NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Hussaini is personally monitoring the ongoing Imo State by-election holding in Ngor Okpala. CP Rabiu was seen by Wazobia Politics in a convoy of police officers driving slowly and monitoring compliance of his men who are strategically placed at parts of Ngor Okpala Local Government Area to provide security for the election. But for a reported incident of failed ballot snatching at about 10:25am in unit 2 of Umueche Ward by thugs led by one Mark Alfred, a known member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and popularly known as ‘Reality’, the election has been largely incident free. Voters were said to have resisted them and succeeded in repelling the attack. A Golf vehicle belonging to Sunny Osita, said to be one of the assailants, was severely damaged by angry voters. Reports of sporadic shooting in parts of Ngor Okpala as authored by one Cletus Nwoko, claiming to be from Umuneke and that of the reported disqualification of the candidate

The By-Election to fill the vacant Ngor Okpala State Constituency seat at the Imo State House of Assembly began as scheduled at 8am across the constituency. The early voting is credited to the early arrival of election materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). As of 7am Wazobia Politics observed the arrival of materials across most polling units with INEC staff setting up polling booths for the most anticipated election of the year in Imo State. The by-election is being viewed as a litmus test of the popularity of incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma and his Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his ouster of former Governor Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by a landmark judgement of the Supreme Court on the 14th of January 2020. The PDP has since  then accused the Governor of being unpopular. The main contestants in the today’s By-Election are Amajirionwu Blyden Okanni of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emeka Nwachukwu of th

Imo State Government yesterday declared that the re-election of Gov Hope Uzodinma will be done by the people of Imo state who will not be influenced by ” rabble rousers like Nyesom Wike” It also declared that the re-election of the Governor is assured based on his sterling performance unlike the Rivers governor “who in the last seven years has squandered the goodwill of the people while chasing shadows and meddling in the affairs of other states” Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba was reacting to the statement credited to Wike that PDP will take over Imo state in the next election. Emelumba noted that if the performance of Wike was an indices of the strength of PDP, then the party will never dethrone Uzodinma, because the River state governor is synonymous with unmitigated failure and crass recklessness The man in question is a colossal failure and a megalomaniac whose posturing has left Rivers State poorer in the last seven years. He is a complete failure i

The Senator representing Imo North senatorial zone, Sen. Frank Ibezim has initiated a 6-day medical outreach for the people of Okigwe zone. The medical outreach which is slated to hold from the 1st March-6th March 2022 will spread across communities in the Senatorial zone. This outreach, which is primarily aimed at attending to the immediate medical needs of our people, is also geared towards complementing the efforts of other progressives in bringing quality and affordable healthcare delivery to the people of Okigwe zone and Imo state at large.  The time table is as follows: DAY 1 FLAGOFF: Okigwe L.G.A 1. Amosu Health Center -Umulolo 2. Umualumoke Health Center- Okigwe 3. MCH-Health Center, Okigwe urban. DAY 2: Ihitte Uboma 1. Umunahihia health Center Amainyi 2. Umuawuchi Health Center  3. LGA Center @ Isinweke DAY 3: Ehime Mbano 1. Ehime Mbano LGA Council Headquarter, Umuezeala 2. Umuakagu Health Center 3. Agbaja Health Center DAY 4: Isiala Mbano 1. Ibeme Health Center  2. Amaraku He

...Advises Them Not to Lower Standard   By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu As Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State prepares to handover to the Governor-Elect, Prof Chukwuma Soludo on March 17 2022, the Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese His Lordship Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, has exhortated the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA led Anambra State Government not to lower the standard of governance in the State, saying that the trust and confidence repose in the party by the electorate should not be taken for granted.  Bishop Ezeokafor who stated this at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Awka during a victory Thanksgiving Mass organized in the honour of APGA, Anambra State Chapter said that the APGA's feat in the last gubernatorial election was destined by God.  'Your victorious outing in the last gubernatorial election in the state was made possible by God. It was a hard-fought victory. We all witnessed what happened before the election. I'm not a

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to arraign former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha in court over an alleged N2.9Billion fraud. Okorocha will be arranged alongside a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, and five companies before Justice Inyang Ekwo, Vanguard reports. The five companies are Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited. In a 17-count charge before the high Court of Abuja, the anti-graft agency alleged that Okorocha and the other defendants siphoned public funds from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account into their personal accounts for their own use.  According to the commission, the Okorocha, who is the senator representing Imo West and the other defendants committed the offence October 2014 and February 2016. I

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has, on Monday, rejected a bail application by suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari. Ruling, Justice Ekwo ordered Kyari to serve the Federal Government with the processes filed before the hearing of the application. The judge held that the allegations made against the respondent are weighty, requiring that the court grant it an opportunity to be heard before a decision it taken. Kyari is, in the substantive suit, challenging his continued detention by an agency of the Federal Government. He claimed to be suffering from chronic diabetes, which he said was threatening his life and therefore requires urgent medical attention. The judge adjourned till February 24 for further hearing of the application.

