Category: Southeast report

By Nsa Gill, Calabar

An inaugural session to signal the beginning of sitting by the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, following the by-election held in Cross River State on December 5 last year, began yesterday in Calabar.

The three-man tribunal presided over by Justice Yusuf Ubale Muhammad as chairman and Justices John Olajide Abe and Ngele Gilbert Alo as members one and two, welcomed parties with cases before them to the court.

In his inaugural speech, the tribunal chairman said three petitions were initially received and filed before the tribunal following the December 5, 2020 by-election conducted for Cross River North Senatorial District.

He said: “The petition N0: EPT/CR/SEN/01/2020 filed by Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against INEC & 2Ors was withdrawn and therefore struck out on January 12, following amicable settlement between the parties.”

Another motion “seeking to withdraw the second Petition N0: EPT/CR/SEN/02/2020 filed by Gregory Agam and the African Democratic Congress Vs Stephen Adi Odey & 3 Ors, was taken today and struck out following amicable settlement between the parties.”

After that the tribunal took on the third petition N0: EPT/CR/SEN/03/2020 filed by Joe Odey Agi and the All Progressives Congress Vs. Stephen Adi Odey & 3 Ors for pre-hearing.

However, the pre-hearing was stalled after counsel to the petitioner, Muhammad Shiebu, noted that he had received respondents’ reply from the second to fourth respondents, namely Jerigbe Agom Jerigbe (2nd), Independent National Electoral Commission- INEC (3rd) and Peoples Democratic Party (4th), but was yet to receive the reply from the 1st respondent – Stephen Odey.

At the instance of the counsel to Stephen Odey of the PDP, Mr. Offiong Offiong Esq, the tribunal and parties in the case accepted the plead for an adjournment to enable him file the 1st respondent’s reply to the petition.

The tribunal adjourned the case till February 22 for pre-hearing.

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The two contending factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State have clashed over Tuesday’s decision of the Supreme Court on the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.

While the Caretaker Committee of the party, headed by Isaac Ogbobula, said the judgment threw out the claim of Igo Aguma to the chairmanship of the Caretaker Committee, describing it as a welcome development, Aguma said the Supreme Court’s decision had nothing to do with the chairmanship crisis.

He clarified that the court, at his instance, struck out old motions that bordered on pre-election matters.

Aguma said the court at the instance of his lawyer, Emeka Etiaba SAN, granted his request to withdraw his earliest appeal to the court on the grounds that it had become statute barred being a pre-election matter.

Aguma, in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Livingstone Wechie, said Etiaba informed the court that Aguma had two motions – a motion on notice seeking a stay of further proceedings at the lower court filed on July 15, 2020 and a motion exparte seeking to serve the first respondent by means of substituted service.

The statement said: “Emeka Etiaba SAN announced that the two applications had been overtaken by events, hence his application to withdraw both applications and they were struck out accordingly by the Supreme Court.

“Thereafter, Etiaba also informed the court that the third respondent, Adams Oshiomhole, had a preliminary objection challenging his appeal on the grounds that it is a pre-election matter and therefore is statute barred.

“Etiaba told the court that being the case, and having considered the state of the law, he is persuaded that indeed the appeal is a pre-election matter and the court has ceased to have jurisdiction to handle the appeal and for that reason alone, the court should strike out the matter.

“It was opposed by Tuduru Ede SAN, lawyer for Isaac Ogbobula, who raised the issue that the decision may affect the other appeals before the court as the issue of pre-election is being canvassed therein.”

“The court told him that they are treating the appeal currently before them and he should make his arguments in the other appeal and that the reason Etiaba presented is tenable before the court. Moreso he is at liberty to withdraw his appeal. The court subsequently granted the request by Emeka Etiaba to withdraw the appeal and struck it out.”

Spokesman for the APC, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, said the party had been vindicated by the ruling of the apex court.

