15032019 - INEC kicks as court stops make-up polls in Adamawa

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34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2019 Ikpeazu will not discriminate among Abia people —Okiyi By Ugochukwu Alaribe A B A — ABIA State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi has said that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu does not believe in the 97 per cent, five per cent theory and will never discriminate among the sections of the state in the areas of appointments and location of projects. Okiyi who disclosed this in a statement explained that the governor will develop all areas of the state and work with those who supported him and those who did not, stressing that Ikpeazu understands the divine nature of his mandate as the father of all Abia people. He stated that with the conclusion of the polls, the time for politics is gone in favour of governance and development and urged the people of the state as well as the governor’s opponents in the election to join hands to develop the state. “It is my position that nobody lost in the election in Abia State. We all were victorious, especially given that we have no available report of loss of Abia life Human rights group warns against compromising rescheduled elections By Anayo Okoli U SOUTH-EAST MUAHIA—A based human rights and rule of law organization, Intersociety, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari, the ruling APC and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that the rescheduled March 23rd inconclusive polls in six states are not manipulated in any way using security agents, to avoid throwing the country into avoidable crisis. Intersociety warned that if what it called “recent broad day armada of rigging and militarization of the 2019 Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly Polls” is allowed in the rescheduled elections, it could trigger off crisis leading to insecurity in the concerned states. In a statement signed by the chairman of Intersociety, Emeka Umeagbalasi, the group called on INEC in particular not to allow itself to be used to cause crisis in the states involved by ensuring that the peoples votes genuinely count and are not manipulated. during the election. The exchange of banters, accusations, etc, are all associated with partisan politicking everywhere in the world. “The time for politics is gone. We are now in the era of governance and development of Abia. Let all Abians join hands with the governor to develop the state. I therefore call on Uche Ogah and Alex Otti to call Governor Ikpeazu and congratulate him. That alone will indicate that they actually consider Abia’s interest first before their personal interests. " The commissioner explained that the founding fathers of the state instituted the Abia Charter of Equity to develop the state with no section discriminating against the other or any part dominating the other. Okorocha missing as INEC presents Certificates of Return to lawmakers ...says INEC playing funny, cruel script •We’re vindicated by Uzodinma's loss —Okorocha •Shun new transactions with Imo govt, Ihedioha warns banks By Omeiza Ajayi & By Chinonso Alozie A BUJA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has presented Certificates of Return to newly elected federal lawmakers, urging them to expedite action on the electoral framework for the 2023 general elections. However, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha was not available following the decision of the commission not to present him with a certificate for allegedly coercing an electoral official to announce him winner of the February 23, Imo West senatorial poll. Okorocha immediately fired back, accusing INEC of allowing itself to be used by partisans who are afraid of his future political ambition. Speaking with journalists in Abuja shortly after the event, Okorocha accused some unnamed forces in the polity of trying to stop him from making an input into those who will become principal members of the National Assembly as well as the politics of 2023 presidency. He said: “I am sure I was conspicuously absent from the certificates issuance ceremony. I was not there because INEC had removed my name from the list of senators having been declared the VISIT: Lagos State Commissioner of Police Zubairu Muazu Halilu (left), with Col Godwin Sunmola (retd), Head, Security Service, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, during a courtesy visit to the police commissioner in Lagos, yesterday. winner by the zonal returning officer. So, I am actually waiting to hear why INEC struck my name out. “I am told from the grapevine that it was because of duress. In other words, somebody must have coerced the returning officer to do what he was not supposed to do but here again, I do not understand what that means because there was nothing of such. How can you put somebody under duress to declare you the winner of an election that you have already won? And look, they are not saying that we did not win. They are not saying that the other man won. Imo REC playing funny, cruel script —Okorocha "So, I do not understand why we should be the people forcing someone to do something wrong to claim victory. It is not true but I must let the world understand that this is a game that is being played. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Imo State is playing a script and the script is so funny, it is so cruel and crude actually and they are executing it in a funny way. “I understand that people are beginning to fight a war of the future now when we are not even yet there and I am surprised that INEC is being used as an instrument for those who find it politically difficult to achieve what they want to do. The idea is, do not give Rochas a certificate; you must slow him down until after they have elected the presiding officers, then you can let him come in, so that he does not become anything and make sure that his candidate for governor does not win and then make sure that he is crippled politically before 2023. That is what is happening and it is very childish." We’re vindicated by Uzodinma's loss —Okorocha In a related development yesterday, Okorocha said his government has been vindicated by the defeat of APC governorship candidate in the state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, whom