Politics

Obi Will Garner Votes In South-East, Umahi Confesses

Published

3 years ago

September 9, 2022

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, on Friday, said the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would garner a significant number of votes from the South-East.

The former presidential aspirant who described himself as a loyal party man rooting for the All Progressive Congress’ win in the 2023 presidential election, said Obi’s political movement would be an effective harbinger for an Igbo presidency.

However, the movement will not “translate into an outright win”. Umahi revealed this to State House Correspondents shortly after a private visit to the President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The visit, he said, is to invite Buhari to commission the new N1.2bn Ebonyi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja in mid-October.

Feilding a question about his earlier reservations following his loss at the APC presidential primaries and his demand for a president of Southeast extraction in 2023, Umahi described the Obi Movement as an eye opener showing that the South East would not be forgotten in Nigeria’s politics.

The governor said despite the Labour Party’s poise to take a bulk of the Southeast votes, the APC will emerge victorious in next year’s election.

Asked what critical selling points will form the APC’s campaign message in the southeast, he said: “It’s going to be a different ball game altogether. Because when the campaign starts, yes, the interest of our people in terms of the presidency is there, you can’t wish it away. But everyone in the southeast holding the ticket of their party is going to be struggling. You will not tell the guy that has the ticket of the House of Assembly to look at the bigger picture of Igbo presidency. He may not see it but that is not to say that Peter Obi is not going to get substantial votes in the South East.

“But the structure and the spread of APC is such that victory is assured. And I can assure you that some of the disagreements in some states are going to be resolved. A mechanism has been put in place by Mr. President, the candidate of the party, his vice and then the national chairman and leadership of the party, to sort out our differences. And I think we are well prepared for victory in 2023.”

Questioned about the southeast’s readiness to man the presidency, Umahi said: “What happened during the primaries of PDP and APC, were a kind of miscalculation by our people but to say whether they’re ready for the presidency of the country anytime, I think that the movement of Peter Obi is an eye opener.

“That’s why I said, I love what he’s doing. I’m encouraged by what he’s doing. Because if he’s not doing what he’s doing, it means that the South East would have been forgotten.

“So, while my party takes the victory, he would have prepared a very good ground, for the South East Presidency, so that nobody is going to write us off. And you can see the level of his acceptability, which does not translate to victory over APC. I’m sure of that, but it’s a good movement. And it reassures the southeast people and the entire country that we are accepted, you know, that we will one day become the president of this country. It is very important.”

He however argued that there is no direct link between the reduced cases of killings in the southeast and the Obi movement.

Lately, there has been an ongoing narrative that the gory violence prevalent in the Southeast is subsiding due to the prospect of Peter Obi clinching the Presidency in 2023.

He said “You cannot technically assign the reduction in the killings for Igbo presidency, you can see that security generally is improving in the country. And it has nothing to do with the movement of Peter Obi.

“Peter Obi movement is a movement that is anchored on equity, justice and fairness. It may not translate to an outright win because I must defend my party, I must wish my party well and I’m having the ticket of my party.

“But whether what he is doing has meaning there, it is not only in the southeast, it does have meaning. So we must never attribute the killings in the southeast to this kind of movement,” he argued.

Umahi noted that every candidate has a chance to win the elections and he wishes Peter Obi the victory.

“As a party man, I would wish that our party would win. And if God says no, the next person I wish that should win is Peter Obi. Because I believe strongly and I will say it anywhere in this north-south presidency after the north has taken eight years, there is no moral justification for the north to be seeking to take another eight years, it should go to the south. And so, I’m not wishing Peter Obi away.

“Everybody has the chance of winning and chances of losing but you must always have a wish,” he said.

Politics

Twist In Edo PDP Crisis As Faction Elects State Executives

Published

16 hours ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The crisis rocking Edo State chapter Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reignited on Sunday as a faction loyal to the party National Vice Chairman, South -South elected Nosa Ogieva as the state chairman of the party.

Ogieva, who was sworn in alongside other 13 members of the executive promised to reunite the party, and that PDP would soon begin to win elections again in the state.

Recall that a faction loyal to the Umar Damagum-led national secretariat of the PDP held its congress on September 27, 2925 where Dr. Tony Aziegbemi emerged as the state chairman of the PDP.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Orbih said former governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki was responsible for the crisis in the party.

Obaseki, who said Obaseki quarreled with everybody he met in the party, added that the poor performance of the party in the recently conducted by-elections showed how unpopular the party had become.

Orbih carpeted an earlier statement issued by the other faction of the party where they called on members to disregard the announcement for the State Congress.

