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Tag: Anambra guber poll

  • Anambra guber poll: Group adopts Obiano as candidate

    Anambra guber poll: Group adopts Obiano as candidate

    The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), a socio-political organisation, says it has adopted Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, as its candidate for the Nov. 18 gubernatorial election in the state.

    The declared its support for Obiano in a statement jointly signed by the President and Secretary, Comrades Augustine Chukwudum and Chinedu Onyebuch respectively in Enugu on Friday.

    The forum said that it decided to adopt the incumbent after scrutinising the manifestos of the major candidates in the poll during its monthly meeting.

    It scored Obiano’s administration high on security, saying that prior to his assumption of office Anambra was one of the most insecure states in the country.

    According to NUF, no week passed in the state then without news of high profile kidnapping.

    Read Also: ‘ Obiano does not deserve second term’

    It said: “This fear of kidnappers forced many prominent sons and daughters of the state to relocate out of the state.

    “Gov. Obiano, through his pro-activeness, has not only stemmed the tide of kidnapping in the state, but also sanitised activities in the then notorious Upper Iweka axis of Onitsha.

    “On education, it is evident even to Gov. Obiano’s opponents that education has recorded a giant stride under the present administration.”

    The group said the present administration in the state had rebuilt the dilapidated infrastructure in the schools across the 21 local government area of the state and ensured the welfare of the teachers.

    The forum said that the administration built three flyovers in Awka, the state capital, and rehabilitated roads, including the Ekwulobia-Ezinifite road, Neni-Adazi Nnukwu-Akwaeze-Igboukwu road and Aguiyi by-pass, among others.

    It said the four pillars of development formulated by the governor which placed premium on oil and gas, trade and commerce and industrialisation and agriculture had helped in growing the economy.

    According the group, Anambra is the fourth largest economy in the country.

    “We therefore call on the good people of Anambra to ensure that Obiano is re-elected on Nov. 18,” the forum said.

    Read: ‘  Anambra ‘ll vote for Obiano ’

  • Nwobodo to Obiano: APC will beat APGA, PDP, others in Anambra guber poll

    Nwobodo to Obiano: APC will beat APGA, PDP, others in Anambra guber poll

    The first executive governor of  the old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo is confident that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will emerge victorious in the November 18 governorship election in  Anambra State.

    Nwobodo, speaking in Onitsha at the weekend on the role of the first President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, said the time has come for the youths to get more involved in the administration of the country.

    The APC chieftain speaking in Onitsha, Anambra State on how the late Azikiwe influenced his election as governor at the age of 39 called for the support of the people of the state for Mr. Tony Nwoye, the APC candidate in the election.

    He said: “I am here to do what Zik did in 1979. We want change. We want a young governor. On Saturday, November 18, 2017, Dr. Tony Nwoye will be governor of Anambra State.

    “He will replace Willie Obiano at the government house”

    He thanked Chukwuma Paul; Madu Nonso I.; Moghalu George N.; Nwibe Bart; Nwike Patrick N.; Obidigbo Chike; Okonwko D.; Onunkwo Johnbosco O.; Uba Andy E.; Uchegbu Adoabi K. and Uzoh Obinna? for supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) Anambra State flag-bearer, Dr. Tony Nwoye.

     

  • Anambra guber poll: Uba, 11 other APC aspirants sign undertaking

    Anambra guber poll: Uba, 11 other APC aspirants sign undertaking

    • UPP clears Chidoka, Offodile

    The 12 aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State have signed an undertaking to support whoever wins the primary slated for next Saturday.

    Chairman of the Screening Committee, Agboola Ajayi, stated this while submitting the report of the committee.

    The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, said the twelve aspirants who bought the forms were cleared to contest the primary.

    While commending the aspirants for their doggedness and determination, Ajayi said all the aspirants compiled with the guidelines and signed an undertaking form to support whoever emerges candidate of the party.

    Receiving the report, National Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso, said that the next phase will be that of appeal panel if there need be.

    He also commended the aspirants for their maturity saying “so far we have not received any report of violence among all the aspirants.

    “We urge you to carry on and we are very hopeful that one of you will eventually emerge as the next governor of Anambra state.”

    Speaking with newsmen shortly after he received his clearance certificate, Senator Andy Uba assured that he will stand with APC whether he wins the ticket or not.

    He added that the incumbent “must pack his load and go because APC must win Anambra.”

