The Lumine News

Tag: #PDP

  • Calabar Municipal Traditional Rulers Council Protests Locking Of Secretariat By Council Chairman

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The custodians of Calabar culture under the auspices of  Calabar Municipality Traditional Rulers Council, on Wednesday protested the locking of their Secretariat, located within the premises of the local government council by the Chairman of council, Mr Efefiong Eta.

    Speaking to journalists Infront of the traditional rulers council chambers, the Paramount ruler of Calabar Municipality, HRM Ita Etta, said his office was not communicated why their council hall was locked.

    The custodian of the traditions of Calabar Municipality, said Clan Heads, Village Heads and other members of the council were billed to meet with the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, but discovered that their place of meetings was looked up, and wondered why such an action should be taken without regards to the traditional institution.

    The monarch revealed that they had got an invitation from the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, candidate, Sen Sandy Onor, inviting them for meeting at 2:00pm, at their secretariat.

    In his words, “We had received a notice from the PDP governorship candidate that he will meet with us (Traditional rulers) by 2pm in our Secretariat which is usually where we hold all our functions and activities.

    “As you can see yourself, the Secretariat is locked up and the Chairman didn’t tell us why and you can see soldiers everywhere.”

    When contacted, an authority in the council who pleaded anonymity said the Chairman of Council, Mr Efefiong Eta, gave an instruction this morning that the traditional rulers Secretariat should be locked up.

    He also gave a directive that no meeting of whatever kind should take place in the Secretariat.

    “I am working based on directive,” he stated

    Asked if there was issue with the Secretariat, he said, “There is no issue here, the traditional rulers met here this month of January.”

    The PDP governorship candidate has been campaigning round the 18 local government areas of the state, and is billed to conclude tour of the council areas with campaign in Calabar South and Calabar Municipality today Wednesday, January 25th 2023.

    As part of the campaign schedule to the council areas, he meets with the traditional rulers of each council, holds stakeholders meeting before the rally in the area.

    As at the time of filing this report, calls to the council chairman were not taken or retuned.

  • PDP Governorship Campaign: As The Journey To Reclaim Cross River State Begins BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    Beaming in his signature immaculate white apparel and his ever-alluring smile, is the Irrunando of Africa, conspicuously occupying the front pew of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Ikot Ansa. Flanked on the side are his pulchritudinous wife, Barr. Gertrude Onor, and his ever-alluring Deputy Governor-designate, Lady Emana Duke Ambrose-Amawhe–the presence of both women offered a dazzling illumination to the auditorium. The arrival of the Irrunando into the church premises held the parishioners spellbound and bestowed a selcouth ambience, as parishioners in a spontaneous and electrifying mood, whispered uncontrollably his name, “The Original Caterpillar”. It took the ecclesiastical anointing of the service moderator to control the exhilarated parishioners. Then came the solemn songs ringing in the ears of parishioners and thousands of political supporters that filled the auditorium, as the liturgical men and the Parish Priest opened the mass of Eucharistic celebration with the ceremonial burning of incense. Outside the auditorium was a sea of heads converging in their numbers with their countenances bearing different inscriptions of hope and faith in the candidacy of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor.

    “We are reclaiming our state” said Mrs Offiong Ikpeme, a retiree from the State civil service who according to her, was yet to receive neither her gratuity nor pension 5years after her unceremonious retirement from the State Civil Service. “This is our chance to bring back the lost glory of our state. It’s now or never. I believe in Senator Sandy Ojang Onor” she would later continue in her eulogy.

    Cross River State, everyone agrees, is sick, with its list of ailments enough to make one mad. Unemployment rate has risen from 23.1% in 2019 to 33.5% in the early quarters of 2020, then skyrocketed to 53.65% in 2021. Data from Debt Management Office indicates that the state has a strangulating debt profile of #176.086billion as at 2022. The State IGR has been personalized and its tourism potentials bastardized.

    As the priest began his message, taking his reading from the holy Gospel according to John 1:29-34, he spoke about the lamb of God who took away the sins of the World and further admonished parishioners to remain as light to the Nation despite the despairing situation they find themselves today.

