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  • 50% implementation of 2024 Budget will ease current harsh economic realities – Uzodinma

    50% implementation of 2024 Budget will ease current harsh economic realities – Uzodinma

    Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, on Monday, January 8, said the implementation of the 2024 Appropriation Act will ease off the current economic strains occasioned by the administration’s reform policies.

    Governor Uzodinma, who gave the assurance while speaking to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after meeting with President Bola Tinubu in his office, noted that with just a 50% execution of the Budget, Nigeria would have made so much recovery that the country will not be the same again.

    The governor, who said he visited the President to wish him a happy New Year and to invite him to his swearing-in ceremony for his second term in office on January 15, also said he updated him on developments in Imo State.

    It would be recalled that the economic situation, occasioned by reforms introduced to revive the same economy, and how it has affected Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable members of society, has been a topic of concern in various forums.

    However, responding to a question on the economic situation, Governor Uzodinma said: “The Progressive Governors Forum, the APC governors, members of APC as a party, the federal government, a government that belongs to APC as a party, we are on the same page. So what we expect is very simple and has been clearly defined in the last Appropriation Act, signed by the President.

    He said: “If you look at the provisions in that Act and the number of infrastructure and capital projects proposed by the President if we’re able to have even 50% budget performance on that document, it will not be the same Nigeria.

    “So we already saw the presentation and here we have a President, and like you know, in leadership, every leader must be able to articulate his vision on a marble slab and every vision is like a journey.

    “So once the destination has been established, the next thing is to start the journey

    So by January this year, which we are already, to 31st December, which is the lifespan of that Act, I’m sure the initial pains, occasioned by some of those reform policies, like the subsidy removal on petroleum products, the exchange rate escalation, will be cured.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Supreme Court fines Ozekhome N40m for filing frivolous motion against Uzodinma

    “In my conversations with some stakeholders in the country, we have had instances where reforms were carried out in some countries, some policies that looked initially as unfriendly policies, two, three months of gestation period becomes the darling of all stakeholders.

    “So I’m confident that the initial period of the takeoff of some of these policies, that will give us a more robust economy, will soon be over and Nigeria will begin to enjoy the product of the new vision.”

    Speaking on the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, by President Tinubu, the governor said the decision could not be questioned.

    He added: “Well, like, you know, this is very clear. Whether progressive governor forum, or whether as governor of Imo State, we have only one president whose wisdom we cannot question. And what is more, if there are allegations and the President said I want to look into it, I think it’s consistent with the law and the oath of office he swore to.

    “So I don’t think it is something that will begin to create a menu now for the media. so I think let’s allow the sleeping dog to lie.”

    Speaking on progress being made on the Oguta Lake Project, the governor said: “Well, as it has to do with the Orashi River project. We are partnering with the Nigerian Navy working with some consortium of companies and so far from the work programme, the entire hydrographic survey of Oguta Lake to Orashi upto Atlantic Ocean has been completed and certified by the number one hydrographer of the country, the Nigerian Navy, they did the programme by themselves in partnership with Imo State government.

    “Only a few weeks ago, an official presentation of the chart was done Owerri by the leadership of Nigerian Navy. They are now analyzing the chart, and processing it to be able to conclude the volumetric survey.

    “That survey will establish the quantity of silt that will be removed from the river otherwise called the channel and then the design of the navigational equipment like buoys and other navigational aids that will be installed on the Channel.

    “So it is still a work in progress. We hope that towards the middle of this year, dredging proper will start and go by our work programme and its milestones definition sheet which has also timelines. We hope that 18 months will be the proper period for the entire dredging of Lake Orishi River to the Atlantic Ocean, working on two shifts, day or night”, he said.

  • Guber polls: Akeredolu congratulates Uzodinma, Ododo

    Guber polls: Akeredolu congratulates Uzodinma, Ododo

    Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has extended congratulations to the winners of last Saturday’s off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi and Imo States, Usman Ododo in Kogi state and Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Governor Akeredolu said the victories signified the people’s endorsement of their leadership as well as entrusting them with the responsibility of steering their respective states towards prosperity and progress.

    Akeredolu, in a statement, he personally signed, said the outcome of the elections affirmed the democratic gains and highlighted the ongoing improvements in the country’s electoral system.

    He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC’s commitment to improvement was evident in its performance during the Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa elections.

