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Osunbor Withdraws From APC Edo Governorship Race

Published

3 months ago

February 22, 2024

Ace aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in the Edo governorship race, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor has pulled out of the rescheduled primary election scheduled for today.

Osunbor disclosed this in a letter dated February 21, 2024.

Recall that the former Edo governor last Tuesday submitted a petition to the APC Appeals committee and demanded a rescheduled primary that would be free and fair.

However, in the letter released on Wednesday, Osunbor pointed out illegality in the primary held last Saturday in which Dennis Idahosa emerged as the winner.

According to the letter, Osunbor said, “The primary election purportedly conducted last Saturday 17 February 2024 was, in my view, an exercise in illegality, shameful and a reckless and total disregard of the procedure under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, the APC Constitution, and the Guidelines for the Conduct of the Governorship primaries.

“To suggest or imply, as the statement seems to convey, that the National Working Committee desires to complete a totally flawed process goes against my principles of integrity, transparency and all the values that I hold dear.

“Accordingly, I hereby give you notice that I.do not wish to participate in the process which I see as an attempt to legitimise the illegitimate exercise of last Saturday. It is an attempt to build something on nothing.”

He further said, “My attention has been drawn to a Press Statement published this morning by Felix

Morka, Esq, the APC Publicity Secretary, to the effect that the National Working Committee of the party has resolved “that the Edo State Governorship Primary Election has not been completed, and has now fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024 (tomorrow) for, the completion of the Primary Election Process.

“Kindly therefore remove my name from the list of aspirants forthwith. With assurances of my respect as I remain a member of APC,” he added.

Related Topics:#edo poll APC APC primary Edo Guber

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EFCC Trial: ‘Even The Prophets Went To Prison’ – Buhari’s Minister Comforts Self In Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Editor

A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, standing trial for an alleged N7.2bn fraud, said he was ready to go to prison just like the prophets.

Sirika, his daughter, and three others were arraigned at a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday on a six-count amended criminal charge before Justice Sylvanus Oriji.

A video of the ex-minister speaking in court with his lawyers surfaced on X on Thursday.

In the video, Sirika, dressed in cream Babariga, could be heard saying, “It’s okay. Fatima, it’s okay,” while comforting his daughter.

He continued, “Even prophets have gone (to prison). Those that went, haven’t they finished theirs already?…whatever Allah says”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused the ex-minister, his daughter, son-in-law and Al-Duraq Investment Limited, of fraud in connection with the botched Nigerian Air project.

Meanwhile, the court granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N100m with two sureties each.

Before the trial judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji granted the bail request of the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them after it was read out to them.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, had informed the court of an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7, and filed on May 8, which was not opposed by the counsel for the defendants.

Sirika’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court of his client’s bail application dated May 6.

The other defendants similarly, moved their bail applications and prayed the court to be liberal in the bail conditions.

Jacobs, on his part, told the court that all the defendants were on administrative bail and asked the court to grant bail on the condition that would make them appear for their trials.

Apart from the N100m bail, Justice Osuji added that one of the sureties must own a landed property with valid land titles in like sum within the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge also held that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means while he barred the defendants from travelling outside the country without its permission.

He added that failure to fulfil the bail conditions would earn the defendants a stay in a correctional facility.