    Speaking during the dedication of the campaign, Senator Sandy Ojang Onor reiterated his unflinching belief in the Trinity and Catholicism.
    “We are here because we believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and we have no other God. What he gives us we take, what he chooses not to give to us, we thank him for. We urge you to continue to pray for us. For those of us who have been living in this state for the last 15years, you will agree with me that we are currently living in a dark place and our state needs total rejigging. We are confident that by God’s grace, we shall lead the charge for that revitalization”

    In a way of appreciation, the Parish Priest presented a Holy Bible to Senator Sandy Ojang Onor as a symbol of God’s presence and protection.
    “You are called the Caterpillar and the Caterpillar smashes. Go in God’s might” charged the Parish Priest as the Parishioners echoed a thunderous Amen!.

    …..As the Journey begins, Girdle your loins! We are making a worthy Governor!

  • *PDP Governorship Campaign: As The Journey To Reclaim Cross River State Begins*

    (Telling The Story)

    *By Umezulike Desmond-cruz*

    Beaming in his signature immaculate white apparel and his ever-alluring smile, is the Irrunando of Africa, conspicuously occupying the front pew of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Ikot Ansa. Flanked on the side are his pulchritudinous wife, Barr. Gertrude Onor, and his ever-alluring Deputy Governor-designate, Lady Emana Duke Ambrose-Amawhe–the presence of both women offered a dazzling illumination to the auditorium. The arrival of the Irrunando into the church premises held the parishioners spellbound and bestowed a selcouth ambience, as parishioners in a spontaneous and electrifying mood, whispered uncontrollably his name, “The Original Caterpillar”. It took the ecclesiastical anointing of the service moderator to control the exhilarated parishioners. Then came the solemn songs ringing in the ears of parishioners and thousands of political supporters that filled the auditorium, as the liturgical men and the Parish Priest opened the mass of Eucharistic celebration with the ceremonial burning of incense. Outside the auditorium was a sea of heads converging in their numbers with their countenances bearing different inscriptions of hope and faith in the candidacy of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor.

    “We are reclaiming our state” said Mrs Offiong Ikpeme, a retiree from the State civil service who according to her, was yet to receive neither her gratuity nor pension 5years after her unceremonious retirement from the State Civil Service. “This is our chance to bring back the lost glory of our state. It’s now or never. I believe in Senator Sandy Ojang Onor” she would later continue in her eulogy.

    Cross River State, everyone agrees, is sick, with its list of ailments enough to make one mad. Unemployment rate has risen from 23.1% in 2019 to 33.5% in the early quarters of 2020, then skyrocketed to 53.65% in 2021. Data from Debt Management Office indicates that the state has a strangulating debt profile of #176.086billion as at 2022. The State IGR has been personalized and its tourism potentials bastardized.

    As the priest began his message, taking his reading from the holy Gospel according to John 1:29-34, he spoke about the lamb of God who took away the sins of the World and further admonished parishioners to remain as light to the Nation despite the despairing situation they find themselves today.

    Speaking during the dedication of the campaign, Senator Sandy Ojang Onor reiterated his unflinching belief in the Trinity and Catholicism.
    “We are here because we believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and we have no other God. What he gives us we take, what he chooses not to give to us, we thank him for. We urge you to continue to pray for us. For those of us who have been living in this state for the last 15years, you will agree with me that we are currently living in a dark place and our state needs total rejigging. We are confident that by God’s grace, we shall lead the charge for that revitalization”

    In a way of appreciation, the Parish Priest presented a Holy Bible to Senator Sandy Ojang Onor as a symbol of God’s presence and protection.
    “You are called the Caterpillar and the Caterpillar smashes. Go in God’s might” charged the Parish Priest as the Parishioners echoed a thunderous Amen!.

    …..As the Journey begins, Girdle your loins! We are making a worthy Governor!

