A Building At Nnewi On Fire, With 3Kids trapped Inside

Today would have a great and spread tragedy at Nnewi, where a building was on Fire and 3kids as well were trapped inside. But tho the Glory of God ho supplied Men as the savior to the lives of those 3kids

A building in Nnewi, Anambra State, was on fire with 3 kids trapped inside. Firemen failed to show up so 4 brave men arranged 2 water tankers, put detergents in them, crawled into the building unprotected, put off the fire and saved the 3 kids.

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Just In:Buhari challenge's Atiku to produce his School details Credentials

President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), candidate to produce and tender his educational certificates, indicating the schools attended by him, with dates. The challenge was one of the planks of Buhari’s response to Abubakar’s petition at the Presidential Election Tribunal. Buhari and Atiku In the filing by a team of lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Buhari debunked Atiku’s and PDP’s claim that he was not qualified to run for President.

The President said he was far more qualified than Atiku and on the contrary, it was Atiku that was not qualified to run for the office. Buhari said he did not, “at any time, provide any false information in Form CF00] submitted to the lst respondent, either in 2014 or 2018. “The affidavit of compliance to the 2019 Form CF001 was correct in every material particular. “In filling Form CF001 in 2014 and 2019, respondent was not oblivious of the constitutional qualifications stipulated in Section 131 of the Constitution and interpreted in Section 318 of the same Constitution. “Petitioners themselves are also not oblivious of the fact that respondent possesses far more than the constitutional threshold expected for a candidate contesting for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The respondent avers that he is far more qualified, both constitutionally and educationally, to contest and occupy the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria than the 1st petitioner (Atiku); and that in terms of educational qualifications, trainings and courses attended, both within and outside Nigeria, he is head and shoulder above the 1st petitioner in terms of acquisition of knowledge, certificates, laurels, medals and experience. “Respondent states further that it is the 1st petitioner, who is not qualified to contest the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and challenges the educational credentials and certificates of the 1st petitioner. “1st petitioner is hereby given notice to produce and tender his educational certificates, indicating the schools attended by him, with dates.” The President gave his educational resume as: “Elementary School, Daura and Maid’adua (1948 – 1952), Middle School, Katsina (1953-1956, Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College, Katsina (1956-1961).” Buhari faulted the entire petition filed by the PDP and Atiku,noting that they are more about pre-election issues, which the Court of Appeal, sitting as a tribunal lacked jurisdiction. He also argued that the petitioners told lies against themselves in the petition and made conflicting claims which the tribunal cannot grant. Buhari noted that while the petitioners claimed to have won the last presidential election and also won elections in many states in the Southsouth and Southeastern part of the country, they also urged the court to nullify the election and order a fresh presidential election. Buhari argued that by virtue of Section of 137of the Electoral Act, petitioners cannot question the results of elections in states where they claim to have won and still retain themselves as petitioners. Buhari faulted the petitioners’ claim that the election was marred by corrupt practices and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The President also faulted the petitioners’ claim that they won the election, insisting that, by the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), won the last presidential election election. He asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds that the reliefs the petitioners sought by the petitioners are frivolous. “The entire reliefs are not justifiable, as the petitioners, who claim to have scored majority of lawful votes in substantial number of states, are also questioning their own return in those states.

“The petitioners cannot act as petitioners and respondents in the same petition. “The alternative relief sought is self-defeating, apart from being frivolous. “The election to the office of President on 23rd February, 2019, was conducted in substantial compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended),” he said.

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Breaking: Chief Justice of Federation Onnoghen closes defence,"Non Declaration of Assets"

The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Wednesday, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, closed his defence in his ongoing trial on the charges bordering on assets declaration breaches, after calling his driver of 20 years as his first witness. Lead counsel to Onnoghen, Chief Chris Uche(SAN), told the court that after taking a deep consideration, the defence closes its case. “Pursuant to paragraph 14 of the Practice Direction of the CCT, we will be applying to file our final written addresses.’’ Uche asked the court gove the counsel in the matter 14 days within which to file in their written addresses.

