The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Emeka Ihedioha

  • 20 parties to INEC: withhold Iheodioha’s Certificate of Return

    Twenty political parties on Wednesday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold the Certificate of Return of the Imo state governor-elect Emeka Ihedioha.

    They strongly contended the declaration Ihedioha, who was the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate as governor-elect, was not in tandem with the provisions of Constitution.

    At a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, the governorship candidate of Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Jerry Iheanacho, who spoke on behalf of others, said they had individually decided to challenge the outcome of the governorship election at the election Petitions Tribunal.

    Iheanacho noted that the declaration of Ihedioha as the winner of the election was “a rape of our Constitution”.

    The governorship candidate said: “It is not about Ihedioha but it is about what the Constitution says. From the results as announced by INEC, the PDP candidate didn’t meet the constitutional requirement to have been declared the governor elect.

    “He did not get the needed spread and we have decided to pursue this injustice up to the Supreme Court.

    “He did not get the required 25 percent of two-third of the LGAs.”

    Chinedu Ukadike of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) said the declaration of Ihedioha as the governor-elect was in contrast with the electoral guidelines presented to them by INEC.

    He vowed to petition the electoral umpire at the Tribunal even as he alleged that the declaration of a governor elect was done to undermine the constitution.

  • You lack capacity to govern Imo, Okorocha fires Ihedioha

    Imo State governor,  Rochas Okorocha, on Sunday said that the governor-elect, Chief Emeka Ihedioha lacks the capacity to govern a “complex” state like Imo.

    The Imo governor who was reacting to the allegation by the governor-elect that the state government withdrew N17 billion shortly after the governorship election,  stated that he (Ihedioha) has never had any corporate experience apart from being a professional politician.

    He described the allegation as frivolous and cheap blackmail.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo in a statement,  stated that,  “Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who was announced the winner of the governorship election in the State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been making careless media statements and unfounded allegations, including the N17billion he said the government had withdrawn and the threat to recover what he called “Imo Property” from the governor.

    “He had earlier given directives to Financial Institutions in the State against further transactions with the State government. Chief Ihedioha does not have the mental or intellectual Capacity to govern a highly endowed State like Imo. The guy is just smart politically. And Political Smartness is different from having the Capacity for Leadership or governance”.

    Read Also: Okorocha to Ihedioha: Get sworn in before issuing directives

    It continued that, “he can not measure up with Governor Rochas Okorocha’s amazing achievements in the State. And he is only laying the foundation for excuses to Imo people why he will fail as their governor.

    “He was contentiously declared winner on Tuesday. And on Thursday he came up with the allegation of the government withdrawing N17billion. He never mentioned how the withdrawal was made whether it was withdrawn cash or through transfer. And where in Imo State, with meager Federal allocation and IGR can one see N17billion to withdraw? Like we said earlier, he is not an intelligent guy. He can’t cope with the challenges of governance”

    It added that, “He (Ihedioha) is coming to be governor with the only income he made at the National Assembly because prior to his going to the National Assembly he never did any paid job and he is trying now to blackmail a man adjudged to be the highest property owner both in Owerri and in Abuja several years before coming for governor.

    “He has not said anything about free education, Urban Renewal and several other sensitive people-oriented programmes and policies of the Rescue Mission Government in the State. He is only talking about money and property. It is going to be interesting. A man who failed as a member of the House of Representatives won’t do magic as a governor.

    “He should also know that with what Governor Okorocha has achieved, Imo people won’t entertain any excuse from him. If he likes let him talk about Rochas Okorocha from now till when he will leave as governor. The die is cast. Action speaks louder than words. Blackmail or propaganda which the PDP invested heavily in during the 12years they governed the State have become old-fashioned in the State at the moment.

    “Nigerans in general and Imo people in particular should ignore him whenever he comes up with such gimmicks. After May 29, 2019 he has every right to probe even the food Rochas Okorocha and the family ate in Government House from 2011 to 2015. Ihedioha won’t make a good governance”.

     

     

     

  • Kanayo celebrates Ihedioha’s victory

    NOLLYWOOD actor Kanayo O Kanayo has joined other people of Imo State to celebrate the victory of the Imo state governor-elect, Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.

    Kanayo was captured in a short video jubilating with the governor-elect among other friends and well-wishers.

    Ihedioha who contested on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hails from Mbutu in Aboh Mbaise emerged the winner in the just concluded governorship election held in Imo State and other states across the country.

  • Imo: APGA faults Ihedioha’s declaration

    …Demands cancellation of poll

    The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has rejected the results of the governorship election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha was declared governor-elect by the Returning Officer, Prof. Francis Otunta.

    But APGA in a statement signed by its state secretary, Eberendu Alphonsus, said that the PDP candidate failed to meet the constitutional requirements of 25% of total votes cast in 2/3 of the 27 Local Government Areas in the State.

