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Tag: Senator Andy Uba

  • Lawyers urge IGP to prosecute Senator’s accuser

    Lawyers urge IGP to prosecute Senator’s accuser

    A group, the Nigerian Lawyers Renaissance Forum, Tuesday urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to prosecute Mr. Victor Uwajeh for alleged fraud, forgery and possession of false documents.

    Uwajeh was charged with allegedly attempting to blackmail Senator Andy Uba, after he allegedly claimed that the Anambra South Senatorial District representative forged his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.

    The Police filed a four-count charge of fraud, possession of false documents and forgery against Uwajeh before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, but the prosecution has reportedly been unable to serve the defendant with the charge.

    The group, in a statement by Prince Deji Atanda and Ike Tagbo, both lawyers, urged the IGP not to be distracted by petitions accusing him of compromising the case.

    “Owing to the fact that we have some bad eggs still in the legal profession as does every other profession, we were surprised when we read that petitions had been written accusing the IGP of scuttling the investigation in favour of Senator Uba.

    “We are much saddened by this move as it appears to be an attempt to wear upon Uwajeh the toga of a victim. We are, therefore, calling on the IGP and other interested parties to shun such distractions and carry out their conventional duties.

    “If indeed Uwajeh does not have a case to answer, why is he avoiding been served the sermons? Like it is said, a clear conscience fears no accusation. Uwajeh should make himself available for service of the criminal summons.

    “We are also forwarding a petition to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Disciplinary Committee to sanction some of these lawyers who are smearing the legal practice,” the group said.

  • FG, National Assembly pledge to fix Fire Service

    FG, National Assembly pledge to fix Fire Service

    Minister of Interior, Abdulrahaman Danbazzau, Wednesday pledged the effort of the Federal Government to turn about the Nigeria Fire Service.

    Danbazau who also commended the determination of the National Assembly to assist in the turnaround of the Service, noted that until the coming of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration the Fire Service was in comatose.

    The Minister gave spoke in Abuja at a two day international fire conference and exhibition organized by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Interior

    He described the state of affairs of the Fire Service as deplorable before the coming of the present Administration.

    He noted that the quick intervention of the National Assembly in appropriating the needed funds for operations and purchase firefighting equipment contributed in ensuring that fire safety and prevention standards are met to international requirement.

    Danbazau who noted that it is important that certain infrastructure in the country should be protected, noted that Nigeria has in the last 30 years witnessed fire disasters involving critical facilities amounting for colossal loss of lives and valuable property.

    He described the effect of fire outbreaks as retrogressive to infrastructural development capable of causing mass unemployment and insecurity.

    The Minister stressed the need for further intervention by the National Assembly in coming out with legislations that will strengthen the Nigeria Fire Service which “if given the right trainings, resources and equipment can prevent outrageous situations.”

    He said, “The minister hoping that with the trend of support received so far by the present administration the Nigeria Fire Service would be one of the best in five years to come, but observed that it has a long way to go before meeting international standard.”

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Andy Uba attributed major causes of fire outbreaks to human error.

    Senator Uba said that there is a general consensus that there is the need to mitigate the trend, by stopping the fire outbreak before they start.

    He also stressed the need to reposition the Fire Service delivery to make it more modern and more efficient, to investigate the root causes of fire especially in commercial centers, within the oil and gas sector that recorded the highest number of incidents.

    Uba promised that the National Assembly will create a framework for legislative intervention either through the instrumentality of the national budget, oversight, amendment to existing pieces of legislation or formulation of new laws.

  • Oyegun, Nnamani speak on how to end marginalisation

    Oyegun, Nnamani speak on how to end marginalisation

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun and former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani said on Thursday that the cry of marginalization spreading across the country, particularly in the south-east can only end when states in the zone join the ruling party at the national level.

    Speaking at a reconciliation meeting between aspirants that contested the party primary for the governorship ticket in Anambra state, Oyegun said: “Until we manage to bring few states into the mainstream of Progressives politics, we may not see the end of this continued cry of marginalization.”

    Senator Nnamani who also spoke at the meeting collaborated Oyegun’s comment when he said: “unless you go into the ruling party and make meaningful contributions, you will then have the moral standing to ask why don’t we have this or that.”

    While commending the aspirants for attending the meeting which was boycotted by Senator Andy Uba who lost the governorship primary, Oyegun informed them of the need to unite to be able to displace an incumbent governor.

