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  • Post Primary Election Press Conference By Sen Sandy Ojang Onor, Governorship Candidate Of The People’s Democratic Party PDP, On Saturday, June 11 2022 At The NUJ Press Centre, Calabar

    POST PRIMARY ELECTION PRESS CONFERENCE BY SENATOR SANDY OJANG ONOR, GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY(PDP) ON SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022, AT THE NUJ PRESS CENTRE, CALABAR

    Gentlemen of the Press

    Some six months ago, I made an appearance in this auditorium, where I shared my thoughts with you on my plans and programmes for the new Cross River State of my dream. At that time, I was doing my consultations with party men and women and indeed all Cross Riverians. Considering how important you are to me and to the Cross River project, I also consulted and informed you of my desire to contest for the seat of governor of this state, for the good of all the people. I was just an aspirant then and I sought everybody’s support, including yours, to enable me win our party’s ticket as precursor to winning the general election.

    I have returned today to say thank you, my friends and partners in the media, for the role you played individually and collectively. Recall that during my last interaction with you, I had promised that I will be having this interface with you from time to time. I am a man of my words, hence this second coming. I will keep coming and will ensure a blossoming relationship with the media because I cannot fulfil my dreams for this state without you.

    I have also come so that I can, for the umpteenth time, thank all members of the PDP for trusting in and supporting me to emerge the flagbearer of the Party, ahead of the general election which comes up next year.

    Almost immediately after the primary election, I had acknowledged the mentorship of our leaders and their efforts towards the successful and peaceful conduct of the election. I will do it again today, in your presence. I cannot get tired of thanking our former governors – Mr Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke for their fatherly roles in midwifing the processes that led to the historic primary election. And again, for generously displaying the spirit of sportsmanship, I must continue to hail all the contenders in that election, especially the major players – Senator Gershom Bassey and Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo. They will always be remembered on the right side of history.

    A few days ago, I received my certificate of return as the gubernatorial candidate from the leadership of our party, the PDP. It was a very humbling experience for me, knowing what it means for our state at this critical time in our political life. I have chosen to dedicate the certificate to God, all PDP leaders in and outside our state and all members of our party from the three senatorial districts of this state.

    With the certificate of return now safely with us, preparations for the general election have got to the next level. I am aware that the people of Cross River State are very anxious to see the birth of the new Cross River State that we promised. All I can say is that we are very close to our Eldorado. Darkness will soon give way to light and our people will smile again.

    I will need the support of all citizens and residents for us to achieve this. It starts from the determination of our people to register as voters and making sure their PVC is with them. As a Cross Riverian therefore, I am begging you, go and get your PVC. That is the only weapon that you have. When you get it, please keep it safely. You will need it on election day, not as a bargaining power for N1000 naira or some cups of rice from those desperate power seekers, but for you to be able to reclaim this state from people who have no value for your life; the same people who are now making moves to borrow another N35 billion, with only a few months left to the end of their administration.

    As at March this year, the debt profile of this state stood at $279 million, according to the Debt Management Office. Yet, the out-going government is thinking of conniving with the state House of assembly to borrow this whooping sum, just to put the final nail on the coffin, before they leave the stage. There cannot be another way to show how wicked and inconsiderate a government can be towards her people. We must not allow this to happen, because the incoming government will be inheriting a mountain of debts to grapple with.

    In any case, in the eyes of the law, there is no House of Assembly in Cross River State and anything that carries the imprimatur of this Assembly is null] and void ab initio. This should therefore serve aS warning to all financial institutions in and outside Nigeria, not to grant any loan,in whatever form, to the current government of Cross River State, as they will be doing so at a very high risk. Until the courts pronounce otherwise, the House of Assembly as currently constituted, cannot enact legally binding resolutions and laws.

    This takes me to the issue of the laughable plans by the government of Prof. Ben Ayade to conduct local government elections in this state, only a few days to the day he will hand over power as governor. This cannot also stand because in law, you cannot build something on nothing. In the eyes of the law, the state House of Assembly is in abeyance and therefore cannot confirm the governor’s appointees into the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission. So, members of the commission as announced by the governor and supposedly confirmed are a product of illegality; hence they lack the legal powers to handle that all important state assignment.

