LP NWC sacks Rivers executive council over compromise in presidential election

interest of Labour Party and the Obidient movement in Rivers State that those who were at the helm of affairs in Rivers State when the party’s presidential mandate was openly stolen in the State should step aside until full investigation on what happened on that day is completed.

“The National Working Committee has lost confidence in the ability of the compromised State Executive Council led by Mr Deinye Pepple to lead the campaign for the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections come March 11th.

“The National Working

Committee urges all Obidients in Rivers State to disregard every comment made by the disgraced State Chairman of the Labour Party, Deinye Pepple, on the election of March 11th and reiterates the full backing of the Labour Party on the candidacy of Comrade Beatrice Itubo of the Labour Party as the next Governor of Rivers State.

“The National Working Committee therefore enjoins all Obidients to come out massively on March 11th to vote for Comrade Beatrice Itubo of Labour Party”, the party said in the statement signed by its National chairman, Julius Abure.

NNPP’s Kwankwaso denies congratulating Tinubu, insists presidential election flawed

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has denied congratulating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, for winning the election, insisting that the March 25th presidential poll results were flawed.

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Major Agbo, NNPP said the report that Kwankwaso congratulated Tinubu was a figment of the fertile imagination of anti-democrats, political hirelings and fifth columnists leveraging on the popularity of the party’s presidential flag bearer.

“NNPP rejects the outcome of the February 25, 2023 presidential election as it did not reflect the will, wish and mandate of the Nigerians, who trooped out to vote but were disappointed by the failure of INEC to conduct credible and transparent election and fulfill its promise to upload the Polling Units results to its portals which would have guaranteed the authenticity of the results and declaration of the winner of the presidential election.

“Sadly, the presidential poll turned out to be a charade as it failed to meet the expectation of Nigerians and the international community. NNPP was a target of these electoral robbers who want the status quo to remain, in place of the new and better Nigeria the party promised if voted into office.

“It is unthinkable that Engr. Kwankwaso would hastily congratulate Asiwaju Tinubu on his questionable mandate which other candidates also claimed they won and had approached the court to seek redress. All lovers of democracy, due process and rule of law will wait for the determination of the election petitions in court.

“Until the court decides them one way or the other, it will be preposterous for NNPP that was rigged out in most of its strongholds across the country to concede defeat and congratulate INEC’s imposed “winner”.

“The mood of the nation since the electoral body mischievously declared Tinubu the “winner” of the election clearly showed that it was justice juxtaposed, absolutely unacceptable to majority of Nigerians who desire and deserve a new Nigeria which only the NNPP can usher in.

“March 11 is another date with destiny as Nigerians go to the polls to choose their governors and State legislators. It is yet another opportunity to vote for NNPP candidates for a better, greater and prosperous Nigeria. Join us to make it happen and experience a better life”, the party said in the statement.

Akwa Ibom YPP urges INEC to redeem image with March 11 polls

By Christiana Ekpa

Ahead of the March 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Young Progressives Party, YPP, Akwa Ibom State chapter, has urged the state Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Cyril Omoregbe, to win back the confidence of the public after the experience of February 25 presidential elections.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Tuesday, the YPP chairman in the state, Apostle Nyeneime Andy observed that the presidential election was marred by a lot of irregularities, thuggery, operational failures and violations of the Electoral Act and urged the REC to ensure the same cases would not be repeated at the gubernatorial elections as the public is losing confidence in INEC.

According to him: “To say the least, the last presidential and National Assembly election was smeared with operational failures. For instance, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as earlier repeatedly publicised by the commission as its novelty, had many setbacks and was thus, not used maximally. On the general overview, there were instances of lack of transparency and electoral malpractices and adherence to the stipulations of the Electoral Act.

“The state Residential Electoral Commissioner must use his office to restore the confidence of the public and the political parties in the forthcoming polls.”

Andy, who also disclosed an alleged plan by the state government to push for access to original result sheets of all the units, wards and LGAs before election day, urged the REC not to succumb to that as YPP would resist such an attempt.

The YPP chairman demanded from INEC early delivery of the original result sheets and all relevant materials to units, wards and LGAs across the state, warning that various agents will be on ground to resist any foul play and also report such to appropriate authorities.

He, therefore, called on the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Directorate of Defence Intelligence (DMI), international observers and the embassies in Nigeria to closely watch Akwa Ibom State to checkmate the alleged alliance between INEC and the PDP-led state government.

Guber/State Assembly polls: Labour Party not in alliance with any party - Abure

By Christiana Ekpa

As preparation for this Saturday’s Governorship/ State House of Assembly elections enter final preparations, the Labour Party has denied being in any form of alliance with any political party, even as the party said it is leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that its candidates not only participate, but win at the ballot.

A statement issued by the National chairman of the party, Julius Abure, said “This call becomes necessary given reports from some political opportunists from other political platforms, claiming that they have reached an agreement with Obidients and LP supporters to cast their ballots for them in this Saturday’s polls.”

To this end, he said that the national secretariat of LP has not given any instructions for any chapter of the party to liaise or support any candidate except LP candidates in this Saturday’s polls.

He therefore charged the members and supporters of the party to not only go out and vote, but follow the process to a conclusive end as provided by the Law.

“We encourage millions of the electorate who believe in LP presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi and the philosophy of the party not to be deterred, but troop out en masse and vote for all LP candidates anywhere in the country. The LP is not in any alliance with any political party in the run-up to this Saturday’s polls”, Abure said.

APC assembles thirteen SANs to defend Tinubu’s presidential election victory

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressives Congress

(APC) has appointed a team of highly qualified and experienced lawyers to represent the Party at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

A statement issued by Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq, who is the National Legal Adviser of All Progressives Congress (APC), said the team is comprised of legal luminaries with vast experience in election petition matters, constitutional law, and litigation.

“The legal team consisting of twelve (12) Senior Advocates of Nigeria and the National Legal Adviser of the Party, Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq, Esq., is led by Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, a renowned lawyer who has successfully handled various high-profile election matters and other landmark cases”, the statement said.

The full list of the Legal team is as follows: Lateef Fagbemi, who will serve as lead counsel, Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq, Sam Ologunorisa, Rotimi Oguneso, Olabisi Soyebo, Gboyega Oyewole, Muritala Abdulrasheed, Aliyu Omeiza Saiki, Tajudeen Oladoja, Pius Akubo, Oluseye Opasanya, Suraju Saida, Kazeem Adeniyi, all are senior advocate of Nigeria. APC therefore expressed confidence that the legal team possesses the requisite expertise and experience to ensure a successful outcome for the APC in the Presidential Election petition matters.

The party also urged members of the party to support the team in its effort to defend the will and mandate of the people, even as it called on all parties involved to conduct themselves with utmost professionalism and respect for the rule of law throughout the legal process