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  • Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa elections: IGP, CDS read riot act to troublemakers

    Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa elections: IGP, CDS read riot act to troublemakers

    The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Chris Musa on Friday, October 27, warned those poised to torment trouble due to the forthcoming governorship elections on Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states to start clear of the states as they will be met with the full weight of the law.

    The two security chiefs spoke just as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said President Bola Tinubu has ordered that everything possible should be done to ensure that the elections in the three states are free, fair, and credible, without any form of interference.

    While Egbetokun said police and other security agencies are monitoring activities of those planning to torment trouble in the three states, Gen Musa said a general court-martial has been placed on standby for security personnel who may compromise their position during the elections.

    Addressing newsmen after a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) compromising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security chief, Egnetokun said the police were aware that supporters of some candidates in the election were already mobilising to torment trouble during the elections.

    At the meeting, the INEC Chairman expressed concern about the violent activities of party supporters in the three states.

    The IGP said: “We have just concluded the ICCES meeting with INEC. This election is an off-season election and we are committed to making it a free and fair election. The security agencies are ready for this election. We have received all the necessary information from INEC which has informed us where to deploy during this election.

    “We have carried out our threat assessment and that has informed us where to allocate our resources and the deployment of our men. All the security agencies are collaborating seriously to ensure that this election is violence-free.

    “My appeal to people who want to come out and make trouble during this election is for them to stay away from the election because there will be no place for them to operate.

    “We are aware of mobilisation by supporters of some candidates. We are already monitoring them and we are ready for them during this election. I appeal to those who just want to come out and disrupt this election to stay away.

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    “I appeal to the electorates to come out en masse to cast their vote during this election. We are committed to a peaceful election and there is no going back on that.”

    On deployment by the police for the election, the Police boss said “We have our figures and we are not going to make it public. We have given that detail of deployment at the meeting, but it is not for the media.”

    Asked which of the states appear. More. Challenging, he said: “All the states have challenges and we are taking care of the challenges”

    He assured that accredited Journalists will be protected and given everything they deserve during the election and so, you have nothing to fear.

    Speaking on why the police! Is holding its annual retreat in Owerri, Imo state, Egbetokun said: “The conference and retreat we are having in Owerri is an annual event and our choice of Owerri is deliberate because of this election.

    “We want to send a message to the people of Imo state that the state is safe for them and encourage the voters to come out in large numbers. We are deploying massively to Imo state to ensure that the election is free and fair.

    “The presence of security agents is not to scare the people, but those involved in crime. When we deploy for this election, our intention is to give confidence to the electorates and not to scare them”.

    Also speaking, the Chief of Defence Staff said other security agencies will fully be on the ground to assist the Police in delivering a credible election, saying, “We are here fully to show collaboration, cooperation and support for the Police who are the lead agency in election security.

    “The armed forces are going to provide full comprehensive support to ensure that the police is able to do its job without any interference.

    “We want to show the people in those three states that there is no need to entertain any fear as the armed forces, the police, and other security agents will be fully on the ground.

    “All Nigerians are tired of election violence and we intend to do things differently so that at the end of the day, every Nigerian will be proud to be a Nigeria and come to the realisation that election is now free and fair and everybody that wins an election should be proud that he won a free and fair election.

    “We have fully deployed and are on the ground both covertly and overtly. Anybody who attempts to disrupt any of the elections will have himself to blame”.

    General Musa warned security agents involved in the elections not to compromise their position, but abide by the code of conduct given to them

    He said: “The security men know the code of conduct and what they are supposed to do and we have explained to them.

    “We have sent warnings and have court-martial on standby and any member of the armed forces who misbehave will have himself to blame. The court-martial is operational already and we want to ensure that we act professionally in everything that we do”.

    On his part, the National Security Adviser who is the co-chairman of ICCES, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu assured that the election will be conducted without any form of interference as directed by the President.

    Ribadu said: “We are prepared and will be with you 100 percent and will work to meet the standard that you want us to meet. There is nothing as important as a free and fair election in a democracy.

    “This government is interested in that and Mr President has directed that he wants to see a free, fair and credible election. This is the first election that is going to be held under his watch.

    “He said everything possible should be done to ensure that Nigerians witness a free and fair election. I want to assure Nigerians that this election will be better than the previous ones. This election is going to be without violence and a litmus test for us.”

