From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja, Sola Ojo, Kaduna, Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan, Noah Ebije, Kaduna, Paul Osuyi, Asaba, Okey Sampson, Umuahia and Adewale Sanyaolu
Delta State Government has alleged plots by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use the military to compromise the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, who raised the alarm in Asaba, said the plan was to militarise the state with a view to using the army officers to harass and intimidate voters.
He, however, appealed to security agencies not to succumb to pressures by the APC to compromise the polls in Delta State.
“We also hear that given their (APC) controversial victory at the center, Omo-Agege and the APC in Delta State are planning to deploy the military to militarize the elections in the strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state to harass voters.
“We want to seize this opportunity to plead with the leadership of the military, the police, and the civil defense corps to caution all their men and personnel not to yield to the antics of this person who knows that he has lost the election and would want to harass innocent Deltans to achieve what he thought that they achieved in the presidential election,” he said.
“I urge all Deltans to continue supporting the love, harmony, and unity that exist among the different ethnic groups in the state. The candidate of the PDP, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has been intentional about what he will do if allowed to pilot the affairs of the state,” Aniagwu declared.
•LP warns INEC not to repeat mistakes
Deputy governorship candidate of LP in Kaduna State, Bashir Idris Aliyu, has warned the leadership of INEC not to repeat the ‘mistakes’ of the presidential and national assembly elections in this Saturday elections.
He told journalists on the sideline of a meeting with different support groups in Kaduna that he was not happy with the inability of the electoral umpire to upload election results right from the polling units at the end of the voting.
“My message to INEC is a warning. You have done it to us once, please don’t do it again. Nobody is going to accept any rigging process again in this election. Do it well in such a way that people can see whether the outcome is free, fair, and credible or not. You were wrong in the last election. Please don’t do it again”, he warned.
Asake’s running mate also clarified that contrary to the insinuations in some quarters that the LP has allied with the PDP, the party and all those contesting one office or the other under it were still much in race.
“LP is prepared and ready to go into the election by this Saturday. We quite believe that we will come out strong by the grace of God. We are not into an alliance with any political party though some parties have sought an alliance with us at preliminary stages. We are aware that some people are mistaking the alliance of some parties with the PDP to include LP. That is not correct. LP under the leadership of our presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and that of our governorship candidate, Dr. Jonathan Asake, are still standing and ready to participate in this Saturday’s elections.
“We are not afraid of the so-called big parties because we all know that LP is the biggest party in Nigeria today. Our main support is the will of God and organic support of the people,” he explained.
•Oke Ogun monarchs, politicians adopt Makinde
Prominent politicians across different political parties in the Oke Ogun region of Oyo State have met with royal fathers in the region, with 10 of the 33 local government areas of the state, and unanimously endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde for second term in office on the platform of the PDP.
The meeting held at the palace of Okere of Sakiland, Oba Khalid Olabisi Oyeniyi Ayinla-Ado, had in attendance all the Oke Ogun royal fathers, a member of the House of Representatives representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency and Accord Senatorial candidate for Oyo North, Hon. Shina Peller, immediate past chairman of the PDP in Oyo State, Kunmi Mustapha, Oyo North Senatorial Chairman for New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Tajudeen Oloyede.
Also in attendance were chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kehinde Adetola, representatives from the APC, Ogunyinka Solomon, Sarafadeen Olaide from LP, Accord House of Representatives candidate for Saki West/Saki East/Atisbo federal constituency, Robert Atitlola and others.
The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting read in part: “The purpose behind the meeting was to x-ray the three major political parties in the state with the view to determine where Oke Ogun will have their interest defended and their political benefits derived.
“Therefore, after extensive deliberation, the meeting noted with interest the laudable developments and benefits accrued to Oke Ogun region from the government of Seyi Makinde which outweigh any other government in the recent past.
“Against this background, the meeting therefore unanimously agreed and adopts Oluseyi Makinde as their governorship candidate in Oyo State for the forthcoming election holding on March 11, 2023.”
•Kalu, best option for Abia state –APP
The state chairman of the Action People’s Party (APP), Chief Princewill Ukaegbu, has described the governorship candidate of the party as the best for Abia State.
He also described the party as the only platform through which the people of Abia-North can actualise their goal of producing the next governor of the state as stipulated in the “Abia Charter of Equity.”
Ukaegbu said aside from standing for equity and fairness, the APP is also the best party with a realistic master plan to rescue the state from its current myriad of infrastructure deficit, economic , educational, health and security challenges which he said would be achieved through its gubernatorial candidate, Mascot Uzor Kalu if elected.
Ukaegbu, who was at Igbere in Bende LGA during a meeting of the party faithful, said the party carefully chose its flag bearer, Mascot Kalu from Abia-North and ceded its deputy governorship slot to Ukwa East in person of Prof Osondu Akoma in order to respect the existing zoning principle thereby giving the people of the zones a sense of belonging.
He stated that Kalu is the youngest candidate who is sufficiently educated and possessed the leadership qualities to save the state from its current challenges for the good of all Abians irrespective of clan, tribe, religion or indigeneship.
Ukaegbu berated other political parties in the state for disrespecting Abia-North by disregarding the zonal power rotation as they selected their candidates from Central and South.
He said going by the zoning principle, which began in 1999 Abia North is the zone expected to produce the next governor in 2023, adding that each of the three zones would have by May 29, 2023 taken turns to produce the governor.
“The completion of Okezie’s tenure heralded the beginning of the rotation from Abia-North. Judging by the Charter, the North, Central and South have had their turns in producing governors that ruled for two terms of eight years each in the persons of Senators Orji Uzor Kalu for North and Theodore Orji for Central and now Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, who took the turn of the South and is due to complete his second term in May, 2023.”
•Olawepo-Hashim Endorses Abdulrazaq
Former presidential aspirant and chieftain of the APC, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has appealed to leaders and stake holders in Kwara State to forgive Governor AbdulRhaman Abdulrazaq and re-elect him for a second term in the March 11,2023 gubernatorial election.
In a chat with reporters in Ilorin Olawepo-Hashim explained that though “I am aware that many leaders are angry with the governor, (I also have my personal reservations), but the truth remains that he has done his best and touched the lives of the ordinary people in the state.”
He added that we have to be fair to him despite our personal issues and differences with him.
“Kwara is free now due to our collective struggle and we cannot turn the hands of the clock back now. Anything else but Rhaman is turning back and forcing a river to flow backwards.”
He also urged traditional rulers in the state not to intimidate or coerce their subjects to vote for any political party or candidate. Forcing anyone to vote for any political party or voters intimidation is a crime under our laws. We are a republican democracy and no traditional ruler should seek to force people against their choices whether such would be voters are indigenes or non-indigenes,” Olawepo-Hashim said.
•We’ve no alliance with PDP in Kaduna State –NNPP
NNPP has said it has no alliance with the PDP in Kaduna State for the governorship and assembly elections.
Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed, the state legal adviser of the party, confirmed this yesterday in Zaria.
No fewer than nine governorship candidates in Kaduna State have endorsed PDP’s Isa Ashiru as their consensus governorship candidate for the poll.
Acting under the aegis of ‘Kaduna State Rescue and Rebuild Gubernatorial candidates Forum,’ they said the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress was a mere ploy to divide the state along religious lines.
The forum urged eligible voters in the state to stay away from the APC, which they said had inflicted hardship on them over the past eight years. However, the NNPP legal adviser described the introduction of `religious politics’ as a bad omen to the nation’s democracy.
He added that the NNPP either at state or national level was not aware of such alliance, stressing that neither the state nor the national working committee was aware of such alliance.
“The party needs to make all the necessary arrangements for an understanding between the two parties, an individual (gubernatorial candidate) cannot go into such alliance without understanding from the party executives,’’ he said.
However, Ahmed said NNPP was not kicking against an alliance with any party, adding that such alliance ought to come from the party itself and not the candidate.
•LP group endorses PDP’s Ahiawe
Some prominent members of the LP in the Abia State endorsed the PDP candidate, Chief Okey Ahaiwe, promising to work together for his success at the gubernatorial poll.
The group comprising various grassroots coordinators of the LP issued a joint statement signed by 10 coordinators declaring their unalloyed support for the PDP’s candidate as their sole candidate.
The group noted that Ahaiwe stands on a higher pedestal than any other candidates including Labour Party’s Dr. Alex Otti, who they claimed is having alleged character deficiency.
“These two qualities stand Chief Okey Ahaiwe out in this election: credibility and strong character to continue on his previous legacy as an astute administrator,” it stated.
It listed some of the achievements of Ahiwe while he was serving in the cabinet of the current regime led by Governor Ikpeazu, saying that among other things, “Ahiwe was at the centre of all Governor Ikpeazu’s modest achievements in office.”
The achievements include sustaining peace and security, coming on stream of Geometric Power Station which now provides steady power to Aba, made in Aba shoe/leatherworks industry where Governor Ikpeazu popularised the “Made in Aba” brand, by sending Aba shoemakers for overseas industrial training, mechanisation of the Aba shoe industry by importing new machinery that enhanced production, bringing of Chinese expatriates to Aba, for the training of Aba Shoemakers on the use of the imported machines.
“This endorsement is based on Ahaiwe’s unblemished track record of service and our commitment to the promotion of good governance
“We insist on supporting credible candidates across party lines, that is why we have endorsed Ahiwe, a man with a verifiable and unblemished track record just like our principal, Peter Obi”, the group emphasised.
Therefore, we urge Ndi Abia to vote Ahiawe based on these unique qualities: Credibility and continuity.
I’m prepared to restore Abia’s glory -Prof Ibe, APGA Guber candidate
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the March 11 gubernatorial election in Abia State, Professor Gregory Ibe has said he is adequately prepared to restore the glory of Abia State.
In the statement, Prof Ibe said he was best suited for governorship of Abia State as none of the contestants can match his enviable records of service to the good people of the state.
He assured Abians of better days ahead and fast turnaround of their fortunes, adding that the confidence Abians repose on him has put him ahead of other candidates.
The APGA Guber candidate recalled that he single handily financed a medical outreach and COVID-19 Pandemic intervention programme worth trillions of Naira for the state.
He said his cognate experience in service-to-humanity would be leveraged to bring the elusive dividends of democracy to Ndi Abia.
He stressed that at this point in time, Abia needs an intelligent and humble leader like him who has an unbeaten record of service to humanity.
He said he has a robust agenda that speaks to a better life for Ndi Abia, be it in high standard of education, modern health services, youth and women empowerment, enhanced social welfare and infrastructural development.
Ibe said in his first 100 days in office if elected, he would enthrone accountability and transparency in governance and put an end to non payment of workers salary.
Prof Ibe urged all eligible voters in Abia State to vote him on Saturday, March 11 2023, based on track records of capacity, competence.
Meanwhile, Abia ADC council chairmen have adoptef Prof Ibe as their consensus Governorship candidate for March 11.
A statement by the chairmen said they adopted the APGA Guber candidate because of his capacity and competence to deliver services and good governance.
Obi movement in Taraba endorses PDP Guber candidate
Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The Coalition for Better and Brighter Nigeria (CBBN), the umbrella body of all support groups for the presidential candidate of LP, Mr Peter Obi, in Taraba State, has endorsed the governorship candidate of the PDP, Col. Kefas Agbu (retd).
Leader of the group Mr. Philip Munlip, who disclosed this in Jalingo said the decision was a product of extensive consultation.
“This decision was taken with due consultation with all our chapters drawing from the 16 LGAs. In a bid to bridge all identified gaps, our relevant stakeholders in the various communities/wards in Taraba state in order to assure a victorious outcome in the gubernatorial elections.
“Drawing from the recently concluded our Presidential and Federal House of Assembly Elections where we garnered 146,315 votes for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, though robbed by INEC. We assured that our votes will make a lots of difference for Col. Kefas Agbu.
“This is evident in this press briefing event as representatives of each of the 168 wards are gathered here for the endorsement and are ready to work hard for it. We are to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the campaigns leading to landslide victory at the elections billed for March 11, 2023.
Munlip said the coalition has based its decision on the ideology of the Obidient movement and thus, the CBBN, which is focused on ensuring a paradigm shift in governance.
Mr Kefas Sule, spokesperson of the gubernatorial candidate of the LP, Mr Joel Ikenya, on Tuesday led the forum of governorship candidates in the 2019 general election to also endorse the candidate of the PDP.
I’ll not step down for any party -Kaduna PRP candidate
Few days to the governorship and State House of Assembly elections, the governorship candidate of People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in Kaduna State, Hayatudeen Lawal Makarfi has debunked the rumours making the rounds that he has stepped down for a political party in the State.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, shortly after he returned from campaign tours along his team, Makarfi said he will breast the line in the race because he is sure of victory.
The governorship hopeful added that it will amount to disappointing late Balarabe Musa, Aminu Kano and other founding fathers of PRP if he should step down for any party for the governorship election.
“Some political parties made some remarks that we should step down for them. We not step down for any political party. We want to lead and emancipate the people as Balarabe Musa did in the 70s and 80s.
“This is my first outing as governorship candidate in Kaduna State. So it will not be proper for me to step down for any political party.
“For the past nine days we have been campaigning across the local government areas in the State. We could see the need for unity among the people irrespective of religious because we love ourselves as Muslims and Christians, but in the last few years we have allowed enemity to divide us.
“So let’s vote leaders based on the competence and good characters. We pray that the PRP emerge victorious, and carry everybody along.
“We have been doing issues based campaigns. PRP was in government in 1979 and 1980. Balarabe Musa spent 18 months in office. The good record is there. So we cannot run alliance with APC or PDP or any other party.
“In the last 24 years it had been money politics, we need to reverse money politics because those days people supported political parties with money and not political parties spending money to win election.
“We are confident that people across the 23 Local government areas of Kaduna State will support us. So we are confident that PRP can form the next government.
“Campaign of calumny notwithstanding, I came out clean from EFCC investigation after falling apart from governor Nasir El-rufai government. And I got another job at Nigeria Financial and Intelligence Unit.
“Nobody believed that PDP would be removed from power after 16 years in office. Kaduna people did it. So we are calling on the people to vote Balarabe Musa and Aminu Kano’s party, the PRP.
“We are confident that we will win the governorship. And we want to call on the INEC chairman to give the people hope of fair, free and credible elections. And We also call on the good people of Kaduna to come out enmass to vote PRP next Saturday”. Makarfi said.