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Tag: Ebonyi

  • SDP gov candidate accepts defeat, congratulates Umahi

    The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Ebonyi State, Chibueze Agbo, has accepted results of the last governorship election in the state.

    He also congratulated the winner of the election Governor David Umahi.

    The governor, according to the State Returning Officer, Prof Chukwuemeka Eze garnered a total of 393,343 votes cast across the 13 local governments in the state.

    Ogbuoji got a total of 81703 votes cast to place a distant second while Agbo placed third will just 10129 votes.

    However, Ogbuoji rejected the outcome of the election and vowed to challenge the result at the tribunal.

    But Agbo, in a letter to Umahi, said he accepted the result as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the spirit of sportsmanship.

    He noted that he did not set out to contest for governorship election in the state.

    He said he was prepared for the House of Representatives seat for his federal constituency-Ebonyi/Ohaukwu on the platform of the APC.

    “It was the irregularities, impunity and wanton abuse of the party’s guidelines and constitution, disrespect for the party Elders, and killings that characterised the primary, and my realisation that the managers of the party in Ebonyi state lacked the understanding, preparedness, zeal, training, exposure and charisma needed for effective, engaging and fruitful opposition in the state that made me to leave the team immediately and join the SDP where I was given the opportunity to fly the flag and participate in the Governorship Election,” he said.

    Agbo urged the governor to carry everyone along in his policies and programmes going forward.

    “You are the Governor of everybody in the state irrespective of party, religion, color, tribe, creed and status.

    “I therefore appeal that you strive to keep that in mind in all your policies as you lead us in the next four years”

    He also appealed to the governor to give succor to those whose home and properties were destroyed in political related violence in the heat of the elections in Izzi and Ezza North local government area.

  • APC vows to challenge state assembly results in Ebonyi

    House of Assembly candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi have vowed to challenge the outcome of the March 9 governorship and state assembly elections in the state.

    The leader of the coalition, Mr Jude Okpor disclosed this on Sunday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on their position following the release of the election results.

    Okpor said that all 24 state assembly candidates of the party rejected the results as they were not reflections of the wish of the people.

    He commended the governorship candidate of the party, Sen. Sonni Ogbuoji for the assistance he gave to all state assembly candidates of the party, adding that such was unprecedented.

    The leader said that though the elections had come and gone but certain facts could not be overlooked.

    “The governorship candidate of the party substantially and singlehandedly funded most party activities all through the pre-election and election phases.

    “Ogbuoji gave supports including but not limited to financial support to all the 24 state assembly candidates and we expected a free, fair and credible election but the reverse was the case,” he said.

    Okpor alleged that the elections were characterised by massive irregularities which included but not limited to multiple voting and intimidation of members of opposition parties across the 24 state constituencies.

    “Although we contested against a desperate and brutal incumbent governor who threatened to crush opposition elements, we also had internal sabotages by APC party leaders within and outside the state.

    “Most federal appointees from the state played little or no role towards the electoral fortunes of the party in the state,” he alleged.

    Okpor said that they had implicit confidence in Ogbuoji and urged the national leadership of the party to ignore ongoing smear campaign against him.

    “This smear campaign coming from within and outside of the party is with the intention of paving way for Gov. Dave Umahi to join APC.

    “We condemn this in the strongest terms.

    “We, therefore, state that the APC House of Assembly candidates are solidly behind Ogbuoji. We believe in him and we will continue to work and support him.

    “We support the position of our gubernatorial candidate for the cancellation of the March 9 gubernatorial and state assembly elections in the state.

    “We further call on the national leadership of the APC to investigate the role played by some of our party leaders and federal appointees in the just concluded elections in the state,” he said.

    Okpor said that appropriate sanctions should be meted out where necessary. (NAN)

  • PDP decries killings, violence, militarisation of elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the heavy militarisation, violence and killing of innocent Nigerians during Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections across many states of the federation.

    A statement on Saturday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan blamed the development on what the opposition party described as the desperation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections.

    “The world watched with utter horror as soldiers under the command of the Buhari Presidency, hound, arrest, shoot, terrorise opposition figures and provide cover for APC thugs to unleash violence, kill opposition members, cart away electoral materials and disrupt polls in PDP strongholds, all in the bid to forcefully foist the APC on Nigerians,” the statement said.

