The Nation Newspaper

Tag: LP

  • Adopting LP gas as cooking energy of choice

    Adopting LP gas as cooking energy of choice

    As countries of the world sustain the ambition to find cheaper, cleaner and yet efficient alternative sources of energy, Nigeria cannot remain an onlooker rather the country should spearhead this change in the African continent.

    While the western economies headed by the United States of America are ever determined to broke the enormous power wielded by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its member nations, Nigeria’s search for alternatives must begin from reducing to the barest minimum subsidies on existing petroleum products which the nation produces in abundance.

    One of this area where the country spends huge resources in subsidy is kerosene. In spite of conflicting figures on how much is spent annually as subsidy for kerosene, authentic figures from the Pipelines Products Marketing Company (PPMC) indicates that the country on average spends close to N345 billion on DPK (kerosene) annually.

    Unfortunately, Nigeria produces a massive 3 Million Metric Tonnes of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) per annum and there exists a government policy over the years to give equal and adequate attention in promoting local consumption of LPG which has not received as much attention as it should.

    With a huge gas reserve of 187tcf, the country has no excuse expending so much resource as subsidy for kerosene, rather government and its agencies should intensify effort at implementing existing policies concerning LPG and support this with the prerequisite awareness campaigns that will make this policy see the light of day and fully establish the country as a gas province.

    Ironically, because of the citizens’ die-hard attachment to the use of kerosene as a source of cooking energy, this globally acknowledged high production capacity in LPG has not translated into a cost saving product for the country.

    In fact, Nigeria still ranks the lowest among African countries on the per capita LPG consumption at a paltry 1.1kg in the continent.

    This poor utilization of LPG in the country is despite several intervention efforts that have been made by various segments of the society – public and private, to enhance the consumption of LP GAS in the country.

    Private Organizations like Gas To Health Initiatives, Oando PLC, TechnOil Ltd., and the Lagos State Government have through their sustained campaigns led to increase in consumption of LPG.

    This increase is still marginal as only last year did the country witness substantial increase by as much as 36.8% from an earlier 125,000MT to 171,000MT.

    It is encouraging to note that so far, consumption of cooking gas (LPG) in the country has exceeded 150,000 metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), more than doubling the demand five years ago.

    There is no doubt that this growth in consumption may have been a direct effect of the publicity efforts embarked by the various groups and stakeholders in the sector.

    However, the consumption has not matched the various projects that has been put in place to enhance the supply and distribution of the product like the rehabilitation of the PPMC Butanization plants strategically located across the country in Ibadan, Lagos, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Gombe, Makurdi and Gusau.

    Added to this, the rehabilitation of most of the abandoned LP Gas plants across the country has ensured that Nigeria presently can boast of over 250 functional LP GAS plants in the country.

    The result of these efforts is that in July this year, Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Company announced an increase in the quantity of LPG (cooking gas) it supplies to the Nigerian Market from 150,000 metric tonnes to 250,000 metric tonnes.

    As commendable as this new figure may be, it is still far from the Nigerian government’s aspiration of a per capita LPG demand of 3.7kg which is still miserly when compared to LPG consumption rate in other developing countries like Brazil and Indonesia which have successfully implemented Kerosene to LPG switching programmes in 56 million and 54 million homes, respectively.

    It is worthy of note the major barriers to achieving the desired LPG growth in Nigeria include poor infrastructure development like receiving jetty facilities, inadequate in-country shipping capacity, poor road conditions, inadequate storage and distribution facilities.

    Other factors that have hindered the switch range from the Kerosene subsidy which has made cost of LPG appear higher, high cost of cylinders and appliances, low income of larger number of the population, low public awareness of LPG as a suitable fuel for domestic cooking and its safety.

    And most critical of all the barriers is the lack of a sustainable focused Government policy and enabling framework on LPG development in the country.

    These barriers can be mitigated with a clear government policy with the objective of developing LPG utilization in Nigeria; corporate and government adoption of the kerosene to LPG programme as a means of reducing the huge subsidy on kerosene; a strategy of providing sufficient small cylinders and appliances for the rural and urban poor through a pilot scheme to increase LPG use in selected LGAs across the country.

    Other measures to bring LPG into the people’s homes and cooking places should include the provision of small skids for LPG storage and filling units attached to selected fuel stations or strategically safe locations.

