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How Sen. Mbata emerged President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo  *We adopt zonal arrangement -Chief Chekwas Okorie

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2 months ago

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New President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Senate Azuka Mbata
Contrary to our earlier publication that Barr.Uche Nnam Okwukwu emerged as President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, it has been confirmed that Senator Azuka Mbata is indeed the elected President General of the Igbo apex social cultural group.
Making this clarification in an exclusive interview with our Publisher, a chieftain of Ohaneze Ndigbo who doubled as the Pioneer Chairman/Founder of the All Progressive Grand Alliance ( APGA) Chief Chekwas Okorie who supervised the election of Senate Mbata on Friday at Okpara Square in Enugu said the election was based on zonal arrangement in accordance with Ohaneze Ndigbo constitution.
He dismissed claims by anybody adopted at the zonal level but lacked the general consensus of the entire zone to have been elected as President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
According to Chief Chekwas,”When you have an Ohaneze Ndigbo where all the known leaders (Myself and others ) were present and all our five governors are present then you begin to ask who are the others?
“In every society you have people who think that they can breakaway and make the same impact.
“There is only one Ohaneze Ndigbo and that is the one that elected Senator Azura Mbata as President General of the apex Igbo cultural group.”
On how Sen.Mbata emerged as  President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, he said,” What we did was to make all the states that compromised Ohaneze Ndigbo to present their consensus candidates and based our election  on the names submitted to us. We did  that to avoid going to the the states and faced unnecessary protests.
“So,the the election was based on the zoning of the offices in line with our constitution.
So, Sen Mbata was the consensus candidate of Igbos in Rivers state. He is from Obiakpo local government in Rivers state which is the core Igbo tribe in Rivers ( Ikwere local government and he had the backing of the state chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Rivers state and that was how the other candidates emerged.”
Meanwhile the other aspirants from the zone who going about claiming they have the have the mandate of the zone.
 Well, my own attitude to this  is, to advise the President General  who is automatically the father of the entire Igbos,  to reach out to all the aggrieved persons who may not be satisfied with the outcome of the election to sheath their sword.
He should try and reconcile the aggrieved so that together we will build the Igbo nation.
Ohaneze Ndigbo has successfully transited power to Rivers state and Rivers in alphabetical order is the second Igbo state under the Ohaneze Ndigbo constitution and when Rivers completed its four year tenure, the cycle will start all over from Abia state.
Meanwhile,Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has congratulated former representative of Rivers East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator John Mbata, on his emergence as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Governor Fubara, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi described Mbata’s victory at the poll in Enugu, on Friday, as a testament to his wide acceptance across the aisle as an accomplished Nigerian, whose test of character and integrity is exemplary.
He said that the overwhelming votes of the delegates at the convention show the implicit confidence of members of the socio-cultural organisation in his ability to provide needed leadership to move the Ohanaeze Ndigbo forward at this time.
Governor Fubara, therefore, extended his best wishes to Senator Mbata, and expressed the hope that he will succeed as he discharges the lofty duties of furthering national cohesion, and fostering friendly cooperation based on mutual trust and respect within the Igbos and among non-Igbos.
He said, “On behalf of the government and the good people of Rivers State, I once again congratulate you and assure you of our readiness to work with you towards maintaining and preserving national unity and cohesion.”

Governors of the South-East Zone have pledged unalloyed support for the Igbo apex sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to enhance the development of the region.

Similarly the South East governors have pledged their support to the newly elected Executive of the Ohaneze Ndigbo world wide.

The Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum, Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, made the pledge during the group’s General Assembly held in Enugu on Friday where new executives were elected.

Uzodimma congratulated Igbos for the new dawn, the harmonious manner, qualitative organisation and the conduct witnessed in the convention held in Enugu.

He lauded Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State for hosting the convention on behalf of the region.

“The governors of the southeast states came together and resolved to strengthen Ohaneze Ndigbo and to give strong support to it,” he noted.

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Politics

IPU cannot consider Natasha’s petition – Jimoh Ibrahim

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1 day ago

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March 14, 2025

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Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman of the Senate Inter-parliamentary Committee, remarked that the purported petition from the suspended Senator Natasha is “dead on arrival.”

He emphasised that Nigeria, rather than Senator Natasha, is the member of the IPU.

A petition can only be lodged against another member state by a member state.

This implies that the IPU cannot consider petitions from individuals who are not members.

The suspended Senator Natasha is not a member of the IPU, but Nigeria is!
Additionally, the suspended Senator cannot represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I served as the interim president of the IPU in Geneva in 2023, and I am familiar with how the IPU operates after presiding over its proceedings.

Furthermore, as Chairman of the Inter- parliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, I did not approve or authorise the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria to the Senate President.”

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Senate moves to establish Early Voting for Nigerians on essential duties during elections …..As Bill scales 2nd reading 

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1 day ago

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March 14, 2025

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By George Mgbeleke
The Senate on Thursday passed to second reading a Bill to amend the Electoral Act to provide opportunity for Nigerians on essential duties to perform their civic duties.
The Bill sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz zMusa Yar’adua seeks to amend the Electoral Act tagged “Electoral Act(Amendment -Early Voting Bill) 2024.

