Politics

LG poll: APC faction defies Ganduje, nominates 23 chairmanship candidates

Published

2 months ago

August 27, 2024

Admin

The crisis rocking the Benue chapter of the All Progressives Congress deepened on Monday after the dissolved Austin Agada-led All Progressives Congress announced that it had nominated 23 chairmanship and 276 councillorship candidates ahead of the October 5, local government election in the state.

The primary exercise took place in all the wards across the 23 local government areas of the state on Saturday.

The development comes five days after the aggrieved executive members, who were dissolved by the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, dragged him to court for ignoring the exparte order restraining the National Working Committee from acting.

A Benue High Court sitting had ordered the APC not to remove Agada and the current executives of the party.

A copy of the exparte order granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in motion No MH /1585m/2024 stopped the Ganduje-led NWC from sacking the Austin Agada-led State Working Committee until the expiration of their four-year tenure.

The Benue chapter of the APC had been at loggerheads with Governor Hyacinth Alia over the leadership of the party in the state.

While the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, is in support of the Agada-led state working committee, Alia, on the other hand, has thrown his weight behind the Benjamin Omakolo-led faction.

But the ruling APC ignored the court order and announced the dissolution of the Benue exco on Wednesday and immediately inaugurated a seven-man caretaker Committee to take over the affairs of the party at the state level for six months, an action the Agada-led exco vowed not to obey.

A statement released by the Benue APC chairman, Austin Agada, in Abuja on Monday, said the primary election was conducted through consensus and affirmations.

In the statement, the APC Chairman of Guma Local Government, Lazarus Asema, also described the process as peaceful and lauded the leadership of the APC in the state for effective leadership and proper organisation.

He said, “I am impressed with the process and commended stakeholders in the Local Governments for the successful primary election.

“I also thank the people, particularly party faithful for conducting themselves and the exercise peacefully.”

The primary exercise produced the following chairmanship candidates: Elias Ogbu (Ado), Tarkaa Solomon (Konshisha), Chia Terna (Vandeikya,) Atom Phillip (Kwande), Andrew Ocheme (Ogbadibo), Ogbole Mathew (Obi), Napoleon Otache (Agatu), Elias Ogbu (Ado), Eje Elvis (Apa), Washima Haris (Katsina-Ala), Ajeh Ogah (Ohimini) and Akombo Stephen (Logo).

Others include Terver Agwaza (Ukum), Benjamin Atoza (Gwer), Denise China (Gwer West), Vincent Apera (Guma), James Agudu (Buruku), Tyopaase Benjamin (Ushongo), Mrs Ene Ameh (Okpokwu), Jonathan Shimgbe (Makurdi) and Jackson Udama (Oju).

In Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Simon Aluor, who took part in the primaries said that APC has shown a good example of orderliness and peace.

In Otukpo, the party faithful in the area also trooped out in their numbers and voted in affirmation of their preferred chairmanship aspirant, Oleho Augustine.

Politics

Ondo poll: Sensitive materials to arrive Tuesday – INEC

Published

1 day ago

November 7, 2024

Naijablitznews

BY Francesca Hangeior

Ahead of the November 16 Ondo governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission confirmed on Thursday that sensitive election materials will arrive in Akure by Tuesday, November 12.

Addressing stakeholders at a pre-election meeting held in Akure, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu announced that all sensitive materials, including ballots and result sheets, would be delivered to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Akure branch by early next week.

According to Yakubu, the election materials will be inspected by political party representatives and other stakeholders to ensure transparency before being distributed to local governments and wards across the state.

Yakubu stressed that INEC is committed to a well-organised and credible election process, noting that all logistical arrangements for the safe delivery and distribution of materials have been completed.

“We have arranged for the delivery of sensitive materials for the election to arrive as early as Tuesday next week.

“We will invite political parties and other stakeholders for the usual inspection of the materials at the Central Bank here in Akure, and throughout the movement of sensitive materials to the local governments and the ward centres,” he stated.

To support the timely deployment of these materials, Yakubu highlighted that INEC has arranged for both land and maritime transportation to reach all areas of Ondo State, ensuring access to polling units across the region.

“We have made arrangements for land and maritime transportation of personnel and materials,” he noted.

INEC has also engaged security agencies to protect the sensitive materials and personnel involved in the election process.

With the countdown to election day in full swing, INEC has been conducting final preparations, including a mock accreditation of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System in select locations across Ondo State.

Yakubu assured the public that INEC is ready to conduct a fair, secure, and transparent election.

Politics

Obi To Speak At Atiku’s AUN

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2024

Naijablitznews

The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has announced former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, as keynote speaker at its forthcoming Founder’s Day ceremony on November 30, 2024.

The annual Founder’s Day honors the Founder of the University and former Nigeria’s Vice President, His Excellency AtikuAbubakar, GCON, Wazirin Adamawa, for his numerous contributions to society and especially his advancement of education and human development.

a statement by Interim Registrar/VP, Admin, Daniel Okereke, the 16th Founders Day lecture will be the highlight of activities marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of the American-style Development University where students are educated to direct their learning and research outcomes towards addressing the socioeconomic challenges of the African Continent.

In the 20 years since its establishment, the numerous community service and outreach projects executed by students, alums, faculty and staff have earned the Development University a spot among the top three Nigerian universities in Times Higher Education (THE’s) 2024 global impact ranking.

Since its establishment in 2003, AUN has significantly expanded its academic programs and affiliations with foreign institutions. AUN presently hosts the American Window in the northeast region where students and members of the public can access relevant information about scholarship and research opportunities in the United States.

President of AUN, Professor DeWayne Preston Frazier, heartily welcomes Mr. Peter Obi as Keynote Speaker and conveys to him the appreciation of the AUN Community for his acceptance of the invitation.

“I am highly pleased and honored to announce that the former Executive Governor of Anambra state, His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi, CON, will be our Keynote Speaker. Mr. Obi is an accomplished public servant and politician who has spent most of his life providing quality leadership and service to Nigerians. He is a champion of education and will be an excellent speaker to celebrate our 20 years”, Dr. Frazier said in a message to the Community.

Other activities lined up for the special event commemorating the birthday of His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, WazirinAdamawa, include a Special 20th Anniversary Community Service/Outreach, a leadership mentoring session for students by the Founder and inspection of AUNs renewable energy projects in the library, students’ residences and data center.

Mr. Peter Obi joins an elite cast of global personalities who have delivered the AUN Founders Day lecture, which includes Dr. Paul Vita (2019), Professor Ibrahim Gambari (2009), Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah (2011), former Ugandan Vice President Dr. Gilbert Bukenya (2013), Professor Charles Soludo (2012), Tulane University Professor Dr. William Bertrand (2014), and President Emeritus of Iowa Wesleyan University, Professor Steven Titus (2023).