  • Arrest Of PDP Supporters In Ogoja: Ayade/APC’s your Plan To Utilize State Security To Intimidate Voters

    Culled From Weetalknaija.com

    A team of Nigerian Police personnel, on Monday, raided Ogoja Urban, arresting over 30 supporters of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The team of security men which came all the way from the State Capital, was alleged to be acting on the directives of the State Governor, Ben Ayade.

    Sources have said that the police team was drafted from Ogoja, Ikom and Calabar to effect the arrests on trumped up charges of destruction of billboards and obstruction of public peace. But another source said during the Nortfest (New Yam festival), Ayade ordered that all PDP billboards be brought down in the entire Ogoja Urban, alluding to the fact that indeed the PDP billboards were brought down and under the supervision of security operatives. Some of the people so far arrested are key supporters of Sen. Jarigbe and supporters of other PDP candidates in the north.

    Reacting to the hideous political machination, the PDP Chairman, Cross River State, Mr Vena Ikem Esq, said “I have information on the alleged arrest of our supporters by police authorities, yesterday, in Ogoja. The APC and the boys have been stimulating crisis in the hope of using the police force to clamp down on our supporters, especially in the northern senatorial district.

    “Governor Ayade has lost all semblance of credibility amongst our people, but he is desperate to return to the Senate. So we know his game plan depends entirely on utilizing the state security to intimidate voters. How that will work for him remains to be seen”.

    The PDP State Chairman assured PDP supporters and the general public that “we will use all means at our disposal to frustrate such nefarious plans; Ayade and the APC will exhaust themselves before time because we will follow up all their shenanigans,” avowing that “Nigeria is still a country of law and order.”

    Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, said: “Yes, I am aware of the Police arrests in Ogoja. They arrested them in connection with alleged destruction of APC billboards. When they bring the suspects, we would screen them and fish out the culprits and those innocent would be freed and those found culpable would be charged to Court.

    “The Police frown at destruction of billboards and we have earlier issued a statement about that.”

  • Mass Defection Hits APC In Obudu As PDP CRN Undertakes Ward To Ward Tour

    By Elijah Ugani

    In what can be best described as political suanamy, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Cross River North Senatorial District received into it fold, members of the All Progressives Congress APC, during the tour of the ten wards of Obudu Local Government Area.

    The People’s Democratic Party PDP, used the visible projects undertaken by Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe across the 54 wards of Northern Cross River within the last fourteen months as a model for true representation, assured the people that another four years will only expand the reach of Sen Jarigbe Agom and other candidates of the PDP.

    Stakeholders from the various wards noted that Sen Ben Ayade had received the support of Obudu in 2011, 2015 and 2019 and dashed the hope and support he enjoyed, but brought untold hardship on his people.

    The visibly angry, defectors lamented the ill treatment occasioned by the APC led governments at the Federal and state level, political high-handedness, lack of visible dividends of democracy, economic hardship, deceit among other things as their reasons for dumping the party.

    Receiving the defectors, the State Chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem Esq, commended the boldness of the defectors and assured them of equal treatment and opportunity in the party. He charged them to be resilient and ensure that the is reclaimed from the shackles of maladministration of the APC led government under the leadership of Sen Ben Ayade.

    Royal fathers at the various wards, gave their royal blessings.

    The Vice Chairman of UKALU Traditional Rulers Council, HRH, Ochui Dr Obi maintained that the Alage nation is yet to feel the impact of the present administration and call on Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe to extend his constitituency intervention projects to their roads, bridges and culverts, especially the two major bridges linking Amukwong – Ngorkpu and Okikwo as well as the Okordem bridge.

    Begiading Traditional Rulers Council, thanked the PDP for all she has done for the ward and noted that there is no need for campaign in the ward.

    At Utugwang North, the Traditional Rulers recounted the reception accorded them by Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe during his Thanksgiving reception. They noted Sen Jarigbe’s projects and empowerments which have brought his name on the lips of the electorates, shows that he is the biblical Moses who led the of israelites out of Egypt.