he claimed was favoured by national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole instead of his preferred candidate, Uche Nwosu. According to Okorocha, “We have been vindicated over our repeated claim that Chief Hope Uzodinma has remained a member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, both in spirit and in body and that, it was not only wrong but totally unacceptable for Oshiomhole to have handed over the governorship ticket of the party in the state to him, no matter the deal. “We had maintained that Uzodinma was just a mole in the APC. Today, the governorship election in the state and its outcome have obviously vindicated us. Aside, Chief Uzodinma worked for the PDP in the Presidential/National Assembly elections and also in the governorship/House of Assembly elections. He was one of the first set of people to celebrate with the PDP candidate, Chief Emeka Ihedioha the moment he was announced the winner of the election." Shun transactions with Imo govt,Ihedioha warns banks Meanwhile, Imo State Governor-elect, Mr Emeka Ihedioha has advised financial institutions to stop new transactions with the state government or do so at their own peril. Ihedioha, who spoke at a media interaction in Owerri yesterday said new transactions would increase chances of illegal activities and jeopardise the financial stability of the state. He said his duty and responsibility would be to ensure that citizens and residents of the state remained united and work together for the common good of the state. The governor-elect commended other contestants in the election for their “sportsmanship” and urged them to partner his administration to “restore the dignity of the state”. He described his success at the poll as a “new path to progress which would signal an end to impunity and brazenness" in the state. Ihedioha promised to ensure that the citizens were united for a common purpose and shun divisiveness. Dedicating his success to the “common men,” he commended the people for buying into his vision of realising a dream state and promised to work hard to justify their faith in him. He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security agencies for their roles in ensuring that the election was credible. He went on to outline plans to set up a transition committee to liaise with the outgoing government to ensure a smooth transition and chart a way forward for the state. He also promised to work out programmes, which would engage the youth as a way to end drug abuse and curb vices, starting with the rehabilitation of the four technical colleges in the state. Time of brazenness in Imo, has gone —Ihedioha The Imo state governorelect, Emeka Ihedioha, yesterday said that the era of brazenness in governance has come to an end in Imo state. He also said that, plans have been concluded to set up a transition team to liase with the outgoing government of Rochas Okorocha, and that the transition team would come up with an action plan, for infrastructure and human development. Ihedioha made this statement while briefing newsmen in Owerri, on how he intended to address what he called “bad governance” in Imo State. He also warned members of the public to be wary of doing business with the outgoing government. On his plans to develop Imo, he said: “We will run an all-inclusive government and not a government of exclusion. Ours will be a government that will promote the unity of the state, rather than accentuate the fissures that have characterised our relationship with each other in recent times. As the popular saying goes, let us not listen to things that will divide us, let us rather listen to things that will unite us, for united we stand, divided we fall. “We shall run an open, transparent and accountable government with due process as its hallmark. I believe strongly that those in positions of authority must render account of their stewardship to the people."
Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2019—35 Aremu to el-Rufai: Devise non-partisan initiative to rescue Kaduna Amember of National Executive Council, NEC, of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and General Secretary of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Issa Aremu, has pleaded with Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State to come up with a nonpartisan all-inclusive peace initiative to rescue Kaduna from mutually destructive violence. Aremu, who congratulated el-Rufai on his re-election, said: “Peace process must go hand in hand with sustainable development, which must start with urgent reindustrialisation of Kaduna State and mass employment of the army of the youths. “The Textile Union will continue to partner with the state government to take necessary steps to revive the ailing industries in Kaduna State, especially the textile industries, with a view to creating jobs for the mass of unemployed youths in the state. “As a private sector union and affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and a critical stakeholder in the development of the state and the country in general, we pledge our support, and cooperation to the great task of moving Kaduna State and indeed Nigeria to a greater height.” He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies for ensuring a peaceful governorship election and called on all contestants to accept the wishes of the people of Kaduna State as expressed through the ballot box. LSETF/COCA-COLA: From left— Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Lagos State, Abidemi Raji; Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe; Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, LSETF, Akintunde Oyebode, and Regional Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Lagos/West, Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Limited, Ifeoma Okoye, at the presentation to beneficiaries of LSETF/Coca-Cola Women Empowerment Initiative in Lagos. Rivers preaches local content patronage By Davies Iheamnachor PORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State government has tasked By Prince Okafor T RANSMISSION Company of Nigeria, TCN, yesterday, said it had procured three reactors, which have been deployed to IkotEkpene, Jos and Apir transmission substations for installation. This came against the backdrop of Tuesday, September 12, 2017 fire incident