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Tag: Saturday’s election

  • Uzodinma: Okorocha planning to rig Saturday’s election

    AHEAD of Saturday’s governorship election, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma has alleged Governor Rochas Okorocha has perfected plans to unleash mayhem on APC members.

    He spoke when 53 different groups, including the Kowa Party, market women in the 27 councils endorsed him for governor.

    “While we have been busy campaigning across the nook and cranny of the state, Okorocha … is threatening everybody that he will … chase us away..

    “I am proud that I delivered my polling unit, ward and local government to President Buhari. But Rochas’ son in-law, Uche Nwosu, who boasted that himself and his boss will give the President one million votes, lost his unit, ward and local government to PDP.

    “We are begging Okorocha to allow the people of Imo to elect who will be their governor. I urge security agencies to cut the excesses of the governor, else he will throw this state into chaos due to his ambition, because we will not fold our arms and allow Okorocha steal our votes.

    “When a governor starts acting like a rascal it is going to create crisis. We are ready to cast our votes and we are not afraid of anybody. We urge security agencies to be on the alert. We are not worried because I am going to win. We are glad that we have Federal Government forces that will provide security… So our people should go out and cast their votes and we will protect the votes,” he said.

  • Dapo Abiodun woos voters in Ogun Central

    OGUN State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Prince Dapo Abiodun yesterday pushed for voters’ backing in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for Saturday’s election.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Governor and the party’s leader, Chief Segun Osoba and Senator representing Lagos West Solomon Olamilekan Adeola also joined Abiodun to ensure his victory in the poll.

    Osinbajo, who addressed the mammoth crowd at Ake area, said just as they voted for him, their son and President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates to emerge winners during the presidential and National Assembly elections, they should also come out en masse to cast their votes for Abiodun and APC state House of Assembly candidates.

    The vice president assured them that the Saturday’s election would be peaceful in the state as the Federal Government had made adequate arrangement for security agents to provide effective security to protect lives and properties during and after the polls.

    The APC leaders also used the occasion to receive a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Kayode Amusan and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly and Senatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Ogun Central, Titi Oseni – Gomez into the APC fold.

    The two PDP chieftains defected to APC with thousands if their supporters to help push for the victory of Dapo Abiodun come March 9.

  • ‘I wasn’t barred from contesting Saturday’s election’

    The lawmaker representing Ehime Mbano/ Obowo/ Ihitte Uboma Federal Constituency of Imo State, Chike Okafor, has described reports of his sack as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as false.

    Okafor, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services, spoke through his lawyers in Abuja.

    He described the report as erroneous as he was not listed as a party in the case ruled on by Justice Kawu Bello of the FCT High Court in Kubwa.

    A statement by the Deputy Head of OZIGOD Chambers, Munachimso Okere, said Okafor remained the APC candidate for Saturday’s election. He stressed that Okafor did not participate in the primary for which the aspirant, Maryann Chioma Uzoma, dragged another aspirant, Mr. Emeka Nwajuiba, to court.

    The statement reads: “We state that our client was not barred from contesting the rescheduled House of Representatives election for Ehime Mbano/Obowo/Ihitte Uboma Federal Constituency of Imo State.

    “The ruling clearly shows that Chike Okafor is not listed in the suit as a party and its trite law that judgments are only binding against parties. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by the ruling, was specifically barred from recognising or listing the second respondent, Emeka Nwajiuba, as APC’s candidate in the election, and didn’t bar INEC from accepting another name as APC candidate.

    “It is important to note that the primaries in contention seem to be the one conducted by the defunct Imo APC coalition splinter group which was not the INEC recognised primaries for Ehime Mbano/Obowo/Ihitte Uboma Federal Constituency.

    “It is important to note that the primaries contested and won by Okafor is not in issue in this matter and so stands unchallenged. Consequently, it is important to state that our client is on the ballot for Saturday’s election, and we urge the people to disregard the rumour.”

  • ‘Buhari will win Southeast’

    Anambra South Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Andy Ubah is confident of President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in Saturday’s election.

    He urged Igbo to vote for Buhari as voting against him would not stop his victory.

    Ubah, who addressed party faithful yesterday at a rally in Nnewi, urged them to resist the mistakes of 2015 when the party did not get enough votes in the Southeast.

    Read also: NJC issues fresh query to acting CJN

    He said: “It is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari will be re-elected on Saturday. Whether you vote for him or not, he will win.

    “It is unfortunate that in 2015, only 10 million votes were recorded for Buhari in the Southeast. But this time, I want Anambra South alone to give him not less than 1 million votes.”

  • Assembly amends LASIEC law ahead of Saturday’s election

    Assembly amends LASIEC law ahead of Saturday’s election

    The Lagos State House of Assemble yesterday amended the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Law 2015 to aid smooth election.

    Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade, who brought the motion for amendment, said it was to ensure that LASIEC has enough room to do its job.

    Some of the sections amended include Sections 28 and 62(i).

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said the essence of the bill was to create more legislative participation; ensure level playing field for parties in election.

    House Committee on Finance Chairman Lanre Ogundimu said the amendment would create clarity and remove any ambiguity in the law.

    House Committee on Health Chairman Segun Olulade said the amendment would help settle electoral issues with special focus on time and dates of election

    The bill had an accelerated passage.

    Agunbiade recommended its accelerated passage in accordance with Section 101 of the Constitution which empowers houses of assembly in the country to regulate their proceedings and standing order which empowers them to abridge the time for bills passage.

    Obasa directed the Clerk of the House Alhaji Azeez Sanni, to send a clean copy of the bill to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for assent.

    Meanwhile, Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged the electorate to appreciate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s transformation agenda by voting for the party in Saturday’s local government election.

    Its Chairman, Dr Henry Ajomale, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the party would continue to improve the citizens’ lives.

    Ajomale said: “I urge the residents to come out en masse on Saturday and vote for APC. They have seen the good work Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is doing. This election time is the time we must show him that we appreciate his development and transformation agenda. This will make him to work more to develop Lagos for the benefit of all of us. We need to win in all the local government areas and local council development areas.’’

    APC South-West Women Leader Mrs Kemi Nelson said voting for the party had many benefits.

    “July 22 is the election; I am calling on our people to come out in their numbers and vote for APC. APC is a tested and trusted party. We stand to benefit a lot if we vote for APC,’’ she said.

    Mrs Yinka Oladunjoye urged the residents to use the election to determine their leaders at the grassroots.

    “We have to be part of this election because we all have a stake. It is an opportunity to determine who leads us. This administration has been working; APC is working and will continue to work. Come out and vote for APC so that we can experience more prosperity in Lagos State,’’ Oladunjoye said.