News
APC Retains Imo, As PDP Wins Abia, Taraba Polls
L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mrs Florence Oguntuase, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Disun Holloway And Managing Director, Crystal Cubes Ltd., Ibrahim Haydar, during the Governor’s visit to Apapa Amusement Park Project in Lagos recently.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has extended a hand of fellowship to his opponents for a better state.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service organised by his supporters in his honour at the Victory Chapel Church in the Government House, Owerri yesterday, Okorocha expressed appreciation to God and to all who contributed to his success story in his four years as governor.
He thanked the people of Imo for their overwhelming support at the polls which according to him led to his victory.
He described his victory as a victory for the people irrespective of political affiliations.
Okorocha urged his opponents to accept the outcome of the election and to join him to make the state better.
He noted that all his campaign promises for the 2011 election had been fulfilled, promising to improve on his services to the state in the next four years.
The governor said he was not in governance to amass wealth but to serve God and humanity, explaining that within four years, he was able to tackle insecurity, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state and created an enabling environment for businesses.
Okorocha said he is in the business of governance to leave a legacy and make a difference.
He described the president-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as a man of vision and called on Nigerians to support him.
Okorocha was declared winner and returned elected yesterday by the INEC Returning Officer in Imo, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe.
Okorocha emerged winner after the collation of results of the re-run governorship election in 259 polling units in the state.
INEC had after the April 11 elections declared the Imo election inconclusive because of some cancellations in some wards in 23 local government areas of the state.
The result released by INEC in Owerri showed that Okorocha, the APC candidate, polled a total of 416,996 votes while his closest rival, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP polled 320,705 votes.
Meanwhile, it was celebration galore in Owerri and its environs as APC supporters trouped out to celebrate the victory of the party.
The celebration caused traffic snarls on major roads and streets in Owerri, especially around the Government House Roundabout by Okigwe Road.
There were also displays by tricycle riders while APC faithful carried brooms, the symbol of the party, as part of the celebration.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the winner of the governorship election in Abia.
Ikpeazu polled 264,713 votes to defeat the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Dr Alex Otti, who polled 180,882 votes at the end of Saturday’s re-run election in nine local government areas.
The governorship race went into the supplementary, when the Returning Officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, declared the April 11 poll inconclusive.
Ikpeazu hails from Obingwa Local Government Area in Abia South Senatorial District.
He holds a Ph.D in Chemistry and taught at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology before going into politics.
Meanwhile, his election has prompted spontaneous jubilation in Obingwa and other parts of Ngwa communities.
A native of the area, Mr Matthias Nwogu, said that the jubilation was “natural, considering that this is the first time the area will produce a governor since the state was created in 1997’’.
Similarly, Mr Daruis Ishaku The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won the Taraba supplementary governorship election held on Saturday.
The Returning Officer, Prof Kyari Mohammed, who announced the result yesterday in Jalingo, said Ishaku scored 369,318 votes to emerge victorious.
He said Sen. Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came second with 275,984 votes, while Chief David Kente of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), polled 29, 966 votes.
The returning officer said the there were 1,461,645 total registered voters in the state, of which 787,516 were accredited for the election.
Mohammed said that the total valid votes cast were 681,166, while the total votes rejected was 174,131.
It would be recalled that the April 11 governorship election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) due to widespread irregularities.
INEC, on April 25, conducted supplementary election in 218 polling units in 10 council areas of the state.
The APC agent, Alhaji Gambo Umar, however, rejected the result stating that the party would challenge it in court.
On his part, the PDP agent, Mr Rebo Usman, said, “this is a well deserved victory’’.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the just-concluded governorship election in Taraba, Sen. Aisha Alhassan, has rejected the results of the poll as announced by INEC on Sunday.
Addresing a press conference in Jalingo shortly after the announcement of the results, Alhassan described the entire elections process as a “daylight robbery,’’ and said the party would challenge the results in the elections petitions tribunal.
“The combined governorship elections in Taraba were characterised by violence, massive rigging, ballot snatching and abuse of the card readers in substantial parts of the state by the PDP and their allies,” she said.
She contended that results ascribed to Wukari, Donga, Takum, Sardauna, Zing, Yorro, Kurmi and some parts of Ussa, Karim-Lamido, Bali, Ardo-Kola and Lau local government areas were not acceptable as they did not reflect the true results of the election in Taraba.
Alhassan said all the complaints on the irregularities and abuse of the election guidelines were promptly reported to INEC, but that no action was taken.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.