    He said: “I thank you all for answering our call. We have an incumbent governor in Anambra state. We have all been through the most exciting period of campaigning for the primaries, which is over now and we have by divine mercy a candidate. But a tree does not make a forest. 

    “We are in politics and we recognize that each and every one of those who aspired for the office of the governor of Anambra state has a constituency. Each and everyone has something very significant to contribute if we are to have the hope of winning the governorship seat in Anambra from an incumbent. 

    “It is very important, essential and vital that we manage to hammer together not just a patchwork of peace or make-believe kind of camaraderie, but a very serious unity of purpose between all those who aspired for that office to act as a serious guarantee that we are indeed also serious in winning the Anambra governorship seat. 

    “That is why I called you today and the elder statesmen to join us and act as guarantors of whatever we agreed to do today. I welcome you most wholeheartedly and it is my hope and expectation that by the time we leave here, we will have one single fighting force of 12 persons that will make us proud as governor of Anambra state.

    “The state is very significant to us as it is the gateway to the South East. It is important that we do everything we can fair and square to bring Anambra State into the fold of the Progressives for a lot of reason. Until we manage to bring few states into the mainstream of Progressives politics, we may not see the end of this continued cry of marginalization. 

    “It is important that we work and work very hard to win Anambra being a critical state in the South East. It is not going to be a small political struggle. We must work hard with the unity of purpose to breakthrough to the South East in a major way to win Anambra.”

    Collaborating Oyegun’s statement, former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani said: “Our national chairman has summarized the purpose of this meeting and he has torched on very critical issues pertaining to the aspirations of the party to make very strong inroads into the South East.

    “I totally agree with him especially on the issue of marginalization that you cannot stay under the rain when it is pouring heavily and start crying because nobody will observe.

    “Unless you go into the ruling party and make meaningful contributions, you will then have the moral standing to ask why don’t we have this or that. I will like to congratulate Mr chairman for initiating this peace move and bringing together those that aspired to govern the state.

    “It requires courage to offer ourselves for service. It is not everybody that has that courage to contest an election. It is like wrestling when the umpire signals, it is not every able-bodied person who throw-in the towel would like to contest. I congratulate each and every one of you and hope you harken your what the National chairman had to say. 

    “I spoke out of the experience, observation and interest. We have people who have gone through the crisply of planning in Nigeria’s electoral planning. The chairman talked about unity of purpose but I want to add that we need unity of action,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the former aspirants, one of them, Bart Nwibe said they have been looking forward to the meeting, expressing co five central that at the end, they will be able to build the necessary synergy to help deliver our party in Anambra state. 

    He said: “I am sure that we all willing to do our very best. But I also think that our party both at this level and the executive will do the needful so that we will be empowered enough to return and deliver Anambra state and by extension South East into the APC. 

    “We are optimistic that we will do our very best. We are on the ground and if we do the needful, there is no reason why we cannot win our state. We have a candidate who is a very young fellow and I am certain he will bring certain kind of freshness. But I think our party and the presidency will have to step in to help us achieve this”.

  • Saraki reshuffles committees

    Saraki reshuffles committees

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday rearranged some standing committees of the Senate.

    Saraki, who announced the committee alterations on the floor of the upper chamber, named Senator Andy Uba, as chairman, Senate Committee on Interior.

    Senator Uba (Anambra South) was formerly chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts before he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Public Accounts committee is statutorily meant to be chaired by the opposition party.

    Saraki also named Senator Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South) to replace Uba as chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts.

    The outspoken Senator Urhoghide was before the new appointment chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism.

    Other appointments included Senator Sabo Mohammed, chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment with Senator Mohammed Sani Mustapha as Vice Chairman; Senator Raji Rasaki, chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism and Senator Solomon Adeola, chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content  with Senator Godswill Akpabio as vice chairman.

    Senator Adeola was formerly Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications.

    The local content committee was extracted from the Committee on Petroleum.

    Saraki named Senator Stella Oduah, chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration. Senator Buka Mustapha was announced Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market.

    The newly inaugurated Senator Nurudeen Adeleke (Osun West) was named vice chairman, Senate Committee on Communication while Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) was named vice chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

    The committee rearrangement was in line with Saraki’s promise before the Senate went on recess that the committees would be reshuffled to ensure effective performance.

     

  • APC may bow to pressure, void Tony Nwoye’s victory

    APC may bow to pressure, void Tony Nwoye’s victory

    There were indications on Tuesday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may bow to pressure being brought to bear on it by political heavy weight in Anambra state and cancel its August 26 governorship primary in Anambra state which was won by a member of the House of Representatives, Tony Nwoye.

