The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi has explained why he has remained confident in Nigeria’s judiciary despite the controversy around their rulings on some matters.
Obi, speaking as a guest at the Channels Television’s Sunrise Programme on Thursday, said his confidence is drawn from the fact that the Justices are Nigerians and are aware of how bad the situation has been in the country and only truth and justice will save this country.
“They, the Justices, desire a better Nigeria for themselves and their children and that can only come through doing the right thing and telling the people the truth of any situation.
“For me, I have no cause to doubt the Courts, it’s we, the politicians that are bent on corrupting every aspect of our national life”.
On what his reaction will be if the nation decides to go on with the situation, Obi said he would be shocked if the country goes on with the rascality of criminality.
The former Anambra state Governor said it’s disheartening that the giant of Africa cannot deliver a simple election when small nations like Ghana can deliver with a small error margin and big nations like India also delivers with less than a five percent error margin.
Obi reiterated his earlier position that what the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared is false, pointing out that he’s challenging the process and the declaration.
“My trust in INEC has evaporated with what they did on February 25, setting out a rule for the election and abandoning it in the middle of the game. He said that the majority of Nigerians have declared a vote of no confidence on INEC because everybody saw that they promised so much and could not deliver even the minimum.
The LP standard bearer likened what INEC did on February 25 to a restaurant promising a sumptuous meal, serving the a la carte but failing to bring the main meal.
On his message to his supporters for Saturday’s gubernatorial and state Assembly elections, Obi said they should vote for Labour Party candidates in their states, and where there is no candidate they should vote with a new Nigeria in mind, looking out for competence, character, capacity, and capabilities.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has described as false, report that it’s employees from the south east and south south are being transfered out of Lagos ahead the Governor and House of Assembly elections.
The state is the stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which lost the votes to Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party, LP, during the presidential election on February 25.
Obi is from the south east region, and much of his votes were believed to have come from Igbo and people from the south south region.
The ruling party is said to be doing everything to ensue that it takes back the state in the guber and state house of Assembly election slated for this weekend, and bribery of officials of INEC officials by the party has been prime in the allegations against it.
Therefore, when a social media user Omotayo Williams tweeted that some INEC staff from the south east and south south, have been transferred out of the state, and replaced with new ones, the report quickly went rival.
“#JUSTIN: The @inecnigeria office in Lagos has removed all Igbo and South-South staff in the State from sensitive election duties for the March 18th election,” Williams wrote in a tweet.
Adding that “They did not give any reason, but it was said that the INEC leadership which takes directives from the Tinubu political group said they do not trust the Igbo/SS staff to do as they will want them to do at the election.”
He noted that the alleged act of INEC should not be tolerated because it has the tendency to compromise the upcoming governorship election.
Responding INEC said the report should be dismissed as a fake, misleading news, as the commission will not do anything that’s capable of affecting the integrity of the election.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman who spoke to journalists in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Wednesday urged Nigerians to dismiss such insinuation.
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has announced that inflation rose in the country to 21 percent in February. The figure increased slightly from the January figure of 21. 82 percent.
The Bureau said the slight rise In inflation was as a result of the price increase of consumables such as meat, bread and cereals.
According to the report released on Wednesday, the NBS said that increases were recorded in all Individual Consumption by Purpose, COICOP, divisions that yielded the headline index.
“Similarly, on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 6.21 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in February 2022, which was 15.70 per cent.
“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in February 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., February 2022),” the NBS said.
The report noted that the contributions of items on a class basis to the increase in the headline index are bread and cereal (21.67 per cent), actual and imputed rent (7.74 per cent), potatoes, yam and other tubers (6.06 per cent), vegetable (5.44 per cent) and meat (4.78 per cent ).
“On a month-on-month basis, the percentage change in the All-Items Index in February 2023 was 1.71 per cent, which was 0.16 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in January 2023 (1.87 per cent).
“This means that in February 2023, on average, the general price level was 0.16 per cent lower relative to January 2023,” the NBS said.
The prices of food and other commodities risen sharply since the begging of the year due to multifaceted factors, such as the cost of petrol and diesel which increased the cost of transportation, a major determinant for prices of goods and services in the country.
The Lagos state government has waded into the alleged suspension of a student for using the poster of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, to wrap her books.
