The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osita Izunaso

  • Breaking: Imo APC expels Uzodinma

    The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), on Thursday, expelled its governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma over alleged anti-party activities.

    The state Chairman of the party, Hon Daniel Nwafor, who announced the expulsion during a media briefing at the party’s secretariat, said that the action became necessary to save the party from disintegration.

    According to him, it has been established that the APC governorship candidate is sponsoring opposition candidates against the party’s candidates in the state, adding that such action is capable of ruining the chances of the APC in the elections.

    “Senator Hope has been sponsoring the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Senatorial candidate, Senator Osita Izunaso as against the APC Senatorial candidate in Imo West, Governor Rochas Okorocha, he has also been running parallel Exco in his Omuma Ward and issuing party cards without recourse to party Exco”, Nwafor alleges.

    Read Also: APC enraged over PDP’s N388m U.S. lobbying deal

    A statement jointly signed by the Chairman (Daniel Nwafor) and the Secretary, Hon Obioma Ireagwu, reads “this is to inform you that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Omuma Ward of Oru East Local Government Area in Imo State has expelled Senator Hope Uzodinma from the party due to certain inordinate and anti-party activities perpetrated by him and his cohorts.

    “The Imo State Working Committee (SWC) of our great party has examined the processes and procedures of the sanction on Senator Hope Uzodinma by his Ward as affirmed by the Local Government organ of the party in Oru East. Conclusively, the State Working Committee satisfied with the procedures and decision of Omuma Ward, hereby affirm the expulsion order as well”.

    Further justifying the expulsion, Nwafor submitted that “we are saving the party, we have an election in three weeks time and we cannot allow our governorship candidate to be sponsoring opposition candidates. We will no longer recognize Senator Hope Uzodinma as our governorship candidate because he is no longer a member of our party”.

    He continued that, “we will not allow one candidate to jeopardize the chances of our other candidates who are vying for various positions across the state. We have communicated the National Working Committee of our party on our decision and we have also instructed all APC members in the state not to have anything to do with Senator Hope Uzodinma and his ambition forthwith”.

  • Court adjourns hearing on Imo APC Congress suit

    The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday adjourned hearing on the suit, challenging the validity on the All Progressive Congress (APC) Congress in the state.

    Justice Lewis Allagoa granted the plaintiffs’ motion for substituted service on the defendants.

    The defendants include the APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, the state Chairman of the party, Dr. Hilary Eke and others.

    The case was adjourned till June 22 to enable the court effect substituted service on the defendants.

    The plaintiffs’ counsel, Chidozie Ogundu, had raised motion exparte for an order of the court to serve the defendants by substituted service.

    The justice had last Friday issued an interim order restraining the APC or its cronies and representatives from conducting congress by maintaining “status quo anti bellum.”

    In the suit FHC/OW/CS/69/2018, Allagoa, also urged the legal practitioners handling the case to apply professional dexterity to ensure there were no lapses and undue delays recorded.

    Chidozie Ogunji led team of lawyers appeared for the plaintiffs while Chief Soronnadi Njoku, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Imo State, appeared for the defendants.

    The court had earlier granted an order of interim injunction “restraining the defendants, their privies, servants, agents or any one acting on their behalf or any organ of the APC from holding a Local Government Area congress of the party or any other congress in Imo State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

     

     

  • Ekiti 2018: APC inaugurates screening, appeal committee

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday inaugurated Screening and Appeal Committees ahead of its May 5 primary election for the July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti.

    The party’s National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso, who inaugurated the committees in Abuja, said screening was mandatory for all aspirants.

    He charged the committee to continue in the APC’s tradition of adhering to due process and to ensure fairness during the exercise.

    Izunaso said that the committees should rely on the party’s 2014 guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office.

    He also said that the committee should be guided by the party’s Constitution and the amended 1999 Constitution in carrying out the assignment.

    He disclosed that 33 aspirants picked the party’s nomination form for the election, saying that it was the highest recorded by the party.

    Responding on behalf of the committees, the Chairman of Screening Committee, Mr Timipreye Sylva, promised that the committees would be thorough and fair to all aspirants in carrying out the assignment.

    “We will do a thorough job and make sure that no misfit or anybody not qualified passes through this committee,” he said.

    Other members of the screening committee are Samaila Yusuf, Hajia Gamawa, Ayo Afolabi, Bilyamin Shinkafi, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha and Mr Denton Ogbuehi, who will serve as secretary.

    The Appeal Committee has Abuzarri Ribadu as Chairman, Tunde Esan as Secretary and Kayode Oseni, Osaro Buzugbe and Edem Selong are members.

    NAN

     

     

  • APC to hold convention May 14

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday announced that its National Convention to elect officers for a new term in the party’s leadership would hold on May 14.