    READ ALSO: We will deploy 20,000 ad-hoc personnel in Imo for 2019 election- REC

    The party therefore called for the total cancellation of the election, stating that “it is absolutely unconstitutional to declare a candidate that did not meet with the Constitutional requirement as winner”.

    It also accused of complicity in the irregularities that marred the election, especially by accepting the results from the three Local Government Areas of Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ezinihitte, which the party noted were heavily manipulated.

    According to the statement, “many INEC officials were compromised and made themselves available for manipulation and doctoring of genuine results in favour of the PDP. The open complicity of INEC officials in the electoral fraud that marred the election, even made the State Returning Officer order the arrest of some of these officials.

    “We state without equivocation that this election failed to meet with all known standards in civilised democracy. The substantial noncompliance with the Electoral Act by INEC in the conduct of this election makes it imperative that it should be cancelled. This is the only way to ensure peace and justice in the State”.

  • Nwosu vows to reclaim mandate in Imo

    The Imo State governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu, has said the declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, as the governor-elect, did not meet constitutional requirements and therefore unacceptable.

    He vowed to challenge the results in court, saying the declaration violated provisions of the Constitution.

    According to him, INEC did not comply with the guidelines when it announced Ihedioha winner of the election. He reiterated that Ihedioha didn’t meet the constitutional requirement of 25 per cent spread in at least two-third of the number of local government areas where the election held.

    He said: “The law is clear on the requirements for declaring somebody winner in an election. The law requires that to be declared a winner, you must have the mandatory spread of 25 per cent win in at least two-thirds majority. In this case, two-thirds of the 27 local government areas of the state is 18, and Ihedioha had 25 per cent spread in only 12 council whereas I have in 15. So it’s clear that INEC has compromised.”

    Nwosu added that INEC disregarded its guidelines by recognising the non-use of Card Readers in Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu and Ezinihitte councils, the stronghold of Ihedioha.

    “It is a clear INEC guideline that where a card reader was not used, and accreditation done manually, such results should not be recognised. But in this case INEC violated its own guideline by accepting the results from the three councils,” he added.

    Nwosu hoped to get victory at the court.

  • Ihedioha declared Imo governor-elect

    Former Deputy Speaker and governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha has been declared the winner of the keenly contested Imo State governorship election by the State Returning Officer,  Prof. Francis Otunta.

    Ihedioha polled a total number of 273404 to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu.

    The candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and All Progressives Congress (APC), Ifeanyi Araraume and Hope Uzodinma scored 114676 and 96458 votes respectively.

  • Imo: Nwosu, Uzodinma, others sign peace pact

    …as Police, Army read riot act to politicians

     

    Security agencies in Imo State on Wednesday warned politicians ahead of the general elections to desist from acts that are capable of jeopardizing public peace and security in the State.

    The warning was coming at the heels of a peace Parley organised for politicians by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

    The Security Chiefs warned that any politician caught inciting violence in the state during and after the elections will be severely dealt with in accordance with the law.

    Meanwhile the governorship candidates of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu, All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Hope Uzodinma, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha, Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Ikenna Emmanuel, Young Progressive Party (YPP), Linus Okorie and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Araraume, among others signed agreement to be of peaceful conduct during the election.

    Addressing the candidates shortly before the signing of the Agreement which was witnessed by Security Chiefs, Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), religious leaders and journalists, the State Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, urged the politicians to play by the rules and jettison all forms of violence.

    According to him, the State has witnessed relative peace when compared to other states in the Federation, as a result of the “cooperation and support of the people of the state”.

    He said, “you will agree with me that this hard-earned peace and tranquillity we enjoy and experience in Imo State should be guarded jealously, thus, we have no other option than to ensure this endures before, during and after the elections”.

    In his brief speech, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Pro. Francis Ezeonu, assured that INEC is prepared to conduct credible election that will meet the aspirations of all the parties

    He restated his commitment to provide level playing ground for all the political parties participating in the election, while pleading with the candidates to abide by rules and regulations guiding the election.

    Meanwhile, fake soldiers escorting and unnamed politician were paraded at the event, which held at the State Police Headquarters.

    Read Also: Buhari, Atiku, others sign second 2019 National Peace Accord

    Parading the suspects, who were fully dressed in Military fatigue, during a Peace Parley for candidates, the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General H. I Bature, disclosed that fake soldiers have infiltrated the state to cause chaos during the general elections.

    He stated that desperate politicians have equipped hoodlums with Army Uniforms and weapons to perpetrate violence in the state, warning that all those involved in the ignoble act will be fished out and dealt with.

    According to him, “two of these fake soldiers were arrested escorting a politician. You will marvel at the kind of ammunition that was in their possession. But no matter how much they disguise, we have a way of finding out the fake soldiers.

  • PDP chieftains hail Ayade’s industrialisation drive

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus and former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, have hailed Governor Ben Ayade’s industrialisation drive.

