Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, has said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has all the facts to prosecute his case at the tribunal and emerge victorious.

Uzoukwu a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Lead Counsel of the Atiku/Obi legal team, disclosed this in an interview on Monday after leading other lawyers to file petition on behalf of Alhaji Abubakar at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on February 27, declared President Buhari, the flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the presidential election.

Buhari polled a total of 15,191,847 votes while Atiku Abubakar got 11,262,978.

However, Abubakar and his party, the PDP, were dissatisfied with the conduct of the election and the eventual declaration of Buhari as winner and moved to seek legal redress.

In a bid to meet up with the 21 days stipulated by section 134 of the Electoral Act, 2010, Dr. Uzoukwu, head of the legal team, led other lawyers to submit a petition on behalf of his client on Monday.

The petition which was duly signed by Alhaji Abubakar himself, has the PDP as co-petitioner while INEC, APC and President Buhari were joined as respondents.

Dr. Uzoukwu expressed optimism that his client would emerge victorious at the tribunal, saying he was convinced that PDP won the presidential election in the first place.

I believe we have sufficient facts to move the court to appreciate our case and grant us our reliefs.

We are ready and prepared to prove our case because it all depends on proofs and we are ready to prove our case.

We have filed the petition, which is most fundamental, with some documents, he said.

Though he admitted the team was currently having challenges accessing documents from INEC, he said that would not deter them from continuing with the suit.

We may be having some challenges accessing documents from INEC, notwithstanding, we have filed the petition and with time, INEC shall be made to obey the orders of the court of appeal and grant us access to electoral documents.

That we have filed petition does not mean we can not make use of those documents when we eventually secure them from INEC.

Some members of the team were in INEC three times last week, they were in INEC yesterday and even today but they asked them to come tomorrow (Tuesday), that by tomorrow they will provide them with some documents.

I do hope that INEC will keep to its words and do the needful, because they have no option as far as the matter is concerned. Because we are talking about the compliance with an order of the court, he added.

On the question of moral qualification posed on the Chairperson of the Tribunal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, whose husband is a Senator-elect under the APC, Dr. Uzoukwu said his team would wait until the matter begins at the tribunal.

He said, I dont want to express any opinion in that regard now, but until the matter is ready to go on, because as we speak, I do not have the facts and I dont want to speculate.

He said that to successful prosecute the case at the tribunal, Alhaji Abubakar and the PDP have assembled about 20 SANs and 400 witnesses.

The lawyers are praying the tribunal that their client, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar be returned as person who won majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

In an event that the main prayer does not scale through, the lawyers also pushed for an alternative prayer, that the election be set aside and for the court to order a rerun.

But according to Uzoukwu, the alternative prayer can only come to play if the court does not agree with us in the main prayer.

But I believe we have substantial facts to prove our case, to prove our entitlement to the main relief. Im convinced beyond any doubt that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won the election.

Source: NAN

Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel may have agreed to lead his supporters to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), according to multiple reports on a meeting he held in Sagamu today.

In a letter dated March 14 and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, Daniel resigned from the party and also quit partisan politics.

But in dramatic twist on Sunday, Daniel addressed his supporters and loyalists at his Asoludero residence in Sagamu on why he decided to quit partisan politics.

Hundreds of his supporters roared and rejected Daniels position, saying he must lead them in to APC, having worked for the victory of the ruling partys governorship candidate, Dapo Abiodun in the March 9 election.

Reports said Daniel did not give a categorical response to the demands of his supporters, but in an interview with newsmen, he gave hints about his next political move.

Here is the transcript of his interview with newsmen:

JOURNALISTS: What would you say on what played out at the meeting?

DANIEL: Basically, they (supporters) said I could resign from PDP. They said I must lead them to APC. And they also said I cannot retire from politics that is the summary of what I heard. Now we have to take a look at it.

JOURNALISTS: What is your position on their demands? Are you leading them into APC?

DANIEL: What else can I say? My people have spoken.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress barraged the Independent National Electoral Commission with many complaints Sunday over the conduct of governorship elections in Bauchi, Benue, Rivers, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa and Plateau, accusing officials of of being in cahoots with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The partys position was made known six days to the rescheduled supplementary elections in five of the states on 23 March and two days after INEC in a volte-face cancelled the planned vote in Bauchi.

In a comprehensive statement, APC National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu accused Obo Effang, INECs Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) of working in collusion with the PDP and Governor Nyesom Wike.

The APC claimed that Wike was already losing the election until INEC stepped in and stopped the process.

It was glaring that Wike was losing until INEC stepped in to halt the process apparently to save Wike from impending defeat. INEC must put a halt to this madness and brazen illegality.

The APC accused Effanga of doctoring the results of the election in many polling units for Wike and urged INEC chairman to transfer him out of the state.

We call on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to immediately redeploy Mr. Effanga from Rivers State in order to avoid crisis that may follow the organised crime being executed by Wike and Obo Effanga to rig and alter the result of the 2019 governorship polls in Rivers State in favour of Wike.

Since the suspension of the electoral process in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike and the State REC Obo Effanga have been re-writing and doctoring unit results in Rivers State Government House to favour Wike

The APC also criticised INEC somersault on the Bauchi election, after it adopted the report of a fact-finding committee led by Festus Okoye, a national commissioner, said to be close to PDP leaders, such as Yakubu Dogara.

INEC on Friday night said a new returning officer will resume the collation of results in Bauchi on Tuesday, with the issue around the Tafawa Balewa council torn result resolved.

But the APC said INEC could not resolve the issue on its own and that it is a matter for the court.

We reiterate that according to Nigerias 1999 Constitution (as amended) and INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections, the electoral body is not empowered to reverse any decision taken at the Collation Centre by the Returning Officer appointed for that purpose.

Such decisions can only be reversed by a court of law, especially when INEC cannot approbate and reprobate, APC said.

The APC also pointed out how PDP brazenly rigged the election in Benue, using violence, vote buying and intimidation.

After the March 9 governorship elections across the country, the polls in six states Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The electoral process was also suspended in Rivers state in a very fraudulent circumstance.

