NEWS
Benue PDP Crisis: Court Strikes Out Jev’s Suit Against PDP Congress
From Attah Ede Makurdi
A Benue State High Court sitting in Gboko, on Monday, struck out the suit filed by Senator Emmanuel Orker Jev and 16 others, challenging the outcome of the July 31,2024, ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ushongo, Kwande, Konshisha, Buruku, Gboko and Guma local government areas of Benue State.
Senator Jev, Rt. Hon Terseer Tsumba, Rt. Hon Terngu Tsegba, Hon. David Tsevende, Clement Adzuanogo, and 12 others dragged the PDP, the national chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, National Organising Secretary of PDP, Umar Bature and one other, before a Benue State High Court in Gboko, praying the court to set aside the result of the ward congresses of July 31st, 2024. They also prayed for an order directing the defendants to conduct ward congresses in Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Ushongo, Kwande and Konshisha. They further prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents and privies from conducting Local Government and State Congresses in Benue State scheduled for 10th and 31st of August 2024, until the defendants conduct ward congresses in Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Konshisha, Ushongo and Kwande local government areas of Benue State, amongst other reliefs. Counsel to the PDP, Umar Damagum and Umar Bature, Ganiyu Ajape filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter. Ajape also filed a response to the substantive suit, stating that the party held ward congresses in all the 23 local government areas of Benue State on July 31st, 2024. Delivering judgment, the Presiding judge, Justice Josephine Ayua agreed with the preliminary objection filed by Ganiyu Ajape that the issues for determination borders on the internal affair of the PDP.She held that matters bordering on the conduct of ward congresses are purely an internal affair of a political party and the court cannot dabble into it. She accordingly struck out the suit for want of jurisdiction.Reacting to the judgment, an aspirant for the State Secretary of the PDP in Benue State, who is from Konshisha local government, one of the local government that was mentioned in the suit,Comrade Dan Nyikwagh described the judgment as sound and a victory for democracy.He added that with the judgment of the Court, the party can now go ahead with it’s local government congresses in Konshisha, Ushongo, Kwande, Guma, Gboko and Buruku local government areas of Benue State, and commended party members from the six local governments for their patience while the matter was in court.NEWS
Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to UNGA
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)NEWS
NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
NEWS
NDDC Unveils Initiative to Enhance food Security in N’ Delta Programmes
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta. He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security. (NAN)