    A deliberate and sustained LPG campaign outlining its benefits and safety practices, providing regulation to promote LPG business and ensure adherence to safe practice to ensure safe handling, outright removal of VAT on domestic LPG as well as Import Duties on Cylinders and its appliances, ensure sustainable supply and accessibility to all market segments, and expand the storage facilities as the consumption of LPG increases.

    It is worthy of note that if each of Nigeria’s Parliamentarian (109 senators, 360 Representatives) and 37 Governors would as a matter of social responsibility partake in the LPG development scheme by way of donating at least 1,000 (6kg or 3kg cylinders) to their constituency, on the average, Nigeria would have injected about 506,000 (6kg/3kg) cylinders into the market at once.

    And if a household consumes 12kg of LPG in a month, therefore a household will averagely consume 144 kg in one year. With the introduction of 506,000 (6kg/3kg) cylinders into the market this will automatically increase the number of cylinders currently in circulation by at least 25%.

    Although this figure appears marginal, but converting new users and contributing to LPG growth is key and this will have a spiral effect on the conversion of new users.

    Indeed, there are tremendous advantages that awaits the country, its citizens and businesses with increased usage of LPG in the domestic market.

    This will help reduce environmental hazard; create employment from new business opportunities; reduce respiratory health problems attributable to wood smoke and reduce poverty, among others.

    Government must rise to the occasion and galvanise the various agencies of the state to mount a campaign for this shift while partnering with the private sector towards creating a new attitude that will encourage the adoption of LPG thereby saving more revenue from the existing subsidy on kerosene.

    Ifeanyichukwu, a public analyst wrote from Lagos

     

  • APC: Bamidele unfit to govern Ekiti

    APC: Bamidele unfit to govern Ekiti

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said the member representing Ekiti Central Constituency 1 in the House of Representatives, Mr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, a.k.a. MOB, is unfit to rule the state.

    It described Bamidele’s defection to the Labour Party (LP) as a welcome development by the APC and Ekiti people.

    In a statement by its Publicity Director, Segun Dipe, APC said Bamidele is “puerile” and, as such, could not have realised his governorship ambition in the party.

    It said: “Just like Macbeth, Bamidele has premised his governorship ambition on some prophesy. He has been dishing out fables as facts without minding whose ox is gored and without recourse to the party that gave him the opportunity to rise to the level he finds himself, including the position he presently occupies in Abuja.

    “In various interviews, Bamidele claimed to have practically dragged Governor Kayode Fayemi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the defunct Action Congress (AC) and introduced him to APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2006. Such lies could only have come from someone who desires power at the devil’s cost.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu and Dr. Fayemi met and worked together in the early 1990s, when they were both involved in the pro-democracy struggle. Whenever the story of Nigeria’s political activism is told, Fayemi’s name is constantly mentioned and placed in the front burner as against Opeyemi’s claim to infantile activism. This is in the public domain.

    “Fayemi never joined PDP or any other party before joining the defunct AC. Apart from his role in the human rights and pro-democracy community, Fayemi brought the Department for International Development (DFID) to Ekiti during the administration of former Governor Niyi Adebayo (1999-2003). Opeyemi was at that time a commissioner in Lagos State for nine years and we cannot remember what positive development he brought to Ekiti.

    “Our party’s position is that while Bamidele is qualified to contest the governorship poll like anyone else and free to realise his dream on any platform of his choice as provided for by law, he is not the kind of candidate the APC wants to present to the good people of Ekiti.

    “He is incompetent to govern Ekiti State by our party’s parameters and that of the now discerning Ekiti people. Opeyemi has just completed two of his four-year assignment at the House of Representatives and is yet to give the party his report.

    “The incumbent, Fayemi, is our tested and trusted choice. He became our party’s governorship candidate through internal democracy and has raised the bar of governance beyond the feeble reach of the likes of Bamidele, whose only stock in trade is giving individuals peanuts. He thinks if Fayemi could do it, he too can do it, forgetting that trajectories differ. Opeyemi and his ilk should remember that God does not necessarily use the qualified, but would rather qualify those he uses.

    “Here is a person who cannot be trusted with any private matter. He is not a team player and prefers to be served than to serve. He has made himself available as a willing tool in the hands of the enemy. What name should we call such a person? Opeyemi is an epitome of deception and feudalism. He is good at giving peanuts to individuals, instead of committing his resources to lasting projects for the benefit of the majority.