Post election, Nigerians will recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had severally raised alarm over the plot by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use violence, vote-buying and other election malpractices to subvert the will of the electorate and steal their mandate.

The shocking events leading to the last-minute postponement of the presidential election provided clear evidence with PDP agents caught in different parts of the country with programmed card readers, sensitive election materials and large cache of weapons and security paraphernalia.

Undeterred, the PDP executed its rigging plot through its agents across the country by unleashing violence, vote-buying and hijacking election materials to rig and falsify elections results. The result was violent disruption in many polling areas and over-voting which led to many cancelled votes and ultimately the supplementary elections and suspended exercise in some states.

INEC declared the governorship election in Benue State inconclusive, citing an insufficient margin in votes obtained by the APC candidate Barr. Emmanuel Jime and the PDP candidate, Governor Samuel Ortom.

Even though the PDP claims a bogus lead of over 81,000 votes, reports strongly establish that this dodgy figure is an aggregate of votes obtained by subterfuge not from the numbers recorded by the card reader.

There were cases in Logo, Gwer-West, Vandeikya, Guma, Buruku and Gboko Local governments where the card reader was not used.

In Guma, a local government predominated by the APC, zero votes were allocated to our candidate by thugs loyal to the governor of the State, as agents of the party were chased away and election material diverted and ballot papers thumb-printed for the governorship candidate of the PDP.

In Logo, security reports indicated that the ballot papers were massively thumb-printed the night before the election day, while a brazen case of under-age voting supervised by state government compromised security personnel, was prevalent on the actual day of voting.

INEC also reported that 41 polling units in Vandeikya did not use the card reader, as it was the case in many in Gwer-West, Gwer-East, Gboko and other places.

A coalition of election observers in Benue has since called on INEC to declare the candidate of the APC, Barr. Emmanuel Jime, the winner of the governorship polls, in line with the Electoral Act and we align with the position of these observers.

There is no doubt that our candidate obtained the highest number of legitimate votes obtained with the usage of the card reader.

We are concerned and deeply troubled by the unfolding events in Rivers State. The APC strongly condemns this horrid dance in Rivers State. This unholy alliance between Governor Nyesom Wike, PDP and INEC is to prevent Rivers people from electing a candidate of their choice by imposing Wike, the PDP candidate on them. It was glaring that Wike was losing until INEC stepped in to halt the process apparently to save Wike from impending defeat. INEC must put a halt to this madness and brazen illegality.

The desperation of the PDP governorship candidate, Governor Nyesom Wike to remain in office even if it means destroying the State and killing its people, is throwing the State into turmoil and crisis.

With regard to the governorship election in Rivers State, APC has observed with dismay the macabre dance between Wike and INEC in Rivers State. It is on record that Wike through the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga engaged PDP card-carrying members as Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Officers to skew the elections in favour of Wike and the PDP.

We call on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to immediately redeploy Mr. Effanga from Rivers State in order to avoid crisis that may follow the organised crime being executed by Wike and Obo Effanga to rig and alter the result of the 2019 governorship polls in Rivers State in favour of Wike.

Since the suspension of the electoral process in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike and the State REC Obo Effanga have been re-writing and doctoring unit results in Rivers State Government House to favour Wike.

We are dismayed that some sponsored stakeholders including those who witnessed the killing of over 40 persons on the 2015 governorship election day alone due to someones quest to become governor by all means, appear to be hoodwinked by the very same character to believe that security agents especially the Army should have stayed away to allow a repetition of what happened in 2015.

As a party that was solely at the receiving end of the killings in Rivers State, the APC believes that the proactive steps taken by security agents to checkmate a repeat of the 2015 killings and destructions, is commendable and should be applauded by all peace-loving people.

We call on Nigerians and the international community not to be hoodwinked into believing that Nigerian security agencies interfered in the electoral process in Rivers State. It is a misleading narrative being planted in the media to particularly blackmail the military and the federal government into pulling out security agents from the state, thereby returning the State to the killing field many of us witnessed before, during and after the 2015 elections.

It is now clear to all that INEC has become deaf and blind to the fact that Governor Nyesom Wike invaded the Obio/Akpor Collation Centre with over 200 armed thugs and ordered his security men to shoot an Army Captain and another soldier providing perimeter security to the Collation Centre. Wikes thugs carted away the electoral materials including both original copies of unit result sheets and ward collation sheets that were being used for the collation of results and took them to the Rivers State Government House where they were filled out with rigged and inflated figures.

We report that in most of the LGAs in the State, voting had concluded, results declared at the polling units and collation had begun before the abrupt suspension of the process. INEC does not have the power under our Electoral Act to suspend elections that has already been concluded. We suspect that INEC might be working to surreptitiously bring in cooked up results credited to Obio/Akpor LGA to skew the election in favour of Wike. We vehemently reject this anti-democratic move.

In Plateau state, our comfortable lead is unassailable. We however urge our members, supporters and indeed the entire Plateau electorate not to be complacent, but remain focused as we prepare for the supplementary election that will give our performing candidate, Governor Simon Lalong a second term in office to consolidate on his first-term achievement.

The opposition PDP camp in its self-deceit has continued to delude itself on its nonexistent electoral chance in Nasarawa local government area. The Kano electorate are not deceived.

Considering what happened in the inconclusive election widely characterized by PDP vote buying and voter intimidation, relevant agencies must ensure that such anti-democratic practice is not repeated.

It is on record how the Kano State Police Commissioner actively assisted the opposition PDP to rig inside Kano city with the deployment of police security for Rabiu Kwankwaso loyalists while state commissioners orderlies were withdrawn.

Kano remains an APC state. With the massive votes garnered by our presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari; the entire incoming 9th National Assembly positions 3 Senators and 24 House of Representatives won by the APC in Kano State; 27 State House of Assembly seats won by the APC out of 39 and governorship election victories in all local governments outside Kano metropolitan, there is no doubt that Kano State is a stronghold and key support base of the APC.

The APCs visible achievements in Kano state under Governor Abdullahi Ganduje are enough to give the party an emphatic victory in the rerun election. Again, the rerun will be mostly in APC-controlled rural areas and Nasarawa local government area where our Deputy Governor, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna is from. Undoubtedly, Kano state remains an APC stronghold and remains in our firm control.