    The party further bemoaned the resort to bloodletting, violence and alleged official high handedness by the APC in the electoral process, which it said, has further confirmed this administration has no regard for the lives of Nigerians and lawful processes, but only interested in seizing power by all means.

    The PDP noted that never in the history of the nation had a general election recorded such bloodletting, violence and manipulations as triggered in the 2019 elections.

    Lamenting further, the PDP said: “In Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Benue, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, among others, soldiers brazenly aided APC thugs to unbridle violence, hijack electoral processes and write fictitious results for APC candidates.

    “In Rivers state, soldiers invaded INEC office in Bori, beat up and chased away PDP agents and assisted the APC in ballot stuffing and writing of results.

    “The scenario was the same in Akwa-Ibom where security agents provided cover for APC thugs in their bid to hijack the electoral process.

    “In Imo state, APC thugs, accompanied by security agents disrupted polls in PDP strongholds and reportedly killed a PDP agents in Umudo/Umuwala area of Owerri.

    “In Ebonyi state, APC thugs aided by security agents, burnt down INEC facility in the state, seeing that their party did not have any foothold in the state.

    “In Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Olamaboro, Ijumu and several other local governments in Kogi state, APC thugs, assisted by soldiers invaded polling units and carted away ballot materials, a development which sparked off restiveness in some areas and resulted in mass destruction of property in the area”.

    The party regretted that in many other states, the APC, in connivance with INEC, orchestrated the deliberate diversion of electoral materials meant for certain areas to unknown destinations, resulting in the frustration of electoral processes in the affected areas.

    “We know that the APC plot to derail our hard- earned democracy and impose a fascist regime on our nation but we are resolute in standing with Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to ensure that nobody, no matter how vicious, is allowed to vanquish our democracy.

    “In all, our party stands with Nigerians in their resilience at this defining moment in our political history.

    “The PDP commends the courage of Nigerians in standing firm in defence of democracy, despite the machinations of the APC,” the party added.

  • Be magnanimous in victory, Ojukwu jnr advises Buhari

    Mr Emeka Ojukwu jnr, Son of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be magnanimous in victory and appoint Igbos in strategic positions during his second term.

    Ojukwu jnr made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Onitsha while speaking on the re-election of President Buhari.

    Ojukwu jnr had in November 2017 dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which was founded by his father for the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing Igbo interest as his decision.

    He said the Igbos supported President Buhari more in the 2019 elections than in 2015 with over 25 per cent votes in three states of the South East because of his achievements in office.

    “Buhari won Aba North Local Government Area based on his performance; he gave the business men and women in Ariaria market an independent power plant to boost their industries.

    “The votes also doubled in Anambra and Ebonyi. We have Senators and Federal Representatives elected on the platform of APC in the South East.

    READ ALSO: Ojukwu’s son defects to APC as Buhari campaigns for Nwoye

    “The Igbos are moving on to the Next level with the APC-led government,” he said.

    Ojukwu jnr commended Buhari for committing N33 billion to the second Niger Bridge and for rehabilitating federal roads in the zone.

    He however, urged the President to use his second term to address the perception that the South East and South-South were being marginalised.

    “We look forward to a better spread in terms of appointments and inclusiveness as he has promised.

    “We hope to see greater investment in the different sectors including power, roads and agriculture,” he said.

    He urged the president to ensure fairness and equity and to see that the country outgrows the old divides based on ethnicity in the interest of national development.

    “Mr President has served the nation in various high level positions and has reached the pinnacle; all that is left is his legacy.

    “What will he do in these next four years for the benefit of the entire nation and how will he be remembered?

    “The answer to these questions lies solely in his hands,” Ojukwu jnr said.

    NAN

  • Don’t abandon farms for politics, Umahi advises

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has advised the people not to abandon their farm work and other agricultural ventures because of the general elections.

    Umahi gave the advice on Thursday in Abakiliki, at the launch of the 2019 farming season in the state.

    The event was attended by rice and cassava farmers, traditional rulers and beneficiaries of government’s empowerment schemes, among other stakeholders.