    “This is no longer permissible in Ekiti. Our people abhor deception and autocracy and do not want to serve anyone. They want to be served by a well-meaning person, who understands their needs and would meet them selflessly.

    “Bamidele’s claim to fishing Fayemi out is a complete lie. He is not a man that can be saddled with an integrity search. If he had such an opportunity to single-handedly make someone a governor as he claimed, the person would have been himself. But this would have violated the political configuration of the state.

    “His Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA) has produced three governors in the past, with two from his home town, Iyin-Ekiti. Most importantly, change, just for the heck of it, cannot be sold to the people, who are still enjoying the dividends of democracy being served by our party through the Fayemi administration.”

  • Anambra supplementary election flops

    Anambra supplementary election flops

    •As apathy mars exercise

    •APGA’s Obiano in the lead

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday went ahead with the controversial supplementary governorship election in 16 local government areas of Anambra State but had to contend with mostly empty polling booths.

    It was not only the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) that boycotted the election as their candidates had warned, a majority of the voters also did.

    However, INEC procee-ded with the collation of the results last night at the close of voting.

    Chief Willie Obiano of APGA who had the entire electoral field to himself was at press time in the lead, according to the Returning Officer, Professor James Epoke, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar.

    Earlier in the day,the restriction of vehicular and human movement ordered by the law enforcement agencies during the election went largely ignored.

    People went about their business as they would on any other day. Markets, shops and stores were opened all day.

    Across Idemili North and South Local Government areas in particular, strongholds of the APC candidate, Dr. Chris Ngige, it was business as usual for the residents.

    Youths spent much of the time playing street football.

    Only a few people turned up to vote in the election with officials and agents of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), having the field to themselves especially in such areas Esther Obiakor Estate in Agu-Awka, Awka South Council Area and Agbaja 1 in Abatete, Idemili North Council Area.

    The state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Ken Emeakayi, acknowledged the poor turnout of voters and wondered why INEC allowed the APGA candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, to participate in the election despite the allegation that he registered more than once in violation of the Electoral Act.

    He told reporters that PDP has already gone to court to challenge that action.

    The Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikoiwak, who supervised Onitsha North and South during yesterday’s election, decried the low turnout of voters.

    But Emeka Iloduba, who was at Nkpor Uno Isingwu, told The Nation that the apathy was programmed by the Federal Government and INEC to make it easy for the APGA candidate.

    At Ugbenu in Awka North Council Area, accreditation of the voters had not started as at 9.10am as INEC materials had not arrived despite sharing the items Friday evening.

    The 16 local government areas where INEC had scheduled supplementary elections in some units were Aguata, Awka North, Awka South, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Anaocha, Ekwusigo, Idemili North, Idemili South.

    Others were Ihiala, Nnewi South, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Orumba North and Oyi.

    Anambra State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Edozie Aroh who was seen with policemen told The Nation that everything was going on well.

    Accreditation began at 8am in some of the centres, while voting started between 12 and 2.15pm.

    The election was originally scheduled for November 16 but ended up being characterised by massive disorganisation and fraud.

    The APC, PDP and LP candidates protested the conduct of the election and called for its cancellation.

    Although INEC admitted irregularities, it said they were not enough to cause the cancellation of the election.

    It said the best it could do was to conduct a supplementary election which took place yesterday.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) voters apathy trailed the supplementary election in some parts of Onitsha metropolis.

    A NAN correspondent who monitored the exercise in polling units in Ward 6 in Onitsha South Local Government Area and a polling unit in Ward 9 in Onitsha North, reported that INEC was fully prepared for the exercise.

    It was gathered that election materials and INEC personnel arrived at the various polling booths as early as 7 a.m. while sensitive electoral materials were also available.

    However, the electorate were not interested as most residents had decided to go to their daily businesses.

    There was a large number of security personnel at each polling booth, which, in some cases, out-numbered the voters who turned out.

    Mr. Chidi Okereke, a resident of Zik Avenue in Fegge, said that the materials, INEC main and ad hoc staff, as well as security agencies were in place as early as 7a.m.

    Okereke, who is a member of Fegge Community Police Public Relations Committee, said that the mass movement of residents out of Fegge hindered the conduct of the polls.