We reject INECs decision on the governorship election results from Tafawa Balewa local government area in Bauchi State, as signed and announced by the electoral bodys National Commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.

While the close relationship between Festus Okoye who chaired the fact-finding committee and Yakubu Dogara of the PDP is well known, hence inappropriate for the fact-finding exercise for Bauchi state, INEC has failed to adhere to the fundamental principle of fair-hearing by not inviting our agents during the hearing to ascertain the circumstances leading to the cancellation of the Tafawa Balewa local government election result.

INECs decision is illegal as the electoral body and contravenes the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended

We reiterate that according to Nigerias 1999 Constitution (as amended) and INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections, the electoral body is not empowered to reverse any decision taken at the Collation Centre by the Returning Officer appointed for that purpose.

Such decisions can only be reversed by a court of law, especially when INEC cannot approbate and reprobate.

As displayed in the results of the presidential election, Sokoto is a strong APC state. This rubbishes the suspicious and apparently stolen results ascribed to the PDP governorship candidate.

It is on record how the PDP candidate and state governor, Aminu Tambuwal used thugs and fake security agents to scare voters in the state. This gave PDP agents a free and field day to rig and manipulate the governorship election.

We are also aware how the huge monies were used to buy votes and how complicit INEC officials disenfranchised APC members by purporting that card readers machines stopped working in APC strongholds..

The forthcoming supplementary election in Sokoto state gives the APC; our governorship candidate, Aliyu Ahmed and indeed the Sokoto electorate and an opportunity claim our mandate.

Sokoto state is ready for the Next Level, we must not allow unpopular elements in the state and their backers in the discredited PDP to steal their mandate and subvert the will of the Sokoto electorate.

In Adamawa, the party had reported over-voting and use of security personnel to intimidate APC agents and supporters. While we are confident of our party and candidate Governor Jibrilla Bindows victory ahead of the supplementary election in the state, we urge all stakeholders to avoid actions that can plunge the state into crisis.

We equally urge INEC and relevant security agencies to ensure the supplementary election is free, peaceful and fair compared to the last inconclusive governorship election in the state which was characterised by many irregularities and voter intimidation. No political ambition is worth the life of any voters.

In conclusion, as a party, the APC is very confident of victory in the forthcoming supplementary elections. Our commitment to free and fair elections in the county remains resolute. We urge INEC to ensure that all loopholes that led to rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters by the PDP is blocked.

Source: NAN

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have both expressed the hope they would win the March 23 supplementary elections in six states as they continue to trade blames.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed supplementary elections in Rivers, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, Plateau and Benue, an exercise described by APC as illegal.

Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Publicity Secretary of APC, said on Sunday in Abuja: As a party, the APC is very confident of victory in the forthcoming supplementary elections; our commitment to free and fair elections in the country remains resolute.

We urge INEC to ensure that all loopholes that led to rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are blocked.

We equally urge INEC and relevant security agencies to ensure that the supplementary election is free, peaceful and fair compared to the last inconclusive governorship election, he said.

Issa-Onilu noted that APC had severally raised the alarm over the plot by the opposition PDP to use violence, vote-buying and other election malpractices to subvert the will of the electorate and steal their mandate.

He said the shocking events leading to the last minute postponement of the presidential election provided clear evidence with PDP agents caught in different parts of the country with programmed card readers.

He said PDP agents were also caught with sensitive election materials and large cache of weapons and security paraphernalia.

Undeterred, the PDP executed its rigging plot through its agents across the country by unleashing violence, vote-buying and hijacking election materials to rig and falsify elections results.

The result was violent disruption in many polling areas and over voting which led to many cancelled votes and ultimately the supplementary elections and suspended exercise in some states, Issa-Onilu said.

He noted that in Benue, INEC declared the governorship election inconclusive, citing an insufficient margin in votes obtained by the APC candidate, Mr Emmanuel Jime and the PDP candidate, Gov. Samuel Ortom, the state incumbent Governor.

INEC, he said, also reported that 41 polling units in Vandeikya did not use the card reader, as it was the case in many in Gwer-West, Gwer-East, Gboko and other places.

Issa-Onilu said a coalition of election observers in Benue had since called on INEC to declare the candidate of the APC, the winner of the polls in line with the Electoral Act, adding that the APC align with the position of the observers.

He maintained that there was no doubt that the APC candidate obtained the highest number of legitimate votes with the usage of the card reader.

In Rivers, Issa-Onilu said the APC was concerned and deeply troubled by the unfolding events in the state which it condemned in strong terms.

This unholy alliance between Gov. Nyesom Wike, PDP and INEC is to prevent Rivers people from electing a candidate of their choice by imposing Wike, the PDP candidate on them.

It was glaring that Wike was losing until INEC stepped in to halt the process, apparently to save him from impending defeat. INEC must put a halt to this madness and brazen illegality.

The desperation of the PDP governorship candidate, Gov. Nyesom Wike, to remain in office even if it means destroying the state and killing its people, is throwing the state into turmoil and crisis, Issa-Onilu said.

He added that it was on record that Wike through the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, engaged PDP card carrying members as Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Officers to skew the elections in favour of Wike and the PDP.

On its part, PDP said that it would win all the governorship supplementary elections scheduled for March 23.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja also insisted that planned manipulations of the exercise would be resisted by people of the affected areas.

Ologbondiyan alleged that it was unfortunate APC could seek to play the victim when all facts had established that it militarised the recent elections.

He said nevertheless, the PDP was determined to win the supplementary elections in all the states declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In Benue, it is clear that the people have rejected the APC as clearly demonstrated even in the presidential election. Benue state has always been home to the PDP.

It is incontestable that our party has the largest genuine followership in all the units, wards and local government areas of the state and as such does not need any underhand measure to secure victory in any election in the state.

Our winning lead of 81,000 votes was validly delivered at the polling units and that reality will humiliate the APC as it cannot be subverted, he said.

Ologbondngiya, argued that Rivers had always been home to the PDP since 1999.