    Speaking earlier, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said about elections will. Be conducted in about 10,510 polling units across the three states with about 5.1 million registered voters who have collected their PVC eligible to vote.

    He said further that eligible voters in the three states will vote in all the 10,510 polling units, with the exception of 2 polling units in Bayelsa State and 38 in Imo State without registered voters.

    While saying that the list of these polling units is available on the commission’s website, he disclosed that election results will be collated in 649 Registration Areas/Wards, 56 Local Government Areas and three State collation centres.

    He said: “This gives us a cumulative figure of 11,178 voting and collation locations to deploy security personnel in the three States. This is in addition to ensuring a secure environment for the ongoing campaigns and rallies by political parties and candidates, security of voters, the escort of personnel and materials, protection of assets, and general security for all persons with a legitimate reason to participate in the election and electoral activities.”

    He stressed that “the three States of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi are not the easiest States in Nigeria to conduct elections. The difficult geographical terrain and prevailing insecurity are compounded by negative mobilisation by political actors, especially since the commencement of the campaign in public on 14th July 2023.

    “Our message to politicians is that they should call their candidates and supporters to order. Violence and other undemocratic activities such as vote buying, attacks on election officials, and disruption of the electoral process must stop.

    “However, the ultimate responsibility for election security lies with the security agencies. Our message to the security agencies is to take decisive action against perpetrators of electoral violence.

    “This is the surest way to guarantee a safe environment for the peaceful conduct of elections and electoral activities. In doing so, security personnel on electoral duty should remain neutral and committed to the established professional code of conduct and rules of engagement.”

  • APC, PDP trade accusations over Imo poll

    APC, PDP trade accusations over Imo poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) support group–Imo Progressives Movement (IPM)– and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sam-Jones Governorship Campaign Organization are on each other’s throat.

    While the APC supporters claimed they have made a shocking discovery of how the opposition party was planning to import 2,000 militants from Rivers and Edo States into Imo State ahead of the November 11 governorship election, the PDP supporters alleged that the result of the election may have been “written, kept secret and awaiting to be smuggled into INEC BVAS and IREV by election riggers.”

    Briefing reporters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the APC IPM Director-General,  Comrade Jeff Nwoha accused the agents of the PDP of allegedly sealing a deal with two warlords in Rivers and Edo states to invade Imo State on November 11 with over 2000 armed militants with the intention to stop the governorship election from holding.

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    He said:  ”About two months ago, our ever-vigilant election surveillance has intercepted credible intelligence about some secret meetings being held by certain PDP chieftains in Abuja, Owerri and Lagos, which sole agenda was to figure out ways to stop the November 11, 2023 Governorship Election in Imo and cause an unconstitutional change of government in the State.

    “The agents of PDP have also sealed a deal with two warlords in Rivers and Edo states to import 2,000 militants on the day of election.”

    On their part, Imo PDP (Sam-Jones) Governorship Campaign Organization, alleged that it has intercepted credible information of plan by the APC government in the state to manipulate the election.

  • Supreme Court judgment: Remain calm, Imo Govt urges electorate

    Supreme Court judgment: Remain calm, Imo Govt urges electorate

    • Governor promises party leaders to deliver

    The Imo State Government has urged the people of the state to remain calm over a purported attempt by the opposition to seek an enforcement from the Supreme Court on its judgment of 2020 concerning the double nomination of Uche Nwosu for the 2019 gubernatorial election.

    It described the latest suit by the opposition as a distraction and mere academic exercise, adding that the apex court had rested all issues pertaining to the election when it affirmed Senator Uzodimma as the validly elected governor of the state.

    Commissioner for Information and StrategyDeclan Emelumba declared in a statement in Owerri, Imo State, that since it was obvious to the opposition parties that they were losing the upcoming governorship election to Uzodimma, they have contrived the suit to cause confusion and distract the electorate.

    He described the latest effort as an exercise in futility because the so-called ruling on Nwosu was on nomination and not as the candidate of the APC in the said election. 

    The statement reads: They have forgotten that Uche Nwosu later went to the Federal High Court to challenge the candidature of Senator Hope Uzodimma, and he lost. That judgment was never appealed.

    At another event, the governor expressed delight over the cordial relationship existing between the leaders of the autonomous communities in Owerri, saying their desire to come together in the interest of their area will make his work easy for him.

