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  • Umeh: My election is victory for APGA, Anambra

    Umeh: My election is victory for APGA, Anambra

    Chief Victor Umeh was recently elected as senator by the people of Anambra Central District. Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU writes on his thorny journey to the Upper chamber of the National Assembly. 

    The journey to the Senate for the former National Chairman of the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),  Chief Victor Umeh,  was not easy.

    But, the anxiety came to an end on January 13, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  conducted the election in the Anambra Central senatorial re-run and declared Umeh the winner.

    Before now,  many litigations had trailed the re-run, with different parties and candidates fighting against Umeh and his party.

    After the re-run, the APGA candidate was issued with the certificate of return by the INEC in Abuja and proceeded to the senate for his swearing in.

    Umeh and APGA had gone to the tribunal in Awka after the 2015 elections to challenge the declaration of Senator Uche Ekwunife’s as the winner by INEC.

    Umeh won at the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which declared that Ekwunife’s nomination by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was faulty.

    The court also directed in it’s judgement that re-run election be conducted within 90 days in central senatorial zone.

    The court did not stop there, it equally barred PDP from contesting the re-run election, but the court refused the All progressives Congress APC to substitute it’s candidate Sen Chris Ngige, who had already been appointed a minister.

    However, the party sent an official letter to INEC to conduct another primary to replace Ngige, who withdrew from the election.

    The APC and INEC are still in court over the matter. The hearing had been fixed for January 23 by the Court of Appeal,  before the electoral body hurriedly conducted the re-run.

    According to Ngige what INEC was doing was illegal, describing the election as kangaroo and a charade.

    He said listing his name on the ballot paper was an aberration,  when he had already informed the commission he was not in the race.

    Ngige said: “INEC’s action which is biased jaundiced will be viewed as an act intentionally undertaken to humiliate and ridicule my person “

    “My party APC and INEC are in court of Appeal Abuja over this obnoxious and illegal action of INEC with hearing on the matter fixed for 23 January, 2018 which is still within the ambit  of 90 days ordered by the court,  only for them to fix the election 13th, in order to give an unfair advantage to the APGA candidate to go unopposed.“

    Despite the hiccups, Umeh that fought relentlessly in making sure APGA had a representative at the Senate,  having lost Senator Chris Anyanwu from Imo State to another party.

    The struggle for the Senate,  had pitched Umeh against some powers that be in Anambra because of what some of them tagged as ‘arrogance.’

    But, Umeh’s dogged nature and maturity had kept him moving. He has been victorious in many battles.

    There was a power game between him and former Governor Peter Obi, who wanted to become the candidate of PDP, but failed.

    The APGA chieftain could be described as a cat with nine lives in the politics of Anambra State, having engaged in many legal battles and came unscathed.

    When he came face to face with some iconic figures in Anambra politics like Obi,  Ekwunife and Ngige people never gave him any.

    The election has been won and lost. But, will Umeh be a good senator?

    For Chief Anayo Nweke, who was one of the candidates during the election, in the African Democratic Congress ADC, said the Umeh’s purported victory would not stand.

    He claimed that what INEC did in the central senatorial zone was not an election in any way,  accusing the electoral body of compromise.

    Nweke further called on the Senate president,  Bukola Saraki and his co-senators not to swear any body from Anambra, until the court cases are finally settled.

    He said Chief Obiora Okonkwo was equally declared senator-elect by the federal High, while himself is also in the race for the same seat and APC too, adding that it would be unfair to swear the APGA candidate in by the Senate.

    The Anambra state Coordinator, Transform Nigeria Movement TNM, Comrade Obi Ochije, told the Nation yesterday that Umeh’s victory was victory for Democracy.

    He said Umeh’s presence in the Senate would awaken the sleeping ones from the Southeast region.

    Ochije said the people of Anambra are happy for the victory of the man he described as a political bulldozer, adding that the central senatorial zone had really suffered untold hardship since 2015.

    Now that the coast is clear for Umeh, what will be his reaction at the Senate and his body language to his traducers.

     

  • Umeh takes Senate seat

    Umeh takes Senate seat

    Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh, was yesterday sworn in as the senator representing Anambra Central.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki swore in Umeh before the start of plenary to the applause of his supporters who thronged the National Assembly complex.

