IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reassured the residents of Ekiti State of its readiness to conduct a free and fair governorship election in the state.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, gave the assurance on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily monitored by Core TV News. He revealed that over 980,000 residents have been captured in the commission’s voters’ register but less than 200,000 of the figure were expected at the polling units.

“As of today, we have a total of 988,923 voters on the voters’ register,” Okoye said. “This is the number that will vote during this governorship election. “Out of this number, as of the 13th day of June 2022, 749,065 have collected their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs). So, we are ready for this particular election and every PVC that has not been collected will be mopped up and kept in safe custody pending the conclusion of the election.”

He recounted that the chairman of the electoral umpire had hinted that the collection of PVCs by residents would stop on Thursday.

The Federal High Court has dismissed as false an online report stating that the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Biodun Oyebanji have been disqualified from the Ekiti State Governorship election slated to hold on June 18. A signed statement made available to media houses by the assistant Director Information, FHC, Catherine Oby Christopher described the report as unfortunate and unacceptable.

The statement reads, "The attention of the Federal High Court has been drawn to an online report in circulation on the above subject matter with a purportedly assigned Suit Number: FHC/ABJ/CS/528/22, claiming that Hon.Justice Inyang Ekwo disqualified the APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji from the Ekiti governorship election, less than 48 hours to the polls. "The Federal High Court hereby debunks the existence of any such case in its entire jurisdiction and indeed the Court Order as alleged.

"The Contact Court states categorically that there has been no such case before Hon. justice I.E Ekwo. The said report is unfounded, very mischievous and aimed at not only misleading members of the public, but also causing tension. "It is worrisome that some media practitioners hasten to give false information to the public for their own selfish interests, thereby unduly heating up the polity. "Professionalism and truth remain ethical values that should guide journalists in their daily reportage of issues.

"This spurious reportage sold out to the public is most unfortunate and unacceptable. It should be totally ignored."

...they are expelled former IPOB members

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has released names of alleged kidnappers in the South East.

This was contained in a statement signed by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful.

The secessionist group dissociated itself from the criminals, saying it had never been part of or behind the ongoing insecurity and criminalities in the region.

Powerful also made it clear that the group is working towards exposing those behind the ongoing criminalities in Anambra, Enugu, and Imo states.

“In Abia State particularly, a certain Nkechi Kalu and her gang of about eight kidnap members operating between Abia State and Igweocha, Rivers State are not IPOB members, they and their activities should not be associated with ‘IPOB family’ membership.

“In Enugu State, a certain group of criminal elements turned themselves into enemies of the people, the names of their gang leaders are as follows; Chocho and Mazi Ejiofor; [they] are not IPOB members and anybody associating with them is a confirmed criminal,” the statement read in part.

He added that “the above-named persons who were formerly IPOB members were expelled as a result of indiscipline and insubordination which is not tolerated by IPOB leadership.” DAILY POST

A heavy downpour reportedly have claimed the life of a first-year student of the Imo State University Owerri (IMSU) .

According to report, Chiamaka Obodo, 20, was making a call with her phone inside her parents’ house at the Obilubi Obazu Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State, when the lightning that took her life struck. And she died immediately before help could come.

Meanwhile, her body has been deposited at the nearest morgue, and she will be laid to rest on Friday, June 17, 2022.

By: Kelechi Uzomah

The Federal Lawmaker that represents Okigwe zone at the Red chamber of the national Assembly, Senator Frank Ibezim has shared over two hundreds and fifty seedlings and fertilizers amongst farmers in the the zone to aid productivity in agriculture.

Senator Ibezim who spoke during the sharing and handover of the seedlings and fertilizers to farmers at the national Open University, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State Tuesday 13th June, 2023.

The lawmaker said that his committement to improve the economy of Okigwe zone and it's growth has remained unshakable despite the little setback.

According to him, "As we face the year's farming period, we have successfully distributed seedlings to over 250 farmers in all the six local governments of Imo North district after giving a workshop program on how to achieve maximum agricultural yields."

The vibrant lawmaker maintained that his aim of embarking on the distribution of seedlings and bags of fertilizers to farmers in Okigwe zone is to assist them in enhancing productivity of their agricultural produce.

He added that the farmers in Okigwe zone should use this opportunity presented to them to increase their productivity in agriculture.

The Ehime Mbano born Federal Lawmaker expressed belief that the seedlings and bags of fertilizers given to farmers in Okigwe zone will help them to be on the same level with their counterparts in the country.

Senator frank Ibezim said that these new steps is targeted at increasing the availability of agricultural products and food in Okigwe zone will achieve maximum impacts in the near future.

FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello has charged sworn in area council chairmen on quality service delivery in health, education, security amongt others as he congratulates them on their success in the elections held in February. The six Area Council Chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory were sworn into office on Tuesday, the 14 of June 2022, at the Cyprian Ekwensi Cultural Center, Abuja.

The new Chairmen took their oaths of office and were sworn in by Justice Suleiman Belgore who represented the Honourable Chief Judge of the FCT High Court. He said: “If I were you, I will go for the basics. I will tackle primary education, I will tackle primary healthcare, I will tackle sanitation, I will tackle insecurity. “And whoever you are, you can’t do anything for the security of your community unless you relate with your elders in the country.  So, hold on to these three or four items diligently and understand that you are a local government authority and you are meant to provide local services”.

The Minister added: “During your tenure, don’t ever allow one day to pass with your pupils out of school because somebody is on strike... Don’t ever allow primary healthcare in your Area Council to be without water, to be without electricity, to be without staff, so that that woman who is pregnant, or that little boy who has diarrhea or that young girl that has malaria is taken care of. I tell you, if you handle these little things that you may think are small, your people will forever be grateful to you”.

He also enjoined the new Chairmen and Vice Chairmen to take time to go round their Area Councils with a view to familiarizing themselves with the various environmental challenges such as blocked drainages, waste and unkept streets. Malam Bello urged them to hold true to the oath they swore to and remember that God is watching them. He said: “I urge you all to go back to your houses, carefully read and understand what you swore, because all of you, I noticed, held the holy books while you were doing so.

“These words that you uttered today holding the holy books and also in the presence of all of us as witnesses and above all in the presence of God Almighty, are not simple words”, the Minister added.