    It was gathered that some of the aspirants who petitioned the appeals panel are calling for a total cancellation and a repeat of the exercise, alleging that the thugs and members of NANS were brought into the accreditation venue.

    One of those who petitioned the Appeals panel, Senator Andy Uba who came second in the primary with about 931 votes alleged in his petitions the primary election was marred with heavy irregularities, heavy financial inducement and the use of thugs to intimidate delegates and swap their delegate cards.

    But another aspirant, Barrister Nonso Nmadu said the primary was done in a transparent atmosphere and has been described as the best primary, stressing that he is surprised that Senator Uba would disparage the same primary he commended when the process was ongoing with the believe that he would emerge winner.

    The Governorship Primary Appeals panel which submitted its report to the National Organising Secretary, Senator Ostia Izunaso told the party that many petitions were received from the aspirants who contested the governorship primary.

    Submitting the committee report, the Secretary of the Committee, Dr. Nosa Aladesulu said they received many petitions from the aspirants, while many APC stakeholders in the state appeared before the Committee while it got in touch with relevant persons involved in the primaries.

    Aladesulu however told newsmen that her committee actually received a numbers of petitions against Hon. Tony Nwoye’s victory, saying “a number of persons submitted petitions and also a good number representing our party members from Anambra State also made personal appearances. 

    “We also have situations where some group that did not come, submitted affidavit of their understanding of the processes they observed to the committee. What we have in this report was a collection of those complaints and responses. 

    “After reviewing the petitions from our members at the primaries, we also invited persons, officials and other stakeholders indicted by the petitioners and key persons whose responses were key to our reports were also attended to and heard their witnesses.

    “What we have in the report are the analysis of both the petition, our understanding of the witnesses we received and our recommendations to the NWC to decide on the final outcome in their own wisdom.”

    However, Barrister Nonso Nmadu who also contested the primary wants the party to uphold the victory of Nwoye at the primary, stressing that the entire accreditation and voting was done in a transparent manner, accusing Senator Andy Uba of trying to tarnish the exercise..

    Nmadu said Senator Andy Uba does not have the capacity to win the November 18 elections, saying “If Senator Andy Uba’s capacity could not win him the apc primaries, he does not have the capacity to win the november 18th elections in which votes are expected to count. 

    “I urge the most distinguished senator Andy Uba to stop embarrassing himself and work for the party as earlier pledged.  His actions are being seen by Anambra state members as anti-party and our national leadership should not fail to wield the big stick when necessary.”                       

    He describe as untrue allegations that Tony Nwoye brought thugs/NANS members into the accreditation venue to chase away delegates, adding that the accreditation was conducted peacefully while delegates were identified through their Permanent voters card(PVC) National ID card, drivers license or International passport. 

    He said delegates also came with their party membership slip with photograph issued to them by the party during registration, adding that two weeks before the primary, the party made available to all the aspirants the list of delegates.

    According to him, “the allegation that delegated were swapped is simply laughable. After accreditation, delegates were conveyed to the voting center on marked buses with full police escort. Their was no room for any maneuver as the delegates had no physical contacts with outsiders.           

    “The road leading to the voting venue was not even accessible to commutters and other road users, as it was cordoned off by security agencies, making it impossible for any non-accredited person to gain entrance to the venue.                     

    “Most importantly, during voting proper, once a local government is called, the various ward chairmen are called to vote first, then line up in front of the hall to identify delegates from their ward who then proceed to cast votes.    

    “The allegation of presence of thugs at the venue is untrue, except if Senator Andy Uba is now referring to genuine APC members as thugs simply because they did not vote for him.                                                    

    “Senator Andy Uba also alleged that some delegates have gone to court to depose affidavits on what transpired. The party should note that this is their usual tactics of scuttling elections once it doesnt go their way.  It is a PDP tradition which they want to import to our peaceful APC and must be resisted.  

    “Our party leaders should note that this tactics was used in 2013 to scuttle the ambitions of the same Tony Nwoye after he defeated the same people in a primaries televised live on national TV.  The litigation went all the way to the Supreme court and by the time judgment was delivered Dr Tony Nwoye had just 10 days to campaign. Despite the short time left for him to campaign, he still finished 2nd in the General elections.                                           

    “Senator Andy Uba asked to be declared winner of an election he clearly lost. There is a popular saying among party members that with the margin of over 2,000 votes to andy uba’s 900, Tony Nwoye did not just come first, he came second and 3rd while Uba finished 4th.                                      

    “Senator Andy Uba should spare us with the “capacity” statement which he has made a sing- song. He should know that the days of PDP abracadabra are over. He does not have the capacity to  win any election that is free, fair and transparent in which votes are allowed to count hence he couldnt win the APC primaries.”