    According to schedule of activities released by the Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso, in Abuja, the party’s Ward Congresses will hold on May 2, while appeal that may arise from the conduct will be entertained on May 3.

    The schedule showed that local government area congresses would hold on May 5, with appeal arising from the exercise fixed for May 7.

    It indicated that May 9 is the date for congress at states’ level to elect executive committees of the party in all states in the country.

    It fixed May 10 for hearing of appeal that may arise from the conduct of the state congresses.

    NAN

  • Senate to probe non-passage of Disability Rights Bill

    Senate to probe non-passage of Disability Rights Bill

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has promised to probe those behind the delay in the passage of Disability Rights Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The bill is to ensure full integration of Nigerians with disabilities into the society and eliminate all forms of discrimination against them.

    Saraki in a Facebook post said, “Today, ahead of my courtesy call with the Kpakpando Foundation for Physically Challenges Persons, led by its Founder and Chairman, Senator Osita Izunaso, I called the Clerk to find out about the status of the ‘Discrimination Against Persons Living with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, which is also known as the Disability Rights Bill.

    “I was very disappointed to learn that due to some administrative mishaps, this Bill, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and should have already been on the President’s desk for his signature, has failed to make its way out of the National Assembly system. I have therefore directed the Clerk to query all involved.”

    Disability Rights Bill

    Stressing the importance and fierce urgency with which the bill should be treated, he said, “make no mistake, both the Senate and the House feel very strongly about the impact of this Bill. This is because its passage will further empower people living with disabilities (PLWDs) and ensure that they are not discriminated against in anyway.

    “Moving forward, I would like to make this promise: 30 days from today, this Bill will be sent to Mr. President for his assent.

    “We will fast-track the harmonization process in both houses, because there is no doubt that once this Bill is passed, it will transform the lives of millions of Nigerians across the country, hence, the sooner that we start implementing the act, the better for all of us.”

  • Abuja Housing Show: Foundation to intensify advocacy for empowering disabled

    Abuja Housing Show: Foundation to intensify advocacy for empowering disabled

    The Kpakpando Foundation for Physically Challenged Persons (KFPCP), says it will intensify advocacy for empowering disabled people at the forthcoming 11th Abuja Housing Show.

    Mr Festus Adebayo, Managing Director, FESADEB Communications Limited, convener of the Abuja Housing Show, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    KFPCP is a Non Governmental Organisation established in 2005 by Sen. Osita Izunaso to take care of people with disabilities through empowerment and scholarship programmes and provisions of suitable houses.

    The foundation advocates for the equal rights of people with disabilities including their accessibility in public places.

    Adebayo, however, expressed worry on the way most houses were being built in the country without putting into consideration the pace and mobility of the disabled.

    On this note, the expert called for the designing of Ramps (mobile staircase) in buildings, especially in public places for accessibility of the disabled.

    “The foundation will be in the housing show to champion the course of people living with disabilities.

    “We want government to look into the provision of ramps in public buildings for disabled people to utilise.

    “Apart from this advocacy, a bill to that effect at the National Assembly is being followed up.

    He, however, noted that ramps are designs included in building plans before approval by Development Control Agency.

    The show which is the largest expo in Africa is scheduled to hold in July with the theme: “Solving Nigerians Housing Challenge through innovative finance and infrastructure solution”.

     

  • 5,000 PDP members defect to APC in Imo

    5,000 PDP members defect to APC in Imo

    It was a massive defection of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) when over 5000 members of the PDP, led by their various leaders, joined the APC.

    The ceremony, which was held at the Orlu Township Stadium in Orlu Local Government Area, was witnessed by National Leaders of the APC, including the National Vice President South-East, Dr. Anyim Nyerere, National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, Imo Satate Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Senator Chris Ngige, among others.

    Speaking shortly after his defection, one of the PDP chieftains, Dr. Louis Obodo, who led members of the Integrity Group, a political pressure group, to join the APC, said his decision to dump the PDP was as a result of the goodwill and success of the APC- led administration in the state.

    He said he was endeared to the APC by the ideals of the party, which he said has promoted internal democracy and raised the hope of level playing field for members, “I left the PDP because of injustice which is not in the APC.”

    According to Dr. Obodo, who contested the Oguta/Ohaji-Egbema Federal Constituency under the PDP in 2011, he led members of the Integrity group to the APC because of his conviction that the party has the platform that will give Ndigbo national leadership.

    Receiving the defectors, the state Interim Chairman of the party, Marshal Okafor Anyanwu, congratulated them for embracing change and progressive ideals.

    He charged them to remain focused and steadfast in the APC, assuring that the party guarantees equal opportunities for all members.