The Abia State Government said it would commence the distribution of relief materials to the vulnerable people to cushion the effect of the lockdown of the State starting today (Tuesday) .

The state Governor , Okezie Ikpeazu , said this after inspecting materials which included bags of rice, beans , garri, tubers of yam , noodles as well as hand sanitizers and face masks meant for distribution to the people of the state.

Ikpeazu said the distribution would be done in a segregated manner to cover about six churches at a time .

He pointed out that the strategy was to distribute the items through the churches , mosques , traditional rulers and president generals of town unions to reach out to the less privileged individuals in their communities , adding that by so doing , 70 per cent of Abia people would be reached .

According to him , the government could not provide all that was required to alleviate the sufferings of the people as a result of the lockdown .

The governor also said the fumigation of markets and institutions in the state would also commence today .

Ikpeazu explained that after the first 14 days , it will become compulsory for every resident of the state to wear a mask .

He also said the Inter-ministerial Committee would today (Tuesday), do a review of the lockdown with a view to determining the next step to take .

Deputy APC National Deputy Secretary General Victor Giadom says Adams Oshiomhole is still in court. Judge Victor Giadom said that the suspension of Judge Oshiomhole from his office to the presidency, she is still in operation.

Giadom made the statement in a statement to reporters on Sunday, March 8, 2020, saying he had accepted the party. In a statement, Victor Giadom stated that he had taken over the party's leadership from Oshiomhole, whose office is now closed. Victor Giadom later announced that the NEC will hold its scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 17, as previously announced.

Giadom says he is the new interim president Source: Twitter The ruling party's president said that as the interim secretary of the APC, the law allows him to lead the party at such a time. Giadom has indicated he is the current holder of the NWC in Adams Oshiomhole, so he says the party's leadership is now back in his hands.

As the APC's internal crisis intensified, the deputy secretary-general made the announcement in Abuja, The Nation reported. But President Giadom's remarks have again thrown the APC into chaos after some party leaders have come out to suggest that no NEC summit will be held.

As the Supreme Court, today entertains the appeal filed by former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, challenging the nullification of his election, fresh facts show that the apex court has many knotty questions to answer.

There are indications that neither Senator Hope Uzodinma nor Ihedioha meets the constitutional requirements to be declared the winner from all results available.

Therefore, if none of the duo meets the requirement to be declared governor, what will the apex court do? Will it order a re-run or fresh poll?

Uzodinma’s headache

From the results, Uzodinma tendered based on which the apex court nullified Ihedioha’s election and ordered his swearing-in, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate did not score 25 percent of votes cast in at least 18 of the 27 local councils (two-third) required to be declared governor.

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, who ran on the card of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was declared the winner of the governorship election and sworn in.

The figures in the first results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, showed that Ihedioha polled 273,404 ahead of his closest rival and candidate of Action Alliance, AA, Uche Nwosu, who polled 190,364 votes.

The candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Ifeanyi Ararume, came third with 114,676 votes ahead of Uzodinma, who came fourth with 96,458 votes. No fewer than 70 candidates took part in the election.

Announcing the results, the state’s returning officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Francis Otunta, gave the total registered voters across the state as 2,221,008 and the total accredited voters as 823,743.

He said 25,130 votes were cancelled across the state, with total valid votes as 714,355, while the total votes cast were 739,485.

However, Uzodinma challenged the declaration of Ihedioha as winner, arguing that INEC excluded results from 388 polling units, which if added he would be the winner. He lost at the tribunal and Court of Appeal, but had the upper hand at the apex court.

The Supreme Court, in the unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, held that the case of the appellants had merit and consequently granted the reliefs as prayed by Uzodinma and APC.

According to the apex court, the concurrent judgement of the lower court erred in law when it excluded votes totalling 213,295 from 388 polling units from the total scores at the election.

“It is, hereby, declared that first appellant, Senator Hope Uzodinma, polled a majority of lawful votes cast at the governorship held in Imo State on March 9, 2019 and satisfied the mandatory constitutional threshold and spread across the state,” the apex ruled.

25% in 17 councils

However, Vanguard checks showed that from the results Uzodinma tendered he did not meet the 25 percent score in 18 local councils, which is two-third of 27 local councils in Imo State.

In the first result, he scored 25 percent and above in two councils—Oru West and Oru East. In the second, which did not have scores for the other 68 parties, Uzodinma had 25 percent and above in 17 councils, one shy of the required 18.

If the scores of the other political parties were added, it would be less than 17.