  • Respect Anambra people’s voice – Nwoye to APC

    Respect Anambra people’s voice – Nwoye to APC

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forth coming governorship election in Anambra state, Tony Nwoye on Monday told the national leadership of the party not to tamper with the mandate freely given go him at the party primaries, but to respect the wishes of the people.

    Also the state Chairman of the party, Bartister Emeka Eze ask the party’s Governorship Primary Appeals Panel to respect the wishes of the people as expressed on the field during the primary election which was supervised by Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja after appearing before the Appeals Panel, Nwoye dismissed allegations that the primary election was manipulated in his favour and the use of thugs and former members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, adding that what should be uppermost in the mind of every member of the party at this point in time is how to win the forth coming elections in the state.

    Senator Andy Uba had petitioned the the Appeals Panel alleging massive irregularities, use of thugs and members of NANS to intimidate delegates and swap delegate tags and heavy financial inducement of delegates during the primary.

    But Nwoye who described Uba as “my boss” said the Senator remain the only aspirant that has refused to speak to him since the primary was conducted, pointing out that even though he has reached out to him on several occasion, Uba has refused to speak to him.

    He said: “I was invited by the Appeals Panel and it was a friendly discussion. I was told by the panel that there are allegations that former NANS members chased away delegates, snatched their tags, beat them up and voted and I told them that was not true.

    “There was no NANS member, past or present that took part in that election and that the over 4000 delegates that voted were executives of the APC and the statutory delegates who were entitled to vote. This is the primary that has been adjudged as the best in the history of democracy in Nigeria.

    “You know that I have been a party chairman and has conducted party primaries in my state, I have contested four primaries in my life. Different commentators have adjudged this as the best. I made it clear that there was not room for manipulation, nobody was intimidated to vote and there no voter inducement with money.

    “The election was so perfectly organised that the ward chairman from the 326 wards, out 21 local government chairmen and secretaries and state chairman were all mandated to come and identify the delegates. We insisted that we must do re screening to avoid anybody coming to take another person’s tag to vote.”

    On whether he was afraid that his nomination will be voided by the panel, he said “I am not God, but I know that these are party men. I told them that as far as the party ticket of APC is concerned, the people of Anambra has spoken and that mandate should be left sacred for them.

    “It is not about Tony Nwoye, but about the people who labored for this. On the day of the primary, many of them were under the rain for hours and some of them came here to defend the mandate. I strongly believe that the sacred mandate they gave should be left intact. Our major task is how to defeat Governor Obiano and APGA in Anambra.

    “I have reached out to all the aspirants. The only one I have not reached out is Senator Andy Uba. I served him loyally when I was still Chairman of PDP and he was our governorship candidate and I leave the rest to God. He is the only aspirant who refused to talk to me. I called him, sent him SMS and even went to his house, but he did not open the gate for me.

    “I met with all other aspirants and all of them are in the same train and belief that we should all work together to win the election. I must commend them and the entire state executive and other stakeholders. He is the only person who has refused to see me until this moment.

    “There is the Igbo adage that says if you want to share something, you have to give to yourself first. I am contesting for governor ad not supporting somebody against him. It is all about internal democracy. That is why we left PDP. I am a proud former PDP member, a party that give me the opportunity to fly their flag as a candidate irrespective of the betrayal.

    “We joined the APC because we believe that once you are voted by the party, your mandate will be maintained. I have no doubt that it will be maintained. I have told the panel that we should all go and work for the success of the party.

    “It is not about Tony Nwoye’ but for the party to win. We want to make the difference in Anambra and stop the looting in Anambra and impoverishing the people. The poverty level in Anambra has risen so much under my brother, Willie Obiano who has been siphoning local government funds.”

    Speaking further, he said “the attempt to tarnish my image is the handwork of the government in the state. They have called me cultist and all manner of names. I passed through the university of Nigeria and was picked as Student Union President in 1988.

    “I was the one God used to fight cultism to a stand still. Due to the fact that the APGA government f is afraid they have resorted to propaganda, but we will sort it out on the field. The spreading of falsehood will not save them because it is one man, one vote.

    In Anambra state, anybody who will be the governor will be from Anambra.