    Anambra Central had been without representation for almost two years following the sack of Uche Ekwunife on December 7, 2015, by the Court of Appeal.

    Governor Willie Obiano accompanied Umeh to the inauguration.

    The crowd of supporters choked the lobby and adjoining hearing rooms.

    Umeh, who addressed reporters after taking his oath of office, called for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference report.

  • My victory divine, says Umeh 

    My victory divine, says Umeh 

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate and senator-elect for Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has described his victory in Saturday’s rerun as divine.

    Umeh won the senatorial rerun, having polled the highest votes

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Awka, Umeh promised to champion the cause of the less privileged.

    He said although he had limited time at the Senate, he stressed that he never allows  time to limit him.

    “Lost time is lost. We look forward to the present and the future. I still have 18 months to work for my people and I have always said I am never limited by time.

    “By the time I get there, I will do my best to support the leadership of the Senate; I will try to be ingenious in making my contribution to the good of my people and Nigerians.

    “I will explore the possibility of receiving attention from the leadership. They have to look at my constituency with pity for what has happened to us,” Umeh said

     

  • Apathy mars Anambra Central Senatorial election re-run

    Apathy mars Anambra Central Senatorial election re-run

    •ADC candidate faults election 

    The Anambra Central Senatorial rerun election was marred yesterday by apathy,  as a large section of the  electorate failed to turn up.

    The  candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),  Chief Victor Umeh blamed it on what he called  opposition propaganda.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not take part in the rerun.

    Many of the electoral officers deployed for the election were  seen sitting idle as a result of the low turnout of  voters.

    In Ebeakpu square unit 11, Amawbia ward one, Awka South LGA, Mozie Ngozi blessing, told The Nation that the rerun was a far cry from the November 18 Governorship Election in the state.

    The Agulu Lake Migrant School polling unit was desolate.

    The scenario was however different at Aguluzoigbo town ward 18, where the APGA candidate, Chief Victor Umeh, voted

    A voter who declined to give his name said: “We have to come out to support our son. Even if the turnout is low in other places, it has to be different here.”

    The  candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC0 in the  election, Chief Anayo Nweke, said what happened yesterday in Anambra was a charade.

     

     

  • Umeh lied against Obi, says media aide

    Valentine Obienyem,  media aide to the former Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi has dismissed claims by Chief Victor Umeh on a national television recently as pure lies.

    Obienyem denied the claim by Umeh that Innoson factory at Nnewi was closed down after some Chinese workers were kidnapped and did not open until Obi left office as untrue.

    He also said it was not true Obi left All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) because he wanted to become a Minister or Vice President.

    In a statement at the weekend, Obienyem pointed out the same Innoson Umeh claimed did not open during Obi’s tenure because of kidnapping bought vehicles for schools, security, traditional rulers and for refuse disposal during Obi’s reign.

    On claim that Obi’s Commissioner for Science and Technology was kidnapped and killed, Obienyem said that the incident was after Obi had left office.

    “I said this because during electioneering, Umeh was on Odenigbo Radio programme where he said the same thing, which Oseloka Obaze quickly corrected with facts and figures where he gave details of how the man was kidnapped after Obi had left office and how he unfortunately died in the process.”

     

     

    He wondered if Obi was the first person to have left a party, stating “The man is on a mission and is looking for any available story to distort to achieve his heart desires.”

    Obienyem advised Umeh to grow up and stop displaying antics of immature minds, urging him to concentrate on assisting Governor Willie Obiano to deliver his electioneering promises.

