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has discontinued further hearing of the suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to unseat Ephraim Nwuzi, lawmaker representing Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

A statement by a former Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, said the court adjourned the matter to January 21, 2021, following a motion of stay brought by Nwuzi through his Lawyer, Tuduru Edeh. He told the court that his client had appealed the earlier court decision to hear the matter amidst contentious issues of jurisdiction.

Despite objections raised by the plaintiff’s Lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe, Justice Omotosho ruled that for justice to be served, the matter should be stood down till January 21, 2021, to receive an update on the process at the Court of Appeal.

The PDP sued Nwuzi, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently, to court vowing to retrieve the legislative seat from him.

Finebone said: “The PDP should leave Nwuzi alone and face the giants such as Ebonyi State Governor David, and others, who have left and are still leaving the party. The governor should concern himself with stemming the nationwide exodus the PDP is witnessing and let Nwuzi be.”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Bodi Arerebo, has urged the electorate in Bayelsa West to vote out former Governor Seriake Dickson.

In an interview Thursday, Arerebo said the former governor had nothing to offer the district having impoverished the people in his eight year tenure as governor.

He urged the people to vote for the APC candidate, Peremobowei Ebebi, saying he is the only one to offer quality representation.

Arerebo insisted Dickson would abandon the people the moment he clinches the Senate seat. According to him, Dickson, as governor, fought those who helped him get to the office.

He said: “Former Governor Seriake Dickson in his era as governor brought hunger, sorrow and sadness to the people. Sagbama people should know that Peremobowei Ebebi is more accessible than former governor Dickson.

“Congratulations to Timipere Sylva on the victory at the court of appeal. I am optimistic that APC will be victorious because it has a batter candidate in Ebebi.”

Arerebo also appealed for peace during the election, saying no election is worth the blood of people.

By Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

Three thousand policemen have been deployed for tomorrow’s by-election in Imo North.

Commissioner of Police Isaac Akinmoyede, who addressed reporters on Thursday during the distribution of sensitive materials to councils, said the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, were working to ensure a hitch-free election.

According to him, the command would deploy about 3,000 men for the election and receive additional 700 officers from the force headquarters in Abuja.

He warned trouble makers to stay away, warning that security agents would deal with whoever tries to undermine the election.

The Coalition Of Okigwe Youths have vowed to resist attempts to rig the election. They warned agents of destabilisation to desist from any inglorious and fraudulent practices.

Chairman Chiedozie Ibekwe said: “The youths will not tolerate connivance with the police or any security agent to rig the election. Any person or group of persons, no matter how highly placed, who attempts to rig the election will have the youths of Okigwe zone to contend with.

“We also call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police and other security agencies to avoid being used by politicians to rig the election.”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

Suspected hoodlums Thursday invaded the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, thus preventing hearing of the pre-election suit between candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abel Ebifemowei and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Cleopas Moses, ahead of tomorrow’s National Assembly by-elections.

The invasion, which happened about 2pm, caused a pandemonium.

Presiding judge Justice Jane Inyang was not on seat when the court was invaded.

Many lawyers who were already in court sustained injuries in the stampede that followed.

The Nation learnt that the suit, which was stood down by Justice Inyang to allow parties regularise their processes, was suspended when the hoodlums, armed with dangerous weapons, attacked the court.

One of the victims and former PDP Legal Adviser, Richard Perekeme, said: “There were about 20 hoodlums and armed with dangerous weapons. They seized wigs from lawyers, collected their phones and chased everyone out of court.

“We thank God the judge was not on seat. There was poor security around the court premises.”

He, however, could not confirm if they were political thugs.

When our correspondent arrived at the court, there were two police patrol vans stationed outside the premises.

By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja, has declared Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Saturday’s Cross River North senatorial by-election.

The court said Jarigbe did not supply any false information in his nomination form and was therefore duly nominated as PDP candidate.

The court also held that the primary election was conducted with the authentic and legitimate delegates’ list. It equally held that Jarigbe, having scored the highest number of valid votes in the primary election, is validly nominated as the party’s candidate.

It then ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include and publish Jarigbe’s name on the list of candidates for Saturday’s election. The court also ordered INEC to give Jarigbe every other rights and privileges pertaining to his lawful qualification and nomination as the PDP candidate.

The PDP primary election has been enmeshed in legal tussle since it was held on September 5.