NEWS
NDC Eti-Osa Primary: Youths Reject Alleged Imposition, Demand Justice for Akano
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat for Eti-Osa Constituency I, Hon. John Ademola Akano under the platform of the NDC, has protested alleged moves to impose or present an individual who did not participate in the party’s nomination process as its candidate for the constituency.
Akano, who spoke at a press conference, said he duly purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, completed and submitted all required documents within the stipulated period and fulfilled the conditions set by the party to contest the election.
He said following his qualification, he invested considerable time and resources in consultations, mobilisation, stakeholder engagement, campaign planning and grassroots outreach across Eti-Osa Constituency I ahead of the scheduled primary elections.
According to him, he acted in good faith and relied on the party’s constitution, guidelines, rules and established democratic principles governing its nomination process.
Akano expressed concern over what he described as moves to award or confer the party’s ticket on an individual who, according to him, did not purchase nomination forms, express interest in the position, participate in the screening process or subject himself to the party’s nomination procedures.
He argued that allowing such an arrangement would undermine internal democracy, fairness, transparency, equity and due process, while frustrating aspirants who complied with the party’s requirements.
The candidate maintained that the circumstances surrounding the cancellation or non-conclusion of the primary were not attributable to him.
He therefore rejected any attempt to use the cancellation of the primary as a basis for disenfranchising qualified aspirants or introducing an individual who was not part of the nomination process.
Akano said where a primary election could not be validly concluded, the party should adopt a lawful, transparent and equitable mechanism that protects the interests of aspirants who legitimately participated in the nomination exercise.
He further alleged that Mr. Rotimi Obasanjo Egbewunmi, whose name he said was being considered in connection with the House of Assembly ticket, had contested for the House of Representatives seat rather than the House of Assembly position.
“It is a matter of public record that Mr. Rotimi Obasanjo Egbewunmi contested for the House of Representatives seat, not the House of Assembly seat. The evidence is clear and readily available,” he said.
Akano also referred to provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, arguing that the party must follow due process in determining its candidate.
He said any attempt to substitute a House of Representatives candidate for the House of Assembly ticket without following the prescribed process would be unjust and contrary to democratic principles.
“I have no objection to party supremacy. However, party supremacy must be based on justice, fairness, due process and the rule of law, not falsehood, deception or insincerity,” Akano said.
He appealed to the NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson; National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe; and South-West Vice Chairman, Pastor Mrs. Adedayo Ekong, State chairman Hon Kings Okunneye to intervene in the matter and address what he described as irregularities by some party officials.
Akano said his expectation was that the party leadership would ensure that the rights of all qualified aspirants were protected and that the nomination process was resolved fairly.
The President of Youths in Politics, Dr. Paul Church Ukah, has called on the NDC leadership to review the circumstances surrounding the Eti-Osa Constituency I nomination process.
Ukah said his organisation became involved following a petition and complaint presented by Akano concerning the party’s nomination process.
He stressed that Youths in Politics was not taking sides because of friendship, political affiliation or personal interest, but was concerned about ensuring that young Nigerians who participate in politics are treated fairly.
According to him, Akano claimed to have purchased the required nomination forms, completed the nomination process, received clearance to participate and mobilised extensively across the constituency.
Ukah said Akano further alleged that following the cancellation or non-conclusion of the primary, there were moves to present another individual who did not participate in the nomination exercise as the party’s candidate.
He said the organisation reviewed materials presented in relation to the complaint and believed there were sufficient grounds for an immediate and transparent review before any irreversible decision was taken.
“Our position is simple: let the process be fair,” Ukah said.
He explained that Youths in Politics was not asking the NDC to deny any individual their rights, violate its constitution or allow external bodies to interfere in its internal affairs.
Ukah said that if a valid primary had produced a winner, the result should be verified and respected unless there was a lawful basis for setting it aside.
Where a primary was cancelled or could not be validly concluded, he said, the party should clearly communicate the legal and constitutional basis for whatever alternative mechanism it intended to use.
He added that if another nomination mechanism was adopted, all aspirants legally entitled to participate should be treated equally and transparently.
Ukah warned that denying young aspirants a fair opportunity after they had complied with party requirements could discourage young Nigerians from participating in politics.
He said political parties could not continue to encourage youths to participate in elections while allowing nomination processes that could erode their confidence in the political system.
“Young Nigerians must not only be encouraged to vote. They must be encouraged to contest, participate, organise, lead and seek elective office,” he said.
According to him, the legal framework provides avenues for aspirants to challenge alleged violations of electoral laws and party guidelines.
He said disputed nominations should be addressed through verification, transparency, dialogue and, where necessary, lawful adjudication rather than political silence or unilateral decisions.
Youths in Politics called on the NDC leadership to immediately review the circumstances surrounding the Eti-Osa Constituency I primary.