    He also assured them that he will not disappoint their expectations as far as implementation of the Charter of Equity is concerned.

    Read Also: Supreme Court: You are under another delusion, APC tells PDP, Atiku

    “I will enforce it. I won’t disappoint your expectations,” the governor said.

    He spoke on Sunday when he met with leaders from Owerri Municipal, Owerri North, Ikeduru and Mbaitoli local government areas of the State at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Council Chamber and at Agbala respectively.

    The leaders from Owerri North, Ikeduru and Mbaitoli were led to the meeting, among others by APC chieftains – Chief Charles Amadi, Chief Henry Amadi and Dr. Macdonald Ebere – who brought some of their leaders, hitherto core opponents of the APC, to plead loyalty to Governor Hope Uzodimma.

  • Guber: Imo voters only interested in candidates’ capacity to lead – Durugo

    Guber: Imo voters only interested in candidates’ capacity to lead – Durugo

    Sir Samuel Onyebuchi Durugo is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Umuokwu Izombe in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. He spoke with newsmen in Enugu, the Enugu State capital on why he is supporting Governor Hope Uzodimma’s reelection bid in the November 11 Governorship Election in Imo State. He also insists that Imo people are only interested in the capacities of candidates standing for the election and not where the person is coming from.  DAMIAN DURUIHEOMA was there. Excerpts:

    WE understand you are one of the key supporters of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and his running mate Lady Chinyere Ekomaru in the November 11, 2023 governorship election, what is the reason for your involvement in this project?

    I have numerous reasons for supporting the second-term bid of Senator Hope Uzodimma and Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State. Firstly, if you are a resident of Imo State or a visitor who is familiar with Owerri and other communities that constitute the 27 Local Government Areas of the state, you will attest to the fact that Imo has witnessed a paradigm shift in terms of good governance since the governor took over as governor.

    The old order of maladministration which was the situation before the ascendance of Uzodimma has suddenly disappeared. The governor began with the social cum administrative re-engineering of the civil service to the provision of durable infrastructure and transparency in the management of state affairs. I must add that the state government under Uzodimma has done quite a lot in human capacity building in addition to tackling security problems in the state in the past three and half years.

    Secondly, the choice of Lady Chinyere Ekomaru as his deputy in the forthcoming election in the state for me is a masterstroke because that shows that our governor is gender sensitive. Lady Ekomaru is not just a woman, but a thoroughbred mother and morally equipped teacher and leader.

    I have to say that the combination of all these factors is the reason why Gov. Uzodimma is the candidate to beat in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election in Imo State and many people in the state are rooting for him to come back for another four-year term.

    You mentioned gender balancing as one of the key factors that endeared you to Uzodinma’s second-term project, what do you think Imo women will benefit if the duo succeeds?

    With Lady Ekomaru as the next deputy governor, the average Imo woman will have her voice heard. I must say that in any home you visited and there is no woman, that home is incomplete and that I presumed our governor must have sensed his choice of Lady Chinyere Ekomaru at this material time. This woman is the epitome of womanhood and one with the intellectual and moral capacity needed at this crucial period to steer the ship of Imo State to safe harbour. I must add that having known Lady Chinyere Ekomaru before now, and her husband and children, I will say that Imo people are blessed that a mother per excellence is coming to be in government to assist our governor in the management of their activities. As I had said before, this is the best time to bring a mother on board the state team, and with her, we can get our mothers back on track and once that is achieved, we will get our youths and children back on track as well.

    The current problem plaguing the Nigerian society, Imo State inclusive is the rot in many homes which translates to the rising antisocial and crime wave, with Ekomaru as deputy what do you think she can do differently?

    Like I said before, the best model of leadership is one by example. If you know the background of Lady Ekomaru, you will agree with me that she is a disciplinarian and a digitally compliant teacher who understands the direction of the millennium children and has what it takes intellectually to proffer workable solutions in handling family affairs, especially children. She can assist Governor Uzodimma in taking Imo children on the path of morality and digital activities in things in the global economy.

    What do we expect from the second term Uzodimma and Ekomaru considering the rate of antisocial behaviours among our youths?

    Some people who knew her as a lecturer at Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, will agree with me that she already understands how to decipher the psychomotor and cognitive domain of our children and youths as an educationist and this I believe will be one of her schedules of duties to her.