    Read Also: Trial of ex-JAMB registrar, 4 children stalled

    The Ondo governor hailed President Bola Tinubu for fostering a level playing field for all political parties.

    He said: “These elections, being the first under Mr. President’s current term, showcased a commitment to decent governance and credible electoral processes, representing a remarkable improvement.

    “Appreciation is also extended to the youth corps members (NYSC) who served as ad hoc staff and electoral officers. Their integrity and accountability in fulfilling this national duty exemplify true patriotism.

    “I congratulate our great party, the APC. The national leadership’s dedication to reinforcing and promoting our political ideologies, particularly under President Tinubu, has strengthened the party’s acceptability and resilience. Let these victories propel us forward in upcoming elections. We must also be ready to ensure that the people benefit from the gains of democracy.

    “These recent elections should serve as catalysts for further improvement. We remain united in nurturing our electoral process toward perfection. Democracy has triumphed once again.”

  • Tinubu congratulates Uzodinma, Diri, Ododo over electoral victories

    Tinubu congratulates Uzodinma, Diri, Ododo over electoral victories

    President Bola Tinubu congratulated Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state, as well as Governor-elect, Usman Ododo of Kogi state over their respective victories in the Saturday, November 13, governorship elections.

    President Tinubu also commended the electorate in the three states for their participation in the electoral process, affirming the resilience of democratic institutions and the power of the people in shaping the nation’s political landscape.

    According to a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu said the outcomes of the elections reflected the wishes of the people, emphasizing that democracy thrives when voters reward competence, transparency, and good governance.

    Read Also: Trial of ex-JAMB registrar, 4 children stalled

    While expressing gratitude to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for working assiduously to create a level playing field for all contestants and the nation’s security agencies for maintaining law and order during the elections, the president affirmed the need for a sustained commitment to all efforts aimed at further sanitizing the electoral system and enhancing the credibility of future elections.

    The statement said: “With the conclusion of the election processes, President Tinubu anticipates a renewed sense of hope for the people of Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states, as well as consolidation on progress that will position the states as hubs of peace, commerce, entrepreneurship, and prosperity in Nigeria.

    “In the spirit of fostering a harmonious and inclusive political landscape in the aforementioned states, President Tinubu asks the victors to prioritize the common good of the people over partisan interests.”

    President Tinubu, however, concluded by wishing the victors well, saying, “May your tenure in office be defined by close collaboration with all of your counterparts across party lines in the attainment of pan-Nigerian developmental achievements that benefit everyone, and may you lead at all times with compassion and a deepened commitment to our nation’s unity.”

  • UPDATED: Ajaero failed to delineate labour struggle from partisan politics – Uzodinma

    UPDATED: Ajaero failed to delineate labour struggle from partisan politics – Uzodinma

    Imo Governor Senator Hope Uzodinma on Thursday provided clarity on the crisis rocking the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in his State, saying it boiled down to the President of the body, Joe Ajaero, mixing partisanship with NLC affairs.

    Uzodinma spoke to the crisis while speaking to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after receiving the flag of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governorship candidate of the party in the November 11 election from President Bola Tinubu.

    Uzodinma spoke with two other candidates of the ruling APC, whose elections have been scheduled for the same date Chief Timipre Sylva and Usman Ododo, candidates of the party in Bayelsa and Kogi states respectively.

    The NLC President was brutalised on Wednesday in Owerri, Imo State, where was meant to lead a peaceful protest.

    The circumstances surrounding the attack became hazy as he alleged being abducted and beaten by police personnel, whereas the police came out to claim its operatives went into the melee to protect the NLC boss, who was under attack.

    However, responding to questions from journalists on the Labour crisis in his state, Uzodinma accused Ajaero of being unable to distinguish his role as nation Labour leader and being partisan Imo State indigene. 

    He said as the Chief Security Officer of the State, he intervened to stop the dissolution of the state chapter of the NLC, whose tenure he said had not expired.

    Asked to explain why Ajaero was attacked in the state, Uzodinma said: “I wanted you people to be very careful because there is an attempt to mix up partisan politics or an attempt to blackmail my government but I can tell you that my people are already aware that.

    “That was why the NLC Imo State chapter addressed a World Press Conference that what their national leadership is doing is not correct and that they are not going to do any strike or protests and in the process, they decided to dissolve them to put in a caretaker.