    Sen Jarigbe While responding at the various wards, promised to sustain the tempo as and averred that “to whom much is given, much is expected” He promised to increase the number of projects ranging from school renovation, water and street lights as well as empowerment.

    Amb. Peter Akpanke, PDP Candidate For OBO Federal constituency, Chief John Okwu, Obudu State Constituency Candidate, took turns to address their teeming supporters and party faithfuls, and urged them to remain resolute and support all PDP candidates to ensure victory and more projects.

  • 2023: PDP Set To Inaugurate Over 1,000 Member Campaign Council, Promises To Reclaim Cross River

    Judex Okoro

    The Cross River state Peoples Democrate Party (PDP) has concluded arrangements to inauguerate its campaign counil, promising to reclaim the state in 2023 polls.

    The Campaign Council is made up of 1, 080 members and with 18 sub-committees, is headed by the former Governor, Mr. Donald Duke, as chairman and former Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham, as Director-General.

    The campaign structure has Ekpo Ada, Esq, Ntufam Gabe Orji and Hon Mom Olom as Southern, Central and Norther senatorial districts coordinators respectively.

    In a press statement made available to newsmen, the state party chairman, Venatius Ikem, Esq, said the members would be inaugurated on Friday, November 25, 2022 at the Venetian Mall, Murtala Mohammed Highway Calabar at 2:00pm.

    Ikem enjoined the members, who would work in the various directorates of the Campaign organisation, to be prepared to work assiduously towards recaliming the state.

    He said: “I congratulate all members of
    the council for meriting the onerous task of reclaiming Cross River State from the abyss.”

    The state-wide campaign is expected to roll off after the inauguration and would be followed with ward-to-ward campaigns.

  • Ayu Lacks Capacity To Stop Any Candidate From Contesting Election -Wike

    Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has challenged Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to dare stop any candidate of the party from contesting the 2023 general election if he has such capacity.

    Governor Wike threw up the challenge in Port Harcourt on Sunday at a media parley in reaction to recent comment by Senator Ayu saying that nobody can sack him, and that he has powers to stop any candidate from participating in the 2023 election.

    Governor Wike described such boast by Senator Ayu as evidence of arrogance and impunity because the threat, empty as it is, was directed at the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, who is his benefactor and guarantor when he contested for the party’s national chairmanship position.

    “That also tells you the impunity, I heard when he said he would have stopped (Gov) Ortom from running. You see how ungrateful humans are. This was the same (his) governor Ortom who pleaded with us and said he can take this risk and let him become the national chairman.

    “This is a man who never campaigned anywhere. This is a man who never printed any poster even when they gave him money to print posters. Now, he can even tell you that if he wanted to stop the man (Ortom) who brought him, who became his guarantor. That is the corruption we are talking about

    “He has now come into office. He has seen money. He has seen power. Now, he can open his mouth to say that if he wanted to stop Ortom, he will do it. We dare him. And he said he can also stop any contestant. I dare him. If he is national chairman, I dare him to stop any contestant, if he has what it takes.”

    The Rivers State governor wondered the basis of Senator Ayu’s comment on him being sacked when the issues on ground is the demand for his resignation.

    Governor Wike said nobody has said that Senator Ayu should be sacked. He emphasised that it is important that people understand the difference between being sacked and the call for promises made to be kept.

    “And what we are saying is, as a man of honour, if he (Ayu) has any, keep to your honour, keep to your integrity. So, the issue of people sacking him does not arise.

    “All we are saying is, keep to the agreement, yes, in order for our party to show inclusivity, to show in our party that we are not marginalising any zone. That if the presidential candidate comes from the north as it has come from the north, then the national chairman will come from the south.

    “So, saying that nobody can sack him does not arise. Nobody has said he must be sacked. For you to be sacked, there are procedures for sacking people.”

    Governor Wike stressed that the call for the resignation of Senator Ayu is in agreement with the letter and spirit of the party’s constitution.

    The governor explained that the party’s constitution clearly spelt it out that the positions of the national chairman of the party and the presidential candidate cannot be of the same zone as currently is the case.

