The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra poll

  • Anambra: Relocation will not affect voters – INEC

    Anambra: Relocation will not affect voters – INEC

    Voters in Anambra State who could have been disenfranchised due to relocation have been assured of partaking in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Chikwuemeka Onokaogu, said such people should approach the commission a month before the election to effect necessary changes that will afford them the opportunity to participate in the election.

    Besides, he said the issue of late deployment of election materials will not arise in the coming election, saying a refined logistics management process had been put in place to ensure prompt and efficient distribution of materials on the day of the election.

    Onukaogu also allayed the fears of election monitors on security, saying that adequate security measures are already in place to ensure safety during the election process.

    The REC spoke on Monday during a Civil Society/ INEC dialogue on Anambra State governorship election organized by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

    The dialogue was attended by accredited civil society groups for the election and INEC staff.

    He said the issue of intra-state transfer will be handled, stressing that the affected people should come forward when they are sure of where they will be during the election and their cards would be changed to reflect the new address.

     

     

  • APGA insists on Obiano for Anambra election

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra, Chief Mike Kwentoh, said the party would not feature two candidates in the November 16 governorship election in the state.

    Kwentoh said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Awka on Friday.

    He said that presenting two candidates would confuse the electorate and affect the party’s chance of retaining the leadership of the state.

    The chairman regretted the activities of Chief Maxi Okwu’s faction whom he said participated in the reconciliation by Governor Peter Obi in the full glare of the public.

    He described those who wanted to divide the party after the reconciliation as dissidents.

    “We do not welcome double candidature, it is alien to us in APGA and as I am talking to you now, we have just one candidate in the person of Willy Obiano for the governorship election.

    “Those trying to divide our party are dissidents and I call their actions rascality of the highest order,”he said.

    NAN recalls that a faction of APGA led by Chief Okwu on Monday picked Dr. Chike Obidigbo as its gubernatorial candidate.

    Chief Victor Umeh’s faction had earlier elected Chief Willie Obiano as the APGA candidate for the election in a primary conducted in Awka on August 26.

     

  • 11 parties, 10 candidates for Anambra guber election

    11 parties, 10 candidates for Anambra guber election

    It has now emerged that 11 political parties would take part in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    Also 10 candidates have been cleared by the parties to vie for the state number one political seat.

    The parties are – the All Progressives Congress (APC), Accord Party (AP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and United Democratic Party (UDP).

    Others are Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria peoples Party (NNPP), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) and KOWA Party.

    Apart from the PDP and APGA who have produced two contenders each, other parties are presenting one candidate each.

    The candidates vying for Governor Peter Obi’s seat are – Sen. Chris Ngige (APC), Dr. Igwebike Hygers (Accord), Hon. Basil Iwuoba (PPN), Godson Okoye (UDP), Dr .Ifeanyi Ubah (LP), Prince Leonard Uchendu (NNPP), Dr. Ifeatu Ekelem (ACD) and Chief Denis Oguguo (KOWA).

    The Nation gathered on Thursday that the other remaining party United Progressives Party (UPP) has not decided on its candidate before the September 2 deadline given by the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) for submission of parties’ candidates for the election.

    For PDP, the fate of Dr. Tony Nwoye who is the preferred candidate of party’s national leadership and Sen. Andy Uba, the preferred INEC candidate is still unknown.

    Also, the emergence of Dr. Chike Obidigbo, the South East chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Governor Peter Obi’s preferred candidate, Chief Willy Obiano has made it difficult for APGA to harmonize.

     

     

  • ‘APGA may not field candidate for Anambra poll’

    ‘APGA may not field candidate for Anambra poll’

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance may not participate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State despite the emergence of Dr. Willy Obianor as the party’s candidate, a chieftain of the party has warned.

    The party’s Publicity Secretary, Bernerd Akoma ,in a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki said Dr. Obaino could be disqualified as the party’s flag bearer by the court if the National Chairman and Secretary of the party, Victor Umeh and Sanni Shinkaffi endorse his candidature.

    According to him, Umeh was not properly elected while Shinkaffi’s tenure, according to the party’s constitution has elapsed.

    The statement reads, “Despite the emergence of Dr. Obiano as the Victor Umeh/Peter Obi led APGA candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, the party may afterall not contest the governorship race in the state.

    “The sharp division in the party notwithstanding, should Umeh led APGA faction goes ahead to endorse any candidate for the election, such candidate stands to be disqualified if his candidature is challenged in any court of law.

    “APGA constitution states that a person is entitled to occupy any position in the party for a maximum of two tenures of four years each. The current national secretary of APGA, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi was elected the secretary of the party January, 10, 2003. By August 2013, Shinkafi will be spending his 10th year and seven months in the same position as the secretary of the party.”

     

     

  • PDP ‘undecided’ on Taraba, Anambra crises

    PDP ‘undecided’ on Taraba, Anambra crises

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be undecided on how to address the festering political crises in Taraba and Anambra States.

    The PDP controlled Taraba is currently in crisis as a result of sharp divisions between the camps of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai and Acting Governor, Garba Umar.

    Ailing Suntai was brought into the country in an apparent near vegetable state on August 25, after a 10-month medical sojourn abroad. On arrival, he had to be assisted off the chartered aircraft that brought him to Abuja.

    While his loyalists are insisting that he had resumed duty, the Taraba Assembly had mandated Umar to continue governing the state in acting capacity, they declared him unfit to continue as the state chief security officer.

    The Nigerian Constitution did not envisage the existence of Governor and Acting Governor administering a state at the same time.

    However, the newly inaugurated National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, at its meeting on Monday, did not discuss the Taraba problem, despite strident calls by stakeholders in the state for the national leadership of the party to make its position known on the crisis.

