IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Former Chief of Staff to the Imo state Government, Uche Nwosu, has emerged as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship primary election for the state.

Mr Nwosu polled a total of 269,524 votes to beat his closest rival Chuks Ololo who got 6,428 votes.

The Chairman of the Governorship Primary Electoral Committee, Brigadier General Ibrahim Agbabiaka, who announced the results said, “having scored the highest votes in the election to beat eight other aspirants, Uche Nwosu has been declared as the winner of the election”.

Mr Nwosu while reacting to his victory said, in the spirit of sportsmanship, he is extending his hand of fellowship to other aspirants who contested the election to work together for the success of the party in the 2019 elections.

He assured Imo indigenes that “if elected Governor of the state in 2019, he will not disappoint the people”.

Owing the the public endorsement of the current member representing Isu State constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly by the governor of the state, His Excellency Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha to go for a second term, and the dust it has raised, a frontline contender of the position, Arc. Chukwunonso Nnaji (Najas) has called on his supporters to remain calm and continue to be supportive of the Rescue Mission Government hence according to him, God has the final say.

Speaking to journalists in Owerri during the week, the renowned Architect and PhD student in the University of Nigeria, Nsuka in his comments made it clear that what transpired during the meeting held at the Government House with the governor truly, doesn’t represent the wishes of his people of Isu but as a core loyalist to the governor and committed member of “Believe Movement” a campaign structure of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu he would withdraw from the race hence, he is a good party man.

Arc. Chukwunonso Nnaji whose supporters vowed to stage a peaceful protest to the government house to register their disapproval over the Governor's decision to allow the current member to go for a second term thereby deny their popular choice the opportunity the fly the All Progressives Congress flag in area informed that after many pleads, the idea of staging protest has been suspended.

He stated that though the endorsement of Hon. Ngozi Obiefule by the governor doesn’t not reflect the wishes of the people of Isu in general but he has no other option than to accept the decision of the governor for overall interest of the people.

On whether he has plans to decamp to other political party to pursue his ambition, Najas as fondly called in clear terms stated that he has no plans to decamp and would in realization of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu become the governor of the state in 2019.

Making reference to the speech of His Royal Highness Late Nnajiemere Ezeudo I of Amuire Omanze in Isu Local Government that “It won’t cause any form of problem hence it shall be well”. He pleaded with them to remain peaceful and law abiding and continue to support rescue mission government.

A former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim has said that he was coasting home to victory during the botched All Progressives Grand Alliance governorship primary when thugs were detailed to disrupt the "peaceful" exercise.

Ohakim who ruled the state between 2007 and 2011 claimed that the thugs were brought by his opponents who joined APGA from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

While calling his supporters and the party's delegates to come out en mass on Saturday to complete the process of electing the governorship candidate of the party, Ohakim maintained that those who do not wish the party well will not have their way. 

Below is the Ex-Governor's speech on the truncated primary.............,......

The level of thuggery and brigandage unleashed against the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) today, Friday October 5, 2018, by those who are sworn enemies of the Imo people had never occurred in the party.

APGA is the identity of the Igbo man and thuggery, brigandage are alien to the party and also negates the culture of respect, peace, hard work, love, live and let live which the Igbo people are known for. Importing thuggery and brigandage from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to intimidate or cow the people is a futile venture, because the Igbo man is known for his courage and protects his identity more than anything else.

One therefore wonders why the party known for its peaceful conduct suddenly witnessed unprecedented brigandage and thuggery in its governorship primary election, but the answer is that those who erroneously think that the Igbo people are for sale think that resorting to such unlawful acts is the only way they could stop Ikedi Ohakim who was winning the APGA guber ticket.

We condemn in strongest terms the resort to thuggery and brigandage and the unnecessary teargassing of the people who had conducted themselves peacefully. The delegates to the governorship primary election have sworn that they would lay down their life to ensure that no one thwarts their mandate and advised who resorted to importing thugs that such acts cannot work.