    Read Also: Senate okay three additional RECs for INEC

    “Of course, I’m the Chief Security Officer and I have a responsibility to intervene. I encouraged the national leadership not to dissolve a management team that their tenure has not expired and that was what they did.

    “I don’t interfere with Labour matters but I have convinced my workers in Imo State to believe in me and that trust is what opposition parties are trying to fight. But I can assure you that Imo people already have taken that decision. 11th November is by the corner. Come and observe the election”, he said.

    On the allegations that he was owing 40 months in salary arrears, Governor Uzodinma said: “I think it is a very good opportunity for me to clear the air on the so called allegations.

    “When I came into Imo State as the Governor on January 15th 2020, from 2020 January till date, there’s no month we have not paid salary before 30th. The situation is that before this time, I thought that the trade union is a democratic entity that allows the opinion of people.

    “I don’t pay federal civil servants, I only pay Imo State civil servants and I challenged any Imo State civil servants to come out and say that between 2020 January 15th till date, that he has not received salary in any of the month.

    “What has happened in this ugly incident that the national president of Nigeria Labour Congress is from Imo State and has not been able to demarcate the difference between being a national leader of an organisation and an interested party in local politics. But God will manage the situation.”

    Reminded that the workers were accusing him of reneging on January 2021 agreement aside the backlog of salaries and this might impact his re-election, Uzodimma said: “Well, I still repeat, there’s no worker in Imo State…recall I came in January 2020 and by March, I started paying minimum wage of N30,000 that had been lying there, that previous leadership couldn’t pay. By December 2020 I paid 13th month, the first time on the history of Imp State civil service and I have maintained continuously this 13th month payment as an incentive.

    “I automated the payment system. Salaries are now received in an automated manner in Imo State. I brought new innovations, I reformed the civil service. No wonder in the civil service the entire Labour Congress of Imo State chapter endorsed me and I am the only candidate they are supporting in the election. The Nigerian Union of Pensioners endorsed me, from 2007 to 2020, no civil servants in Imo State received gratuity. It is only my government that has now floated bond to pay outstanding gratuities to civil servants.

    “So, I understand the sensitivity of this event but I want you people to be very careful because there’s an attempt to mix up partisan politics or an attempt to blackmail my government. But I can tell you that my people are already aware and that was why the Nigerian Labour Congress Imo State chapter, addressed a World Press Conference, that what their national leadership is saying is not correct. And that they are not coming to do any strike or protests. And in the process they decided to resolve them to put in a care taker.

    “Of course, I am the chief security officer and I have the responsibility to intervene. I encouraged the national leadership not to devolve the management team that their tenure have not expired and that was what they did.

    “I don’t interfere in Labour matters but I have convinced my workers in Imo State to believe in me and is that trust that the opposition parties are trying to fight. But I can assure you that Imo people already have taken their decision. 11th November is by the corner.”

  • Why I compered Gov Uzodimma fundraising programme – Okey Bakassi

    Why I compered Gov Uzodimma fundraising programme – Okey Bakassi

    Comedian Okey Bakassi has defended why he was a co-host at the fundraising dinner by Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He hosted the dinner with colleague, Kate Henshaw. 

    Uzodinma, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held a fundraising dinner on Thursday, the same day the Supreme Court affirmed President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 election and dismissed the appeals of his major contenders Peter Obi of Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Their decision to host the event prompted reactions from some Nigerians who were displeased with the act.

    Reacting in a video shared via Instagram on Friday, Okey Bakassi re-emphasised that it is his sole decision to make as to taking up a job or not adding that he is a professional MC whose job requires him to take up hosting jobs irrespective of political constraint. religion or ethnic. 

    He said: “I’m surprised, why are we trending? Is it that people don’t know that we are professional MCs? Or is it because you don’t use our services you think nobody else will use our services?

    Read Also: I was approached to join drug peddlers in Nigeria, abroad – Okey Bakassi

    “It doesn’t matter whether you are APC, PDP, Labour Party, Christian, Muslim, or Pegan, if you have an event and you need it to be done professionally, you know look for people who will give you value for money and this is where we come in, aim not going to discriminate based on your religion or political affiliation or even gender to do a professional job that’s what I’ve been doing for 30 years.

    “I’m sure those who are close to me know how I voted in the last election and those that I voted, those who are close to me know where my heart is politically is not something that I need to explain every.

