IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

By Dr Ezeafurukwe Paul Ịhụnanya, Owerri.

Nigeria’s staggering democracy is speedily tilting towards the rich taking charge of the whole electoral processes in their different political parties. Plutocracy as it is has never been known to us as one of the ethos of democracy and how our politicians are breeding this monstrous act remains a wonder.

Vote buying or merchandising, no matter how it is christened has militated against the will of the people as well worked against the socio-development of a people. This is mostly done by political desperadoes who lack all it takes to win elections either at the primaries or general elections and feel that moneybag politics is the way to go.

Delegates and electorates have made themselves vulnerable to these political merchants that they now see it as money for "business as usual," thus a transaction that benefits both parties. 

Worse still, delegates and electorates now prioritize highest bider over competence and hardwork thereby voting only the candidates with deep pockets.

Recently, the PDP lost its frontline Presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi in what he summarily described as not ready to play the money politics which goes against everything he stands for and his principles. This revelation, in the eyes of the average Nigerian, may have exposed the political naivety of Peter Obi but to many it is an open secret known to everybody and when you them shout “PDP!!!"… "share the money" rents the air.

Across the nation, PDP primary elections have been characterized and marred by vote buying while some politicians may have achieved their purpose of clinching the party ticket others are resigning in droves, counting their losses and holding grudges against the party for encouraging the daylight robbery of their mandates.

The PDP Special National Convention holding in Abuja which will see to the election of her Presidential flag-bearer has been adjudged to rain dollars. This is because many have narrowed the contest a two-horse race between the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, though other contenders exist. These two gladiators are known to throw dollars for votes and one of them has been spiting fire and brimstone and no doubt backed up by state Petro-Dollar. A situation of money for money and bragging rights for bragging rights.

Available information from the Velodrome of the M.K.O Abiola National Stadium, Abuja confirms that it has been raining dollars ranging from $10,000-$50,000 and most shocking of it is the bazaar of vote buying where the highest bidder takes it home.

These inglorious acts by the moneybags have in no small measure robbed not just the youths of inclusion in governance but the nation of quality leaders that can offer selfless service and has continued to enthrone the rich demagogues.

PDP and likewise every other party involved in these criminal act should know that they are mortgaging the future of the nation and even generations yet unborn as these desperadoes will continue to amass wealth for the purpose of buying off delegates and electorates and will continue to remain in power.

It may not be too late for the PDP to change this ugly trend the are known for. They can, at least, as an Opposition party, set the pace for others to follow and they should as a matter of urgency look inwards to make sure that moneybags in the party do not have a field day as to determine who gets what and when in the party especially during this special elective convention else they will spend more to lose the general election.

By Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri

A former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim, has withdrawn from the Imo North Senatorial district primary election of the All Progressives Congress which is billed to take place in the Six Local Government Areas in the district on Saturday.

Ohakim, who was the governor of Imo state between 2007 and 2011, announced his withdrawal from the race in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Adamu through the chairman of the party in Imo state.

The letter which was dated Friday, May 27, disclosed that the ex governor withdrew from the senatorial race after he consulted his family and close associates.

The letter was titled " withdrawal from senatorial primary election"

The three paragraph letter read " it is with the highest sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my withdrawal from the senatorial primaries for Imo North scheduled for Saturday May, 28, 2022.

"The decision to withdraw from the race was arrived at after due consultations with my family and close associates and after a thorough review of events in the last couple of days.

"I wish to assure the leadership of our great party at all levels of my commitment to the success of the party both now and in the future. May I also seize this opportunity to thank you for your encouragement and moral support while I was in the race."

Hon. Collins is a good party man who knows his onions in the polity that is why his people are of the opinion he should run for the House of Representatives seat to represent Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency.

A group under the aegis of Mbaitoli Renaissance Movement have spoken with strong voice to make their demands. The Leader of the group, Dr. Chibundu Amadi who spoke with Journalists in the State Constituency capital insisted that Hon. Ugorji should come back to APC and slog it out there.

According to him "Hon. Collins is a good man and good at what he does. Going to Labour Party from APGA at this time is a wrong move. He should come back home (APC) and grab the ticket for Mbaike Federal Constituency especially now that the Supreme Court has laid to rest the bottlenecks in the party and reinstating Hon. Dan Nwafor Leadership of the party."

He equally praised the Supreme Court for the landmark victory as they described it as Victory for Democracy. He also added that Hon. Collins is so committed to providing succor to the downtrodden in the society. The oppressed, motherless and fatherless children, widows, and other disadvantaged ones shall once again smile because they are on the plan of Hon. Collins.

"He is a Technocrat that will bring to bear good ideas that will help the Federal Government in policy making that will turn the fortunes of the Nation for the better because Leadership is working with goals and vision.

The group also condemned in strong terms the I'll treatment meted on Hon. Collins Ugorji and they believe the Courts will come out to prove his innocence and zeal to see the right thing done in our society.

By Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri.

Labour Party will make impacts in South East in 2023 with Peter Obi as its presidential candidate.

It is the desire of the present that LP will win legislative positions and may likely clinch one governorship seat in the south East zone. With Anambra state off season for the 2023 political calender, Labour Party has a brighter chance of winning the governorship election in Abia state. 

With a first class economist, Dr Alex Otti, with street acceptance as it governorship candidate, Labour Party is most likely to take Abia's political space by storm, next year.

Judging from the below standard performance of the outgoing governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who wants to go to the Senate and at same time still wants to impose his successor on Abians, the God's Own state looks brighter for the labour party to grab.

Ikpeazu has many political battles to face and with his acceptability problem among the Abia state electorate, Labour Party presenting Otti who everybody knew won the 2015 governorship election in the state, Labour Party which many are now seeing as party Ndigbo may be on its way to the Abia state government house in Umuahia, the state capital.

Hon. Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro joins APGA, emerges APGA Senatorial Candidate for Owerri Zone .

Hon. Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro becomes the only Woman running for the Position in Imo State, thus calling for support even on the ground of gender Sensitivity.

Recall that Hon. Barr. Mrs Ugochi  Nnanna Okoro served in various capacities in the Rescue Mission Government of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha.

Congratulations to her.

The Supreme Court has affirmed Daniel Nwafor as the authentic Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Imo State.

A five-man panel of justices of the apex court led by Justice Kayode Ariwola, delivered the judgement on the merit of a suit that was seeking to set aside the judgement of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which sacked Mr Nwafor as the Chairman of the APC in Imo state.

The ruling APC had through its lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, contended that the appellate court erred in law when it okayed Nwafor’s removal, based on a pre-election matter that was lodged before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by one of its chieftains in the state.

Earlier, an Abuja High Court had in a ruling by Justice Othman Musa delivered on July 20, 2020, ordered Nwafor not to enforce or give effect to a 2018 judgement of the court that recognised him as Chairman of APC in Imo state, pending the determination of the appeal that was filed by the party.

Justice Musa had stated that the crux of the appeal by the APC was that at the time the court entertained the suit that led to the judgement that recognized Nwafor as its Chairman in Imo, it was more than 14 days from the date it held congresses in the state.

Consequently, while granting an order to set aside the judgement, Justice Musa issued an injunctive order that restrained Nwafor from functioning as chairman, pending the determination of the case, an order that now has been superseded by the Supreme Court’s judgment.

Following the victory at the apex court today, Mr Daniel Nwafor addressed the media declaring that his faction is the only one recognized by law and as such, all the activities carried out by the caretaker committee including especially the election of delegates for all positions in the current party primaries process are null and void.

He advice the party to immediately recognize his chairmanship and authority within his purview, lest the party risks not having any National and State Assembly members come 2023.