“Miss Barinada Marvelous of JSS 2B is he bey permitted to go home to campaign for Peter Obi against the wish of Lagosians,” the alleged suspension letter read.
The incident which reportedly occurred at Odomola Junior Secondary School in the Epe area of the state, has drawn condemnations after her parents reported the treatment meted to their ward.
Angry Nigerians have trenchantly condemned the alleged act, and have also called for a thorough probe of the school’s authority.
Whoever is found to have wrongly suspended the girl, not a few said, should be punished to serve as deterrent go thers who mzy want to try such harassment in th3 future,
It appears the state government understands the feeling of Nigerians, loud and clear, that students should not be punished because of their political leanings, and has now swung into action.
According to the state’s Commissioner for Education Folasade Adefisayo, who announced the position of the government on Wednesday, Governor Sanwoolu has directed that the school’s principal to be questioned.
“The Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Education and all its agencies will never instruct any school principal, personnel or teacher to act in such a manner,” Adefisayo stated.
She stated that“the matter would be dealt with within the scope of our strict regulations as the reason for sending home the student is unacceptable – if true. “
The commissioner also stated that investigation is ongoing in another school in the state where a school principal has been accused of soliciting support from the student for her preferred political candidate.
This is wrong, Adefisayo said, adding that the school environment must not be used for politics, assuring that anyone caught doing this will be seven punished.
She said, “The Ministry promotes and runs a public school system devoid of politics and political insinuations.
“A thorough investigation of the matter will be carried out and anyone found culpable will be subjected to disciplinary measures as laid down in the civil service rules.”
There has been reported cases of harassment of politcal opponents across the country during the election.
For instance, Governors Samuel Ortom and Bello Masari of Benue and Katsina states were alleged to have threatened civil servants in their respective states, that they will be punished if they don’t support the governorship candidate of their choice.
In a move that has shocked many people, especially in Ebonyi State, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, has dumped the Governorship Candidate of his Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and pitched his tent with the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Anyim, a chieftain of the PDP, was, until now, not known to have a good relationship with the State Governor, Dave Umahi, who, it is said, has succeeded in muscling every opposition in the State, a situation strongly decried by Anyim before now.
Anyim’s public support for Francis Nwifuri, the APC candidate, is bad news for the PDP in Ebonyi and the South-east where the Party is struggling to keep afloat.
Anyim made his support for Umahi’s Candidate public when he spoke to Reporters at a Town Hall Meeting in his Community, Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area, organised by Umahi.
To the shock of the Leadership of the PDP, the Party did not win any Senate seat in the South-east during the 25th February National Assembly Election. The Senate seats were mainly divided between APC and the rave of the moment, Labour Party, LP. In Ebonyi State, it was a clean sweep for the APC in the Senatorial election. The PDP, also, did not show much strength in the Zone at the Peoples election. That was swept by the Labour Party which Candidate is Peter Obi.
Political pundits predict that the PDP is not likely to win any Governorship seat in the three States of the Zone where the Governorship election will take place on Saturday. The States are Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu. The other two, Imo and Anambra States have off-season elections.
In Ebonyi, it waa not only Anyim who withdrew support for PDP’s Governorship Candidate.
Others are a PDP House of Representatives Member for Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, Livinus Makwe, as well as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the LP, Aja Nwabueze. Given that this withdrawal happened barely two days to the Governorship election, it is not known if the LP Candidate will run without a running mate.
On why he threw the PDP under the bus, Anyim, a member, Board of Trustees of the Party, who was also a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the President Goodluck Jonathan Administration, said: “I believe in zoning and rotation of the Governorship. It is the turn of Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone, and the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ebonyi State, is the right person.”
An elated Umahi thanked Anyim for his courageous support for the APC Candidate.
“The sorry State of Abia State is inscribed boldly on the faces of every citizen except the few who are responsible for this scandalous absence of responsibility in Government. What Abia needs now is a good Governor, in fact, a better Governor than the parade of locusts that have so far reduced the State to its present sorry state. For the avoidance of doubt, I make a full endorsement of Alex Otti.”
The governorship election on Saturday, March 18, is more decisive for Abia state than many others. It is an opportunity to end the tragedy of a long night of disastrous governance that has plagued the state in the last twenty four years. It is a unique opportunity to etch a difference between darkness and light and between government for a selfish cartel and democracy as government of the people for their own good by one of their own kind.