... You Have 7-Days To Fish Out Perpetrators, Ikpeazu Told The leadership of Ohanaeze Youth Council led by comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, has condemned vehemently the recent gruesome killing of traders and cattle at  Omumauzo Aba Cattle Market, in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State. Joining it's voice with that of notable Igbo leaders prominent among whom is Chief Anyim Pius Anyim the former Secretary of the government of the federation, the Council, on Monday 21st February 2022, in Umuahia charged the Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to produce perpetrators of the evil act within in a space of 7-days. "OYC Insists that the Governor of Abia State must arrested those responsible for the sacrilegious act within 7 Days or face massive resistance and civil disobedience in Abia State." Embittered Igboayaka described the gory incident as unfortunate and a ploy by "some faceless and ungodly persons whose main objective is to keep maiming the precious lives of

Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba has commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for all his efforts in ensuring that his government leaves a legacy of durable infrastructure in Imo State. The Archbishop bared his mind on Sunday in his sermon at the dedication of the newly built Cathedral Church of St. Peter Umuokanne, Ohaji in Ohaji/Egbema local government areas of Imo State. The Primate who regretted that those in positions of authority are facing challenging times today due to insecurity and other forms of injustices was, however, full of praises for Governor Uzodimma over the latter's policies on strategic infrastructural renewal in Imo. Ndukuba's words: "As I drove to Orlu yesterday (Saturday), Your Excellency, I saw the road you are doing from Owerri to Orlu. There are also others around the State. God will stand by you and help you do more. This is a very uncertain time and a very challenging time for every leader in the country. God will help you." He said Governor Uzodimma's

- POURS OUT LIBATION TO THE GODS OF THE LAND - SHOWERS HIM WITH ROYAL BLESSINGS As the Imo State House of Assembly Bye Election Date Draws Closer, the Council of Traditional Rulers in Ngor Okpala LGA have endorsed the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Okenze Blyden Amajirionwu as one who is suitable of representing their people and bringing home development to the people. The Traditional Rulers evoked the gods of the land with libation and went further to shower Royal Blessings upon Okenze Blyden at the palace of the Chairman of Ngor Okpala Council of traditional rulers, HRH Eze Fred Nwachukwu (Ogboro 1 of Ngor)  This happened upon the arrival of the Members of APC Campaign train to pay homage to the Mornachs thereby making his aspirations known to them. While receiving Amajirionwu and his entourage to his palace, HRH Eze Fred Nwachukwu described Blyden as a Worthy Son of Ngor Okpala  Who has always identified with the Traditional institution in Ngor Okpala a

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it may be forced to postpone the 2023 elections if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to assent to the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill by Tuesday. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said this in an interview with  Sunday Vanguard. According to him, there are some fundamental timelines in the new electoral bill that will fundamentally affect the electoral legal framework. Recall  that on November 23, 2021, Buhari declined assent to the bill, citing insecurity, cost of conducting direct primaries and infringement on the rights of Nigerians as his reasons. The rejection was conveyed in letters written to the National Assembly. He also said the decision was based on informed advice by relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government, and a careful review of the bill in light of the current realities in Nigeria. The bill was thereafter reworked by the National Assembly and p

- Youth empowerment, cardinal part of my govt, Uzodimma assures Imo youths Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has distributed 2,700 smartphones and two cars to Imo youths as part of activities marking the St Valentine’s Day celebration. Uzodimma, who distributed the gifts during the ‘Hope for Imo’ Valentine Concert in Owerri on Saturday, also promised the recipients free airtime and data subscriptions. The two brand new Greely cars were presented to Mr Joshua Okeke from Orlu LGA and Miss Blessing Emekwe from Ikeduru LGA, who were winners in a lucky deep conducted at the venue of the programme. The governor reinstated his commitment to youth empowerment through job creation and called on the youths to help fish out criminal elements disturbing the peace of the state. He promised to replicate the gesture in the three senatorial zones of the state so that the technical empowerment would get to all the youths of the state. “I have come to give the youths the opportunity to be part of government and