    He said that government had enough funds to assist farmers during the farming season.

    He said: “We have funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Government so farmers should register with the state ministry of agriculture and natural resources to be able to access the loans.

    “You only need to tell us how much fund, fertilizer and herbicides you want and how you intend to pay back because we will not profile farmers this farming season.”

    He said that government would only verify the farmlands to be used for cultivation but will not provide rice seedlings to farmers this year.

    Read Also : Ebonyi APC candidates: we will challenge results

    “Our own people, including workers and government officials, dealt with us last farming season and when we are eating our future, we do not know.

    “You pay high amount of money for rice seedlings and they (officials) would get the seedlings through the farmers and supply them to us.

    “We are therefore not procuring rice seedlings for anybody again,” the governor said, adding that farmers should produce their own seedling or go to Benue to buy.

    “My father was a farmer all through his life, trained all his children to the university level but never sought for government’s rice seedlings,” he said.

    He further advised civil servants, who had yet to access the N4 billion agricultural loan for farmers, to register.

    He, however, warned that the facility would not be treated like the issue of gratuity.

    “The records of the gratuities paid by the past administrations in the state were burnt. “Otherwise, the 40 per cent payment we made could have been used to pay all the civil servants,” Umahi said.

    The governor, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, appealed to the traditional rulers to persuade their subjects to vote for him on March 9.

    He said that voting massively for him in the election would demonstrate the people’s appreciation of all that God had used him to do for the state.

    “The turnout of voters on February 23 was poor. You should persuade our people to vote for us instead of voting on the basis of clanishness,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Eze Charles Mkpuma, the Chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, admitted that votes were cast on clanish consideration.

    “We shall, however, guard against such attitude on March 9. We shall use the election to reward you for the rapid transformation witnessed in the state under your watch,” Mkpuma said.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives of the farmers and town unions and beneficiaries of the governor’s empowerment schemes took turn to assure him of their unflinching support.

  • Umahi alleges plot to bomb Ebonyi lNEC offices

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on Thursday alleged plans by some desperate politicians to import thugs to bomb some local government offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Umahi disclosed this during a live security situation briefing to the people of the state.

    He said: “I have been told that there are plans to bomb lNEC local government offices.”

    He said security agencies have been informed and have beefed up security in all INEC facilities in the state

    The governor frowned at the outbreak of violence, characterised by burning houses and killings at Mkpuma Akpatakpa in Abaja community of Izzi local government area, promising that perpetrators would be fished out and brought to book.

    He further condemned the attack on Ikwo local government area Vice Chairman, Mrs. Regina Iteshi who was attacked by hoodlums.

    According to the governor, the thugs inserted objects into her private part and cut the tendons of some of the people with her.

    He promised that the perpetrators must be punished.

    “My major concern is that we have free and a fair election on Saturday. There were few things we noticed on 15th February that were not in the character of Ebonyi people.

    “Inserting objects in the private parts of the vice chairman of Ikwo. Justice may be delayed but the law must take its full course.

    “Yesterday, I visited Izzi and saw the faces of defenseless father and mother whose son was killed and their houses burnt down.

    “All those who participated in the killing of the young man and burning of houses will never go scot-free.

    “Politicians are behind the killings and burning down of houses. My promise to all the victims, the young man that was killed and six others injured, all those behind it must be brought to book.

    “I appeal that there should be no reprisal attack. I have ordered that anybody that wants to kill our people should be shot at sight.

    “People must be allowed to exercise their right and vote for whom they want to vote for. I promised that if there is no reprisal attack, after the election, I will start the process of building the burnt houses.

    “Lives of Ebonyians are very important to us than positions and election. And anyone that takes the lives of others such will follow them to their fifth generation. Ebonyians must be alert and demobilize anybody that is parading thugs with police escort.

    The governor also had some warnings for INEC officers in the state.

    “Let me also warn INEC. I learnt that certain political party wants to cancel election. That they will go from polling booth to another killing people.

    “If you are INEC worker, discharge your duty according to the electoral law. I have asked the youths and Ebonyians to resist any INEC officials that wants to compromise. I learnt that collation officers are meeting, saying they nominated this and that.”