in its Jos Nigerians on the need to patronise goods and services produced in the country, adding that such would improve the nation’s economy. Transmission Substation, where the company lost a 150MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer. It was gathered that the inferno was a result of high voltage resulting from the design problems on 330kV IkotEkpene-Jos transmission line constructed over 15 years ago. The reactors are to help correct the voltage problem along the 330kV The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, made the call in Port Harcourt yesterday, when Communication Trends Limited, CTL, one of the foremost pay televisions in the South-South and South-East, empowered Edo PDP wants supplementary polls in 2 wards By Gabriel Enogholase BENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a supplementary election in two wards in Esan North- East Local Government Area of the state in the interest of justice and fair play. Mr. Chris Nehikhare, state Publicity Secretary of the party, who briefed newsmen in Benin yesterday, said the call had become imperative in view of the reported disruption of electoral processes in the wards. Nehikhare, who said the wards include Ward 8, Unit 6, Attani, and Ward 10, Unit 9, Ebhoyi, added that there were reported cases of All Progressives Congress, APC, members disrupting the exercise during collation . He said: “In Ward 8, Unit 9, the exercise was disrupted by the suspected APC members when counting was ongoing and the PDP candidate, Mr. Igbas Ezehi, was in clear lead.” TCN procures power reactors for Makurdi, others IkotEkpene-Ugwuaji- Makurdi- Jos Transmission Line axis. According to TCN's General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, the 330kv line had been exposed to constant voltage instability up to 360kv at the Ikot Ekpene, Makurdi, and Ugwaji end of the transmission line route, due mainly to lack of reactors. eight of its authorised dealers with Mercedes Benz Citan mini-vans, fridges and TV sets. Okah, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Paulinus Nsirim, enjoined Nigerians to support local industries, by buying their products. Recalling that some years back, products from China and Taiwan were regarded as inferior, he noted that Nigerian industries can also make impacts if encouraged. Nsirim congratulated CTL for its doggedness and courage to survive the competition in the communications industry in the nation. He noted that Rivers State remains the investors’ haven in Nigeria and encouraged other firms to emulate CTL and make the state a place to locate their businesses. However, the General Manager of CTL Holdings, Solomon Igun, while handing over the gifts to the lucky dealers, said the gifts were aimed at encouraging them (dealers) and to further popularise the services of the company to win more subscribers. Hearing on Offa robbery adjourned over security By Demola Akinyemi I LORIN—THE ongoing trial of Offa robbery suspects at the Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, the state capital was, yesterday, adjourned abruptly till today over security concerns. At the resumed hearing, after some minutes past 2p.m., presiding judge, Justice Halimat Salman, said: “Reports reaching us are not favourable for the continuation of the case today(yesterday). I don’t By Abdulmumin Murtala KANO State government has refuted claims that N223,500,000 had been withdrawn from the state joint account for disbursement to councils for the rerun elections. At a briefing, Commissioner for Local Governments in Kano, Murtala Garo, said: “We are not removing money from the Ministry for By Chioma Onuegbu UYO—A coalition of non-governmental organisations, NGOs, on the platform of Network Advancement Programme for Poverty and Disaster Risks Reduction, NAPPDRR, has called on winners and losers in the justconcluded elections in the country to embrace peace. Speaking yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, President of NAPPDRR, Mr. Al Mustapher Edoho, commended the peaceful conduct of the elections and urged THE leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo State Council, has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki over what it described as “the resounding victory of All Progressives Congress, APC, at the just-concluded House of Assembly elections in the state.” According to the council, Obaseki’s proactiveness in leading the have anything doing, but the court has to rise for the case to continue tomorrow(today). “For the security of the suspects and all of us here, I have to rise. May God spare our lives till tomorrow(today)for the continuation of hearing.” The court had commenced sitting on the case at about 9a.m., for the continuation of hearing as one of the prosecution witnesses, Hitila Hassan, continued to give his evidence and was crossexamined by the defence counsel, Mathias Emeribe. Kano denies withdrawing N223m for re-run Local Governments. “The ministry is just a supervisory ministry. The monies were released for a purpose and not for rerun elections.” Garo stated that the money was disbursed for genuine purposes that include renovations and construction of drainage. He said the amount was disbursed to 13 local government areas only, while the rerun is to take place in 30 local government areas. Embrace peace, NGOs tell PDP, APC stakeholders of the two major parties, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, to be in the vanguard of maintaining the prevailing peace in the state. He said: “My organisation was one of the independent observers that monitored the elections in parts of Akwa Ibom and the conduct of the exercise was generally peaceful. “I commend the Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mike Igini, for conducting the most credible elections.” NUJ congratulates Okowa APC to victory “would enhance the ongoing rapid development in the state by your administration. “It is obvious that the emphatic win, the first ever in the state’s political history, showed that the people appreciate all your efforts in the area of industrialisation, job creation, construction and reconstruction of roads across the state.”
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15032019 - INEC kicks as court stops make-up polls in Adamawa

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