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Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, says the 2024 Local Government Council Elections will hold on September 21st in all the 27 local government areas of the state.

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Imo State Electoral Commission
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ISIEC Chairman, Charles Ejiogu, made this revelation in his address, at the Flag Off of Activities for The 2024 Imo State Council Elections, held on Wednesday at Rockview Hotel Owerri, with stakeholders, President Generals, Youth Leaders, Traditional Rulers, Sole Administrators across the State.

Ejiogu who advised all registered political parties to play the game according to the rules to ensure a free, peaceful and credible poll, noted that positions to be contested in the polls are Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship.

He stated that political parties can commence politicking as the race has been officially unveiled by the Commission.

According to the ISIEC Chairman, “Pursuant to Law No 14 of 2000 as amended, the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission is charged with the task of conducting, supervising a free, transparent and credible local government council elections in Imo State.

“To this end, ISIEC has scheduled to conduct the much expected Council elections into the 305 Registration Areas/Wards and in all the 4,758 polling units in the 27 Local Government Area Councils of Imo State, come Saturday 21 September, 2024.

“Therefore, the Commission is using this opportunity to assure all critical stakeholders of its preparedness to perform its constitutional duty.

“Today’s stakeholders meeting is to release Election Guidelines and Time Table as part of the activities that will ultimately usher in the emergence of 27 democratically Council Chairmen, their Deputies, and 305 Councilors, in line with our announcement of 24th May, 2024”.he said.

Ejiogu, revealed that arrangements for the recruitment of Ad-Hoc personnel are in top gear, such as field and internal Ad-Hoc personnel.

He said the “Commission is not oblivious of the imperatives of putting in place water-tight security architecture.

“Adequate logistics and ground power will be mounted as it is key to the successful conduct of the forthcoming Council polls”.

He added that the “Commissions on-going sensitization and mobilization efforts with
critical stakeholders is on course as Traditional Rulers, Presidents General, Opinion Leaders, Women and Youth Groups, Market Associations, Trade Groups, Civil Society Organizations, Clergy and Faith Based Organization, Political Leaders are among those invited for this meeting”.

“We are liaising with other democratic institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and we are satisfied with their level of support so far, even as we look forward to more of such support.

“The security agencies have also assured us of their readiness to render necessary assistance.

“The voluntary agencies are not left out in this regard and we cannot take anyone of them for granted”.“As an established strategic partner in progress, the Fourth Estate or the Realm (Media) deserve our special recognition as they have Continued to lend measurable empathy and support through their balanced reportage so far.

“We hereby appeal to the Media to remain our veritable partner as we move forward with our commitment to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process.

“The registered political parties are hereby enjoined to play according to the rules, even as the Commission appeal to them to constructively engage their aspirants, candidates by observing to the utmost, the doctrine/principle of internal democracy.

“The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission will not shirk its mandated duty of observing the primaries as duly stipulated in Electoral Act as amended“I hereby state unequivocally that the upcoming 2024 Imo State Local Government Council Elections will be peaceful, transparent, and credible, God willing. Having come thus far, and by virtue of the powers conferred on me, as the Chief Electoral Officer of Imo State and for the purposes of contestants participating actively in forthcoming council polls, I hereby declare that all the registered political parties can now start to politick”, Ejiogu concluded

Politics

Governor UZODINMA has offered yet again free transportation buses from Lagos to *Owerri, Okigwe* and *Orlu* . The buses are free for Imolites from Lagos to Imo State on *24th December* and back to Lagos on *4th January* .

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Press release

We are not fraudsters, evacuation of Imo residents in Lagos will go on – ISTDAL

Our attention had been drawn to a report where the Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Imo State Government impersonated by unknown persons to issue a statement about a well intentioned gesture of the Governor to evacuate interested Imo indigenes resident in Lagos who wish to be home for the Christmas and New year celebrations.

In his magnanimity, Governor Uzodimma gave approval for the exercise to be carried out on December 24, 2024 for those returning from Lagos and those who would be returning to Lagos on January 5, 2025.

Unfortunately, unknown persons mischievously issued a Statement where
the name and designation of the Chief Press Secretary were impersonated as the author.

Based on that the Chief Press Secretary raised a strong statement where he called those behind the criminal and mischievous statement fraudsters, believing we were the ones behind it.

While we regret the criminal intentions of those behind the impersonation of the Office of the Governor’s spokesperson, we make bold to dissociate members of our association who are part of the evaluation exercise as fraudsters.

