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Tag: Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

  • APC will ensure free, fair congresses in Delta, says Omo-Agege

    APC will ensure free, fair congresses in Delta, says Omo-Agege

    Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has assured leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State that the party will conduct free, fair, and transparent congresses to elect its leadership.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibusa and Asaba, covering Oshimili North and Oshimili South LGAs, Omo-Agege emphasized that leadership positions must be earned on merit rather than imposed through backroom deals.

    “Our leadership must be determined through a transparent democratic process,” he declared. 

    “Those aspiring for positions should go to the field, mobilize support, and let the best candidate emerge. We must discourage closed-door selections where a few individuals decide who takes office.”

    According to him, the absence of fairness in leadership selections would lead to internal conflicts within the party. He stressed that disputes often arise because many party members feel cheated in the process.

    “If the process is transparent and fair, even those who lose will accept the outcome,” he stated. “But when people believe they were denied victory unfairly, disputes emerge, making reconciliation difficult.”

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    He criticised some party members who obtain nomination forms solely for negotiation purposes rather than for genuine political engagement.

    “In past elections, we saw cases where people obtained nomination forms with no real intention to contest,” he said. “They only sought leverage for negotiations. That is not true political engagement. We must prioritize candidates with real capacity and commitment.”

    Omo-Agege acknowledged the competitiveness of the political process and urged party members to brace for rigorous contests.

    “Power is never handed to anyone effortlessly,” he remarked. “There is no magic moment where someone simply receives leadership. It must be fought for and earned.”

    Addressing concerns about internal disagreements within the party, he reassured members that political disputes are natural and will be resolved in due time.

    “Not everyone will be on the same page, and that is expected in politics. Even within families, there are disagreements, but they eventually reconcile. The same applies to our party,” he explained.

    He praised the resilience of APC members in Delta State, despite the challenges faced in the 2023 elections.

    “I must acknowledge the immense effort put forth by our members,” he said. “Despite challenges—including the absence of my friend and leader, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi—this local government still delivered nearly 6,000 legitimate votes. Many more votes were lost due to rigging and cancellations.”

    He expressed gratitude to party faithful for their support and reaffirmed his dedication to strengthening APC’s influence in Delta State.

    “It would be the height of ingratitude if I did not personally come here to express my appreciation. You stood by us, and I acknowledge your sacrifices,” he stated.

     Omo-Agege cautioned against concentrating power in a single group’s hands and called for inclusivity in the party’s structure.

    “Power should not be concentrated in one place or one group’s hands,” he said. “Politics operates like a pyramid, and everything starts from the grassroots. Offices should be spread across wards to ensure inclusivity.”

    He also insisted that party leaders must reside within the communities they represent, rejecting the idea of appointing individuals to positions in areas where they do not live.

    “It is unreasonable for someone living outside to be appointed a ward chairman in another,” he stated. “Local leadership should remain local. This principle should guide our political structure.”

    Senator Omo-Agege reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the APC in Delta State, urging all party members to prioritize unity and fairness as they work toward securing victory in 2027.

  • Omo-Agege tasks Delta APC on re-strategising, unity ahead 2027 polls

    Omo-Agege tasks Delta APC on re-strategising, unity ahead 2027 polls

    Immediate past Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has emphasized the need for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State Chapter to restrategize and build a united party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Omo-Agege, the Obarisi of Urhoboland stated this at Ovu-Orhie, Ethiope East Local Government Area, during an enlarged meeting of leaders and stakeholders of APC drawn from the 11 wards.

    Tasking leaders to show their commitment by working to eschew rancour in the party, the 2023 APC governorship candidate enjoined all well-meaning party members, particularly in Ethiope Federal Constituency, to close ranks and shun divisive tendencies for the development and the greater good of the constituency and the party at large.

    Omo-Agege stated that unlike some leaders of the party who after an election would not be seen again until another election cycle, he had come to interact with them on the way forward, by looking at areas where the party fared poorly, and figure out a way to improve on such lapses to ensure a better outcome in 2027.

    “After an election, we needed to sit down and evaluate our performance, analyse where we didn’t do well and how to prevent such shortcomings in future elections.

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    “Though, we didn’t win the governorship as expected, not because we lacked the capacity, but for some internal sabotage by some of the party leaders, we lost. However, for the first time we won two senatorial seats, one House of Representatives. Today, it has become two and seven House of Assembly seats. No opposition party has been able to achieve this feat since 1999 in Delta State.

