POLITICS
Anambra 2021: I Will not Join in Political Speculations, says Accord Party Candidate

Dr Godwin Maduka, Governorship Candidate of Accord Party for the Anambra governorship election, slated for Nov. 6, said that the electoral process has its rules and are sacrosanct.
Maduka said that no electoral rules bar him from contesting the forthcoming governorship election on Nov.
6 as is being speculated in social media.Maduka made the clarification in a press conference he held with some journalists late Friday Oct 22.
He said that the speculation was based on assumption that his deputy, Chief Kenneth Obi, had decamped to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
“If it truly happened it is not my fault and the electoral law has to be invoked rightly to curb political rascality,” he said, in response to Obi’s decamping on Oct.
20.Maduka said that those stories are mere political speculations, as he had toured all 362 political wards in Anambra with his running mate (Obi) and had concluded the political map to that effect.
“My electioneering process are in top gear for me to contest the election, I cannot deduce where such a story is coming from, I have no room for speculation or distractions,” he said.
He said “I just heard that from you journalists and I appeal to the electorate to disregard the speculation and vote for Accord party for a transformational leadership in the state.
Maduka is owner of Las Vegas pain Institute and a renowned pain manager in the US.
He had first contested for the governorship ticket under the People Democratic Party (PDP) and lost to Mr Valentine Ozigbo.
He switched over to Accord party to actualise his political aspirations where he picked Obi to be his running mate.
“If it eventually turns out to be a reality, the electoral umpire has a process of law to address such a matter and am sure it will be treated,” he said.
Maduka said that the Accord is party with a vision and they are well focused and prepared to ward off any political impediment.
He said that he has 10-point agenda, ranging from Health care to quality Education, Technology, Digital economy, Women and Youth Empowerment, as well as Security, amongst other.
“These visions are for the greater Anambra. I will do these and more because I have done it before now as shown in my community.
“I appeal to you all to give me a chance to serve the people differently to achieve uncommon growth and development.
“I am not a political jobber, I am not a 419, I want to change the political narrative of our state.
“We have less than 14 days to go for the election and I appeal to voters to be focused and not to lose sight of the mission of electing a more credible person,” he said.
He said that he seeks their votes to serve the state much better and promised to replicate what he did in his community, Umuchukwu in Orumba South of Anambra across, the state.
Speaking earlier, Mr Barth Igwedibia, Accord Party state chairman, urged the electorate to disregard the speculation and treat it as nothing.
“Our running mate is on errand for the party, busy canvassing for voters for the party and it was misunderstood, it is all political diplomacy,” he said.
He appealed to the electorates to be focused and shun any form of political confusion these last days and vote massively for Accord Party.
“Accord and Oneness is the first log on the voters card, please make no mistake and vote, for God said if we have one accord, ask anything He will do it.
“Vote for Accord, the number one party, and guard your votes and be assured of massive development in the state,” he said.
Mr Bright Nnebedum, the Director-General of Godwin Maduka Campaign organisation, reassured the electorate that there are no problems in the party and urged them to vote for the party.
Nnebedum dispelled the speculation that Maduka may be disqualified from the governorship race but urged all to shun any form of political confusion and be focused. (NAN)
NEWS
NASC: Senate Confirms Nnanna Uzor Kalu as Commissioner For S/east

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Dr Nnanna Uzor Kalu as a commissioner in the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to represent the South-East geopolitical zone.
The confirmation followed the presentation and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, chaired by Sen.
Cyril Fasuyi, during plenary.Kalu’s confirmation was previously stepped down in March due to a petition filed against him.
At the time, the senate had confirmed 12 out of 13 nominees for the NASC, withholding only the nomination from the South-East pending resolution of the matter.
Presenting the report, Fasuyi explained that the petition had been thoroughly investigated and dismissed by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.
The committee found no grounds to disqualify the nominee.
“In line with the findings and recommendations of the relevant committees, the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service recommends the confirmation of Dr Nnanna Uzor Kalu,” Fasuyi said.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio thanked both committees for handling the issue with diligence and fairness.
He congratulated Kalu on his confirmation and urged him to serve with integrity.
“I urge the newly confirmed commissioner to uphold equity, fairness, and constitutional values while representing the South-East in the commission,” Akpabio said.(NAN)
NEWS
APC Seeks Arrest of Zamfara PDP Women Leader