He also applied to be obliged with the proceedings before the tribunal. The prosecution led by Aliyu Umar, SAN, also prayed the court to be accord counsel enough time in order to file their own written address. “Because time for filing of written address is not expressively provided for in the Practice Direction, that makes it a matter of discretion of the court,’’ Umar said. However, the Chairman of the tribunal. Danladi Umar said that the tribunal has given the defence three working days, from April 4 to April 8 file their address. The Chairman said the prosecution should file their address from April 9 to April 11. He further adjourned the case until April for adoption of written addresses. NAN reports that Onnoghen’s 60-year-old driver, Lawal Busari to the tribunal as his first defence witness following the March 29, ruling of the tribunal dismissing his no-case submission. Busari entered the witness box, the tribunal issued an order of subpoena, on a director at the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mrs. Theresa Nwafor, to appear as the suspended CJN’s next witness on Wednesday. This followed an earlier oral application by Onnoghen’s defence lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), on Monday. Read Also: Assets decalaration: Onnoghen opens defence with driver as 1st witness The lead prosecuting counsel, Umar, did not oppose the application for the subpoena. In a bench ruling, the tribunal chairman ordered the issuance and service of the subpoena on Nwafor directing her to appear at 10 am on Wednesday. Asked by the tribunal chairman, Awomolo said during the Monday’s proceedings that the defence had proposed to call “two or three witnesses for now.” With Busari’s testimony concluded on Monday, it was not clear if the defence would close its case after Nwafor’s evidence on Wednesday or whether the suspended CJN himself would testify. Testifying earlier, Busari, who described himself as the Chief Driver/Mechanic at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, said Onnoghen submitted his assets declaration form in 2010. This was contrary to one of the six counts preferred against Onnoghen that he did not declare his assets between 2005 and 2016. Led by Awomolo, Busari, who gave instances of how he had been well treated by Onnoghen, said the suspended CJN obtained his asset declaration form from the Asokoro office of the Code of Conduct Bureau in Abuja on July 28, 2010 and submitted same after completing it on November 4, 2010. Breaking: Chief Justice of Federation Onnoghen closes defence,"Non Declaration of Assets" The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Wednesday, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, closed his defence in his ongoing trial on the charges bordering on assets declaration breaches, after calling his driver of 20 years as his first witness. Lead counsel to Onnoghen, Chief Chris Uche(SAN), told the court that after taking a deep consideration, the defence closes its case. “Pursuant to paragraph 14 of the Practice Direction of the CCT, we will be applying to file our final written addresses.’’ Uche asked the court gove the counsel in the matter 14 days within which to file in their written addresses. He also applied to be obliged with the proceedings before the tribunal. The prosecution led by Aliyu Umar, SAN, also prayed the court to be accord counsel enough time in order to file their own written address. “Because time for filing of written address is not expressively provided for in the Practice Direction, that makes it a matter of discretion of the court,’’ Umar said. However, the Chairman of the tribunal. Danladi Umar said that the tribunal has given the defence three working days, from April 4 to April 8 file their address. The Chairman said the prosecution should file their address from April 9 to April 11. He further adjourned the case until April for adoption of written addresses. NAN reports that Onnoghen’s 60-year-old driver, Lawal Busari to the tribunal as his first defence witness following the March 29, ruling of the tribunal dismissing his no-case submission. Busari entered the witness box, the tribunal issued an order of subpoena, on a director at the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mrs. Theresa Nwafor, to appear as the suspended CJN’s next witness on Wednesday. This followed an earlier oral application by Onnoghen’s defence lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), on Monday.

Read Also: Assets decalaration: Onnoghen opens defence with driver as 1st witness The lead prosecuting counsel, Umar, did not oppose the application for the subpoena. In a bench ruling, the tribunal chairman ordered the issuance and service of the subpoena on Nwafor directing her to appear at 10 am on Wednesday. Asked by the tribunal chairman, Awomolo said during the Monday’s proceedings that the defence had proposed to call “two or three witnesses for now.” With Busari’s testimony concluded on Monday, it was not clear if the defence would close its case after Nwafor’s evidence on Wednesday or whether the suspended CJN himself would testify. Testifying earlier, Busari, who described himself as the Chief Driver/Mechanic at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, said Onnoghen submitted his assets declaration form in 2010. This was contrary to one of the six counts preferred against Onnoghen that he did not declare his assets between 2005 and 2016. Led by Awomolo, Busari, who gave instances of how he had been well treated by Onnoghen, said the suspended CJN obtained his asset declaration form from the Asokoro office of the Code of Conduct Bureau in Abuja on July 28, 2010 and submitted same after completing it on November 4, 2010.

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Rivers State Election: PDP take over all rivers senatorial seats

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike is gradually coasting to widely anticipated second term victory as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, resumed results collation on the Rivers state governorship and state assemblies elections it suspended earlier. An electoral official looks at documents at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on March 10, 2019. – Nigeria’s election authorities announced the suspension of activities in volatile opposition-held Rivers State on March 10 citing violence and threats to its staff, as tensions rise in the wake of closely-watched regional elections. Counting is continuing across the country after the March 9 elections for governors in 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states, all state assemblies and administrative councils in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. Results are expected in the coming days. (Photo AFP) At the end of yesterday’s proceedings on the collation of the results, Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won in 13 of a total 15 Local Government Areas,LGA, so far presented among the 17 LGAs results INEC said it had received before it suspended the exercise March 10.