    As a young man and an entrepreneur, I must say that our youths have gone astray and require multidimensional approaches to return them on the path of moral rectitude and that I believe would be achieved under the second term of Gov. Uzodimma with Lady Ekomaru on board. Needless to mention the so much involvement of our young boys into ‘yahoo, yahoo’ and all manners of fast lifestyles, all these are things of concern that must be addressed.

    Already the state is promoting skill acquisition training under the Skill Up Imo initiative and has empowered 20, 000 youths with laptop computers so far. Also, another 40, 000 are undergoing training and will be empowered with laptops before the end December this year.

    We understand that you held a one million march in support of Uzodimma/Ekomaru Guber Project on Saturday October 7, 2023, why that?

    The one million march was organised under Governor Uzodimma/Lady Ekomaru Integrity Movement. I’m the leader and facilitator. The programme was a huge success because we even surpassed our expectations and people who witnessed the event can attest that it was the mother of political gatherings in Imo in recent times.

    And what prompted me to embark on this project was saying that one good turn deserves another. In Nigeria, today Imo State inclusive, citizens are faced with serious problems of insecurity and unemployment.

    But our governor has done so much to checkmate the activities of criminals and insurgents in the state. This problem of insecurity you know was inherited from the last administration, but the present administration has deployed a lot of resources in making the state safe for socio-economic and political activities to thrive.

    Owerri, the state capital has bounced back to its social life. Night life is gradually returning as we used to have it before.

    The governor has constructed a lot of roads making vehicular movements from Orlu to Owerri, Umuahia to Owerri and Okigwe and Isiala Mbano to Owerri now seamless. This is not to gloss over the urban roads in Owerri and the construction of many other roads in various communities in the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.

    In the last administration, the order of the day was chain roads and acid rain in the state, but that era has gone for good due to the coming of Uzodimma. A lot has been done to train the youths and equip them in the area of ICT and digital economic activities.

    Beyond roads, what else do you feel the Uzodimma administration has achieved since he became governor?

    Go to Umuokanne in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, a standard hospital project has been completed and equipped. Also in Oguta, and Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area, we all have well-built and equipped hospitals all done by Governor Uzodimma.

    Again, the civil servants in the state now have very rosy tales to tell rather than the situation they were in during the previous administration. There is no civil servant in the state being owed salary and that is the reason why the students, civil servants, and the business community in the state are delighted to have His Excellence Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma return to complete another four-year term.

    I must tell you at this juncture that all achievements recorded by our governor in the past three and half years were things that endeared me to invest my personal resources to support his second term bid through mobilizing people at the grassroots, as well as funding other activities to ensure he wins landslide.

    The concern before now is that people from Owerri and Okigwe Senatorial Districts have been complaining of being marginalized in terms of the governorship position by the Orlu Senatorial District where Governor Uzodimma comes from. What is your take on this?

    The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria settles this situation in that everyone is covered by law to exercise his fundamental rights of association with political association inclusive. And it is on this baseline, that democracy thrives. I would have decided to fly the flag of any political party in this coming governorship election and so long as people voted for me, no one can pull the carpet off my feet on the basis of where I come from.

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    And so, it is for this reason that the various political parties are fielding candidates in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election in the state.

    But I must say at this juncture that Imo people should serve as a model to other states of Nigeria in terms of the politics of governorship. Yes, Orlu zone had produced former Governors Achike Udenwa, Rochas Okorocha and now Governor Hope Uzodimma as against former Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Emeka Ihedioha who functioned briefly before he was ousted. What is very remarkable, for these governors from the Orlu zone is their transparent and fair management of state resources and positions, and this style of administration should be copied by other states to reduce tension in our polity. What Imo people are interested in is the capacity of a candidate standing for the governorship position and not where the person is coming from.

    A retrospect of what the Imo people have done during governorship elections since the return of democracy in 1999 is to scale up candidates jostling for the governorship election and at the end, they would vote for the best among the candidates. I must observe that this should be emulated by other states so long as they will equally adopt the equitable sharing formula of resources of these past governors.

    As a businessman, what do you feel the Uzodimma should do for a better business climate in the state?

    Currently, the governor introduced the 3R policy in his first tenure. Under this policy, a lot of programmes aimed at promoting business activities are on board. The provision of quality infrastructures and security are very important roadmaps for building the confidence of investors and all these are vigorously being pursued by the governor.

