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Ondo guber: Aggrieved APC aspirants opt for court as Ganduje’s peace deal flops

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8 months ago

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Aggrieved All Progressives Congress, APC, aspirants who battled for the party’s ticket to contest in the upcoming Ondo State gubernatorial election have resolved to seek redress in court.

The aspirants are considering legal actions against the Governor Usman Ododo-led committee which conducted the last primary election.

They are alleging that the entire exercise was a ‘sham’.

DAILY POST recalls that the ruling APC on April 20, conducted its primary election ahead of the November 16, 2024, governorship election in Ondo state.

The exercise, which had the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa as winner, was, however, shrouded with controversies as most aspirants alleged irregularities in the poll.

While some of the aspirants alleged that the APC primary election did not follow the party’s procedure, others outrightly said there was no election.

Recall that one of the aspirants, Mr Gbenga Edema, who addressed newsmen while the election was ongoing, had alleged that the Kogi State governor, Ododo did not follow the due process laid down by the national leadership of the party.

Mr Gbenga frowned at the delay in the release of electoral materials meant for the primary.

According to Edema, as at 10:00 a.m., electoral materials had not been released contrary to the resolution made during a stakeholders’ meeting prior to the election.

He said, “Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, told us during the stakeholders’ meeting that the materials would be distributed to the electoral officers at the BON Hotel, Akure.

“He told us that the accreditation would start between 10:00:am and 1:00 pm and that voting would commence by 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

“But what we are hearing now is that the election has been concluded and the result announced.

“We asked the chairman, but he had no answer to our questions. We are not people that could be manipulated by god fathers. So, we are asking our national leadership that if they are not ready, they should postpone it until the right thing is done”.

DAILY POST reports that about six aspirants, including the senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim, Olusola Oke, Folakemi Omogoroye, Olugbenga Edema, Jimi Odimayo, and Wale Akinterinwa, subsequently filed petitions challenging Aiyedatiwa’s victory.

The aspirants insisted that the election must be cancelled, noting that Ododo was not fit to chair the committee.

Meeting with Ganduje

The national chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party held a closed-door peace meeting with Governor Ayiedatiwa and the aggrieved aspirants on Thursday last week.

However, efforts by Ganduje and the NWC to broker peace between the governor and the aspirants failed as the meeting ended in a deadlock.

During the meeting, Ganduje appealed to the aggrieved aspirants to sheathe their swords in the interest of the party.

“It is already a ruling party; our prayer is that it should continue to be a ruling party in Ondo State.

“So, you see, we are here to appeal to you so that we can succeed in maintaining this state as an APC state. I appeal to you; we are all practitioners in this game, in this politics, in this agenda,” he said.

However, DAILY POST gathered that the aspirants refused to withdraw their petitions, insisting that there was no primary election conducted in the state on April 20.

A source, who is familiar with the developments, told DAILY POST that at least three of the aspirants have resolved to end the matter in court.

He alleged that the Ododo-led committee conducted the primary election in a hotel, stressing that the “winner was known even before the election” kick-started.

“If our party continues in this way, we should forget Ondo State. The fact is that Aiyedatiwa already has a big case that even if he wins, the court will upturn his victory.

“This is someone who the people of Ondo State never wanted even right from when the former governor was sick, he fell out with many party members and the great people of Ondo State. I wonder how he is going to win this election,” he claimed.

He revealed that the aggrieved “aspirants have vowed to mobilise and work against” the governor during the November 16 election if the party fails to give proper attention to the petition.

Speaking with DAILY POST, one of the aggrieved aspirants, Hon Olugbenga Edema insisted that Aiyedatiwa was illegally declared winner of the election.

He said, “We complained to the national chairman and the National Working Committee of the party that the so-called election held on the 20th of April was a fraud.

“You can also agree with me that there was no election that day. But the chairman and the NWC told us that we should forget it and move forward.

“However, we told him that there was no way we would just forget about it.

“Normally, when a thing like this happens, there is usually a post-mortem.

