POLITICS
Anambra Guber: Reactions Trail INEC Candidates’ List
Some politicians in Anambra have expressed mixed reactions to the governorship candidates’ list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Friday.
The list came as a surprise to many as prominent names including that of Prof Chukwuma Soludo and Mr Valentine Ozigbo, who were expected to contest for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were missing.
While Rep Chukwuma Umeoji was listed for APGA, that of PDP had no candidate on the list.
Sen. Andy Uba and Dr Akachukwu Nwankpo were listed for all Progressives Congress (APC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside their deputies.
Reacting to the vacant space in PDP, Mr Samuel Anyakorah, a chieftain of the party loyal to the Chukwudi Umeaba faction said his camp was satisfied that INEC acted according to law.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PDP held two primary elections on June 26, conducted separately by Umeaba Caretaker Committee and PDP national leadership.
Anyakorah said what would have been a surprise was Ozigbo’s name was listed when the matter challenging the legitimacy of his candidacy was still pending in court.
According to him, “that is what we wanted, we are happy that INEC obeyed the court, the substantive suit is still pending and as I am talking to you we have adopted our cases and are expecting judgement.
“When the matter is determined by the court, INEC will know the right candidate to list,” he said.
On his part, Chief Valentine Ayika, a director in the Valentine Chineto Ozigbo Campaign Organisation told NAN that nothing had gone wrong with the development apart from its distractive value.
Ayika said the unfortunate thing about the development was that Ozigbo would not have his credentials scrutinised at the time as those of his contemporaries.
He expressed dismay that the court would stop an electoral process that was in progress against the provision of the Electoral Act, saying it was misled by some people.
He however said Ozigbo’s would be published 30 days to the election in line with guidelines after the cases would have been determined because they had no locus to challenge a process they did not belong to.
On his part, Mr Jude Okoye, a strong enthusiast of APGA said the listing of Umeoji for APGA was a welcome idea in view of the ‘impunity’ prostrated by the party leadership.
Okoye, who described Umeoji as a grassroots politician, said he was a unifier and had the capacity to win the Nov.6 election if the candidacy was upheld.
In their reaction, the Soludo Campaign Organisation said the basis upon which Umeoji was recognised by INEC was not sustainable and that the Economist would contest the election on the ticket of APGA.
A statement which was signed by Joe Anatune, a director in the organisation, urged the Anambra electorate to be calm as their legal team was handling the situation.
“Therefore, there is no need for Anambra people and all lovers of progress in Nigeria to be worried about the judgment, the judgment will be set aside.
“We thought that the state had passed the stage where some politicians moved from one end of the country to the other in the dead of the night in search of judicial orders to impose themselves on the people.
“Our supporters should rather remain supremely confident of not only Soludo’s participation in the November 6 gubernatorial vote but also his triumph in the polls with a big margin,” it stated. (NAN)
Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has presented a budget of N549 billion for 2025 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for passage into law.
Presenting the proposal tagged ‘‘Budget of Hope, Human Capital and Economic Development’’ on Friday in Kano, Yusuf said it was aimed at consolidating and improving the wellbeing of the people of the state.
He said that the budget consist of N312 billion for capital expenditure and N236 billion for recurrent expenditure.
According to him, the 2025 budget, when approved, is projected to have a ratio of capital to recurrent 57:43 per cent respectively.
The governor explained that most of the capital spending would be in the Social and Economic Sectors to the tune of N 461 billion.
He also said that the Education Sector got a lion share of N168 billion more than the UNESCO and UN recommendations, adding that the figure represents 31 per cent, while the Health Sector received N90 billion representing 16. 50 per cent.
He added that the fund would be spent on executing policies and programmes aimed at ensuring quality and education at all levels.
He also said that N21 billion representing 3.83 per cent was earmarked for the Agricultural Sector, while Infrastructure Development got N70 billion representing 12.87 percent.