The 17 councils where he scored 25 percent and above are Obowo, Ehime Mbano, Ngor Okpala, Isiala Mbano, Owerri West, Njaba, Oru East, Oru West, Orlu, Oguta, Ohaji-Egbema, Mbaitoli, Orsu, Ikeduru, Nkwere, Ideato North and Isu.

Ihedioha’s drawback

Although, Ihedioha had the simple majority in the first result, the tally showed that he did not secure 25 percent of the votes in 18 local councils. He did in 11 local councils. And in the second result that gifted Uzodinma victory, he secured 25 percent in eight local governments.

The 11 councils Ihedioha got 25 percent in the first result are Obowo, Ezinifite Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ngor Okpala,Owerri North, Owerri West, Oguta, Mbaitoli, Owerri Municipal, Ikeduru, and Aboh Mbaise.

Ray of hope

However, if the results of Chief Uche Nwosu, the AA candidate is discountenanced, Ihedioha will have 25 percent in no fewer than 20 councils in the first result.

Uzodinma will also enjoy the same measure from the second result.

After the declaration of Ihedioha as winner of the election by INEC, nine political parties brought petitions before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

After exchange of pleadings, six petitioners withdrew their petitions leaving only three that went to trial.

Uche Nwosu of AA claimed that there should be a run-off between him and Emeka Ihedioha because he came second and that Ihedioha did not obtain the mandatory 25 percent of the votes cast in two-thirds of the local governments.

At the trial, Uche Nwosu failed to establish this allegation, and his petition was dismissed.

Nwosu, who pursued his case to the Supreme Court, withdrew his appeal, having regard to the judgement of the Supreme Court on December 20, 2019 stating that Uche Nwosu was nominated by APC as her candidate for the governorship election and that later on he obtained a second nomination from AA, thereby rendering his candidature in the election invalid and void as provided in Section 37 of the Electoral Act.

With Nwosu out of the way, whoever gets a favourable verdict today between Uzodinma and Ihedioha will not have the problem of 25 percent spread.

Uzodinma asks Supreme Court to dismiss Ihedioha’s motion

Uzodinma has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss Ihedioha’s application seeking judicial review of the apex court’s judgement which had on January 14, ordered his removal from office.

Uzodimma’s preliminary objection was against a motion on notice dated February 5, filed by Ihedioha and PDP. They prayed the Supreme Court for an order setting aside “as a nullity the judgement delivered by it on January 14.”

Uzodinma and APC’s preliminary objection against Ihedioha was brought pursuant to Section 6(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The objection raised and argued the competence of the motion and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain same and, therefore, urged the apex court to strike out the motion filed by Ihedioha. They said that the application being a proceeding relating to or arising from election of a governor is barred by effluxion of time.

“The application constitutes an invitation to the Supreme Court to sit on appeal over its final decision” Uzodinma posited.

They submitted that having delivered its final decision, the Supreme Court has become fuctus officio and divested of jurisdiction over the same subject matter.

They said: “Order 8 Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules 2014 prohibits the apex court from reviewing its judgement once given and delivered, save to correct clerical mistakes or accidental slip.

“The judgement sought to be set aside having been given effect by the inauguration of Uzodinma as Governor of Imo, this honourable court lacks the jurisdiction to grant the prayer sought.”

More so, Uzodinma stated that Ihedioha’s application “constitutes an abuse of court process” and “is against public policy. He added that the application filed by the ousted governor amounts to an invitation to the court to indulge in academic exercise and answer hypothetical questions.

Enlarged State Executive Committee (SEC) of Delta State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, removed the party secretary, Chidi Okonji, over alleged insubordination and gross dereliction of duty.

The committee during a meeting in Asaba, presided over by the Chairman, Jones Erue, also sworn-in Alex Nwadiamu as Okonji’s replacement.

Also sworn-in were new Deputy Chairman, Moses Ogodo, three zonal chairmen, state woman leader and two others as replacements for those earlier suspended by the party.

In a swift reaction, Okonji described the action as unconstitutional, noting that the chairman was unable to muster the two-third majority required to remove him.

The ongoing clash between the Governor of Rivers State , Nyesom Wike, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress , Adams Oshiomhole , continued on Saturday when the governor described the party chairman as a man without character.

Oshiomhole had, after the Supreme Court judgment that gave the Peoples Democratic Party victory in the Bayelsa State governorship election on Thursday , stated that nobody would be sworn in the South -South state the following day.