    “Let Obiano tell us what he has done with our resources from the federations account and the local government fund he has been diverting”

    On legal action, he said let us go for election first. They want to distract me, but they cannot distract me.

    Also speaking Chairman of the party in the state, Barrister Eze, said: “In the interest of the party, the appeals panel should rule in accordance to what happened in the field. Nobody should do anything that will jeopardize our victory because I know that we are going g to Anambra to win the election. The election is ours to win and they should do whatever they want to do according to what happened in the field.

    “I must tell you that I did not receive any official complain from any of the aspirants and that is the read I told them that it is unheard of that people are writing petitions from Anambra to the national body without coping me. I don’t even know what they are alleging or the number of people that petitioned.”

    He dismissed allegations of manipulation of the process saying “all we know was the accreditation was done and there was nothing like fake delegates except in Orumba north where people complained that their names were changed. There was nothing like thugs at the voting Centre and the accreditation Centres were I was present.

    “The issue in Orumba north happened inside the arena and the chairman came and said they were going to use the list they have. I have not heard anything about financial inducement.”

  • APC rakes in N60m from Anambra Guber poll

    APC rakes in N60m from Anambra Guber poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has generated more than sixty million Naira from the sales of the nomination and expression of Interest forms, even as the National Working Committee (NWC) held a closed door meeting with the aspirants.

    Eleven aspirants, paid the sum of N5.5 for the form, while the only female aspirant was given the form free to contest the primary in line with the party guideline.

    Addressing the twelve aspirants at a close door meeting yesterday at the party National Secretariat, APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, assured them of a free, fair and credible election.

    Oyegun said: “We have called for this meeting to have an interactive section with you (aspirants) because we do hear a lot of things and if you have any doubt or anything that you think we haven’t done right, this is an opportunity to point them out and we will see what we can do.

    “But I assure you that there will be truly fair, free and credible primaries. So, that is the whole purpose of this meeting.”

    The twelve aspirants present at the meeting including the immediate past National Auditor of the party Chief Gorge Mohgalu, Senator Andy Uba, Sir Paul Chukwu, Barr. Nonso Madu, Prince Don Okonkwo, Dr. Chike Obidigbo and Engr. Johnbosco, Engr. Bart Nwibe, Dr. Nwike, Adaobi Kalu Uchegbu and Dr. Tony Nwoye.

    Inaugurating the seven man screening committee, National Organising Secretary, Senator Ostia Izunaso asked the committee to score the aspirants in all areas, pointing out that any candidate who scored less than fifty percent stands disqualified from the race.

    He told the committee to look into the area of support for the party by all the aspirants, their qualification among others, adding that any of the aspirants to be disqualified must be informed in writing as to the reason for his disqualification.

    He said the Appeals committee was also mandated to sit only on written petitions from aggrieved aspirants adding that they must not act on mere hearsay during their sitting.

    While the screening committee is headed by the Ondo state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, the Appeals Committee is headed by the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu.

  • Protesters storm NASS in support of Senator Ubah

    Protesters storm NASS in support of Senator Ubah

    Over one thousand protesters stormed the National Assembly on Tuesday in support of Senator Andy Ubah.

    The protesters who staged a peaceful rally at the entrance of the National Assembly asked Nigerians to disregard blackmailer laboring to pull down Senator Ubah.

    Ubah who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), represents Anambra South in the upper chamber.

    He is also said to have concluded arrangements to declare his gubernatorial ambition in the state.

    President of Coalition of Civil Society Groups, Etuk Bassey Williams, who led the protest told reporters that they were out to speak against incessant blackmail and campaign of calumny against people in public places, especially the National Assembly.

    He said, “Members of civil society numbering over a thousand are here to exercise their constitutional rights to speak against incessant blackmail and propaganda against people in public places especially the National Assembly.

    “First on the line was the Senate president followed by the speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. It was also followed by Senator Dino Melaye when it was rumoured that he never went to school and the latest of it is Senator Andy Uba.

    “I want to say this very clearly that we have written to the school concerned abroad, California State university and we can confirm to every Nigeria and the international community that the response we got from the institution was very clear and very straight forward that Senator Andy Uba graduated from that institution.

    “A fact that needs to be noted, a fact that needs to be shared among all Nigerians is that blackmailers should desist from further blackmail, enough is enough.

    “The National Assembly has its own constitutional responsibility but what we are urging the National Assembly especially the Senate President who is the chairman of National Assembly to inform the Nigerian security agencies to exercise their own mandate by arresting and prosecuting those who are bent on blackmailing the members of the National Assembly and their sponsors.