The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the calls for violence by the State Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hajiya Rabi Madawaki.
In a statement issued in Gusau on Tuesday by the State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, the party called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Idris said, “We call on the security agencies to immediately arrest the women leader, Hajiya Rabi Madawaki, over her uncultured utterances.
.“APC as a strong opposition party in the state will not be intimidated by any threats from the Zamfara PDP government and they should know that the will of the people must prevail.
“The state PDP Women Leader, Hajiya Rabi Madawaki, made the statement in the presence of the Governor’s wife, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda.
“The threat and intimidation by the PDP women leader came out with a completely different but savage way of forcing out support and subsequently, votes for the governor, Mr Dauda Lawal in the 2027 governorship election.
“Madawaki said in the presence of governor’s wife in Hausa language, at a gathering held in Gusau on Friday that translated as ‘anyone who does not vote for Dauda, we will maim, beat, kill him, (zamu ci ubanshi zamu yi mashi duka)’.
According to him, in a civilised scoiety, elections are always supposed to be free, fair and non violent.
Idris said, “President Bola Tinubu’s administration is trying to remove such threats to lives and property as well as any form of intimidation from politics.
“The Zamfara chapter of the APC will not be scared by any form of intimidation and harassment or any act of violence.” (NAN)
POLITICS
Youth Leader Urges Stakeholders to Rally behind Dickson for 2027

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
A Youth Leader from Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Alhaji Letugbene has called on stakeholders in Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State to close ranks and work together to return the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Seriake Dickson to the National Assembly come 2027.
Letugbene, who made the call recently said, Senator Dickson has performed creditably since he was elected and should be supported by all to continue his good work in the Senate, as there is no doubt in his political experience and leadership abilities and competence. He particularly, appealed to the stakeholders and people of Ekeremor to rally round Senator Dickson because he remains the only and best option for the people of Bayelsa West who are clamouring for true representation.”I want to call on my people in Ekeremor to join us to work together to return Senator Seriake Dickson back to the Senate in 2027.He has done well since he was elected and I’m convinced he will even do better for us” he said.According to him, Senator Dickson deserves the support of Ekeremor because he has impacted every community, noting that as a two-term governor, he cited several key projects in the LGA and appointed sons and daughters into key positions of trust, while as a federal lawmaker, he continues to impact the people positively.Letugbene, who is the National Vice Chairman of the Third Phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), also asserted, that Senator Dickson has taken the gauntlet left by the late Ijaw leader, Pa Edwin Clark, to face fire for the Ijaw Nation when it mattered most, noting that he stood his ground against intimidation and oppression to speak truth to power when issues affecting his people are on the front burner in the Red Chamber.He said Senator Dickson has remained vocal, courageous and fearless in the National Assembly, condemning the marginalization and oppression of the Ijaw Nation as well as other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, while demanding equity, fairness and justice for the people.Letugbene, however, bemoaned the actions of a few misguided stakeholders from Ekeremor who are whipping up sentiments against Senator Dickson through propaganda and claims that Sagbama is marginalizing Ekeremor over the Senate seat, urging them not to spread falsehood as the zoning formula in the area no longer existed and that anyone is free from either LGAs to contest the Senate and House of Representatives election in 2027.The ex-agitator, who passed a ‘vote of confidence’ on Senator Dickson, also enjoined beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme from Ekeremor LGA to support the federal lawmaker because of his assertive and unwavering commitment to the upliftment and betterment of Bayelsa West, the Ijaw people and the Niger Delta in the Nigerian Federation.