    “What is ahead of us going into 2027 is to build a united party that is strong enough to uproot PDP and its years of unproductive governace in Delta and with the recent defection of our real lioness of the Niger Delta, Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, member representing Ethiope East/Ethiope West Constituency, Federal House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on NDDC and some top PDP leaders, APC is well positioned to sweep Ethiope Federal constituency and Delta in 2027.”

    Also speaking, Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu charged party leaders to show their commitment to APC by investing in the growth and development of the party to position it as a strong force to win elections.

    Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former Governor James Ibori, while charging those claiming to be leaders to live up to expectations, noted that the level of financial and material investment in a party is what qualifies one as leader of a party.

    According to her, “A leader of a party is not the one who will want to divert funds brought for elections purposes, but someone who goes beyond what was provided by the party to add his own and ensure that the party wins.

    “So, going forward, let’s work together, showing commitment to the ideas of the party. When we work collectively, with leaders investing their time and resources, PDP’s days are numbered in Delta.”

    Prominent leaders of the party at the meeting include: the acting APC state chairman, Chief Francis Obigbor, Chief Mrs. Judith Emuobonuvie Enamuotor, Chief Francis Atanomeyovwi, Federal Commissioner, National Assembly Service Commission, Mrs. Blessing Brume-Ataguba, Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission.

    Others are Hon.Efe Ofobruku, Hon. Oharisi Eric, Hon. Oshevire Joseph, Hon. Chief Ivwurie Evans, Chief Kent Akigho, Chief Christopher Ominimini, Hon. Innocent Anidi and Mrs. Hopelyn Ayo.

  • Omo-Agege, Keyamo others back Delta APC reconcilation efforts

    Omo-Agege, Keyamo others back Delta APC reconcilation efforts

    The Delta All Progressives Congress (APC) Reconciliation Committee, chaired by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has made significant strides in its mission to unify party leaders and stakeholders in the State. 

    Just a week after meeting with grassroots members across Delta, the committee engaged prominent party figures in Abuja to foster unity and secure support for revitalising the APC ahead of future elections.

    According to Valentine Onojeghuo, Secretary of the Media Sub-Committee, the Reconciliation Committee met with Delta’ 2023 APC governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; Hon. Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation; Hon. Victor Ochei, former Delta Speaker and Hon. Stella Okotete.

    Describing the discussions with Senator Omo-Agege as “highly productive,” Onojeghuo noted that the senator, with his team, voiced strong support for the committee’s objectives.

     “The Reconciliation Team had a very engaging and productive meeting with Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege,” Onojeghuo said. 

    “Critical issues surrounding party unity were discussed, and we received full endorsement from him and his team to align with the committee’s reconciliation goals.”

    In a separate meeting, Minister Keyamo shared “detailed and heartfelt perspectives” on the current state of the APC in Delta, emphasising the importance of uniting party structures to replicate the recent APC success in the Edo State governorship election. 

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    Onojeghuo highlighted the productive exchange, noting Keyamo’s commitment to a unified APC in Delta.

    The reconciliation team also met Ochei at his Abuja residence where they discussed strategies for achieving party unity. 

    Ochei expressed his willingness to collaborate with other party leaders to ensure a cohesive party structure and strengthen the APC’s chances in forthcoming elections.

    The committee further engaged with Okotete, who shared candid views on issues of concern and her recommendations for moving the party forward in Delta State. Onojeghuo commended Okotete for her transparent approach, which he said underscored her dedication to the APC’s progress in Delta.

    The committee’s leadership team in these engagements included notable figures such as Elder Godsday Orubebe, Senator Ede Dafinone, Chief Evans Omatsoguwa, Hon. Doris Uboh, Chief Judith Enamuotor, and Chief Johnson Opone.

    The Delta APC Reconciliation Committee was constituted following divisions within the party after the 2023 general elections. Aiming to restore unity, the committee has been actively engaging grassroots members and top leaders across the state to address grievances and chart a collaborative path forward.

  • Deputy Senate President: Omo-Agege ranked best choice

    A recent survey has ranked Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Senator Representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the Red Chamber, as the best candidate to occupy the Deputy Senate President’s seat in the soon-to-be inaugurated 9th Senate.

