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Tag: Willie Obiano

  • 1,661 corps members registered in Anambra

    1,661 corps members registered in Anambra

    • Obiano assures on security 

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano yesterday assured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to the state of protection.

    Addressing the corps members at the Umunya in Oyi Local Government Area, the Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, who represented Obiano, urged the youth to be good ambassadors of their states.

    He said NYSC was established over four decades ago as a viable avenue for the mobilisation of graduates for national integration, unity and development.

    The governor said his administration was creating youth-friendly programmes to maximise the energy and potential of the most productive segments of the population.

    “We have skill acquisition programmes in each of the three senatorial districts.

    “We hope the knowledge you have imbibed will be brought to bear in the course of the service year, on our part, we are poised to partner you in to foster the advancement of the state,” the governor said

    State NYSC coordinator Mrs. Inyang Bassey Ekpe said 1661 corps members were registered.

    She hailed the state government for the material and financial support given to NYSC.

    Ekpe said they were confident that by July they would be hosting the NYSC Batch “B” orientation at their new camps in Umuawulu and Mbaukwu, in Awka South Local Government Area.

     

  • Obiano visits injured pupils

    Obiano visits injured pupils

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano yesterday visited the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi (NAUTH), to sympathise with survivors of an accident at Awka, in which seven persons died.

    A reckless driver rammed into the pupils of Union Secondary School and Community Secondary School in Umuokpu while they were waiting for buses.

    Seven pupils died and many were injured.

    Obiano assured the pupils his administration would not abandon them.

    He said: “Don’t despair. You are in good hands. We shall take care of you. We shall pay your hospital bills and make sure nothing bad happens to you.”

    The governor, moved by the sight of patients sweating, following heat in the wards, promised to provide the hospital with a 500KVA generator.

  • ‘No order stopped Obiano’s swearing-in’

    ‘No order stopped Obiano’s swearing-in’

    •Smooth transition excites Ndigbo

    •Obiano retains Obaze as SSG

    Anambra State Chief Judge Justice Peter Umeadi has said there was no court order stopping him from swearing in Governor Willie Obiano and his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, as being alleged.

    A statement yesterday in Awka, signed by Chief Registrar Nkechinyelu Doris Ezeani said the court saw the relief by the plaintiff, but did not pronounce on it.

    He said the matter was adjourned till March 25.

    The statement reads: “Knowing the chief judge, he will not evade the service of any court process. He will allow access even where it is to be served on him.

    “Even where he is absent and the court process is received in his chambers, it will come to his notice and he will abide by the same.

    “The publication in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/118/2014 does not show that injunction was made against the chief judge and none was served.

    “The chief judge is a nominal party in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/118/2014, but even at that he has been given the power and rights pursuant to Section 185(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to swear in the governor–elect and deputy governor-elect.

    “The power and rights can only be abridged by clear and unequivocal orders of court.

    “The publications in the newspapers do not replace the pronouncement of the court.

    “The court saw their relief no. (d) from a mandatory injunction to stop the chief judge from swearing in the governor-elect and deputy governor-elect on March 17, but did not pronounce on it and instead adjourned the matter till March 25.

    “From the legal authorities listed in the publications, the plaintiff may still achieve the purport of his relief if he continues with his suit.”

    Many igbo at home and abroad continue to hail the swearing-in of Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke.

    The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Chinwe Nwaebili, told The Nation yesterday in Awka the state experienced success with the Peter Obi administration.

    She said: “I give God the glory for answering our prayers. What happened in the last eight years has never occurred in the history of Anambra, as a sitting governor handed over in a colourful ceremony.”

    The governorship candidate of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, congratulated the new governor.

    He said Anambra was blessed with human and material resources to take the state to an enviable level.

    “Anambra is the heartbeat of the Igbo by virtue of the personalities from the state. Nothing will be hard to achieve if resources are pulled together.

    “The governor should put behind what happened during the campaign and pick the eggheads, who will assist him in piloting the state’s affairs.

    “The time has come for us to join hands with our leader and develop our state.”

    The Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Ekiti State and President of the group in the Southwest, Chief Nathaniel Uzoma, said the peaceful inauguration was a sign of greater things to come.

    He noted Igbo had come of age and would take their political destiny in their hands by aligning with things to promote Igbo interest.

    National Youth leader of the group, Mr. Alex Ezeobi, urged unity among the Igbo to ensure development in the Southeast.