    “I am a professional and I do my job well. I still have jobs that I don’t like to do, but it is up to me the ones that I won’t do, I’ll choose that, it is not subject to public opinion.”

  • I am not fighting Gov Uzodinma, Reps speaker Abbas denies fake report

    I am not fighting Gov Uzodinma, Reps speaker Abbas denies fake report

    The speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has debunked a news report that he is at loggerheads with the the governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma.

    The speaker said he enjoys a cordial relationship with Governor Uzodinma.

    In a report titled, ‘Uzodimma Reports Abbas To Tinubu For Giving Ugochinyere Juicy Committee,’ a national daily had insinuated that both speaker Abbas and Governor Uzodinma are at loggerheads.

    But the speaker through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, said the report was “fictitious and malicious”.

    He urged the public to disregard the story.

    Read Also: PEPC: Judgment validates Tinubu’s earlier victory-Uzodinma

    The statement read: “It has come to the attention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, that a newspaper report with the above headline has been in circulation.

    “Ordinarily, the speaker would not respond to such a fictitious and malicious story, but for the unsuspecting public, who may be hoodwinked by the content of the report that was only attributed to imaginary ‘sources.’

    “The speaker wishes to inform the public that at no time did the Imo State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, contact him to rescind the appointment of Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).

    “For the record, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen enjoys a cordial relationship with Governor Hope Uzodinma and nothing has happened to warrant any sour relationship between them.

    “It is worthy to note that Speaker Abbas Tajudeen was overwhelmingly voted by 353 out of 360 members of the House on June 13th, 2023 under the platform of the ‘Joint Task Coalition for Nation Building’ of the 10th House of Representatives. As such, the Speaker, and indeed the leadership of the House, have the responsibility to ensure that chairmanship of the Standing Committees of the House and responsibilities are assigned to elected lawmakers across political parties.

    “Suffice to say, there is no element of truth whatsoever in the story under reference. The Speaker, therefore, urges the public to discountenance the report completely, as it is entirely the figment of the overheated imagination of the writer and his sponsors.

    “The Speaker also wishes to distance himself from any group or groups parading themselves as working for him. Such groups are cautioned and advised to desist from going about in the name of protecting the interest of the Speaker as they do not have his imprimatur so to do.”

  • How Okorocha wrecked Southeast APC, by Uzodinma

    Senator Hope Uzodinma was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State in the March 9 election. In this interview with TONY AKOWE, he speaks on the outcome of the poll and rift with the out-going governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha.

    Could you give an insight into the conduct of the recent governorship election in Imo State?

    It is a sad situation because our people came out to vote but results that did not reflect the will of the people were declared. We campaigned, our people embraced the party and we sold our messages and because the people needed a change, they supported my candidature, they came out in enmass and voted for us. But unfortunately, the electoral umpire, for whatever reasons gave the type of declaration they gave. As a law abiding citizen, I have remained calm and approached the governorship election tribunal and I am hopeful that at the end of the day justice will be done.

    People attributed the defeat APC suffered to the internal crisis within the APC in the state…

    Party is about human beings. When we came into the party from the PDP, we populated the party sufficiently and majority of our people came into APC and it became the party to beat in Imo state. We have the men and women who can deliver in every election. I emerged through a keenly contested party primaries and became the candidate of our party. Both the political class in Imo, religious leaders, were unanimous in agreeing that Hope Uzodinma is the solution to the dictatorial regime of Governor Okorocha. So, they joined us to campaign and the people came out to support APC despite the sabotage by the governor. Yes, there were issues in the party, but the enthusiasm of our people to ensure that another APC-led administration is enthroned after the woeful outing of Governor Okorocha propelled them to come out and vote for the APC despite the crisis. We are hopeful that the wish of Imo people who voted massively for me will prevail at the end of the judicial process.

    Governor Okorocha has boasted on several occasions that without him, there is no APC in Imo and the Southeast. How would you react to that?

