Tag: Uzodimma

•Anyanwu: Judgment is miscarriage of justice

The Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has upheld the election of Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Imo State governor for the second term.

In two unanimous judgments on Friday, the three-member tribunal dismissed the petition by the Labour Party (LP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and their candidates in the election held on November 11, 2023.

However, the PDP governorship candidate in the election, Senator Samuel Anyanwu has rejected the tribunal’s ruling, while calling on his supporters to remain resolute.

 At the November 11, 2023, Imo governorship election, the LP had as its candidate, Athan Achonu, while the candidate of the PDP was Samuel Anyanwu in the election.

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Both parties had, in their petitions, raised allegations of non-compliance with relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and malpractices.

There was also the challenge of Uzodimma’s qualification, based on the claim that his General Certificate of Education (GCE) result was forged.

They prayed the court to void  Uzodimma’s election on the grounds that he did not score the majority of lawful votes cast in the election.

In the lead judgment in the petition by the LP, read by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, the tribunal held that Uzodimma’s election as Imo State governor complied substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The tribunal equally held that the petitioner failed to prove their allegations of over-voting and non-compliance to the Electoral Act as required.

In the judgment in the petition by the PDP and its candidate, the tribunal equally found that the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof imposed on them by the law.

The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove that Uzodinma submitted a forged certificate and that the election violated the Electoral Act.

The tribunal proceeded to dismiss both petitions for lacking in merit.

Anyanwu: Judgment is miscarriage of justice

Reacting to the tribunal ruling yesterday, Senator Anyanwu vowed to do everything within the ambit of the law to reclaim his stolen mandate.

He said that the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal was so inconsequential that it would not hinder him from achieving success at the end of the day.

While describing the judgment as a miscarriage of justice, he further assured that he would not be deterred by the minor setback at the lower court, adding that all necessary legal avenues would be explored until victory was assured.

According to him, the ruling of the tribunal was another clear case of misplaced judgment which violates the substance of the petitions challenging monumental election irregularities, falsification of results, and disqualification.

“Today, there is a charged atmosphere in Imo State; the faces of Imo people are looking moody and unhappy. This shows that their efforts to enthrone good governance by voting for me as their preferred candidate have been hijacked.

“We can’t accept this judgment, we shall utilize all constitutional means to regain our mandate. In a few days from now, my legal team will be done with the review of the verdict. Thereafter, we shall do the needful.”

Anyanwu maintained that his party has substantial merit to further seek redress at the Appeal Court to challenge the judgment of the tribunal, and enjoins PDP members and his supporters to remain resolute and peaceful until the stolen mandate is recovered.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma will on Thursday deliver the 52nd convocation  lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka

That will make him one of the few sitting governors in Nigeria to have engaged in such an intellectual harvest at the convocation of the Premier University.

Former Governor of Old Imo State Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd) will chair the convocation lecture, while all the South East governors and other distinguished personalities across the nation are expected at the event.

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A statement by Professor Bennett C Nwanguma, Chairman, Senate Ceremonials Committee said Uzodinma  will speak on the topic: “Why universities should lead the way to a new Nigeria”.

According to the statement,  the convocation lecture is a major highlight of the week-long ceremony for the award of degrees and certificates to the graduates of the institution.

Uzodinma’s lecture will be followed on Friday by the award of first degrees and certificates. On Saturday there will be award of honour degrees.

Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, confirmed that the governor had accepted to deliver the lecture, describing the lecture  as thought-provoking.

He said the letter conveying  the nomination of the governor by the University Management and Senate had given him the leeway to choose “a topic that suits the mood of the nation.”

Emelumba described the topic as engaging and apt, adding that  he believes that it would enrich the academic community, the political class and the public.

Governor Hope Uzodimma‘s move to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in Imo State has been met with widespread jubilation and praise from professionals and businessmen in the state.

A body of professionals of the Forum of Imo Professionals (FIP), commended the governor for signing the Imo State Electricity Law and securing President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the transfer of the Egbema Power Plant project to the state government.

The body, in a statement issued by its coordinator, Ambassador Gregory Mbadiwe, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, said the governor’s bold decision has set the stage for massive a rapid industrialization of the state.