    The survey, conducted over the last three months, in which respondents and stakeholders totaling over 10,000 were sampled and surveyed across the South-South geo-political zone to ascertain, among others, who their choice for the position of Deputy Senate President would be, said Omo-Agege, is “the best material with the requisite political experience, parliamentary exposure and administrative expertise.”

    Majority of the respondents also said the lawmaker has “inter-governmental competencies and composure, needed skills to navigate and calm the often tension-soaked relations between the Executive and the Legislature, capacity to build most fruitful relations between the arms and tested professional prowess as well as the needed global exposure, to occupy the position of Deputy Senate President.”

    The survey was conducted by a pan-South-South Professional body known as the Global Forum of South-South Professionals (GFSSP) with representatives drawn from Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states respectively.

    To arrive at the result, focused group discussions were conducted in Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states. Also, random samplings of stakeholders and respondents were carried out in the six states.

    The subject matters provided for in the questionnaire include, competence, needed skills, bridge-building, parliamentary capacity, administrative experience, knowledge of the country and expertise in parliamentary matters.

    The limitation of the survey to the South-South zone, according to the report, is informed by the fact that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has zoned the position of Deputy Senate President to the geo-political district.

    Senator Omo-Agege’s preference was overwhelming as over 80 percent of the respondents listed him as the best material to represent South-South for the position. Most of the respondents particularly said his choice “would help navigate robust and mutually beneficial relationships between the Executive and the Legislature while maintaining Parliamentary independence.”

    Described by his admirers as “a very brilliant and strong parliamentarian and a lawyer who is a two-time Senator, they contended that if he sits on the plum seat, Omo-Agege “would bring a lot of experience and brilliance to bear on that role.” He is also described as “well experienced,” as he had served as Commissioner and later Secretary to Government of Delta State before winning a seat at the Senate.

  • Man in the arena: Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

    THAT Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Urhobo first term senator who spearheaded the opposition to the Bill re-ordering the sequence of elections that was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari is running for Deputy Senate President is no longer news. What many do not know is that this suave legal practitioner has many caps to his name.

    One of the most recognisable names in Nigerian politics, Omo-Agege, is a darling of core supporters of the President for his principled stand against Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki’s efforts to use the senate as a platform to discredit the Executive branch of government with the sole aim of stopping the President’s reelection. And for this he suffered persecution which culminated in his unlawful suspension for 90 legislative days. The courts later nullified the suspension 26 days after it was imposed for being unconstitutional and in violation of Senate rule order. But that was not the end of the battle. Some members, who felt he stopped them from baying for the blood of the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress, still have their daggers drawn, waiting for the moment to strike. The import of this, Omo-Agege said, is not lost on him.

    Throughout the course of his first term, Omo-Agege demonstrated the ability and willingness to give selfless service to the APC Senate Caucus. His record of leadership in the Caucus has, no doubt, prepared him well for the office of the Deputy Senate President. He is broadly respected in the Senate and beyond for his huge intellectual and political savvy, uncompromising sense of justice, uncommon courage and steely grit in defence of rule of law and justice.

    As one who suffered persecution in the senate because of his principled stand against the leadership of some persons, Omo-Agege believes that all senators are equal and that the 9th Senate will usher in a new era “where the common good of Nigerians, true friendship and mutual respect” for each other’s opinions and respect for the truth would be the guiding compass of the business of the next senate.

    Announcing his bid for the coveted position in a letter to senators-elect, Omo-Agege said “If elected Deputy Senate President of the 9th Senate, I will work with courage to change how this Senate operates.” He explained that he joined the race “on the clear understanding that the position has been zoned to the South-south geo-political zone by the All Progressives Congress, APC”.

    Since 1999, the South-south geo-political zone has not produced the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President or the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and for a party that wants to make great inroads into the zone that lays the golden eggs that sustains the Nigeria economy, zoning the DSP position to the zone would be a welcome development. And Omo-Agege would be a perfect fit.

    In all fairness, Omo-Agege deserves to be Deputy Senate President for his principled stand against impunity in the 8th Senate. His high-profile personality and track record of standing up for what he believes in and demonstrated loyalty to the party fits well with APC that wants to enforce party discipline.

    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s vision, steadfastness along with an uncompromising commitment to the ruling All Progressives Congress’ populist ideals are at the core of his ambition to become Deputy Senate President in the Senate of the 9th National Assembly.

