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INEC frowns at political parties over acrimonious, parallel primaries

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12 months ago

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Yusuf Dantalle,
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The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday frowned at various infractions committed by political parties ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

The Edo State governorship election is scheduled to be held on September 21, 2024, while the Ondo State governorship election will be held on November 16 2024.

The representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was declared the winner of the Edo State All Progressives Congress governorship primary election.

Also, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, won the governorship primary of the Edo State Labour Party as the candidate for the party in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

ROUNDTABLE:N35,000 Wage Award: 30 States Default, Labour Fumes, Pensioners Threaten Protest0.00 / 0.00
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Asue Ighodalo emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for the upcoming Edo poll.

The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, in the first regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja, noted that infractions such as acrimonious primaries, and the emergence of multiple candidates among others lead to ‘unnecessary’ litigation among party members.

Yakubu urged political parties to adhere strictly to its proposed dates and modes of primaries.

He said, “I urge political parties to adhere strictly to your proposed dates and modes of primaries. Frequent changes as we witnessed recently during the Edo primaries are not only disruptive but costly.

“The commission cannot mobilise, demobilise and remobilise our officials for the monitoring of party primaries at the convenience of political parties. Parties should stick to their proposed dates and modes of primaries for certainty and optimal deployment of resources.

“Similarly, political parties should avoid acrimonious primaries. Increasingly, the conduct of parallel primaries and the emergence of multiple candidates is a frequent occurrence. So too is the tendency to grant waivers to candidates who were a few days earlier card-carrying members of other political parties and nominating such persons to the commission as their candidates for election.

“Some of these infractions lead to unnecessary litigation among party members in which the commission is always joined as a party. The legal fees and cost of producing Certified True Copies of documents can be used more productively in other electoral activities by both the political parties and the commission. We must find a solution to this situation,”

The chairman added that only six parties contesting the Edo governorship poll have uploaded their nominations to the portal while 16 out of 19 parties indicated an interest in running for the Ondo governorship poll, warning that no extension of deadline would be granted.

He noted, “Already, party primaries for the Edo State Governorship election have been concluded. By the timetable and schedule of activities for the election, political parties have 20 days to upload the list and personal particulars of their candidates to our dedicated portal. We have trained party Liaison Officers and established a Help Desk for political parties. The portal opened on 4th March 2024 and will automatically shut down at 6 pm on Saturday 24th March 2024. Two weeks later, only six parties have uploaded their nominations to the portal.

“We urge you to keep to our schedule of activities and avoid last-minute rush that may undermine your ability to successfully nominate your candidates. There will be no extension of time beyond the deadline already published in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, to enable us to publish the personal particulars of candidates (Form EC9) on 31st March 2024 as required by law.

“For the Ondo State Governorship election, party primaries begin in the next two weeks on April 6, 2024 and end three weeks later on April 27, 2024. So far, 16 out of 19 political parties have indicated interest in participating in the election.”

Meanwhile, the National Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle, noted that the council would be proactive to ensure that the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections meet the expectations of Nigerians and the international community.

“There should be no excuse for poor performance.

“IPAC will constantly engage INEC and major stakeholders to ensure the success of these elections and will be there for mobilisation of voters, sensitisation, and monitoring of polls,” Dantalle said.

He assured all that the council will engage leaders of political parties on strict adherence to internal party democracy in the nomination of candidates for various elective offices,” which will, in turn, reduce pre- elections litigation.”

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

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2 hours ago

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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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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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Politics

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

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20 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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