Ogunewe not our Imo governorship candidate – Action Alliance

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Action Alliance (AA) has declared that Major-General Lincoln Jack Ogunewe (retd) is not its candidate for the governorship elections in Imo State. Ogunewe was in the news last week after he was announced as the flagbearer of the platform, a report the leadership refuted.

In a statement on Sunday, AA Chairman, Comrade Ifeanyi Okponwa Eze, said Ogunewe’s emergence was not endorsed by the party, advising citizens to ignore the “rumour”.

Eze recalled that on November 11, 2022, a Court of Appeal in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, affirmed Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje as the authentic National Chairman against one Kenneth Udeze.

He said in line with stipulated guidelines, AA conducted its governorship primary in Imo on April 17, 2023, the last day set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“It’s worrisome and embarrassing that the said Kenneth Udeze, who was expelled from the party, has continued to parade himself as the National Chairman.

“He has gone as far as trying to deceive members of the public by ridiculously presenting Gen. Lincoln Ogunewe (retd) as the governorship candidate.

“This is a clear disregard to the subsisting Court of Appeal judgement which affirmed Hon. Dr. Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje as the authentic National Chairman.”

Eze said INEC’s retention of Udeze as the AA National Chairman on its website is an indication that the umpire “has decided to operate in contempt to the judgement”.

The party warned that it would not hesitate to press contempt of court charges against both Kenneth Udeze and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu “if they do not retrace their steps”.

The statement reaffirmed Chief Ukadike Chinedu Humphrey as AA’s standard bearer for the November 11 governorship poll and urged the people of Imo to “disregard impostors”.

By Christiana Ekpa

Barring any last minute alterations in today’s inauguration of Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as both President and Vice President by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the national chairman of Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure has assured Nigerians that justice shall prevail soon.

In a statement he issued yesterday to journàlists, Abure said All Progressive Congress (APC) Tinubu emerged through a disputed presidential electoral outcome on February 25th, adding that “The reality and tragedy of this Presidential Election, has already been well highlighted, to national and global attention.”

He recalled that on that fateful day, Nigerians from across ethnic, political and social divides, fired by the promises of President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Mahmud Yakubu, INEC Chairman, reinvigorated hope for a new political and administrative order, hence they endured untold difficulties and rigors, in obtaining their PVC’s, and trooped out in their millions to cast their votes.

Abure said “In various States, State Governors and public officials, particularly of the APC, directly influenced the voting and threatened, abducted and tortured electoral officials.

“However, despite varying serious reports of violence, malfunctioning electoral devices and other hindrances, the voters accreditation and casting process was fairly satisfactorily conducted.

“But after counting of votes, a dark cloud engulfed the Nation. It became clear that the correct password, to transmit the Presidential Election results, electronically and instantly, from the BVAS to the INEC IREV, had been criminally withheld, contrary to specifications of the law and contrary to repeated emphasis, directives and promises to the Nation and its citizens, by Professor Mahmood Yakubu and INEC officials.

“This deliberate act of criminal conspiracy, was the