    “The demonstration today is a show of solidarity, a show of nationalism and of course a show of true ambassador to the Federal Republic.

    “Nigerians are hungry and from the information we gathered we know and we are quite aware that National Assembly will pass the budget this week and we are very hopeful.”

  • I was not sacked by Supreme Court – Oduah

    I was not sacked by Supreme Court – Oduah

    Sen. Stella Oduah On Friday in Abuja, described as “a misinterpretation”, media reports which quoted a Supreme Court judgment to have sacked her and other federal lawmakers from Anambra.

    Reports in the media said that the apex court had ordered the replacement of Oduah and other federal lawmakers from the state saying that their nomination to contest in the 2015 election was wrong.

    In a statement issued by Cynthia Ferdinand, Press Secretary to the Senator, Oduah said that the report in the media was misleading as the apex court did not order the withdrawal of her certificate of return.

    She said that the judgement of the Supreme Court said that it was only the National Executive Council of a political party that had the legal right to sponsor candidates in an election.

    Oduah, therefore, stressed that she and all the other lawmakers from Anambra state have not been sacked by the Supreme Court contrary to media reports.

    ‎“It is pertinent to note that this is a mere misinterpretation of the Supreme Court rulings and‎ should be disregarded in all entirety‎.

    “The Supreme Court did not order the withdrawal of the Certificates of Return issued by the Commission.

    “It did not hold that the faction of the PDP had the right to sponsor candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “It did not equally authorise the Commission to substitute our clients with the individuals whose names were on the list improperly allowed by the Commission,

    “Series of judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria states that it is only the National Executive of the party that has the vires to sponsor candidates,” she said.

    Meanwhile, the solicitors to the nine lawmakers allegedly sacked, have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to also fall into the folly of misunderstanding the judgment.

    The letter signed by the lawmakers urged the commission not to allow itself to be misled by its legal department just as it was initially misled to accepting the list presented by the state chapter of the party.

    The lawmakers stressed that separate rulings of the Supreme Court including that of Jan. 29, upheld that only the list submitted by the National Executive Committee was valid.

    “This correspondence is aimed at setting the record straight so that your good self will not again be misled by your legal department into unjustifiably occasioning an unnecessary confusion in the process.”

    The letter also drew the attention of INEC to pages 4647 and 48 of the judgment of the Supreme Court to further butress the point that the couurt did not sack their clients.

    The solicitors stated further that the apex court did not authorise the Commission to substitute the lawmakers’ names with the individuals whose names were on the list improperly allowed by the Commission.

    NAN reports that the media was awash with reports that the Supreme Court had sacked the nine remaining lawmakers from Anambra state.

  • Oil-producing state: Anambra suffers setback

    Oil-producing state: Anambra suffers setback

    A bill, which seeks to amend the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act by including Anambra as one of the states making up the NDDC, suffered a setback yesterday at the Senate.

    The bill, entitled: “Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment, etc) Act CAP. N86 LFN 2011 (Amendment) Bill 2014”, was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South).

    No sooner had Uba finished his lead debate on the bill than opposition was mounted by some of his colleagues.

    The senators said it would amount to injustice to include Anambra among the oil-producing states, adding that the dispute among the communities where the oil was said to have been discovered had not been settled.

    States laying claim to the oil are Kogi, Anambra and Enugu.

    The lawmakers argued that efforts by the National Boundary Commission to delineate the boundaries among the states were not successful.

    Senator Uba claimed that Anambra joined the league of oil-producing states, following the discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities at Aguleri.

    He further claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan on August 31, 2012 designated Anambra as an oil-producing state while inaugurating Orient Petroleum’s Anambra River Production facility at Aguleri-olu.

    The legislator said the integration of Anambra as part of the NDDC, like other oil-bearing states, was necessary to avoid conflicts.

    He added that the integration would lead to development that would make the state “socially-stable, ecologically-regenerative and politically-peaceful.”

    Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) opposed the proposed amendment to the NDDC Act, saying it would be unfair to recognise Anambra as an oil- producing state to the exclusion of Kogi and Enugu, which also claimed the crude deposit.

    The lawmaker representing Kogi East, Atai Aidoko-Ali, said Uba was merely jumping the gun, as the committee set up by the President, headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, was yet to submit its report.

    He said it would be wrong to  award the oil to Anambra without boundary delineation by the appropriate agency.

    Following the opposition, Uba withdrew the bill to allow further legislative work.