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“This bold stride by Governor Uzodimma has set the ball rolling for massive infrastructural development, rapid industrialization, and revamping of small and medium enterprises.

“We are confident that with this framework, there will be adequate electricity supply in all parts of Imo State within the next eight months”, the statement said.

The professionals praised Governor Uzodimma for engaging a world-class power company from Egypt, Elsewedy Power Generation, for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution in the state.

They expressed optimism that the initiative will spur youth creativity, boost employment, and achieve self-sufficiency in all sectors, making Imo a major investment hub for the South East and the nation at large.

“Electricity supply is essential for modern development, and we appreciate Governor Uzodimma for this initiative.

“Our people have suffered years of retrogression due to poor power supply, but this move has elicited spontaneous jubilation and hopefulness across the state”, said.

Ambassador Mbadiwe also commended Governor Uzodimma for attracting massive investments into the state including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hassan Allam Holding and Punz Limited for the construction of a 200-room Imo Marriot Hotel in Owerri.

The forum expressed delight that the project will have a direct impact on the economy of the State, including creating markets, investments, and employment opportunities in the state.

The family of Levi Opara, a 46-year-old from Ezedibia, Emekuku in Owerri North Council Area of Imo State, has requested the intervention of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and Governor Hope Uzodimma to expedite the arraignment of police officers implicated in their father’s alleged murder.

Speaking on behalf of her siblings, Iheoma Opara expressed concern over the prolonged delay in bringing the suspects to court, despite the IGP’s approval and order for their immediate arrest.

 “We are worried that since the Inspector General of Police approved our petition and ordered the immediate arrest of all those involved in the murder, as the matter was ultimately transferred to Zone 9, Umuahia, but until now, they are still delaying the arraignment of the police officers and those involved in the said murder, giving room for interference, which is delaying the arraignment of those involved in the murder,” she said.

Read Also:Uzodimma assures Imo residents of uninterrupted power supply

The family’s ordeal began with a family misunderstanding between Levi and his wife, Chioma Opara, which was escalated by a police informant, one Anthony Nneji, who involved the Tiger Base police in Imo.

 Levi was arrested on October 15, 2023, and despite efforts to secure his release, he was found dead on October 18, 2023, with conflicting accounts of his final moments.

Since Levi’s burial on December 15, 2023, his family has been seeking justice, and they are now calling on the IGP and Governor Uzodimma to intervene and ensure that those responsible for his murder are held accountable.

“Currently, our family and the community are in total disarray and shocked at the wicked and gruesome manner in which my father was killed,” Iheoma added.

The family’s plea comes amidst concerns over police brutality and the need for accountability within the force. 

The delay in arraigning the suspects has only added to their distress, and they hope that the authorities will take swift action to address their concerns

Gov. Hope Uzodimma has assured residents of the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo will soon enjoy uninterrupted power supply.

Uzodimma, gave the assurance while signing two executive bills into law, a bill on electricity and another to amend Imo State Polytechnic Law No. 15 of 2012 to pave the way for the merger of campuses of the polytechnic.

The governor said that the Imo state Electricity law, would bring rapid development not only to rural communities but also to the urban centers.

“We are all living witnesses to the ordeal our people are going through in the power sector.

“There is absolutely limited or even no supply, businesses are dying everyday and people are losing everyday with unemployment market swelling everyday.

“I think it has come to a time that every sub-national government must rise and provide what will make life meaningful to her people.

“Electricity is as important as the food we eat everyday. It is the beginning of every development,” he stressed.

The governor, who noted that he took a comprehensive audit of the federal facilities in Imo and infrastructure meant to provide power, expressed concern over the abandoned Amaraku electricity project.

“The transmission and distribution infrastructure at the federal project at Egbema Power Plant initiated in 2006, has not been completed 18 years after.

“I have approached the Federal Government and requested that the project be transferred to Imo state and her development partners.

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“I am happy to announce to you that President Bola Tinubu has approved the transfer of the project to Imo Government.

“I am also happy to announce that an agreement has been signed by Imo Government with a world class power company from Egypt with credibility to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in the state,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that power supply will improve in the state in the next 12 months.

Uzodimma further noted that an agreement had been signed with an Egyptian company, Afreximbank, Fidelity bank and Marriott Group to provide 200-room Imo Marriott Hotel in Owerri.

