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By Iheanyi Chukwudi The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and it's governorship candidate in the March 18 governorship election in Enugu State, Frank Nweke Jr. have withdrawn the petition filed against Gov. Peter Mbah and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging outcome of the March said election in the state. Nweke, who came third in the governorship election with 17,983 votes as against Mbah’s 160,895 votes, announced the withdrawal of his petition yesterday at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu state, through an oral application by his counsel, Prof Race Achara. The petitioners’ counsel, while addressing the tribunal said his client wished to make an oral application to withdraw the petition which had its suit number as EPTEN/GOV/07/2023 from the court. “My lords, as has been instructed by my client, I wish to make an oral application before the honourable tribunal to withdraw the petition filed against the first, second and third respondents in this matter so that we will no longer be wasting the time of the court, as we were not able to gather the evidence that will help in prosecuting the matter." The first, second and third respondents are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Peter Mbah, and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), respectively. Replying to the petitioners’s application, counsel to the first, second, and 3rd respondents told the court that they had no objection to Nweke’s application. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice M. K Akano, therefore, made a ruling striking out the petition.She said, “The petition before the tribunal with suit number EPTEN/GOV/07/2023 is hereby withdrawn." Confirming the withdrawal to newsmen on phone, Mr. Nweke Jr., who was a Minister in the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration, said he decided to withdraw the petition for personal reasons.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Labour Party (LP) candidate in the March 18 governorship election in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, 9n Sunday closed his case against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Gov. Peter Mbah, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election. Edeoga had in his petition, alleged that the election that produced Mbah as governor was rigged, just as he prayed the tribunal to disqualify the Governor over an alleged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate forgery. He closed calling a total of 30 witnesses who testified and tendered several documentary evidences before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Enugu State. Before the closure of Edeoga’s case yesterday, INEC whose Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu was subpoenaed to appear before the court with BVAS appeared through a senior staff of the Commission, Victor Okafor, with only five BVAS machines. Meanwhile, Edeoga tendered to the tribunal exhibits that included polling unit results (form EC8A) in all the areas in contention; ward collation results (form EC8B) in the affected areas and summary of the results as well as the declaration of the results. Also tendered by the petitioners included the NYSC produced documents of Oma and Partners; form EC9 of Chijioke Edeoga and Governor Peter Mbah as well as the BVAS machines which was brought to court by the REC yesterday. At yesterday’s sitting the REC who was subpoenaed to produce, BVAS machines, was represented by Okafor, who brought only five BVAS machines against the number demanded by the petitioners. The petitioners had applied for a subpoena on the REC to produce the BVAS machines from Owo, Ugbawka 1 Registration Areas of Nkanu East LGA as well as some other polling units in Igboeze North LGA, but, during cross examination by the petitioners counsel, Okafor who appeared on behalf of the REC, said he was mandated to produce five BVAS machines before the tribunal. He said that the information that was generated on the BVAS machines during the governorship election on March 18 was now contained in the BVAS report from the Headquarters in Abuja. Okafor also said that he did not have the BVAS machines for Owo and Ugbawka 1 registration areas of Nkanu East Local Government Area, adding that the machines could only be identified by their codes. Giving the codes of the five BVAS machines he brought as 14/08/06/003, 14/08/01/002, 14/08/06/005, 14/08/17/012, 14/08/01/003, Okafor said, “All the machines contained the BVAS and accessories.” The REC representative however said that he could not operate the BVAS machines beyond the information he earlier gave concerning them because they (machines) had not been used since after the election. He however, did not provide the certified true copies of the BVAS report of the 2023 governorship election polling unit by polling unit as well as the CTC of voters register used in Owo and Ugbawka 1 Registration Areas in Nkanu East LGA of the state. Okafor insisted that he was not holding back any information, as according to him, all the documents they applied and paid for have been supplied to the petitioners. The five BVAS machines were tendered to the Tribunal by LP counsel, Mr Eyitayo Fatogun (SAN) but the PDP counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu and Mbah's counsel, Mr Alex Izinyon objected to the tendering of the machines, saying that their reasons for objection would be made known during their final addresses. The tribunal, however, admitted the BVAS machines as evidence. Under cross-examination by counsel to Mbah, the INEC staff said that the machine could contain only successfully uploaded accredited information. LP’s two last witnesses, Mr Abba Godwin and Amos Onyebuchi, who were LP agents, from Ette central and Ikwele Ugbele respectively, both from Igbo-Etiti North LGA told the court that there was over voting at their polling units during the governorship election. Upon the close of the petitioner’s case and appreciations of the panel by petitioners lead counsel, V.J Azinge (SAN), INEC counsel, H Okoli applied for a date to open their defense. Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice M. K Akano adjourned the matter till July 18 for INEC to open its defense. Meanwhile, briefing journalists at the end of the Sunday's sitting, Counsel to Dr. Peter Mbah and 2nd respondent, Alex Iziyon (SAN), said: “What happened in court today is that the petitioners brought in their remaining witnesses and the court also asked INEC to bring some BVAS machines, which were brought and tendered. “We also asked REC what transpired during the election and he confirmed that everything went well peacefully and things were in order. “The five BVAS, which were indicated were brought, but they were over 4,000 BVAS machines in polling units in Enugu State and that was it and the Labour Party closed their case.” When asked about the position of the Subpoena on Owo and Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government, he said the petitioner asked for only one polling unit, which was brought to the court.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been counselled to consider the idea of formation of State Police to deal with the issue of insecurity in Nigerian. The Bishops of the Methodist Church Nigeria, who gave the advice on Sunday in Enugu also asked the President to ensure a clear departure from the governance style of his predecessor, former President, Muhammadu Buhari, if he intends to succeed in office. Arising on Sunday, from their 40th Annual Council of Bishops held at Wesley Cathedral, Uwani, Enugu, with the theme: Contending for the Faith (Jude V.3), the Bishops frowned at the incessant killings in Nigeria and called on Tinubu to consider the option of State Police. They said, “Furthermore, the Bishops in Council acknowledge the various efforts of the Federal Government in her attempt to curb the various violent crises across the Country that have maimed and sent many Nigerians to their early graves; and calls on the government at the centre to be more proactive." Consequently, the Council enjoins the government to look into the idea of the formation of State Police so as to reduce the spate of the incessant killings of harmless Nigerians by the alleged insurgents, militants and terrorists. The Bishop's who were unhappy with the Tinubu administration’s N8,000 fuel subsidy palliative, charged President Tinubu depart from a governance style that looks and treats Nigerians as beggars. The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Oliver Ali Aba, who addressed a press conference with other Bishops to mark the end of the Bishops conference and to present the communiqué, lamented that Nigeria was still poor despite being abundantly blessed by God with natural resources (mineral deposits) across the country, due to mismanagement. Prelate Ali Aba said, “I want to believe strongly that coming into power of our father, His Excellency, the President of our country today, the Jagaban, AsiwajuTinubu Ahmed, I want to believe that God brought him to power at a time like this, I want to believe strongly that he knew Nigeria and he knows the problem of our society." “Nigeria is so large to be governed with the Almajiri style of life. What can that kind of money (N8,000) do for Nigeria today and the Nigeria tomorrow? I think what the government of the day should do is to depart from the previous regime who believed in sharing five, five thousand to some individuals which we don’t know. "When they told us that they were fighting for us, indirectly they were also dealing to us which I want this present regime to depart from that system." “All we need, let the federal government look for a way and bring back the ailing industries. Like if you go to the Northern part particularly Kaduna state, we have a lot of textile industries, let them revive them, bring them to life and that will give employment to teaming youths of our population and I want to assure you that, that will help us rather than giving us, giving a family N8,000.” The Bishops' Council communique reads in parts, "That the theme for the 2023 Annual Council of Bishops was timely, precise, and apt considering the potential danger that the presence of false prophets, teachers and their strange doctrines pose to the Church and society in contemporary times. The Council in session, therefore, calls on all Christians, particularly, Methodist faithful to rise up to the challenge of defending the faith of the Church in times of need. Members are enjoined to devote more time to the study of the Scripture and prayers so as to be properly armed for the battle of defending the Faith, noting that authentic faith often reflects in Christ-like behaviour