    “Our victory in February was a powerful message from the Nigerian people that the legislative arm of government should work harmoniously with the executive in a unified government. Our mandate therefore is to co-operate with President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill the promises we made to the Nigerian people, to stand for rule of law and the constitution, to tackle insecurity, fight corruption and grow the economy,” he said, adding that “The Senate will serve the people better when we work faithfully as co-equals in the discharge of our constitutional duties of oversight without antagonising the executive while maintaining our independence.”

    Against all odds, he made history to become the first senator from Delta Central to win re-election. One reason Omo-Agege was able to vanquish the vast conspiracy against him is skilled retail politicking and his suaveness at tailoring national position to the local politics. For Omo-Agege who believes all politics is local, he never abandoned his responsibilities to his constituency. Not only has he executed all his constituency projects which he was able to account for during the campaign, he also attracted federal government funded projects to his constituency.  The multi-billion naira dualization of Sapele -Ewu Road, Section 1 and 2 in Delta and Edo states is one of such projects.

    It takes many things to make a good leader  experience, academic qualification, focus, foresight, intelligence, true grit and many more  and these, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, a lawyer of some 33 years’ standing, has in his belt. “The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, the leader· adjusts the sails,” John Maxwell once said. Coincidentally, this partly explains away the mystery and staying power of the Senator and his consistently innovative ways of attuning his vision of a better society to the needs of the people he serves.

    Justifying a conviction about the need to serve and make life better for others is better done through impactful deeds. This, Omo-Agege has been doing through philanthropy  much of which gets done through quiet, purposeful giving through the Ovie Omo-Agege Foundation which recently paid up counterpart funding that facilitated Federal Government agriculture loans for 1,000 youths in his senatorial district.

    Born on August 3, 1963 into the famous Omo-Agege Family of Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Senator Omo-Agege is the son of the erudite and incorruptible Nigerian jurist, Justice James Omo-Agege and Ms. Francesca Okwendo of the Wanogho Royal Family, also of Orogun.

    A trained lawyer with practice experience in both Nigeria and the United States of America, Omo-Agege served as Executive Assistant to the then Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori in 2003, Commissioner for Special Duties in 2005 and the Secretary to State Government (SSG) of Delta State in 2007.

    Upon his exit from government in 2007, Omo-Agege became the Chairman/CEO of Techsprings Limited, a dredging and oil services company based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He held this position until he was elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015 as the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District. He won re-election in the 2019 general election to become the first senator to win re-election in Delta Central Senatorial District.

    Self-effacing in his charitable activities, he explains it as a mere continuation of his longstanding commitment to populist principles. “If your actions inspire· others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader,” one of United States’ great past Presidents had said. This, Omo-Agege has brought to life through positive deeds and worthy causes. Indeed, his imprints in the academic and entrepreneurial lives of his people, especially youths are better told by the people. To him, “I am just but God’s channel of hope to the wary in spirit to whom we owe our conscience and the Almighty God a duty to do our all to help whenever we can without discrimination.”

    In less than four years of being in the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege successfully introduced and got his colleagues’ support for the Bill establishing the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun as a specialized university. Similar success attended his effort on a Bill to Prohibit Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions, a Bill to Amend the Electoral Act, 2010. He sponsored several other Bills, including; a Bill to Establish a National Electoral Offences Commission; a Bill to Establish the Dormant Accounts Fund and centrally Manage all Dormant Bank Accounts/Assets in Nigeria; a Bill to Amend the Court of Appeal Act; a Bill to Amend the National Industrial Court Act; and a Bill to Amend the Companies and Allied Matters Act and Establish State Corporate Affairs Commission.

    In the fortunate actualisation of his people’s cherished hope, the Bill establishing the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, was eventually signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In recognition of his selfless service to humanity and his people, Senator Omo-Agege has been conferred with numerous traditional titles, including the Obarisi of Ughelli, Obarisi of Orogun, Obarisi of Effurun-Otor, and Uvo of Mosogar. A confirmed Catholic, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, is happily married to Barrister (Mrs.) Rosemary Omo-Agege and together, they have five children.

    In his letter of declaration addressed to all newly-elected Senators, Senator Omo-Agege stressed his commitment to the APC’s pro-people ideals and the vision of collective efforts towards impacting more positively on the lives of all Nigerians.

