Connect with us

POLITICS

Alia Suspends Benue APC Delegates Primaries over Security Threats

Published

on

Share

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has ordered the suspension of the delegate primary election for the Guma 1 State Constituency.

He attributed the immediate suspension of the delegate primarily to security concerns in the area.

The governor, while speaking at a press conference held at the Government House, Makurdi, on Saturday, said the security of the state remains paramount, and for a local government area that was already volatile.

He explained that he would not allow the continuation of the exercise, as it could trigger more violence in the local government area and across the state.

“The security of the state remains paramount to all of us.

This day was the day the APC were to conduct Delegate primaries for the Guma 1 Constituency By election, but unfortunately, it was marred by misconduct and this was posing some threats and insecurity in the local government area.

“In the last six months, the state has experienced relative peace and efforts are being made by security agencies to maintain that peace and I wouldn’t want all the efforts we have put in place to be in vain. I wouldn’t want anything that would trigger insecurity at any corner, not just in Guma local government, but the entire state.

“This is why it has become very important that I suspend the delegate primaries that are expected to take place in Guma local government today,” the governor explained.

He regretted that the party faithful who came out to make their choice were stopped at the gate of the Avine Agbom Hotel in Daudu, by some politicians who are not even from the local government, but came only to hijack the process.

According to governor Alia, since people get quite emotional and sensitive over issues of politics, the development has made the youth of the area emotional, with tensions rising in the area, and as such, it has become important as the Chief security Officer of the state, to order the suspension of the exercise.

He said Guma local government where the election was supposed to take place is the most vulnerable area in terms of insecurity, and as such, if the government does not step in immediately, the rising tensions will metamorphose into a serious security challenge.

He reiterated the desire of his administration to maintain absolute peace in the state, with the return of the IDPs to their ancestral homes still a matter of necessity. 

He charged the security apparatchiks in the state to ensure that there is peace and harmony in Guma local government and the state as a whole, saying he trusts the National Working Committee of party to ensure that the right thing is done, as Guma local government is too fragile for anything less than peace at this time.

The governor was flanked at the press conference with the Commissioner of Police, George Chukwu, the State Commandant of Operation Whirl stroke, Major General Sunday, the Commandant, 401 Special Force Base, Rabiu A, Director of DSS in the State, Jonathan Kwe amongst other heads of security agencies in the state.

Meanwhile, the State Chairman of APC in the State, Comrade Austin Agada stated that the party had already conducted the primary delegates’ elections.

He disclosed that there was no security challenge as of today that could warrant suspension of the party delegates primary by the state governor.

“We have already conducted the primary and it was done under tight security and a peaceful atmosphere where all the delegates exercise their franchise freely without violence.

“Two aspirants were screened by the electoral Committee from the national Secretariat Abuja and during the election, one of the aspirants scored 38 votes while his opponent scored 3 votes.

“The national Secretariat of the party sent people to come and conduct the primary and they did a very good job. They cleared two aspirants to stand for the primary and at the end of the day, one of the aspirants scored 38 votes, while his opponent scored 3 votes.

“All the delegates and party stakeholders participated in the primary and it was done free, fair and credible. Therefore, the suspension of the primary would not hold water because the exercise was monitored by INEC officials and the electoral Committee from the national Secretariat”, Agada stated.

POLITICS

Osun 2026 Guber: APC Aspirants Should Not Waste Money Contesting Against Adeleke – Ex Party Chieftain, Jackson Ojo

Published

on

Share

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

A former Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Jackson Lekan Ojo has advised those in the race for the APC ticket not to waste their resources as the victory of Governor Isiaka Adeleke is practically a done deal.

In a video post on his Facebook page, Jackson Ojo said Governor Adeleke has won the heart of the people of his state with his transformation of all the 30 local governments in the State and prompt payment of workers and pensioners.

According to him, the achievements of Governor Adeleke has already done 80 percent of his campaign ahead of the election.

Jackson Ojo, who is a Security Expert and global affairs analyst, from Osun State, stressed that he has always advised political office holders to perform while in office as this is the greatest strategy and tactics to win future elections.

He stressed that the abysmal performance of the APC at the Federal level and the poor performance of previous APC governors in Osun state will count heavily against any candidate that is presented by the party to contest against governor Adeleke.