    Meanwhile, the United Progressive Party (UPP) has cleared former Corps Marshal of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC), Ostia Chidoka, and a two- time member of the House of Representatives, Chuck Offodile, to contest its primary also scheduled for next Saturday.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Ogbuehi Dike, said the party’s screening committee led by its National Secretary, Alhaji Sadeeq Masalla, cleared the two aspirants.

    The statement said: “Following the report of the Screening Committee, the Party can now confirm that Hon. Chudi Offodile and Chief Osita Chidoka are eligible to participate in its primary election scheduled to hold on Saturday 19th August at Awka, Anambra State.”

  • PDP screens Oduah, Ubah, Ikpeazu for Anambra poll

    PDP screens Oduah, Ubah, Ikpeazu for Anambra poll

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday screened a serving senator, Stella Oduah; oil magnate, Dr. Patrick Ubah and House of Representatives member, Lynda Ikpeazu for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra.

    Also screened were – a former Minister of State, John Okechukwu Emeka, Dr. Alex Obiogolu, Mr. Oseloka Henry Obaze and Mr. Akolisa Ufodike.

    The screening exercise, which took place at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, however witnessed a mild drama as the screening committee complained about indiscipline on the part of some aspirants.

    The Chairman of the screening committee, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, said it was unfortunate that some aspirants showed up at the venue 90 minutes behind schedule.

    Waziri, a former Minister of Police Affairs, named Oduah and Ubah as the late comers and expressed the committee’s displeasure at their action.

    He urged the aspirants to display the spirit of sportsmanship in the overall interest of the party, saying the PDP has everything to lose if another party wins the election.

    Waziri promised the aspirants justice and fairness in the conduct of the exercise, adding that in line with the PDP constitution, none of the aspirants would be required to pay above the N6 million nomination fees.

    According to him, the party decided to waive the fees for women aspirants to encourage them to take active interest in partisan politics.

    Meanwhile, the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, said the PDP would be welcoming some of its high profile defectors back to the party in the days ahead.

    Okowa stated this while inspecting the Eagles Square, Abuja, venue for the party’s national convention slated for Saturday.

    He said necessary arrangements had been put in place.

    The governor said: “We just came to see what is on ground. I believe that our people will be safe because we have everything under control. We are not expecting any hitches at all.

    “We are doing very well as a party and as a committee. In this kind of planning, you will have some challenges here and there but there are solutions being proffered for everyone. We are confident that we are on the right track and it shall be well on Saturday.

    The Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, assured members of the party that the disagreements in the South West zone of the PDP have been resolved.

    He said: “In politics there are always issues but what is important is that we sit down and resolve the issues in a civil manner.”

     

     

  • Anambra guber poll: Obiano denies double registration

    Anambra guber poll: Obiano denies double registration

    ANAMBRA State Governor, Willie Obiano, yesterday, told the state election petitions tribunal in Awka that he is not involved in the alleged double registration. The Governor made the remark when he mounted the witness box at the governorship election tribunal, led by Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello. He was answering questions from the counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN. The suit was brought by Dr, Chike Obidigbo, challenging Obiano’s candidacy of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) during the November 16, 2013, governorship election in Anambra. The Governor explained that after he returned to Anambra State after winning the primaries of his party to contest for the governorship, he applied to INEC to transfer his voter’s card from Lagos State, where he said he had been voting during elections, to Anambra to enable him vote. He said: “I registered as a voter in Lagos State. When I returned to Anambra State to contest for the governor, I applied for a transfer of my registration. “I went in the morning of August 19, 2013, to ascertain the process of transferring my registration from Lagos to Anambra State and to make it possible for me to vote in a booth near my house at Aguleri. I applied on August 19, 2013 and submitted it same day. “The electoral officer, Nsofor, asked me to write an application and attach my voter’s card. I did so the same day and when I submitted it to him, he told me to come back in two days time. “I went back on the 21st of August, 2013, hoping to pick up the new voter’s card. I was told to fill a form and I also did my biometrics. He told me to pick the new card in two weeks time. On September 3, 2013, I went to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Awka to pick up the new card. I did not, at any point in time, have two voter’s cards. The valid one I used in the election was the one given to me in Anambra State.” Obiano stated. Obiano’s application to INEC and the voter’s card he used during the election were admitted in evidence yesterday. He also said that he could not vouch for the picture found against his name in the voters’ register because he was never at Eri primary School for registration. However, he faulted the age in the controversial Eri Primary School voters’ register, saying that he was 58 years then and not 56 as was shown. According to him, he was 55 years old when he registered in Lagos.

