The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra

  • PDP undecided on Taraba, Anambra crises

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears not to have decided on how to address the festering political crises in Taraba and Anambra states.

    The PDP-controlled Taraba is boiling over following the divisions between ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai and Acting Governor Garba Umar.

    Suntai was brought into the country on August 25, looking frail, after a 10-month medical sojourn abroad. He had to be assisted off the chartered aircraft that brought him to Abuja.

    While the governor’s loyalists are insisting that he has resumed duty, the House of Assembly mandated Umar to continue as acting governor, after the lawmakers had declared Suntai unfit to resume.

    The constitution, it was learnt, did not envisage the existence of governor and acting governor administering a state at the same time.

    However, the newly inaugurated PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), at its meeting yesterday, did not discuss the Taraba crisis.

    This is in spite of strident calls by stakeholders in the state for the national leadership of the party to make its position known on the crisis.

    Addressing reporters after a meeting, the party’s National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh said the Taraba palaver did not come up at the meeting. The meeting was chaired by the PDP National Chairman, 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 PDP flag bearers for the November 16 governorship election.

    While the national body of the PDP had given recognition to the Ken Emeakayi led faction which presented Mr. Tony Nwoye as the party’s flag bearer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised the Ejike Oguebego led faction that produced Senator Andy Uba as the candidate.

    Metuh also promised to raise the Anambra issue at the next meeting of the NWC.

     

  • APC clears Ezeemo for primaries in Anambra

    •Party elects states leadership

    The All Progressive, Congress (APC) appeal screening committee has cleared one a governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, to contest the party’s primary tomorrow.

    Also, the party yesterday elected its state leadership with Barr. C.J. Chinwuba the chairman and J.P.C. Obikwelu as state secretary.

    The congress which took place at the Sun city Hotels in Awka yesterday also elected Obiora Samuel Igwedibia as its deputy chairman in the state, among other officers.

    APC is seriously preparing for its state primary on Monday to elect its governorship candidate, following the clearance of Ezeemo by the party’s screening committee.

    According to a letter signed by the Interim National Secretary of APC, Tijjani Musa Tumsah, dated 30th August, 2013, the decision to clear Ezeemo was taken on Friday by the party.

    In the letter titled: ‘Decision of the Anambra State Appeal Screening Committee’, which reads in part, Tumsah said: “Following the gubernatorial appeal committee sitting which took place on Friday, 30th August, 2013 at a National Secretariat, I wish to inform you that the appeal committee has set aside the decision of the Screening Committee and hereby declares you eligible to contest our primary election scheduled for 2nd September, 2013.”

    Following the declaration of the committee, Ezeemo would now square up with Senator Chris Ngige for the governorship ticket on Monday.

  • Anambra ACD elects Ekelem as candidate

    The number of those vying to succeed Anambra State Governor Peter Obi swelled yesterday, with the election of Ifeatu Ekelem by the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) as its candidate for the November 16 election.

    The primary, which was conducted in Awka, was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    ACD’s national leadership was represented by its National Publicity Secretary, Breakforth Abraham and Manga Asha, among others.

    Ekelem hails from Umuokpu in Awka South Local Government Area.

    Addressing the 189 delegates yesterday, the state Chairman, Lolo Oby Okafor, said ACD had come to stay in the state.

    She added that the party was not in the race to make impact but to win the election.

     

  • 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 asks IGP to probe parallel primary

    •Summons Andy Uba, factional chair, others

    The crisis rocking the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist.

    The national leadership has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate persons behind the conduct of Saturday’s parallel primary in which Senator Andy Uba emerged as a governorship candidate.

    Declaring the said primary as a breach of the PDP constitution, the party summoned Uba and a factional chairman, Ejike Oguebego.

    They are to appear before the National Working Committee (NWC) at 10am today.

    They are to explain their roles in the conduct of the parallel primary and to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

    A statement by the party’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke, yesterday said Uba and Oguebego were being summoned for participating in the exercise.

    The statement said: “In view of their participation in the breach of our constitution referred to above, the following persons are hereby invited to appear before the National Working Committee.

    “The PDP leadership hereby condemns the organisation of a parallel primary to elect a candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State other than the one conducted by the party on August 24.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the only primary recognised by the party was the one conducted by the Electoral Panel under the leadership of Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema, which was appointed by the party.

