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June 1, 2022

June 1, 2022June 1, 2022 IFMUYONEWS

PDP Writes INEC to Inform of Cancelled Primaries in Ebonyi Due to Guideline Violation.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) informing them of cancelled primaries held in Ebonyi State last month.

The party stated this in a letter dated May 31, 2022, and signed by the National Chairman, Senator Iyiocha Ayu and National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.

The letter said the elections were cancelled because it violated the guidelines of the party.

It stated that a new date for the elections will be announced shortly.

The letter reads in parts : “This is to bring to your kind attention that the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has cancelled the congresses in Ebonyi State which purportedly took place on 29 May 2022 for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate”.

“The Party also cancelled the gubernatorial congress held on May 29, 2022”.

“The congresses were cancelled for violating the guidelines of the Party as
the committee that purportedly conducted them did not form the required quorum.

“The commission will be informed shortly of the new date for the congresses.”

“The Party also cancelled the gubernatorial congress held on May 29, 2022”.

“The congresses were cancelled for violating the guidelines of the Party as
the committee that purportedly conducted them did not form the required quorum.

“The commission will be informed shortly of the new date for the congresses.”

The cancellation follows the recognition of Mr Tochukwu Okorie in another letter to INEC, while the cancelled primary election was conducted by the Silas Ọnụ- led faction.

The party has been embroiled in a leadership tussle since the State Executive election last year in which Tochukwu Okorie was declared the winner.

Silas Onu however challenged the outcome in court and the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Okorie paving the way for sworn in. Tochukwu Okorie then appealed the ruling in court and the appellate court ordered that the status quo existing before the High Court ruling be maintained effectively ousting Onu.

Silas Ọnụ despite the ruling continued to lay claim to the Chairmanship and went ahead to conduct the primaries last week.

Chukwuma Ọdịi emerged winner of the governorship primaries even as most of the aspirants boycotted or withdrew from the said election.

In the Senatorial primaries, Senator Sam Egwu and Senator Ama Nnachi were elected by the delegates for Ebonyi North and Ebonyi South zones.

A former Member representing Ezza South and Ịkwọ Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Laz Ogbee clinched the ticket for Ebonyi Central.

With the cancellation, the crisis in the party is set to continue even as time is running out for the party to elect its candidates for the 2023 elections.

May 30, 2022

May 30, 2022 IFMUYONEWS

EFCC Charge Rochas Okorocha and 6 Others Over N3.1bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 30, 2022, arraigned a former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, and six others before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on 17-count charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing, conversion of public funds and money laundering to the tune of N3,147, 000, 000( Three Billion, One hundred and Forty Seven Million Naira).

The former governor was docked alongside Anyim Nyerere (a.k.a Anyim Chinenye), Naphtali International Ltd, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Ltd, Consolid Projects Consulting Ltd, Pramif International Ltd and Legend World Concepts Ltd.

One of the counts read; “That you, Rochas Okorocha, Anyim Nyerere(a.k.a Anyim Nyerere Chinenye) and Naphtali International Ltd, on or about the 24th October, 2014, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N900,000,000 property of Imo State Government of Nigeria transferred from the Imo State Government House Account, which you all reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Same Act.

Another count read: “That You, Rochas Okorocha, Anyim Nyerere(a.k.a Anyim Nyerere Chinenye), and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Ltd, on or about 28th August, 2014, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N486,000,000(Four Hundred and Eighty Six Million Naira), property of Imo State Government of Nigeria, transferred from the Imo State Joint State Local government Project Account, which you all reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.

The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges when they were read to them.

EFCC counsel, G. K. Latona prayed the court to set a trial date and to remand the defendants in a Correctional Centre. However, defence counsel, Oke Amaechi, SAN, for the first defendant and Daniel. M. Uzorumba for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th defendants informed the court that they have filed applications for bail for all the defendants dated May 25, 2022. Latona, however, informed the court that he was served with a motion on notice of bail on May 26, 2022 and “we intend to respond; there were issues raised there concerning the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, we want to respond to that.”

Justice Ekwo remanded all the defendants in EFCC’s custody and adjourned the matter for hearing on bail application to May 31, 2022.

May 25, 2022

May 25, 2022 IFMUYONEWS

Onofiok Luke, OBA Boycott PDP Primaries in Akwa Ibom

It is an interesting season on the political scenes of Akwa Ibom state, and Nigeria at large as some foremost aspirants in the People’s Democratic Party in the state have boycotted the primaries.

Top among these aspirants are 2 National Assembly members Barr. Onofiok Luke and Sen. Obong Bassey Albert (OBA). Barr. Onofiok Luke wrote earlier;

When Reality Stares us in the Face

Dear Akwa Ibom People,

I entered the ongoing Governorship race of our dear State to change the narrative in the political system and governance by seeking more inclusion through our Building Together and Growing Together agenda. We took our message to all the 31 Chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state. That message was well accepted by members of our party and soundly resonated with Akwa Ibom citizens. Our hope of victory was dependent on God using the delegates at the PDP primaries and ultimately Akwa Ibom people at the general election.This was our conviction and it is still our conviction today.

However, unfolding realities within our party and the Nation have called for a reconsideration of my participation in the gubernatorial primaries of our party today. This is for the simple fact that we will not be going into this election with our largest support base which is the statutory delegates. We also do not have any of the ad hoc delegates as our supporters who bought forms to be Adhoc delegates were excluded from the process. This position they have stated in a formal protest to the national headquarters of our party and have also sought redress.

This Statement would have been issued much earlier than now but we were waiting and hoping that the President would assent to the amended electoral bill 2022 which would have corrected the oversight. As of this morning, Mr President is yet to assent to it.

Consequently, I will not be participating in today’s governorship primary election.

I make this statement after due consultation with the leadership of the Amazing Grace Campaign team and representatives of my support base.

I am prayerfully and politically consulting on the way forward, and I will communicate same in the coming weeks.

My sincere gratitude to our supporters. You have shown me immeasurable goodwill. I still count on your strength going forward. With you we will continue to press towards an Akwa Ibom that works for all its citizens.

Rt.Hon. Onofiok Akpan Luke

Gubernatorial Aspirant

Peoples’ Democratic Party

25-05-2022