The former APC chieftain added that he is not patronizing the governor for any personal gain as there is nothing that the governor can give him that God has not already given him.

He stressed that his intervention in the Osun governorship race is to stop opponents of the governor from wasting their resources for an election they can never win.

His words: “Two weeks ago I resigned from partisan politics, so I am no longer member of any political party in Nigeria. When I speak now I am not speaking in favour or against any political party. So, I am very free to air my views

“This is my views on the forthcoming governorship election in Osun state. I still see some people struggling for governor in Osun state come 2026.

“That is highly impossible for an APC aspirant. What is the APC government doing at the national level, what are the doing in the Senate, what are they doing in the House of Representatives to encourage Nigerians?

“If we are in a place like America or United Kingdom (UK) APC will not be able to win ordinary councillorship again in this country. Is it in the management of economy, education, health, security and others?

“In all these areas put together they have not scored up to 10 percent. I can boldly mark them today they they have woefully failed in area of agricultural development, educational development, health development, security, economy and infrastructural development. In all ramifications this party has failed.

“Look at the antecedents of the APC in Osun state. Aregbesola tried a bit, yes, but then Aregbesola left the State aground.

“When Baba Jeje, Mr. Go Slow, the unfortunate Minister of Blue Economy or whatever they call it, came there was nothing to write home about during his tenure as governor of Osun State. He came, he bartered the state, he rubbished the State, he insulted the state, he disgraced the State on the platform of APC.

“Now another APC is coming out now thinking of winning? Winning where, defeat who?

“Governor Adeleke does not know me, there is no benefit Adeleke can give me that God has not given to me. I can’t be a Commissioner in Osun state. No. I can’t be Special Adviser or whatever. I can’t even take their contract. I don’t think they can award the kind of contract that I need to an individual.

“But then, Adeleke has tried. If you go to my community you will see the way he has positively turned the community. Even if I am the governor of Osun State I don’t think I can do what Adeleke has done in my town and that transformation cuts across all the 30 local government areas of Osun State. All the communities, all the local governments, all.

“This man is no longer paying half salary of quarter salary. This man is not owning workers, he is not owning pensioners. This alone has spoken, this alone has done 80 percent of his campaign.

“If you perform well in office that is the highest strategy and tactics that you can use to win the heart of the people.

“Come 2026 whoever is putting money on ground in Osun state to go and contest governorship in Osun state, honestly that person has money to waste. It is sadaka, the money they have stolen they want to come and do sadaka. It is Adeleke till 2030.”

Continue Reading

POLITICS

Former DG of PDP Governors Forum Defects to ADC

Published

on

Share

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

Former Director General of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Hon C.I.D Maduabum has resigned from the party and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a statement made available to Daily Asset in Abuja on Sunday, Hon Maduabum said he is dumping the PDP because the party has been “hijacked by self-serving, unscrupulous elements who are more interested in personal power grabs than in party discipline, internal democracy, or national interest.

Part of his statement read: “After deep reflection, extensive consultations, and careful evaluation of the current political realities within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I have taken the difficult but necessary decision to resign my membership of the PDP with immediate effect.

“As a committed democrat, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, and former Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, I have dedicated significant portions of my political life to building the PDP as a platform for democratic consolidation and national development.

“However, the soul of the party I once served with pride has been hijacked by self-serving, unscrupulous elements who are more interested in personal power grabs than in party discipline, internal democracy, or national interest.

“The PDP today is a shadow of its former self. It has descended into chaos, internal betrayal, and systematic destruction by diverse forces who have no regard for the principles upon which the party was founded. Sadly, voices of reason are no longer welcome, and genuine reformers are vilified or silenced.

“I can no longer in good conscience remain in a house that has been stripped of its moral compass and overrun by opportunists.

“In light of this, I am proud to announce that I am joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) — a party that now stands as the only credible democratic alternative for Nigeria.

“The ADC is emerging as a beacon of hope for good governance, integrity, accountability, and inclusive politics. It offers the opportunity for principled politics, genuine people-oriented leadership, and a platform for rebuilding our nation from the grassroots up.

“The ADC Coalition includes progressive minded people like Mr. Peter Obi and others.

