Presidential election: Every supporter works as our polling agent - Labour Party

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, has called on party supporters across the country, especially in the Southeast, Northeast and Northwest, to ignore threats of violence and turn up for the elections and stay as polling agents for the party to monitor the elections.

Abure also called on Nigerians to cast their votes, stay back and serve as LP agents at polling units in Saturday’s presidential election.

Abure, who made the call at a press conference Wednesday in Abuja, also revealed that the party was aware of moves by opposition political parties to cause commotion in some parts of the country “in order to discourage people from coming out to vote”.

“I, therefore, want to urge all our supporters that on the 25th of this month which is Saturday, they should all come out en masse to cast their votes for the Labour Party.

“I am aware that some sponsored persons especially in the South East are being paid and sponsored by opposition political parties to continue to threaten citizens not to come out to vote, deployed to deliberately reduce our vote.

“We, therefore, want to plead with our supporters that they should come out in their numbers wherever they are, to come out and vote. It is a mere threat to stop them from or to instill fear in them, to prevent them from coming out to vote.

“Secondly, we have been assured by the security agencies that they are on top of the matter. They have assured us that they will guarantee security for the people.

“I, therefore, want to call on all our supporters, that they must not be discouraged, they must all come out and vote for the party. All the support that we got, if they are not translated to votes, come Saturday, it would have amounted to effort in futility.

“I want to say clearly that all supporters of the Labour party and Peter Obi must realise that they are all agents of the party.

“The responsibility to defend our votes, the responsibility to act as agents should not be left in the hands of accredited party agents alone.

“If you are a supporter of Peter Obi, if you are a supporter of any of the candidates of Labour party, if you are a supporter of the party, you must therefore be an agent for the party on that day of the election.

“I will therefore expect that you will not only go to the polling booth to cast your vote but have a responsibility to also defend your votes.

“We appeal to you to vote, be on standby, keep an eye on INEC officials, keep an eye on security agencies, keep an eye even on the accredited party agents so that you can provide checks and balances on whatever is being done. You have the responsibility to question any activity that you find will compromise the processes of this election.

I am therefore saying that all our supporters are polling unit agents. In order, you are one of our ambassadors, you are one of those who will help us to stand and defend our votes,” he insisted.

The leading opposition party, while noting that the 2023 poll is the first time that Nigerians will be having a voice, called on the people not to “allow this opportunity to elude us. We must take our destiny in our hands realizing the fact that opportunity lost can never be recovered.”

He further added that “the opportunity we have today in this country, has never been available. We have never had this opportunity where the activities of a political party, the activities of an individual candidate is driven by the people.

“Nigerians must rise to the occasion. Our own supporters must rise to the occasion and ensure that their dream of having a new Nigeria, a Nigeria that guarantees security, a Nigeria that has service delivery to its people, a Nigeria that will be free from poverty, from hunger, from unemployment.

A Nigeria that will be free from the paradox of where you have crude oil yet you import petroleum products, pay subsidy and all the attendant costs. A Nigeria that truly will be in tandem with the mission and vision of the founding fathers of Nigeria.”

L-R; Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Zubari Gambo, Director General DSS, Mr Magaji Bichi and Governor CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele during the Launch of Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID-19) Security Equipment at the Council Chambers, State House, yesterday in Abuja. PHOTO; State House

Presidential election: Ikpeazu supporting Peter Obi, not Tinubu – Ohanaeze

By Musa Baba Adamu

Three days before the presidential election, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged Nigerians to disregard reports alleging that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State is supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC), presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Ohanaeze said contrary to reports, Ikpeazu is backing the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and not Tinubu.

The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said enemies of Igbos are behind the fake news of Ikpeazu supporting Tinubu instead of Obi. Isiguzoro said Ikeazu would never support Tinubu due to competence, equity and justice.

The statement reads: “Ohanaeze wishes to urge Ndigbo to disregard the fake news being currently peddled that Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the Abia State Governor is supporting the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Ordinarily, it is not the duty of Ohanaeze, the Igbo apex sociocultural organization to respond to such. However, we view this fabricated story as an attempt by enemies of Ndigbo to sow discord and suspicion among the ranks of Igbo leaders, at this eleventh hour, with the 2023 presidential election a few days away.

“From our records, Dr Ikpeazu is among the Igbo Governors that have been very supportive of the presidential campaign of Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, based on the fact that he believes in supporting competent candidates, regardless of party affiliations.

“He also believes that Nigeria can only become great if it is run on the basis of equity, justice and fairness. That is the basis of the disagreement of the G-5 Governors with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate.

“He has never hidden his support for the Igbo presidency project. Also, Ikpeazu has been a bastion of support to the Obidient movement in Abia State. He has had interactions with their leaders in the past and even recently appointed some of them as his aides.

“Unlike some other Igbo states where Obidients are being harassed and intimidated, the reverse is the case in Abia State. In the spirit of Igbo brotherhood, he even provided logistics for Obi’s recent campaign activities in Abia State, including venue.

“Finally, we wish to assure these enemies of Ndigbo and their hired Igbo collaborators that their scheme has failed woefully. Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges all Igbo Governors, Igbo leaders and the entire Igbo nation to keep

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Securities and Exchange Commission has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the National Pensions Commissions on areas that would assist in further deepening the commodities ecosystem.

Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda stated this when the Management of the Commission along with the Lagos Futures and Commodities Exchange held a meeting with Pencom in Abuja Tuesday.

Yuguda who was represented by the Executive Commissioner Corporate Services of the SEC, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi, stated that the SEC is very passionate about the commodities sector as it has enormous benefits for the economy of the nation.

According to him, “One of the key pillars of the Capital market Master Plan is the development of the commodities ecosystem which gives our nation the opportunity to diversify both the capital market and the economy and also create more products.