SOUTH EAST DIGEST

Olayinka Owolabi Former Minister of State for Transportation Prince John Emeka and ex-Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly Rita Maduagwu have dumped their parties to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). The former minister was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the ex-speaker was a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Four local government area executives from ward to local government areas of the PDP, at the weekend, collapsed their structures into the APC. They are Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ayamelum and Anambra East, including the Hausa and Yoruba communities in Onitsha South Council Area. Also, ex-governor Peter Obi’s brother, Chief Chris Chikwelu, a member of the PDP state executive, has defected to the APC with a former governorship aspirant in the party in the last primaries, Chief Chuma Nzeribe. It was also learnt yesterday that in the next few days, four members of the National Assembly will dump their parties for the APC Recei...

Olayinka Owolabi Leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra North senatorial zone on Friday, September 3, 2021, pledged their unalloyed support for Mr Valentine Ozigbo, the party's candidate for the November 6 Anambra governorship election.  The stakeholders made this announcement at the end of a crucial meeting convened in Ogbaru Local Government Area by Hon Chukwuka (Chuchu) Onyema, the lawmaker representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.  In his address to the gathering, Hon. Onyema said he called the meeting to enable the party leaders to brainstorm how to ensure victory for Ozigbo in the forthcoming guber election. "We need to correct the impression that Anambra North senatorial zone, and Ogbaru LGA in particular, is now a catchment of the APC. It is not," Hon Onyema declared.  "Despite the exit of some leaders, our dear party remains intact. Nobody in our party left with them. "As we all know, no othe...

Olayinka Owolabi Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, says he has secured approval for President Muhammadu Buhari to visit the state on Thursday, September 9, 2021, to commission some significant projects put together by his administration. The governor disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, on Saturday. Uzodinma, who spoke upon his return from an official trip to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, said that the President would commission some “significant projects” executed by his administration. The governor said that he visited Abuja to “address some political matters and some critical issues that are supposed to be handled in Abuja.” His words: “The good news is that Imo has been able to attract additional support from Mr. President on management of some ecological problems in the State.” Speaking on his assignment as the Chairman, APC Campaign Council for the Anambra State governorship election, Uzodimma acknowledged...

 Olayinka Owolabi The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 6 governorship poll in Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, has said he was in the governorship race to liberate the state from the shackles of the underdevelopment it had been subjected to over the years by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He said Anambra became liberated the day President Muhammadu Buhari handed the party flag to him in Aso Rock. Uba made this known when he later addressed the crowd shortly after he escaped a shooting on Saturday during a rally at the Ekwulobia Township Stadium in Aguata Local Government Area when a policeman on duty accidentally fired a gunshot. The gunshot which was just about a foot off the position of Uba shocked the crowd who turned out to receive the governorship candidate. A stunned Uba was heard saying in confusion: “My friend what is it? What is it?” A television cameraman who was close to the cop told our correspondent that he suspected the pol...

  Olayinka Owolabi “Who will break Nigeria? Is it the Igbo vulcanizer or the Yoruba Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido has said that Nigeria cannot break up because the elites are united in preserving their advantages over the masses irrespective of any difference. Addressing a youth gathering who converged in their hundreds, calling on him to vie for the 2023 presidency on the occasion of his 73rd birthday, the former governor noted that Nigeria is too weak to break. He asked, “Who will break it? The ordinary person in Jigawa or the ordinary person in Sokoto or the ordinary person in Bayelsa? Is it the Igbo vulcanizer or the Yoruba woman selling kerosene by the roadside or the Okada man in Delta? “They don’t have the capacity to unite because they are burdened by poverty. We have taken away from them their dignity, their self-esteem, their pride and self-worth so that they cannot even organize for the break-up of the country. “Up there, we (elites) unite. We will ...

Olayinka Owolabi No fewer than 5,890 members of Boko Haram have surrendered to troops in the Northeast following intensive bombardment of their hideouts, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has said. Acting Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Brig-Gen. Ben Onyeuko, who released the information, said the kinetic and non-kinetic approaches adopted in the prosecution of the counterinsurgency war were yielding fruit. Some 565 of those who surrendered comprising three Commanders, four Amirs, five Nakibs and others have been handed over to the Borno State Government for further management after profiling them. “Within the period under review, troops of Operation Hadin Kai sustained their operations to terrorists in the North East theatre,” he said, adding, “Within the last few weeks, more than 5,890 terrorists comprising foot soldiers and their commanders have surrendered with their families to our troops in the North East Zone.” Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko said troops of Operation Hadarin ...

Olayinka Owolabi The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has declared Valentine Ozigbo as the validly elected candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Anambra Governorship election slated for November 6, 2021. A three-man panel of justices led by the President of the Court of Appeal, Honorable Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem, made the declaration on Friday following an appeal filed by Ozigbo. It should be recall that two candidates from two factions had emerged to represent Nigeria opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the upcoming governorship election for the state. Valentine Ozigbo win the PDP primaries of the faction that happened on Saturday 26th June at Dora Akunyili Women's Development Center, Awka while Senator Ugochukwu Uba win the one of the faction that held at St. Paul University primary school Awka on the same day. While Ozigbo win with 62 votes, Senator Uba win with 275 votes. In its ruling today, the court held that the appeal challenging the judgem...

Olayinka Owolabi A day after the set aside day for implementing the ban of Open Grazing in the Southern region of Nigeria, the Enugu State House of Assembly, on Thursday, passed bill for a law to prohibit open grazing, regulate cattle ranching into law. The House had, on Tuesday, conducted a public hearing on the bill, which was applauded by stakeholders in attendance. Although, the leadership of the Northern Community in Enugu State had said during the hearing that they would support any law that will bring peace and security in the state, they urged the House to give them 30 days to articulate their position on the bill and submit to the House. Passing the Bill into law during the plenary on Thursday, the Speaker, Edward Ubosi, said the bill was not targeted on any group or individuals but for the peace and security of residents of Enugu State. He commended the members for working tirelessly to ensure that the bill was passed today. “This bill is for the unity, security and peaceful ...

  Olayinka Owolabi President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Ministers of Agriculture, Mohammed Sabo Nanono, and Mamman Saleh, his power counterpart. The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Mahmoud Abubakar is to take over as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development while the Minister of State for Works, Abubakar Aliyu, is to take over as the Minister for Power. In the brief statement read by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari said the process of rejigging his cabinet is going to be continuous. More details later..

  Olayinka Owolabi Six members of the Anambra State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance have defected to the All Progressives Congress. Chairman APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni, received the lawmakers at a brief ceremony at the Imo Governors Lodge, late on Tuesday. A photograph of the event was made available to newsmen by the APC media Directorate in Abuja, on Wednesday. The defectors described the All Progressives Congress as a preferred political party in Nigeria and promised to mobilise support towards victory in the November 6 governorship polls. The six state lawmakers include Hon. Nonso Okafor, representing Nnewi North, Timothy Ifedioramma, representing Njikoka 1, Cater D. N Umeoduagu, representing Aguata 1, Lawrence Ezeudu, representing Dumekofia, Arthur Chiekwu, representing Idemmih North and Edward Ibuzo, representing Onisha North 2. While receiving the new APC...