    “With a larger progressive majority, the Senate can be a partner of the executive and speedily move our country to the Next Level and deliver for the people. I want to help in moving our country in this direction and shape visionary policies that will improve the lot of the Nigerian people we have the honour to represent. It is my goal to restore the goodness of the Nigerian government and apply it fairly and equitably to all Nigerians irrespective of where they come from, the God they serve and the political party they belong.

    “With this goal in mind, and the outpouring of support from colleagues in the days after the election who have urged me to seek a leadership position in the Senate, I am declaring my candidacy for Deputy Senate President and asking for your support and vote.

    “There is no doubt that our nation faces huge problems of insecurity, unemployment, infrastructural deficit and corruption. The men and women of the 9th Senate are up to this challenge provided we remain committed to working for the good of the Nigerian people.

    For now, many who have followed the trajectory of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s progress on the political front are waiting to see this being actualised in the nation’s best interest.

    • Adepitan, a Public Affairs commentator, writes from Abuja.

  • ’NASS lacks power to probe alleged crimes’

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy on Wednesday accused Senator Ovie Omo-Agege(Delta Central) of abusing the judicial process and the generosity of the leadership of the Senate.

    Misau claimed that some of Omo-Agege’s actions were aimed at bringing down the institution of the Senate to which he belongs.

    The Bauchi Central Senator stated this in reaction to the court injunction which Omo-Agege obtained on Tuesday from a High Court in Bwari-Abuja, restraining the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives from considering the report of an ad hoc committee set up by both chambers to investigate the invasion of the Senate Chamber by some hoodlums who carted away the mace the symbol of authority of the parliament.

     Misau, in a statement released in Abuja, noted that Omo-Agege’s suit is frivolous.

    He said: “The court cannot stop the legislature from the performance of its constitutional duties. Some hoodlums attacked the Senate chamber on live television during plenary and inflicted injury on workers on April 18, 2018.

    “The leadership set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate what happened and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence and months after the committee had submitted its report, a Senator rushed to court when he heard that there was a push for the report to be considered before the life of the present Senate expires. He wants to prevent the report of the committee from being considered.

    “In fact, his action has shown the reason why the Senate should actually go ahead and consider the report and act on it, no matter the odds.

    “Omo-Agege has dared the Senate. Now, he should face the music. I blame the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki for delaying on the consideration of the report.

    “The Eighth Senate is winding down and the general view of members is that before we leave, all outstanding reports should be considered and acted upon.

    “If Omo-Agege does not have any hidden agenda, why is he seeking to stop the consideration of the report, after all, he was given fair hearing to state his own case before the panel?

    “He is probably running helter-skelter now because he wants to become Deputy Senate President and he knows that if we adopt the recommendation of the committee, the outcome will affect his ambition. This is the reason why people should always consider the future implications of their actions.”

    He however implored the Senate leadership to move swiftly to vacate the injunction granted to Omo-Agege by the Bwari court and ensure nothing stops the Senate from getting to the roots of that invasion by hoodlums.

    Omo-Agege, in swift response to Misau’s statement, described it as completely misplaced.

    For him, the statement is akin to “the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob.”

    He noted it is elementary to know that nowhere in the constitution is the National Assembly and or its leadership granted the power to investigate crimes.

    Omo-Agege said, “This is the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob. It is cowardly for Saraki to have Senator Misau sign his (Saraki’s) press release. Saraki needs to brush up on his knowledge of the constitution and the law.

    “Nowhere in the Constitution is he granted the right to investigate crimes. He should be counseled that the ancillary powers derivable from section 88 of the 1999 constitution must be exercised in furtherance of law making and not witch-hunting. Only the Nigeria police have the powers to investigate crimes.

    “Omo-Agege has not dared the senate and would never do so. He has instead dared Saraki to continue with his impunity and bigotry at his own peril.

    “The Kwara electorate has had enough of Saraki’s impunity and excesses and so do we.

    “A terminal date has been fixed and in a while the whole country will be breathe a sigh of relief.”

  • Senate Presidency: Shettima backs Lawan

    Borno State Governors Kashim Shettima Monday threw his weight behind the candidature of Senator Ahmed Lawan as the President of the ninth Senate.