The results of all the elections held in Rivers, including the State House of Assembly, showed that the PDP is in control of the state.

He added that in Kano, the people of the state were known to be incorruptible and would always elect governors that are acceptable to the ordinary people.

In Bauchi, the PDP has already been elected and this reality cannot be altered by the APC.

INEC had already established that the APC compromised its official to declare Tafawa Balewa LGA as inconclusive and had restored the votes that were stolen by the, he said.

He said that in Sokoto, the people gave the PDP their mandate, saying the constitution provides for simple majority of votes for a candidate to win.

The declared results show that our candidate clearly won and that is why our candidate has been mandated to go to the court to seek interpretation of the section of the constitution that deals with the declaration of results, he noted.

While making reference to Adamawa, he said the APC was merely hallucinating and seeking ways to subvert the process.

Its despicable resort to using a person who did not participate in the election to seek to use the courts to ambush the election is disgraceful.

However, INEC had since declared that it cannot be stopped from going ahead with the supplementary election where our party is already in good stead to coast to victory, Ologbondngiya said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he has no reason to quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), or retire from politics for now.

He made the statement on Sunday, through his Media Adviser, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, in reaction to a report by an online publication which claimed that the ex-president had resigned from PDP and quit politics.

Eze’s statement described the news as fake, saying that it was a “calculated attempt to rubbish the elder statesman”.

“The PDP gave Jonathan the platform to serve as Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and eventually President of Nigeria. Jonathan has no reason at this time to resign his membership of the platform.

“Those who derive pleasure in spreading fake information had better occupy themselves with more productive endeavours that are obviously more relevant to nation building.

“Obviously, this is a fabrication borne out of mischief as the publishers of the fake story claimed that the former President made the statement while being interviewed by the Nigeria News Agency(NAN).

“There is absolutely no way the former President could have spoken to a non-existent news agency, as none in the country goes by that name,” the statement stated. (NAN)

The Independent National Electoral Commission has decided to resume from Tuesday, the collation of the governorship election result in Bauchi State and may declare the winner of the poll, hitherto ruled as inconclusive.

The commission announced the decision in a press statement on Friday night after resolving some issues around the result of Tafawa Balewa local government and some polling units in Ningi local government.

INEC did not state whether by the decision, the scheduled supplementary election on 23 March has been cancelled.

According to INEC, the number of cancelled votes in four polling units in Ningi Local Government was 2,533 and not 25,330 as recorded.

On Tafawa Balewa Local Government election result, where collation was disrupted by armed gangs, affecting 7 out of 11 registration areas for governorship and 6 out of 11 for state assembly elections, INEC said a committee set up, has found that the results in polling units and registration areas are available and in safe custody.

INEC thus decided to resume the resumption and conclusion of the collation of results of the council area for both the governorship and state assembly elections

A new collation and returning officer for Tafawa Balewa has been appointed to continue and conclude the collation process in place of the original collation officer, who withdrew from the exercise citing threats to her life and those of her family members. The collation officer was Dominion Anosike.

The governorship election in Bauchi state is a straight fight between incumbent Mohammed Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress and former minister, Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Bala was said to have won the Tafawa Balewa Local government election, putting him in an overall lead of his APC counterpart, but the INEC returning officer, Professor Mohammed Kyari, declared the election inconclusive.

In declaring the election inconclusive, Kyari, gave the scores of incumbent governor as 465,453 votes and Bala Mohammed of PDP as 469,512 votes.

The margin between the winner and opponent is less than the total number of votes cancelled in some polling units.By law, since the margin of winner is less than the total number of votes cancelled and registered voters in the areas where the votes have been cancelled, this elections is hereby declared inconclusive, he said.

He said his decision was in line with section 26 part 53 of the Electoral Act.

With INEC adopting the result of the Tafawa Balewa local council and amending the result for four polling units in Ningi Local government, the PDP believes that its candidate has won the election.

Read INECs decision on Bauchi governorship election:

Source: NAN

Chief Gbenga Daniel, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor of Ogun State and Director-General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation, has resigned from partisan politics.

Daniel conveyed his resignation in a letter dated March 14, 2019 to the Chairman of the Party, Mr. Uche Secondus,

He said he took the decision based on the desire to immerse himself in some other vocations and to take on some new challenges.

My decision in this regard is entirely personal to me and having served in various capacities, including as Governor of Ogun State, I have resolved to immerse myself in some other vocations and take on some new challenges, he said.

The 62-year-old politician was governor of Ogun State from 29 May 2003 to 29 May 2011, making him the longest-serving governor of the state, a record that the incumbent, Ibikunle Amosun would match by May 29, 2019.

He founded the Nigerian Compass, a daily newspaper and also Kresta Laurel, a company he started in 1990.

Daniels last political engagement was his appointment as the Director-General of Atiku Campaign Organisation in preparation for the February 23 presidential election.

Atiku was defeated by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

Incumbent President Buhari polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat Atiku, who had 11,262,978 votes

Daniel is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

He taught briefly as a lecturer in the School of Engineering of Lagos State Polytechnic.

The letter which was copied to His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar and Chairman, Board of Trustees (PDP) is produced hereunder:

14th March, 2019
The National Chairman,
Peoples Democratic Party,
Wadata Plaza, Michael Okpara Street
Wuse Zone II, Abuja

Mr. Chairman,

This is to inform you of my intention to resign from active and partisan politics with effect from today, the 14th day of March, 2019.

My decision in this regard is entirely personal to me and having served in various capacities, including as Governor of Ogun State, I have resolved to immerse myself in some other vocations and take on some new challenges.

Preamble
My Political Journey so far

I joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State on Sunday, the 9th of September, 2001 at an event which was described as one of the most ceremonial political rallies in our recent political history in the South Western part of Nigeria.

We rose from that rally to create a highly robust and effective political campaign machinery which resulted in an electoral victory for the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State in 2003; this movement and vibration affected the politics of the region positively with a victory in five (5) states of the South West.

2. I served as Governor of Ogun State for eight (8) years and our administration till today remains a point of reference in terms of physical, social, economic, educational and human capital development since the State was created in 1976.