The organisation also urged the party to make relevant nomination records available to affected aspirants and give Akano and other stakeholders an opportunity to present their evidence.
The group demanded that any decision concerning the emergence of the party’s candidate should comply with the NDC constitution, nomination guidelines and applicable electoral laws.
It also urged the party to establish a transparent mechanism for resolving any genuine dispute arising from the primary.
Ukah stressed that the organisation’s intervention was not about one individual but about the confidence of young Nigerians in the political process.
Ukah clarified that Youths in Politics was not opposed to any individual who might eventually emerge as the NDC candidate.
“Our concern is the process,” he said.
He maintained that if another individual was legally entitled to the ticket, such entitlement should be established through a process capable of withstanding scrutiny.
Similarly, he said if Akano was entitled to the ticket, that entitlement should be established and respected.
“Our demand is not that the answer must favour John Akano. Our demand is that the answer must favour justice,” Ukah said.
He added that the organisation would neither support the victimisation of any aspirant nor the imposition of candidates without due process.
He also cautioned against supporting unsubstantiated claims merely because the claimant was a young person.
“Evidence must prevail. Rules must prevail. Justice must prevail,” he said.
Ukah appealed to young Nigerians preparing to participate in politics not to become discouraged by challenges within the political system.
He said youths deserved genuine opportunities to contest elections, participate in decision-making and emerge as political leaders.
He urged political leaders to create an environment that would make political participation meaningful and credible for younger generations.
The Youths in Politics called on all parties involved in the dispute to exercise restraint and respect democratic institutions.
The organisation urged the NDC leadership to engage the affected aspirants and resolve the matter transparently, while also encouraging Akano and other aspirants to pursue their grievances peacefully and through lawful channels.
Ukah said Youths in Politics would continue to monitor the matter, stressing that its commitment was to justice, internal democracy, the rule of law and the political future of Nigerian youths.
“Where justice is done, we will acknowledge it. Where legitimate concerns remain unresolved, we will continue to speak,” he said.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
League of Women Voters
of Nigeria (NILOWV) on Tuesday, tasks the National Assembly on the quick passage of Special Seat bill for women and people with disability.
The President of NILOWV, Hon.
Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, stated this while briefing the media in commemoration of 2026 International day of Democracy, in Abuja.She lamented that no nation can claim to leave a lasting democratic legacy without it’s commitment to inclusive democracy that include women and people with disabilities.
She there begged NASS not to waste the opportunity but to make history, the opportunity to tell the daughters of
Nigeria that Parliament sees them, the opportunity to tell young women that their political aspirations
are legitimate, the opportunity to strengthen our democracy.
She said, “The Special Seats Bill presents an opportunity to leave a lasting democratic legacy. The question is not
whether Nigerian women are asking for too much. The question is whether Nigeria can continue to
claim that it is committed to inclusive democracy while women remain so dramatically
underrepresented.
“You have the opportunity to make history, the opportunity to tell the daughters of
Nigeria that Parliament sees them, the opportunity to tell young women that their political aspirations
are legitimate, the opportunity to strengthen our democracy. Please, do not waste this opportunity”.
She noted that, “This day is not merely a day for speeches, ceremonies and declarations. It is a day for reflection. It is a day to ask difficult questions. It is a day to examine whether the democracy we practise truly reflects the aspirations of the people. It is a day to ask whether every citizen has a meaningful opportunity to participate. It is a day to ask whether our institutions are working. It is a day to ask whether our political
parties are truly democratic. And, most importantly for us at NILOWV, it is a day to ask whether Nigerian women who constitute approximately half of our population are being given a fair and meaningful opportunity to participate in political leadership and decision-making”.
She lamented, “The final list of National Assembly candidates provides us with a sobering picture. There are 4,408
candidates contesting for seats in the Senate and House of Representatives. Of this number: 3,965 are
men while only 443 are women. Women therefore constitute approximately 10 percent of the candidates, while men constitute approximately 90 percent. This means that, for roughly every one
woman appearing on the National Assembly ballot, there are about nine men.
“These figures are more than statistics they represent the continuing imbalance in access to political power. They tell us that although Nigerian women are participating in the political process, the pathway from participation to actual political power remains extremely difficult and this is where we must
distinguish between participation and representation.
“Women may constitute a large proportion of voters Women may attend political meetings. Women may
mobilise communities. Women may campaign tirelessly. Women may provide food, logistics and
grassroots structures during elections.
“Women may even constitute the majority of volunteers in some
political activities but when it comes to the point at which tickets are allocated, resources are distributed and candidates are selected for elective office, the numbers suddenly collapse.
“That is the problem Women are often visible in political mobilisation but invisible in political power that
is not equality that is not inclusion and that is not the democracy Nigeria should be proud of” .