He said: “The truth has come to light. The truth is that Igo Aguma did not have the locus standi  to declare himself as chairman. It also demonstrates that the presiding judge who planted Aguma as chairman of the Caretaker Committee erred in law in reaching that decision.”

Nwuke said Aguma ‘s disgraceful quest for power, relying on the manipulation of the law, had ended as a mere academic exercise.

He said: “We have always known that Aguma and his co-travellers were out to waste the time of the court.

“We are glad that the Supreme Court has seen through the antics of the pro-Abe group and accordingly thrown out the matter.

“The APC national secretariat acted well within its powers when it appointed the Caretaker Committee headed by Isaac Abot Ogbobula.”

“It is now clear to all that the Port Harcourt High Court presided over by Justice George Omereji erred in law when it introduced a meddlesome interloper in the person of Aguma as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Rivers APC in total disregard of the provisions of the party’s constitution, which bestows that right exclusively on the national secretariat.”

By Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

A senior lecturer in the Department of Business Education, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri, Imo State, simply identified as Mr. Echetama, has reportedly died after slumping.

Sources said he died in the lecture hall in the presence of his students, on Tuesday.

When The Nation visited the institution yesterday, students and lecturers were seen in groups discussing the incident.

Confirming the death, the acting spokesman for the college, Mr. Joseph Okwulehi, said the provost had summoned an emergency management meeting over the incident.

Bayelsa State Government has supported the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on deregistration of parties that fail to fulfil the Electoral Act and Constitution.

Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo made this known when he hosted the newly elected state executive committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at his office in the Government House, Yenagoa.

Sen. Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, said government’s position on the issue was informed by its belief in the rule of law and the need to strengthen democracy.

The deputy governor congratulated the IPAC state executives and called for collaboration between the current administration and the council for the good of all.

He said the call became imperative given that the government alone could not meet the aspirations of the people.

Ewhrudjakpo, however, expressed concern over the one-year tenure of Exco as allowed by the IPAC constitution, saying the duration might be too short for leaders of the body to execute their programmes and projects.

He enjoined IPAC to review its constitutional provisions on tenure of office to make for impactful leadership as well as reduce the high level of acrimony and litigation that characterised its transition process.

Ewhrudjakpo advised the new state Executive Committee of the IPAC to make accountability and transparency their watchword and ensure they bequeath a worthy legacy to their successors.

He said: “Let me take this opportunity to once again thank IPAC for your show of support and understanding. But going forward, this administration requires more collaboration with you because we see you as one of our core partners in the building of our dear state.

“But we also want to make it clear that we will not work with any party that has been deregistered or will be deregistered by INEC. This is because we believe in the rule of law and we must do away with the issue of mediocrity for political development to take place.

“I congratulate you on your election and thank God that you made it through. Every election is important because within that period you have anxiety and even some elevated blood pressure. I want to believe that God will guide you and give you more grace to do more than your predecessor.”

The Special Adviser on Inter Party Relations, Jackson Suokiri, hoped that the new leadership of IPAC would perform their watchdog role with understanding and love for the state.

The state Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council, Mr. Brisibe Kpodoh, solicited the current administration’s support and pledged to rally round it to develop the state.

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

A top member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, has said the allegation that he has hijacked the party’s registration and revalidation is false and uncalled for.

Uba, one of the top contenders for the APC governorship ticket in the November 6 election, said the rumour about him trying to hijack the exercise was false, and should be discarded.

Uba, in a statement yesterday in Awka by his media office, said: “As you can see, the APC in Anambra State has been having a seamless registration where citizens, owing to the numerous successes of the Federal Government in the state, are daily registering in their hundreds with the party.

“Part of this success can be attributed to the efforts of Senator Andy Uba, who mobilises every ward in the party with funds and logistics to encourage the people to identify with the party in this current registration.

“It is surprising to see stories running wild with frivolous allegations on an attempt by our principal to hijack the process.