    As you know this is a campaign period, it is not every plan the All Progressives Congress government of Governor Uzodimma is to be unveiled because the opposition might start copying them and making noise all over the place, but as one privileged to be part of the fold, I must reveal that Imo is in safe hand under Uzodimma in the next four years.

    What advice do you have for Imo people ahead of the November 11 governorship election in the state?

    My advice is to appeal to Imo people to consider the good works of Governor Hope Uzodimma and massively vote him in for the second term in office. I advised them not to allow fair-weather politicians to deceive them by promising them things that are not possible to achieve all in a bid to fraudulently get their votes.

    Again, a vote for Governor Uzodimma and Lady Ekomaru is the consolidation of Imo State at the central government equally controlled by APC under Senator Bola Tinubu. And our people should not lose grip of this political opportunity by allowing lions in sheep’s clothing to trick them off the road.

  • Imo election: Why Uzodimma will win, by group

    Imo election: Why Uzodimma will win, by group

    A group, Professionals Movement for Hope, has said that the people of Imo state would vote for Governor Hope Uzodimma on Saturday, November 11.

    The group’s convener, Obinna Obiozor, an engineer, in a statement, said the unprecedented achievements of the Uzodimma administration anchored on his shared prosperity agenda have endeared the governor to the people.

    He said no amount of propaganda by the opposition parties can change the profound love the Imolites have for him.

    Obiozor said the votes given to the All Progressives Congress at the last House of Assembly election by the people of Imo were a resounding vote of confidence in the achievements of his government in the last three years.

    Read Also: Why people will vote for me, by Uzodimma

    He added that Uzodimma’s government initiated and successfully executed infrastructure development projects, such as road construction and other essential facilities, stimulating economic growth and creating jobs, which have led to improvements in the daily lives of the people.

    Obiozor said: “Our people know the leaders that love them; they know that Uzodimma has served them meritoriously in the last three years, and we are happy that our people are also very appreciative of what his government has done, just as they demonstrated during the last election. Those who still think Uzodimma isn’t overwhelmingly popular are amnesiacs because we wonder why they quickly forgot how our people in Imo gave the APC a landslide victory in an election conducted a few months ago.

    “This government infrastructural development, particularly its road revolution, has been the key factor that has set the administration apart and won the hearts of the Imo people. The massive electoral support they gave the APC in March is a clear indication that the people of Imo have wholeheartedly embraced Uzodimma’s efforts. The overwhelming and unprecedented support is a vote of confidence in his government’s achievements over the last three years, which is both fulfilling and a call for them to redouble their efforts towards more projects and greater dedication to duty.

    He added: “As professionals canvassing for good governance that is capable of engendering prosperity for all, we are happy to know that Uzodimma operates a government that is open and transparent; he engages and connects with the people regularly by rendering reports of his stewardship to his people.”

    The group also chided the national leadership of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party for insinuating that the PDP could upstage the APC in Imo, describing the party as contesting the election ‘only for relevance’ as the APC remains the only formidable party in the state.

    “It is obvious the PDP is suffering from delusional grandeur; how a drowning party like that thinks our people are with them beats our imagination.”

  • My plan for Imo, by YPP candidate Opara

    My plan for Imo, by YPP candidate Opara

    The governorship candidate of Young Progressives Party, (YPP) in Imo State, Dr. Kemdi Opara, has promised to offer a responsible and responsive leadership if elected.

    Dr. Opara, who made  this known  during a rally in Owerr, said he has come to offer visionary leadership as well as responsive governance to Imolites.

    He, however, insisted that a change of leadership in the state is the way forward to liberate Imo people from under-development, insecurity, and unemployment.

    “A change of leadership in the state with a credible, responsible and responsive is what the people need to liberate themselves from economic stagnation.”

    He promised to appoint 75 per cent capable youths and women in his cabinet who will offer meaningful development to the state.

    Read Also; Edun: 84m living in poverty not acceptable to Tinubu

    The YPP governorship candidate pledged to build quality road network, provide basic social amenities, complete and equip the 27 abandoned general hospitals across the state built by the erstwhile Governor of the State, Senator Rochas Okorocha and as well establish a Mother and Child Care hospital in every local government area to ensure Imo women and their newborns have access to quality care at all times.