    I will not like to join issues with Okorocha but as we all have seen that Okorocha became the problem of APC not only in Imo state but the entire South East due to his character as a person and as a governor. He allowed his greed to supersede his sense of reasoning. He is one man who run people down to survive and that is why today karma is catching up with him. Political party is not about one man and leadership is not something that one sit in his bedroom to claim. Leadership is defined by the type of followership that you have. The governor, of course you know his current status is on suspension from the party and the APC did not just wake up overnight to suspend him. They suspended him due to various cases of anti-party activities. I have refused deliberately to join issues with the governor publicly, the reason is because I am a loyal party man. Once the leadership of the party takes decision I follow. No one man can arrogate to himself the powers of God, that without him the party will not be. The party is for all of us. That is why in Imo State we have 305 electoral wards and in those electoral wards we have party Executives. In 27 Local Governments we have party executives and at all these levels we have Executive Committees and membership. So, it will be unfair for anybody to say that without him there is no APC in the Southeast. Southeast has great men and women in the APC. If Okorocha has such powers as he is arrogating to himself, he should have also won the governorship election for his son in-law Uche Nwosu whom he sponsored. He is a man that loves attracting attention to himself and also enjoys misinforming the people with a view to score cheap political points. But his time is up. I warned Okorocha at the beginning of our struggle to liberate Imo State that he will surely leave government House on May 29, and if he likes let him appoint all members of his family into positions in the state. He thought I was joking, maybe he was thinking he is going to amend the constitution to remain in power. Okorocha never thought tomorrow will come and here we come. APC, any time any day, will win election in Imo and the Southeast without Okorocha. And I can tell you that in the next election, APC will win more states in the Southeast when people like Okorocha is out of the scene. Okorocha should actually learn from the leadership style of President Buhari and Comrade Oshiomhole to be a good leader. And I can also add that the elections in the Southeast were manipulated in favour of the PDP and I am optimistic that by the time the cases in various courts are over the popular wish of the people will emanate. The results declared in some of the states in the South East does not reflect the true wishes of the people but I am optimistic that justice will prevail at the end of the day.

    Governor Okorocha has accused the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Oshiomhole, and INEC of being behind his travails, especially the non-issuance of Certificate of Return to him. What do you have to say about that?

    Let me also tell you, he is not only accusing the national chairman. In his heart, he is also accusing the Presidency, but due to his sycophancy he has not said it. He is scared, that is why he has not said it openly, because he has been accusing everybody. I don’t know where and how the National chairman will possess that kind of powers to direct INEC to cease certificate of return, decides what happens in the DSS, the police, decides what happens in INEC. Meanwhile this is a national chairman that campaigned vigorously across the length and breathe of Nigeria to ensure that the APC emerged victorious not only at the state level but also at the national level. So if he has such powers as Okorocha is saying, it means that APC would have won in the entire 774 Local Governments in Nigeria, the 36 states and the entire National Assembly seats would have been won by APC because that is the wish of every national chairman of a party that is in power. But he confined himself to the dictates of democratic norms by campaigning for his party with our presidential candidate which led to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates. I don’t want to discuss Okorocha because he is one of those who are not comfortable with the discipline that the Oshiomhole led NWC has brought to the APC. Greedy politicians like Okorocha cannot like Oshiomhole. Was Oshiomhole in Imo the day Okorocha harassed INEC returning officer to declare him winner under duress as alleged by the returning officer? The man just makes frivolous claims to draw attention to himself because he is looking for an escape route. I think something is definitely not normal with governor Okorocha going by his recent utterances in public. It gives cause for concern. No matter what he wants to say about Oshiomhole, Nigerians know the former Edo state governor as a true leader and what makes a true leader, a leader must be bold, courageous, flexible, influential, charismatic, enjoys followership and a leader must have passion for the party and the people. I can tell you every committed member of our party believes that Oshiomhole is a round peg in a round hole for our party today.

    What should Nigerians expect from President Buhari’s second term?

    His re-election shows the confidence Nigerians have on the President. And when a President is re-elected, it means he has done well to justify the confidence reposed on him by the electorate. All we need to do as Nigerians is to continue to support his good works. He needs the support of all Nigerians to ensure that his war against corruption is sustained. His agricultural policy is sustained. I can tell you that under the leadership of President Buhari, things will change for the better. Electricity will work, drinking water will be available, our transport system will function, we will have quality education. We need to support Mr President because he means well for Nigerians. He believes in one Nigeria and we need to ensure that under one united Nigeria, an elder statesman, like President Buhari will be supported to remove Nigeria from the woods. His anti-corruption crusade has worked. His vision for Nigeria is working. So we do hope that in the next four years Nigerians will have cause to rejoice.