    “Although you cannot blame the people because having sacrificed some days for the election, they did not see reasons for the cancellation (postponement) of the result in the first place,” he said.

    “This is one of the areas in Anambra State where people turn-out en mass to vote during election but this today’s development is unlike this area,” Nwokabia, who is a Chief Orientation and Mobilisation Officer in NOA, said.

    He said that the number of security-men on ground was okay,.

    “Honestly, there is no amount of money spent on security that is ever a waste.”

    Prince Edward Okosi, Chairman of Onitsha North Caretaker Committee, told NAN at the polling booth 4 in Ward 9, that he believed that more people would see the need to turn out for the election.

    “The leaders of thought in the neighbourhood had gone ahead to create the awareness about the exercise among their people,” Okosi said.

    The restriction of movement was not effective in Idemili North Local Government area as residents operated their business activities.

    It was observed that most of the markets opened for business while vehicular movements were visible even with the presence of security personnel on the roads.

    An INEC official, Mr Edo Kelo, said there was poor turnout in the polling units, but he still expected more people before the close of accreditation at 12.00 p.m.

    At Nkpor Uno in Isingwu village, with 3 polling units of 983 registered voters, only 30 were accredited.

    Mr Emeka Ilodiuba, a voter, expressed dissatisfaction at the low turnout of voters, stressing that the withdrawal of some candidates might have caused the situation.

    Mrs Victoria Ibenegbu, another voter, expressed happiness about the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

    The polls are being conducted in 210 polling units in 16 out of 21 local government areas of the state.

    The 16 local government areas where INEC is conducting the supplementary election are Aguata, Awka North, Awka South, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Anaocha, Ekwusigo, Idemili North and Idemili South.

    Others are Ihiala, Nnewi South, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Orumba North and Oyi.

     

  • APC, PDP, LP to boycott poll

    APC, PDP, LP to boycott poll

    A massive moral and legal burden hangs over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today as it insists on proceeding with the controversial supplementary governorship election in Anambra State.

    Dr. Chris Ngige,the candidate of the All Progressive Party (APC), Mr.Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party (LP) and Comrade Tony Nwoye, Peoples Democratic party (PDP) have opted out of the supplementary poll.

    They are demanding outright cancellation of the November 16 election, which they said was characterised by fraud.

    The candidate of APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, has however endorsed the conduct of the election.

    Mr. Ubah has already gone to court to challenge the legality of the supplementary election.

    He says Supplementary election is not known to the 1999 Constitution.

    He has secured an order for accelerated hearing in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    His counsel, Mr.Olagoke Fakunle (SAN), in a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday drew the chairman’s attention to the “processes filed in that action” and for him to “respond to these processes not later than the 6th of December 2013.”

    He said: “You would have noticed that amongst the processes is a Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction restraining you from conducting any further election in Anambra State with regard to the office of the Governor of the State,until the court has had an opportunity to review the legality of your pre-election processes towards that election.

    “It was for the reason of the urgency and importance of this action that the Federal High Court ,on 28th November 2013, made an order to abridge the time within which you and other Defendants may file your responses to both the application for injunction and the originating summons.The court also granted accelerated hearing of the matter by adjourning the hearing to 9th December, 2013.”

    The court order and the pendency of both the motion and substantive suit, Fakunle said, “have activated the doctrine of lis pendens.”

    He added: “The doctrine of lis pendens precludes you from taking any steps in furtherance of your planned supplementary or other election in Anambra State with regard to the office of governor of the state until the Court has determined the application for injunction and the legality of your pre-election processes and the planned supplementary election itself.”

    He asked for the postponement of today’s supplementary election to “avoid a situation whereby you would have foistered a fait accompli on the court and the court in response will therefore be constrained to void everything you have done including the outcome of the proposed supplementary election.”

  • APC, PDP, LP to boycott poll

    APC, PDP, LP to boycott poll

    A massive moral and legal burden hangs over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today as it insists on proceeding with the controversial supplementary governorship election in Anambra State.

    Dr. Chris Ngige,the candidate of the All Progressive Party (APC), Mr.Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party (LP) and Comrade Tony Nwoye, Peoples Democratic party (PDP) have opted out of the supplementary poll.

    They are demanding outright cancellation of the November 16 election, which they said was characterised by fraud.

    The candidate of APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, has however endorsed the conduct of the election.