    Secondus and Ihedioha, who were in Calabar to receive the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) defectors to PDP, spoke after inspecting projects at the Ayade Industrial Park and the 21-megawatt power plant in Calabar.  Similarly, former Governor Liyel Imoke, and ex-Special Adviser on National Assembly (Senate) Matters to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, extolled the vision of Ayade in industrialising the state.

    Speaking on the projects, Secondus said: “I think it is a major landmark achievement not only for Cross River but for the nation because, if all the states adopt this strategy, we can see Nigeria moving towards industrialisation.”

    He noted that “it is not an easy task but you can see that Ayade has started well, laying good foundation and, in a couple of years, people will begin to see this as a destination for both tourism and industrialisation.”

    Listing the rice seedlings and seeds multiplication factory, chicken factory, garment factory, pharmaceutical company as well as the instant nodules factory and power plant, the PDP national chairman said: “All of these put together in this industrial estate will turnaround the economy of the state and, most importantly, because this is the era that  youths are unemployed, this is going to provide employment to our people.

    “We are not only proud, we are excited and happy that he is one of us. I also believe that other states should imitate the PDP states as they are doing well and I know that Emeka is waiting on the line to take this to Imo State.”

    Ihedioha hailed “the steps recorded by Cross River and I am happy that Governor Ben Ayade is keeping faith with the economic initiative.”

    He maintained that industrialisation was fundamental as it facilitates job creation, which is crucial to the people.”

    “I am happy that Ayade is taking a direction that the national should be angling towards; truly I am impressed.”

    Senator Imoke remarked that “you know what we represent in Cross River, what our party represents in Cross River and what our governor represents in Cross River. Today we have seen the continuous growth and development taking place here and the national chairman has come in person to also see same.”

  • Ihedioha kicks against recognising Sheriff as PDP Chairman

    Ihedioha kicks against recognising Sheriff as PDP Chairman

    Former Deputy Speaker of the  House of Representatives, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, has kicked against recognising Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

    National Chairman.

    Ihedioha told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Monday that Sheriff by his conduct had failed to show an attitude worthy of uniting and strengthening the party.

    According to him, the conduct, actions, language and temperament displayed by Sherriff has succeeded in planting disunity amongst members.

    “His utterances after the Appeal Court judgment in Port Harcourt created division in the party rather than unit members, this showed that he is not interested in the progress of our party.

    “Sheriff has nothing to show as his contribution toward the growth of our party, both in his state and at the national level.

    “It will interest you to know that Sheriff has never participated in any state or national convention of the PDP.

    “He was only a contractor that was brought into the party to play a leadership role in our trying times and I think that the brief period of three months assigned to him by the party has long expired,” Ihedioha said.

    He said that the party would appeal the court ruling that recognised Sheriff as its national chairman.

    He also assured party members that there were enough evidences at the party’s disposal with which it would claim victory at the apex court.

    Ihedioha, therefore, urged party faithful to continue to support the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi’s PDP which was duly adopted by well meaning party faithful.

    “I believe that the judiciary as an unbiased umpire will deliver fair judgment at the apex court and I know that the judgment will vindicate us by granting Markafi’s victory,” he said. NAN

  • Wike charges PDP members on sacrificial lifestyle

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that anyone who  loves the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will make sacrifices for the  sustenance of the party after the loss it suffered during  the  2015 general elections.
    The governor  stressed that only party members with hidden agenda would work towards creating disquiet  in the party as the committed members struggle  to  re-position it.
    Addressing the National Convention Planning Committee meeting  of the party at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday night, Governor Wike said majority of the so-called  founding members  holding press conferences  could not travel to their constituencies  to campaign  for  the PDP, despite being adequately mobilised as recent events have shown.
    The meeting had in attendance  Ebonyi  State Governor,  David Umahi, Former Ebonyi State Governor, Senator Sam Egwu, Former Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Former Speaker of the House of  Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, Former Rivers State Governor, Celestine Omehia and Former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih amongst other PDP leaders from the six geo-political zones. Also in attendance were members of National Assembly.
    He said: “Anybody who loves this party, knows that this is the time to make sacrifices. We are rebuilding this party and we need to work together in unity to succeed.
    “It is important  that we work as a team as that is the only way for us to achieve set goals. Only those with hidden agenda, will work against the party.
    “For us in this geo-political  zone, we have no other political  party to run to, otherwise we will considered a conquered  people.  That is why we work hard to ensure that  the  party is sustained.”
    Speaking further, Governor Wike said: “When you give conditions to the party, it means you have something  on your mind. These are people who could not go home to campaign for the party during  the  last elections. They remained in Abuja. Now, they are issuing threats.
    The  governor urged members  of  the  party to remain focused and work towards a successful and hitch-free convention.
    The National Convention Planning Committee will meet again  on Sunday to conclude plans for the  event.