Politics

Edo guber: APC calls for mandatory drug test for candidates

The Director of Media of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has called for a compulsory drug test on all leading candidates in the 21 September governorship election in Edo State.

A statement by Prince Kassim Afegbua, Director of Media, APC Governorship Campaign Council, called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to subject the leading candidates to compulsory drug tests.

Afegbua said the NDLEA should zero in on all the frontline candidates of the major political parties.
He noted that the test would also enable Edo voters to be well-guided in making informed choices during the elections, to avoid voting for a candidate who would spend the state’s resources in funding drug and alcoholic lifestyles.

The statement read, “We have been reliably informed that some of the leading political parties candidates are alleged to be heavy consumers of banned substances including alcohol. A test for all of them will unveil their level of sanity.

“The compulsory test on the leading candidates will save Edo people of any future embarrassment that may arise. The voters can not be deceived again. Edo State is too decent to have a governor who will bring shame to the people.

“Anyone who wants to govern Edo State should not be a heavy consumer of marijuana. This is a banned substance, and we expect the NDLEA to verify and conduct tests on the major candidates.

“Our candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo is prepared to submit himself to any test any time he is called upon.

“We expect similar assurances from the other candidates to ascertain their level of sanity

“It will be a big shame for residents of other States to drag our people in the mud for mistakenly voting for a candidate whose state of mind can not be guaranteed. That is a big risk Edo people can not gamble with.

“We are doing this to save our state, and we hope that the NDLEA will quickly swing into action and do the needful.”

The APC candidate stated that the party would continue to mount pressure on NDLEA and other law enforcement agencies to come to the aid of Edo people and subject the candidates to compulsory drug tests as the governorship election approaches.

While pointing out that the people deserve to know who they are supporting, he added that they must unearth any candidate who pretends to be a saint during the day but a notorious gangster at night.

“With the insecurity, unemployment, decayed infrastructure, poor healthcare, lack of potable water, and failed education in Edo State, the people deserve a governor with a sane mind to lead us into prosperity,” he stressed.

Politics

NAF begins Edo guber election materials transportation

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the transportation of election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Benin, ahead of the Sept. 21 Governorship election in Edo.

This is contained in a statement by the Deputy Director Public Relations and Information, NAF, Group Capt. Kabiru Ali, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ali said the move was part of a broader effort to ensure timely and secured delivery of sensitive materials necessary for the smooth conduct of the elections.

He said the transportation operation had demonstrated the collaboration between NAF and INEC, aimed at facilitating logistics and ensuring a peaceful election process in Edo.

According to him, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had recently reiterated NAF’s commitment to provide transportation for the swift movement of electoral materials.

“This is in fulfillment of NAF’s constitutional responsibility of providing Military Aid to Civil Authority,’’ he said.

Politics

Fubara directs all 23 LGA chairmen in Rivers to contest under APP

Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has directed all 23 local government chairmen in the state to contest the forthcoming local government elections under the banner of the All People’s Party (APP).

The decision comes in the wake of Governor Fubara losing control of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Rivers State to former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The local government elections are scheduled for October 5, 2024.

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Wike has maintained significant control over the PDP structure in the state, causing friction between the two leaders.

The power struggle has culminated in Governor Fubara opting to back the APP, a move many see as a bid to counter Wike’s dominance in the state.

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With the local government elections fast approaching, this move is expected to reshape the political dynamics in Rivers State.

The APP, previously a lesser-known party in the region, now stands to gain considerable traction, backed by the governor and the incumbent local government chairmen.

Politics

Court sets new date for judgment in suit seeking Ganduje’s sack

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, shifted the judgment in a suit seeking the removal of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Sept. 23.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the matter, which was earlier fixed for today, was not on the case list.

NAN gathered that the parties in the suit had earlier been reached by the court registrar for a new date because the judgement was not ready.

“We have already called the parties on phone to inform them of the development. A new date is next week, September 23,” a reliable source said.

Justice Inyang Ekwo had, on July 5, fixed today (Sept. 18) for the judgment.

Justice Ekwo fixed the date after counsel to the plaintiff, Benjamin Davou; and lawyers to the defence adopted their processes and made their submission for and against the case.

The plaintiff; the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had filed the suit to queried the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geo-political zone.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff listed Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

The plaintiff wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.

It also prays the court to issue an order directing INEC not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.

The plaintiff is contending among others, that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.

It argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo-political zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.

It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the NEC of the party, among other reliefs.