3. Notwithstanding these widely acclaimed achievements however, our party, the Peoples Democratic Party ran into trouble waters towards the end of our administration (about the year 2009) which led to the sad loss in the election of 2011, and regrettably ten (10) years after the party has been unable to resolve those internal disputes and challenges.

4. Meanwhile, the PDP in Ogun State was confronted with a very difficult situation in matter of choice. Whereas the national leadership of our party, recognized one candidate for the 2019 election, by court pronouncements another candidate, and in compliance with those court orders, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognized was on the INEC list. The candidates recognized by INEC were not acceptable to the national leadership of the party.

Our situation was then compounded because the candidate which the court and INEC recognized and accepted as valid has also been expelled by the party. This was the dilemma we found ourselves as we approached the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

5. Going forward, we have responded to the yearnings of our people and joined others in emplacing an administration that we believe will better serve the interests of our people than what currently exists. The rest they say is now history.

6. I must say that looking back, I do not have any regrets over that patriotic choice and decision, especially as several of our citizens, leaders and stakeholders in the state and outside have commended that singular action. Many stakeholders within and outside Ogun State feel fulfilled, excited and grateful about our decision to join others in putting a stop to a regime that was believed to be against the collective and general welfare of our people.

7. Let me also add, that in the last few months, I have had one of the rare privileges of traveling round the entire length and breadth of our great country on at least two occasions; the first being during my campaigns to become the National Chairman of our great party, and later as the Director General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization (APCO).

8. I must sincerely admit that in the course of all these travels, I have built a network of contacts, of friends and associates in a mutually rewarding relationships which I cherished most and greatly too. I am therefore persuaded that I have fewer points to make and prove in my Political journeys in partisan politics.

9. My decision to quit partisan politics notwithstanding, I have decided to rejuvenate my charity based organization, the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF) which will literally continue to dispense succor to our people in need, address and assist in the areas of some of their health challenges; I also plan on resuscitation of the non-partisan Political Leadership Academy (POLA) which I established some years ago as a platform of political education to our citizens.

10. Without doubt, I will miss the company of my friends and associates and all those relationships I built in the course of the years all over the country..
    While I crave for your kind understanding, accept assurances of my highest regards.
    Yours faithfully,

Governor of Ogun State (2003-2011).

Cc:
His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar GCON
Chairman, Board of Trustees (PDP)

Source: NAN

Bayelsa Deputy Governor John Jonah has defended the militarys role in providing security and called on Nigerians not to blame the army for its involvement in the 2019 general elections.

Jonah said on Saturday at Elebele in Yenogoa at the inauguration of some projects in the 16 Brigade Barracks otherwise known as Tukur Buratai Camp.

The deputy governor said he had investigated the armys involvement in the elections and found that what they did was not different from what the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had said.

He appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the army which he described as a stabilising factor, to discharge its duties.

Buratai had at different fora said the constitution empowers the army to support civil authority in addressing internal security challenges when called upon, citing Section 217 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

The army chief said this role also extended to providing security during elections.

He, however, warned those deployed for the conduct of the elections to be professional, respect human rights and remain apolitical.

Earlier, while inaugurating building projects in the barracks, Buratai who was represented by Maj.-Gen. A. A. Saliu, the Commander, Training and Doctrine Command TRADOC, charged commanders to always impact positively on their environment.

He promised more fund to provide required infrastructure in the Brigade and army formations across the country.

Buratai also called on the citizens to cooperate with the military by providing it with useful information to enable it ensure their safety.

Also speaking, the GOC 6 Division Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jail Sarham noted that the Brigade would assist in addressing security challenges in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta in general.

Sarham thanked the state government for the assistance it provided for the construction of the barracks.

In his welcome address, Brig.-Gen. Kelvin Aligbe, the Brigade Commander, said what was required in the new barracks now was perimeter fence, parade ground and officers quarters.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the building inaugurated included Guard house, a two-storey medical centre, Brigade Garrison, Soldiers and Warrant Officers/Sergeant clubs and a block of 30 flats for Corporal and below. (NAN)

Source: NAN

*Promises to push for more women and youth in Buharis next cabinet
*Also consoles survivors of collapsed building in Lagos

Wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed her commitment towards promoting the socio-economic and political advancement of women in Nigeria through her Future Assured Programme.

She spoke at the NEXT LEVEL Thank you Celebration and Luncheon at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday 16th March, 2019.

Aisha said the President has already promised to engage more women and youth in his second term. She therefore urged them not to relent in the collective duty to make the NEXT LEVEL a reality.

I wish to express my appreciation to Nigerians especially Women and Youth for their unprecedented contribution towards our success at the election. In particular I must mention the role played by the Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team I initiated to support the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Aisha attributed the success of the President to the firm belief Nigerians have in the ability of this administrations developmental agenda to take us to the NEXT LEVEL. She therefore called on the President and Vice President to continue to build on the foundation of the good works they started in order to justify this confidence.

Earlier, wife of the vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo said the event was convened to celebrate with all those that contributed in one way or the other to the successful re-election of the APC to lead the country for the next four years. She said the party campaigned through all the states of the country, even going from door to door to ensure that the support of everyone was canvassed. She expressed happiness that Nigerians responded positively to the campaign.

Entertainers such as KWAM 1, Daddy Showkey and Sugar Band performed at the occasion.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Governor-elect of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, wife of Nasarawa state Governor, Dr. Mairo Almakura, APC Woman Leader, Mrs. Salamatu Baiwa, Gen. Buba Marwa Rtd and Mrs. Joke Silva.

Aisha Buhari also visited Lagos Island General Hospital, where she consoled victims of the Itafaji building collapse.

Source: NAN

Ogun state governor-elect, Dapo Abiodun, has embarked on a thank you tour, visiting ex-governor Gbenga Daniel, the Director-General of Atiku Campaign Council who stood by him in the March 9 elections.

This afternoon, I paid a courtesy visit to the former Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel OGD, he said in his tweet.

This afternoon, I paid a courtesy visit to the former Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel OGD.

Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun MFR (@dabiodunMFR)

Daniel, a chieftain of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) resigned from partisan politics on Friday after their defeat in presidential election of February 23, 2019.