    He enjoined youths to be responsive and sensitive to issues affecting their race and be enlightened to present challenges.

    The Chief Whip, Mr. Ikechukwu Umeh, corroborated the Speaker and others, saying the lawmakers would ensure growth.

    Speaking on behalf of Anambra in the diaspora, the President of Anambra Indigenes in America (ASA-USA), Mr. Allison Anadi, said the ceremony showed that the state had developed.

    He said the group would support the government and promote growth.

    Anambra State Governor Willy Obiano yesterday retained Mr. Oseloka Obaze as secretary to the state government (SSG).

    He appointed Prof. Joseph Asike as the Chief of Staff and Mr. Willy Nwaokoye as principal secretary to the governor.

    The oaths of allegiance and oaths of office were administered by the Solicitor-General, Mrs. Emeke Ekwue.

    The appointments were announced after the first Executive Council meeting.

    Obiano said they were his first appointments, expressing confidence the appointees are capable hands, who did well and would carry out their duties efficiently.

    He added: “The task ahead is huge. We need the best hands and I believe they will deliver.”

    Obaze, on behalf of others, thanked the governor for the honour, saying they would meet his expectations by meeting the challenges of governance.

     

  • Reactions trail Obiano’s swearing-in

    Reactions trail Obiano’s swearing-in

    Reactions have trailed the swearing-in of Governor Willie Obiano and his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke.

    The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mrs. Chinwe Nwaebili, told The Nation yesterday in Awka that the state experienced success during the Peter Obi administration.

    She said: “I give God the glory for answering our prayers. What happened in the last eight years has never occurred in the history of Anambra, as a sitting governor handed over in a colorful ceremony.”

    The governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, congratulated the new governor.

    He said Anambra was blessed with human and material resources enough to take the state to an enviable level.

    “Anambra is the heartbeat of the Igbo by virtue of the personalities from the state. Nothing will be hard to achieve if all resources are pulled together with one might.

    “The governor should put behind what happened during the campaign and pick the eggheads, who will assist him in piloting the state’s affairs.

    “The time has come for us to join hands with our leader and develop our state.”

    The Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Ekiti State and the President of the group in the Southwest, Chief Nathaniel Uzoma, said the peaceful inauguration was a sign of greater things to come in Igbo land.

    He noted that Igbo had come of age and would take their political life in their hands by aligning with the things, which would promote Igbo interest.

    The National Youth Leader of the group,

    Mr. Alex Ezeobi, urged unity among the Igbo to ensure development in the Southeast.

    He enjoined youths to be responsive and sensitive to the issues affecting their race and to be politically-enlightened to face the present challenges.

    The Chief Whip, Anambra House of Assembly, Mr. Ikechukwu Umeh, corroborated the opinion of the Speaker and others.

    He said the lawmakers would leave no stone unturned in ensuring growth.

    Speaking on behalf of Anambra in the diaspora, the President of Anambra Indigenes in America (ASA-USA), Mr. Allison Anadi, said the ceremony showed that the state had developed.

    He said the group would support the government and promote growth.