But the swearing - in held amid protests and violence, leading to declaration of a three - day curfew in the state .

Wike also dismissed Oshiomhole ’ s claim that he (Wike ) was a violent politician , adding that the APC national chairman ’ s bitterness stemmed from the fact that he and his political party were stopped from stealing the mandate of Rivers people .

Wike had in his response accused Oshiomhole of trying to cause trouble in the Niger Delta region with his utterances , adding that the Federal Government should caution him .

Apparently dissatisfied with Wike ’ s reaction , Oshiomhole on Friday described the governor as a violent politician , who was trying to use the situation in Bayelsa to ingratiate himself with the PDP and the immediate past governor of the state, Seriake Dickson .

But in his fresh response on Saturday , Wike, who spoke in an interview at the Government House in Port Harcourt, called for the resignation of Oshiomhole in view of his failure to stop the inauguration of Bayelsa State Governor , Douye Diri, as he earlier boasted .

Wike added , “ I think Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress is not a character that anybody should associate with.

“ First of all, I have never been violent and I will never be violent . However , when you see an armed robber come to your house , will you plead with the armed robber and say please, I beg you , leave my house .

“ People think that armed robbers are only those who cart away people ’ s money. The worst form of armed robbery is when you steal people ’ s mandate and just like what Oshiomhole is noted for. He thinks because he ’ s in the ruling party , he can use security to steal the mandate of the people .

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday deregistered 74 political parties on the grounds that they failed to meet requirements for party registration .

The Chairman of INEC , Prof Mahmood Yakubu , who released names of the deregistered political parties at a press conference in Abuja , also said 18 parties made the list of registered parties in the country.

The registered political parties , which reacted angrily to INEC ’ s decision , said it was sub judice , saying they would take legal action against the commission .

Among the deregistered parties are the National Conscience Party , which was established by the late human rights lawyer , Gani Fawehinmi , SAN, Kowa Party and the United Peoples Party .

They also include Pastor Chris Okotie ’ s Fresh Democratic Party ; Peoples Trust , whose presidential candidate was Gbenga Olawepo - Hashim ; the Advanced Allied Party , the All Blending Party , the Advanced Congress of Democrats , the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria , the Alliance for Democracy , the All Grassroots Alliance , the All Grand Alliance Party , the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party , the Alliance For New Nigeria, the Alliance National Party , the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party , the African Peoples Alliance , the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance , the Alternative Party of Nigeria and the Alliance of Social Democrats .

According to INEC , 18 successful parties are the Accord Party , the Action Alliance , Omoyele Sowore ’ s African Action Congress , the African Democratic Congress , the All Progressives Congress , the All Progressive Grand Alliance and the Allied Peoples Movement .

Others are Labour Party , the New Nigeria Peoples Party , the National Rescue Movement , the Peoples Democratic Party , the Peoples Redemption Party , the Social Democratic Party , the Young Progressives Party , and the Zenith Labour Party .

At the press conference , Yakubu said the commission had fixed the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states for September 19 and October 10 respectively .

He explained that the Boot Party registered after 2019 general elections would continue to exist .

Yakubu said the commission deregistered the 74 political parties because they breached requirements for party registration .

According to the group, having already penetrated the NASS, the PDP sought to win over the Service Chiefs to its fold.

President Muhammadu Buhari

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Local Government Chairmen on Thursday raised the alarm over an impending plot by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari with the aid of the National Assembly.

The grassroots APC chairmen made the revelation while accusing the PDP of manipulating the National Assembly to remove the current administration from office.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, National Coordinator of the group, Adadu Alegwu revealed that the opposition has resorted to the legislative arm having failed to legitimately oust President Buhari through the Judiciary.

The recent upsurge in criminal activities across the country; from Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks to banditry and kidnappings, the group alleged, are the handiwork of the PDP, whose desperation for power isn’t strange.

However, the APC Chairmen said the new-found alliance with the National Assembly was a cause for worry, especially after some of its disloyal members reportedly received humongous sum to betray the party.

This script, the group further revealed, is orchestrated by a top-ranking member of the PDP in the National Assembly, backed by a former president, a governor of one of the South-South state and a perpetual presidential candidate.

According to the group, having already penetrated the NASS, the PDP sought to win over the Service Chiefs to its fold.

Alegwu noted that the grand plot was a coup against democracy, and as such discerning members of the general public are placed on notice of the manifestation of the destabilization plot by the PDP.