The former governor had thrown his weight behind Dapo Abiodunl abandoning his former partys candidate in the governorship election, Chief Kashamu Buriji.

Abiodun also on Saturday visited the Paramount Ruler and Olu of Ilaro, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle.

This evening, I paid a Thank You visit to the Paramount Ruler and Olu of Ilaro, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle. While at the Palace, I expressed my profound appreciation to the Paramount Ruler for his fatherly support during the course of my gubernatorial ambition

The governor-elect also hosted Ademola Ogunbanjo and his team in his Iperu home.

The paid him a congratulatory visit.

He promised the team that he would lead the state with wisdom and the grace of God.

The governor-elect would be sworn-in on May 29.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi State Chapter alleged that the fact-finding Committee sent to Bauchi state by the Independent National Electoral Commission to probe the irregularities in the governorship elections of 9 March 2019 denied the party fair hearing.

Alhaji Uba Nana the state Chairman of the party made the allegation at a press conference in Bauchi on Saturday.

INEC announced on Friday night that a new returning officer will resume the collation of the Bauchi governorship election results on Tuesday. It also amended the result of four polling units in Ningi local government, from 25330 to 2533.

The fact-finding Committee chaired by Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee denied fair hearing to APC as a political party whose agents were not invited during hearing of the facts leading to the cancellation of the Results of Tafawa Balewa LGA.

Any decision taken in violation of fair hearing is illegal, null and void, he said.

According to Nana, the composition of the Committee was also questionable as the Committee Chairman, FESTUS OKOYE ESQ is a close ally and former solicitor of Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nana Stressed that no justice can be done by the Committee Chairman who is interested in the whole issues and the instant circumstances.

He pointed out that this was proved by the fact that PDP and Yakubu Dogara on Facebook pre-empted the outcome of the Committees finding before formal publication by INEC.

The APC chairman said that the decision of INEC based on the Committees Report was already prayed for at the Federal High Court, Bauchi in Suit No. FHC/BAU/CS/18/2019 filed by Bala Mohammed and PDP against INEC.

Unfortunately, the extant decision of INEC reversing the cancellation of Tafawa Balewa Results was earlier sought for but refused by the Court in the said suit at interim stage. Now INEC has granted what was refused by the Court of law in the interest of justice, he said.

Nana said the Party rejected in totality, the report of the fact-finding Committee on the disruption of collation process at Tafawa Balewa and the subsequent decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its earlier resolution cancelling the entire results of Tafawa Balewa LGA.

He said the position taken by INEC is illegal, null and void having regards to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections

Source: NAN

A senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has reminded the Independent National Electoral Commission that it has wide powers to de-register political parties that failed to scale some minimum electoral tests.

In a statement today, Falana, a leading human rights advocate, said the application of the rules will see the number of political parties cut from 91 to fewer than 10.

Contrary to the widespread belief that INEC has no such power, the human rights lawyer said the power was restored to the agency following the 2017 constitutional amendment.

The learned lawyer recalled how some political parties successfully challenged INECs power after the amendment of the Electoral Act in 2010. He said the National Assembly bolstered the commission via the constitutional amendment.

Disturbed by the mockery of multi party democracy in the country through the unprincipled proliferation of political parties the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act 2010 to empower INEC to de-register political parties that failed to win any election. Since political parties were registered pursuant to section 222 of the Constitution the suits filed by the affected political parties succeeded as the Federal High Court declared the amendment unconstitutional and set it aside.

Among the grounds are that a party can be de-registered if it breaches any of the requirements for registration and fails to win at least twenty-five percent of votes cast in one State of the Federation in a Presidential election; or one Local Government of the State in a Governorship election.

However, the National Assembly took advantage of the 2017 constitutional review to reduce the number of registered political parties in the country. Thus, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration, No 9) Act, 2017 enacted on May 4, 2017 has amended section 225 of the 1999 Constitution to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission to de-register political parties, Falana wrote.

Among the grounds are that a party can be de-registered if it breaches any of the requirements for registration and fails to win at least twenty-five percent of votes cast in one State of the Federation in a Presidential election; or one Local Government of the State in a Governorship election.

A party can also be de-registered if it fails to win at least one ward in the Chairmanship election; one seat in the National or State House of Assembly election; or one seat in the Councillorship election.

From the foregoing, it is indubitably clear that INEC has been conferred with enormous powers to de-register political parties that fail to meet the fresh constitutional prerequisites.

Going by the results of the 2019 general elections the 91 registered political parties may have been reduced to less than 10 that may have scaled the constitutional hurdle.

Not a few people would hail the constitutional amendment in view of the prostitution of the political system by political parties are ill-equipped to promote participatory democracy, economic freedom, human rights and rule of law.

But it ought to be pointed out that the planned de-registration of political parties that fail to win elections is likely to limit the political space to the so called mainstream political parties that are not committed to any political philosophy or ideology, Falana said.

Falana, who deplored the opportunism of some political parties, as demonstrated in the last general election, urged INEC to sanitise the democratic space by applying the rules and enforcing relevant provisions of the constitution and the electoral act.

INEC is called upon to formulate new guidelines for the registration political parties within the ambit of the Constitution.

This should be done in view of the fact that not less than 100 political associations are said to have submitted applications for the registration of new political parties. With respect to registered political parties INEC must fully comply with section 225(2) of the Constitution by sanctioning them if they fail to submit a detailed annual statement and analysis of their sources of funds and assets.

This will go a long way to check the monetisation and brazen manipulation of the democratic process by political godfathers.

More importantly, INEC should henceforth exercise its powers under Section 224 of the Constitution by ensuring that the programmes as well as the aims and objects of every political party conform with the provisions of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of State Policy enshrined in Chapter II of the Constitution, Falana said.

Source: NAN

Award winning musician, David Adedeji Adeleke , a.k.a Davido has hit 10 million followers on Instagram.

Instagram is a social networking application that enables users capture, share and edit photos, videos and messages with friends in a creative way.

The ”FIA” crooner thus became the first Nigerian artist to achieve such feat.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DMW boss took to his official instagram account to celebrate this achievement and said that he would ”post every win for everyone to see.”