will be upheld. "The Council, consequently, prays that God creates in the hearts of all Christian people the anxious spirit that burns with the great desire to defend the Faith that was once delivered to the Church by the Apostles, and also calls on the Faith Community to wake up from her The dogmatic slumber in defense of the Faith in times of need. "Secondly, Council in Session congratulates His Eminence, Dr Oliver Ali Aba JP, on his election and successful investiture as Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, and assures him of her unflinching support and loyalty as he leads the Methodist people in Nigeria and beyond. "Further, Council in session congratulates the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his successful inauguration and the smooth take off of the new Administration, and urges him to be magnanimous in victory and initiate a clear- cut process of healing the wounds in the hearts of many Nigerians through a sincere process of reconciliation, national unity and integration." "On the other hand, Council congratulates the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Barr. (Dr) Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on his election and inauguration as the Executive Governor of the State. The Council Provide consequently advices the Governor to the dividends of democracy to the people. Council also notes with concern the spate of insecurity in the entire country, particularly, in the Eastern region; and calls on the three tiers of Government to find a lasting solution to it so that the people can go about their businesses peacefully. "However, Council frowns at the current spate of moral decadence and the decline in the moral and ethical values of our contemporary society as expressed in digital and cyber crimes amongst other ills: and decried it as an existential threat to our "Africaness." Consequently, the Council in session calls for National Ethical Renewal; so as to restore and revive our cherished and age-long ethical principles and values. "Moreover, while acknowledging some of the hitches, alleged discrepancies and complaints about the conduct and eventual results of the 2023 General Elections, the Bishops in Council salute the courage of the aggrieved contestants in the Elections who have chosen the way of Peace by going to the Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the process and outcome of the election through legal redress; and calls on the Judiciary to objectively look at the merits of each case in her decision-making process. "On the current wave of hardship and the rate of unemployment amongst our teaming youths, which have resulted in many of the young people dying on the high seas and the deserts in their attempts to cross over to Europe and other parts of the world in desires for greener pasture; Council calls on the three tiers of Government to frontally confront the issue and create a conducive environment for job creation and employment opportunities. "Lastly, the Bishops in Council while applauding the decision of the Federal Government on the removal of the petroleum products subsidy, admonishes the Government to develop a heart of milk-like kindness by putting up some implementable palliatives so as to reduce the current hardship of the ordinary Nigerians."

By Madu Obi Police operatives in Anambra State attached to the Abagana Division has rescued an aged woman from her bullying 50 year old daughter, Ukamaka Udeugbo at Umudunu village, Abagana in Njikoka local government area. In a video clip that has gone viral, Ukamaka was seen flogging her naked aged woman repeatedly and throwing buckets of water on her as she lay on the floor. Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga said Ukamaka has been arrested and detained for prosecution. According to the PPRO, the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye has directed the transfer of the case to the State CID in the public interest. The PPRO also said the CP has authorized that the aged woman be handed to the Commissioner for Women Affairs for adequate care by the Anambra State government. He said the suspect would be arraigned in court at the end of the investigation. Similarly, the state Police command has intercepted an armed robbery gang at Neni in Anaocha local government area and recovered a tricycle and two pistols from them. The incident happened on Saturday night. The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga said the gang was smashed following information that they were fleeing and heading towards Neni from Awka. According to him, the Police, who were on patrol with the local vigilante, laid an ambush for the robbers and apprehended them. The suspects arrested are Ebuka Madu, 22 years, of Umunze, Chinedu Godwin, 23 years, from Enugu State, and Udegbunam Chikezie,18 years, of Neni. Items recovered from them were one Baretta Pistol, one locally made Chief Revolver Pistol, twelve rounds of live, and one expended ammunition and the tricycle. The state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye has already directed that the suspects be arraigned in court after a diligent investigation