    “The organisation of another primary other than the one referred to above is a clear breach of our party’s constitution and is therefore totally unacceptable and cannot be condoned.

    “We call on the Inspector General of Police to forthwith begin investigations into the illegal procurement of sensitive party materials for the illegal primary by persons who paraded themselves as working for the PDP.”

    Others summoned are Chris Uba, Benji Udeozor and Mrs. Tonia Nwankwo.

     

  • One dies in Anambra masqueraders’ bloody outing

    •60 injured, 10 churches burnt

    One person was killed and over 60 people injured on Monday when some masqueraders and their youth guides attacked Christians in Oba-Ofemmili community, Awka-North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Eyewitnesses said 10 churches were burnt. More attacks may come today.

    Some of the churches attacked are Assemblies of God Church, Grace of God, Deeper Life Bible Church, Winners Church, Christ Holy Church, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Odozi Obodo and the Vicarage of St Paul’s Anglican Church, Awba Ofemmili.

    Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka said he was not aware of the incident and promised to get back to our reporter.

    The priest of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Rev Pat Odinanwa, confirmed the threat of more attacks on Christians.

    He accused the policemen at Ugbene community of not coming to the aid of the hapless Christians when the troubled started.

    “The police were informed but they did not come. I think those boys are their regular customers.”

    Odinanwa said all his efforts to calm the youths failed.

    The priest said there were agreements between the church and the community, yet the community was seeking to stop Christians from worshipping.

    Odinanwa said: “There was a document signed between the traditional ruler and the Christians which states that the masqueraders should start by 9pm and no woman should be seen on the road at that time. And we all agreed.

    “But a town crier announced another thing saying anybody going for a church programme should leave home by 5pm, which was contrary to the agreement.

    “Most of the women who attended the programme were harassed and ordered to go back. Those who left by 6pm were able to get to the church before it was late.”

    The priest said he cancelled the programme and told the congregation to sleep in the church.

    “But the youths stormed the church and razed the vicarage, shooting people and inflicting machete pains on them.”

    A victim, Sunday Aliuba, said they were in the church when the miscreants stormed the place.

    Aliuba said: “The community and the Christians had an agreement that the night masqueraders will not start until 9pm and we were having our programmes according to the rules.

    “But on Monday, there was a rumour that the pagans will be burning churches. Around 11pm, they started shooting.

    “Around 1am, they stormed the church and razed the vicarage.

    “We hid under the staircase and within the pews. In selfdefence, we pounced on one of them. But when it became intense, my colleagues ran away.

    “I also ran but they pursued me and shot me in the legs, shattering my ankles and bones.

    “They also inflicted machete cuts on me. The blood that came out of my body can fill two buckets. It was God who saved me.”

    A community leader and former supervisory councillor for health in Awka North, Ignatius Okafor, condemned the incident.

    Okafor said: “One person died from gunshot injuries. These people committed arson and we have never seen such hatred between brothers.

    He confirmed that there was an agreement that church activities would not be disrupted.

    “It was agreed that masqueraders should start by 9pm but this incident started by 5pm. So it was premeditated.”

     

  • Ubah set to pick Anambra LP ticket today

    •Foundation plans debate

    Oil magnate Ifeanyi Ubah is set to pick the Labour Party (LP) ticket for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    The primaries will hold at the Emmaus House in Awka today with 1,137 delegates from the 21 local government areas.

    The State Chairman, Sam Oraegbunam, said five delegates would vote from each of the local governments.

    It was gathered that though there are two other contestants, Ubah was the only one, who fulfilled the party’s required guidelines.

    Oraegbunam said the party was ready for the contest.

    The Nation gathered that following the primaries held on Monday by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which produced William Obiano as its candidate, over 1,200 members of the party have joined LP.

    Though Oraegbunam did not confirm the report, he said there would be surprises during the election.

    Obiano’s emergence was allegedly spearheaded by Governor Peter Obi.

    An aspirant, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, said she would abide by the party’s decision.

    Three civil society groups and the Ogilisi Igbo Foundation yesterday said they would organise debates for the candidates.

    The groups are the Campaign for Democracy (CD); Civil Awareness and Economic Empowerment Initiative (CAEI) and Civil Liberation Initiative.

    Founder of Ogirishi Igbo Foundation Rommy Ezeonwuka announced this in a pre-debate briefing held in Oba near Onitsha.