The 26-year-old artist had set such record of firsts previously.

He was the first Nigerian artist to reach 1 million, 2 million , 5 million and 9 million followers on Instagram.

His 2017 hit song, ”Fall” became the first Nigerian music video to hit 100 million views on YouTube.

The Daps-directed video had made Nigerian YouTube history as the most -viewed Nigerian music in recent times.

Also, his song, ‘Wonder Woman’ was listed as one of the hottest tracks from across the African continent by Apple Music.

Another Nigerian artist with a large fan base on social media is Wizkid, with 7.2 million followers.

A right-wing extremist, Brenton Harrison Tarrant, who rampaged through two mosques in the quiet New Zealand city of Christchurch, killing 49 worshippers appeared in court on murder charges Saturday.

He was remanded in custody without plea until April 5.He smiled as he stood in the dock on Saturday.

More than 40 people were hospitalised with a range of injuries, including a critically hurt 5-year-old boy flown to Starship

According to New Zealand Prime Minister, the shooter had five weapons including two semi-automatic guns. She promised to change the gun laws in the country.

Forty-two people are still being treated in hospital for injuries, including a four year old child, after an attack thought to be the deadliest directed against Muslims in the West in modern times.

The 28-year-old Australia-born suspect will be charged with murder in a court appearance that police said would be held behind closed doors for security reasons.

Outside the court, guarded by heavily armed police in body armour, the sons of 71-year-old Afghan man Daoud Nabi demanded justice.

After travelling the world he stopped in New Zealand and said heres a slice of paradise, Omar Nabi told AFP. Its outrageous, the feeling is outrageous. Its beyond imagination.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Saturday the victims were from across the Muslim world, with Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia rendering consular assistance.

She has called this a terrorist attack and said the shooter who was not on any watchlist and did not have a criminal record had legally purchased the firearms he used: two semi-automatic weapons, two shotguns and a lever-action gun.

The offender was in possession of a gun licence obtained in November 2017, and he started purchasing the weapons the following month, she said.

While work is being done as to the chain of events that led to both the holding of this gun licence, and the possession of these weapons, I can tell you one thing right now our gun laws will change, she vowed.

The suspect, who was believed to be a personal fitness instructor, documented his radicalisation and two years of preparations in a lengthy, meandering and conspiracy filled far-right manifesto.

He live-streamed footage of himself going room-to-room, victim to victim, shooting the wounded from close range as they struggled to crawl away in the main Christchurch mosque.

Two other people remain in custody, although their link to the attack is unknown. A third person who was earlier arrested was said to be a member of the public with a firearm who was trying to help.

Police warned New Zealanders Saturday to remain vigilant, saying there was no guarantee the risk is limited to the Christchurch region.

Two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in a car and neutralised by the military, while police raided a home in Dunedin, where Ardern said the suspect was based.

We will be looking closely to build a picture of any of the individuals involved and all of their activities prior to this horrific event, police added in a statement.

Tributes to the victims poured in from around the world.

Source: NAN

The UN came together in sadness and solidarity on Friday to honour its 21 members of staff, who died on board an Ethiopian Airlines plane which crashed on Sunday.

The ceremonies were held at UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva, to remember the staff members who were among the 157 passengers and crew members on board the ill-fated Boeing 737 MAX which crashed near Addis Ababa.

We come together in sadness and solidarity to pay tribute to our fellow UN family members who perished, UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said after laying a wreath in remembrance of the workers.

In doing so, we also remember all the victims of the air crash that claimed so many lives including civil society partners and humanitarian workers, Guterres said.

He also expressed the UNs deepest condolences and heartfelt wishes to their families and loved ones during this extremely difficult time.

The UN chief also expressed condolences to the people and Government of Ethiopia, who lost nine of their citizens on board.

Addressing a sombre gathering in the lobby of the Secretariat building, Guterres described the diverse group of UN staff members, who perished as coming from many areas of expertise and nations around the world.

He added, yet together, they also were a mirror of the United Nations: they really represent what the United Nations is, and the best of the United Nations.

Women and men; some in the beginning of their careers, others closing in on retirement but each on an individual mission, but at the same time together, representing our larger quest doing their part, in solidarity with all of us, to build a better world, brick by brick, deed by deed, day in and day out.

The secretary-general called on all across the UN system, to continue that mission.

In a statement from the UN in Geneva, Director-General Michael Mller, told the ceremony of commemoration in that place that those who died were all our heroes.

He said the tragedy gave everyone within the vast and varied family of the UN, the opportunity to reflect on why they serve.

I like to think that its above all else because of our shared belief that we can make the world a better place.

To carry on our work wherever we can make a difference; no matter how high the risk, no matter how distant the reward; no matter, even, how faint the hopes may seem at times.

Our colleagues will be remembered for doing just that, Mller said.

Their legacy, their memory, the example they set for all of us none will ever be forgotten, the top UN official said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Kano Police Command has arrested three persons for allegedly buying permanent voter cards(PVCs), ahead of the supplementary governorship elections on 23 March.

DSP Abdullahi Haruna, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), disclosed this in a statement issued in Kano on Wednesday.

Haruna said on March 12 at about 8 p.m, based on information received, 39 year-old Saadatu Ismail of Brigade Quarters, Kano, and Halima Abba, 55, of Taludu Quarters, were arrested for purchasing PVCs from voters at Gama Quarters Nasarawa Local Government area of the state.

The suspects bought the PVC each at the sum of N5,000 and above, eight PVCs were recovered from them with the cash sum of 10,000, Haruna said.

He also said that on March 13, at about 10:00a.m one Mukhtar Shuaibu of Dandishe Quarters, Kano, was also arrested for buying PVCs within the Quarters.

He confessed to have purchased two PVCs at the sum of N3,000 each, he said.

Haruna also said that on March 13 at about 10:00a.m two more suspects were arrested all of Gama Quarters, Kano, for moving about with a view to buy PVCs, adding that they were rescued from a mob that was about to lynch them.

Kano will hold supplementary elections on 23 March to determine who becomes the governor in the next four years, between incumbent Abdullahi Ganduje of APC and the challenger, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the PDP.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the government is doing its best to correct and reverse the terrible mismanagement the country had experienced.