  • Tribunal dismisses Obidigbo’s petition

    Tribunal dismisses Obidigbo’s petition

    •Strikes out major paragraphs in Nwoye’s petition The Anambra State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Awka has dismissed a petition filed by Dr. Chike Obidigbo, claiming to be the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the November 16, 2013 governorship election. It described him as a stranger in the petition. Obidigbo filed a petition against Chief Willie Obiano, APGA’s candidate in the poll. He also sought to be joined in the petitions by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Chris Ngige and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye. The ruling on the application was reserved for yesterday by the three-man tribunal led by Justice Ishaq Bello. In the ruling, which lasted over one hour, Justice Bello said Obidigbo could not be joined in the petition in the spirit of the Electoral Act. He said it was the tribunal’s view that the applicant was not known to be a party in the election and could not be joined in the petition. According to him, “the law does not provide for a ceremonial respondent in an election petition, as a party must be connected with the election. The applicant has a mistaken belief that he has a case. “The applicant is not found anywhere in the body of the petition. Continuing with the application will amount to dragging the tribunal into an intra-party dispute in which the tribunal has no jurisdiction.” The tribunal also ruled on the application by the counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), brought to it by Ahmed Raji (SAN), for some paragraphs in the petition filed by the PDP candidate to be struck out on the grounds that they were irrelevant to the main petition. Among the paragraphs were the alleged multiple registrations by Obiano and non-qualification due to the alleged multiple registrations. There were also the allegation against security operatives and APGA officials accused of facilitating the victory of APGA and the allegation of criminality against some unnamed persons. In the ruling read by Justice Akintola Akinniyi, the tribunal observed that while it was not proper to strike out all the paragraphs as demanded by INEC’s counsel, there were some pre- election matters, which had no reason to remain in the petition. He said: “Even if the allegation of multiple registrations was proved, it was not one of the bases for the qualification of a candidate to stand for an election. “Double or multiple registrations is a criminal offence and there is no proof that Obiano has been sued and anybody, who has a case against him on that should file a case in court, which has to issue an order against him.” The tribunal ruled that the allegation of supplying false information to INEC was not enough to disqualify a candidate, saying there must be a court order disqualifying the candidate, which was not the case in the matter at hand. The tribunal said the Electoral Act, as amended, stipulated that it was the court that could entertain such a matter and that should have been done before the election was held. Justice Akinniyi also said the failure of the petitioner to name the agents accused of working for INEC, did a fatal blow to the petition.

  • Ngige: dismiss applications of INEC, Obiano, APGA

    Ngige: dismiss applications of INEC, Obiano, APGA

    The Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal, led by Justice Ishaq Bello, will, on Friday, decide whether or not to strike out paragraphs of a motion by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Willie Obiano and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Last week, INEC’s counsel Ahmed Raji urged the tribunal to strike out some paragraphs in their motion.

    Senator Chris Ngige’s lawyers Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu and Chief Emeka Ngige were given time by the tribunal to reply to the application yesterday.

    At the resumed sitting, Emeka Ngige urged the tribunal to dismiss the application by INEC.

    His grounds were; whether the paragraphs are pre-election matters and whether the issue of the voter register was also a pre-election matter.

    Also, whether the documents pleaded with the schedule of the polling stations, electoral wards and local governments could be described as vague.

    Another ground is whether the background facts by the REC as duly pleaded were pre-election matters or unrelated grounds to the petition and whether a casual reference to a polling unit in a paragraph should result in the entire paragraph being struck out.

    According to him, “we are inviting you my lords in considering the grounds of the petition and see see that none of the paragraphs attacked in the petition merits the relief to be struck out.”

    Emeka Ngige argued that election was not what happened on election day, rather a process as described by the Supreme Court in one of its judgments.

    Akeredolu, replying to Obiano’s application, described the motion as incompetent, adding that it did not indicate under what order it was brought.

    “Paragraphs 14A, B, C, D, E, F, among others, do not exist in our petition as claimed by the respondents, which they have asked to be struck out. My lords will see that what we have in the address are 14(i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and 4(A), among others, and not what they claimed.

    “The paragraphs they want struck out deal with the voter register. The case of Mimiko and Akeredolu settled the matter in this instance.”

    Michael Lanor, who replied to the APGA application, said a court could not grant a relief not sought, adding that what the respondents were seeking did not exist.

    On whether Obiano was qualified to contest the election abnitio, Lanor said it was only the tribunal that had the right to determine it and whether INEC had the power to postpone an election without any reason.

    Counsel to Obiano, Ken Mozie, said parties were bound by their pleadings, especially where they complained about the particulars of the voter register.

    Chief Adegboyega Awomolo said it was the nature and character of pleadings in a petition that would determine whether the issue of voter register was a pre-election or post-election matter.

    Today, the trbunal will rule on some of the motions raised by Dr. Chike Obidigbo and APGA against Chief Willie Obiano and APGA .

    Ruling will also be delivered on the other matter involving Tony Nwoye, INEC and others where INEC was seeking to strike out some paragraphs of the petition.

     

    Counsel to Nwoye, D.C. DeNwigwe, argued last week that the petitioner would suffer if certain paragraphs were struck out. He said the time was not appropriate for such.

    The tribunal also ruled that Chief A.O. Ajana, counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would reply to an affidavit served him by INEC and other parties in the case.

    Only two of the judges, Justice Bello and Justice Akinniyi, sat during yesterday’s sitting.

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ngige, was at the tribunal for the first time, while Obiano was absent.