    Briefing journalists after a meeting, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the issue of Taraba did not come up at the meeting. The meeting was chaired by the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    “We did not discuss the issue of Taraba at the meeting because the matter was not listed on the agenda. I will raise the matter in our next meeting and feed you back on whatever position the party takes,” Metuh said.

    The spokesman also said the meeting did not discuss the problem in Anambra State, where two parallel candidates have emerged as PDP flag bearers for the November 16 governorship election in the state.

     

     

  • Anambra poll: Nwoye gets certificate of return

    … Ubas, others shun PDP summon

     The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Mr. Tony Nwoye, was on Wednesday presented with a certificate of return by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    The presentation came just as the Uba brothers, Andy and Chris shunned the summon extended to them by the leadership of the party.

    Also summoned alongside the Uba brothers were Chief Benji Udeozor and Mrs. Tonia Nwankwo. They were ordered to appear before the party’s leadership at 10am on Wednesday.

    None of them honoured the invitation.

    They were summoned to explain their roles in the conduct of an August 24 parallel primary election through which Andy Uba emerged as PDP candidate for the Anambra poll.

    Shortly after collecting his certificate, Nwoye told reporters that he remained the authentic candidate of the party.

    Nwoye emerged from the Ken Emeakayi led faction from which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had withdrawn recognition.

    On the other hand, Andy Uba emerged a parallel candidate from the Ejike Oguebego led faction. Oguebego is recognised by the electoral commission as the authentic chairman of the Anambra chapter of the PDP.

     

     

  • Anambra poll: Civil Society groups plan debate for candidates

    Anambra poll: Civil Society groups plan debate for candidates

    Four Civil Society Organisations would conduct debate for candidates of all the political parties vying for the 2013 gubernatorial election in Anambra, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    The organisations are Ogilisi Igbo Foundation, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Civil Awareness and Economic Empowerment Initiative (CAEI) and Civil Liberation Initiative.

    Chief Romanus Ezeonwuka, leader of the Foundation, told journalists in a conference in Oba near Onitsha that the debate would be developmental-issues based and devoid of sentiments.

    “This debate which will hold between September and October at the Rojenny Tourists Village, Oba, will be apolitical to address the yearnings and aspirations of Anambra people.

    “The state needs front looking politicians that will continue at the pace and level of development the present administration in the state had achieved.

    “It will bring out the level of awareness of the candidates on challenges facing the state and how they plan to tackle these myriad of contentious challenges in the state.

    “Such challenges include: unemployment, youth restiveness, crime such as kidnapping and their plans to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue of the state as well as other issues,’ he said.

     

  • Anambra: PDP declares Nwoye as flag bearer

    Anambra: PDP declares Nwoye as flag bearer

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced a parallel candidate, Mr. Tony Nwoye, as the party’s candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    The National chairman of the (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, announced Nwoye as winner of the party’s primaries held on Saturday.

    The election was conducted by the Ken Emeakayi -led faction of the state’s executive committee.

    The announcement was based on a report on the election submitted to the party’s leadership by Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema.

    Shema was the chairman of a five-man Anambra governorship congress committee set up the PDP to conduct the election.

    According to Shema’s report, Nwoye scored 498 votes to beat Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu who scored 357 votes. Dr. Alex Obiogolu came third with 13 votes.

    The report said 14 aspirants participated in the congress in which 916 delegates voted.

    However, a parallel congress conducted by the Ejike Oguebego faction had declared Mr. Andy Uba as winner of the congress and by extension the party’s flag bearer for the same election.

    The Oguebego faction is the one recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while the PDP leadership backed the Emeakayi faction.

     

     

  • INEC, IPAC partner to monitor Anambra election

    The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) said on Thursday that the council would partner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the Anambra elections.

    National Chairman of the council Alhaji Yinusa Tanko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the measure was to ensure that the election was transparent, free and fair.

    According to him, the election monitors will write a comprehensive report on their observations and submit to the appropriate authorities for remedies.

    “Our team will be on ground to see how the election is being conducted and look at the preparations of INEC and synergies and to make amends if there are shortcomings.

    “What we intend to do is to set up call contact in Awka in case of event of irregularities,’’ Tanko said.

    He said IPAC would collaborate with INEC and the police to ensure that irregularities were curtailed during the exercise.

    Tanko added that the team would also work with INEC during the election to ensure proper authentication of voters’ cards.

    He said each political party would have volunteers representing it on the monitoring team during the election to ensure that the people’s choice emerged.

     

     

  • APGA ‘will not reverse’ disqualification of Soludo, others

    APGA ‘will not reverse’ disqualification of Soludo, others

    The Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra, Chief Mike Kwentor, said it would not overrule the disqualification of six aspirants vying for the party’s governorship ticket in the state.

    Kwentor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Saturday that the action of the screening committee was in line with the party’s constitution.

    He said that it was better for the party to go into the election with a candidate without blemish than with one whose victory could be voided.

    According to him, the constitution says you must be eligible to vote before you can be voted for and for you to be eligible to vote, you must have voter’s card.

    “So, I think that the Screening Committee disqualified those they disqualified based on cogent reasons.

    “I am sure that even those disqualified know that the reason for which they were disqualified was cogent, otherwise, they will appeal because the party made provision for appeal,” he said.

    The Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi-led committee screened the 14 gubernatorial aspirants on Friday and disqualified six aspirants.

    Those disqualified are: Prof. Charles Soludu, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, Chief Chinedu Idigo, Chief Tony Nnacheta and Mr. Emma Nweke.

    They were disqualified for non-possession of voter’s card, tax clearance, lack of evidence of sound financial muscle, and unresolved issue with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.