    We are committed to the task of reclaiming this state and we will do so through every legal means.

    Until we meet again as partners in progress, I implore you, gentlemen of the press, not to be silent over the evil plots of this present government against our state and its people. I urge you to stand up to be counted as worthy stakeholders as we work hard towards recovering all that the locust had taken away from our state.

    I thank you for your kind attention.

    Senator Sandy Ojang Onor,
    Governorship Candidate
    PDP
    June 11, 2022.

  • Just In: Sandy Onor Receives Certificate Of Return As CRS PDP Gubernatorial Flag Bearer For 2023 General Election

     

    The senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Sen Sandy Onor hasb issued certicate of Return by the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, as the gubernatorialf bearer for the 2023 polls in Cross River State.

  • Re: We Must Send Him On Early Retirement From Politics<< Senator Sandy Ojang Onor And His Supporters To Senator Gershom Bassey.

     

    The attention of the Caterpillar Movement has been drawn to a malicious, perfidious and self-concocted opinion from one Citizen Ekanem Essien, in which he claimed that he was present when the trio of Sen Sandy Onor, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and Mr Venatius Ikem listed notables like Gershom Bassey, His Excellency, Barr Efiok Cobham, Amb Nkoyo Toyo and Rt Hon Daniel Asuquo, for retirement from active politics.

    Ordinarily, we would not have responded to this cheap spurious fabrication borne out of frustration resulting from the inability of its author to acquiesce defeat. But, ignoring him completely may send a wrong message to some quarters. While we acknowledge the role of propaganda in politics, as theorized by Machiavelli, it is important that sociopathic beguilers like Citizen Ekanem Essien should know that they cannot successfully play on the sensibilities of our people, definitely not when it involves a reputable personality like Senator Sandy Onor.

    We understand how painful it is for Citizen Ekanem Essien that despite his countless defamatory claims about our Principal, including the lie of purchasing two Intent forms for different positions, he still won the primaries election with a comfortable lead. Ekanem Essien has left no one in doubt that Senator Sandy Onor’s emergence as PDP Gubernatorial Candidate for 2023 election and the calm that has since followed the victory is both shocking and traumatising to him. He is adviced to accept this reality so that he could live at peace with himself and his neighbours.

    While we recognize his right to mobilize support for his preferred candidate, he has no right to interlope with falsehoods in the affairs of a colossus like Senator Sandy Onor.

    Sen Sandy Onor all through his public service is known for building bridges across ethnic, religious and gender lines. He believes in the principle of collective individualism, anchored on interconnectivity.

    We want to use this opportunity to invite all lovers of Cross River State to join us as we begin the journey to reclaim the state.

    Cross River State is safe with Sen Sandy Onor!

    Caterpillar Movement Media

  • Breaking: PDP Reschedules Primaries Election

    May 4, 2022

    Press Statement

    2023: PDP Updates Timetable and Schedule of Activities
    …Shift Dates for LG Congress, SHOA, NASS, Governorship Primaries

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the update of the Party’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections as follows:

    1. Local Government Area (LGA) Congress to elect one National Delegate per LGA and one Person living with disability in the 774 Local Government Areas: Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

    2. State House of Assembly (State Constituency Congress): Wednesday, May 18, 2022

    3. House of Representatives Primaries: Friday, May 20, 2022

    4. Senatorial District Primaries: Saturday, May 21, 2022

    5. Governorship Primaries: Monday, May 23, 2022

    All aspirants to various positions, critical stakeholders, members of our Party across the country as well as relevant agencies of government should please take note.

    Signed:

    Hon. Debo Ologunagba
    National Publicity Secretary

  • Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition, Canvass For Power Shift

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    20th April 2022.

    Press Statement:

    Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition
    ……canvass for Power Shift.

    Yesterday, Tuesday 19th April 2022, the State Executive Committee and members of our party received in audience a gubernatorial aspirant, Barr. Mrs Imah Nsa Adegoke. The campaign team led by the aspirant arrived the party Secretariat around 3:45pm.

    Speaking during the consultative meeting, the Gubernatorial aspirant thanked the party for receiving her team. Declaring her intention to join the Gubernatorial race, Barr. Mrs Adegoke canvassed for a power Shift in the Politics of the State.