This election is coming at a time when Abia state has accumulated so many negative records among states of the nation. To citizens of the state, a tradition of irresponsible and insensitive governance may have become all too familiar and normal. The records speak for themselves. From the administration of Mr. Orji Kalu to that of Theodore Orji and the outgoing Okezie Ikpeazu, the story of Abia has been one long night of deceit, unbridled corruption and epic incompetence.
Even as the people prepare to troop out once again to vote for yet another governor, the question on the lips of most honest Abia citizens is whether democracy will bring them hope and some goodness or continue with a life of perpetual despair, poverty and hopelessness.
The picture of the state on this eve of a governorship election is sad and almost tragic.
As we speak, Abia is easily the most indebted state in the federation with a debt portfolio of over N189.9 billion. The present government that ratcheted up most to this debts inherited a debt of about N35 billion from its predecessor.
It is the state with the longest period of default in the payment of the salaries of staff in the public sector especially education and health. Doctors in the state’s service are owed upwards of 30 months in salary arrears.
No one knows when they are on duty or on strike. Teachers in government primary, secondary and tertiary institutions are in the same boat or slightly worse.
The state university runs consistently on upwards of an average of six months in arrears of salaries and allowances of staff.
The state polytechnic at Aba is in default of salaries and allowances to the tune of over 30 months and still counting. The institution has virtually lost its accreditation while its academic and administrative staff now supplement their livelihood as keke and Okada riders or petty traders in inconsequential merchandise.
Alex Oti
Doctors in government health institutions have gone without salaries for upwards of 30 months.
Most state pensioners have since forgotten when last they received their pensions let alone gratuities. The sick no longer bother to go to any of the state’s general hospitals or health centres knowing well that they are likely to come out feet first because doctors and nurses are either perennially on strike or have no motivation or facilities to provide care or cure.
Drug prescriptions are worthless since most pharmacies in state hospitals have a permanent sign on display: “OUT OF STOCK” to announce a perennial absence of essential and basic drugs and medicaments.
The city of Aba has been in decline and abandonment for the last 24 years. Drainage is absent. Sewage system is unheard of. Open drains filled to the brim with unprintable effluents empty onto the surface of the few ill maintained roads available.
Aba is literally an inhabited refuse dump. Mounds of refuse greet the eyes at nearly every inch of the city which has a permanent stench of something dead. Most roads in the town are in desperate disrepair. Some people have forgotten when some of these were roads as many have become deep gullies and waterways that are hardly impassable when it rains. Adjoining the many dilapidated roads is one or two uncompleted flyovers that the state government has been building and commissioning in bits for the better part of the last seven and half years.
The sorry state of Abia state is inscribed boldly on the faces of every citizen except the few who are responsible for this scandalous absence of responsibility in government. People are hungry, poor, unkempt and viciously frustrated.
This is the effective backdrop to the elections that will take place in the next three or four days to elect a new governor.
The choice before the people is therefore a clear one. The crisis of governance in the state has defined the type of governor that Abia people should be looking forward to having from May 29, 2023. The ideal next governor of Abia state must therefore come to the table with a mix of qualities that have openly been deficient in the last 24 years. These are competence, capacity, track record of performance, knowledge and character with conscience and empathy.
Abia needs a governor who can read a balance sheet. We need somebody who understands the essence of governance. It must be somebody who understands the complimentary relationship, the social contract between government and people. The new governor must understand that in government, as in business, there is a clear distinction between revenue and expenditure and between recurrent expenditure and capital costs.
Above all, the new governor of Abia state must have empathy for the people he governs. Governance without compassion becomes a machine of insensitivity and evil. The new governor must know that a government thrives when the minimum expectations of the people are met. Salaries and wages must be paid as and when due.
When workers receive their salaries and allowances regularly, demand is stimulated and supply of goods and services is ignited. Contentment and prosperity are generated.
Abia is easily the most industrially and commercially viable state in Nigeria. But the spirit of enterprise and industry among the people has been stifled and crushed by a succession of bad and irresponsible governments. If brought back to life, the city of Aba alone can give the state an internally generated revenue base of at least N5 billion a month as against the little over N1 billion collected at present.