  • Anambra Central poll: Umeh defeats Ekwunife at Supreme Court

    Anambra Central poll: Umeh defeats Ekwunife at Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Mrs. Uche Ekwunife challenging the refusal of the Court of Appeal to set aside its earlier judgement of December 7, 2015, which sacked her as the senator representing Anambra Central District and ordered a rerun poll, thereby disqualifying her and the PDP from the exercise.
    Ekwunife had approached the apex court asking it to upturn the decision of the Appellate Court to stand by the ruling that sent her packing from the Senate, which was given consequent upon an appeal by the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, against the tribunal verdict that upheld her victory in the March 28, 2015 Senate election.
    But, the Supreme Court, its judgement, refused to grant Ekwunife’s request, describing her move as a flagrant abuse of court process. The Supreme Court maintained that it had no jurisdiction on the matter, pointing out that issues arising from the National Assembly election petition tribunal ends in the Court of Appeal according to Section 246, Subsection 3 of the constitution. The lead judgement was read by Justice Amina Augie. Other; Justices agreed with the judgement. They wondered why anybody would engage in such a futile exercise when the constitution is very clear on the matter. The Justices said before the Supreme Court can assume jurisdiction on matters relating to legislative elections, to go to the National Assembly has to amend the constitution.
    Speaking with reporters after the ruling, Umeh said: “From day one, it was clear that this appeal was brought in total disobedience to the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. And the constitution you know is the grundnorm. That is the supreme document. If there is a clear provision in the constitution, there is no way you can circumvent it in pursuit of your personal interest or ambition. When we came here on 14th of November (2016), I addressed you after the hearing of the appeal. I said the only way this appeal will succeed is if the constitution is amended. And if it is amended today, it will not take a retroactive effect. So, it was obvious to us that what they were trying to do is not less than what the Supreme Court described to be flagrant disobedience to the Constitution of Nigeria.”
    He added: “Today is the third time I am coming to this court and wining. I have never resorted to violence throughout my political life. I was in this Supreme Court on 25th of March 2011 when I defeated Chekwas Okorie. On 15th of January last year I was here, I won. I defeated Maxi Okwu. Today, the 10th of February 2017, again, I won. I don’t know how many people who have travelled to the Supreme Court three times and won all. I always make sure I adhere to the law, the provisions of the constitution and judicial precedents in pursuing my defence.”
    Asked what should be the way forward for the Anambra Central rerun election with the judgement, Umeh remarked: “The next thing to do now is for INEC to fix the date for the fresh election ordered by the Court of Appeal.
    This judgement has resolved all the issues. Firstly, the judgement read this morning has confirmed that PDP’s candidate was disqualified by the Court of Appeal before it ordered for the fresh election. That being the case, under our law, somebody who was disqualified in an election can no longer take part in the fresh election. Supreme Court has decided it since 13th of February 2009 – this Supreme Court.

  • Anambra Central rerun: Umeh pleads for patience

    Anambra Central rerun: Umeh pleads for patience

    The candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra Central rerun, Chief Victor Umeh, has appealed for calm and patience.

    The former past National Chairman of APGA, assured that the rerun would hold, despite politician’s antics to frustrate the conduct of the exercise with frivolous court cases.

    The rerun fixed March 5  was postponed indefinitely by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable it appeal an Abuja High Court ruling compelling it to include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the judgement of the Court of Appeal that disqualified the party and its candidate from participating.

    The APGA candidate said: “What played out in Anambra Central was what played out in Kogi East and Kogi Central Senatorial districts.

    The PDP challenged conduct at the tribunal on the ground that they did conduct primaries. And the elections were nullified and their candidates were also disqualified by the Court of Appeal.

    He said the rerun had  been concluded in Kogi East and Kogi Central senatorial districts.

    Umeh said: “In the case of Anambra Central, PDP doesn’t want to give up. Their candidate has also gone to the Supreme Court, I mean their then candidate, who is no longer a PDP member, had gone to the Supreme Court to seek reinstatement, even when the final court that handles National Assembly matters is the Court of Appeal.

    “So, they are doing everything to deny the people of Anambra Central the right of representation. Why PDP is struggling to be part of an election they are already out of the way, their candidate who was disqualified by the Court of Appeal is also struggling to get reinstated outside the provisions of the law.

    “They’ve boasted openly that since they can no longer occupy that senatorial seat that nobody will occupy it until 2019. And they are working hard to frustrate the Court of Appeal from hearing the Appeals pending at the Court of Appeal against the judgement of the High Court that ordered that PDP should take part in a rerun after their candidate has been disqualified.

    ‘They are doing everything to frustrate the progress of the matter at the Court of Appeal. For me, I feel so bad because there are so much to be done for our people using that opportunity. But they have no option other than to be patient. I am urging them to be calm and patient. The antics of those causing this unnecessary delay will be exhausted very soon.”

    He explained that Ekwunife’s adventurous appeal at the Supreme Court, was argued on the November 14, noting that the Supreme Court has reserved judgement for  February 10 next year.