The cumulative standings among the parties placed Wike in pole position with 426, 279 votes against closest contenting All Progressives Congress, APC, backed candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Biokpomabo Awara who is trailing with 129,855 votes. Aside beating Transport Minister and arch political rival, Rotimi Amaechi to results from the former governor’s home Ikwerre LGA, Wike also won in Port Harcourt City, Andoni, Eleme, Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika, Omuma, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Etche, Emohua, Ahoada East, and Tai LGAs while Awara took Oyigbo and Akuku Toru LGAs. The biggest winning margin between the two so far was reflected in the results from Andoni where Wike polled 92, 056 votes against Awara’s 5335, the cumulative collated figures so far leaving Wike with a 296,424 winning margin against Awara. Meanwhile, PDP’s Sen George Sekibo snatched Rivers East Senatorial seat as collated, just as Betty Apiafi also of PDP won the Rivers West Senate seat, for a clean sweep for the party in the senatorial elections as Barry Mpigi was first to clinch the first 2019 Rivers senate elections for South East District. In most of the results presents by the LGAs Collation Officers, votes in several units and wards were cancelled due to reported violence and disruptions on the process. Collation continues tomorrow with results for the two last LGAs already secured by INEC including densely populated Wike’s home locality of Obia Akpor where he’s expected to increase his lead substantially. Proceedings yesterday were coordinated by State Collation Officer, Teddy Adias and national commissioner in charge Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo states, May Agbamuche-Mbu who set 11 ground rules for stakeholders before collation started. INEC resumed the stalemated Rivers governorship andstate assembly elections yesterday amidst protest by pro AAC’s demonstrators led by Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe in major Port Harcourt streets for hours before armed thugs dispersed the crowd with sporadic shooting. The tense protest atmosphere, added to security operatives shutting of the INEC Office’s end of Aba Road to traffic largely unsettled traffic and panic stricken residents in the Rivers capital yesterday. GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike is gradually coasting to widely anticipated second term victory as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, resumed results collation on the Rivers state governorship and state assemblies elections it suspended earlier. An electoral official looks at documents at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on March 10, 2019. – Nigeria’s election authorities announced the suspension of activities in volatile opposition-held Rivers State on March 10 citing violence and threats to its staff, as tensions rise in the wake of closely-watched regional elections. Counting is continuing across the country after the March 9 elections for governors in 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states, all state assemblies and administrative councils in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.

Results are expected in the coming days. (Photo AFP) At the end of yesterday’s proceedings on the collation of the results, Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won in 13 of a total 15 Local Government Areas,LGA, so far presented among the 17 LGAs results INEC said it had received before it suspended the exercise March 10. The cumulative standings among the parties placed Wike in pole position with 426, 279 votes against closest contenting All Progressives Congress, APC, backed candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Biokpomabo Awara who is trailing with 129,855 votes. Aside beating Transport Minister and arch political rival, Rotimi Amaechi to results from the former governor’s home Ikwerre LGA, Wike also won in Port Harcourt City, Andoni, Eleme, Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika, Omuma, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Etche, Emohua, Ahoada East, and Tai LGAs while Awara took Oyigbo and Akuku Toru LGAs. The biggest winning margin between the two so far was reflected in the results from Andoni where Wike polled 92, 056 votes against Awara’s 5335, the cumulative collated figures so far leaving Wike with a 296,424 winning margin against Awara. Meanwhile, PDP’s Sen George Sekibo snatched Rivers East Senatorial seat as collated, just as Betty Apiafi also of PDP won the Rivers West Senate seat, for a clean sweep for the party in the senatorial elections as Barry Mpigi was first to clinch the first 2019 Rivers senate elections for South East District. In most of the results presents by the LGAs Collation Officers, votes in several units and wards were cancelled due to reported violence and disruptions on the process. Collation continues tomorrow with results for the two last LGAs already secured by INEC including densely populated Wike’s home locality of Obia Akpor where he’s expected to increase his lead substantially. Proceedings yesterday were coordinated by State Collation Officer, Teddy Adias and national commissioner in charge Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo states, May Agbamuche-Mbu who set 11 ground rules for stakeholders before collation started. INEC resumed the stalemated Rivers governorship andstate assembly elections yesterday amidst protest by pro AAC’s demonstrators led by Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe in major Port Harcourt streets for hours before armed thugs dispersed the crowd with sporadic shooting. The tense protest atmosphere, added to security operatives shutting of the INEC Office’s end of Aba Road to traffic largely unsettled traffic and panic stricken residents in the Rivers capital yesterday.

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Just In:Saraki ‘proud of achievements at Senate’

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has urged the newly elected National Assembly lawmakers to conduct their affairs in a manner that commands respect from other arms of government. He made this comment during an opening dinner for senators-elect and members-elect of the 9th assembly on Sunday. The event organised by the National Assembly management held at Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja. In his remarks, Mr Saraki said the legislature is the bedrock of democracy and its independence in a democratic government is non-negotiable. “In its constitutional role, the National Assembly carries out oversight, makes laws and ensures constituency representation. In carrying out constitutional functions, lawmakers must always recognise that the independence of the legislature is non-negotiable,” Mr Saraki said.

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Buhari to attend inauguration of Senegalese President, Macky Sall

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Monday for Dakar, Senegal, to attend the inauguration of Senegalese President, Macky Sall, following his re-election for a second term. Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, who confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said the president’s trip followed an invitation from his host.

According to the statement, President Buhari, who is ECOWAS Chairman, will be Special Guest of Honour at the ceremonies, to be attended by other African leaders at the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre on Tuesday. It stated that the Nigerian leader would be accompanied by Governors Mohammed Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai and Tanko Al-Makura of Bauchi, Kaduna and Nasarawa states respectively. Others on the presidential entourage are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai, and other top government officials.

“The President is expected back in the country at the end of the inauguration ceremonies,” the statement said.

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Update:Onnoghen to challenge CCT ruling against his no-case submission

Following the Code of Conduct Tribunal’s (CCT) discharge of his no-case submission, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, has indicated his resolve to challenge the tribunal’s ruling. He disclosed this in a notice of appeal on Friday shortly after the Tribunal ruling.

