Politics
Why Omehia Was Derecognised As Rivers Ex-gov – Wike
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. has blamed the Rivers State House of Assembly for recognising Celestine Omehia as a former Governor of the state in 2015.
He said the action of the State 32-member legislature was in violation of an extant Supreme Court judgement which ousted Omehia and said he never existed as governor in the eyes of the law.
The governor explained that with the benefit of hindsight, the leader of the state assembly even alluded to the judgement of the apex court ousting Omehia, which said he never stood for any election.
Wike said this in Government House, Port Harcourt, on Friday, when he signed a legal instrument into law de-recognising Omehia as former governor of the state, when it was presented to him by the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor.
He said the signing was an executive action sequel to the resolution of the State House of Assembly during its plenary on Thursday.
Wike explained that with the signing, the recognition that accorded Omehia the status of a former governor, with accruable rights and benefits are now cancelled.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: PDP BoT, Wike Meeting Ends In A Deadlock
The governor disclosed that he had always respected resolutions from the State Assembly and never had any reason to disagree with them.
This was contained in a statement issued by Kelvin Ebiri, media aide to the governor and made available to newsmen on Friday.
“Yesterday, I received a resolution from the Assembly de-recognising Sir Celestine Omehia, who had enjoyed the privileges of a former governor of the State.
“But you will recollect that sometime in 2007/2008, my predecessor, His Excellency Chibuike Amaechi did not recognize Sir Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the State.
“When we came on board, there were issues and the Assembly felt that, having served as governor, he should enjoy the status of a former governor.
“I’ve always respected the resolutions of the Assembly. I’ve never one day disagreed with anything the Assembly has sent to me,” the statement quoted Wike as saying.
Wike pointed to the reasons adduced by the leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly that the strength of the information they have now had compelled them to reverse what they did in 2015.
“The leader of the house said they have better facts and what are the facts?
“The facts are the Supreme Court judgment categorically stated that Sir Celestine Omehia was never a governor, because he never stood for any election and that it will be inappropriate for their (assembly) legacy that they didn’t respect the judgement of the Supreme Court.
“In this part of our country, people will praise you when it suits them, but when you do the uncommon thing, people will not praise you,” Wike stated.
The governor stressed the need why people should keep politics away from what had been done. He further urged members of the public to get a copy of the Supreme Court judgment and understand that it was the right thing to de-recognise Omehia.
“I had to call the Attorney General for him to give me his legal opinion as regards the resolution of the Assembly, and rightly the Attorney General said they (assembly) are right.
“That in the first instance, the recognition was extra-judicial, that the Assembly has no power to change the judgment of any court, not to talk about the Supreme Court.
“So, people should understand and not to begin to play politics,” the governor said.
He explained as untrue that the insinuation in the media that Omehia was de-recognised because he had ceased to be his ally, and now a member of the presidential campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Wike also pointed to the sum of money paid to Omehia as a proof against those who peddled tales that government does not pay such benefits at all.
READ ALSO: Wike Recovers Rivers Aircraft From Germany
“If this did not happen, nobody will even know that the State government has been coughing out such amount of money to pay as benefits.
“I’m sure, they must have told you that no benefits and all entitlements were never paid, that is what you hear everywhere.
“But yesterday, when it was revealed that the State government coughed out such amount of money to pay as benefits as recommended by the Assembly and now, they have sent the resolution to me, I thank God today, without looking back, I have signed it as instrument and it will be gazetted for record purposes.”
Politics
INEC Fixes Voter Registration Resumption Dates For Anambra Election, Nationwide
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume in Anambra on July 17 and nationwide on Aug. 18.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the commission’s quarterly meeting with political parties on Thursday in Abuja.
Yakubu said that in view of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra, the CVR exercise would be held at two levels.
He said the exercise would commence in the 326 wards across the state on July 8 and end on July 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, including the weekend.
READ ALSO: Anambra Governorship: INEC Publishes Final List, Announces Date For Campaign
“During the registration period, new voters as well as those who wish to transfer their registration to Anambra from other states of the federation or from one location to another within the state will have the opportunity to do so.
“Similarly, registered voters whose Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were lost or damaged will have the opportunity to apply for replacement.
“Uncollected PVCs from previous registrations will also be available for collection at the registration centres.
“Interested eligible Nigerian citizens are encouraged to appear in person to register,” he said.
The INEC chairman, however, explained that the online pre-registration option is currently unavailable.
READ ALSO: INEC Releases Details Of 16 Anambra Guber Candidates
Yakubu added that voter registration and compilation of the voters’ register must be completed not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.
“For the nationwide CVR, the commission has approved resumption of the online and in-person registration of voters in all states of the federation.
“The online pre-registration will start on Aug. 18, while the in-person registration will follow on Aug. 25.
“The exercise will be held simultaneously in all states and the FCT as well as the 774 Local Government Area offices nationwide,” he said.
Yakubu said the detailed schedule of activities would be released soon.
(NAN)
Politics
2027: Drama As Two ‘ADA’ Emerge In INEC’s List Of 110 Party Registration Bids
Two political associations seeking registration as political parties have submitted identical acronyms to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to Vanguard, the first is the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, being promoted by Chief Akin Ricketts and said to be one of the special purpose vehicles that the anti-Tinubu coalition is seeking to use as a platform in the 2027 general election.
While the Ricketts ADA is 109 on the INEC list, the other ADA, Advanced Democratic Alliance, is 110, the last one the list unveiled by the electoral umpire.
This second ADA has Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman as Protem Chairman and Zipporah Pius Miracles as Secretary.
READ ALSO: Atiku, El-Rufai Coalition Seeks INEC Registration For New Party
The Ricketts ADA has its national headquarters at Ground Floor, UAC Complex, Plot 273 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street, CBD, Abuja, FCT.
Suleiman’s ADA has its national headquarters at 1 Frandriance Close, Off Oda Crescent, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, no fewer than 110 political associations have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking registration as political parties.
Politics
Damagum Is PDP’s Problem – Ex-Benue Gov Suswam
Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Wednesday declared that the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum, is the problem of the party.
Suswam, who insisted that Damagum is not a leader, said the party has been drifting downwards since he assumed the role of acting National Chairman.
Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former governor said, “There is no integrity in the leadership of PDP, I’m happy that Wike said it.
READ ALSO::
“I have consistently said that Damagum is not a leader. What has happened here is that after the meeting with INEC, a good leader would have met with the National Working Committee members to brief them before holding any press conference.
“Damagum has been the problem of the PDP since he assumed the acting National Chairman of the party. The party has been drifting downward, I have said this thing consistently.
“First and foremost, he breached the provisions of the constitution which said that he must act for a period and this position must go back to the North Central.”
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