    Shettima who spoke to reporters in Abuja said that his decision to back the candidature of Lawan is line with the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The APC has already endorsed Lawan (Yobe North) as the party’s choice for the Senate President.

    Shettima insisted that the decision of the APC about who becomes the President of the ninth Senate must be respected as way to enforce party discipline and cohesion.

    The governors who said that it was not true that Borno elders were backing Senator Ali Ndume to emerge Senate President noted that as the first citizen of the state he made wide consultation before his decision to support Lawan.

    He said, “Thank you so much. I have very little to say. Ordinarily I am not even supposed to come here because there are three things to be combated.

    “I hail from the same state with the distinguished Senator Ali Ndume. And I appreciate the fact that politics is local. But politics is also national. And I believe the blood that binds us together supersedes whatever we might harbour.

    “But I fully aligned with the aspiration of my party, to the aspiration of President Muhammadu Buhari and by the grace of God; we are going to mobilize all our goodwill to see that we are fully on board.

    “We are for Senator Ahmad Lawan, we are for Femi Gbajabiamila and all other senators and other House of Representatives members endorsed by the party.

    “We are for party discipline that allowed everyone to aspire for political offices. We believe that we must respect the party. All of us won under platforms. There is no provision for independent candidate.

    “I don’t know whether anyone has won under an independent platform. Except maybe Senator-elect Ifeanyi Ubah who brought in an anonymous party and won.

    READ ALSO: Senate Presidency: Adeyeye urges APC to discuss with Ndume, Goje, others

    “So, I feel honored by the visit but honestly this visit is unwarranted. I am fully onboard. I am for Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate president.

    “Well, I am the first citizen of the state; I have made wide consultations with our leaders from Borno before resolving to back Senator Ahmed Lawan.

    “And most importantly, let’s be brutally honest, Muhammadu Buhari is the single candidate in the country that most of us from the North won election by aligning with Muhammadu Buhari.

    “So, we have no basis to undermine him or to disrespect him. People like Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Sen Ifeanyi Ubah, Sen Francis Alimikhena won in spite of Buhari not because of Buhari.

    “But most of us from the North have no basis not to align ourselves with President Buhari and whoever he enforces.

    “He has endorsed some of the best hands we have in the system and where we hail from; Sen Ahmed Lawan is one of the best hands we have.

    “It is a reality. He has been in the National Assembly since 1999; he has the experience, exposure, pedigree, intellect to redefine the process. He is the best amongst equals.

    “He is level headed, calm, matured and we need such quality of leadership to drive the 9th Senate.

    “We, the people of Borno, the elected representatives of the people of Borno and we are the representatives of the people. “We are not at war with Senator Ali Ndume, he is my kinsman but we will continue to prevail on him to align himself with the aspiration of the party. We are not at war. We belong to the same paternity.”

  • Court upholds Omo-Agege’s election

    The Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State has upheld the candidacy of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and the other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who emerged through the primaries supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and conducted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    Justice Emeka Ewite struck out the suit by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, challenging the validity of the shadow poll that produced Omo-Agege for incompetency and lacking in merit.

    According to him, Omo-Agege and Rev. Francis Waive, winners of the Delta Central Senatorial District and Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituencies elections, were necessary parties, who ought to have been joined to the suit.

    Justice Ewite noted that Emerhor failed to deny the counter-affidavit filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it did not monitor the primary election that purportedly produced him.

    He said: “Failure to deny the counter-affidavit is an admission which requires no further proof that INEC only monitored the primaries which produced Omo-Agege. INEC is to supervise or monitor primary elections and not conduct.”

    APC’s lawyer Lucky Ajokperiniovo described the verdict as a landmark for the party and candidates who emerged legitimately through the primaries.

    He said: “It is a landmark judgment, the court has again reaffirmed the position of the Supreme Court to say that persons who are not joined as parties to a suit are not bound by the judgment given by that court. The court struck out the suit filed by Emerhor for being incompetent and lacking in merit. The court says Omo-Agege’s election remains the valid and legitimate primary conducted by the party’s National Working Committee.

    “The consent judgment is a judgment of court that is valid and binding on all persons until it is set aside. This judgment has given the party huge relief in determining who is the senatorial candidate in the Delta Central Senatorial election.”

    INEC’s lawyer Robert Emukpoeruo said the commission was neutral and impartial.