    “By our party’s constitution, there must be zoning for elective and political offices. He had said, knowing fully well that there was no way the presidential candidate and the national party’s chairman should come from one zone, that if the presidential candidate comes from the north I (he) will resign to allow the south to produce the national chairman.

    “If at this point in time, you’re the national chairman of the party who has told Nigerians that this is what you’ll do if this happens, and now that has happened and you’re running away from doing that, so, how do you think that Nigerians will believe you assuming you try to tell them to vote for your party.”

    Governor Wike said it is really up to Senator Ayu if he is still hell bent not to tread the path of honour in keeping his promise. He has however, advised Senator Ayu to be wary of whatever that is giving him confidence.

    “What we are saying is that we want our party to win. But if you think you can do without keeping to the promises you have made, so be it.”

    Speaking further, Governor Wike pointed to the fact that one of the reasons why Senator Ayu has been reluctant to leave office is because he wants to continue to superintendent over the PDP finances despite having failed to give account of how party primaries funds were expended.
    “Why does he not want to resign? He is hoping that Nigerians will donate money to the party so he will superintendent over that money.

    “He has already finished the one of N11 billion from party’s primaries. Account for it, he says it is in the account. Show the public the account. Print out the statement of account of PDP and let the world see how the N11 billion was expended.

    “And this is the party that all of us have laboured to takeover power from the ruling party that we said has done badly. And then the national chairman will open his mouth to talk about stopping contestants. Ayu shouldn’t say so. He tried it in Rivers State. He came to manipulate and try to put some gubernational aspirants, but he saw the result. We dealt with him.”

    Governor Wike mocked those who are saying that they can do without the five PDP governors demanding for inclusivity in the party.

    The governor reminded them that votes are not cast in the media, neither are elections won there, but in the units, local governments and States where those five governors are at home with their people. According to him, the outcome of the elections will surprise them.

    The governor also took a swipe at Dele Momodu, who only joined the PDP during the presidential primaries. he further mocked him for securing only one vote as presidential aspirant during the primaries.

    The Rivers State governor said he will never allow anybody to use his name to become relevant as Osita Chidoka is trying to do.

    Governor Wike stated when Chidoka was once denied the party’s governorship ticket in his State, he left the PDP to another.

    Governor Wike maintained that he is a different breed of a politician, who do not and will not abandoned his party, but has resolved to remain in it to fight for inclusivity.

  • Atiku, Ayu Unsettled As Wike’s Camps Push For PDP NEC Meeting

    The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has received a fresh turn as political camp loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been making push for a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party.

    VANGUARD reports that some allies of Wike within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and some state chapter chairmen of the PDP in the South may have been facilitating the push for the NEC meeting as part of moves to send the embattled National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu packing from office.

    Recall that Ayu has been insistent that nobody can remove him as the chairman of the party.

    Addressing a crowd of supporters in Gboko, his hometown in Benue during the weekend, Ayu had said he is capable of stopping any candidate of the party, who is vying on the platform of the PDP from achieving their ambitions if he decides to reciprocate the attacks on him from some quarters.

    Ayu and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state have been crossed over the latter’s alignment with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in the call for the resignation of the PDP chairman.

    The calls for Ayu’s resignation has been heightened by some prominent chieftains of the party, some allies of Wike and other dissatisfied members of the PDP are hatching a fresh plot to unseat him.

    The PDP NEC meeting, it was gathered, that some governorship candidates of the PDP will publicly demand the resignation of the National Chairman of the party and support the plan for a NEC meeting.

    A governorship candidate from the southeast is quoted to have said, “Most of the candidates of the party, especially in the south, are worried about the current developments in the party.

    “Like Wike and his people have argued several times, it is unclear how our presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku and Ayu, the National Chairman, want us to sell the PDP to our people in the south.

    What are we to tell them is in the party for us? How do we tell them to vote for a party that is carrying on as if the south does not matter? These are the challenges we face currently.

    “And as candidates who are desirous of winning elections, we can no longer afford to keep quiet on this matter. We have met the gladiators and appealed to them to put the general interest of the party over and above all other interests.