Even the present level of IGR is an understatement as a plethora of criminal networks are known to cream off most of the internally generated revenue in the name of task forces, consultants and other cartels of corruption. The state’s dormant revenue pool must now be activated in order to deliver to the Abia people the prosperity they deserve but have waited endlessly for.
I have seen most of the political propaganda material being brandished around the Abia governorship campaign. The noisiest faction is the one claiming that the governor must come from a particular geo political zone.
That argument is moribund, redundant and prehistoric. Abia does not need a Bende or Ngwa or Umuahia governor. I agree that equity and identity are part of politics but we must distinguish between what is strategically important and what is politically expedient.
Therefore, what Abia needs now is a good governor, in fact a better governor than the parade of locusts that have so far reduced the state to its present sorry state. If you ask me, I would confidently say that on the contrary, it is now the turn of Abia state to rise to the promise of its founding fathers through the election of a capable, enlightened and committed governor. Parochial sentiments and little primordial micro nationality qualms should not obscure this larger goal.
I have heard the loud voices of the Ukwa/Ngwa faction of the Abia political elite. For the avoidance of doubt, I was born in Abia state.
My birth chord lies buried there beneath a kola nut tree. The bones of my parents and grandparents lie buried in the soil of Abia. In addition, I can confidently assert, factually, that there is no citizen of the state, living or dead, that contributed more than my humble self in getting then president General Ibrahim Babangida to sign off on the creation of Abia state. But I have never directly or indirectly staked a proprietary entitlement to the political leadership of the state.
I am also solidly from Ngwaland. None of the people shouting about the entitlement of the Ngwas to use their demographics to dominate the leadership of the state is more Ngwa than myself. I have probably contributed more to the development of Ngwaland and the Ngwa identity in Nigeria than the majority of these campaigners.
But, I have never, however, insisted that the choice of a fit and proper governor for the state should be restricted to my village, clan or sub ethnicity. What Abia, or indeed any and every state or Nigeria for that matter needs is a capable and competent leader to deliver to the majority the dividends of democracy. That is the message of the moment’s political reality as we have seen it.
By a historical coincidence, the crop of candidates vying for the governorship of Abia state are in general qualitatively better than their predecessors. But the political party configuration of the moment is vastly in favour of the candidate and agenda of the Labour Party.
The attributes that earned Mr. Peter Obi the shattering success in the last presidential election are now at the disposal of Abia state in the person of the Labour Party candidate, Mr.Alex Otti.
After a careful scrutiny of the antecedents and qualities of the contenders, I am convinced that only Mr. Alex Otti, of the present crop of candidates, possesses the attributes of the kind of governor that can rescue Abia state from the doldrums in which it has been plunged by the present and past administrations of locust governors.
Mr. Peter Obi had outlined character, capacity and competence as core qualities for the highest political offices in today’s Nigeria. As it was valid and attractive for Nigeria, it is even more imperative for Abia state.
At a personal level, I have known Mr. Alex Otti for the past many years and can boldly assert that he possesses the requisite attributes and proven qualities to lead a rescue mission to dig Abia state out of the deep ditch into which the present and past governors have dumped the state.
I knew him as a young boy growing up at Umu-uru, next door to my Umuguru village.
Later, as one of my students at the University of Port Harcourt, I remain proud of Alex who justified the confidence of we his teachers with a brilliant First Class Honours degree in economics and the social sciences.
In his banking career, first at First Bank and, later, as Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Mr. Otti distinguished himself by being in the forefront of outstanding management turnarounds in both organizations. In the contest for the present tenure of the position of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria under President Jonathan, Alex Otti was a front line candidate and stood a very good chance of being the current Governor of the Central Bank but for reasons of political considerations. I
In his private business, Alex has recorded undoubted success. As a manager, Alex Otti is competent, informed, enlightened and has the requisite private sector linkages to expand the economic horizon of Abia state and thus lift it from the present centre of poverty to its deserved status as a place of prosperity and economic influence.
For the avoidance of doubt, I make this bold endorsement of Mr. Otti in full cognizance of the respectability that Abia state deserves but cannot get under the lack lustre and embarrassing canopy of the present leadership in the state and the ones that preceded it.
Abia is no ordinary state. Many fellow Nigerians have expressed consternation that a state that boasts of some of the most distinguished and illustrious citizens of our nation both living and dead can degenerate into such a laughing stock. This is the state of Michael Okpara, Ebitu Ukiwe, Kalu Idika Kalu, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, late Ndubuisi Kanu, Anya O Anya, Darlington Uzu, Onyema Ugochukwu, the late Stanley Macebuh and many more others.