  • Another Ebonyi governorship candidate steps down for Umahi

    Ebonyi State Governorship candidate of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Ogbonnaya Okorie has stepped down for the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Governor David Umahi.

    The development came barely one week after the state Governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Hon. Ozuma Peter also stepped down for Umahi.

    Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, Okorie declared that he has resigned his membership of Advanced Allied Party to throw his support and supporters to join the PDP in the reelection of Umahi on March 9.

    Okorie noted that all the leadership and executive of his former party, AAP, were in full support of his decision to pitch tent with Umahi and PDP.

    He added that the decision was informed by the achievements of the Umahi’s administration and the need to support in his quest to develop all sectors of the state economy.

    Okorie said that the Governor has demonstrated uncommon leadership and there was no need to change the winning team, noting that everybody must not be Governor at the same time

    “After wide consultations and in consideration of the achievements of the incumbent Governor, Engr. David Umahi, I have resigned my membership of my party, Advanced Allied Party (AAP) and to throw my support and supporters to join the PDP”.

    “I was never forced or cornered to join the PDP, rather it was my own decision backed by evidence of the leadership the Governor has provided. In the cause of my debate with the Governor, he did promise to give me N10 million for my election and I, hereby urge the governor to add the money in his campaign while I will make my personal donation towards the election of Governor David Umahi come March 9, 2019”.

    Okorie therefore called on other governorship candidates of other political parties to join hands in ensuring the emergence of Umahi on the poll as he has shown that he is the best among equal.

  • Political thugs set 30 buildings on fire in Ebonyi

    Over 30 houses have been destroyed in pre-election related violence in some communities in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi state.

    But the two major parties- The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Congress (APC) have continued to trade blames over the destructions.

    Commissioner of Police Awosola Awotunde on Monday in Abakaliki appealed for calm among residents over the attacks.

    Awotunde, who spoke with journalists after assessment visits to areas affected by the violence, vowed police authority would ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly acts were arrested and brought to book.

    The police chief described the incident as barbaric and man’s inhumanity to man.

    Awotunde decried the wanton carnage warned against any reprisal.

    He said that those involved in the criminal attacks on the communities, including their sponsors would be arrested and prosecuted.

    “We appeal for calm and assure the public that police will spare no efforts in ensuring that everyone who is involved in the dastardly act is brought to book including their sponsors.

    “The police further reassure the public of commitment to protection of lives and property of every citizen of the state before, during and after the elections”, Awotunde said.

    He also sympathised with victims during the assessment visits.

    Narrating his ordeals, a victim of the attack, Mr. Donatus Nwofe who spoke to journalists at Aguabata in Agbaja community of Izzi, said he lost two of his buildings and property worthy several millions to the attackers.

    Nwofe, who is the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Ebonyi council, said that the suspected political thugs invaded his compound and shot sporadically before setting the houses ablaze.

    “I lost everything; even the boxers I am wearing were donated to me by a sympathizer, as you can see, no pin was removed from the burnt down houses.

    “We now live in fear as no one knows when the hoodlums will attack again with their AK 47 riffles and other weapons.

    “I am appealing to police to beef up security in the community and I am also calling on state and Federal governments to come to the rescue of the victims of the attacks,” Nwofe said.

    Another victim, Mr Paulinus Onyike said the suspected political thugs from a major political party invaded Izenyi, in Agbaja community and set houses suspected to belong to members of the opposition ablaze.

    He said the suspected political thugs who invaded the area, shot indiscriminately before setting houses and other valuable property ablaze in the area.

    He described the attacks as barbaric and called for proper investigation and arrest of the perpetrators.

    Ebonyi APC chairman, Eze Nwachukwu, said his members bore the brunt of the attacks.

    He described the attacks as unprovoked and urged police and other security agencies to intensify security surveillance in the state.

    Nwachukwu chronicled the alleged gruesome attacks to include; attack on the senatorial candidate of the party in Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Mr Nweze Onu; attacks on APC members, destruction of their houses and property in Izzi local government area.

    Others, according to him, include: attacks and disruption of APC local government rallies by suspected political thugs at Ebonyi, Onitcha, Ohaozara local government areas and destruction of APC campaign office in Ohaozara.