    “My name is Barr. Mrs Imah Nsa Adegoke. I am officially declaring my intention to run for the Governorship position of this state. I believe in democracy, which is a government of the people, for the people and by the people, not a government of the elite and the privileged few. As a lawyer with almost 40years’ experience, I had as a lawyer to NUPENG from 1988 to 1996, negotiated better working conditions for oppressed junior oil and gas workers with Integrity, refusing offers to sell out their interest. This experience drives my passion to ensure that under my Government, we will aggressively combat the recalcitrant conduct of labour employers in the state. Driven by my passion as Chairman of Bonny Environmental Consultants’ Committee from 1997 to 2002 with power to negotiate with Nigeria LNG, Shell Petroleum Development Company etc, on behalf of Bonny Kingdom, I led negotiations and ensured transparent compensations to impacted Communities. I will bring same commitment and passion to bear in Cross River State by ensuring that all companies extracting our resources Commit to ensuring that the rural Communities benefit from an approved and robust Corporate Social Responsibility budget”

    On insecurity, the legal practitioner advocated the deployment of forensics in tackling Security challenges. While summarizing her manifesto under the acronym “SHIFT”. On Zoning, the aspirant enjoined the party to give all aspirants a level playing ground while assuring the party that she’s not running on the basis of gender as she believe she’s the best for the job.

    Reacting to the comment, the state Chairman of the Party, Barr. Venatius Ikem eulogized the aspirant for taking the bold step to declare, while assuring her of a level playing ground.

    “I want to thank you for speaking so eloquently like a gentleman of the bar. You left no one in doubt. All the women that came here to consult have been exceptional but you have come to top all of them. I want to assure you that the party will give all Aspirants a level playing ground. It is only in PDP that you will come yesterday and we guarantee you a level playing ground because we are a democratic party. I want to also thank you for not talking about North, South or Central. We need a Candidate that can deliver. I am happy you did not talk about zoning”

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • The Leading Presidential Aspirant In PDP, Nyesom Wike Will Be In Calabar Today – Joe Obi Bisong

     

    Dear partners, this is to officially inform you that our own His Excellency Barr Nyesom Wike Governor of Rivers state and leading Presidential Aspirant will be in calabar today by 11am
    We are expected to mobilise in our numbers to the calabar Airport by 10am to recieved and accord our August visitor a resounding welcome to calabar.
    Give this information very wide publicity. Thank you and God bless you all.

    Joe obi Bisong
    DG

    Caterpillar Movement

  • Ayade’s Interview With Arise TV: The Paradox, Farce, And Fact – Ojisi

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    9th April 2022

    Press Statement:

    Ayade’s Interview With Arise TV: The Paradox, Farce, and Fact

    Governor Ben Ayade’s ignominious interview granted to Arise TV yesterday, has further underscore the position of the Peoples Democratic Party that the Ben Ayade’s led administration is purely a government whose foundation is built on deceit and lies. For a Governor who has perfected the art of grandiloquence and concussing unsuspecting individuals with litanies of fallacious claims, one wonders where he draws his inspiration and penchant for lying barefacedly.

    Here are some of the paradox from the interview.

    Governor Ben Ayade claimed to have built the Obudu German Hospital, which according to him is the most sophiscated Project built by any Governor in Nigeria. Nothing can be further from the truth as the said Obudu German Hospital is neither sophisticated nor near completion. Like other white elephant Projects of his, the Obudu German hospital is mainly a conduit pipe for the governor to retire public funds. Construction work at the site is quite epileptic and not a single medical equipment has been installed. So, where lies the sophistication?

    On the claim by the Governor that he created 5000 jobs for teachers, the Peoples Democratic Party challenge the Governor to publish the names of the beneficiary and their payroll since 2019. For the sake of emphasis and clarity, the Governor only carried out a kangaroo recruitment of less than 2,300 teachers, unfortunately a greater percent of those recruited are yet to collect their appointment letters not to talk of being on payroll.

    The Governor claimed also to have built the Teachers Continuous Training College in Biase and that the said college is fully functional. This is another mendacious claim as the Teachers Continuous Training College was neither completely funded by the State Government nor is the institution fully functional.