By Madu Obi The Anambra State Police command has arrested six boys suspected to be specialists in gang raping girls and using their underwear for ritual in Anam Community, Anambra West local government area of the state. The six suspects were identified as Afam Ezenwa, Chijioke Ifeanyi, Collins Obadom, Abuchi Okechukwu, Chima Obiekezie and Sunday Okafor. The suspects, who are between the ages of 16 and 27 years, allegedly carried out the act after ambushing and forcing their victim into a room where they took turns to defile her. It was gathered that after such action, the victim usually dies after a period of time. Luck, however, ran out against them while raping a 19 - year old girl in the community. The state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, whose Ministry collaborated with security operatives in the arrest, said the rape victim was rescued and the suspects transferred to the State Criminal Investigative Department, SCID, in Awka, adding that they would soon be charged to court. She said: “The Ministry and security operatives did not only rescue the victim, but equally apprehended the suspects." “The high rate of crime amongst delinquents in Anambra State is alarming. Parents and guardians should stop sparing the rod and spoiling the child." “The administration of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo will not allow any form of crime to thrive in the state and justice will take its full course. ”The victim, during interrogation, explained that the incident happened when she visited her maternal home in Oromaetiti and got ambushed by a group of boys who took her to a room and took turns in defiling her. "She said that despite her plea, the suspects did not stop, but continued having their sexual fill with her while one of them was filming her during the act. "She also stated that after she was rescued by some neighbours who heard her shouting for help, she left for her house only to be accosted on her way home by another set of boys who harassed her and forced her to pull her underwear and give to them which she obeyed because they threatened to kill her. It was a good Samaritan that later took her home to her parents." Amid sobs, the mother of the victim said her daughter was the third victim of the alleged rape suspects in the community, adding that they were known for raping girls and collecting their pants which usually results in the death of their victims after a period of time. She urged the state government not to take the case lightly as her daughter’s life is at risk, especially as the family is yet to retrieve her daughter’s personal effects.

By Madu Obi AN indigene of Benin Republic who is a bricklayer resident in Anambra State has been arraigned before an Nnobi Chief Magistrate Court in Idemili South local government area of the state for allegedly defrauding an orphan, Miss Victoria Mbachu of her inherited property worth N10m. The Beninese, who forged a Nigerian passport and acquired the name, Olufemi Salako while working as a bricklayer at Nnobi, allegedly committed the offence with a 65 year-old native doctor, Chijioke Okaa in July, 2020. Salako absconded after commiting the offence and was declared wanted by the police. However, the orphan, Miss Mbachu, who was cohabiting with Salako and already had two children for him, tricked him into returning to Anambra State to give evidence against the native doctor, only to be remanded in prison custody on Friday. Salako was lodged in an Awka hotel with Mbachu with their children, not knowing what awaited him at the Magistrate Court.He was cheerful during the trip from Awka to Nnobi, but his mood changed when the charges were read against him. In the amended charge, the Police prosecutor, Mr Ifeanyi Eze said the initial five count-charge in the matter between the Commissioner of Police and Chijioke Peter Okaa has included Olufemi Salako. The prosecutor told the court that Okaa and Salako had sometime within the months of July 2020 and October, 2021 at Nnobi did attempt to commit felony by inducing Miss Nzube Victoria Mbachu, an orphan to change a title document of her land in favour of Okaa. Eze also alleged that Salako had conspired with Okaa to promise Nzube that he would build a house for her and relocate her and her children from her family compound, in addition to providing more money to her. The prosecutor further said that the accused persons forcibly entered the said land thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496 (a) of the Criminal Code Law Cap 36, Volume ii, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991 as amended. Eze stated that the accused willfully and unlawfully damaged an existing property belonging to one Bonaventure Ezekwenna on the said land. According to the prosecution, Okaa forcibly entered into the property with survey plan number GEO-B/AN425/2021 which was in actual and peaceable possession by Ezekwenna. The prosecutor added that the accused persons had tricked Nzube into believing that several deaths in her lineage was because of their place of abode and made her surrender to the title document. After listening to charges, Olufemi Salako pleaded not guilty to all the charges.Eze told the court to be mindful of the danger of granting bail to Olufemi Salako, saying “the second accused person is from Republic of Benin and can jump bail”. After listening to the amended five -count charge, the Chief Magistrate, Ken Nwoye granted Salako bail in the sum of N1.5 million and one surety who must be a native of Nnobi. Nwoye, who said the court must verify the authenticity of the address of the surety, adjourned the matter to July 28 for definite hearing.