Senate in session in the chamber

In his lead debate Senator Yar’adua noted that the Bill seeks to enfranchise a significant group of Nigerians who, due to the nature of their duties on election days, are denied the opportunity to exercise their most fundamental democratic right; the right to vote.
He said,”This very important bill seeking to introduce early voting in the Electoral Act 2022 to enhance the inclusion, participation and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, and for related matters, was read for the first time on Wednesday, the 15th day of May  2024.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, due to the far-reaching nature of this Bill, let me crave your indulgence to extensively highlight the background, which I believe will not only provide a proper context for this legislative initiative but also motivate this hallowed chamber to accelerate the legislative process in enacting the Bill.
“Background and Rationale
In any democratic process, equal opportunity must be given to all citizens to participate in elections regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, occupation or socioeconomic status. This ensures the true reflection of the will of the people thereby enhancing the stability of the democratic process. Unfortunately, a huge number of Nigerians who are involved in making Nigeria’s elections a success are excluded from the crucial decision-making of choosing their leaders through the ballot.”
The lawmaker further observed that,”Over one million citizens who play critical roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections are disenfranchised.
” These include INEC officials, including ad-hoc staff, the security personnel, journalists, observers and others who work on election day to uphold the integrity of the process are effectively denied their right to vote because they are deployed to polling units far from where they registered. This is an irony that should not be lost on us, and this bill seeks to correct that by making provision for early voting for such citizens.
“Mr President, Distinguished Colleagues, this exclusion has characterised all elections in the Fourth Republic and became more alarming in the 2023 General Elections with over 1 million ad-hoc staff, 310,973 police personnel, 93,495 military and Department of State Service (DSS) personnel, 51,000 personnel from the National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), 21,000 from the Federal Road Safety Corps, 11,336 from the Nigeria Correctional Service, 9,447 from the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and 350 personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who were actively engaged in election activities were disenfranchised. Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission reported that 144,800 observers were deployed by 196 national and domestic organisations, with the implication that those citizens were also unable to vote. This is in addition to journalists and others involved in elections in various capacities. The number of those excluded from voting could change the outcomes of election results.”
Continuing he said,”Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, the figures highlighted above makes this bill a necessity to address the ‘disenfranchisement’ of eligible voters. As lawmakers, it is our duty to ensure that every Nigerian citizen, regardless of their profession or duty on election day, has the opportunity to participate fully in the electoral process. Incorporating early voting in our electoral legal framework shall strengthen universal adult suffrage as our Constitution guarantees every eligible Nigerian the right to vote.
” Furthermore, this Bill strengthens democratic values as democracy thrives when participation is broad, inclusive, and representative. By preventing those on election duty from voting, we are limiting the breadth of participation and undermining the very principles of democracy.
“Distinguished Colleagues, here are the highlights of the bill:
Provision for eligibility and registration of early voters:  Political parties will receive a list of registered early voters to ensure transparency.
Eligible individuals include security personnel, electoral officials and those deemed eligible by the commission who must apply 30 days before the early voting date (Clause 44A (2)-(6)).
“Implementation and Voting Procedure.
A designated early voting date will be set, not more than 7 days before the general election (Section 44A (1)).
Voting centers will be established in every ward, with early votes counted on the official election day (Section 44A (10)-(17))Cross-Country Survey.”
The Lawmaker noted  that early voting has been part of the electoral legal frameworks in other jurisdictions with its attendant huge success stories in promoting voter participation, reducing election day pressure, and increasing accessibility.
” In the United States, early voting varies by State, with some states allowing a few days to several weeks (up to 45 days) in advance of election day. In Australia, early voting starts about 2-3 weeks before the election, with the 2019 federal election recording 40% of voters that cast their ballots early. In Canada, early voting takes place 12 days before election day allowing voters greater flexibility. In Germany, Postal voting is initiated four to six weeks before the election, enabling voters to participate ahead of time.
“Distinguished Colleagues, it is interesting to note that early voting has also gained traction in several African countries as a tool to improve electoral efficiency, increase voter turnout, and enhance inclusivity, especially for marginalized groups. In South Africa, the Independent Electoral Commission allows early voting 2 days before the general election for individuals such as the elderly, disabled, pregnant women, security forces, and those working on Election Day.
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Politics

No Individual Bigger Than PDP, Says Diri

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2 days ago

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March 13, 2025

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PDP zonal caretaker C'ttee members with Gov Douye Diri (2nd from the Rt)

By David Owei ,Bayelsa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was bigger than any individual and that its internal challenges would be fixed once the members resolve to tackle them.

Speaking to journalists at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday after the inauguration of the party’s South-South zonal caretaker committee led by Elder Emma Ogidi, the Bayelsa Governor said the political will to confront those fomenting trouble in the party resided with the members and not solely on the leadership.

Diri, who is also Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, stated that for the party to be competitive as the oldest in the country, it must look inwards and fix its internal issues.

He said: “For me, we have to look inwards before accusing those outside our party. We have to first fix our internal issues.

“It is very easy to point accusing fingers. But the PDP has to sit back and tackle its internal challenges. That is only when we can stand to compete with others.

“I want the PDP to be competitive with other political parties. We are the oldest political party in Nigeria. So we have no reason to be accusing outsiders.”

On whether the party’s leadership had the political will to discipline those fomenting trouble, Governor Diri averred that such will resided with the members.

“We are all members of the party. The moment we all resolve that we need to fix our party, there cannot be any one person that is bigger than the party.”

He stressed that the newly inaugurated zonal caretaker committee had the mandate of the National Working Committee to look into every issue affecting the party in the South-South.

The Bayelsa helmsman expressed the hope that the event was a step forward for the party.

“In our zone, which is the only area in the country you have four governors of the party, we have all resolved and are together on this. You can see the deputy governor of Delta State, who represented the governor. I have also received messages from the governors of Akwa Ibom and Rivers. It shows that we are together and what we need to do is to show leadership and work with the zonal committee so that our zone will again become safe and strong for the PDP.”

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