    Of all the lies dished out by the Governor, the most nauseating is his claim of building the biggest pharmaceutical factory in Nigeria called Calapharm. The reality is, we have nothing close to a pharmaceutical company in Cross River State. What we have is a makeshift facility at the Ayade’s industrial park that is neither completed nor operational. We challenge the Governor to mention just one product from the pharmaceutical company that is in the market.

    On the claim that he parades 18,000 Political appointees, the governor has succeeded in making a mockery of governance. What is a single Governor doing with 18,000 Political Appointees in a state that he has repeatedly complained that the economy is comatose? Isn’t it paradoxical that the governor parades such large number of Political appointees under the state payroll some of which are without defined portfolios and job designations yet complains of the economic situation of the state?. It is noteworthy to also stress that the army of food eaters paraded as appointees by Governor Ben Ayade are majorly cultists employed to carry out hatchet jobs during election.

    We call on Cross Riverians to rise and demand total accountability from Governor Ben Ayade. Our dear state cannot continue to be under the stranglehold of his deceits, digital lies and unconscionable approach to governance. We must rise to the occasion and salvage what is left of us as a state. As we approach 2023 Election, we urge Cross Riverians to come out and register in order to vote out this ill-fated government.

    Signed:
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Communique: APC Has No Justification To Be On 2023 Ballot – PDP Govs Forum

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party PDP Governor’s forum held its meeting on Wednesday, 23rd March, 2022, at Aba, Abia State.

    The meeting reviewed the excruciating hardship and suffering being meted out to Nigerians by a failed APC led Federal Government; the near collapse of the APC as a viable political party, the readiness of the PDP to take over and offer qualitative leadership options to rescue the nation and issued the following Communique:

    1. We lament the terrible pain and hardship facing Nigerians in virtually all aspects of life. The meeting noted that life was much better in 2015 under the PDP than today under the APC as exemplified in the following Comparative Indicators obtained mainly from the National Bureau of Statistics:

    a. Diesel which is critical for running of SMEs was N131.47 in 2015, it now costs above N700
    b. Fuel: Official and Black-Market was N87/155 in 2015, it now costs N167/350.
    c. Aviation Fuel/Air Ticket Rate on Domestic Flights was N110 per Litre/N18,000 in 2015, it now hovers around N700 per Litre/N70,000, where available. Indeed, the scarcity of fuel which has resulted in loss of several man hours is a disgrace to Nigeria.
    d. The collapse of the National Grid (126 times in 7 years – (June 2015 to March 2022) and its consequences for non-availability of power is most unfortunate.
    e. Kerosene (NHK) used by the ordinary Nigerian for cooking and power was N180 in 2015, it now sells at ₦450.
    f. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) – 12.5kg Cylinder sold for N2,400 in 2015, is now sold at between N8,750 and N10, 000.
    g. Prices of basic food stuffs are now three times higher than what they used to be in 2015. Staple foods such as rice, beans, cassava flakes are now slipping out of the hands of average Nigerians. Indeed, a Bag of Rice sold for N8500 in 2015 is now N39,000.
    h. Electricity was N14.23 per kilowatt in 2015, it is now N38.530, and not even available.
    i. Unemployment rate was 11.4% in 2015, it is now over 33%, one the highest in the world.
    j. The poverty rate in 2015 was 11.3% but now about 42.8%.
    k. Accumulated Inflation in 2015 was about 4%, it is now 15.50%; Inflation Rate was 9.01% in 2015 and now 15.7%.
    l. Perhaps the Exchange Rate has been one of the most disastrous. N150 to a dollar was the parallel market (patronised by most businessmen and Nigerians) rate in 2015, it is now about N580 to $1 in the parrel market and still rising.
    m. Debt and Debt Servicing:
    Domestic Debt of N8.4T and External Debt of USD 7.3b was incurred between 1999-2015.
    While Domestic Debt of N7.63T (June 2015-Dec 2020) and USD28.57b as at Dec 2020 was incurred. External debt of USD21.27b was incurred between June 2015 and 2021.
    n. National Debt to GDP Ratio was 23.41% (2016) it is now 36.88% (2022).
    o. The Corruption Index has risen from 136 in 2015 to 150 now.
    p. Nigeria’s Misery Index, an indicator used in determining how economically well off the citizens of a country are, is usually calculated by adding the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to the annual inflation rate, has moved from 14.75 percent in 2015 to 50.48 (2021).
    q. The major threat to the agricultural sector and food security in Nigeria is insecurity. In the northeast of Nigeria, it is estimated that no fewer than 70,000 hectares of arable farmland have been abandoned in the affected States and Local Government areas. The trend is the same all over the country. This further contributes to food inflation. The APC led Federal Government must take steps to cooperate with States to bring security down to the grassroots.