If anything, members of our association work in tandem with the Governor and his government for the wellbeing of our people for which this exercise is one of them.

Like the Governor, we mean well for our people resident in Lagos or any other part of the country and will not be part of moves to undermine the good intentions of His Excellency.

We put up this statement after conferring with the Chief Press Secretary and availing him with the facts regarding the exercise, and do hope that those who have already indicated interest in travelling through the channels we had earlier announced, and intending ones, should feel free to avail themselves of the opportunity.

Please, refer to our earlier announcement where the Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor was not impersonated.

*Breaking news!! Breaking news!!!.*
*To all Imolites resident in Lagos.*

The Imo State Governor *Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimna (OON)* in line with 3Rs of His Excellency’s administration and in alleviating the stress, difficulties and hardship Imolites go through during Christmas journey, Governor UZODINMA has offered yet again free transportation buses from Lagos to *Owerri, Okigwe* and *Orlu* .

The buses are free for Imolites from Lagos to Imo State on *24th December* and back to Lagos on *4th January* .

Interested persons should please call *(ISTDAL)* *08033255565, 08092362966* or *07089303866* for seats reservation.

Please the buses are free and is on first come accreditation bases, once the seats are fully booked the registration closes, ( *_PLS DO NOT PAY ANYBODY ONE KOBO_)*

Please the buses are *NOT LUXURIES BUSES* , so only passengers with a small sizable bags will be allowed. (no big boxes or load is allowed)

The buses will leave on Tuesday 24th December at exactly *7.15am* to Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.

The departure point will be made available after your registration, *(if you are not captured on accreditation, pls don’t bother coming as only accreditated passengers are allowed)* and please indicate your direction.

Call *Chima Davis* on the above numbers as soon as possible for accreditation ahead of time, you *must prove* you are from Imo State.

Note: the bus will not stop or drop any passenger until it passes Ihiala unto Imo State.

Thanks and best regards

*_C@davis 21.12.24_*

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FG Sets Aside ₦27bn For Obasanjo, Gowon, Buhari, Others In 2025

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The Federal Government has allocated ₦27 billion for the entitlements of former presidents, vice presidents, heads of state, chiefs of staff, retired heads of service, and professors in the 2025 fiscal year.

The beneficiaries of this allocation include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, alongside ex-vice-presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Other notable individuals expected to benefit from this allocation are ex-military Heads of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), as well as former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, and retired Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe.

It can be recalled that President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday presented the 2025 budget, titled ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,’ to a joint session of the National Assembly. The ₦49.70 trillion spending plan prioritizes defence, infrastructure, and human capital development, with a projected ₦13.39 trillion deficit to be financed through borrowing.

The Federal Government has allocated ₦1.4 trillion for pensions, gratuities, and retirees’ benefits. This allocation includes ₦2.3 billion for former presidents, heads of state, and vice presidents. Retired heads of service and permanent secretaries will receive ₦10.5 billion, while retired professors in universities will get ₦13.5 billion. Additionally, ₦1 billion has been allocated for retired heads of government agencies and parastatals. The total allocation for these groups amounts to ₦27 billion.

Furthermore, the budget allocates ₦46 billion for civilian pensions under the Office of the Head of Civil Service, while ₦383.9 billion is earmarked for military pensions and gratuities. An additional ₦66.8 billion is budgeted for expected retirees, with ₦434 million allocated for administrative charges, ₦596 million for pension running costs, and ₦870 million for medical retirees.

The Federal Government has also set aside funds for various social investment programs, including the student loan scheme, National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy programs, National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, and the Consumer Credit Fund initiatives. A total of ₦500 billion has been allocated for these programs, with ₦50 billion specifically earmarked for the student loan scheme.

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Tinubu Is Not Our Problem In North; We Ruled Nigeria For 40 Years But Nothing To Show – Ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara

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Tinubu Is Not Our Problem In North; We Ruled Nigeria For 40 Years But Nothing To Show – Ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara

North Remains The Same, Impoverished Despite Ruling Nigeria For Over 40-Years, Says Dogara.

“We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem. They have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question.

“Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect. We ruled this country for over 40-years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders.

“We have had so much, but what did our governors do with the resources? They squandered them instead of investing in meaningful development.” -Yakubu Dogara, At A Townhall Meeting In Kaduna On Tax Reforms

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