Justice Onnoghen spoke through his lawyers led by Adegboyega Awomolo, stating that the tribunal erred in law when it dismissed the submissions, despite the evidence brought by the defence team, suggesting the invalidity of the case. He had accused the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) of failing to comply with its guiding laws in preparing and treating the charge against him. Onnoghen who is facing trial for alleged failure to declare his assets between 2005 and 2015, stated that the bank documents mentioned in the charge sheet as a “strange document,” which is not part of the case before the tribunal. Awomolo described the bank statement as a strange document because it is addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He also argued that the fact that the CCB admitted that it did not verify Mr Onnoghen’s assets as required by the CCB’s rules invalidates the whole case. In a ruling, however, the tribunal agreed with submissions made by the prosecution that the faults pointed out in the charge by the defence amounted to internal communication. According to the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, the alleged faults cited by the defence were part of the bureau’s Standard Operational Procedure (SOP), which was internal.

“The present board chaired by Isa Mohammed has not adopted the standard provisional provisions. In essence, the standard procedure of the Bureau is not used currently at the Bureau because it was authored by the former administration at their own interest. “The constitutional provisions are superior to the SOP which is internal. The tribunal is not bound by it, rather it is bound by the cause of justice,” Mr Umar said. Umar described the statement made by Mr Onnoghen as a confessional statement made to suggest an admission of guilt. According to Mr Umar, Mr Onnoghen’s lawyers ought to allow him to face the consequence of his admitted guilt, rather than struggle to defend their client. “This is a court that does not rely on technicalities but on the substance of the charge. The defendant made a written admission without duress that he forgot to declare his asset. “This confessional statement is more than enough for the defendant to enter his defence if he has any. The defendant’s admission statement is enough to call the defence to give his evidence. The defence counsel ought to perform its constitutional duties first,” Mr Umar said. “After dismissing the application, Mr Umar adjourned till Monday, April 1, despite repeated pleas by the defence to be allowed a minimum of seven days to study the ruling and advise its client.

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Just In:Akwa Ibom gets new commissioner of police

The Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu has approved the posting of a new commissioner of police to Akwa Ibom State. The newly posted police commissioner, CP. Zaki Ahmed, who is the 27th commissioner of police in Akwa Ibom State, took over from CP Bashir Makama who has been redeployed to Ogun State. The command’s public relations officer DSP MacDon Ogbeche who disclosed this in a press statement issued over the weekend said CP. Zaki until his redeployment to Akwa Ibom state was the commissioner of police, Rivers State.

Ogbeche in reeling out the CP’s profile said, “The Police Boss for the State holds a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Sociology from the Usman-Danfodio University, Sokoto and a Masters Degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (MLC) from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. “He was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1988 and has served the Force in various capacities. Before his present appointment, he was the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Rivers State Police Command. “Deputy Commissioner of Police. Operations, Delta State Police Command. Commandant, Police Detective College, Enugu. Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Police Command.

“Before his present appointment, he was the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command. He has assumed duty as the 27th Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State.” The command’s spokesperson, who described CP Ahmed as a team player, said the commissioner has expressed his readiness to fight crime and criminality in the state and urged the people to cooperate with him by remaining law abiding.

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PDP Wins Adamawa Election:Atiku Congratulate Ahmadu Fintiri The Governor-Elect

The 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, said the governor-elect of Adamawa State, Mr. Ahmadu Fintiri was a man, who appreciates the diversity of the people of the state. He said this in light of the declaration of the PDP governorship candidate, Fintiri, as the winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Atiku, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, stated that he is particularly delighted that the PDP was victorious in the governorship election in his home state. He States:"Congratulations to the man of our people,Governor-Elect Ahmadu Fintiri.The hope that our people in Adamawa repose in you is well Placed and i look forward to working with you to make our State great again".

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Provide Details Of My Bank Debts Or Keep Shut your dirty mouth, Okorocha Tells PDP

Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for accusing him of borrowing from banks. According to Okorocha, the PDP should prove that he had debt with the said banks or "keep their mouth shut". Speaking through Sam Onwuemeodo, his Chief Press Secretary, Okorocha said his administration was not owing anyone. As such, he urged the people not to believe anything to the contrary as peddled by the PDP.

A statement issued by Onwuemeodo read: “We have come up with this position because the PDP is synonymous with falsehood and propaganda. And even as a party, if they know any bank the government of Rochas Okorocha has borrowed one naira from, they should mention such bank and state the particulars of the transaction so that interested persons can verify or forever, they should keep their mouths shut. “Owing to Governor Okorocha’s monumental achievements, opponents of the administration have always erroneously concluded that he must have borrowed heavily from the banks.

“And that is the reason we are now stating openly that the Rescue Mission administration which Owelle Okorocha has superintended for almost eight years now has not borrowed money from any bank. “We also want to state that Imo State government has paid workers’ salaries up to the month of February 2019, and the payment of the month of March salaries is about to commence. In other words, the state government is not owing any outstanding salary. “Again, the government of Governor Okorocha is not owing any contractor. And if any contractor has any claim to the contrary he or she should immediately go to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of Imo State with the relevant papers before May 29, 2019. “We are doing this so that people would not come after the governor has left office to lie against him or make dubious claims. “It is also on record that the administration has run free education since 2011 from primary to tertiary and no child pays one kobo as tuition fee, while the government also repurchased state-owned companies sold by the previous administrations, including the Resin Paint Industry Mbaise.”

