Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue on Friday sworn in 23 caretaker committee chairmen.
Performing the ceremony at the Government House in Makurdi, Alia charged the chairmen to deliver quality services to the people at the local level.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor had requested the House of Assembly to extend the tenure of the caretaker committees, to allow the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) enough time to conduct council elections in the state.
NAN also reports that the State House of Assembly had screened and confirmed the nominees sent to them by the governor, but Mr Timothy Hembaor, the earlier nominee from Ushongo LGA was replaced with Mvendaga Atetan.
Alia charged the chairmen to forfeit excuses and serve their local government areas diligently, in order to ensure that their work reflected the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
He urged them to give their best, especially as his administration had granted autonomy to the local governments.
The governor charged them to remain at their various duty posts, attending to the needs of the people and ensuring that the residents enjoyed the dividends of democracy.
He urged them to copy the infrastructural strides at the state level down to the local government level, as his administration’s plann to ensure such infrastructural developments were replicated at the third tier of government in the state.
Responding on behalf of the chairmen, the Caretaker Chairman of Konshisha Local Government Area, Mr Philip Achuah, said that they would do their best to replicate the governor’s efforts at the local level.
Achuah appreciated the governor for granting quasi-autonomy to the local government system in the state and promised that they would not fail in their duties.
The newly inaugurated Caretaker Committee Chairmen are Guda Dennis (Vandeikya), Philip Achuah (Konshisha); Shaku Justine (Katshina Ala); Neji Terhile (Kwande); Avar Verlumun (Gboko); Roy Terna Ashirga (Tarkaa); Agber Cephas (Buruku); James Dwem (Makurdi) and Mrs Comfort Agbo (Gwer East).
Also, Henry Agba (Gwer-West); Unongo Simon (Guma); Mvendaga Atetan (Ushongo); Iorzaa Victor (Ukum); Benjamin Uzenda (Logo) and Mrs Gloria Ogebe (Ado).
Others are Philip Ebenyaku (Agatu); Ochai Alidu (Apa); Adekpe Onum (Obi); Emmanuel Aba (Ogbadibo); Adugbo Fred (Ohimini); Dr. Wilson Eche (Otukpo); Onyilo Omale (Okpokwu) and Ire Arubi (Oju). (NAN
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has officially recognized Monday Okpebholo as the legitimate governor of Edo State.
In a series of three judgments, the tribunal rejected petitions submitted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Action Alliance, and Accord Party.
The tribunal determined that the PDP did not present any witnesses to substantiate its claims of overvoting.
Specifically, the PDP failed to bring forth polling unit agents from the locations where they alleged electoral discrepancies occurred.
Furthermore, the tribunal noted that among the 19 witnesses presented by the petitioners, 14 were ward and local government agents, while the primary witness, who claimed to be a director of strategy for the PDP, had no involvement in the election’s execution.
Additionally, the tribunal remarked that the BVAS evidence submitted by the petitioners was inadequately presented.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State has condemned the ban on political rallies and convoys imposed by the state government.
State Chairman of SDP, Mr Ahmed Attah, issued the condemnation in a statement signed by the SDP Press Secretary, Isaiah Ijele, on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The party described the ban as an attack on democratic principles and a blatant attempt to silence opposition voices.
Attah urged Gov. Ahmed Ododo to learn from the past and avoid repeating old, harmful practices that have hindered the state’s progress.
“The party views this action as an attempt to suppress the freedom of association and movement enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Attah insisted that the state is not at war and urged the government to focus on development instead of engaging in political manoeuver.
He warned that Kogi must not return to the dark days of repression, particularly against the opposition. (NAN)
The Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo, has said the only unity and emergence of a strong candidate could secure victory for the coalition of opposition leaders in 2027.
Onovo, an activist and Head of Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
He was reacting to the recent announcement of an opposition coalition to challenge the All progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.
Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo,
“The coalition of opposition leaders needs a candidate that is vigorous; a strong candidate to brighten its chances in 2027. The coalition needs somebody with a clear agenda and a clear vision.
“The opposition needs a candidate with a strong background of integrity. Nobody is perfect, but you need a strong background of integrity.
“The opposition needs somebody who is morally and mentally competent, and physically fit. The opposition does not need the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any old person if it wants to win.
“The opposition doesn’t need any old person now. It is time to use the energy of the young.
“They must present a strong candidate, who is strong morally, mentally, and physically, with a clear patriotic agenda to move the country forward, ” Onovo said.
He added that the coalition had a lot that could work to its advantage in 2027 and urged members to work with unity of purpose to achieve convincing victory.
Also speaking on chances of the ruling party in 2027, the politician said APC could remain in power if the challenges arising from subsidy removal and other economic issues were addressed by the present administration.
He also said President Bola Tinubu still had the opportunity to address the security challenges in the country to win in 2027 ,and remain in power ,if interested
Onovo, who noted that he was not part of the organisers of the mega coalition, said that he had always been part of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) since 2019 elections.
He called on all Nigerians to unite for the development of the country, ensuring leadership that would fulfill the country’s aspirations.
NAN recalls that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had recently announced the formation of a coalition, aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja, attended by several opposition politicians, including former APC members.
Among those present at the even were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. (NAN)