    Ezeonwuka said the debate, fixed for next month and October, would be held at the Rojenny Tourists Village, Oba.

    He said the debates would be devoid of sentiment.

    “This debate would be apolitical, devoid of sentiment and would only address the yearning and aspiration of Anambra people.

    “It would bring out the level of knowledge the candidates have on the challenges facing the state.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Nwoye named Anambra PDP candidate

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

    The National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, aid Nwoye was elected at the primaries held on Saturday by the Ken Emeakayi-led faction.

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

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

    According to the report, Nwoye scored 498 votes to beat Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 357 votes. Alex Obiogolu was said to have come 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 declared Andy Uba as the party’s candidate for the same election.

    The Oguebego faction is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Thanking the Shema committee, Tukur said Nwoye’s election was sacrosanct and that Anambra PDP had spoken.

    He added that the PDP does not have any anointed candidate and that Nwoye emerged through a free, fair and transparent process.

    However, stakeholders in the party are worried about the crisis that marred the primaries. While the congress that produced Uba was conducted by the authentic chairman of the troubled chapter, the accredited delegates participated in the factional congress that produced Nwoye.

  • ‘I’m still in race for Anambra governor’

    ‘I’m still in race for Anambra governor’

    Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant refuted the claim that he had stepped down for Senator Chris Ngige, who is also running for the governorship on the same platform.

    He said that he looked forward to the shadow poll, where the aspirants will test their popularity before the party delegates.

    Ezeemo spoke with reporters in Lagos on the activities of the party, especially the preparations for the November 16 election.

    He said: ‘’ I have not stepped down for anybody and will never do that. I have always believed in free and fair contest where the best candidate will emerge. I want to state unequivocally that I am still in the race for Anambra governorship under the platform of All Progressives Congress; a party I and other well meaning Anambra people worked hard to build”.

    “The rumour making the rounds that Chris Ngige has emerged was the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress in the November 16 Anambra election is baseless and unfounded.”

    He added: “Those who do not want to go to the polls to test their popularity and want to take power through the backdoor are clearly scared of my pedigree. I challenge them to the contest before Anambra people who have the ultimate right and final say on who governs them”.

    Ezeemo called for internal democracy in the APC, stressing that it is critical to its survival. He added: ‘’I have a very firm belief that free and fair primaries for the purpose of electing a flagbearer for our great party, All Progressives Congress, in the forth coming Anambra governorship elections will make our party stronger,” he said.

    The politician also advised APC leaders to always hold consultations with stakeholders before taking decisions on salient party matters.

    He said:”I stand for free, fair and credible primaries. No more, no less.”

     

     

  • APGA faction to field candidate in Anambra

    Factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Maxi Okwu yesterday said the faction will field a candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    Okwu said considering the performance of Governor Peter Obi ,APGA would win the election.

    Okwu pledged to fight on until he recovers the party’s leadership from “illegal occupants.”

    The APGA factional chairman spoke after a church service in Nkpokolo Achi in Oji-River Local Government Area of Enugu State, to mark his late father’s 90th birthday.

    He said: “I pray fervently that APGA wins on November 16, which is the late Nnamdi Azikiwe’s birthday, because if we don’t win Anambra, we are in danger here in Enugu State.

    “I need Anambra to win Enugu, so I am prepared to do everything possible for us to win, but the way they are going about it, there is danger.

    “We are going to field our own candidate, so whichever faction wins, it is the court that will decide the authentic candidate.

    “It is the party that people vote for – remember Celestine Omehia versus Rotimi Amaechi in Rivers State.”

    He said: “We are picking our own candidate and whoever wins eventually becomes APGA winner.

    “If Victor Umeh wins, Umeh’s candidate becomes the APGA winner. But I will win.

    “Governor Peter Obi has done well in Anambra State. Obi has restored sanity in Anambra State, and whether you like him or not, that is the fact.

    “He has created standards, which is attributable to APGA and our victory in the forthcoming election.”

    When asked if Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s disqualification would affect the party’s chances, Okwu said, “Soludo or no Soludo, APGA will win Anambra election.”

    He noted that his decision to approach a court in Abuja was to ensure that selfish people were not allowed to destroy the party.

    He said: “I am a lawyer with 36 years experience; the case is strong and it is a matter of documentary evidence.”