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Adamawa Election:PDP warns APC ahead of supplementary election

PDP warned that APC’s “thugs procured to reenact their Kano rigging template in the Thursday’s Governorship Supplementary election in Adamawa State, to note that they will be attempting to do so at their own peril.” A statement by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, said “it has full details of how the APC has hired thugs and miscreants from other states with instructions to cause confusion, invade polling units, disrupt the electoral process, snatch ballot boxes, engage in ballot stuffing and assist the APC to allocate votes for its candidate, with the assistance of compromised INEC and security agents. “Our party has also been made aware of how the APC has cloned Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which they plan to use to manipulate the process for their candidate.” PDP, however, cautioned APC and its “thugs to bear in mind that there is no way they can be allowed to repeat the evil they committed in Kano in Adamawa state.”

The statement added: “Our field agents, who have been at alert, have full knowledge of the planned movements of the APC thugs and our members and supporters are ready to resist them and use all means, necessary and legitimate, to defend our votes, even in this supplementary election. “We restates that by law, our candidate, Ahmed Fintiri, has since March 9, 2019, won the Adamawa state governorship election, having scored the highest number of valid votes and secured the statutory 25% in two-third of the state. This validates the known fact that Adamawa state is home to the PDP and this supplementary election, though unnecessary, will reinforce our victory. “We therefore directs our teeming members and supporters to come out en-mass to vote and defend their votes from the polling unit to collation and the final announcement of results.

PDP also charged INEC officials to respect the will of the pleas people of Adamawa state and resist all inducements by the APC to manipulate the process, as such is capable of pitching the people against the commission.

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Just In:APC threatens to boycott Adamawa supplementary election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, has threatened to boycott the supplementary governorship election in the state, if INEC insisted on conducting it on Thursday. The State Organising Secretary of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Lawan, made the party’s position known on Wednesday in Yola. Lawan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the party had rejected the Thursday date and communicated its position to the electoral body.

NAN reports that INEC had announced Thursday for the supplementary election in 44 polling units. This followed the vacation of an interim injunction that stopped it from conducting the election last Saturday. “We are not going to participate in the election, if INEC is going to conduct it on Thursday. “I don’t know why INEC is rushing, as conducting this election on Thursday will disenfranchise many voters, particularly workers and students who need to go to work and schools,” Lawan said. However, the PDP Chairman in Adamawa, Mr Tahir Shehu, whose candidate (Ahmadu Fintiri) is leading with a difference of over 30,000 votes, said they were ready for the election. When contacted, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Adamawa State, Mr Kassim Gaidam, said that the commission would hold the election as scheduled on Thursday.

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BREAKING: Tribunal grants PDP, Atiku permission to serve petition on Buhari through APC

The Presidential Election tribunal has granted the request by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to serve their petition challenging the outcome of the February 23, 2019 election, on President Muhammadu Buhari through substituted means. Specifically, the petitions are to be served on President Buhari through any senior officer of his political platform. The three-man panel which sat in a “pre-hearing session” of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal granted the request contained in the petitioners’ ex parte application.

Granting the ex parte application, Justice Abdu Aboki, who led the panel and delivered the lead ruling, said, “it is in the interest of justice” to grant the prayers in the petitioners’ application. “Leave is hereby granted to the applicants to serve the second respondent to the petition (Buhari), through any senior official or an officer of the APC at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.‎” The petitioners’ lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, had earlier moved the application. The petitioners had on March 18, 2019, filed their case to challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Buhari and his party, the APC, as the winner of the election.

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JUST IN PDP Chieftain assassinated in Imo state

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has been murdered in Imo state. The ward executive for Egwedu-Atta, Njaba local government area of Imo State, Mr Herbert Nwaneji was on Friday, brutally murdered, and his body dumped around the boundary of Atta and Nkume (both in Njaba LGA).

His family members explained that he received a call on Friday evening, and immediately left his house with his bike, but failed to return the same night. The worried family members kept trying his line all night, but not reachable. Only for his dead body to be found in the said location the following morning.

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Okorocha attacks Oshiomhole, Says APC Chairman is ‘Father of Nepotism’

 The spat in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its recent primaries is not abating as Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State yesterday threw some jabs at the party’s National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, accusing him of nepotism. The national chairman had at the weekend explained that the governor, along with three others, had been offended by his refusal to do their biddings, specifically saying Okorocha was particularly angry because he had refused to assist him to establish a political dynasty in Imo State. But Okorocha reacted to this charge of nepotism yesterday in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, and said it was Oshiomhole that was the “father of nepotism,” accusing him of promoting his relations into several political offices in Edo State. “To say the least, Adams Oshiomhole is the “father – father” of family dynasty or nepotism or “familiocracy,” he said, refuting the allegation that he was sponsoring his family members to take over Imo State. He explained that his preferred, Mr. Uche Nwosu, though his in-law, was not from the same local government with him. “Uche Nwosu is from Nkwerre Local Government Area, while Rochas Okorocha is from Ideato South Local Government Area,” adding, “They have no relationship aside the in-law issue.” He explained that the only relation he had in government was Mrs. Ogechi Ololo from Owerri North. “There is no other direct or indirect relation of Okorocha in his government. So, as it stands now, Rochas is the only Okorocha running election,” he explained. On the other hand, he said, the party chairman had allegedly fixed his direct relations in government position in Edo State.

