Politics

Allow Ifeanyi Ubah’s widow to replace him as Anambra senator, Ndume tells Senate.

Published

5 months ago

November 20, 2024

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Allow Ifeanyi Ubah’s widow to replace him as Anambra senator, Ndume tells Senate.

Borno South Senator Ali Ndume has appealed to the upper chamber to support Ifeanyi Ubah’s widow to replace her late husband as the senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District.

Mr Ndume made the appeal on Tuesday, Nov. 19, during the valedictory session organised by the Senate in honour of the late senator.

Mr Ubah, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died at the age of 52 in a London hospital after a brief illness in July.

Until his death, Mr Ubah was the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream. Kano South Senator Kawu Sumaila has since been appointed to replace him.

During the valedictory service, Ndume appealed to his colleagues to allow the late Mr Ubah’s widow replace her husband to continue the senator’s legacies.

The Borno senator reminded his colleagues that some deceased senators were succeeded by their wives and relations. He added that others became members of the upper chamber under the influence of their husbands and fathers.

He appealed that this should be extended to Mr Ubah’s widow.

“It happened before. Chuba Okadigbo was a great politician. When he died, years after, his wife, the widow Margery, sitting around here.

“Our first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, came to the Senate by the virtue of the people of Lagos and her husband who is the president who served two terms… They insisted that she should go for third term. In fact, she told me that her dream was to be a pastor.

“Abiru’s father was a great senator in 1979. Right here is Yar’Adua? Everybody knows Yar’Adua (Katsina Central Senator).

“Senator (Iyabo) Obasanjo, if you remember, is the daughter of General Obasanjo. Sitting in front of me is Dafinone, his father, was a great senator,” he said.

Ndume, therefore, appealed to his colleagues to support Mr Ubah’s wife in getting her late husband’s seat.

“Finally, Mr. President, my appeal to you and distinguished colleagues, his wife, fortunately, is 50 years or so, a wonderful wife. Let us support the family to have a spirit representative of Ifeanyi here in the chamber…”

Politics

BREAKING: INEC Gets ‘Acting Chairman’ Amid Mahmood Yakubu’s Alleged Sacking

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1 minute ago

April 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Mr Sam Olumekun.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a new acting chairman in the person of Mr Sam Olumekun.

Olumekun, who is INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, was referred to as acting INEC Chairman at a meeting he held with the Labour Party leadership on Wednesday.

Ekwutosblog understands that Professor Yakubu is currently in the Gambia to participate in the ECONEC (ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions) meeting.

Per constitutional provision, the tenure of an INEC chairman is five years and they have historically left at the end of their terms if not renewed.

Yakubu assumed the role on November 9, 2015. He became the first INEC chairman to be sworn in for second term after former President Muhammadu Buhari renewed his appointment in 2020.

Section 157 of the constitution stipulates that the president can only remove the INEC chairman with the support of two-thirds of the Senate.

Meanwhile, the new acting chairman, Olumekun, met with a delegation of the Labour Party, led by Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti, who visited INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Days ago, reports claimed that President Bola Tinubu had sacked Yakubu as INEC chairman and replaced him with Professor Bashiru Olamilekan.

However, the presidency debunked the reports. The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, urged the public to disregard the reports as “fake news”.

Ogra noted that such an announcement would come through official channels such as the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Amid reports of his sacking, Professor Yakubu presided over INEC’s weekly meeting at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting included several national commissioners, including Olumekun.

“Crucial decisions would be taken at the meeting,” INEC had said in a tweet.

Politics

Anambra 2025: Onyeze emerges Accord Party guber candidate ‎

Published

1 hour ago

April 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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‎Anambra philanthropist, Chief Chidi Charles Onyeze, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Accord party for the November 5 2025 Anambra governorship election.
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‎He was declared unopposed during the Party’s Primary election process held at East End Hotel, Aroma, Awka, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
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‎The exercise was witnessed by thousands of party chieftains, members, INEC, security, and the media.
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‎By his emergence, Chief Onyeze has become the youngest governorship candidate, who will participate in the election alongside the incumbent governor of the state, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo (APGA), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC), Mr. Jude Ejimofor (PDP), Chief George Muoghalu (LP) and other awaiting candidates from other political parties.

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‎Speaking to Journalists shortly after the process, Onyeze said he is contesting the election to address the current challenges of unemployment, insecurity, and poor educational system in Anambra State.
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Politics

FG UNVEILS GOVERNANCE SCORECARD TO ACCELERATE $1 TRILLION ECONOMY VISION

Published

2 hours ago

April 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Mr Wale Edun has spotlighted corporate governance as a key lever in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s push to build a $1 trillion economy, urging state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to meet global standards of transparency, ethics, and performance.

Speaking at the MOFI Corporate Governance Forum in Abuja on Monday, the Honourable Minister described the newly introduced MOFI Scorecard as a vital benchmark for institutional health—designed to position SOEs for investment, growth, and long-term value creation.

This scorecard is not just a document—it’s a test, Edun said. He added that Strong governance attracts capital, builds trust, and delivers real economic returns.

The two-day forum, themed Ensuring Value Creation in State-Owned Enterprises Through Better Corporate Governance, brought together CEOs, regulators, and development partners to examine how better oversight can unlock Nigeria’s public asset potential.

Referencing entities like NNPC Ltd, Edun noted that SOEs must be investor-ready as the government shifts from debt-heavy budgets to equity-based growth. He also pointed to positive macro signals and falling food and fuel prices—as early signs of a stabilising economy.

MOFI Chairman Dr. Shamsudeen Usman confirmed that the scorecard will be enforced through independent assessments, including MOFI itself. We are not asking others to do what we haven’t already done, he said.

MOFI CEO Dr. Armstrong Takang outlined a rollout that includes third-party evaluations, remediation plans, and public recognition through the annual MOFI Excellence Awards.

Backed by the World Bank, the initiative marks a shift in how Nigeria manages public wealth—with governance now central to growth, resilience, and investor confidence.

The introduction of the governance scorecard is a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s economy. As the country moves forward, one thing is clear: transparency, accountability, and growth will be the guiding principles for the SOEs.