This plea for a fit and proper person as the next governor of Abia state is entered on behalf of these illustrious citizens as well as the millions of long suffering people of the state who have simply suffered too much. Our people cannot remain in bondage for much longer than this moment.
Amuta, a native of Abia State, an academic,former University teacher, author, columnist, is on the Board of ThisDay Newspapers
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has been described as an incurable drunk who should never be taken seriously because he speaks under the influence of alcohol.
This allegation against Governor Wike who describes himself as a Governor with a capital “G”, was made by his predecessor in office, Chibuike Amaechi.
Amaechi lamented that Wike, allegedly, spends N50m of Rivers State money, weekly, to purchase alcohol and claimed he got the information from the Governor’s alcohol supplier.
The weekly amount squandered on getting drunk, lamented the immediate past Transportation Minister, could have been used to build schools in the State.
Amaechi spoke on Tuesday at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoki Area during his campaig for the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate in the state, Tonye Cole, ahead of the March 18, 2023, Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. He urged the people not to vote for Wike’s Candidate because a vote for Sim Fubara, the PDP Candidate, is an endorsement of Wike’s third term in office.
The public funds, he told the people, allegedly being wasted by Wike on alcohol alone, is enough “to start and complete projects that would be of huge benefit to the people of the state.”
Amaechi claimed he built primary schools as governor with the equivalent of what Wike spends on alcohol in two weeks.
Amaechi: “The person Wike buys alcohol from, said Wike spends N50million every week on alcohol. The primary schools we built is N112 million. It means that in two weeks, Wike has drank one primary school.
“When Wike talks, it is alcohol that is talking. And he’s so shameless about it. Wike told the whole world on live Television that he was drinking a very expensive 40-year old whiskey, in the morning.
“We are asking INEC to be neutral. The people have rejected Wike and his Government. Every street I went to, people were jumping on top of me shouting.”
Amaechi and Wike, once bossom friends and political allies, have been at loggerheads for over eight years.
Former Delta State Governor, James Onanafe Ibori, has debunked the rumour making the round that he has directed his supporters in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, Candidates in the March 18th, 2023, Governorship and State House of Assembly Election in Delta State.
The Delta State Campaign Council of the PDP has also appealed to party faithfuls and voters in the state to ignore the fake announcement reported in some communities, alleging that one of the founding fathers, Ibori, has thrown his weight behind APC in next Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly election.
Spokesperson of the Council, Olorogun Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, in a statement on Wednesday, urged Deltans and registered voters, especially members of PDP in the State to ignore the unauthorized and fake announcement, saying that Ibori will not now, or in the near future, involve himself in any unlawful anti-party activity as the fake directive seem to suggest.
He said Delta APC and its Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has again shown that they do not have the grassroots support and the popularity to win the Guber election, so, they mischievously adopted misinformation, lies and media propaganda to deceive gullible voters, noting that no sane Deltan will believe APC propagandists in their latest desperate attempt to misinform the public and voters.
Oghenesivbe, who is also the Executive Assistant on Communications to Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, recalled that Ibori recently assured leaders and stakeholders of the party in Delta Central, a few days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections at his Oghara country home, that no circumstances will warrant him to resign his member of PDP.
He disclosed that Chief Ibori, at the well attended meeting, assured that he would continue to support all candidates of PDP in the ongoing general election; and urged Ethiope leaders and stakeholders to deliver his look-alike daughter, Mrs Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu at the polls. She won the House of Representatives seat, and subsequently collected member-elect certificate of Return for Ethiope Federal Constituency.
Oghenesivbe appealed to all eligible voters in Delta state to disregard the fake announcement masterminded by some desperate APC members, and to vote Sheriff Oborevwori and all House of Assembly candidates of PDP next Saturday March 18
“Delta APC and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege desperate attempt to grab power has taken a new unscrupulous dimension. They are panicking and nervous over the soaring popularity and series of endorsements for PDP Governorship candidate, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, JP
“Their overzealous campaigners are going round communities across the state, alleging that former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has directed all registered voters to vote APC on Saturday March 18. This is desperation taken to far. Ibori never gave such directive.
