It’s Not Mandatory For Election To Hold In Imo On Saturday -NLC 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised concerns about the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, suggesting that it may not proceed as scheduled. Uchenna Ekwe, the NLC Head of International Relations, expressed these doubts during an interview on Channels TV on Wednesday morning. Ekwe emphasized that the Imo State population has been enduring ongoing violence, which has cast doubt on the election’s viability as a means for meaningful change.  He questioned the legitimacy of past elections in the state, pointing out the lack of visibility of posters from other political parties and the disruption of an INEC meeting. Ekwe further highlighted the loss of faith in the election process among both workers and the general populace in Imo State.  He asserted that the prevailing violence and fear may deter people from participating in the election. He stressed that the world would not come to an end if the election did not take place as planned, underscoring the urgent need to address the security concerns and restore confidence in the electoral process in Imo State.

Rivers: Tribunal Dismisses Labour Party’s Petition Against Fubara’s Election Victory

The Rivers State Governorship Election petition, convened in Abuja, has rejected the petition submitted by the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, Beatrice Itubo. She was challenging the victory of Simnalayi Fubara from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). After the announcement of Fubara as the victor in the March 18 governorship election, both the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with their respective candidates, submitted petitions to the tribunal. Fubara secured 302,614 votes, defeating his closest rival Tonye Cole of the APC, who garnered 95,274 votes. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Senator Magnus Abe, and Itubo trailed behind in third and fourth places, with 46,981 and 22,224 votes, respectively. On September 13, the tribunal reserved its judgment on Cole’s petition, which sought the annulment of Fubara’s victory. After the parties presented their final written arguments and made their case for or against the petition, the three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Cletus Emifonye, adjourned the matter for judgment. However, in its ruling on the LP’s petition on Monday, the Justice Emifonye-led tribunal dismissed the petition, citing a lack of merit and the failure to substantiate the allegations made.

Peter Obi Flags Off Labour Party Campaign In Bayelsa

Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 Presidential election, has flagged off campaigns for the November 11, 2023, governorship election in Bayelsa, with an assurance that the party will be victorious. Obi, who spoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital, alongside the National Chairman of LP, Mr Julius Abure, to flag-off the governorship campaign of Mr Udengs Eradiri, said that the party has overwhelming support base in the state coupled with its performance and excellence. Obi urged the people of Bayelsa to come out en mass and vote Eradiri as the next governor of the state on November 11. He said that the process that produced Eradiri as the party’s governorship candidate in the state was credible. He said: “what Nigeria is lacking is verification and that is one of its major problems. If you don’t know where you are coming from that means you don’t know where you are going to. “As I was coming from Port-Harcourt to Yenagoa, you will see poverty, Nigeria has failed Bayelsa in 57 years after oil was discovered. “After Sokoto as the poorest state, then Bayelsa is the next. The state suffered from one of the worst flooding incidents last year, since the history of Nigeria.” National chairman, Abure, said he was confident that LP would form the next government in Bayelsa. He said that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had failed Nigerians and the people of the state in particular. He said: “We will change the economic narratives of Bayelsa state. Eradiri is the only governorship candidate of Labour Party in Bayelsa state. “LP is founded on integrity, performance. PDP and APC have failed. We have tried PDP and APC and they failed. “Their results are insecurity, poverty and infrastructural decay. Labour party has come to change the narratives. Vote Udengs Eradiri, vote LP come November 11,” he said. Speaking after the party’s flag was handed over to Eradiri, the governorship candidate of the party, promised to fix the state if he wins the governorship election. He said his programme is to engage the people but not about making noise but to reach out to the people in the rural areas to let them know his ambition. Eradiri promised not to play politics with the development of Bayelsa, but will ensure they have a better life if he is elected governor. He said that he has held various positions from the grassroots, state government level and at national level, promising that his experience in those places will position him to solve problems in Bayelsa state.

Agbebaku emerges Speaker of Edo 8th Assembly

Mr Blessing Agbebaku (PDP-Owan West), on Friday emerged as Speaker of the 8th Edo House of Assembly. Agbebaku was the Chief of Staff to the immediate past Speaker, Marcus Onobun He was elected by the lawmakers shortly after a letter of proclamation of the assembly by Governor Godwin Obaseki was read on the floor of the House by the Clerk, Mr Yahaya Omogbai, in Benin. Mrs Maria Edekor (PDP-Esan North East II) was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House. The 24 members-elect were also inaugurated into the 8th assembly. Speaking shortly after taking his oath of office, Agbebaku promised a unified Assembly that would move the state to greater heights through effective legislation. He thanked God for his protection and guidance throughout the electoral process and for his emergency as the speaker. He expressed gratitude to his colleagues for giving him the privilege and for believing in his capacity and competence to serve as speaker. “Choosing me to lead this assembly is a great honour and privilege bestowed upon me with a sense of responsibility and acceptance. “I will not take this position for granted. I will carry everyone along irrespective of their political affiliations. “I commend the 7th assembly for setting the template in legislative activities which has placed the assembly on the right track. “I assure all that we will put Edo people first as we perform our oversight functions and make the state great again,” he said. Agbebaku finally thanked Governor Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, for leading the party in the right direction.