By Madu Obi The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, orientation camp at Umuawulu/Mbaukwu in Anambra State is under serious erosion threat, with the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Blessing Ekene Iruma, appealing to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene immediately to save the magnificent edifice. Speaking during the swearing - in ceremony of 2023 Batch B' stream one at the Orientation Camp, Iruma complained that the erosion menace was seriously hindering the smooth operations in the camp and depleting the resources of NYSC. Authorities of NYSC have already hired contractors to fill some of the gully erosion sites in the area."The erosion had eaten up most of the landscape and now pulling down walls and other structures in the camp." "We appeal to the Anambra State government to speedily intervene in combating the menace and stop further damage. If nothing is urgently done ,the erosion will destroy the beautiful structures put in place by state government," she stated. Chief of staff to the governor, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, who was at the camp said the state government would liaise with the Coordinator to find a lasting solution to the erosion menace in the camp. "With over 1000 erosion sites in the state, we have our hands full in erosion, but we will do something. We will discuss with the NYSC Coordinator and meet with the state Commissioner in charge of Environment to do something," the Chief of Staff said

Iheanyi Chukwudi President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday took a decisive action on the alarming increase in food inflation nationwide by declaring a state of emergency on food security. The decision and pronouncement was made at a meeting President Tinubu had with stakeholders on agriculture and food production value-chain. Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, who made this known to newsmen after the said meeting said that measures in the action plan will include an immediate release of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.⁣ Alake said, “As a hands-on-leader who follows developments across the country every day, Mr. President is not unmindful of the rising cost of food and how it affects the citizens. “While availability is not a problem, affordability has been a major issue to many Nigerians in all parts of the country. This has led a significant drop in demand thereby undermining the viability of the entire agriculture and food value chain." “Accordingly, in line with this administration’s position on ensuring that the most vulnerable are supported, Mr. President has declared, with immediate effect the following actions: That a state of emergency on food security be announced immediately," Giving details of the Presidential Intervention on Food Security, Food Pricing and Sustainability to newsmen, Alake also disclosed that the President has approved that all matters pertaining to food and water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council. “That all matters pertaining to food and water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council," the Presidential Spokesman said. ⁣ Alake briefed newsmen alongside Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zacch Adedeji; Special Adviser on Industry, Trade and Investment, John Uwajumogu; Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Wale Adeniyi and others.

By Madu Obi THE Pensions Transitional Administration Directorate, PTAD, said yesterday that it paid N754 billion to 226,000 pensioners in the country between January, 2015 and December 31, 2022. At a stakeholders engagement forum in Awka, the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr Chioma Ejikeme said the welfare of Nigerian pensioners remained sacrosanct, adding that measures have been put in place for seamless payment of pension. She described as irrevocable, the organization's determination to change the narrative as far as pension administration under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) in Nigeria is concerned.According to her, PTAD is also confident that President Bola Tinubu will continue to make pension payment a first-line charge given his well-known and commendable antecedents in pension matters, Ejikeme said: "We have already started witnessing continued prompt payment of monthly pensions to our esteemed pensioners. We cannot afford to go back to the time when the DBS pensioners were owed months of pension arrears and their needs pushed to the back-burner. "At the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, we are aware of the importance of carrying our pensioners and stakeholders along in what we do; and this is why we organize this kind of forum to interact with you, keep you updated on our activities, as well as our future plans, and most importantly, get your feedback. "It is pertinent to note that PTAD has intentionally and consistently been working on achieving positive and sustainable change in the DBS Pension management for the almost 10 years of its operation. "You may recall that the Defined Benefit Scheme in the past was fraught with allegations of fraud, corruption and inefficiencies prior to the establishment of the Directorate. However, the processes and controls that have been put in place since the establishment of PTAD, have contributed immensely to the change being witnessed today in the management of the defined benefit pension scheme." She warned pensioners against patronizing fraudsters, noting that they seem to have kicked off their activities again as there were reports of pensioners being called by people pretending to be PTAD staff and soliciting funds from pensioners to enable their entitlements to be paid. "No staff of PTAD will call or send any message to you requesting for payment or ask you to call a certain phone number before your arrears or gratuity will be paid. Once you get such messages, you should know that PTAD did not send them and will never do so", she added.