    “But is appears no one is interested in our plight. We have resolved to take our fate in our hands by speaking out.”

    The governorship hopeful further informed that the call for the resignation of the National Chairman is not abating, urging Ayu to consider the interest of the party and sheathe his sword.

    He said, “There is no reason why he can’t resign in the interest of the party. He is a father to all of us and our political future should be more important to him than anything else.

    “This is our position and that is why we are ready to support the move for a NEC meeting in search of a resolution of this matter ahead of the 2023 election.

    “We are in support of the call for a NEC meeting. We must sit down as a party and discuss this matter again. We cannot continue to pretend that it is not hurting our aspirations in our various states.”

    Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that some members of the NWC, who are dissatisfied with Ayu, have mooted the idea of getting the party to summon a NEC meeting as soon as possible.

    According to sources, “As at the close of work on Friday, we have more than half of the NWC membership on our side. The plan to have a NEC meeting that will revisit the crisis in the party is waxing stronger.

    “Soon, it will be difficult for anybody to continue to ignore the dissatisfaction of members of the committee with our National Chairman.

    “Many state chapter chairmen are also in support of the decision that we discuss this matter as a family and take a decision while putting the interest of the party over and above all personal and group considerations,” he said.

    Another source, said “if he got a vote of confidence and the crisis within the party went from bad to worse, then it is important that we re-examine the issues.

    “It is the same people who gave the vote of confidence we are calling on to come and see how far that decision has taken us as a party ahead of the 2023 general elections.”

  • Court Sets November 24th For Judgment On Suit Seeking Disqualification Of Cross River APC Guber And Deputy Guber Candidates

    By Jonathan Ugbal, CrossRiverWatch

    Justice Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie of the Calabar Division of the Federal High Court has reserved November 24, 2022, to deliver judgment on a suit by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its Cross River guber candidate, Senator Sandy Onoh seeking the disqualification of the guber and deputy guber candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the 2023 general elections.

    The date was agreed upon by all parties after they adopted their processes during the hearing on Tuesday. The APC, her guber and deputy guber candidates – Senator Bassey Otu and Honorable Peter Odey as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are listed as first, second, third, and fourth defendants respectively in the pre-election matter with suit number FHC/CA/CS/142/2022.

    The Argument

    The Plaintiffs, via their lead counsel, Mba E. Ukweni SAN while adumbrating after adopting their processes, said two key points formed the gamut of their originating summons. The first was that one needed to be a member of a political party to be fielded as a candidate and the second was that the third defendant has taken the oath of allegiance to the United Kingdom which questions his loyalty to Nigeria.

    He urged the Court not to allow the shifting position of the first defendant who denied the third defendant in their affidavit filed in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/976/2021 whose judgment is now a live appeal matter and is now claiming that he is a member of their party. Furthermore, he urged the Court to grant their prayers, especially on the fact that the first defendant will be deemed to have fallen short of the requirements to participate in the 2023 general elections as what affects the third defendant, impacts his ticket with the second defendant.

    The counsel to the first defendant, Essien H. Andrew SAN prayed the court to grant their preliminary objection which was raised on points of law on the fact that party membership was an internal affair and that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi since the Electoral Act 2022 did not contemplate the action they filed and as they have not said the fourth defendant failed in carrying out its responsibility.

    On the merit of the originating summons, he argued that the plaintiff was alleging forgery and pointed out that when a crime is alleged in civil procedures, the burden to prove is on the plaintiff which he said the plaintiff has tried to shift to the defendants. He prayed the Court to dismiss the suit.

    Benson Igbanor Esq. who led the argument of the second and third defendants, said they filed a motion of notice to strike out the suit and on the merits of the case, argued that the plaintiff did not controvert the issue of citizenship by birth which is the Constitutional requirement. He said the Oath of allegiance did not detract from the issue of citizenship by birth which confers the third defendant, the right to contest.