    He also opposed the continued marginalization and suppression of Owerri zone in power rotation in the three senstorial zones.

    “It is repugnant to fairness, equity and justice for any particular zone to keep producing governor to the detriment of others in the face of an existing 1991 Charter of Equity to rotate power amongst the three Zones.”

    Dr. Opara  urged the people of Owerri zone and Imolites in general to shun pecuniary gains of the moment to enable them objectively assess him as the candidate of the YPP as well as his brother candidates of the People’s Democratic Party, Action Democratic Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance who are from Owerri zone.

    He urged them to vote for the best candidate with leadership capacity, competence and integrity to bring about effective and productive governance for Imo State.

    He maintained his stand in solidarity with Owerri zone’s demand to produce the next Governor of the State in accordance with the 1991 Charter of Equity in the State.

  • Tension as gunmen abduct, slaughter Poly registrar in Imo community

    Tension as gunmen abduct, slaughter Poly registrar in Imo community

    Tension has enveloped Ezeala/Ezike autonomous community in Umuezeala, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State over the gruesome slaughter of a deputy registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Ebonyi State, Innocent Obi.

    Obi was said to have been killed by gunmen, operating under the guise of Biafra agitators.

    The deceased, popularly known by villagers as Onye Army, was said to have retired from the military before joining the services of the Federal Polytechnic Uwana.

    He was said to have also applied to be the next substantive registrar of the institution before his untimely death.

    According to village sources, he travelled home to his Umuoboama village for the burial of a relative, who was killed in the Northeast as a soldier when he was abducted and killed.

    It was further gathered no sooner had Obi retired to his family house in the village after the funeral last weekend when some hoodlums numbering over six had invaded his house around 10 pm.

    The assailants were said to have operated in military and police uniforms.

    “They broke through the main door and started using machetes and axes on him.

    “His cry for help attracted villagers to the scene, but the boys who were operating on three motorcycles, started shooting consistently into the air.

    Read Also: Imo: We’ll re-elect Uzodimma, say Okigwe women

    “The shooting forced everybody who had come out for his rescue back. And they abducted Dee Onye Army from that Friday night, leaving heavy blood stains in the house,” one of the villagers said.

    The source continued that the villagers the following day on Saturday summoned a search party for him. 

    “It was late Sunday afternoon that we got information about a decomposing corpse lying between Ehime Mbano and Ahiazu Mbaise. 

    “When our people visited the scene that Sunday, it was the dead body of our brother, Dee Onye Army that we met. 

    “They gruesomely butchered him beyond recognition.

    “Dee Onye Army was a man who ensured that any youth who wanted to go to school got admission. So many youths were given admissions in his school. He never lived like a rich man, always unassuming.

    “In fact, it was now that he started building his own personal house in the village and that building is just within decking stage before his death,” the villager said.

    The incident is said to have left the community and its neighbours in fear following the reoccurrence of similar killings and other related criminal activities in the area, particularly the killing of about five security operatives in the area.

    When contacted, the spokesman of the Imo State Police command, Henry Okoye, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident .

  • BREAKING: Shettima, APC governors storm Imo to flag off guber campaign rally

    BREAKING: Shettima, APC governors storm Imo to flag off guber campaign rally

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Imo State to flag off the mother of all rallies to herald the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship election campaign in the state.

    The gate of the Dan Anyiam stadium, the venue of the rally, was thrown open as early as 8 a.m. for thousands of APC supporters from the 27 local government areas carrying their different posters.

    Read Also: INEC announces 5.4m registered voters for Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa guber polls

    It was gathered that 14 governors have arrived also for the rally. 

    Details shortly…

  • Imo guber poll: Why electorate must collect PVCs, PDP, AA, others explain

    Imo guber poll: Why electorate must collect PVCs, PDP, AA, others explain

    Political parties on Wednesday, October 11, called on the residents of Imo state to go out and pick their uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) and use it to cause a change in the forthcoming Imo governorship election on November 11.

    The parties made the call while reacting to newsmen in Owerri, following the report by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that there were 134,000 uncollected PVCs in the state.

    The state publicity secretary of Action Alliance (AA), Salvator Amadi said: “The PVCs are uncollected because INEC which is supposed to be an impartial umpire has consistently demonstrated that it is an appendage of the ruling APC.

