Politics

Anambra Poll: Soludo, Uba, Ozigbo Call For Dialogue With IPOB

Published

4 years ago

November 1, 2021

Editor

Three candidates in the Anambra governorship election slated for November 6 have called for dialogue with the Indigenous People of Biafra, a group agitating for the secession of the South-East from Nigeria.

This was during a Live Debate organised by Arise News on Monday which had in attendance the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Andy Uba; that of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, Professor Charles Soludo and Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The agitation by IPOB currently threatens the November 6 election as the group has declared a one-week sit-at-home in the South-East to demand the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The one-week sit-at-home, a similar order which the people of the South-East have been observing every Monday, will commence November 5, which is just a day to the Anambra governorship election.

Asked to speak on IPOB and their agitation, Uba said, “I believe in engagement. If you don’t engage them, how will you know what their problem is? I believe in engagement to dialogue, because their problem is work.”

Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said the group deserves to be heard.

According to him, “I’m on record to have said that IPOB deserves to be heard, that the agitation cannot be shot down by a gun.”

He continued, “We need to have a dialogue, bring everybody to the table and discuss those specific issues that are their agitation.”

On his part, Ozigbo blamed the federal and state governments for the way the group’s agitation has turned out.

He said, “There are certain things IPOB does through agitation that I support. But when they get to some extreme, I condemn them.

“The real issue is where is the heart of all of this? If not for the way the states and the federal government have handled IPOB, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

“Let’s start by accepting responsibility. We created extremism, so we need the right person to inspire hope for that dialogue to happen.

“When they see you as the problem already, you can’t be the one to negotiate.”

He went on to call for the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu and for the group to be de-proscribed by government.

On insecurity in Anambra, Soludo said it “is politically motivated”.

“There are some people who think that they gain a political advantage by creating a sense of fear and insecurity so that they will have voters suppression,” he said.

On voter apathy that threatens the coming election, Uba said such had always been the case when it comes to elections in Anambra.

He, however, blamed the state governor, Willie Obiano, for the way he has handled the situation so far.

He said, “In this case, the governor has not done what he’s supposed to do.

“In 2007 when I ran for governor of Anambra State, I engaged the MASSOB group that was involved. I went to visit the leader Ralph Uwazuruike in prison and talked to him about their stance against election in Anambra.

“I said let’s sit down and talk about it, and at the end we got it ironed out and there was election without violence.”

He said Governor Obiano and his APGA-led administration ought to engage those threatening the coming election to know what the problem is.

“The problem is unemployment, and that is why the violence is what it is today,” he said, promising to solve the problem if voted into power.

In his rebuttal to what Uba said about his party and the sitting governor, Soludo said the Senator only engages when he wants to contest in an election, adding that as soon the election is over, his voice is never heard again.

“I am the one who has engaged in and out of season,” he said.

“You were in the Senate for eight years, not one word about IPOB and its agitation. You were only engaging when you want to run.

“Insecurity in Anambra started with the PDP government – orchestrated by my brother on my right hand(Uba) – kidnapping a sitting governor.

“The PDP legacy in Anambra burnt down the state. The violence, kidnapping and others were started by the PDP when Uba was at the engine room stoking up the fire.”

On his own part, Ozigbo blamed the APC and APGA, saying they have failed Nigerians in terms of security, adding that it’s time to go back to the security format of former governor of the state, Peter Obi who decamped from APGA to his party, the PDP.

He said, “About security, there is a lot we can do. We should go back to where Peter Obi left it – providing monthly money and vehicles to the vigilantes and making sure that they are well empowered.”

He said a thriving economy will be one of the measures needed to help tackle the insecurity in the state.

“When people are gainfully employed and busy, they will not transcend into criminality,” he said.

(PUNCH)

Politics

JUST IN: Rivers Cancels N134bn Secretariat Contract, Demands N20bn Refund

Published

11 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Executive Council has cancelled a ₦134 billion contract awarded by the former sole administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ikot Ete Ibas (retd), for the reconstruction of the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt.

The contract, awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation during the period of emergency rule under Ibas, was nullified by the Council at its meeting on Thursday.

Following the cancellation, the Council directed CCECC to refund the ₦20 billion mobilisation fee already paid for the project.

Also, the Council approved the constitution of a six-member committee chaired by Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu to assess and recommend suitable locations for the construction of Computer-Based Test centres across the state to support external examinations.

The Council also mandated the state’s flood control committee, also headed by Odu, to take urgent measures to mitigate flooding in affected areas, while cautioning residents against blocking drainage channels.

More to come…

Politics

Bode George Reacts To Mbah’s Defection To APC

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has expressed surprise over the defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, George said he did not anticipate the move despite several reconciliatory efforts by senior PDP figures to resolve internal issues in the party.

“I never saw it at any time. In fact, when Anyanwu was brought back as secretary to complete his assignment, he asked his people not to attend meetings. We were wondering what was going on in the South-East. Now that we have settled the matter and fixed the convention date, it’s only a question of time. Whatever position the East wanted to give him would have been his. So, what’s the essence of leaving now?” George said.

The PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member revealed that several party leaders had met with Governor Mbah to persuade him to remain in the party.

“The governor, we all waded in and convinced him. Many people went there, telling him, ‘Calm down, the convention is next month. You’ll get whatever is due to the South-East.’ But the rationale and emphasis he gave, it was like I was in a very long dream,” he added.

While wishing the governor well, George maintained that the PDP remains strong and resilient despite recent defections. He also criticised the ruling APC, describing it as a “private enterprise” owned by an individual.

“I wish him the best of luck. This is not the first time people are leaving. The PDP is an iroko tree. The APC is owned by one man; he publicly said, ‘I own the party.’ That man is President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

Recall Guardian reported that Mbah, in a public address on Tuesday, noted that while he has changed political parties, the cultural and regional identity of Enugu remains the same.

The governor explained that the decision to join the APC was based on the need for stronger representation and better alignment with the federal government to support development projects in the state.

“Let me be clear, I will represent our state and our region with the same strength of purpose as I have always done. Our Igbo DNA does not change; our destiny does not change. What changes is that our vision now finds stronger reinforcement at the federal level,” Mbah said.

He assured residents that all ongoing projects in the state, including schools, hospitals, roads, and other services, would be completed as promised.

Despite the development, George expressed optimism that the PDP remains “absolutely redeemable” and will continue to play a significant role in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Politics

Acting INEC Chair Outlines Preparations or Anambra Poll

Published

2 days ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday held its third quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja, where key updates on upcoming elections and party registration were presented.

The meeting was the first chaired by INEC’s Acting Chairman, May Agbamuche-Mbu, following the exit of former Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on October 7.

In her opening remarks, Agbamuche-Mbu acknowledged the former chairman’s tenure, stating, “Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu gracefully bowed out of office, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, institutional strength and integrity.”

She outlined the commission’s schedule of elections, including the Anambra State Governorship Election on November 8, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections on February 21, 2026, the Ekiti Governorship Election on June 20, 2026, and the Osun Governorship Election on August 8, 2026.

Speaking on the Anambra election, Agbamuche-Mbu said, “The commission has completed 10 of the 13 key activities,” adding that the final activities include the publication of the notice of poll on October 25, the end of the campaign period on November 6, and the election on November 8.

She stated that all non-sensitive materials had been delivered to the state and that voter education was ongoing.

The acting chairman said, “The commission is committed to keeping strictly to the remaining activities as detailed in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities. Political parties are therefore called upon to be mindful of the last day for campaigns and keep strictly to it.

“The commission has been working assiduously and making arrangements for the successful conduct of the Anambra State governorship election and has had several engagements with the security agencies at national, state and local government levels.

“All non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the state, and voter education and sensitisation are ongoing.”

She also provided a report on the by-elections conducted on August 16 across 12 states, covering two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and nine state assembly constituencies, in addition to two court-ordered rerun elections in Enugu and Kano states.

“Declarations and return were made… and Certificates of Return have been presented in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022,” she said.

Agbamuche-Mbu confirmed that the Continuous Voter Registration, which resumed nationwide in August, will continue until August 30, 2026.

She described the response to registration efforts as encouraging and said weekly updates are published on the INEC website.

On party registration, the acting chairman said the commission received 171 requests for registration of new political parties, but only 14 associations met the requirements to proceed to the next stage. These were evaluated based on constitutional and electoral law provisions.

In response, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, welcomed Agbamuche-Mbu’s appointment, stating, “The nation will benefit from her impressive service record and wealth of experience at this moment in our democratic process.”

Dantalle said IPAC had recently submitted reform proposals to the National Assembly, including the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions, transferring local government elections to INEC, reserving special seats for women, restoring public funding for political parties, and removing the President’s power to appoint INEC’s leadership.

He described the Anambra governorship election as a critical test for the commission.

“The litmus test of the new leadership is the conduct of the November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election.

“INEC should get its act together and get it right,” he said.

He added, “With new leadership, citizens’ expectations are high, very high. The commission should justify the confidence the nation reposed in it. This is the only way to rebuild trust in the electoral process.”

Dantalle concluded by expressing IPAC’s readiness to support the electoral process, saying, “We are all in it together to build a better, greater, inclusive, prosperous and just democratic society.”

Yakubu was first appointed as INEC Chairman by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015, and was confirmed by the Senate on October 28, 2015.

He became the first person to be reappointed to the position, earning a second term in November 2020—also under Buhari’s administration.

President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office in 2023, accepted Yakubu’s resignation and decorated him with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger in recognition of his service.

On Thursday, the National Council of State approved Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman. The appointment is now subject to Senate screening and confirmation.

Until then, Agbamuche-Mbu will continue to oversee the commission’s affairs as acting chairman.

INEC had earlier confirmed that 2.8 million voters are registered to participate in the Anambra election on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

The electoral body released the final list of candidates and announced the official commencement of campaign activities.

Sixteen political parties met the submission deadline of May 12 and will field candidates in the upcoming election.
(PUNCH)