    He argued that the process commenced wrongly as the Supreme Court had last Friday held that when hostile pre-election matters with elements of the crime were brought forwards, the best way to commence such a suit was by Writ of Summons. The Court also granted his prayer to file an additional list of authorities to guide the Court.

    The Counsel to the fourth defendant, Matthew Ogwuocha Esq in his submissions averred that Section 28 subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered had addressed the issue of citizenship by birth which he said the plaintiff have not controverted.

    On membership, he submitted that the fourth defendant does not go beyond the administrative scrutiny of the political parties and that the first defendant complied with relevant positions of the Electoral Act which means the fourth defendant has no option other than to accept the second and third defendants as the nominated candidates. He urged the Court to dismiss the suit.

    In their response on points of law, counsel to the plaintiff submitted that the practice direction of the Court guides the commencement of a suit and prayed the Court to discountenance the Supreme Court judge whose authority was not cited.

    On Locus, Ukweni SAN submitted that there are provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended that make the fourth defendant a clearing house and when weighed with the third schedule of the Constitution, grants the plaintiff’s locus.

    On the issue of waiver to swearing an oath of allegiance by the third defendant, he submitted that it was an exception and specific to the third defendant, hence the onus lies on him to prove that he never swore an oath of allegiance but was granted a waiver.

    Furthermore, he argued that the plaintiff never raised an issue of forgery or perjury, but they relied on the documents submitted and deposed to by the first and third defendants which they also accepted to rely on

  • Becheve, Utanga And Bebi Wards Stands Still As PDP Commences Campaign Tour In C’River North

     

    The People of Becheve, Utanga and Bebi wards of Obanliku LGA, today trooped out in their thousands to receive Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), in Cross River North as the Party commenced its Campaigns ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

    The campaign trail which was led by Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District and Senatorial Candidate of the party, commenced with a visit to the Royal Fathers. HRH Iyang of Ugbakoko Community, HRH Francis Owashi of Belegete Community, amongst others received the guests and gave their Royal blessings to their political ambition after which they outlined the challenges of the community. They also thanked Sen. Jarigbe for remembering various communities in the ward during his short stay in the Senate.

    While addressing the teeming supporters at the various wards, Amb. Peter Akpanke, the Party’s candidate for Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency, thanked the people for turning out in support of the party within such short notice. He also promised to bring back the lost glory of Obanliku and attract more dividends of Democracy to the Ward in a bid to compliment the efforts of Sen. Jarigbe.

    Sen. Jarigbe in his remarks, reiterated his commitment to service to humanity. The lawmaker, stated that the party was only interested in developing the Senatorial District unlike the APC that has underdeveloped the district, using Food as a tool to enslave the people.

    Barr. Vena Ikem, State Chairman of PDP, the State Assembly Candidate, Chief Pius Ashakia, DG Jarigbe Campaign Organization, Dr. Doncklaimz Enamhe, Hon. Dr Benjamin Ambe, Former Chairman of Obanliku LGA, amongst others took turns to address the party faithfuls who also pledged their loyalty and support to the party and its candidates.

    The royal fathers of Utanga, led by Clan head of Baga community, HRH. Alfred Anyam Ande, HRH Suhumba Joseph of Utanga clan and those of Bebi ward led by HRH Chief Francis Atung, Clan Head of Bebi East and members of the Council of Chiefs, Catechist Peter Adagwu, Chairman Bebi Traditional Council, amongst others.

    Some dignitaries who were in attendance include, Barr. Godwin Offiono, candidate for Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Chief Hon. Rita Agbo Ayim, Candidate for Ogoja State Constituency, Dr Paul Ebiala Esq, Candidate for Yala 1 State Constituency, Dr Martins Achadu, Candidate for Yala 2 state Constituency, Barr. Omang Charles Omang, Candidate for Bekwarra State Constituency, Mr. John Ukwu, Candidate for Obudu State Constituency

    Others include, Hon. Mike Usibe, Mr. Egar Mgbantul, Mr. Joe Ulom, Dr Raphael Ogar Oko, members of PDP State Executive Council from the North, PDP ward and Chapter Excos, amongst others.