     

  • Court to hear case against Obiano February 27

    Court to hear case against Obiano February 27

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed February 27 for the commencement of hearing in a suit challenging the candidacy of Willie Obiano in the last governorship election in Anambra State.
    Obiano contested the November 16, 2013 governorship election as a candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He will assume office soon.
    Justice Ahmed Mohammed chose the date for hearing after Obiano’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) argued that the suit filed last year was not ripe for hearing.
    His position was in opposition to that of the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN), who led Olusola Oke, Abdulrasheed Ajana and Ifeanyi Nrialike.
    Gadzama had argued that the suit was ripe for hearing and urged the court to hear the originating summons with the defendants’ preliminary objection to allow for prompt disposal of the case.
    The plaintiffs – Ugochukwu Ikegwuonu and Kenneth Moneke – are by the suit, seeking Obiano’s disqualification on the grounds that he possesses two voter cards, having allegedly engaged in double registration.
    INEC is also joined in the suit.
    The plaintiffs claim that the voter card Obiano tendered before he was cleared to participate in the party’s screening exercise was not the same as the one he submitted to INEC.
    They raised three questions for the court’s determination and sought five reliefs, including an order disqualifying Obiano from contesting the election.
    They also seek an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to strike out Obiano’s name from its record as a candidate in the election.
    The plaintiffs equally want the court to declare that Obiano is unqualified to contest the election on the grounds that he allegedly possesses more than one voter cards and for engaging in multiple registration.

  • Obi, Ngige, Obiano, cleric call for peace

    Obi, Ngige, Obiano, cleric call for peace

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi; the senator representing Anambra Central, Chris Ngige; governor-elect Willie Obiano and Catholic Bishop of Awka, Rev Paulinious Okafor, have called for love and peace among the people.

    In their separate Christmas massages yesterday in Awka, the political and religious leaders urged the residents to show love on brothers and sisters in the Lord.

    They noted that sharing love was more beneficial to the state than the hatred some people were trying to spread.

    Obi and Obiano said there is need for the residents to emulate the love Jesus Christ represents to mankind.

    Ngige thanked the people for supporting his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the November 16 governorship election.

    He promised to continue to fight for the well-being of Anambra people at the National Assembly, irrespective of what he called “the charade” that denied the people their constitutional right to elect a leader of their choice.

    Ngige said: “It is also imperative that we see this festive period as yet another season for the exchange of love and brotherhood, which Christ’s birth apparently symbolises.”

    Rev Okafor said the people needed to close ranks and love one another, because this was the essence of Christmas.

    The cleric prayed that 2014 would be a better year for the state and Nigeria.

    Governor-elect Obiano said: “As we reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and God’s abiding love to mankind, may the joy of the season and God’s loving kindness be with us this Christmas and beyond.

    “As followers of Christ, let us, therefore, show love to one another, be kind to one another and work for a peaceful and harmonious co-existence in our communities and the larger society.”

  • Nwoye goes to tribunal

    Nwoye goes to tribunal

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 election in Anambra State, Comrade Tony Nwoye, has taken the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA’s) candidate, Willie Obiano, to the tribunal in Awka, to challenge the verdict of the poll.

    He spoke yesterday in Awka at an interactive session with party stakeholders in the 21 local governments.

    Nwoye said he was challenging the poll because it was fraught with irregularities.

  • Anambra poll: INEC declares Obiano winner

    Anambra poll: INEC declares Obiano winner

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Chief Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winner of the governorship election in Anambra State.

    This followed the completion of the supplementary election in the state on Saturday in areas where it did not hold on November 16.

    Declaring the result, the Chief Returning Officer, Prof. James Epoke, said the APGA candidate scored 180,178 votes to win the election.

    He said Mr. Tony Nwonye of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Sen. Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 97,700 and 95,963 votes to emerge second and third respectively.

    Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Labour Party came forth with 37,495 votes and Chief Godwin Ezeemo, candidate of Progressive Peoples Alliance clinched the fifth position with 5,120 votes.

    Results from INEC showed that of the 1,776,167 registered voters in the state, 465,891 people accredited and total vote cast was 442,242.

    The results also showed that 16,988 votes were voided and valid votes were 425,254.

    “To declare a winner, the candidate must score 25 per cent vote in two-third of local government; having satisfied this condition, Chief Willie Obiano is now returned winner, ” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Chief returning officer as saying on Sunday morning.