“Our findings clearly revealed that our national leader and former governor, Chief James Ibori, did not authorize the fake endorsement of APC, and knew nothing about the announcements making the rounds. It’s APC and Senator Agege desperation to win election by hook or crook.
“Chief Ibori assured leadership of PDP and stakeholders in Delta Central Senatorial District at his Oghara residence few days before Presidential and National Assembly election that he shall continue to support all candidates of PDP; including his Daughter, Mrs Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, now House of Representatives member elect for Ethiope Federal Constituency under PDP.
“PDP Delta hereby state categorically that Chief Ibori is still a highly respected member of PDP, and will not be involved in any anti party activity as erroneously portrayed by the fake announcement.
“The best governorship candidate for the election remain, Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori of the PDP. Support him, vote PDP on Saturday March 18..
“Oborevwori’s M O.R.E agenda will advance Delta State through Meaningful Development, Opportunity for all Deltans, Realistic Reforms and Enhanced peace and security, anchored on transparency, accountability, honesty and open door policy,” Oghenesivbe said.
A Group, Better Oyo Movement, (BOM) has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of distributing contaminated and expired bags of rice to woo electorate ahead of Saturday’s poll.
Governor Makinde, a member of the G5 Governors of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) is seeking the people’s mandate for a second term.
The Group advised the people of Oyo State to be wary of bags of rice being allegedly shared by agents of ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, in their desperate bid to retain power at all cost.
In a statement issued Wednesday, and signed by the Chairman, Dr. Femi Fakunle and Secretary, Engr. Tunji Hammed, the Group stated that it was inhuman for the Governor to be sharing contaminated rice.
It claimed that the food item apparently part of the consignments for the state during the corona virus pandemic ought to have been distributed when in good quality, as palliatives.
BOM, consequently urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), to wade in, before the people fall victim, in defence of the health and vitality of Nigerians, which represents the Agency’s core mandate.
“We are miffed to alert the public about the antics of the Seyi Makinde administration to cause havoc to our people.
“In his desperate bid to retain power at all cost, he has decided to release bags of rice his government has hoarded for several months.
“These bags of rice have been kept in stores. Rats and other rodents had urinated and tampered with them. We, as a matter of fact, know it won’t be good for human consumption again.
“Even if it would be good, NAFDAC and relevant agencies should have been called upon to run checks. Our monitoring teams have sighted these bags of rice in Saki, Oyo, Iseyin, Igboora, Eruwa, Ogbomoso as well as in certain areas in Ibadan, the state capital.
“We urge the good people of Oyo State to be wary of these agents of darkness, whose power mongering attitude will lead them to do just about anything, all in the bid to retain power.
“Our people should avoid consuming their rice which instead of giving them nutrients, will only lead to their incapacitation.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to take note that based on the judgment of the Supreme Court, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has no Governorship Candidate against the 18th March Governorship Election.
In reminding INEC of the judgment, it charges it to be guided by the Supreme Court Judgment
In a statement on 15th March, 2023, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP
stated that the APC has “no validly nominated candidate for the rescheduled Saturday March 18, 2023 governorship election in Taraba State in line with the Judgement of the Supreme Court delivered on February 1, 2023 in suit No SC/CV/1564/2022.”
The statement reads in part:
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the good people of Taraba State and the general public are invited to note that the import of the judgement of the Supreme Court is to the effect that the APC cannot validly field a candidate in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Taraba State, having failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 with regards to the conduct of its governorship primary in Taraba State.
“Specifically, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the provision of Section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which provides that:
“Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue
“In the words of the Supreme Court, ‘Section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act is quite clear on the effect of failure to comply with the provisions of the Act and the Guideline of a Political Party in the selection or nomination of a candidate for election. Its Candidate shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue’.
“The implication of the Supreme Court’s Judgment therefore is that INEC is effectively restrained from accepting or recognizing any governorship candidate from the APC for the March 18, 2023 Governorship election in Taraba State.
“INEC must therefore be guided by the hierarchy of courts in Nigeria and the finality of the pronouncements in the Judgment of the Supreme Court on any issue or subject upon which it has ruled, ordered or given judgment.
“The people of Taraba State must note that any vote therefore cast or credited to the APC in the March 18, 2023 Governorship election in Taraba State will be treated as wasted vote.”