He said: “The National Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen the umbrella forum of all APC local government chairmen in Nigeria is holding the press conference as a matter of national interest to intimate members of the general public of the clandestine plot by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to remove President Muhammadu Buhari from office through the National Assembly.

“According to credible information reaching the National Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen has indeed revealed that the opposition PDP is the brain behind the recent upsurge of criminal activities across the country manifest in Boko Haram/ISWAP, banditry and kidnappings.

“This they, the PDP, have elected to do in an attempt to pitch the people against the democratically elected government of President Muhammadu Buhari all in a bid to take the mandate freely given by the people through the backdoor and destabilize the country.

“The PDP has enlisted the members of the National Assembly to carry out this nefarious act, and they have also gone a step further by soliciting the buy-in of some disloyal APC members in the National Assembly by compromising them with huge monetary inducement.

“We wish to state that the plot in the National Assembly was orchestrated by a top-ranking member of the PDP in the National Assembly who have been mandated by the leadership of the PDP to see to the realization of this grand plot against democracy in Nigeria.

“The general public should be informed that the PDP has mobilized humongous amount of monies for this despicable act that has seen monies exchanging hands for the actualization of their evil agenda against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The National Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen wishes to inform the general public that credible information at our disposal indicates that a former president, a governor of one of the South-South states, a perpetual presidential candidate, who still has his gaze at the 2023 presidential elections, and a governor from one of the states in northwest Nigeria, are all behind this despicable plot.

“This grand plot against democracy in Nigeria has as a component a puerile campaign against the Service Chiefs because of their loyalty to the country and the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and also their refusal to surrender the country to them during the 2019 general elections.

“We also have it on competent authority that the character and efforts of the Service Chiefs would be subjected to an inglorious slander campaign to compromise their loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen have also gathered from credible sources that should the Service Chiefs refuse to buckle to their evil plots; there would be a covert sponsorship of criminal activities across the country in a bid to undermine their efforts in the fight against terrorism and other political militant groups.

“Also, as part of the grand plot, the PDP has enlisted the support of a major religious group to use their platform to issue statements and carry out actions that would discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and by extension to paint a picture of religious persecution, which would, in turn, set the country on a dangerous religious crisis.

“The game plan is to ensure that the Supreme Court is also brought to disrepute since it failed to remove President Muhammadu Buhari from office. We consequently wish to state that the recent nationwide protest by the PDP over the Supreme Court judgment is a pointer to what to expect from the PDP and their hatchet men in the next few days.

“The Forum of APC Local Governme

nt Chairmen considers the grand plot as a coup against democracy, and as such discerning members of the general public are placed on notice of the manifestation of the destabilization plot by the PDP that would be unleashed on the country in the days ahead.”

When Senate Minority Leader, representing Abia-South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, calls for President Muhammadu Buhari resignation, the Presidency responded and said “Abaribe ought to be in correctional facility."

Abaribe replied and said that an Igbo man doesn't kneel down for anybody except his “Chi”, a spiritual god.

Fani Kayode also tweeted, that he loves and respects an Igbo man because they are defiant and strong warriors.

Igbo believes, one can achieved the impossible as long as his “Chi” does not accept defeat.

According to Chinua Achebe " among the Igbo of Akwa a man who arrives at a point in his life needs to set up a Shrine to his Chi (personal god) and invites a priest to perform a ritual of bringing down the spirit from the face of the sun at daybreak. Thereafter it is represented physically in the man's compound until the day of his death when the Shrine must be destroyed."

Some suspected hired gunmen have attacked an ex Attorney-General and Commissioner of Edo State, Barr. Henry Idahagbon.

The gunmen were said to have arrived Idahagbon’s office along Siluko road in Bénin City and started shooting sporadically.

People relaxing at a restaurant in the ground floor of the building were said to have scampered for safety.

Some witnesses said shots were fired at the building.

Idahagbon was said to have ran out through the exit door of the two- storey building.

Speaking in a chat with reporters, Idahagbon alleged that the attackers used a state government Hilux vehicle.

He said he was inside the building when the shooting started but he narrowly escaped being hit.

His words:

“It was the State Government vehicle that they used. They came in a government Hilux van and started shooting at the building.

“They broke everything at the restaurant. It was a government vehicle.

“The President should declare a state of emergency. They have turned their gun barrel against their citizens”.

But Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the alleged attack on Idahagbon, was one of the latest step in the plot by National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to disrupt peace and safety in Edo State.

Crusoe said the state government has continuously warned that the Oshiomhole and members of EPM were hellbent on causing a breakdown of law and order in the state.