    “It is the statutory duty of INEC to monitor primary elections and report those who won and their scores. The report by INEC shows that Omo-Agege won the primaries conducted by the NWC,” he said.

    Emerhor’s lawyer Mr. G.C Igbokwe said: “We are happy with the judgment.”

  • ‘Omo-Agege not affected by sack judgment’

    The Asaba Federal High Court judgment, which sacked the Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) executive committee does not affect Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, his spokesman, Nath Dortie, has said.

    The court had sacked the Prophet Jones Ode Erue-led executives, which conducted the primaries that gave Omo-Agege the ticket to contest this year’s senatorial election.

    Justice Toyin Adegoke, in the March 19 verdict, recognised the Cyril Ogodo-led executive committee instead.

    The Federal High Court in Abuja had last June 18 recognised the Erue-led executives.

    A statement by Dortie said since the Senator was not a party to the suit, he was not bound by Justice Adegoke’s verdict.

    The statement reads: “This judgment is in conflict with the valid, unchallenged and subsisting June 18, 2018, judgment of Justice Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The suit validated, recognised and gave legal life to the Prophet Jones-led executives, a judgment that the plaintiffs in the Asaba court has failed to set aside/appeal against.”

    Omo-Agege noted that the APC and Erue have appealed Justice Adegoke’s judgment, but insisted that the Federal High Court, whether in Abuja or Asaba, was the same and of coordinate jurisdiction nationally.

    He added: “The Asaba court has no appellate authority to override or set aside the valid, subsisting and final judgment of the Abuja court.

    “Without prejudice to the appeals already filed, it is our opinion that not being a party to the Asaba action, Delta State APC candidates in the 2019 elections, including Senator Ovie omo-Agege, is not and cannot be bound by pronouncements in the Asaba judgment.”

  • Omo-Agege caused APC’s loss in Delta – AVM Ajobena (Rtd)

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, ), has alleged Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s wrestle for “power” led to the party’s gross failure in the recent gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in the state.

    The former military administrator, in a statement on Tuesday, also labeled former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu as “moles” who put their individual interests before those of the APC.

    Decrying the party’s woeful performance in the 2019 polls, Ajobena whose daughter sought the Okpe House of Assembly seat and lost, claimed the Delta Central Senator “conspired against Ogboru” to hijack the party’s structure for his alleged 2023 governorship ambition.

    According to him: “Senator Omo-Agege for his selfish and pretentious support role for Ogboru’s governorship conspired against Ogboru and actually has had a hidden agenda to takeover/hijack the House of Assembly that would emerge should APC win the election.

    “The people in the NWC saw through this evil scheme and advised Ogboru to identify persons that would be loyal to him to replace Omo-Agege’s handpicked candidates for the House of Assembly.

    “This opened another front in the grand conspiracy as to who would be in charge of Delta State’s affairs should APC win the election.

    ‘’This was the background to the internal rift in the Prophet Jones/Ogboru led camp.

    “With the open endorsement of Ogboru’s candidacy and his handpicked would be House of Assembly team, Senator Omo-Agege went back to re-strategise on how best he could position himself to be in charge.

    “It was against the background of these internal undercurrent of power struggle that I admonished that we go into the election as a united APC team while we wait for the court to decide who should be on the driver’s seat in managing the affairs of an APC government which all long suffering Deltans were looking forward to,” AVM Ajobena stated.

    READ ALSO: You have no moral right to claim Omo-Agege’s seat, ex-Milad tells Emerhor

    Recalling events leading to the party’s primaries last year, the retired AVM described Kachikwu and Uduaghan as “moles” in the party

    He added the minister made no or little efforts “to intervene,” in the disunity among party stakeholders despite the national chairman, Adams Oshiomole’s, directive to reconcile all factions last June.

    “The outcome of the primaries was predictable and our party was heading on a course of self- destruction.

    ‘’Again, on October 11, 2018, I reached out to all our party leaders calling for a political solution to the crisis rocking the party, again the call was ignored.

    “When all INEC doors and windows had been tightly shut, the Minister started pretending that he is doing a great job of trying to broker unity within the party. Are we fools?

    ‘’For avoidance of doubt we know where the Minister’s interest lies. Fortunately, for him he has found an ally for the pursuit of that interest with the entrance of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan into the party,” Ajobena alleged.