Guber polls: PDP calls for Removal of Imo REC to avoid Adamawa fiasco

Published

11 months ago

October 16, 2023

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to use the forthcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states to redeem its image.

It also demanded that the commission replace the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in charge of Imo State, Prof. Sylvia Agu, to avoid a repeat of the electoral chaos recorded in Adamawa State during the last governorship election.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, who stated this at a briefing in Abuja, yesterday, said: “The PDP has noted the statement by INEC Chairman that INEC will make full use of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and the INEC Result Viewing, IReV, portal for uploading and electronic transmission of results in the November 11, 2023 governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.

“The PDP has reviewed issues relating to the conduct of the November 11, 2023 elections in the three States and states as follows:

“The PDP notes that the INEC Chairman has confirmed that the use of BVAS and IREV in this election and even in previous election is a mandatory statutory requirement of the law

“The PDP holds INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu directly responsible and accountable to his pronouncements and that INEC is bound by Law to electronically transmit results directly from the polling units using these technologies.

“The PDP is fully prepared for these elections and in line with the commitment of INEC will not accept any other means of transmitting results in these elections except as this manner pronounced by the INEC Chairman in line with requirement of Electoral Act, 2022.”

Ologunagba noted that the PDP had commenced training of its polling agents at all levels to ensure total compliance to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines and Regulations especially as confirmed by the INEC Chairman.

He said the party remained confident of victory in the three states because all of its candidates in the affected states – Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo) and Senator Dino Melaye – had proven track records of public service and were popular with their people.

On the demand for the sack of the Imo State REC, he said: “The PDP for the umpteenth time demands for the immediate removal of the (alledgedly) openly compromised Imo State INEC REC, Prof. Sylvia Agu.

“The PDP and other political parties had written several letters to INEC. Recently the political parties including the PDP, LP, YPP, ADC, AA among others staged a peaceful protest to INEC demanding for her immediate removal.”

According to him, the PDP does not have confidence in the ability of Prof. Agu to be fair to all parties contesting in the November 11, 2023 governorship elections.

This, he explained, was based on her conduct in the 2023 National and House of Assembly elections.

Ologunagba also alleged that Prof Sylvia Agu was a direct relation of a national officer of the APC, adding that there were allegations that she was being further compromised to assist the APC to rig the Nov. 11 governorship election in Imo State.

According to him, the PDP does not have confidence in the ability of Prof. Agu to be fair to all parties contesting in the November 11, 2023 governorship elections.

This, he explained, was based on her conduct in the 2023 National and House of Assembly elections.

News

Presidential Spokesman Goes On Indefinite Leave of Absence

Published

23 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Ezekiel Tijani

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media & Publicity, has announced an indefinite leave of absence.

This decision comes after consulting with his family due to a worsening medical situation at home. Ngelale submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff on Friday, notifying him of his leave.

Ngelale’s leave affects his roles as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.

He expressed hope to return to full-time national service when circumstances permit. The leave of absence takes effect immediately, with no specified date for his return.

“I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit,” Ngelale said. He respectfully asked for privacy for his family during this challenging time.

One Of God’s Power Brokers, I’m Immune From Harm, Tragedy Or Untimely Death — Dr Chris Okafor

Published

1 week ago

August 29, 2024

roamannews

Founder and senior pastor of the Grace Nation Church International, Dr Chris Okafor says his status as one of God’s major power brokers makes him immune from any untoward and unsavoury happenstances that could question his dedication and commitment to His service as an anointed minister.

According to him, his confidence derives from the immortal words taken from the Bible in Hebrews 11: 6 which says God is a “rewarder of those who dutifully and diligently serve him.”

The cleric, while expounding on the message, “Benefits of Soul-Winning” during a recent Sunday service said he had never at any time in his over 20-year work with God had cause to worry or fret over his safety or of those related to him because he considers himself immune from the buffettings of the devil and his children of wickedness.

This, he says, is because he has reached a level in his walk with God that he can be referred to as a power broker who must necessarily enjoy God’s protection at all times and in all ramifications.

“This might sound presumptuous to some people for me to say I’m a power broker in God’s kingdom. But when you have been privileged to be the conduit through which God’s virtues of prophecies, healing and deliverances have flowed all through the years, it is only right to state the obvious,” he said.

“The Bible is clear about the benefits that accrue to those who win souls to God’s kingdom. See, nothing God values more than soul winning. Soul-winning is to God what money is to man. I have come to discover that when we diligently apply ourselves to serving God in truth and in spirit, particularly working assiduously to ensure that we win souls to His kingdom, He pays our bills. He blesses us, he shields us from untoward happenings, and all kinds of tragedies and calamities.

“Above all, he makes us fruitful and elongates our lives. The scripture cannot be broken. God’s words in Exodus 23: 25 -26 remains true even till this day. It says, “So you shall serve the Lord, your God and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.

“No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.”

“God has confirmed that scripture in my life on several occasions. A lot of people are aware how I survived a hail of bullets that ripped through the car I was traveling in when I was kidnapped on my way from a crusade in the eastern part of Nigeria some years ago.

“I survived more than 50 days of captivity in those kidnappers’ den. In all of that time, most people, including members of my congregation had given me up for dead. Yet, through God’s hands of mercy, I was rescued and I am still alive today, more than over a decade after the incident.

“What about another time I survived a plane crash? I was in a flight returning from one of the foreign crusades I went some years ago when our aircraft developed a fault. The situation was so bad that the plane was falling and plummeting dangerously towards the earth. Infact, we were already seeing the ground as everyone was in a distressed mood, calling for God’s intervention.

“I had stood up, and prayed a simple prayer, reminding God that no one who diligently served Him should see untimely and an unwarranted death. He heard me and we were all saved on that occasion.

“So, as a power broker — one who has offered himself as a vessel of honour for God’s wondrous works time and time again, it will be out of character for me to experience any form of harm, tragedy or untimely death,” he added.