  • Sambo assures of free, fair Anambra polls

    Sambo assures of free, fair Anambra polls

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Saturday in Awka said the November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra would be free and fair to all.

    Sambo said this when he formally declared open the campaign of Mr. Tony Nwoye, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    He declared that the election would be a “one man, one vote, one woman one vote, one youth one vote’’ exercise.

    “The Federal Government is committed towards making the November 16 election a free and fair exercise,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the vice-president as saying at the forum.

    Sambo commended PDP’s choice of Nwoye and his running-mate, Dr. Amamchukwu Ezike, for the election.

    He said their (Nwoye and Ezike) administration would enjoy the support of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led federal government when elected.

    The party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, later presented the PDP flag to Nwoye and Ezike as the party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively.

    In his speech shortly before the presentation, he urged members of the party in the state to join hands to enable the PDP wins the election.

    Tukur said Anambra people had given the state to the PDP at the inception of the current democratic era and urged the people of the state to return the state to the party.

     

     

  • Jega, 21 commissioners to conduct Anambra guber poll

    Jega, 21 commissioners to conduct Anambra guber poll

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega and six national commissioners will conduct the Anambra governorship election on November 16.

    The INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr. Oscar-leo Amaechi, who made this known in Awka on Friday, said 15 Resident Electoral Commissioners were also expected in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Amaechi spoke at a stakeholders meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Security Committee with political parties and candidates.

    He reiterated the preparedness of the commission to conduct free and credible poll.

    The commission, he said, would move election materials to registration centres close to polling booths to ensure that the election commenced at exactly 8am on that day.

    The administrative secretary urged political parties to submit the names of their agents on time to enable the commission train them on their roles during the election.

    He warned that INEC would not allow substitution of agents on election day.

     

  • INEC begins distribution of ‘non sensitive’ materials in Anambra

    INEC begins distribution of ‘non sensitive’ materials in Anambra

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the commission had commenced the movement of non-sensitive electoral materials to Anambra in readiness for next month’s governorship election in the state.

    The INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olurode, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that with this early movement of materials, the commission was re-assessing its operational strategy to ensure a hitch-free election in the state.

    He said sensitive materials would be moved from the commission’s headquarters a week to the election.

    Olurode said the commission had put in place various strategies to ensure a high standard of integrity and transparency to make the outcome of the election acceptable to all.

    The commission had created area centres close to polling units, for the distribution of all sensitive materials to ensure prompt arrival of election materials during the election.

    “A combination of four wards will form a registration centre from where materials will be distributed to polling units. This will enhance synergy for timely arrival of materials,’’ he said.

    Olurode said the creation of the centres would guard against the problem of late arrival of materials, delay in accreditation and voting.

    It would also forestall discrepancies in voter registration statistics noticeable during past elections.

     

     

  • Guber poll: Tinubu, Akande head to Anambra for Ngige

    Guber poll: Tinubu, Akande head to Anambra for Ngige

    The National leader of All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to lead the interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, to Anambra on Tuesday.

    They will attend Sen. Chris Ngige’s Governorship flag-off at the Holy Trinity field in the commercial city of Onitsha.

    Other APC chieftains expected at the event are – Ngige’s governorship campaign team leader and Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and his counterparts in Osun and Nasarawa States, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Ibrahim Al-Makura are co-leaders of the team.

    Also, expected in Anambra are Sen. George Akume, interim National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Sen. Osita Izunaso and other National Assembly members in the party.

    Speaking with The Nation on Monday in Awka, the Chairman of Ngige Campaign organization, Chief George Muoghalu, said that all arrangements had been put in place.

     

  • INEC assures on credible election in Anambra

    INEC assures on credible election in Anambra

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, on Monday said the commission would conduct credible governorship election in the state onNovember 16.

    Onukaogu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka that the election would stand the test of the time.
    He said the commission would engage capable hands and provide materials required for the success of the exercise.
    “I told you sometimes ago that the commission was aspiring to be like other electoral bodies found in Western democracies. We are learning from our previous mistakes and improving upon it.
    “The election on November 16 will prove us right as problems of logistics are being tackled. We are also solving the problems of manpower and other skills needed to conduct credible election,’’ he said.
    Onukaogu said the commission would remain an impartial umpire and advised politicians and their supporters to be guided by electoral law to avoid hitches.
    He also urged eligible voters to get their cards ready to exercise their civic duty during the election.