He said the state government only provided land in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) project which would be completed within 24 months.

The governor said the three projects would provide over 5,000 direct jobs for the people of the state.

He said the government has already entered into an agreement with an Egyptian firm, Elsewedy power generation, for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to all parts of the state within the next eight months.

The governor also announced that apart from the fact that electricity is now on the concurrent list , the federal government has given approval and support for the ambitious project.

Speaking to an excited audience after signing the bill into law, Uzodimma said the ultimate goal of the project is to boost the economy of Imo state through industrialization.

According to him, with natural and human resources in the state, an uninterrupted power supply would be a filip to the industrialization policy of the administration.

On the bill for the amendment of the Imo Polytechnic law, the governor said, it was aimed at centralizing its operations as against the multi-campus arrangement.

He said: “It became necessary, given that of late, Imo now operates three state universities and there is no state in Nigeria with up to three universities.

“It has continued to over stretch our resources with the agony and risks of students going from one location to another at a time of insecurity.

“The need for a unified system became necessary to save government the resources, demands and inconveniences occasioned by the robust demands of supervision and monitoring.

“It will also allow for even and proper development of the campus so that students will graduate from an environment that really enable acquisition of knowledge and instill sense of pride in the graduating students,” Uzodimma said.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Mr Chike Olemgbe, while presenting the bills to the governor, said the executive bills passed legislative scrutiny and process.

Olemgbe said the timely presentation of the bill by the executive arm of the government to the State Assembly clearly shows Imo as a proactive government that yields to the yearnings of the people.

He assured the governor of the assembly’s collaboration to work with the executive arm as partners in progress to provide dividends of democracy and good governance to the people. (NAN)

Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, and the Russian Trade Commissioner in Nigeria, Max Petrov, have met to discuss issues of mutual bilateral interest that will help bolster trade, industry, and generally, development in Imo state.

Petrov joined Governor Uzodimma in the bilateral discussions with his team in Abuja.

As stated in a statement on Thursday by the chief press secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, Governor Uzodimma is poised to change the socioeconomic narrative of Imo State through strategic investment initiatives and business relationships.

The governor’s inauguration address in January stated that his achievements in the first four years of his administration will be a child’s play by the time he rounds off his second term.

The meeting with the Russian Trade Commissioner in Nigeria is one of such meetings Governor Uzodimma has held recently, including the one with Africa Export and Import (Afrexim) Bank and her affiliate partners coordinated by Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Prof Benedict Oramah.

On the meeting with Patrov, Governor Uzodimma said: “I engaged in extensive discussions with Mr. Max Petrov, the Russian Trade Commissioner in Nigeria, and his team, with a focus on fostering bilateral relationships to bolster business affairs within our State.

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“We delved into various avenues for collaboration as I emphasized our commitment to strengthening economic activities in our State by fostering productive partnerships for the betterment of our people and Nigeria as a whole.

“This is one of our efforts to explore diverse opportunities that will benefit ndi Imo and contribute to the nation’s economic growth. It was an important meeting as we strive to create an environment conducive to investment and prosperity for our people.”

The Senator representing Imo North, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, Special Adviser, Abuja Liaison, Ambassador Humphrey Orjiakor, and Chief Technical Assistant to the Governor, Dr. Bola Adigun, were among those who joined the governor during the meeting.

Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma has approved the appointment of 16 Special Advisers (SAs) to deepen the gains of the Shared Prosperity 3R Government of his second term.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku on Wednesday,  the Governor said the appointments are with immediate effect.

The newly appointed SAs are: Barr. Leo Awazieama, Joseph Oputa, Mrs. Ijeoma Ikegwuruka, Comrade Austin Chilakpu.

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Dr. Patrick Uzoma, Dr. (Mrs) Obianuju Nwokejiobi, Chidi Onyewuchi, Andy Chikwe, Amarachi Anyaehie, Tonia Chimenem Chinda

John Ikeaka, Mrs. Chinyere Emeziem, Mrs. Esther Ukachukwu, Ezechi Chukwueme, Humphrey Ikeaka and Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Pat Ekeji

Governor Uzodimma congratulated the new appointees and urged them to brace up to contribute their quota in the overall interest of the state.