    Mr. Ubah has already gone to court to challenge the legality of the supplementary election.

    He says Supplementary election is not known to the 1999 Constitution.

    He has secured an order for accelerated hearing in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    His counsel, Mr.Olagoke Fakunle (SAN), in a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday drew the chairman’s attention to the “processes filed in that action” and for him to “respond to these processes not later than the 6th of December 2013.”

    He said: “You would have noticed that amongst the processes is a Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction restraining you from conducting any further election in Anambra State with regard to the office of the Governor of the State,until the court has had an opportunity to review the legality of your pre-election processes towards that election.

    “It was for the reason of the urgency and importance of this action that the Federal High Court ,on 28th November 2013, made an order to abridge the time within which you and other Defendants may file your responses to both the application for injunction and the originating summons.The court also granted accelerated hearing of the matter by adjourning the hearing to 9th December, 2013.”

    The court order and the pendency of both the motion and substantive suit, Fakunle said, “have activated the doctrine of lis pendens.”

    He added: “The doctrine of lis pendens precludes you from taking any steps in furtherance of your planned supplementary or other election in Anambra State with regard to the office of governor of the state until the Court has determined the application for injunction and the legality of your pre-election processes and the planned supplementary election itself.”

    He asked for the postponement of today’s supplementary election to “avoid a situation whereby you would have foistered a fait accompli on the court and the court in response will therefore be constrained to void everything you have done including the outcome of the proposed supplementary election.”

  • Reps suspend plenary over colleague’s death

    Reps suspend plenary over colleague’s death

    The death of a member of the House of Representatives, Raphael Oloye Nomiye, caused the House to suspend plenary till today.

    Nomiye, who died last Friday in his Gwarimpa, Abuja home, represented Ondo/Ilaje/Ese Odo in Ondo State on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

    After examining and approving the votes and proceedings of the last sitting, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal announced the suspension of plenary in honour of Nomiye.

    He said: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passage of our colleague, Raphael Oloye Nomiye, whose sad event occurred on Friday.”

    Tambuwal announced the suspension of legislative activities, saying: “Honourable colleagues, in keeping with the rules of the House, the House will suspend plenary and all activities in honour of the deceased. This morning (yesterday), I also got a call from the Senate President, who said the Senate suspended plenary in honour of the deceased. The House hereby adjourns plenary until tomorrow (today).”

    House Leader Mulikat Akande moved for the suspension of plenary and Deputy House Leader Leo Ogor seconded the motion.

    Christian and Muslim members said prayers for the repose of Nomiye’s soul.

    Tambuwal told reporters, after signing the condolence register with other members of the House, that the late Nomiye was a committed lawmaker.

    According to him, the House will miss the late legislator.

    He said: “He was a man of peace, a very humble, very gentle character. He never approached me, and I am sure any member of the leadership, with any form of complaint. He was a very, very committed legislator, always attending the duties and callings, be they here at the plenary or at the committee level. We shall surely miss him. May his soul rest in peace.”

     

  • Anambra: Achebe’s kinsmen demand fresh election

    Anambra: Achebe’s kinsmen demand fresh election

    One of the suspected architects of the Anambra State governorship election fiasco was ordered remanded in police custody yesterday by a Wuse, Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court, till December 2.

    Chukwujekwu Okeke, 54, was the official, who allegedly sabotaged the distribution of election materials in Idemili North Local Government Area, on November 16.

    Plans to run a supplementary election in the local government seems doomed, with residents demanding a fresh poll.

    Idemili North, with 173,822, is the local government with the highest number of registered voters. It is also, along with Idemili South, the stronghold of Senator Chris Ngige, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The failure to conduct election in Idemili North and the other degrees of irregularities forced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the election as inconclusive.

    INEC has fixed Saturday for a supplementary election, which the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) – the three top parties- have vowed to boycott.

    Also yesterday, the people of Ogidi, one of the towns in Idemili North, which is also the home town of the late legendary writer, Prof. Chinua Achebe, kicked against the supplementary election.

    Like the APC, the PDP and the LP, they called for a fresh election.

    Chief Magistrate Usman Shuaibu, ordered that Okeke be remanded till December 2, after he was arraigned on a charge of negligence of duty. This is to enable the police complete their investigation into the matter.

    The accused’s application for bail is also to be considered on that day.