    2. The Forum is surprised that in the face of these statistics of complete failure in all ramifications and areas, the APC still wants to be on the ballot in 2023.

    This shows how uncaring and insensitive the APC is.

    3. The Forum urges Nigerians to reject the APC, a party run undemocratically by a Committee contrary to the Constitution (S.228) with Mr. President regularly issuing instructions and dictates. It is impossible for a party so disorganized to offer good governance to the people of Nigeria.

    4. The meeting expressed concern and alarm over various reports and claims of incidents of stealing of crude oil ranging from 80% to 95% of production made by industry practitioners and called on the Federal Government to set up an appropriate mechanism to reverse this trend and bring perpetrators to account.

    5. The PDP Governors once again decried the inability of the NNPC to make its statutory contributions to the Federation Account, inspite of Oil selling at above $110. It is patently unconstitutional for NNPC to determine at its whim and discretion when and what to pay to the Federation Account, as it is a mere trustee of the funds for the three tiers of Government: Federal, States and Local Governments. We once again, call for investigations and audit of the quantity of consumption of fuel ascribed to Nigerians and for deployment of technology at the filling stations to determine in a transparent manner the volume of consumption.

    The Governors would resist any further attempt by NNPC to ascribe unsubstantiated subsidy claims to other tiers of government.

    6. Furthermore, S.162 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended stipulates that “The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called “the Federation Account” into which shall be
    paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation…”
    and S.162 (10) states that “For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, “revenue” means any income or return accruing to or derived by the Government of the Federation from any source and includes –
    (a) any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any law;
    (b) any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any property held by the Government of the Federation;
    (c) any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of shares or interest held by the Government of the Federation in any company or statutory body”

    a. As of today, 18 (Eighteen) Federation Revenue Agencies are not paying/remitting any revenue to the FAAC Account. These include (i) Central Bank of Nigeria (ii) Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) (iii) Nigeria Liquefied National Gas (NLNG) (iv) Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) (v) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (vi) NPA (vii) Security and Exchange Commission etc

    (b) FIRS and DPR takes cost of collection of 4% (Four percent) of Revenue collected while Customs collects 7%. In March 2022 for instance, FIRS took N15.4Billion as cost of collection and Customs took N8.4b. If these are annualised, FIRS and Customs collects about N1.84Billion and Customs N100B per annum. Obviously, some states of the Federation’s capital budget does not come close to these.

    (c) Nigeria Federation has 49% shareholding in NLNG. According to the Minister of Finance during the 2020 budget performance brief at the National Assembly stated that the federation received dividend of N144billion (One Hundred and Forty Four Billion) from NLNG. These figure to the best of our knowledge was never paid into the Federation Account.

    (d)) NNPC deducts N8.33Billion monthly for the rehabilitation of the Refineries in Nigeria. Till date no refinery is working.

    (e) On priority projects of the Nation’s oil industry, NNPC deducted N788.78Billion for various investments between 2018-2021 without recourse to FAAC.

    (f) NNPC in 2021 alone claimed to have paid over One Trillion Naira as petroleum subsidy. Indeed, the month of March 2022, N220Billion was deducted as oil subsidy with a promise that N328Billion will be deducted in April 2022. This is unacceptable.

    (g) NNPC and FIRS as well as other remitting Agencies continue to apply an exchange rate of N389/$1 as against the Import and Export window of N416/$1. The extent of this leakage can be better felt, if this rate is compared to the current N570/$1.

    (h) From available records about N7.6T is withheld between 2012 and 2021, by NNPC from the Federation Account. All these are said to be payments for oil subsidy.

