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Ikenga Ugochinyere Sacked by Court, as Court seeks Rerun in four Wards between APC and Labour Party.

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…orders INEC to conduct supplementary poll within 90 days

ABUJA– The Imo Sate National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal has sacked a member of the House of Representatives, 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.

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Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor Commissions Health Centre in Ihitte-Uboma

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March 16, 2025

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Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor Commissions Health Centre in Ihitte-Uboma

 

… Charges community leaders to protect infrastructure in their domain

… Gives date for commissioning of more projects in the constituency

… Promises to resume distribution of Transformers to improve power supply

The member representing Ehime-Mbano, Ihitte-Uboma and Obowo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, PhD, has, on Friday 14th March 2025 commissioned another Primary Healthcare centre, building in Umuaweke- Amainyi, Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area, Imo State.

The project, which, according to him, is in fulfilment of his campaign promises to the people of the area, following a request by the traditional ruler and others.

He stated that, with this addition to the various Healthcare centres his had built across the Federal Constituency, his desire for affordable, proximate, adequate medical care is gradually being achieved. And this is meant to complement the Health sector effort of His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimma, in delivering quality healthcare to the people.

He therefore charged the leaders in the area, to protect the facility and other public infrastructure in the area, as any act of vandalism affects the people more than it does the government.

Speaking on the occasion, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe, who performed the commissioning of the hospital complex hailed the large heart of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, and his determination to deliver democratic dividends to his constituents, despite all lacerating remarks, especially on social media. He urged him to not relent in doing as he is wont to do, because he will only be remembered for his great contributions by posterity, even in the area of Free WAEC registration for the people.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Honourable Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Health insurance and social services, Dr. Prosper success Ohayagha, who commissioned the Doctor’s quarters complex, of the project extolled the virtues of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, in his continued support for 3R administration of Gov. Hope Uzodimma through such interventions as he has been doing. He assured, that working with the Executive Secretary, Imo State Primary Healthcare Development Authority, Rev. Sis Dr. Maria-Johanness Uzoma, who was also present, they will ensure optimum performance of the facility. The commissioner had earlier paid an unscheduled visit to a similar Healthcare centre, in Amuzi, Obowo LGA, also built by Hon. Chike Okafor, to ascertain the level of optimisation of the facility.

The Local Government chairman, Hon. Obioha Ndukwe and the Hon. Commission for Water Resources, Ozo Obinna Ogwuegbu were full of praise for Hon. Chike Okafor for this laudable project and urged him to continue to do more to help the people.

The occasion was graced by Hon. Kelechi Ofurum, member representing Owerri North State constituency in Imo State House of Assembly, also had notable leaders across Ehime Mbano, Ihitte-Uboma, Obowo LGA and beyond, including: HRH Eze Kelechi Osita Okeke Ama of Umuaweke, HRH Eze M.O Onyemakwuru, Óma 1 of Umuoma, Eze Innocent Onuoha, Ikpe 1 of Ikpenwafor, Eze Pharm. Emeka Ogbonna (Ohazurume), Iyi 1 of Amainyi, HRH Eze Marcel Iheme, Egwunte III of Umuezegwu, HRH Uwangwanti-uzi of uzinomi, Hon. Prince Obioha Ndukwe, Ihitte-Uboma LGA chairman, Hon. Commission for Water Resources, Ozo Obinna Ogwuegbu, Hon. Commissioner Primary Healthcare Health insurance and social services, Dr. Success Prosper-Ohayagha, Executive Sec Imo State Primary Healthcare Development Authority, Rev. Sis Dr. Maria-Johanness Uzoma, Special Adviser, to the Governor on Security matters, Major Gen. Ogbonna, Rtd, Hon. Dr. Godrick Anosike, former Commissioner for health and former chairman of Obowo LGA, Hon. CHIDI Nwoke, for TC Chairman of Obowo LGA, Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Onwueyiagba, former Commissioner for Talents Hunt and Youth Development, among others.

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Here are the three bills passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 14, 2025

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17 hours ago

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March 15, 2025

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1. Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, 2025

Purpose: To grant the House powers, privileges, and immunity to perform its legislative duties.

2. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill, 2025

Purpose: To repeal the existing State Electoral Law of 2018 and re-enact a new law to establish, define the composition, and outline the functions of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

3. Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025

Purpose: To repeal the State’s Local Government Laws of 2018, 2023, and 2024, and re-enact a new law for the administration of Local Government Councils.

These bills were passed during the 136th Legislative Sitting and have been forwarded to the Governor of Rivers State for assent.

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VIDEO: Fubara is already down, more to come for him — Wike boasts

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18 hours ago

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March 15, 2025

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The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has declared that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is already losing political ground in the state.

Wike, speaking at a grand reception held in his honour by the Kalabari people in Abalama, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, criticised the governor’s choice of allies, saying that Fubara is surrounded by individuals who had previously harboured governorship ambitions.

According to him, he refused to approve Fubara’s alliance with those individuals because he knew they had no good intentions for the people of Rivers State.

The minister declared that Governor Fubara was already down politically and boasted that more setbacks were awaiting him.

He said, “You (Fubara) surround yourself with people who wanted to be governor, to whom I said ‘no, these people don’t mean well for Rivers State.’ They are the ones surrounding you, giving you advice.

“Do you think you will succeed? They will give you bad advice and look at what bad advice is doing to you. You are already down 2-0, and there’s more to come. I have never seen this type of politics where you surround yourself with those who want your seat.”

This comes a few days after Wike said nothing catastrophic would occur if the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, proceeds with the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike stated that there was nothing unusual about a state legislature removing a sitting governor over alleged impeachable offences, including claims that Fubara withheld lawmakers’ salaries for several months.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart said, “If you have committed an offence to be impeached, what’s wrong? Is it a criminal offence? It’s provided in the constitution. Am I a member of the Assembly?

“If you have committed an infraction of the constitution and the Assembly deems it fit to say, you should be impeached.

“I have heard people say: ‘Oh, if they impeach him, there will be a breakdown of law and order. ’ Rubbish! Nothing will happen.”

Wike also dismissed suggestions that the Assembly was acting in bad faith, noting that if the lawmakers were not interested in peace, they would have embarked on a six-month recess after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the state’s political crisis.

See the video below:

watch video here www.ekwutosblog.com?s=46

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