    “What is needed to encourage the voters to collect their PVCs is massive sensitization via the Media. What INEC is doing wrongly regarding PVC collection is extortion money from the people before releasing the cards on the excuse that they pay for fuel for generators in the absence of electricity.

    “Furthermore, INEC must stop taking Nigerians for fools in the sense that you cannot continue to give the impression that their votes do not count and still expect them to waste their time and resources to collect PVCs. Nigerians are wiser now.”

    Also, the state director of new media of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lancelot Obiaku, said: “The low number is not unconnected with the performance of the electoral umpire and the security agencies in the last general election. It is a protest against injustice and electoral malpractice backed by institutions that ordinarily should promote justice and fairness.

    “The people are angry over a situation where the PDP was getting landslide victories in various constituencies of the State, only for INEC and security agencies to collude with the APC to rig the elections. However, as a party, we are not worried as even if an average of ten persons come out to vote at all the polling units, seven will vote for PDP. We are only demanding that the security agencies and INEC be fair. We will win the governorship election. Imo people will not condone any form of injustice again.”

    Also speaking, the 2023 deputy director of media and publicity, of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Michael Anyanwu, said: “Certain factors could account for low PVC collection across the 27 local government areas of Imo State.

    “While some registered voters are complicit because they refuse to go for their PVCs, lack of trust in the electoral process has brought about political apathy thereby discouraging many from going to pick up their PVCs. INEC stepping up its game by ensuring that credible and transparent elections are conducted all over can help to address this challenge.

    “The collection of PVC is free but some corrupt officials of the Commission in some areas have been reported to seize the opportunity to extort those who come to collect their PVCs. If you are not yielding to the extortion, they deliberately frustrate you from getting your PVC.

    “Many who can’t pay or stand the frustration end up abandoning their PVCs. The Commission needs to have a dedicated feedback channel through which such incidents can be reported. And once such reports come, they should be taken seriously and punish any of their officials that is found culpable.”

    For the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the national vice chairman, southeast, Chilos Godsent noted: “Recently the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that 134,000 PVCs is still dumped at the various local government areas waiting for collection by the owners.

    “From the findings of the African Democratic Congress ADC Southeast zone, the electorates have not been able to show up to collect their PVCs because of lack of confidence that INEC will conduct a credible and transparent Election in the forthcoming Governorship Election scheduled for 11th November 2023.

    Read Also: INEC registers 5.4 million for Kogi, Imo,Bayelsa governorship polls

    “The ADC therefore charged INEC to immediately engage the electorates in a holistic multi stakeholders Town Hall meeting in the 27 Local Government Areas in the State in other to senitise the electorates on the Need for their active participation in elections.

    “Finally, the African Democratic Congress ADC hereby calls on imolites to go and collect their PVCs in other to deepen the Ballot Revolution that is ongoing in Nigeria.”

    Earlier, the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Sylvia Agu, said: ‘’Imolites have been urged to come for their PVCs at the respective INEC LGA offices, across the 27 LGA offices, INEC has also created some centres for PVCs collection for those Registration Areas with more than 1000 uncollected PVCs.”

  • Four die in auto crash in Imo

    Four die in auto crash in Imo

    Four persons have reportedly died after a truck collided with a fully loaded mini-bus along the Akabo axis of Okigwe road in Imo state.

    The truck driver was said to have escaped but the truck was set ablaze by an angry mob around 9 pm on Friday, October 6.

    An eyewitness said the mini-bus driver who was a woman as well as three passengers died on the spot while others sustained various degrees of injuries.

    A resident of the Akabo community said the woman driver who was trying to overtake the truck hit it from behind forcing the bus to skid into the bush.

    The eyewitness said: “The mini-bus was fully loaded and the woman driver, on trying to overtake the truck en route Owerri, the bus hit it from behind and tumbled into the bush.

    Read Also: Imo PDP candidate Anyanwu to step down for consensus candidate

    “Two other vehicles were also affected by the rolling of the bus but passengers in those vehicles did not sustain any injury.

    “Four persons including the woman driver died instantly and others sustained severe injuries. One had his head severed. It was later at night that an unidentified mob stormed the accident scene and set the truck on fire. It was terrible.”

    Eyewitnesses said the vehicles involved in the accident had been told by the police except the truck which was burnt to ashes.