“N23 billion representing four per cent was set aside for Security, Justice and Emergency Services, while Water Supply and Rural Development got N27 billion representing 4.96 percent,” he explained.
The governor urged the lawmakers to ensure speedy passage of the budget, to enable the government continue to provide dividends of democracy to the people.
The Speaker, Jibrin Falgore, assured the governor of speedy passage of the budget to create time for January to December budget circle.
The Speaker also commended the governor for his stride in infrastructure development, security, health and education.(NAN)
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A Youth Advocate on grassroots advancement, Andrew Ochika has urged the newly elected chairman of Dekina Local Government Area in Kogi state, John Ura Ikani to key into Governor Usman Ododo’s development agenda.Ochika in an interview with Our Correspondent, said that the call has become necessary to boost accelerated development down to rural communities in Dekina Local Government Area.
Ochika, a member of Okoyi Community Youth Development, lamented lack of basic infrastructure in Dekina Local Government Area saying that the new Chairman has all it takes to deliver on his mandate and correct the anomaly. The Youth Advocate, who described the overwhelming victory of the Chairman in the just concluded council polls as well deserved, called on him to strive to justify the confidence reposed in him through the provision of democracy dividends to all communities in the local government area.According to him “the new Chairman, John Ura Ikani was a tested leader who performed excellently as Care-taker Chairman. I believe that now that he is elected as executive chairman, he has the capacity to deliver better than before”He urged the Chairman to sustain his tempo in grading of rural roads, provision of health facilities, rural electrification and drilling of bore-holes to ensure potable water supply in the area.He called on the people of the local government to cooperate with the Chairman in his efforts to uplift their living standards.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, National Chairman, Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to political parties, candidates, and supporters to maintain peace during the governorship election in Ondo State.
Yakubu made the appeal while monitoring the 2024 Ondo State Mock Accreditation held on Wednesday across the three senatorial district of the state.
Report says that INEC is scheduled to conduct the Ondo State Governorship Election on Nov.
16, 2024, with 18 political parties to participate in the election.The INEC chairman, who said that the exercise was part of the commission’s preparation, said the maintenance of peace would enable the commission to conduct a free and fair election.
He also said that the mock accreditation was to further test the functionality of their system.
“In the last election, our machines performed optimally but we can not take that for granted.
“We will ensure that all the polling units open on time so that voters will not come and wait for INEC officials and materials.
“And we have tested the integrity of the machines, it is not the matter of early deployment, but also early accreditation.
“We are doing our best as an electoral commission and others should also do their best, particularly political parties and their candidates.
“I want to appeal to political parties, candidates and their supporters to ensure that they maintain the peace that will enable us to deploy and conclude the process in good time.
“And also to announce the candidate people of Ondo State are choosing as their governor on Saturday,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Usman Isiaka Taiwo, who was accredited at the Ijapo High School, Akure, Ward 4 Unit 41, applauded INEC for the conduct.
“There is no delay in the exercise, and I will come along with my family to cast our votes for the candidate of our choice,” he said.
Also, Mrs Adebimpe Bankole, who was accredited at Alagbaka Primary School, Akure, Ward 5 Unit 18, scored INEC 80 per cent for the mock exercise.
“I am satisfied with the process because I did not waste any time before I did my accreditation.
“I would have given them 100 per cent but I can’t, rather I will give them 80 per cent because they have done well.
“By Gods grace, I will come out on Saturday, Nov. 16 for the election proper to cast my vote,” she said.
The INEC national chairman visited Ijapo High School, Akure, Ward 4 Unit 41; and Alagbaka Primary School, Akure, Ward 5 Unit 18.
Ward 10 Unit 12 in Owena, and Ward 10, Unit 1, Aiyetoro/ Owena, Idanre Local Government Area in Ondo Central Senatorial District, were also visited.
Yakubu also visited two Local Government Area offices of the commission including Ile-Oluji/ Okeigbo in Ondo North Senatorial District. (NAN)
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