    He also listed alleged attacks on the home of APC Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Ogba at Ezzama, Ezza South on February 16 and attack on members of the party at Ekoli-Edda among others.

    But Ebonyi PDP chairman Onyekachi Nwebonyi denied the allegations.

    “It is not true. They are the ones attacking our members. I had briefed you on the killing of two persons on Sunday who were attached by political thugs while six others were injured”

    “PDP has been very peaceful despite the provocations. The governor, who is a man of peace, have continued to calm the party faithful down and urging them not to retaliate despite the provocations”.

    He decried the attacks and called on security agencies to fish-out the perpetrators and bring them to book.

  • Thugs injure ex-Deputy speaker, others in Ebonyi

    Many people were injured and properties worth millions of naira destroyed as suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs waylaid and attacked the campaign train of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Among those injured was former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Dorothy Obasi, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor of the state, Chief David Umahi, on House of Assembly Matters.

    Edda is the hometown of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji.

    Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, Divine Mandate Elders Council alleged that the thugs numbering over 100 also attacked the PDP supporters at the campaign ground.

    The Director General of the Divine Mandate Campaign Organization Fidelis Nwankwo accused the APC of instigating violence in the state.

    He also alleged the supporters of the party were behind the destruction of the campaign billboards of the PDP across the state.

    Nwankwo said: “Just yesterday, Thursday the 7th of February, 2019, as a procession of the Divine Mandate Campaign Organization headed for Edda for its local government rally, a bunch of APC thugs were mobilized and violently set upon the PDP procession which was lawfully going about their business.

    “Law abiding citizens were molested, beaten, and harassed by these mindless street urchins. Wanton destruction was also inflicted on vehicles and property of PDP faithful whose only crime was to express their freedom of association and political affiliation.”

    Governor David Umahi ordered the Nigeria Police Command in the state and the State Security Services (SSS) to arrest some of the suspected attackers.

    He also urged the public not to take laws into their hands.

    The governor spoke at the PDP campaign rally at Nguzu Edda primary school, Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state.

    “These three persons are here by declared wanted for obstructing the existing peace in Afikpo South, blocking people with guns and threatening to shoot them.

    “The Commissioner for Internal Security, Mr. Kenneth Ugbala will submit their names to the Commissioner of Police (CP) Awosola Awotunde and the SSS,” Umahi said.

    The PDP Gubernatorial candidate expressed satisfaction with the more than 25 various projects executed in the area by the local government Chairman, Eniduma Chima.

    He further commended other stakeholders and party supporters, for their various contributions to the development of the area.

    South East Vice-chairman of the PDP, Mr. Austin Umahi, who spoke at the rally, tasked security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on credible election.

  • Presidential campaign: Heavy security as Atiku storms Abakaliki

    Security have been beefed up in some parts of Ebonyi State Capital, Abakaliki following campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that major roads leading to the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium were blocked to traffic while vehicles were diverted to other convenient routes.

    NAN also reports that all the markets in the city were closed for business as the people trooped in their numbers to the stadium for the rally.

    NAN observed that the10,000 capacity stadium was already filled to the brim as at 8 am by the PDP faithful drawn from the 13 Local government areas of the state.

    Mr Emmanuel Uzor, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Dave Umahi told NAN that Ebonyi as PDP state is fully `Atikulated’ adding that the state was ready for him.

    “We are ready for the PDP presidential candidate. The turnout is tremendous and unprecedented. Ebonyi will give him 1.4 million votes during the February 16 presidential election.

    “Atiku is our own and the government has made full arrangements for the campaign rally,” he said.

    Uzor announced a total victory for the PDP at the national level.

    A member of `Friends of Atiku’ Ebonyi Chapter, Mr Chijioke Agwu, noted that the people of the state and the nation had confidence in the Atiku/Obi ticket.

    “We have no doubt that when he becomes the president, Nigeria will be a country all of us will be proud of.

    “In Ebonyi State everybody is PDP and Atiku Abubakar is our candidate. Already the Ohaneze Ndigbo the umbrella and apex socion-cultural organization in the South East has endorsed them.

    “We are happy to welcome them to Ebonyi and we use this opportunity to reassure them that the state is totally for them and will cast block vote come February 16,” he said.