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BREAKING NEWS : APPEAL COURT QUASHES DISQUALIFICATION OF IKENGA IMO UGOCHINYERE AS IDEATO REPS, UNANIMOUSLY AFFIRMS HIS ELECTION AS MEMBER OF HOUSE OF REPS

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IKENGA UGOCHINYERE
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APPEAL COURT DECLARES IKENGA UGOCHINYERE INDISPUTABLE WINNER OF IDEATO HOUSE OF REPS SEAT, QUASHES HIS DISQUALIFICATION, DESCRIBES APC /LP MOVE TO COME FROM 3RD POSITION TO ATTEMPT ST£Al HIS POPULAR MANDATE. As he wrote on his Instagram page.

 

Recall that on Sept 10,2023 The Imo Sate National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sacked Ikenga Ugochinyere, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In a unanimous decision on Sunday, a three-member panel of the tribunal which conducted its proceedings in Nasarawa State, held that Ugochinyere was not validly nominated by the PDP to contest the Ideato North/South Federal Constituency election that held on February 25.

Consequently, it ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to within 90 days, conduct a supplementary election in the constituency.

The tribunal, in its lead judgement that was delivered by its Chairman, Justice Anthony Olotu Akpovi, specifically directed the electoral body to conduct the supplementary poll in 55 polling units where elections did not hold on February 25.

It held that the PDP and its candidate should be excluded from the supplementary election.

The judgement followed a petition that was lodged before the tribunal by candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Abazu Chika Benson.

Cited as 1st to 5th respondents in the petition marked: EPT/IM/HR/10/2023, were; INEC, Ugochinyere, PDP, candidate of the Labour Party, Obi Paschal Chigozie and his party, the LP.

It will be recalled that INEC had declared the PDP candidate, Ugochinyere, as winner of the election with a total of 13, 026 votes.

Whereas the candidate of the LP, Chigozie, came second with 5,696 votes, the petitioner who was sponsored by the APC, came third with a total of 2, 368 votes.

However, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the APC candidate filed a petition wherein he contended that Ugochinyere was not qualified to participate in the House of Reps contest.

The petitioner, among other things, argued that all the votes that were credited to the PDP candidate, amounted to wasted votes.

He told the tribunal that contrary to the express provision of the Electoral Act, the PDP, conducted its primary election in a venue that was outside the constituency.

In its judgement, the tribunal stressed that documentary and oral evidence that was laid before it, established that the primary election the PDP conducted on May 25, 2022, which produced Ugochinyere as its candidate, was held at Aladinma Shopping Mall, a location that was outside Ideato North/South Federal Constituency.

Relying on the provision of section 84 (5) (c)of the Electoral Act 2022, the tribunal held that PDP’s primary election was invalid.

It held that a valid candidate could not have emerged from an invalid primary election.

“Failure of the 3rd respondent (PDP) to abide by the sacrosanct provision of the Electoral Act invalidated its sponsorship of the 2nd respondent,” Justice Akpovi held.

The tribunal maintained that for a primary election to be valid, it must be done in compliance with section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act.

It held that in view of the fact that Ugochinyere was not validly nominated, he was, therefore, not qualified as at the time the House of Reps election held.

More so, the tribunal held that owing to the principle of margin of lead, candidate of the LP, Chigozie, could but be declared the winner of the seat, since INEC admitted that it could not hold election in 55 polling units in the constituency, owing to activities of unknown gunmen.

It, therefore, directed INEC to conduct supplementary poll in the remaining polling units with a the parties participating, except the PDP.

Other members of the panel that concurred with the lead judgement, were; Justices Usman Kudu and Ibrahim Mohammed.

But on  November 8 The judicial triumph was brought to an end

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2027: I’ll support anyone willing to leave office after four years – Kenneth Okonkwo

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March 16, 2025

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Former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said he would support either a southerner or a northerner willing to vacate office after a single four-year term.

Okonkwo stated this on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television, amid discussions about a coalition ahead of the 2027 election.

The Nollywood star-turned-politician based his decision on equity and fairness between the northern and southern regions of the country, in line with the unwritten rule of rotational presidency.

“Everybody should come together. It is something that can be discussed. Who is going to do four years will influence who I am going to support because I still believe in equity and justice,” he said.

Okonkwo, who resigned from the Labour Party in February, said he was open to joining a coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the next election.

Ekwutosblog reports that talks of a coalition have been gaining momentum, further fuelled by the recent defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from APC to the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

 

The lawyer described the APC government as incompetent, insisting that the opposition must form a strong alliance to wrest power from the incumbent administration in the next election.

“My game plan is simple. If the opposition is serious about taking power from this incompetent government, they must unite and act as one because that was exactly what the APC did in 2013, which helped them win in 2015.

“I believe in coalition. When I was leaving, I said I was open to discussions with every group to consolidate the opposition so that we can remove this government,” he said.

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Anambra South needs increased funding for infrastructure, quality education, healthcare – Amamgbo

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March 16, 2025

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A Labour Party aspirant for the Anambra South Senatorial by-election for the replacement of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Donald Amamgbo has identified some of the needs of the zone, saying if given the opportunity to represent the zone, he will champion it.

Amamgbo, a respected legal practitioner and a player in the oil and gas sector, in a press release said his interest to represent his people in the Senate was to ensure development in the zone.

He said he will champion calls for increased funding for infrastructure development, maintenance and improved access to quality education and healthcare if elected into the red chambers.

He said, “My aspiration is anchored on my desire to provide quality representation and attracting meaningful projects that would better the lot of my people.

“My legislative agenda is all about listening to the concerns of constituents and representing their interest in the National Assembly, while collaborating with stakeholders to drive development and growth in Anambra South to ensure transparency, accountability and promoting the principles of democracy in Nigeria.

“My senatorial bid is built on a promise to deliver effective representation and champion the interests of Anambra South senatorial district. My vision is centred on key legislative priorities for economic empowerment, infrastructure development, education, healthcare, security and peace in Anambra South as well as the entire state.

“My approach to leadership is anchored in practical solutions and a people-first mentality. I will prioritize development, accountability, and compassion, offering a fresh perspective on service delivery. With my extensive experience in law, business, and humanitarian work, I am a force for positive change,” he stressed.

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BREAKING NEWS: Senators and former ministers of Buhari are preparing to move from APC to SDP.

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March 16, 2025

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Strong signs that some of the former president Muhammadu Buhari’s ministers will turn to the Social Democratic Party altogether.

A senator in the ninth house of assembly, who talked with PUNCH newspaper on Saturday and asked for his name to be renamed, said at least 10 former members of Buhari are planning to return to SDP.

“What they are waiting for is the complete rule of the party in their states,” the sources said.

Our representatives have gathered that the top obedient to President Buhari’s next year include the former chairman of the All Progressives Congress National, Abdullahi Adamu; Former Federal Lawyer and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and former Senate Chairman, Ahmed Lawan.

El-Rufa’i has started taking action
One of Buhari’s loyalist and former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday transferred to SDP party, where he expressed the disagreement between him and the APC party as the first reason for making this decision.

 

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