“Such stories even accuse supporters of the senator, both imaginary and real, of attacking the state party Chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike. But these are false.

“We wonder why any right thinking person should make such wild accusations, and what Senator Uba stands to benefit from derailing the registration as alleged by these mischievous few.

“We, therefore, urge party members and the public to disregard such allegations.”

The office said Uba was interested in the growth of the APC in Anambra State, and had demonstrated so many times.

It said what is paramount to the senator is unity of the party so that whosoever gets its ticket after the primaries will emerge victorious after the governorship election on November 6.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Jude Emecheta, has said Prof. Chukwuma Soludo is the most qualified candidate to succeed Governor Willie Obiano after the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

Emecheta, who is chairman of Anambra Demands Soludo (ADS), a political group, made the assertion while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Awka.

He said the former Central Bank Governor (CBN) governor possessed the qualities needed to launch Anambra to the next pedestal of development.

He described Soludo as a staunch APGA member who spearheaded the second term campaigns of Obiano in 2017, saying he was also instrumental to the evolution of blueprint for Anambra development in the 50 years.

According to him, many people have indicated interest to run for the election.

Emecheta said Soludo was the best from the pack because he had credibility, ability to attract international businesses and expertise to manage the economy.

“There are people who want to run, but people are begging Soludo to run; more aspirants are coming into the contest, we are weighing them and I can tell you that the best from the pack is Soludo.

“Having looked at the qualities and indices of governance, Soludo is the best for now; I don’t know who will join tomorrow.

“He spearheaded the second term campaign of Obiano, he is a passionate and religious APGA person, we are asking him to come because Anambra needs him,” he said.

Emecheta said APGA remained the party to beat in the election because of its closeness to the masses and excellent leadership in the state for years.

He welcomed the growing number of aspirants who had shown interest to contest for the APGA ticket, but advised them to begin effective engagement with their constituencies and party leadership about their ambition.

The advertising expert dismissed insinuations by the opposition in the state that APGA had not demonstrated readiness for the election, saying the party was already on ground.

“APGA is in government and APGA is doing well as a government. The party is in touch with the grassroots because every councillor, every local government chairman and all political appointees in Anambra are APGA members, so having meetings will be a distraction for us.

“The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) don’t have structures. This is why they are meeting so that they can woo members.

“Those who are interested in running should start to engage with the people. The more the merrier, it is only natural that more people will want to identify with APGA,” he said.

By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Chief Edith-Mike Ejezie, has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the surest route to the emergence of an Igbo president in 2023.

She was addressing her supporters after revalidating her party membership at her Ihite Ward 4 in Ihiala Local Government.

Ejezie said the state would be better if governed by a party controlled by the Federal Government.

She urged her followers and others to ensure APC wins the November 6 governorship election.

Ejezie said: “I call on Ihiala people and indeed the Southeast in general to take the opportunity of the ongoing APC membership registration and revalidation to embrace the party for the overall interest of the zone.

“It is time for Ndi Anambra to key into the mainstream of national politics, as the benefits cannot be overemphasised.

“We can no longer afford to be sidelined in the scheme of affairs at the national level. We have been shortchanged not because we are not gifted, but because we drifted away from national political equation.

“APC is the party at the centre and it is time for Anambra to align with the party. No doubt, APC is going to win the coming governorship election in the state given the wonderful performance at the national level and the calibre of candidate we will choose.

“The time is now for the Southeast to reposition and reintegrate if we are to achieve the Igbo Presidency in 2023.”

“APC is a national and largest party that is widespread and accepted in all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria. It is the right platform for us all.”

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has approved March 1 for the resumption of public and private schools for the second term of the 2020/2021 academic session.

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chris Ezem, said the second term would end on May 7. It added that all school heads and proprietors must ensure that COVID-19 guidelines and protocols are strictly observed.

Meanwhile, there are indications teachers in public schools may not return to classrooms if the government fails to pay their salary arrears which they have been agitating for since January.