    “If on that day the Supreme Court upholds the law and puts her case to rest, that distraction will be completely over; her own distraction will be over. Then we will accelerate action on the pending appeal at the Court of Appeal for which they have gone on an interlocutory appeal to the Supreme Court. So, God willing and God being our helper all those protracted issues will be resolved. And the election will be conducted by God’s grace.

    Umeh added: “I know the good people of Anambra Central are missing a lot already, because if I have been there before now, the story would have completely changed. But they must know that anything that will be good, before it will come your way; you have to put up a very strong fight for it.

    “I am assuring them that even if it is two years that we are able to salvage in the current tenure they will see the difference, very big difference than what they have been seeing before. And like I have said before, they will just have to be patient because there is no alternative to doing what is lawful.

    “If we don’t fight all this brigandage that has been going on in Anambra State during elections – the manipulations they have been doing in this state, there will be no stop to it. So, by the time we go through the whole hog of this Anambra Central senatorial district issue, people will learn their lessons.

    “People will be prepared to submit themselves to the provisions of the law. Anybody who wants to contest election knows that there is no shortcut to obtaining the mandate to represent the people.

    “When elections are called in the future, people will be prepared to be vigilant and look at what the law say, keep yourself in line with the laws and go to the people to obtain your mandate, without keeping your hope in rigging elections, manipulating the security agencies and the INEC.”

  • Obiano, Umeh, Maku woo Edo voters for APGA

    Obiano, Umeh, Maku woo Edo voters for APGA

    Leaders of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) have told electorates in Edo State that their candidate for the September 10 governorship election, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, is capable of continuing from where Governor Adams Oshiomhole will stop.

    They said Onaiwu would replicate the developmental strides in Anambra State in Edo State.

    Chieftains of APGA that stormed Edo State last weekend for the flagging-off campaign of the party included Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, former Minister of Information and Orientation, Labaran Maku, and former National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh

    Obiano, in his remark, said Onaiwu will continue the good work Oshiomhole has done.

    Obiano said the Oshiomole has done excellently well in developing the state, but that it was imperative there is continuation of the good work already started.

    He promised that Onaiwu would continue and build on the legacies of the governor.

    He said: “We are not here to criticize anybody. The  Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole has done well by developing the state but we need somebody that can continue from where he has stopped. “

  • Tension as Obi, Umeh go head to head in Anambra Central

    Tension as Obi, Umeh go head to head in Anambra Central

    The rivalry between immediate former governor Peter Obi and his erstwhile political associate, Chief Victor Umeh, the former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is playing out in the former friends’ quests to oc  cupy the Anambra Central Senatorial District’s seat, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu and Nwanosike Onu in Awka

    WILL Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) be allowed to field a fresh candidate in the forthcoming Anambra Central Senatorial Election? Will former Governor Peter Obi succeed in flying the PDP flag to contest against his erstwhile political associate, Chief Victor Umeh, the former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the other major stakeholders like APC candidate? If he does, there are speculations that the election may turn out to be one of the most thrilling in the politics of the state, given the calibre of candidates, especially the closeness of Obi and Umeh while they dominated the politics of the state in the past decade.

    In fact, since the court ordered fresh election in Anambra Central after the disqualification of Ekwunife, there have been different shades of arguments on whether the PDP still has the right to participate in the election by fielding a fresh candidate. The controversy became even more strategic to the overall politics of the state when the party, the PDP, decided to field Mr. Peter Obi, who, until his recent defection to PDP, was the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APGA).

    As would be expected, more than other stakeholders, APGA as a party and its leadership have openly expressed displeasure over PDP’s planned participation in the election, especially its choice of Obi as the party’s candidate for Anambra Central. The party, The Nation gathered, is not taking the matter lightly and is not hiding its desire that Obi be disallowed to contest.

    Commenting on the development, the National Chairman of APGA, Dr. Victor Ikechukwu Oye, told The Nation, “Whatever goes up must come down. Any day the election will take place, Peter Obi will not contest because he never participated in the process that produced candidates for the election of last year. His picture was never on the ballot paper; Obi was only a spoiler, a confusionist and a destroyer. He is only expressing his hatred of Victor Umeh. But he is not God. He is our brother.

    “He came to Anambra and did wonderfully well. If I were him, I will go to my house and sleep and remain a statesman for life,” he said.