    (i) Conclusively, we believe that all these leakages in NNPC have been made possible because the President is also the Minister of Petroleum. The urgent separation of these two portfolios have become necessary

    7. The Forum noted the approval by the PDP NEC of the Time Table and Timelines for Congresses and Convention of the Party and urged all party members and party leadership to remain focused and united to win power in 2023, to tackle the myriads of problems facing the country.

    8. The PDP Governors congratulated the host, His Excellency, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the PDP Governors’ Forum Vice Chairman, for his generosity and hospitality in the hosting of the meeting.

  • Amb Nkoyo Toyo Is Changing Political Campaign Narrative. What She Told Odukpani Youths

     

    By Our Reporter

    The Founder of Gender And Development Action and a major contender for the office of governor of Cross River State, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo met with youths of Odukpani local government area to intimate them of her intention to contest for the office of Governor.

    Amb Toyo, a former federal lawmaker at the meeting stressed the need for young people to begin to ask aspirants the right questions that will generate right answers.

    She cautioned young people against thuggery and all forms of political violence, while advising them to refrain from being used as channels of destruction by some politicians and enemies of democracy.

    At Odot ward, Amb Nkoyo Toyo appreciated the youths for coming out in their numbers to receive her and called on them to take time and scrutinize all those aspiring for the office of governor within the PDP family and choose from the best.

    Amb. Toyo who is the only female aspirant so far in PDP for the office of governor, described herself as the best person for the job with all the qualities of a leader.

    “Among all of use aspiring for this job, look at us very well and our qualifications, networks, previous achievements and judge us by that. The PDP has a lot of work to do. We are in the opposition and as such we need to project a candidate who is easy to market to the people. Not those who the people will reject even before you begin to talk about them

    “if they say the have gone to school, I have, they say they have been to the national assembly, I have also been there. Infact, my records while there speakes volume, more so with the testimonies all of you have mentioned here” Toyo said.

    In Adiabo ward where Amb Toyo also met with the youths leaders, she cautioned them against selling their consciences and votes for a token and suffer for another four years.

    Some of the youths who spoke at the meeting expressed appreciation to her for the visit while saluting her courage to contest for the office of governor come 2023.

    Amb. Toyo becomes the only governorship aspirant in the PDP who is connecting directly to the people through town hall meetings with different groups including Elders, Women, Youths and people living with disability across the state. A complete departure from the traditional campaign gatherings typical with politicians.

    According to her “we must change the narrative, this is the only way you can really know the problems of the people ward by ward, village by village and local government by local government. We want to be sure that at the end of the day, the people makes the right choice with the power that they have”

  • David Umahi: Who Did You Vote For, Party Or Candidate? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    DAVID UMAHI: WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR, PARTY OR CANDIDATE?

    Until the Supreme Court puts this to rest, and even long after that, this debate will rage on. My joy is that the Supreme Court is not just a Court of Law but also one of policy. The Law Lords will not just look at the law, but logic and commonsense surrounding the facts and the law.

    Who owns the votes cast at an election? Party or candidate? My answer is, both. It is a time bound political marriage of convenience. The Constitution never contemplated a divorce before the effluxion of this time.

    However, those who say the votes belong solely to the candidate even have a weaker argument. The facts of this case and the law in Faleke vs INEC doesn’t support them.

    Let’s look at another fact. Who do we vote for during an election, the candidate or party? In the 2019 Ebonyi State Gubernatorial Election, was it PDP that was voted for or it was David Umahi?

    I invite you to turn to the ballot papers used in that election to find your answer. Find attached ballot papers used in that election. Look at them very well. Have you seen it?

    When we go to vote, we go to vote for parties not candidates. Ballot papers carry the names of political parties, not candidates. Ebonyi people thumb printed beside PDP in the 2019 Gubernatorial Election. The name “David Umahi” was not on the ballot paper. The votes belong to the party.

    This is why the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC states that: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…” Without the PDP he is nothing, but without him, the PDP still has their votes.

    “… of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…” denotes ownership. No one, who is not “of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, owners of the votes counted from the ballot papers, could be Governor. Simple.

    The APC has a particular number of votes in that election; not enough to produce a Governor. It is incongruous therefore that anyone claiming to belong to them should be Governor in 2019, or anytime thereafter, before another general election. This is a mockery of our constitutional and partisan democracy.

    It shouldn’t stand.

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.