POLITICS
Bayelsa BIR Chairman Pledges to Prioritize Infrastructure if Elected Governor

Executive Chairman of Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), Dr. Ayawei Nimibofa on Monday said that he would prioritise provision of infrastructure if elected Governor.
Nimbofa and 14 others have purchased the expression of interest forms to contest for the governorship position on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Speaking to newsmen in Yenagoa, Nimbofa said his governorship ambition was backed by various stakeholders, groups and individuals across the state ahead the governorship election in Bayelsa slated for Nov.
16.The BIR Chairman said he decided to run for the number one seat to consolidate on the gains of the current administration in the critical areas of infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and economic diversification.
He also pledged to ensure that the robust education policy of Gov Seriake Dickson led.
administration is further expanded under his watch.According to Nimbofa, if elected, Bayelsa people will get a fair deal as he would run an all-inclusive government that would prioritize human capital development.
He further assured that a new era of progress and development has come and appealed to all to key into it.
Other aspirants who have collected the PDP nomination forms include former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe.
Also in the race is former cabinet member in the state, Mr Reuben Okoya and an ex-militant leader, Great Joshua MacIver.
Others are the incumbent Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd.); a businessman, Kenebi Okoko; former Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Mr Franklin Osaisai and Chief Benson Agadaga.
Rep. Fred Agbedi, Sen. Douye Diri, representing Bayelsa Central; Chief of Staff Government House, Mr Talford Ongolo; and Secretary to the State Government, Mr Kemela Okara, have also collected nomination forms.
On the side of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Sen Heineken Lokpobiri, has picked the expression of interest form for N2.5 m.
The aspirants on the APC platform are expected to pay a total of N22.5 million, comprising N2.5 m for expression of interest and N20 m, for the nomination form payable to APC National Secretariate.
Each of the 15 PDP aspirants paid N1 million for the expression of interest form while an additional N20 million is paid to the PDP National Sectariate on submission.
Also expected of the aspirants is the payment of a N3 million administrative levy to be paid to the state Executive of the party.
POLITICS
APC Upholds MacDonald’s Exco in Imo

By Jude Opara, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday upheld the MacDonald Ebere led State Executive Committee in Imo state.
Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yakubu Ajaka told newsmen after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party.
Recall that on the 15th of June, a letter earlier written by the Deputy Secretary, Festus Fonta recognized the leadership of Hon.
Dan Nwafor.Ajaka said; “The National Working Committee NWC just finished a meeting now and in their decision rescind that letter.
“So the status quo in Imo remains that the MacDonald Ebere led state Committee remains the substantive Chairman of the party in Imo state.
“There is no change of leadership, so what happened was just a mere mistake. The Supreme Court judgement was very clear, the current executive of MacDonald was a product of Congress.
“The Congress that produced Nwafor’s group has just elapsed by decision of NEC in 2022. So the current Exco there now is the only recognized leadership in Imo.
“This is the decision of the NWC today”.
When asked why the National Secretary was not in the meeting, Ajaka said that the Deputy Secretary who signed was present at the NWC meeting.
POLITICS
NPC Commissioner reaffirmed Plans for a Paperless Census in 2023

The federal commissioner representing Nasarawa state at the National Population Commission Abuja, Silas Ali Agara, has reaffirmed the commission’s plans to conduct a paperless population census using tablets during the 2023 census.
He disclosed this while touring the training centers of enumerators of the trial census across the Karu Local government area, Tuesday.
The Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission NPC, representing Nasarawa state, Silas Agara, visited the training centers which include, Karu Local government Secretariat, Government secondary schools Karshi, and that of Pyanko as well as government secondary school Uke among others.
Addressing the enumerators, Silas Agara, said the paperless census is necessary for Nigeria just as other countries like Ghana and South Africa have already adopted it, calling on the trainees to make sure they understand the practical aspect of the training, stressing that at the end of it, some of them would be supervisors and enumerators depending on the recommendations by the facilitators while those with less performance will be on the reserve list.
Agara told them that the paperless work does not matter the qualifications of an individual but how one can handle the machine, urging them to use the opportunity to improve their skills based on the technicality involved in the work and assured them of adequate security and welfare throughout the twelve days training of the enumerators.
He said those that did not receive text messages but their names were captured in the Master list of Five thousand one hundred and ninety-nine names to be reassured that they are part of the program, admonishing them to cooperate with their facilitators to achieve success.
Some facilitators and enumerators interviewed, Amanda Litini Apatak and Felix Ajuda, applauded the National population commission for allowing them to serve, saying that they have learned a lot with two days of their training.
POLITICS
2023: Umahi’s Deputy Governor, Igwe speaks on his Defection from APC to LP

Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki
Ebonyi state deputy governor, Chief Kelechi Eric Igwe has few months to the 2023 general election speaks on his alleged defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Labour Party, LP.
DAILY ASSET reports that, there are rumours making the rounds in the state, that Igwe allegedly dumped APC to LP, to protest the denial of his senatorial ambition by the leadership of the party in the state.
Igwe, in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Abakaliki through his chief Press Secretary, Mr. Monday Uzor, said he has no intention to dump APC for LP, and that, in no account will he (Igwe) abandon his boss, David Umahi at the pick of the expiration of their 8yrs tenure.
He called on the people of the state to ignore the rumours, and warned his rivals to stay clear from heating up the polity in the state, especially as the gubernatorial candidates of PDP and APC struggles to takeover governance from Umahi.
He said: “The attention of the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Eric Kelechi Igwe has been drawn to a social media post alleging that the Deputy Governor is planning to dump All Progressive Congress APC for Labour party.
“The report is not only false but a deliberate attempt to smear the office and personality of the Deputy Governor. It is a deliberate attempt to heat up the polity through dangerous speculations capable of undermining the peace in the State.
“The deputy governor remains a strong and bonafide member of the All Progressives Congress APC and has no intention of dumping the party whether now or later.
“The Deputy Governor has enormous responsibilities occupying his time especially, how to assist the Governor David Umahi to successfully anchor the transition programme.
“The general public and in particular members of our great party should disregard such unfounded rumour being peddled by those who are envious of the the progress the party is making” he stated.