The All Progressives Congress (APC) Appeal Committee says it has received three petitions in respect of  the just concluded governorship primary  in Ondo State.

Reports says that the Gov. Usman Ododo led committee that supervised conduct of the election declared Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa winner.

Aiyedatiwa, who contested against 16 other aspirants, was declared the party’s candidate for the Nov.

16 governorship election.

Addressing a news conference, on Monday in Akure, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, the head of the five-member appeals committee, said that petitions were received from Mr Olugbenga Edema, Mr  Jimi Odimayo and  Mr Wale Akinterinwa.

Abubakar, a former governor of Bauchi state, said that the aspirants’ complaints were that the primary did not hold across the 203 wards in the state and the process was fraught with irregularities.

“So far, we have received three petitions; one from Olugbenga Edema, Jimmy Odimayo and the last one from Adewale Akinterinwa.

“The situation I met on ground was an inconclusive election that needed to be repeated in one local government.

“They were able to repeat election in that local government and by early this morning, they were able to declare the results of the primary.

“It is traditional in APC to set up a committee like this, in order to follow up on the fallout of the primary election.

“It’s as a result of this that I invited the gentlemen of the press to be here today, so that I can announce to them, the presence of this committee and the readiness of this committee to receive whatever complaints, as a fallout from the primary election,” the committee head said.

Abubakar said that the committee would be expecting more petitions from other aggrieved aspirants between Monday and Tuesday afternoon.

According to him, the secretary of the committee, Mr Obiocha Israel, will be available at the APC secretariat in Akure for two days to receive petitions.

“The committee will be here till on Tuesday to collect whatever complaints that may be.

“Let me use this opportunity to assure members of our party that this committee intends to be thorough and transparent in treating any complaint that we will receive.

“I can assure you that within a space of few days, we will consider total number of petitions we received and render a report to the national headquarters of our party, before the party takes a final decision on the issue of the primary.

“I am calling on all the aspirants that have complaint(s) to please, feel free to forward it to us. We have since established our office at the headquarters of the party,” he said.

(NAN)

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed that the reforms initiated and implemented by his administration led to the saving of the sum of N2.3 billion in the local government councils.
Governor Diri disclosed this on Monday at the opening ceremony of an orientation programme organised for newly-elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen, councilors and principal officers at Perdis Hotel, Akenfa.

The governor stated that on assumption of office in 2020, some local government councils were highly indebted and unable to pay salaries. But the administration took measures that resulted in regular payment of salaries, execution of projects and saving of funds.
The Bayelsa chief executive restated his call on the Federal Government to create additional local councils in the state, saying it was unfair for some states to have more than 40 councils and receiving monthly allocation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee while the state had only eight.
He charged the newly elected local government officials to make good use of the two-day workshop to equip themselves with the requisite knowledge to carry out their responsibilities.
The governor also called on them to work as a team to ensure that development was felt at the grassroots.
He said: “Local governments as of 2020 were unable to pay salaries, particularly Nembe, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Sagbama. There was some form of dissatisfaction in the system.
“After I went through the recommendations of the Deputy Governor, whom I entrusted with investigating the local government, I wasted no time in approving the recommendations.
“The recommendations included the ban on loans from any source by local government chairmen without approval of the governor, compulsory savings by every council, and the division of balance after payment of salaries into 60 and 40 per cent respectively. One part was for compulsory savings and the other to project implementation and immediate commencement of computerisation of their payroll as well as compulsory quarterly award of projects by each council chairman.
“We found a lot of fraud in the local government system. But as it stands today, our councils have N2.3billion as a result of the combination of the factors of reforms and proper supervision of that tier of government.
“The breakdown is N400million compulsory savings while N1.9 billion for capital projects. This is aside from the one done by caretaker committees in terms of project execution within the short period they stayed.”
Diri assured of his administration’s  commitment to support the councils to achieve their goals, and expressed  confidence that the new officials would meet the expectations of the people.
“We firmly believe that good governance begins at the grassroots level. That is precisely why we have gathered here to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve our local government administration and  enhance service delivery.
“I recognise the immense responsibility you have to bear as representatives of the people at the local government level. Remember, you have been entrusted with the mandate to serve and uplift our rural dwellers and communities. I have no doubt that you will work diligently to fulfill this obligation.
“I urge you, particularly our chairmen, to encourage teamwork, financial probity and prudent expenditure of projects.”
Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Development, Mr. Ifidi Ebiware, urged the new local government officials to  avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the training to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform their duties.
Mr. Ebiware also admonished them to justify the confidence reposed in them by implementing people-oriented policies that will impact positively on the people at the grassroots
He thanked Governor Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission and other stakeholders who ensured a hitch-free electoral exercise

From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, on Monday, called on its teeming members across the state to close ranks and key into the awakened spirit of reconciliation, and shun merchants of crisis and bearers of falsehood who profit from sowing seeds of discord.

The party however lauded the invaluable support and stabilizing influence brought to bear on the running of the party by immediate past Governor, Samuel Ortom, and in his immense contributions to leading it through the high-wire politics of national leadership.
It further commended the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu for  his decision to withdraw from the courts litigations challenging his removal from office, thereby paving the way for commencement of reconciliation in the party.
The party expressed satisfaction over the tenacity with which former Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, tabled his bid to serve in the office of National Chairman, which by all standards he is eligible and eminently qualified for.
The state publicity of the party, chief Bemgba Iyortom in a statement  he issued and made available to newsmen in Makurdi said, the party expressed satisfaction that it came away from the 98th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja stronger, more united as a family and better focused going forward.
The statement read in part: “Under the wise and capable guidance of its leaders, Benue PDP is proud to state that it successfully navigated the challenges of being in the eye of national leadership agitations, particularly the issue of replacement of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman
“We understand that the stakes are high and the pressure from various quarters was much on our leaders regarding the top job of our great party, yet they had discharged their responsibilities with uncommon wisdom and sense of unity.
“Under the firm, focused and upright guidance of State Chairman, Sir John Ngbede, PDP in Benue found and maintained traction at every stage of the negotiations which greatly contributed to the outcome at the NEC meeting.
“The party commends the decision by immediate past National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to withdraw from the courts litigations challenging his removal from office, thereby paving the way for commencement of reconciliation in the party.
“It also commends the tenacity with which former Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, tabled his bid to serve in the office of National Chairman, which by all standards he is eligible and eminently qualified for.
“Benue PDP reserves high commendations for the role played by Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Patric Abba Moro, in steering the numerous meetings at the various levels of the party including at the North-Central region.”
Chief Iyortom said through temperate and peaceable approaches, Senator Moro was able to steer a middle course which brought the various shades of ambition in the party to the common understanding to place PDP first and above every other interest.
“Our great party in Benue hereby expresses implicit faith and confidence in its college of leaders and their ability to lead the party forward to successfully conduct the forthcoming ward, local government and state congresses slated to commence soon.”