    The people of the Southeast are agitating for principal positions in the 9th Assembly while some Nigerians are saying they don’t deserve it since they failed to vote for the APC. What is your take on that?

    Honestly, this is politics. During the campaigns, I spoke to our people at different fora and informed them that APC is the ruling party and for us as Igbos to be relevant to the Nigerian project, APC is the best route. I warned them that tomorrow, we cannot come and cry about marginalisation, if we failed to join the ruling party now. I told them that because of the impeccable records of President Buhari, that Nigerians will re-elect him for a second term, therefore the Igbos needed to be part of this moving train. We told our people to join, but some thought otherwise. However, the voting pattern in the Southeast will come out better after the various litigations in court because of the poor handling of the electoral process, particularly in the Southeast, because I knew majority voted for APC.

    Having served your people as a Senator, what were your achievements?

    If you go and check my records, I have many motions sponsored and passed by the senate. I sponsored many bills, some which has become laws just like the Electronic transaction bill which Mr President signed into law which makes electronic contract a valid way of transaction now in Nigeria. All my bills that I sponsored are there. I attracted several roads to my constituency, I was able to give jobs to unemployed graduates in my constituency through the assistance of various agencies and we have many of them working today. I brought rural electrification projects in my constituency. I built several town halls and rehabilitated some federal roads in my constituency through the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Works and the NDDC. So I did a lot and because of the so many things I achieved, I have received awards from Churches, communities. My passion for rural development gave me the urge to attract developmental projects to my constituency. I am putting my achievements into a document which will soon be unveiled. Infact in that book, I am called the Democratic Soldier. I am happy I was given the opportunity to serve my people, I was never declared under duress (laughter). And I am always ready to serve my people in any capacity. We will continue to serve our people to the glory of God.

    There are people who also felt that the party was becoming over bearing regarding the leadership position of the 9th National Assembly…

    I have been around for a very long time playing partisan politics. I am a good party man, I will not be one of those that will question the decisions of the party hierarchy. The essence of party democracy is that the party is supreme. So if the party takes a decision it is incumbent on all of us to follow and toe the line of the party because no matter where you are, House of Reps, senate or governor, you got there through the instrumentality of the party. So it is even the party that wins the election and not the candidates. So if you are saying that you don’t want to be loyal to the party, it means you are telling the party to withdraw their sponsorship. And once the party does that it means you have lost your position. So I think that the 9th National Assembly should adhere to the decision of the party and not to be disobedient to the party because constitutionally speaking, you cannot contest elections in Nigeria without the sponsorship of a political party. There is no provision for an independent candidate in our constitution. So they should all bear this in mind.

     

  • Okorocha’s allegation baseless- Uzodinma

    The Imo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded governorship election, Senator Hope Uzodinma has described as unfounded and malicious, the allegations that he worked for the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha in the last election.

    The Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha, had accused the APC candidate of playing the mole with the party’s ticket, which he claimed made it possible for the PDP candidate to manipulate the result of the election.

    Read Also: My position on Uzodinma vindicated – Okorocha

    But Uzodinma, who emerged a distant fourth in the election, described Okorocha’s claim as a mere plot to tarnish his image after working against the APC.

    The Senator who spoke through his media aide, Mbadiwe Emelumba, noted that, “Okorocha is in the habit of lying to tarnish people’s image but he was the person that worked against the APC from the beginning”.

  • Imo: Nwosu, Ihedioha, Uzodinma in epic battle

    Candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) Uche Nwosu; People’s Democratic Party (PDP), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Emeka Ihedioha; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Ifeanyi Araraume; All Progressives Congress (APC) Hope Uzodinma and Accord Party Ikedi Ohakim are all in final push for votes ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

    They have devised different means of winning the support of the electorate, which include taking their campaigns to markets, schools, churches and other worship centres to canvass for votes.

    Many have also been engaged in acts of philanthropy, which include paying bills of stranded patients in hospitals.

    One peculiar feature that distinguishes the Imo State governorship election is that apart from Nwosu, the other four leading contenders are assumedly in the ‘departure hall’ of their political careers.

    To that extent, none of them is taking chances or leaving any stone unturned in the election that has been predicted to be the fiercest contest in the political history of the state.