We thank the dogged supporters of Ikedi Ohakim and members  of the party, particularly the delegates for resisting those who wanted to bend their knees and for standing for justice, equity and fairness.

We urge you all to come out in large numbers also on Saturday, October 6, 2018 and vote your man, Ikedi Ohakim for just one term of four years. We must retrieve our state from marauders and cannot therefore sell dog and buy monkey. APGA is our party and we cannot surrender or sell it to anyone no matter whom he thinks he is.

Signed:

Collins Ughalaa, Chief Press Secretary to His Excellency Dr. Ikedi Ohakim.

05/10/2018.

The unilateral decision by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to grant automatic return tickets to national assembly members for the 2019 elections has hit the brick wall, Ameborave Media has learnt.

Highly placed sources disclosed to Ameborave Media that President Muhammadu has informed Adams Oshiomhole to jettison the idea of automatic tickets for the members of the National Assembly which has pitted stakeholders, especially party governors against the party.

In a strongly worded letter Oshiomhole was told in clear terms to allow “all those who have filed their nomination forms for various positions to participate in primaries of the party.” In other words, president Buhari has directed that “there should be no automatic ticket” for any aspirant.

The president described the unilateral decision as a sad commentary of what the party stands for. He further directed Oshiomhole to urgently effect the decision. Insiders said this resolution was reached at meeting between President Buhari and the APC national chairman, Oshiomhole.

Apart from overruling Oshiomhole’s plot to award automatic tickets, President Buhari has further directed that the primaries must be free and fair.

High level APC sources confirmed to ameborave.com that meeting between Buhari and Oshiomhole also resolved that the party’s National convention should hold on Saturday October 6 as earlier scheduled.

As at Thursday night, party members who are aware of the president’s decision have accused Oshiomhole of failing to act on the presidential directive, particularly, the one urging him to ensure that all aspirants must be allowed to contest elections.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has this afternoon during a press conference accepted defeat from the recently held Governorship Primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC which had him and former Commissioner, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as contenders.

After the primaries, the governor lost to the preferred candidate of the party, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and has to address the press to congratulate him and officially accept the verdict of the result that emanated from that election.

Below is the address by the governor this afternoon.

Fellow Lagosians, the last few days have witnessed intense political activities that have gripped the attention of the nation and created palpable tension in the polity. I strongly believe that the time has now come for the State to move forward in order that the gains of the last three and half years are not lost.

Dear Lagosians, APC is a great party and the interests of our beloved State must always supercede that of any person or group. It is in this regard that I wholeheartedly congratulate the winner of the Lagos State APC Primaries, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and urge all Lagosians to immediately support our party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 elections and work for the success of our dear party.

As Governor, I will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition in the remaining period of this administration and ultimately to the new Governor, come May 2019.

I therefore appeal to all our party members that we remain one family and unite behind the candidate of the party, so that we can continue to move this state forward.

The progress of Lagos state is non-negotiable. It is a project that I have passionately worked for in the last three and half years as your Governor and one to which I will forever be devoted.

I wish to use this opportunity to thank our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the leadership of our great party at state and national levels, all party faithfuls and all Lagosians.

I thank all Lagosians for their faith and trust in me. I urge you not to relent in your support for our party as we prepare for the General Elections.

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday said the party leadership has sacked the Ahmed Gulak-led committee for the party’s governorship primaries in Imo State.

Oshiomhole said this in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The former Edo State Governor who said he was at the Presidential Villa to brief Buhari on developments in the party, said the results being paraded as the result of the Imo governorship primaries was fake, hence the need to sack the committee.

He expressed the hope that the process would be completed before the weekend. Oshiomhole said, “The case of Imo State is not too good news for today, but not surprising, they have to learn to begin to comply with rules.

“They have two fake results. None of them is genuine and we will disband, we will appoint fresh committee, an Electoral Panel that will conduct transparent direct primaries that reflect the will of members of APC in Imo State, regardless of the interest and the powers that were behind any of the groups.

“The truth does not require supporters’ club to stand; it has its legs, it has its heads and we will do just that.”