APC Has No Governorship Candidate In Akwa Ibom – INEC Insists
The headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , Abuja, has confirmed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary which produced Akanimo Udofia as a governorship candidate was not monitored by the commission’s officials.
The primary which produced the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio , as the APC senate candidate in the state was also not monitored by INEC. Both primaries were held around midnight on May 26 and June 9, respectively.
It, therefore, means the APC may not have a governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State for the 2023 general elections, and that Mr Akpabio is not recognised by INEC as a candidate, as previously reported.
Yobe Deputy Gov, Gubana Loses Daughter Days After Son’s Death
Again the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Idi Barde Gubana, has been bereaved.
Gubana lost one of his children to a ghastly road accident last weekend.
The deceased who was named after the state governor, Buni died alongside two others in a crash that happened last Saturday along the Maiduguri-Kano expressway.
However, while Gubana and his family are yet to recover from Buni’s loss, his 16-year-old daughter, Khadija Idi Barde (Siyama), who was said to have been involved in the Saturday accident died in the hospital today.
Reports revealed that Siyama was rushed to a Kano hospital when the accident happened. Daily Trust confirmed that she, however, gave up the ghost on Thursday morning at the hospital where she was being treated.
Until her death, Siyama was an SS II student of Essence International School, Damaturu, the state capital, Native Reporters learnt.
Only PDP Is Afraid Of Muslim-Muslim Ticket – Tinubu Campaign Spokesman
Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is terrified of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023.
Tinubu Campaign spokesperson Bayo Onanuga accused the PDP of misinformation in a Facebook post on Wednesday night.
Last Monday, when delegates voted, the “scaremongering campaign” began on the conference grounds in Eagle Square, he added.
Despite the fact that the mischief was put out before it could spread, Onanuga stated that the PDP has “continued to feed the flames of religious mistrust in Nigeria.”
The veteran journalist said nearly three weeks after “it breached the power rotation principle” which ought to return power to the south, the PDP dithers over the choice of a running mate for its candidate Atiku Abubakar.
Onanuga informed the public that all the anti-muslim articles since Tinubu won the 2023 ticket are mostly products of PDP machine.
Less Than 48 Hours to Election, Court Disqualifies APC, Biodun Oyebanji From Ekiti Guber Election
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, today, disqualified the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, from participating in the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State governorship poll.
Justice Ekwo also held that the APC is not fielding any candidate in the election, having failed to comply with provisions of the Electoral Act as well as its guidelines in the conduct of party primary.
The court subsequently sacked the APC and Oyebanji from participating in the governorship poll and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delist APC and Oyebanji from the list of political parties and gubernatorial candidates for the election or at any subsequent postponement.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/528/22, Ekwo also ordered the APC to refund N22.5 million to Kayode Ojo, who was another APC governorship aspirant being cost of nomination and expression of interest forms for the primary election it failed to conduct.
Ojo, was among the 8 aspirants, who purchased forms to contest the election under the APC platform, had sued the party, INEC and Oyebanji over his (Ojo’s) failure to secure the governorship ticket.
He claimed that he was robbed of the APC gubernatorial ticket in favour of Oyebanji and had prayed the court to hold that his party did not conduct a valid primary for the governorship poll.
Ojo also sought an order compelling INEC to delist APC and Oyebanji’s name from the list of political parties and gubernatorial candidates for the election or any subsequent postponement.
He, therefore, demanded N122.5 million damages from the APC, being the refund of payment for the expression of interest and nomination forms.
But following the court verdict, Oyebanji has maintained that he would appeal his disqualification by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Ekwo held inter alia: “It is my finding that the plaintiff has demonstrated upon preponderance of evidence that the gubernatorial primary election of the 1st defendant was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of Ss. 85 (2) and 87(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and Articles 17 (vi) and 18(e), (9) and (0 of 1) Defendant’s Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for the Ekiti 2022 gubernatorial election,” Justice Ekwo held.
The judge explained that the real issue which both the APC and Oyebanji seemed not to understand was not whether accredited members of the APC voted on at the primaries but whether there was any primary election at all conducted in accordance with the mandatory provisions of both the Electoral Act (as amended) and the APC’s Guidelines for the Nomination of candidates for the Ekiti 2022 Gubernatorial Election-Direct Primaries (Option A4).
“When a primary election is illegal, the fact that such illegal election was monitored by the Nigeria Police (or other security agencies) as averred in paragraph 25 (i) of the 3rd defendant’s counter-affidavit is of no moment.
“The function of the Nigeria Police (or other security agencies) during primary election or even election proper is not to monitor same,” he held.
The judge explained that the court was inclined to grant the relief for refund of the sum paid by the plaintiff for the expression of interest form and nomination form since having voided the primary election APC cannot be allowed to benefit from its illegality.
“A declaration is hereby made that pursuant to the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and 1st defendant’s guidelines for the nomination of candidates for the Ekiti 2022 gubernatorial election-direct primaries (Option A4), it is incumbent on the 1st defendant to conduct a primary election for emergence of its gubernatorial candidate for June 18, 2022 or any subsequent date in compliance with the provisions of the said Electoral Act and guidelines of the political party.
“A declaration is hereby made that by virtue of the non-conclusion of 1st defendant’s primary election process in Ekiti State for the emergence of its gubernatorial candidate for June 18, 2022 gubernatorial election, or the conduct of the said primary election in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, it had no candidate at the said election.
“An order of mandatory injunction is hereby made compelling the 2nd defendant to delist the names of 1st and 3rd defendants from the list of political parties and gubernatorial candidates for the June 18, 2022 gubernatorial election or at any subsequent postponement.