According to Okorocha, “But Oshiomhole is the known family dynasty builder. And Edo State is the victim. In fact, he is the architect of “familiocracy”. Oshiomhole is the National Chairman of APC and governor for eight years. Rilwan Oshiomhole, his younger brother, is a Commissioner in Edo State Oil Producing Development Commission (EDSOPEDEC). Seid Aliyu Oshiomhole, another younger brother, is the House of Assembly candidate for Etsako West 2 State Constituency. Yakubu Oshiomhole is the Secretary to the Local Government Commission; Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole is vying for the House of Representatives for Etsako Federal Constituency. “With all these, between Rochas Okorocha whose only relation in government is Ogechi Ololo from Owerri North and Adams Oshiomhole who has the Oshiomholes in government or contesting positions, who should be accused of building a dynasty or running a “familiocracy”? Okorocha insisted that Nwosu won the Imo State governorship ticket of the party fair and square, and accused Oshiomhole of manipulating the process to produce a different outcome.

Party to Appoint Caretakers for Rivers State

Meanwhile, the APC has concluded plans to appoint a caretaker committee to run the affairs of its Rivers State chapter pending the conduct of fresh congresses, THISDAY has learnt. The caretaker committee will replace the state executive of the party sacked by the Supreme Court in its recent ruling. Also, as part of the moves to resolve the intra party crisis in the state, the national leadership has considered offering its senatorial ticket to Senator Magnus Abe, who emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of a faction of the party in the state. THISDAY gathered that the national leadership of the party has been consulting with the various factions in the state to ensure that the composition of the caretaker committee is acceptable to all. Following the ruling of the Supreme Court that voided the APC congresses in the state, the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole had said that a fresh congress would be held to choose new sets of party executives at all levels in the state. However, it was learnt that the party had been trying to reconcile the warring factions and see how it could unite the two groups under the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and Senator Magnus Abe. A reliable party source told THISDAY yesterday that as part of moves to resolve the intra party crisis in the state, the national leadership has considered offering its Senate ticket to Abe. “The NWC is offering to grant Abe the Senate ticket using the substitution window so that he can accept to work with Mr. Tonye Cole as the governorship candidate,” he said. Although the Abe-led faction was said to have rejected the offer, the source said the party had enlisted the presidency and some governors to intervene in resolving the dispute. There were fears that if the issues were not amicably resolved it might lead to further litigation, which could threaten APC’s participation in the governorship and legislative elections in 2019.

Efforts to get the party to confirm when the new caretaker committee would be in place was not successful as there was no response to both calls and text messages sent to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu.

The Supreme Court had nullified the May 19 to 21 congress of the APC in Rivers State.

The apex court described the conduct of the congress as a “serious violation of court order,” referring to an order of the High Court, which was ignored while conducting the APC congress in the state.

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Six APC Governors implicated in Oshiomhole’s DSS arrest

For eight hours last Sunday, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was held hostage at the Department of State Security Service (DSS) at the behest of some governors and some forces in the party to force him to resign. Oshiomhole, however, stood his ground and rebuffed the pressure mounted on him to resign. He told the DSS that he committed no crime and would therefore not resign, no matter the intimidation. Although the APC chairman was caught unawares, he maintained his stand even when DSS officials tried to invoke the name of President Muhammadu Buhari. He pointedly told them that the President was in the know of all that happened during the APC primaries and that it was their collective resolve not to allow imposition of candidates by anybody, no matter his status in the party. It later turned out that some security operatives had plotted Oshiomhole’s resignation with about six APC governors. The plot to lay ambush for him was hatched by the affected governors in connivance with some powerful forces who were aggrieved over the outcome of the recent primaries of the APC.

The governors are from Southwest, Northcentral, Southeast and Northwest. Four of them are angry with the party for not allowing them to impose their favourites as the party’s candidates in their states. One Southwest governor is in sympathy with a fellow Southwest governor for standing by him recently when it mattered most. The Northcentral governor is up in arms with Oshiomhole for insisting on direct primary. There were insinuations that some former APC elements in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave tacit backing to the plot by the APC governors in order to render the party weak ahead of the presidential campaign beginning from November 18. It was gathered that the plotters knew that the APC national chairman was due for a private visit abroad, hence they opted to seal his fate before the trip. The President was said to have been kept in the dark till the coup was hatched. The plan was to hoodwink Buhari and present him with Oshiomhole’s resignation letter to prevent any intervention. A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of the governors behind the ambush had relocated to Abuja ahead of the invitation of Oshiomhole by the DSS. “In fact, one of them told a member of the Election Committee in his state to expect a major news on Sunday. He was quoted to have said ‘by Sunday, Oshiomhole is gone and all of you will be put to shame.’ “They opted for forcible removal of Oshiomhole to take advantage of the substitution window for candidates. “The two options considered against Oshiomhole were either to get the DSS to arrest or invite him. “Some of the governors actually felt that arresting him on spurious charges of fraud would make greater news and prevent Buhari from intervening like he did in the case with some judges. “Unknown to the plotters, the APC national chairman had travelled to lyamho, his village in Edo State, to spend the weekend before jetting out to meet with his family abroad on Tuesday. “The trip to Edo frustrated the first leg of the plot as it was too late for the DSS operatives involved in the plot to stop him from traveling to Edo State.” Another source gave insight into how Oshiomhole received DSS invitation and why he reported to the agency on Sunday. The second source said: “Last Saturday, a call was put to Oshiomhole by a DSS operative in Iyamho with an urgent tone that he should report at the DSS headquarters. But the APC chairman was not moved because he did not commit any crime. “On Sunday, he returned to Abuja and honoured DSS invitation where he was told about a petition against him bothering on fraudulent activities. “For about eight hours, it was a ding dong affair between the DSS interrogators and Oshiomhole over a demand for his resignation letter. “Being an intelligent leader, Oshiomhole pointedly asked for a copy of the petition against him for his response, because he knew he did not engage in any fraud. “No petition was presented to him. He rebuffed all attempts to force him to resign. “While the drama was going on, the governors behind the set up were using some proxies to monitor Oshiomhole’s engagement with the DSS. “The Northcentral governor was said to be in his house in Abuja with an official of the party from a state also in the North who they had hoped to appoint as acting chairman. “The governor’s impunity in his state was condoned by the party before Oshiomhole took over but now, the governor is being asked to do things in accordance with the APC constitution. “He is also not happy that Oshiomhole is insisting on direct primaries. “His fear is that when his election is due later in 2019, direct primary will not favour him. He was one of the governors who told the public that the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) opted for indirect primaries some months back as against direct primary which was the preferred option.” After being adamant for many hours, Oshiomhole was let off the hook by the DSS. He insisted that he would not resign without hearing from the President and they could not provide any evidence that the President knew about their action. On how he left DSS custody, the source said: “In fact, a governor of the APC came to pick him. There was no issue of surety at all. “It was uncertain if the governor was just being benevolent or was one of the plotters. “The governors who were in Abuja had already put a media plan in place to force the NWC to issue a statement that Oshiomhole has resigned. “The governors later realised that the plot had failed as soon as Oshiomhole survived the siege in DSS headquarters. “Curiously, some forces in PDP were also in a hotel trying to know the outcome of the unfolding drama in APC, having been told of the plot by their collaborating governors. Findings, however, confirmed that the President was not aware of either his invitation or the demand for his resignation. A presidency source added: “The President was shocked and angry when Oshiomhole met with him on Monday on his ordeal. He promised to look into the incident. “What the aggrieved governors did not know is that the APC chairman was always briefing the President on the challenges facing the party in some states. So, the President and Oshiomhole are always on the same page. “There was a time one of the governors went to meet with the President and raised some issues. After the governor’s narration, the President made a call and gave the phone to the governor, saying: ‘The chairman on the line. Speak with him.’ “The affected governor was speechless and left the Presidential Villa in shame.” Buoyed by the backing of the President, Oshiomhole left the country on Tuesday to meet his family. A party source said: “He had already scheduled his personal trip. He was undaunted. He is not on exile. He has not committed any fraud.”

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Rochas okorocha:Hope Uzodinma will never win IMO state Governorship Election

It is clear as Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, yesterday said that Senator Hope Uzodimma, who is the state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has no capacity to win election in Imo. Okorocha said this in a statement to newsmen in Owerri, by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo. It stated: “Even when we have not said or written anything about Chief Hope Uzodinma since the controversy over the governorship ticket of All Progressives Congress, APC, for the State began, he took up the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha in the media, claiming that the governor underestimates his unpopularity among other insulting remarks. And we swiftly want to say interalia: “We won’t honour Chief Hope Uzodinma with response because even when politics today seems to be all comers affair people should be humble enough to know their superiors in certain areas of life.”

Okorocha warmed that,”Chief Hope Uzodinma is not a member of APC in Imo State. His purported membership of the Party was announced in Abuja. He has never attended any APC meeting either in his ward or in his Local Government, Oru-East or at the State level. And that is why no APC member in the State was excited when the Party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole announced him as his preferred governorship Candidate of the Party in the State.” The governor claimed that, “APC members in Imo see Chief Uzodinma as still a staunch member of PDP and that was the reason behind the dead silence in Imo over the announcement of his name as the governorship Candidate of the party. If Chief Uzodinma was to be a known member of the Party, there would have been celebration in Imo. The Chieftains of the Party in Abuja backing him are elite Politicians who have no relationship with the grassroots. “Governor Rochas Okorocha won his election in 2011 on the platform of APGA through the ballot box. Ditto, in 2015 on the ticket of APC. And in the two cases, the parties were not in Power at the Federal level. “So, he did not enjoy any Federal might. Imo people voted for him for whom he is. And the love is still intact. In 2011, he defeated an incumbent governor of PDP extraction and in 2015 he also defeated a sitting Deputy-Speaker of the House of Representatives also of the PDP stock. How else do you measure popularity? “In the case of Chief Uzodinma, the story is totally different. In 2011, he took the Senate Seat for Orlu zone from Chief Osita Izunaso through the Court. In 2015, Nigerians knew what transpired in Imo. The State was invaded with armed Security Personnel by the PDP leaders like Chief Uzodinma and the rest is history.” Okorocha’s view was that, “ Chief Uzodinma can never win election in Imo in a fee and fair election. And that is why the PDP and APGA members are those celebrating his K – leg governorship Candidature for Imo APC. “Since Chief Uzodinma has begun to throw stones, not considering the fact that he lives in a badly constructed glass house we challenge him to publish his profile for the public to see and let Rochas also publish his own. “Rochas Okorocha was born in Ogboko and he grew up in Jos. He attended St. Joseph Primary School, Barkin Ladi Jos, and Juladaco High School Jos. He has LLB and LLM of the University of Jos, Post – Graduate Diploma in Management, of the Benue State University. “By 1984 Rochas Okorocha had opened Kings Commercial College Jos. In 1996, he founded the Rochas Foundation Inc and Rochas Foundation Colleges. He founded the Rochas Group of Companies with interest in Real Estate, Aviation, Banking, Hotels, Construction, Commerce and so on. “Rochas Okorocha has investments and Commercial buildings in Imo before becoming governor. He has two Rochas Foundation Colleges, one in Owerri and one in Ogboko. Has a Printing Press, and a Hotel. Has some of the biggest Commercial buildings in Owerri, and all before becoming governor. “Let Chief Uzodinma mention any building he owns in Owerri or any investment he has in any part of the State no matter how small, then we take off from there.