    The prosecutor, Stanley Nwodo, A deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) from the Force CID, said on November 16, the accused unlawfully breached his official duties at Idemili, where he was deployed.

    Nwodo told the court that the accused deliberately withheld the materials designed for the elections, thereby, breaching electoral procedures.

    He urged the court to give the police 14 days to enable them complete investigation into the matter.

    Nwodo said Okeke, who pleaded not guilty, was standing trial on a one-count charge of dereliction of duty, contrary to Section 123 (1) (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

    The counsel to the accused, Mr Daniel Nwogbodo, applied for bail for his client under Section 341 of the Criminal Procedures Code and Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    The sections, which highlight bail as a right of a citizen, say that an accused is considered innocent until otherwise proven.

    Nwogbodo told the court that his client was a senior civil servant and a responsible family man who would not jump bail.

    He also said that his client had a health condition (high blood pressure), which started deteriorating in Awka, the Anambra State capital where he was held in police custody before being transferred to the Force CID in Abuja.

    Nwogbodo also told the court that Okeke would not jeopardise police investigation, if granted bail.

    The Ogidi community’s response came in form of a revolt at the Ogidi Town Hall where about 250 persons from the community, were invited by businessman Chief Sam Mendu to plead for votes in the proposed supplementary elections.

    They were invited in the convener’s personal capacity, outside partisan consideration for a “matter of importance” only for invitees to witness the sudden arrival of APGA vehicles.

    The people kicked when Mendu failed to introduce “the matter of importance”, but instead asked the people to prepare for supplementary elections and to vote for APGA which according to him, “is leading in the INEC results so far”.

    Mendu had hardly finished when one of the participants, an elderly man identified as Ogbuefi Ugonwanne, interjected, asking: “Is that why we were invited here?”

    He reportedly picked his walking stick and left the hall. Others followed, leaving the organisers and the party officials confused.

    In town, community leader John Iloabachie described Ogidi people as “principled”. “It is not a question of which party should be voted for or not, because the issue is, whether Ogidi is part of Anambra State; if our community has a right to aspire for leadership and if anybody outside Anambra State working with a few powerful insiders can stop us from voting.”

    “Unfortunately, our son, who organised this meeting under whatever terms, did not think we should address that issue. Instead, he is talking about our community trying to fool itself in an election that has no valid register and which results have been written.”

    Ogidi community was not supplied with polling materials. Some polling booths in the area, like most areas of Idemili North and other local government areas did not receive materials until 3.00pm and when they did, it was without voting materials.

    But Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday declared that there was no rigging in the election.

    Speaking with State House reporters at the Presidential Villa, he maintained that the APGA candidate would win the election, if it is conducted 10 times.

    He said: “Let me tell you, in the election in Anambra State, I can go anywhere as a Christian and tell you there was no issue of rigging. Those who wanted to rig were prevented from rigging and they are crying.

    “Go to the people of Anambra State, if you repeat that election 10 times, they will never win. What are they even talking about; cancellation? The regulation, the rules or the law say, you have to win at least 25 per cent in two-thirds of the local governments and in Anambra’s case, it is 14 local governments. Only APGA can boast of that. We won in 18 local governments.”

    “The nearest, which is PDP, won in nine local governments. APC is in seven.

    “I cannot be part of rigging. I don’t have money to pay for people. You know those who spend money and I am not one of them.”

  • CNPP calls for Jega’s resignation

    CNPP calls for Jega’s resignation

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday said the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Atahiru Jega, should resign for bungling the Anambra State poll.

    CNPP said in a statement by its spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, that substantial and incontrovertible evidence showed that the poll was marred by irregularities.

    The statement said CNPP uncovered massive fraud in the votes allocated to candidates, which gave the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Willy Obiano, an underserved lead.

    Apparently referring to the insistence of the INEC to conduct a supplementary election on Saturday, CNPP said since Jega still upheld the flawed result despite the substantial and incontrovertible evidence, he should resign.

    The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, besides the mangling of the voter register, the deliberate delay of the arrival of voting materials in the strongholds of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP); the withholding of result sheets and the allocation of 96,569 votes gave the APGA candidate an undeserved lead.

    “Where did INEC manufacture the 96,569 votes from? It posted the Anambra State governorship result as follows:-Total Votes Cast – 429,549; Cancelled Votes -113,113; leaving a difference of 316,436.