“1st defendant is hereby ordered to refund the sum of N22,500,000 (Twenty-two Milion Five Hundred Thousand Naira) paid by the plaintiff to 1st defendant for the expression of interest form and nomination form upon total failure of consideration.
But following the court verdict, Oyebanji has maintained that he would appeal his disqualification by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
One of his confidants, Dauda Lawal, confirmed to The News in an interview, yesterday, that the APC candidate would appeal the Abuja Federal High Court ruling.
Lawal, who argued that Justice Ekwo’s court was a court of first instance, said Oyebanji and APC would go to a higher court to seek nullification of order, adding that the judgment was a distraction from the governorship election holding on Saturday.
Police Arrest Fifty one suspected cultists in Delta
The police in Delta says it has arrested fifty one suspected cultists believed to be members of the Eiye confraternity, at Ogwashi-Uku.
In a statement by the state police spokesperson Edafe Bright, the command acted on information that the suspects were marking their anniversary in the community, before the police commissioner Muhammed Ali detailed the Buffalo patrol team to apprehend them.
The suspected cultists were arrested at a popular hotel in Ogwashi-Uku, while items recovered from them includes two cut to size guns, as well as one expended cartridge and Eiye confraternity regalia.
In a related development, an 80-yr-old suspected cartridge dealer was arrested in the Delta community of Kokori, while one hundred and fourteen rounds of live cartridges were found in his house after a thorough search.
The suspects are presently at the police headquarters in Asaba the state capital.
Popular catholic pastor Rev. Mbaka has been lambasted by Nigerians on social media after he lashed out at Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter OBI.
Mbaka said Obi can never be Nigeria`s president
He made the statement at his church, Adoration Ministry Enugu.
According to him, unless God ceases to exist, Obi would never smell the seat of the president.
He added that its better to have an old man in power than a stingy young man.
But on reacting, some Nigerians were of the opinion that Mbaka made the declaration because he was unable to manipulate Obi.
Read the comment below;
@iamChrisTalker, Mbaka is a disgrace to the Catholic Church. Its high time he choose between either a clergy or full time politicians. Its quiet obvious that he`s lost his anointing as he proven himself to be a lover of money even at the expense of misleading his gullible followers.
@PastorBlessid, Even Fr Mbaka couldn’t push Peter Obi to do what he doesn’t want to do even when he told him God was involved and related it with winning election. Peter stood on his principle. SHI SHI we won`t give. His tenacity and articulated savviness is 100 percent competence.
Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, former vice president and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has chosen Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta as his running mate.
Addressing members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) at the party headquarters on Thursday, Atiku said he has consulted with all organs of the party.
He also said party unity is critical for good campaign and ruling the country and as such very happy to announce the running mate today.
He must have the “potential to suicide me at a moment notice, must have qualities of a president.”
He said he wished all the recommended qualified person to work with him, “Iam pleased to announce the one that will be by my side. He Ifeanyi Okowa.
Mr Okowa, governor since 2015, was chosen from the ranks of serving governors and credentialed politicians in the South-East and South-South regions.
Mr Okowa was made the ultimate nominee after a fierce contest with Governor Nyesom Wike of Delta.
Mr Abubakar’s allies said he picked Mr Okowa because he promised to run a campaign based strictly on issues critical to Nigerians, and Mr Wike might derail that approach with his combative nature.
Elections Will Be Shifted, Churches, Mosques Need Security – Primate Ayodele
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele revealed this on Thursday.
He said the 2023 general election may not hold due to the lingering insecurity in the country because it will be postponed due to insecurity in most parts of the country.
He lamented that there is no safe place in Nigeria because the government has abandoned the citizens and failed to address the issue.
In a statement by his spokesman, Oluwatosin Osho, the clergyman said the insecurity in the nation is alarming, adding that churches and mosques now have to brace up and put security in place both physically and spiritually.
He said: “Our security situation is going to be alarming because the security network is weak, and the government has not taken steps to address it. Nowhere is safe in Nigeria as we speak; attackers have been penetrating churches and abducting pastors; it’s sad.
“Christians should brace up to put security in place both physically and spiritually because this government will not be able to handle the issue till 2023. The security situation of the country will also affect the elections in 2023; the date will be shifted again due to the security crisis that will be facing the country.
“The fact is churches, mosques, students, schools, and even security operatives are not safe; only God will help us with this issue of insecurity because the suicide bombers and killers are ready to destroy the security network in Nigeria.
“Everyone has to be vigilant, especially in churches. Church leaders must take the security of their members very seriously. I expect the CAN chairman to have called for meeting to address stakeholders in Christendom on security issues in churches.”
Oyo State Deputy Governor Impeached By House Of Assembly For Dumping PDP
Rauf Olaniyan, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, has been impeached by 24 members of the Oyo Assembly. The assembly accused the deputy governor of alleged gross misconduct.
The members at Tuesday’s plenary accused the deputy governor of Financial Recklessness, Abuse of Office, Abandonment of Official duties, and Insubordination, among other offenses, as it was gathered that the House has issued a 7-day ultimatum for him to face a panel of inquiry.
The house of assembly members also gave a stern warning to him, saying that failure for him to appear before the committee, would make the House begin fresh moves to impeach him,” said a member who pleaded for anonymity.
The speaker of the House, Debo Ogundoyin who acknowledged the document said the House will treat the document by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended in 2011 (section 188).
But this afternoon, he was impeached, by all the lawmakers except Hon. Ayako Oyebunmi is from the consistency of the now-former deputy governor and never consented to his impeachment process.
This is coming a few weeks after the deputy governor announced his defection from the PDP to join the APC. •
Peak News 
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