She decries, “We must humanise these figures. Behind the 443 women on the ballot are hundreds of Nigerian women
who have decided that they are ready to serve but behind the thousands of women who are not on the
ballot are also stories. There is the woman who wanted to contest but could not afford the nomination
and expression-of-interest fees. There is the woman who had the qualifications but lacked the political
godfather.
“There is the woman whose party told her to wait. There is the woman who was encouraged to contest but later discovered that the ticket had already
been informally allocated. There is the woman who was told that she could serve better as a campaign
mobiliser than as a candidate. There is the woman who was warned that politics is too dangerous for
her.
“There is the woman who was threatened. There is the woman who was sexually harassed. There is
the woman who was subjected to online abuse.There is the woman who was told that she was too ambitious. There is the woman whose competence
was questioned simply because she is a woman and there are women who have watched all these
experiences and quietly concluded:
“Perhaps politics is not for people like me.”
She therefore concluded by urging every Nigerian not to give up on democracy, ‘Instead, demand a better democracy.
Democracy belongs to citizens. If we withdraw, others will’.
The Abia Government has elevated selected cultural and natural sites to state heritage and monuments as part of efforts to position them for recognition as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, said this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting on Monday in Umuahia.
Kanu said the State Executive Council had approved the declaration of selected heritage and natural sites as state heritage and monuments to strengthen their preservation and promotion.
He said the approved sites included the National War Museum, Ojukwu Bunker and Government College, all in Umuahia, as state monuments.
He also listed the Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu and Ulochukwu Caves at Alayi Bende as state natural monuments.
According to him, the elevation of the sites would enhance their tourism potential and position them for possible recognition as UNESCO heritage sites.
Kanu also announced the designation of Aba as a Creative and Innovative City, saying the move was part of efforts to promote the state’s cultural, creative and tourism potential.
He further said that the retrofitting of the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum had reached about 80 per cent completion and was expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
The commissioner said that the projects, when completed, would enhance the preservation and historical value of the sites, improve visitor experience and increase their tourism potential.
Kanu said the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy had commenced the development of the Ibom Waterfall Tourism Corridor in Arochukwu.
He said that initial development works, including the grading of access roads to the waterfall, had commenced, adding that the project was expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
According to him, the project is expected to unlock additional tourism and economic opportunities in the state.
He said that the ministry had also commenced the erection of monuments at strategic locations across the state to preserve Abia’s heritage and honour its heroes and heroines.
Kanu said one of the monuments would honour the heroines of the 1929 Aba Women’s Uprising, celebrating their courage, resilience, resistance and leadership.
The commissioner said that the initiatives reflected the state government’s broader efforts to preserve its historical and cultural assets while using them to drive tourism and economic development.
On tax rates in the state, Kanu said the rates being circulated were not new, adding that most dated back to 2020 and were introduced by the previous administration.
He said that the Abia Board of Internal Revenue could not increase tax rates without enabling laws and that no such increase had been introduced by the board.
Kanu also dismissed reports that an akara seller was paying N50, 000 in tax, describing the claim as false.
“Akara sellers don’t pay tax or levies, they pay daily tolls, and none can pay as high as N50, 000,” he said.
On gratuity payments, Kanu said that the state government had paid the batch covering 2001 to 2010, while preparations covering 2011 to 2025 were being processed.
He dismissed claims that the government was compelled by the opposition to commence gratuity payments, describing the narrative as misleading.
He explained that the government had incorporated gratuity provisions into its 2026 to 2030 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to ensure that future arrears did not accumulate.
“This does not translate to the payments being terminated in 2031.
“So, as soon as the internal processes are done with, these payments will continue at pace and in batches,” Kanu said.(NAN)
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced an annual preventive maintenance of its 330/132 Kilo Volt (kV) at Ajaokuta Transmission Substation.
It said that the maintenance was scheduled to take place on Tuesday from 9am to 4pm.
The management of the company announced this on its X handle in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to TCN, the exercise will enable its crew to carry out preventive maintenance on the 162 MegaVolt Ampree (MVA), 330/132kV power transformer, associated switchgear and ancillary equipment in the substation.
It said that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) would be unable to off-take electricity to its customers in Ekirin, Omuo, Ibillo, Akoko, Ogala, Ikare, Magongo, Okene Town, Ayere, Kabba and environs during the period.
”Similarly, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) will be unable to off-take electricity to its customers in Okpella Town, BUA Cement Company, West African Fertiliser Company, Dibeks Milling Company, and Edestein Company.
”Other areas to be affected include the Freedom Group Company, Ososo, Uluoke, Iyora, Apana, Okpekpe, Arigidi, Ikare Town, Lampese, Igara, Oka and environs,” it said.
The company said that power supply would be restored to the affected areas upon completion of the exercise.
It also apologised for the inconvenience the planned maintenance would cause affected electricity customers, and appreciated their understanding and cooperation.(NAN)
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