“Those who write these things for people like Chief Uzodinma should always count their teeth with their tongues before taking up other people in the media. You do not do such thing knowing the deficiencies of the man you are writing for. A reasonable someone who lives in a glass house does not throw stones at all, and not to talk of doing so indiscriminately.”

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BREAKING:Yet another former Governor defects

A former governor of Bauchi state, Mallam Isa Yuguda has dumped the Green Party of Nigeria for the All Progressives Congress, APC. Yuguda decamped with about 5000 of his supporters into the ruling party. This development was made public by his former commissioner for Information and chairman, Yuguda Alheri Movement, Alhaji Salisu Barau Wakos at a press conference.

Wakos said; “I want to declare that from today henceforth, Yuguda is a bonafide card-carrying member of the APC, including all his supporters in Nigeria. The defection is aimed at giving APC maximum support ahead of 2019.” “By this declaration, Yuguda has urged all his supporters to canvass votes for President Buhari and Governor Mohammed Abubakar’s re-election bid come 2019,” Wakos added.

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Ekweremadu: I'm with PDP,reports suggesting i will leave the party is a fallacy

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has denied reports he is considering leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Ekweremadu, currently out of the country, took to his Facebook page to make clarification on his political future Wednesday morning. The politician said even though his path is in the hand of God, he is still a member of the PDP. He wrote, “I am presently out of the country on a prescheduled engagement. “In the past 24 hours, I have been inundated with calls from friends and political associates seeking clarification on the rumours of my departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has dominated the media. “Let it be known that my path in politics is in the hands of the Almighty God, who has indeed been very faithful and gracious to me. I’m very grateful to God for this. “My vision in politics is a system that works for everybody, a social and political environment where everybody, every section, and every tribe not only counts, but is also seen to count. As leaders, we must be mindful of this, for any system built on anything less will not endure. “I am grateful to you – members of my family, my friends, political associates, and admirers across Nigeria and beyond – for your uncommon concern. I am indeed humbled by your kind words of solidarity and support.

“Please, rest assured that I am still in the PDP.” There were reports on Monday that Mr Ekweremadu was under pressure to leave the PDP. Part of the reasons touted for his planned departure was the manner the party chose its vice presidential candidate without considering or consulting him. Mr Ekweremadu has been in the party since 1998. It is believed he lobbied to be running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate. Mr Abubakar eventually chose another Igbo and ex-Anambra governor, Peter Obi, as running mate.

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Nwabueze:Ndi Igbo, Ndi be Anyi "Boycotting 2019 election would be a suicide mistake

Constitutional Lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, yesterday warned Ndigbo that boycotting the 2019 general elections would be a suicidal mistake. He gave the warning in a reaction to threat by the exiled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu. The foremost lawyer, a staunch supporter of Kanu, had recently brokered peace between Ohaneze Ndigbo and IPOB members at his Atani home in Ogbaru Local Council Area. The elder statesman said in a terse statement that he had repeatedly advised against such move because of its implication on Ndigbo. He said: “My stand on the boycott of election is that it is a suicidal mistake. For this reason, I am totally opposed to it, and have repeatedly advised against it.” Nwabueze had been in the vanguard of calls for the restructuring of Nigeria, and had recently warned in an interview with a national newspaper, that Igbo presidency will be a mirage without a reform. He urged Ohaneze and IPOB to work together to forge a common front for the Igbo nation. According to him, leaders could only be relevant if they carry their people along, adding that Igbo people could not afford to be disunited at this crucial period in Nigeria.

He had also canvassed unity at a recent meeting at Atani which the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Nnia Nwodo, Emeritus Dean of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev Maxwell Anikwenwa and counsel to IPOB, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor attended. “We will not be united if followers are disenchanted with the leadership,” he said. Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths Council (OYC) has alleged that a presidential candidate from southwest was plotting to distabilise the southeast ahead of the 2019 elections. In a statement by its leader Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro in Abakaliki, the group declared that it has adopted the joint ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, and warned those planning to cause trouble to stay away.

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