“One of us, a professor of pathologists, told the chairman that there must be a post-mortem to know what happened and how it happened.

“We all said our minds but they insisted that we are going to continue with that illegality. Out of anger, we all left there under that atmosphere.”

Speaking on his next line of action, Olugbenga said they were currently waiting to know the outcome of the committee set up to look into the appeal.

According to him, “Friday was the day the party’s appeal committee was to look at our complaint. I’m sure they must have looked at the case we presented to them and we are waiting for the outcome.

“There is what we call Internal mechanism for conflict resolution in our party.

“By the time we know the verdict of the appeal committee whether they are sustaining our appeal or dismissing it for lacking in merit, that is when we will take the final decision on whether to go to court or not. For now, we have to exhaust that process.”

Asked if he would support Aiyedatiwa in the forthcoming election if the party’s NWC dismissed their appeal, he said “I have told Ganduje that you can’t build something on nothing and think it will sustain itself, it is not possible.

“And I also told them that when the foundation is destroyed, according to the Bible, what can the righteous do?

“So, it does not matter whether I support him or not, the fact remains that what they did was illegal and as far as it remains illegal, there is nothing I can do. There is no way I can be involved in illegality”.

On the alleged certificate forgery, Olugbenga said, “we have raised that issue before the party screening committee and if in their wisdom they believe that these are no issues, good luck to them.

“I told them that as members of the party, we needed to be proactive so that we don’t do what happened in Bayelsa.

“You remember that even in Zamfara State, we didn’t have a candidate up to the House of Assembly in 2019. The same thing happened in Rivers State.

“Sometimes the party deliberately forgets that these things can have adverse effects on the party.

“If they refuse to see the danger ahead, we as party members have done our own best. Since they refuse to listen to us, the law will take its full course”.

Meanwhile, some aggrieved members of the party from Ondo State under the aegis of the Ondo APC youths on Thursday stormed the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, protesting the outcome of the election.

The young demonstrators, who were dispersed by security operatives, demanded the cancellation of the election.

However, Governor Aiyedatiwa had said that those protesting his emergence as the flagbearer of the APC in the November governorship election should rather pitch their tents with him to win the election.

Contrary to the claims that the primary election that produced him was marred with irregularities, Governor Aiyedatiwa said the process was free and fair.

He has also consistently dismissed the certificate forgery allegation against him.

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Politics

Jigawa governor loses mother, son within 24 hours

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3 days ago

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December 26, 2024

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Jigawa governor loses mother, son within 24 hours
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Umar Namadi, governor of Jigawa, has lost his 24-year-old son, Abdulwahab Namadi.

A statement by Hamisu Gumel, the governor’s spokesperson, said Abdulwahab died in a road accident along Dutse-Kafin-Hausa road on Thursday.

His death comes barely 24 hours after the governor’s mother died on Wednesday.

Gumel added that the late Abdulwahab was buried on Thursday evening in Kafin Hausa town according to Islamic rites.

“To Allah belongs that which He has taken, and to Him belongs that which He has given, and everything has an appointed time with Him,” the statement reads.

“With a heavy heart and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, His Excellency Mallam Umar Namadi, Governor of Jigawa State, announces the passing of yet another member of his family; his dear son Abdulwahab Umar Namadi.

“He departed this world this afternoon (Thursday,  December 26th, 2024) as a result of a ghastly motor accident along Dutse-Kafin-Hausa Road.

“The burial rite is taking place at this moment in Kafin Hausa town, in accordance with Islamic traditions.

“A 24 year old,  late Abdulwahab is survived by his parents and many siblings.

“To Allah belongs that which He has taken, and to Him belongs that which He has given, and everything has an appointed time with Him.“

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Mahama lied to Ghanaians to win, but we’ll hold him accountable for his promises – NPP UK

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4 days ago

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December 25, 2024

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Mahama lied to Ghanaians to win, but we’ll hold him accountable for his promises – NPP UK
——–
Kingsley Adumattah Agyapong, Chairman of the United Kingdom branch of the (NPP), also known as Wofa K, has served notice that they will hold President-elect John Dramani Mahama to the fire in ensuring that he delivers on his campaign promises.

“If Mahama fails to build on the growth we have achieved, the growth rate will drop, and the country will head back to the challenges and difficulties we complained about. Mahama should make sure that he will stabilize the cedi. He also promised to help reduce the price of kenkey. They promised not to scrap the free SHS. They promised to scrap E-Levy.

“They realized that a lot of Ghanaians were in the rural communities and lacked an understanding of these issues, and so when they went there to campaign, they peddled falsehoods so they could win their votes. They left the country in a terrible state with dumsor for almost five years in 2016.

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Xmas: Strong Nigerians should care for the weak, and the rich for the poor – Uzodimma

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4 days ago

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December 25, 2024

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GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE

PRESS RELEASE

Xmas: Strong Nigerians should care for the weak, and the rich for the poor – Uzodimma

…Insists they should show love to those who can’t repay for deeds extended to them.

Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma has called on the Nigerian strongmen (and women) to make it a point of duty to care for the weak in their midst just as he urged the rich to show benevolence to the poor.

Speaking during the Christmas Church Service held at St. Lima of Rose Catholic Parish, Ozuh Omuma in Orlu Diocese, the home Church of the Governor, in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State on Wednesday (December 25), the Governor also insisted that the privileged Nigerians should take delight in showing love to the less privileged who may not have the capacity to repay them for their good deeds.

“Let us take advantage of the season to show love to our neighbours and people around us irrespective of religious, political party and ethnic coloration. Let love led us in Imo State, Communities, Local Governments and the country at large and when we do this, the Egyptians we saw yesterday we shall see no more.”

Governor Uzodimma’s advice coincided with the Christmas Service Homily by the Bishop of Ekwulobia Catholic Diocese, His Eminence Peter (Cardinal) Okpaleke, who reminded the Christian faithful, and all men of goodwill, that service to the people in whatever position they find themselves is akin to fulfilling the reason for the gift of Jesus Christ to mankind as Lord and Saviour by God.

The Governor thanked God for making it possible for Imolites in particular, and Nigerians in general, to witness another Christmas season, insisting that Christians should emulate the principles of love and compassion exemplified by Jesus Christ and strive to be their brothers’ keepers.

Governor Uzodimma who maintained that Christ’s birth was a demonstration of unparalleled love and compassion, noted that throughout his life’s journey Jesus Christ went about doing good because of the love he has for everyone regardless of their social status.

The Governor used the opportunity to regret the death of those who lost their lives at Ibadan, Abuja and Okija respectively during the occasion of the well intended charity work of giving to the less privileged that aligns with the Christmas season, also sympathised with their families and prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased.

He however said that the incidents that unfortunately turned tragic should not deter people from doing good or engaging in acts of charity and compassion, even as he commended the efforts of the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in ensuring that there is food security in Nigeria.

The Governor reiterated his determination to continue to work in the interest of the people by ensuring that all sectors that carter to their needs are given the proper attention they deserve, insisting that his 3R Shared Prosperity Government is already on top of the situation of making the welfare of the people its top priority as can be seen from the joyous mood of civil servants and pensioners this season.

Leveraging from the homily of His Eminence, the Governor said that the current hunger in Nigeria is also experienced all over the world due to the war in Ukraine and Russia and that of Palestine and Israel who are the major suppliers of food to the whole world including Nigeria.

The Governor said what is required of Nigerian citizens is to join hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his policies in agriculture and livestock production where he has budgeted large sums of money to ensure food security and sufficiency for Nigeria people.

“We should now join hands with Mr. President to produce what we eat and eat what we produce.”

The Governor informed that his administration is focused on care for the people’s welfare through good roads, agriculture, healthcare and education and enjoined all to continue to support the 3R administration.

The Governor’s further remarks read: “It is with a profound sense of joy that I address the good people of Imo State on the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebration.

“I give God all the glory for keeping us alive to witness another year of the commemoration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. For those who have departed before today, I pray for the repose of their souls.

“I also wish to use this opportunity to once more sympathize with those who lost their lives during the sharing of food in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija. It is most unfortunate that these acts of charity turned tragic.

“But because it was a good cause that turned sour, we should not be deterred from doing good or engaging in acts of compassion, which is what Christmas represents in its entirety.

“Our Lord, Jesus Christ, agreed to be born for our salvation. That was an act of unparalleled love and compassion. All throughout His earthly journey, He went about doing good, performing miracles, healing the sick, offering hope to the hopeless, and feeding the hungry.

“When we celebrate Christmas, we are to emulate the virtues of love and compassion exemplified by Him, who came to the world to save mankind. We must be our brothers’ keepers by ensuring that the strong care for the weak. This is the message we should take home this Christmas: Let the strong show compassion to the weak and the rich benevolence to the poor.

“As a government, we shall continue to strengthen all the institutions of the state to ensure the well-being of the citizenry. The goal of our 3R administration is nothing but making life easier for the people.

“When we build roads and other infrastructure, we care for the people. When we intervene in health, education, agriculture, or social welfare, we do it for the people. I am happier today that our civil servants and pensioners are happy.

“The joy of the season is the love showered on us by God. This love, exemplified in His total submission to be our Redeemer, should be translated into our relationship with others. We should show that same love, especially to the less privileged who may never be able to repay us for our deeds.

“As we celebrate this year’s Christmas, I urge all Imo people and, indeed, Nigerians to show love to one another irrespective of our political or religious affiliation. We should appreciate the efforts of the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in repositioning the economy, especially in ensuring food security in Nigeria.

“Let love lead us this Christmas. Let us shower love on our neighbours, our state, and our country.

“I wish all of us a love-filled Christmas.

“Happy Christmas, Imo people. Happy Christmas Christmas Nigerians.”

Earlier in his homily, Cardinal Okpalaeke
said Christians should open their hearts to the divine heart of God following the footsteps of Jesus Christ who is sent for our Salvation.

He highlighted the hunger in the land that has led to the loss of lives and the problem of Nigeria compounded by insecurity, kidnapping, banditry and terrorism.

However, Cardinal Okpalaeke assuaged the peoples fear when he encouraged all that there are challenges everywhere and that the coming of Christ is the solution to all, noting that “whatever we do to our neighbour is done to Christ.”

Cardinal Okpaleke however urged the government to do more to meet the needs of the people by prioritising its programmes as doing so will be in sync with what the coming of Jesus Christ depicts.

He said that the Church will continue to pray for those in positions of authority to discharge their duties in ways that the love Jesus Christ brought to the world will not be in vain.

The Vice Chancellor K. O. Mbadiwe University, Ideato, Orlu, Prof. Ikechukwu Dozie took the First reading, while Governor Uzodimma took the second reading.

Highlights of the Church Service were the administration of the Eucharist and display of cultural play by Ozuh Omuma Youths.

The Christmas Service was attended by all categories of persons – political, business, traditional, religious, educational – from Imo State and beyond, including the Service Chiefs.

Prominent among the attendees were the wife of the Governor, Barr (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma with her children and other family members, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru and her husband, Chukwuma, the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Chike Olemgbe, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, members of the National Assembly (Senator Patrick Ndubueze, Chike Okafor, Princes Miriam Onuoha, and Eugene Dibiagwu), Imo State APC Chairman, Sir Macdonald Ebere and his predecessor, Chief Marcon Nlemigbo and other National and State chieftains of the Party, the Minister of State (Finance) Dr. Doris Anite-Uzoka, and former minister of Education, Rt. Hon. Good luck Opia.

Others were Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu and his spouse, the Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie and his spouse, members of the Imo State Expanded Executive Council, former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Igariwey Igariwey and the current Secretary General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Co Chairman of Southern Traditional Council/ Imo State Elders Council, HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers/ Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Eze EC Okeke, Eze Oliver Ohanweh, Chief Tony Chukwu, Chief Henry Njoku, Chief Charles Amadi, and many others too numerous to mention.

Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor
December 25, 2024.

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