    Results from the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections have shown that the main contest is between Nwosu (AA) and the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, as both showed firm grip in their respective zones.

    While Nwosu is riding on the support of the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha and the youths, Ihedioha, who is from Owerri zone, is enjoying the sympathy of people of the zone who are clamouring for power shift.

    Meanwhile, Araraume, Uzodinma and Ohakim could not establish any control in their supposed strongholds, as shown by the results.

    HOW THE CANDIDATES STAND

    NWOSU- the former Chief of Staff to the Imo State governor is actually the candidate to beat in the election. With a massive support base among the youths and women across the state and the power of incumbency, Nwosu stands a better chance of winning the governorship election on March 9.

    One other factor going for the AA candidate is the revolution among the youths, who are determined to topple the old politicians who have remained in power for too long, using him (Nwosu) as the rallying point.

    Another factor that may swing the polls in his favour is the governor’s victory at the Imo West Senatorial election, which has reconciled some of those that left the camp during the primary elections.

    UZODINMA- the major hurdle confronting the APC candidate is the internal crisis in his party. The manner he emerged the governorship candidate at the expense of the governor’s choice, left the APC in tethers. Just a fourth night ago, the APC Chairman in the state, Daniel Nwafor, during a press conference, said that the party does not have any candidate for the governorship election.

    Even though he enjoys the support of the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, the APC candidate, as the result of the last election confirmed, is not in charge in his zone, as two AA candidates and one APC candidate loyal to Okorocha’s camp won in three out of the four Federal Constituencies in Orlu zone, while PDP clinched the fourth constituency.

    However, President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory is likely to buoy the APC candidate’s chances at the election, as politicians are already flocking around him as a channel to penetrate the President.

    IHEDIOHA- Based on statistics available from the results of the last election, the PDP candidate has strong control in his Owerri zone, especially in the three Local Government Areas of Ezinihitte, Aboh Mbaise and Ahiazu, referred to as ‘Mbaise Nation’.

    Recall that in 2015 governorship election, Ihedioha was able to force the election to a rerun with votes from the three LGAs, which were the only Council Areas he won, out of the 27 Council Areas of the state.

    At the just concluded National Assembly election, PDP cleared the Federal Constituency seats and the Senatorial seat in Imo East (Owerri Zone).

    However, the PDP candidate has one major challenge to contend with, the disunity and discrimination among politicians from Owerri zone and the historical rivalry between indigenes of Mbaise and other parts of Owerri zone.

    It is an established fact that an average Owerri man would rather support an Orlu man to be governor, than vote for an Mbaise man.

    OHAKIM- The results of February 23 elections, showed that the former governor and candidate of Accord Party, has completely lost in the power play in his Okigwe Zone.

    It was so bad that during the last election, voting could not take place in his Osu Owerre Ward 1 in Isiala Mbano Council Area, as a result of the absence of INEC officials and voting materials.

    The outcome of the last election also showed that no Accord Party candidate got close to third position in the National Assembly election results and this will largely determine the former governor’s performance in the election.

  • Imo: Uzodinma, Araraume boycott Peace Parley

    …as Nwosu, others sign pact

     

    The governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Hope Uzodinma and that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Araraume, Tuesday boycotted the signing of a Peace pact by candidates participating in the general election in Imo State.

    Also absent at the event organised by the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) was a former governor of the State and candidate of the Accord party, Ikedi Ohakim.

    Meanwhile the governorship candidates of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu and that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha, signed the Agreement alongside other candidates including Ikenna Emmanuel of the Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Linus Okorie of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), among others.

    Addressing the candidates shortly before the signing of the Agreement which was witnessed by Security Chiefs, Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), religious leaders and journalists, the State Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, urged the politicians to play by the rules and jettison all forms of violence.

    According to him, the State has witnessed relative peace when compared to other states in the Federation, as a result of the “cooperation and support of the people of the state”.

    He said, “You will agree with me that this hard earned peace and tranquility we enjoy and experience in Imo State should be guarded jealously, thus, we have no other option than to ensure this endures before, during and after the elections”.

    In his brief speech, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Pro. Francis Ezeonu assured that INEC is prepared to conduct credible election that will meet the aspirations of all the parties

    He restated his commitment to provide level playing ground for all the political parties participating in the election, while pleading with the candidates to abide by rules and regulations guiding the election.