Madu Obi Youths of All Progressives Congress, APC, have urged the party's leaders to render account of how the funds made available for the 2021 governorship and the 2023 presidential elections were spent in Anambra State. At a media briefing in Awka on Thursday, the youths said doing so is the only way forward for peace to reign in the party in Anambra State. The South East APC Young Progressives Forum argued that while it welcomes the planne APC stakeholders meeting expected to take place in Awka on July 15, those who handled the campaign funds for the two elections should tell the people how the monies were spent. National convener of the Forum, Mr. Pascal Candle, who addressed reporters on the issue said also to be accounted for were the disputed funds from the 2022 National Convention/Presidential Primary of APC, which has been a subject of controversy. In the press statement which was copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who is the chairman APC Governors’ Forum, the APC national chairman, among others, the youths believed that rendering the accounts is a crucial step towards bringing about true reconciliation and healing for the APC in Anambra State. The statement said: "We carried out a deep soul searching and sampling of opinions of party members from across different strata in Anambra State and we discovered that the unresolved controversies from the 2021 governorship election campaign handling, 2022 APC Presidential primary funds and the just concluded 2023 presidential campaign fund controversies were basically the major issues on the lips of party members and which is bringing so much division in the party. "We, therefore, arrived at the conclusion that the party needs to resolve these unresolved issues, otherwise the rebuilding efforts of the party may turn out to be a house built on quicksand, which will collapse at the smallest sign of tremor. "We state that this call for accountability is in good faith and not targeted at any individual or a section of the party, but in the overall interest of our party, considering the fact that the Anambra 2025 governorship election season has started and the APC cannot afford to go into it with a shaky foundation. "The party needs to be as united as possible in order to better strategize on how best to bring Anambra State to the progressives fold, come 2025. We must be a seen as a very viable and better alternative to the governing All Progressives Grand Alliance by Anambra people come 2025 and the journey to that destination starts when we sort out our internal differences and move as one big, united and focused party." The statement further said that the South East APC Young Progressives Forum has taken it upon itself to be the new conscience of the party in Anambra State and South East and advocated for the setting up of truth and reconciliation Committee by the State Working Committee of the party with inputs from relevant stakeholders.

Iheanyi Chukwudi The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, has again prevented the Labour Party and its governorship candidate in the 2023 elections in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, from inspecting the Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) used for the March 18 elections in the state. The REC by his action defied an order of the Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal which mandated him to allow the Labour Party to inspect the BVAS machines used in voter accreditation in some parts of the state. His first refusal prompted a petition by the Labour Party governorship candidate, Edeoga, to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, accusing the Enugu REC of refusal to comply with the order of the tribunal. INEC denied the allegation, prompting the scheduling of the inspection for Wednesday, July 12, 2023. But contrary to the order of the court, INEC through the Head of Department, Voter Education at INEC office Enugu, Mr. Chuka Rex Achumie, invited members of the ruling party in there state, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and insisted that Labour Party will not conduct the inspection without the agreement of the PDP. His stand led to a shouting match at the INEC premises, which eventually led to the disruption of the exercise by thugs allegedly brought by the PDP. The Labour Party inspection team led by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Dr. John Nwaokeabia, had arrived at the INEC office at Independence Layout as early as 9.00am on Wednesday, to carry out the Court order, but was prevented by the HOD, Voter Education, who told them that the Commission deliberately invited PDP members and other party members to come and be part of the exercise. The thugs who invaded the INEC office also allegedly, threatened the forensic expert, who was invited for the analyses of the BVAS machines. All entreaties by the LP team and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Independence Layout Police Station, to allow LP to carry out the order granted them by the Court proved abortive as Mr. Achumie insisted that no inspection would take place without the agreement of the PDP. Speaking to newsmen at the INEC premises, the Spokesman of the Edeoga Campaign Organisation, Engr. George Ugwu decried the situation where INEC would become partisan in an exercise it was supposed to be the umpire and called on well-meaning Nigerians to advise the electoral body to toe the path of honour by respecting a court order. He said, "We do not understand what these people are doing. As you can see, we arrived here expecting to inspect the BVAS machines, How the INEC invited the PDP and insisted they will have to agree before we carry out the inspection is what we do not understand. "This is the height of impunity and we want Nigerians to bear witness that Enugu REC and INEC are not only showing unhindered partisanship but also disobeying an order of the tribunal in an attempt to frustrate our search for justice." Engr. Ugwu said as law abiding party, the Labour Party will continue to explore lawful means to reclaim "the mandate that was given to it by the people of Enugu State."