“I join the ADC not merely as a defector but as a reformer committed to helping build a new political culture — one based on merit, ideology, discipline, youth inclusion, and national unity.

“The time has come for all well-meaning Nigerians to take a stand against the decay in our political system. I call on all patriots, especially those disillusioned by the dysfunction in the traditional parties, to rally around this movement for a new Nigeria through the ADC.

“I remain committed to the democratic ideals of justice, equity, and service to the people. The struggle to rescue Nigeria and restore its promise continues — and it begins now on a new, firmer footing.”

Continue Reading

POLITICS

Anambra: INEC Registers 96,085 New Voters, Extends CVR by Three Days

Published

on

Share

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has registered 96,085 new voters in nine days and extended the exercise by three days in Anambra.

The commission disclosed this in a statement by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Thursday in Abuja, after its weekly meeting.

He said that on the preliminary stage of the CVR, 56,017 representing 58 per cent of new registrants were female while 50,429 52 representing 48 per cent were young people between the ages of 18 and 34.

“The commission is pleased with the turnout of registrants in Anambra and the peaceful conduct of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in all the 326 registration centres in the state.

“As of yesterday, Wednesday, 96,085 new voters have successfully registered in nine days. On average, the Commission registered over 10,600 voters per day.

“In addition, 12,595 voters applied for transfer of their registration both within and outside the state while 7,061 persons applied for the update of their records or the replacement of their damaged or lost Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

“The CVR in Anambra ends today. However, in response to appeal from citizens, the Commission hereby extends the exercise for three more days. It will now end on Sunday, July 20,” he said.

Olumekun said that the commission would thereafter display the register for claims and objections by citizens as provided by law.

This, according to him, will be followed by a further clean-up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

“Subsequently, the detailed breakdown of the new registrants by age, gender, occupation and disability will be published for public information,” he said.

Olumekun also disclosed that INEC had received five more letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.

According to him, the new application brings the number received so far by the commission to 134.

Olumekun stated that the details of the new associations, indicating their proposed names, acronyms, logos, addresses and interim leaderships were already published on INEC website and other platforms for public information.

He said that INEC would continue to keep the citizens up to date on all its activities.

Continue Reading

Advertisement

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

OPINION6 hours ago

The Impact of Incessant Attacks in Farming Communities

ShareBy Efe Omoghene Rural communities across Nigeria’s Middle Belt and the North, which were once the major cities’ food pipeline,...

Federal Ministry of Education Federal Ministry of Education
NEWS6 hours ago

What’s Going on with Education in Nigeria?

ShareBy Dakuku Peterside Walk into almost any public school in Nigeria, and you feel the weight of history pressing down...

NEWS6 hours ago

Reps Vow to Ensure Timely Justice Delivery in FCT

ShareBy Ubong Ukpong, Abuja The House of Representatives on Wednesday, said that timely justice delivery in the Federal Capital Territory...

NEWS6 hours ago

SEC Committed to Promoting Innovation, Safeguarding Investments – Agama

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has reaffirmed the...

NEWS6 hours ago

Sule Denies Involvement in Benue Killings, Mulls Legal Action over Allegations

ShareFrom Abel Zwanke, Lafia Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has dismissed as “Malicious and unfounded” allegations linking him to the...

NEWS6 hours ago

Residents Protest LG Boss’s Decision to Deny Approval for Hospital Project in Ilorin

ShareFrom Abdullahi Abubakar, Ilorin Residents of Ilorin East Local Government Area in Kwara State on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest...

NEWS6 hours ago

Delta Launches Crackdown on Illegal Structures, Drain Blockage to Curb Flooding

ShareFrom Francis Sadhere, Delta In a decisive move to address persistent flooding in Sapele and surrounding communities, the Delta State...

NEWS6 hours ago

Delta Approves N230bn Worth of Projects to Boost Infrastructure, Others

ShareFrom Francis Sadhere, Delta The Delta State Executive Council (EXCO) has approved over N230 billion for the execution of key...

NEWS6 hours ago

Cross River to Increase Doctors Retirement Age to 65 years

ShareFrom Ene Asuquo, Calabar Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, has revealed plans to increase the retirement age of...

NEWS6 hours ago

Otu Flags Off Economic Rebirth for 500 Retirees

ShareFrom Ene Asuquo, Calabar Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive economic development...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc