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2023: Gov Umahi Ban Political Street Campaigns in Ebonyi
The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has few months to the 2023 general election banned street campaigns by political parties.
He also threatened to seal off party secretaries and offices of defaulters.
Umahi also banned pasting of posters on critical infrastructure, including electric poles, concrete medians, roads, flyover bridges and other critical infrastructure of the State by all the Political Parties in the State.
The governor, who made this known in a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Abakaliki by the Commissioner of Information and State Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, threatened to clampdown on political parties, including his All Progressives Congress, APC, that littered the infrastructure with posters.
“The Governor has banned all street campaigns and directed all Local Government Area Chairmen, to process all the applications of any Political Party including APC that wants to use the public facilities for their campaigns,” he stated.
Umahi, however, gave a marching order to all political parties including APC to remove with immediate effect, all the posters that already littered on the critical infrastructures in the state.
According to him: “The Governor has decided to forgive all other political parties and appeal to them to remove all their posters on all the critical infrastructure before 31st December, 2022 and desist forthwith from defacing the state facilities or face similar penalty like APC, Ebonyi State chapter.
December 25, 2022
Ebonyi Govt Reacts To Sporadic Shooting in State Capital
The Ebonyi State Government has reacted to the sporadic shooting that caused pandemonium in Abakaliki the state capital on Monday.
Hoodlums suspected to be enforcing a sit-at-home order in the Southeast had stormed Abakaliki on Monday morning shooting sporadically.
Reacting, a statement issued by Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, Special Security Consultant (SSC) to Ebonyi State Government, urged residents to go about their lawful engagements, saying the incident was not as being reported.
According to him, the hoodlums only invaded the Ahiaofuru along Abakaliki-Enugu Highway and attacked a provision shop, causing a stir around the axis.
He said no life was lost during the shooting, assuring residents of the state of their safety.
The statement reads: “This is to inform all government officials [and] civil servants, as well as the general public to confidently go about their lawful engagements as what just happened in Ebonyi State, was misconstrued and escalated by unscrupulous elements to cause panic and apprehension among peace-loving people.
“For clarity purposes, a gang of hoodlums invaded Ahiaofuru along Abakaliki/Enugu Highway where they partially attacked a provision shop causing a stir around the axis. No life was lost as being circulated by rumour mongers and enemies of the state.
“Again, all government functions still stand as scheduled because the state is fully and absolutely under control. The men of Ebubeagu and other security agencies have been drafted to strategic locations while others are on patrol to secure the citizens and their properties further.
“Please, be rest assured that our men are tracking them and very soon they will be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.”
December 12, 2022
Ebonyi votes are for APC not Labour or any other party — Umahi
Gov. David Umahi on Monday said that Ebonyi people would massively vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and not Labour or any other party.
Umahi, apparently reacting to the growing popularity of the Labour Party and its Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi in the South-East zone, made the declaration while swearing-in five new commissioners.
The governor said that the APC was instrumental to the infrastructural and economic development of the state and the people would identify with it at all time.
“Let the states which the Labour or any other party helped vote for it as Ebonyi has been liberated and risen.
“The APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, started with one state and used it to liberate his people.
“We should do the same in Ebonyi and make people negotiate with us with our massive number of votes,” he said.
He noted that he has decided on his consensus candidates for the forthcoming local government area elections in the state and urged that his wish be respected.
“The stakeholders should meet and decide where the councillorship positions should be zoned.
“We want to elect people who are popular and are capable of winning elections for us,” he said.
Umahi berated LGA leaders for the dismal number of registered voters in their areas with some recording as low as 2,000 voters in the ongoing registration exercise.
“I will sack commissioners and other appointees from local government areas which record fewer than 30,000 before the end of the continuous voters exercise.
“I hereby direct the deputy governor, among other stakeholders, to meet immediately and appoint five people in each registration centre who shall serve as polling administrators” he said.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointments and urged them to contribute positively as the administration anchors in 2023.
Mr Cletus Ofoke, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justic, said that the new commissioners were appointed to fill the vacuum created by the previous appointees who resigned to seek elective offices.
June 14, 2022
Ebonyi State Will Never Be Part Of Biafra – Dave Umahi
Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has said that his state will not take part in the struggle for the actualization of Biafra.
Umahi who made this known in Abakaliki, the state capital on Thursday during a reception organized for him after declaring his presidential bid in Abuja earlier in the week, said his state will not be part of the agitation for a sovereign nation for the Igbos.
“First and foremost, I have been saying it, if anybody tells you about Biafra, tell them Ebonyi State will never be part of Biafra. We are not Biafra.
“We have been so oppressed and now we are finding our feet and you want us to go back. We will not. We will not,” the governor declared.
Speaking on his 2023 presidential ambition, the governor allayed fears making the rounds suggesting that any southeasterner who emerges president might split the nation.
He argued that Igbos have investment everywhere across the country, saying it would be impossible to think of secession when in power.
“Some enemies of the South-East say if we become president we will divide the country. How will we divide the country when we have investments everywhere?” the governor questioned.
Reaffirming his stand regarding the Biafra push, Umahi stated that “anyone that wants to cause insecurity in the South-East must be crushed”.
According to the governor, Ebonyi State is better in a fair and equitable Nigeria because the state has investments everywhere and one cannot set fire to his own house.
He vowed that if he becomes president, he will further the projects of President Buhari and will fight the corruption in Nigeria to a standstill.
The governor was resolute that it is time to build a better Nigeria.
“What we did in Ebonyi State, we can replicate in Nigeria. Nigeria is a possibility. Before 31st of January, 2022, we will do our declaration to run for the Presidency.”
January 14, 2022
BREAKING: Court restrains Ebonyi PDP Caretaker Committee
An Ebonyi State High Court on Thursday restrained the members of the newly sworn in State Caretaker Committee of the People Democratic Party (PDP) from parading themselves as such.
This followed an ex-party motion brought by the Onyekachi Nwebonyi led State Working Committee of the Party which was earlier dissolved by the National Executive Committee of the party.
Mr. Nwebonyi, (Chairman) and Members of the State Working Committee of the party were dissolved last week following the defection of the governor, David Umahi to the All Progressive Congress.
The National Working Committee of the party also announced and inaugurated a nine member caretaker committee headed by Fred Ụdogụ.
But Nwebonyi and other members of the SWC sued the People’s Democratic Party(1st respondent) the National Chairman, Uche Seconds (2nd respondent) challenging the dissolution.
Also joined in the suit as 3rd to 11th respondent are the nine members of the Caretaker Committee.
The plaintiffs represented by their Counsel, Roy Umahi, alleged wrongful dissolution of the SWC claiming that they were not given fair hearing before the purported dissolution.
In a motion ex parte, the SWC members prayed the court to grant an order of interim injunction restraining the PDP from dissolving the SWC and from continuance of the purported dissolution or giving effect to the purported dissolution of the State Working Committed of the PDP at state, local government or ward level.
The plaintiffs also sought an interim injunction restraining the first respondent (PDP) and second respondent (Secondus) from continuance of the purported establishment or composition or recognition of the Caretaker Committee comprising the 3rd to 11th respondents.
Read Also: PDP has failed woefully, pushing Nigeria into one-party state, APC alleges
The plaintiffs further prayed the court to restrain the PDP and Seconds from inaugurating, transferring to, and /or vesting on the 3rd to 11th respondents the authorities, powers and/or functions of the exercised members of the State Executive of the party at state, LGA and ward levels pending the determination of the motion on notice.
They also urged the court to restrain the 3rd to 11th respondents from parading themselves as caretaker committee members in charge of Ebonyi State chapter of the party and or usurping the powers and function of the State Executive Committees at the state, LGA and ward levels pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The plaintiffs further prayed the court to grant them leave of substituted service to the respondents.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Mr. Roy Umahi further argued that there were no facts warranting or necessitating the dissolution by the 1st and 2nd defendants of the of Ebonyi State Executive Council Committee of the PDP at the State, local government and ward levels each selected for a four year tenure.
He further noted that there was no genuine reason for the setting up of a caretaker committee.
Mr. Roy further argued that neither the National Executive Committee nor any other organ of the party has the power or authority to dissolve the local government and ward executives of the party before the expiration of their tenures.
In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Justice Elvis Ngele granted all the prayers of the plaintiffs.
He, thereafter, adjourned the matter to December 2, 2020 for hearing.
Reacting, Mr. Nwebonyi said the ruling is a landmark which will in turn end an era of impunity in the party.
He further noted that with ruling the State Working Committee led by him, will continue to carry out its activities uninterrupted.
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Ebonyi State PDP Lawmakers reiterates commitment to Party
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Gunmen kill Ebonyi Deputy Speaker’s aide
November 26, 2020
Ebonyi State PDP Lawmakers reiterates commitment to Party
Iyke Obi Durumba
PDP Lawmakers from Ebonyi state in the National Assembly has reiterated their commitment to the party despite the recent defection of governor David Umahi to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress APC.
The leader of the Caucus and former governor of the state, Dr. Sam Egwu stated this in a joint caucus briefing of lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly from Ebonyi state in Abuja.
Dr. Egwu said that the only reason given by the Governor for defecting from the party is the lack of principle of Zoning of Presidential election to the South East which was not true.
He disclosed that Governor Umahi should be grateful to God in his political career having risen to be the chairman of PDP South East zone and as well using his younger brothers to within the party structure in the state.
The former governor thanked the Party for dissolving the state PDP structure and installing the caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party in the state.
Meanwhile Governor David Umahi is expected at the APC national secretariat later today.
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PDP dissolves Ebonyi exco, South-East Zonal Caretaker Committee
BREAKING: Ebonyi NASS Caucus disowns Umahi over defection to APC

PDP Govs. Forum declares new Police Act unconstitutional
November 18, 2020
#EndSARS: Ebonyi State government abolishes Police road blocks
The Ebonyi state government has announced a ban on police road blocks across the state.
Governor David Umahi who made the announcement while addressing #EndSARS protesters on Monday October 19, stated that his administration would no longer tolerate extortion and brutality on the people by police personnel in the state.
He urged the protesters to remain peaceful as they have by their actions, achieved much for themselves, the state and the country.
Umahi said;
“We will only accept a situation where security personnel stay by the road side, stop and check any vehicle they suspect after which the person goes.
“Resist any policeman who asks you for money and call me on phone because enough is enough.
“I want to assure that as far as I remain the Governor of Ebonyi state, nobody is going to molest you. You are fighting for your rights, you are fighting for your children, and you are fighting for your future.
“So, what you are doing is constitutional but you must be orderly to get something out of it. On the issue of activities of police at the Ekeaba police station, we are going to address it.
“You demanded a judicial panel of inquiry, we will set it up tomorrow. The members will be from high court judge, you will deliver two people to be members of a judicial panel of inquiry.
“There will be one youth representative, one student representative, there will also be a representative of the police and then representative of human right and then one person from the office of the Attorney-General”.
“They will seat and investigate the spate of police brutality, human rights violation, and related extra-judicial killings. They will also recommend compensations.
“There will be a trust fund set under me where the panel of inquiry is expected to collect complaints with the victims of police brutality, we will collect those complaints and then pay compensations.
“There will also be a special committee and human rights committee comprising the Governor to check the excesses of police.
“Security agencies shall be members, those on tactical units of the police shall be members, representative of the youths, and top representative of civil society organizations shall be members too. We are going to have immediately, human rights commission office for easy access to human rights complaints.”
On school resumption, Governor Umahi said the state university will resume on Wednesday in the state.
He added;
October 20, 2020
Ebonyi govt. initiates campaign to eradicate illiteracy, gender-based violence
The Ebonyi Government has embarked on consultative and advocacy campaign designed to eradicate illiteracy and all forms of gender-based violence in the state.
Mrs Stella Nwegu, Special Assistant to Gov. Dave Umahi on Adult and Non Formal Education, said that the project was part of global efforts to eradicate illiteracy, gender-based violence and promote girl-child and women education in Africa.
Speaking at a sensitisation campaign organised at Ezza South Local Government Government headquarters on Tuesday, Nwegu said that Ebonyi government had keyed into the programme. She said that the event was facilitated by the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Rachel Umahi.
She described the initiative as a “spotlight initiative” with funding from the United Nations and European Union.
She said that the governor’s development efforts would be incomplete, if education was not given priority and made accessible to every citizen of the state.
She called on the stakeholders to support the initiative and encourage all out-of-school children and illetrate persons to take advantage of the state mass litreracy education to upgrade.
Nwegu said that spotlight initiative, being implemented in the state by Education Today for Sustainable Development Initiative (ETSDI), would be executed in Ezza South and Abakaliki Local Government Areas (LGAs) for three years.
She said: “The state government has expressed deep commitment to ensure that no citizen of the state remained without basic education.
“The mass litreracy education of the government has received a boost and the aim of this advocacy and consultative meeting is to sensitise and enlighten the people to take advantage of the programme.”
The governor’s aide said that the strategy was to encourage women and out-of-school children, especially girls, to return to school under the non formal education programme.
“The ETSDI is coming under this initiative to help us build the capacity of our facilitators, to help our people come to the mass litreracy centres and acquire basic education.
“Many out-of-school children are from illetrate homes and when our illiterate parents acquire basic education, it will address out-of-school problem.
“This programme is targetted at illiterate parents at the rural areas and girls who dropped from school because of early marriage, rape, unwanted pregnancy and other related gender-based violence.
“It will be easier for illiterate parents to send their children to hawk, force them into early marriage and engage in Female Genital Mutilation,” she said.
Miss Ijeoma Ekwueme, National Coordinator of ETSDI, said that the project was meant to ensure the enrollement of every out-of-school youth back to school and discourage all forms of gender-based violence against women and girl-child in Ebonyi.
Ekwueme urged the stakeholders to support the project by mobilising “this special population” to enroll in all the adult education centres in order to benefit from the programme.
Earlier, the project manager of ETSDI, Mr Maurice Ogbe, also said that the initiative was aimed at ensuring gender parity in education.
Ogbe regretted that the girl-child had been marginalised in the education distribution index.
He said: “The gender parity index shows that there are more male enrollement in schools than female and the disparity is caused by economic, cultural and social factors.
“Many girls drop out-of-school because of early or unwanted pregnancy.
“We are here to let you know that there is hope for them to further their education through non formal education programme.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ezza South LGA, Chief Sunday Ogodo, has pledged support to the project and called for effective collaboration by stakeholders to sustain the initiative.
The traditional ruler of Ameka Autonomous Community, Martin Nwali, and other prominent people of the area, also pledged their support and cooperation for the success of the project.
They commended the state government’s determination to eradicate illiteracy among the vulnerable group in Ebonyi. (NAN)
November 27, 2019