Iheanyi Chukwudi Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned people following the self acclaimed Nnamdi Kanu’s disciple, Simon Ekpa to immediately retrace their steps before they fall into a ditch with him. IPOB said the warning has become necessary as Ekpa last week confirmed the groups pronouncements that he was not working for IPOB or the good of Biafra, as he went hiding when a Biafran rally held in Finland on July 7 near his (Ekpa’s) building. The pro-Biafra group in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, insisted that the agitation for Biafra was not for criminals and scammers who were paid by the Nigerian government to create insecurity and criminality to blackmail IPOB and Kanu. Powerful who commended IPOB hardcore members who attended the July 7, 2023 Finland rally held at Lahti, explained that it was part of IPOB’s global sensitisation agenda on the plight of Biafrans and illegal incarceration of their Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, assuring that the rally would continue around Europe. His statement reads in parts, “IPOB leadership commends all and sundry who participated in the just concluded rally to educate the people of Finland and the rest of the world that IPOB is a peaceful and one organisation without any factions. It is unfortunate that during the epic event at Lahti, Finland, the self-acclaimed Biafra Crime Minister was nowhere to be found. “Finnish people wondered why the so-called Biafra Prime/crime minister didn’t show up to address his people but chose to hide even when the rally took place in front of his apartment building. We thought he dared IPOB to come and protest in Finland, but at last, he was nowhere to be found. How can a true IPOB member hide from fellow Comrades? “We are using this medium to warn the ignorant followers of this scammer and one room Crime Minister to retrace their steps before it becomes too late. It is obvious that there is nothing in the fish brain. The message has been passed to Finnish people so that they will not be deceived.” IPOB stated unequivocally that Biafra agitation was not for criminals and scammers, while insisting that those contracted and backed by the compromised Nigeria Security and government to enforce a non-existing sit-at-home will be held accountable someday. “Many days are for a thief, but one day will be for the owner of the house. Let the public be notified that IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never ordered and enforced any sit-at-home in Biafra territory. “We want to pose this question to some media houses especially local media and a few foreign media houses who present the infiltrator as factional leader of IPOB or Biafra Prime Minister (PM), why did he not come out and address his fellow comrades who came to visit him, if he claims to be an IPOB leader?,” the group said. Powerful however, appealed to the media to stop conferring on Simon Ekpa credibility by making him appear as if IPOB has a factional leader, saying, “There is nothing like that. “If the leader of the auto pilot criminal group, the master scammer and agent provocateur called Simon Ekpa is an IPOB member, why was he not present or refused to attend the IPOB protest and rally held in Lahti, Finland at the front of his apartment building close to his residence in the city of Lahti, Finland on the 7th day of July 2023? This was the protest and rally ground in that city and was only a few poles from his living quarters? “We also want the public to be aware and recall that our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, categorically said in his numerous and landmark broadcasts on Radio Biafra that IPOB does not belong to the Kanu family. IPOB is a well structured and organised movement by Biafran volunteers in all parts of the world seeking the exit of Biafra from Nigeria through a referendum.”