He said: “Just yesterday (Saturday), I saw a statement issued by some funny characters saying they are advising party members not to attend this event. Are you not here?

“Those who don’t have any moral authority to speak on behalf of the party should keep their mouth shut.

Politics

2027: Senator Imasuen Visits His Ward, Seeks Support For Tinubu

Published

19 hours ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) family in Ward 5, Umagbai, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State, on Saturday, rolled out the drums as Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South, visited for an interactive session with party faithful at the grassroots level to mobilise support for President Tinubu ahead of 2027 general elections.

The interactive session, which drew chieftains, ward chairmen and party faithful from the 22 units in the ward, was marked by jubilation and reaffirmed the party’s strength in the district.

Speaking at the gathering, Senator Imasuen expressed gratitude for the warm reception, stressing the need to build bridges with his local base.

He noted that while he joined the APC at the State level on June 12, it was crucial to identify with his ward because “politics is local.”

“It was very imperative that I come to my ward, not only to officially inform them of my joining the party since June 12, but also to meet the ward executives,” the lawmaker said.

“This move will strengthen the party, promote unity and ensure victory at the polls.”

Imasuen lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “bold and courageous” economic reforms, adding that such steps were necessary to turn the nation’s fortunes around.

He also echoed the Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s pledge to deliver 2.5 million votes to Tinubu in 2027, declaring the target a “done deal.”

“By the grace of God, Asiwaju 2027 is settled. Part of that settlement is to begin to work towards that goal from the grassroots,” he added.

APC leaders in the local government hailed the senator for the move to galvanize support for the president ahead of 2027, pledging their support for the movement.

The All Progressive Congress, LGA Chairman, Osayimwenre Osawe, described him as “an asset” whose presence as a federal lawmaker would bring democratic dividends to Uhunmwonde.

“He is not a liability. He came to add value. Being a senator of the Federal Republic is a plus to our party. Beyond development, his return for a second term would make him a ranking senator, and that will position him for more influence on the Senate floor,” Osawe declared.

Also speaking, Acting Council Chairman, Augustine Imafidon Uhuonde, pledged unwavering support for the senator, praising his performance in facilitating projects in the senatorial district.

“Even watching him from the other side, he made us proud. Today, he has come down to the ward level to join hands with us. That shows he is ‘grass-rooted’ and truly the man of the people,” Uhuonde said.

Prominent party figures at the event included Festus Aimierovbiye, Chairman APC Ward 5; former Edo State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo; Hon. Derick Uhunmwagho, Liaison Officer and Chief of Staff to the senator; Iziegbe Gabriel, LGA Coordinator; and Ese Edegbe, Ward 5 Assistant Coordinator.

Politics

Court Declines Kachikwu’s Motion Against INEC, ADC Leaders

Published

3 days ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday declined to hear an application filed by the African Democratic Congress’ 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, refused to entertain the motion.

Kachikwu, through his counsel, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), had sought an order compelling INEC to withdraw the publication of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola’s names as national chairman and secretary of the ADC, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

INEC had recently recognised Mark, a former Senate President, and Aregbesola, a former Governor of Osun State, as the party’s national chairman and national secretary.

On July 7, Kachikwu and four others – Adikwu Elias, Etimbuk Umoh, Muhammed Khala, and Alaku Godwin William – filed an originating summons challenging the recognition of the duo.

The suit lists INEC, ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola as the first to fifth defendants.

When the matter was called on Friday, Akinlaja told the court that a motion dated September 19 had been filed. He argued that despite the pendency of the suit, INEC went ahead to recognise Mark and Aregbesola as party leaders.

The plaintiffs asked the court to set aside the recognition and publication of their names, describing it as a breach of the doctrine of lis pendens. They also sought an injunction restraining Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola from further relating with INEC as ADC’s national officers.

However, counsel for the ADC, Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), along with other defence lawyers, opposed the application.

After hearing arguments, Justice Omotosho declined to entertain the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1331/2025.

He said, “This court is not inclined to nullify anything at this stage, whether done before or now. This is a political case. I am not taking any interlocutory matter.”

The judge held that all processes filed by the parties, including preliminary objections, would be taken together with the substantive case.

Despite repeated pleas by Akinlaja for the motion to be heard, the court stood its ground.

Justice Omotosho also granted an application for joinder filed by Nkemakolam Ukandu, the ADC deputy national secretary, and ordered that his name be added as a defendant.

He directed the plaintiffs to file the amended processes within 48 working hours and gave the defence seven days to respond. The case was adjourned till October 23 for hearing.