    Umeh is equally passionate over the matter. Shortly after receiving the title of ‘Ikenga Oba’ conferred on him by the traditional ruler of Oba in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, Igwe Peter Ezenwa, he said he hoped that soon, the Court of Appeal would give its final judgment on the eligibility of candidates who would participate in the rerun election.

    He added that it had been decided in a plethora of cases by Nigeria’s Supreme Court that no fresh candidate “shall participate in an election after it was cancelled and a re-run ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

    He added that he could not understand why Obi, who had severally benefitted from the rule of law, would want to arm-twist the law now.

     “INEC is still following what the law says that those who ran in the first election are the only eligible people to run again.

    “INEC wants to remind those not qualified; those who benefitted from the rule of law but want to subvert it now that they cannot do that.

    “People cannot play pranks forever. I hope that very soon, the Court of Appeal will give final verdict. Anybody who knows what the law says and wants to ambush it will soon regret it,” he said.

    The honour coming shortly after he was accused of having links with pro-Biafran groups, Umeh described the many titles coming his way from prominent traditional rulers in the state as “a loud” message to his political rivals.

    “I thank God that almost all the first class traditional rulers in the South-East have conferred titles on me. And this one is clear testimony of my testament and character.

    “There is hardly any title I have not received. If rulers continue to give me these titles, it is an appreciation of my role in Igbo land,” Umeh concluded.

    It would be recalled that recently, Tansian University at Umumya, Anambra State, conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Political Science on Umeh, who is a 1984 graduate of Estate Management from the University of Nigeria (UNN) and a Board of Trustees (BoT) member of APGA.

    Umeh, who was honoured alongside business mogul, Chief ABC Orjiakor, expressed joy that the honour associated him with the masses as well as eggheads.

    Asked why his principal and his party, APGA, are desperate to stop Obi, one of Umeh’s close associate said, “You know chief is not afraid of political battle with any rival. His courage and ability manifested when he coordinated Peter Obi’s legal cases, namely, recovering of Obi’s stolen mandate as governor of Anambra State through the courts, vitiating of the subsequent unlawful impeachment of Obi and ensuring that the then Governor Obi served his full tenure. Don’t also forget that the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu once said of Chief Umeh, ‘The might of a warrior is tested only in battle. On this historic occasion of the inauguration of Governor Peter Obi for a record second term of office, I salute your tenacity, your courage and resilience, APGA has always known what has now become widely acknowledged… kudos.”

    Chief Ifeanyi Afam, a PDP chieftain in Awka, reacting to the development however insisted that APGA is afraid of Obi and is therefore desperate to stop him. “But you know Okwute cannot be cowed. We are waiting.”

    It would be recalled that the intrigues in Anambra Central peaked on December 7, 2015, when Ekwunife lost his senate seat following the Court of Appeal’s judgement that nullified her March 28, 2015 election. INEC had barred the PDP from partaking in the fresh election, but the matter became more complex when a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to include PDP in the fresh election for Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    Justice Anwuli Chikere, while delivering the judgement set aside INEC’s ‘Public Notice: INEC/SEC/314’ of 1st February, 2016 which excluded the PDP and its candidate from participating in the court-ordered fresh election for the Anambra Central Senatorial District for the National Assembly.

    The judge also upheld the affidavit of the PDP, and ordered it to substitute its candidate for the election.  The party had told the court that Ekwunife, its former candidate for the March 28, 2015 election, had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the nullification of her election by an Appeal Court in Enugu which ordered a re-run.

  • DSS arrests Umeh

    DSS arrests Umeh

    Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and aspirant in Anambra Central, Victor Umeh has been arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) for his alleged sponsorship of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB).

    It was gathered that Umeh was invited to the DSS headquarters at Amawbia at about 9am and at about 11am, he was taken to Abuja.

    A source said the DSS received petitions against Umeh, who had not hidden his love for the pro-Biafra group.

    “I am at Aguluzigbo, country home of Chief Victor Umeh. His wife said he was arrested in the morning by the DSS and taken to their state headquarters.

    “But at about 11am, he was taken to Abuja in a pick-up van. They said they received petitions against him that he supports IPOB. They pointed accusing fingers on some of his known opponents who may have sponsored that petition.

    “Right now, you cannot reach Umeh on any of his mobile “