With some luck, our best will be good enough, Buhari told a delegation of non-career Ambassadors, who came to State House, Abuja, to congratulate him on his re-election.

He said Nigeria was trying to live within her means, so we can improve our lot, adding that government was determined to upgrade the countrys profile, both locally and internationally.

President Buhari said it would be inexcusable for government not to take care of its Ambassadors in their various stations, hence the special attention being paid to the countrys foreign missions.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Ambassador Ashimiyu Olaniyi, said President Buharis election in 2015, and his recent re-election, are divine interventions in the affairs of the country.

You are God-sent. You have always come on stage at the critical moments of our national history to right the wrongs of the past, Ambassador Olaniyi said.

He added that the President would be remembered as an astute political leader who does not interfere in the political affairs of states, noting that the singular quality has given credibility to all elections conducted since 2015.

The delegation submitted that apart from records of achievements in the three focal areas of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, your integrity is responsible for your victory, which we are privileged to celebrate with you today.

The Ambassadors appreciated the intervention funds that were released to various missions abroad, and pledged continued loyalty and support to the Buhari administration.

Source: NAN

A Yola High Court on Thursday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting a supplementary Governorship Election in Adamawa, fixed for March 23.

The ruling by Justice Abdul-Aziz Waziri, followed a request to that effect filed by counsel to the Adamawa Chapter of Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Mr Mustafa Shaba, over absence of the party logo on the ballot paper of the inconclusive election.

Delivering the ruling after going through the two affidavits in support of the motion including that of extreme urgency, Justice Waziri, held that the request has merit and therefore was granted.

After careful perusal of the annexure of the MRDD 1 to 5 alongside written address of counsel urging me to grant the application, I am of the view that the application is pregnant with merit and must be granted.

I hereby grant the following order.

The defendant here in, the INEC is restrained whether by themselves, their executives, servants, privies, representative nominees or any other person or persons from proceeding with the supplementary election in respect of Adamawa State Governorship pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The Judge ruled that all the processes relating to the suit be served to Adamawa INEC in Yola in compliance with Order 6 of the Court.

The case was adjourned till March 21 for hearing of motion for the interlocutory injunction.

Speaking to newsmen on the development, counsel to MRDD, Mr Mustafa Shaba said the plaintiff, MRDD represented by the state chairman of the party, Ibrahim Umar, rushed to the court to complain against what he described as serious infraction.

The party has come to court and fortunately the election has not been concluded to stop INEC from further breaching of the partys candidate (Rev. Eric Theman) right.

We want the logo to be place and the election to start afresh.

What we apply for today is for Interim injunction restraining INEC as it is for now from proceeding until the needful is done, Shaba said.

Source: NAN

By Hassana Yakubu

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has gained two additional seats in the just concluded House of Assembly election in Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PDP, which had only seven members in the assembly after the 2015 election, now has a total of nine members.

The elected PDP members would represent Kaura, Jemaa, Jaba, Sanga, Kajuru, Chikun, Kachia, Zangon Kataf and Zonkwa constituencies.

NAN reports that 17 of the assembly members have retained their seats while 16 are fresh members.

According to details released by INEC on the election, the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, retained its hold on the assembly with 24 members, down from the 27 it has in the 8th Assembly.

INEC will hold by-election in Kagarko constituency on March 23, 2019 for the state constituency seat.

Members of the APC for the 9th Assembly will be representing Sabon Gari, Basawa, Zaria Kewaye, Zaria City, Makarfi, Soba, Maigana, Ikara, Kakangi, Magajin Gari, Igabi East, Igabi west, Kauru, Makera, Tudun Wada, Unguwan Sunusi, Kubau, Doka/Gabasawa, Kudan, Lere West, Lere East, Giwa West and Giwa East constituencies.

NAN reports that the 16 fresh members include Yusuf Mugu (Kaura); Suleiman Dabo (Zaria City), Aminu Ahmed (Makarfi), Bala Tagagi (Kakangi), Monday Dikko (Jaba), Mrs Comfort Amwe (Sanga), Ishaku Chawaza (Chikun), Salisu Bala (Igabi East)

Also among the incoming fresh lawmakers are, Tanimu Musa (Kachia), Ali Kalat (Jemaa), Shehu Inusa (Kubau), Faisal Abbas (Kudan), Kantiok Bako (Zonkwa), Rilwanu Gadagau (Giwa West), and Yusuf Ibrahim Labo (Giwa East).

Source: NAN

By Ugonne Uzoma

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has blamed the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, and the partys governorship candidate, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, for the inability of the party to win the governorship election in the state.

He said posterity would judge the two for their alleged roles in the election.

In a release issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo in Owerri on Thursday, the governor alleged that Uzodinma worked for Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded elections.

He said Uzodimma was one of the first to celebrate with the PDP Candidate, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, after he was declared the winner of the election, citing a video of the two contestants as proof of his guilt.

We had maintained that Chief Uzodinma was just a mole in the APC and today, the governorship election in the state and its outcome have obviously vindicated us, aside the fact that a video of Chief Uzodinmas celebration with Ihedioha has gone viral on the social media.

He also alleged that Uzodimma succeeded in the alleged plot by ensuring only his supporters were made agents of the party, adding that his target was to destroy APC in the South-East.

Chief Uzodinma succeeded through Adams Oshiomhole to ensure that only his supporters were made agents of the party, from the list he sent from Abuja to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Unfortunately, none of Uzodinmas and Oshiomholes approved agents were seen either at the ward, local government or at the state level; they didnt care about the election and its outcome.

At the end of the day, the APC candidate came fourth. And he has been celebrating with the PDP candidate.

Their target as it has been shown now is to totally destroy APC in the South-East and in Imo in particular, thereby authenticating the claim in some quarters that it is all about 2023.

We had equally maintained the contention that Imo people would not vote for Uzodinma because they know him very well, but Oshiomhole refused to listen.

He came fourth and never showed that he took part in the election; Posterity and history will Judge Oshiomhole and Uzodinma over the fate of APC in the South-East, especially in Imo State, Okorocha said.

Source: NAN