    “The electoral body said Mr. Obiano of the APGA got 174,710 to emerge first. Mr. Tony Nwoye of the PDP polled 94,956 to finish second, Mr. Chris Ngige of the APC came third with 92,300 votes, while Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah of the LP came fourth with 37,440.

    “The amazing results tallied 399,406 as the total number of valid votes allocated to the four major candidates. However, bearing in mind that INEC said 429,529 people voted, of which 113,113 were nullified, it means only 316,436 legitimate votes were recorded.

    “The implication is that the number of votes allocated to the four major candidates by the INEC is higher than the total number of valid votes cast during the election. This does not even take into consideration the votes got by the remaining 18 candidates.

    “The total votes allocated to candidates is 413,005. When you subtract 316, 436 from 413,005, you get 96,569. It is our contention that the total votes polled by the APGA candidate was inflated from 78,141 to 174,710 votes, being the preferred candidate, whose double registration is still causing controversy despite INEC sweeping it under the carpet.”

  • Anambra: Story of a bungled poll

    SIR: The recently conducted governorship poll in Anambra State could be likened to the story of a city blessed with an amazing beauty and fragrance but spiritually sick therefore making its descendants to be unsuccessful in their chosen career. As an observer in that election, my take is that the election could not be said to have passed the democratic test although relatively free. It was peaceful but not fair.

    It is imperative to state here that the people of Anambra state conducted themselves in a peaceful and an orderly manner during the election. Brigandage was jettisoned for serenity. No violence. Very peaceful. No uproar. Political thugs were sent into oblivon. Thuggery was caged. Gangsterism was rejected. Anambra people disgraced desperate politicians by not allowing them to have their usual way.

    Let me state unequivocally that the modus oparandi adopted by the electoral umpirewas a ruse. Voting materials were short in the areas where the candidates of the opposition parties – the ll Progressives Congress (APC) , Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were rooted and strong. Only the areas where the candidate of the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) was popular were adequately equipped and serviced with electoral materials.

    What a well concocted planned game! I make bold to aver that the election was scientifically and carefully rigged. The people of Anambra were the winners of the election while INEC officials were the villains. In Idemili North and South local government areas, less than 20% of voting materials were brought to the polling units. Many electoral officials absconded for reasons well known to them. The Professor Attahiru Jega- led INEC was a disappointment. While the people were ready for change and success, INEC remorsefully demonstrated failure.

    It is clear that worse days are ahead for Nigeria. I say without being hypocritical that democracy is in danger in Nigeria. Anambra people were ready for a free and fair election but INEC fumbled. The candidate of PDP, Comrade Tony Nwoye could not vote. His 75 years old father too could not vote. His Uncle, Chukwudi also could not vote. Their names surprisingly disappeared from the voters register.

     

    • Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye,

    Magodo, Lagos.

     

  • Anambra 2013: It must be one man, one vote, says VP Sambo

    Anambra 2013: It must be one man, one vote, says VP Sambo

    •PDP holds rally for Nwoye

    •Receives APGA, Accord, LP, PPA members

    Vice President Namadi Sambo yesterday promised that the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State will be free and fair.

    He said the principle of one man, one vote will operate during and after the exercise.

    Sambo spoke at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka during the governorship rally of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for its candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye.

    The VP expressed hope that Nwoye will emerge victorious during the election.

    The high light of the rally was the defection of the Deputy Minority Leader in the House of Assembly, Hon Emeka Idu(Onitsha North) to the PDP.

    The former Accord Party(AP) member led members of the Progressives People Alliance (PPA), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party (LP) numbering over 3,000 to join PDP

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Former National Chairman, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha, pronounced the end of the reign of APGA in the state.

    Ekweremadu said: “We shall recover all the things the locusts have taken in this state. We want to recover Anambra to end kidnapping and provide job opportunities to our youths.”

    Ihedioha said the only way to make former President, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, happy for his post- humus 109 years will be for Anambrians to vote for PDP.

    Former National Chairman of the party, Dr Ahmadu Ali, who spoke in his Igala language to some of his Anambra North kinsmen, begged them to close ranks to make the dream a reality.

    At the rally were Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo; Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Emeka Ananaba; National Organising Secretary of PDP, Victor Kwom; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Senator Wali Jibrin.