Tag: Gov David Umahi

  • Umahi Suggests Three Tenure, 70-Year Age Limit For Legislators

    Umahi Suggests Three Tenure, 70-Year Age Limit For Legislators

    The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi has suggested that legislators should have fixed three-term tenure and age limit of 70 years.

    “I will suggest strongly that the tenures of the legislators should be fixed and there should be also age limit for legislators. This is very important. You can give them three tenures. Age limit of 70 years will be good,” Umahi said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.

    Umahi, who will be heading to the Senate in June after his eight-year two-terms as governor, disagreed with the notion that governors who are newly elected as legislators don’t have the prerequisite experience to function as lawmakers.

    “The National Assembly is not a retirement home for governors. It’s a place that they want to put the experiences they acquired over the years in the governance of their states to move the nation forward,” he said.

    Umahi, who will representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly that will be inaugurated in June, aspired to be the Senate President before the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoned the position to the South-South geopolitical zone, ceding it to former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godwill Akpabio.

    The Ebonyi governor said he has accepted the party’s position because he respects the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu. He added that he now leads the campaign for the Akpabio-Barau Senate leadership aspiration.

  • Three Killed In Accident Involving Governor Umahi’s Convoy

    Three Killed In Accident Involving Governor Umahi’s Convoy

    Three people have been confirmed dead after a car from Governor David Umahi’s advance team crashed into a motorcycle after taking him to Muhammadu Buhari’s international airport.

    The incident happened after the team dropped the state governor at the airport located at Onueke, shortly after the commissioning of a flyover named after Prince Arthur Eze at Abaomege in the local government area of Onicha.

    It was gathered that the convoy had dropped Umahi at the airport located at Onueke, and was returning to town when the incident happened.

    Reports have it that the accident occurred shortly after the commissioning of a flyover at Abaomege in Onicha local government area which was named after Prince Arthur Eze.

    The flyover was commissioned by Prince Arthur Eze, together with the Governor Umahi.

    It was gathered that the governor left for Abuja shortly after the commissioning ceremony.

    Prince Arthur Eze and the state deputy governor, Eric Kelechi Igwe, however, stepped down at the accident scene and consoled with the families of the victims, directed that the victims be rushed to hospital, then zoomed off to Enugu State.

    The motorcycle belonging to the victims and the Sienna involved were destroyed beyond repair, though their names and the registration number of the ill-fated vehicle is yet to be identified at the time of filing this report.

    When contacted for confirmation, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ebonyi State, Uche Chukwura said she is yet to be briefed about the accident

  • Umahi Fines His Party, APC N5m For Indiscriminate Campaign Posters

    Umahi Fines His Party, APC N5m For Indiscriminate Campaign Posters

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has fined his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the indiscriminate posting of campaign posters.

    According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Uchenna Orji, the ruling party contravened the provisions of the state’s Executive Order 3 of 2022.

    According to the commissioner, the move is an attempt by the state government to set an example.

    “His Excellency the Governor has decided to use his Political Party APC to set an example and as such, APC is hereby fined the sum of Five Million Naira (5,000,000.00) for contravention of the Laws and Executive Order of the state,” the statement read.

    “APC must pay the money to the State IGR account and obtain IGR receipt and publicise the payment in all media platforms including social media before 31st December 2022 or risk being made to pay a default fee of Fifty Million Naira (50,000,000.00).”

    “APC is directed to within this period remove all their posters and make good the infrastructure before 31st December 2022. 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 penalties like APC, Ebonyi State Chapter.

    “The Governor appeals to all Political Parties not to take this benevolence as a sign of weakness on the side of Government as Government will seal off all Secretariats/campaign offices of such parties for their failure to remove their posters and or desist from continuously pasting of posters on such critical Infrastructure.”

    Executive Order 3 prohibits political parties from using public places such as schools, parks, and markets among others for political activities without seeking and obtaining due clearance from the state government.

    The order, signed by the governor in November, also prohibits political parties from using critical infrastructures for pasting posters without obtaining state clearance.

  • 2023: Gov Umahi Ban Political Street Campaigns in Ebonyi

    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.

  • Ebonyi Govt Reacts To Sporadic Shooting in State Capital

    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.”

  • 2 APC Governors Visit Wike In Port Harcourt Amid PDP Crisis

    2 APC Governors Visit Wike In Port Harcourt Amid PDP Crisis

    Amid political permutations ahead of the 2023 general elections, two All Progressives Congress (APC) governors on Wednesday night visited Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The two APC governors – Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Cross River State counterpart, Ben Ayade; were accompanied by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

    Wike and Ikpeazu are power brokers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The duo alongside three other PDP governors (Oyo, Enugu and Benue) have for months demanded the removal of PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu as a precondition to support the party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    On the other hand, Umahi dumped the PDP in November 2020 and joined the APC. He would later contest the APC presidential primary mid-2022 but lost to former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu.

    Similarly, Ayade left the PDP for the APC in May 2021 and jostled to be the ruling party’s flag bearer. However, like Umahi, he was trounced by Tinubu.

    Wike and Umahi were former allies before the latter’s move to the APC. The two engaged in war of words following the defection of the Ebonyi State governor to the APC.

    However, the former foes may have perfectly sealed their reconciliation as Umahi, for the third time within six months, on Wednesday night, visited Wike in Port Harcourt. He previously visited the Rivers governor in June and in August 2022.

    Though the details of Wednesday’s meeting were unknown as of press time as none of the four governors addressed journalists after the closed-door session, there are indications of a formidable political alliance ahead of next February’s presidential poll.

  • Ebonyi: Court Affirms Gov Umahi’s Senatorial Candidacy

    Ebonyi: Court Affirms Gov Umahi’s Senatorial Candidacy

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday dismissed an appeal by Princess Ann Agom-Eze and confirmed the Senatorial candidacy of Governor David Umahi.

    Princess Agom-Eze, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ebonyi State, recently challenged Governor Umahi’s emergence as the Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone candidate, following a primary election which held in July 30, 2022.

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki had in August, recognise Agom-Eze as the senatorial candidate for the Zone, however, the Court of Appeal in its judgement today set aside the High Court’s decision and all its orders.

    The Appellate Court also held that the High Court was wrong when it upheld Ann’s Counter-affidavit and failed to uphold the primary election of 9th June, 2022, whereat Governor Umahi was nominated as the APC Senatorial candidate, as the nomination was never challenged by anybody within 14 days as prescribed by section 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The court in Abuja proceeded to grant all the reliefs sought by Governor Umahi and the APC in the trial court.

  • 2023: Lawan Omitted as INEC clears Umahi, others for NASS Elections

    2023: Lawan Omitted as INEC clears Umahi, others for NASS Elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the list of 80 successful candidates, including Governor David Umahi, for the 2023 National Assembly elections in Ebonyi State.

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Joseph Chukwu, made this known at a news briefing at the INEC headquarters in Abakaliki on Tuesday.

    Chukwu explained that the list had been displayed at the state headquarters and INEC offices in the 13 local government areas of the state.

    According to him, the commission cleared thirty-two presidential and vice presidential candidates from the eighteen registered political parties for the 2023 election.

    Chukwu said that the display of the list of cleared candidates was in compliance with section 32 (1) of the Electoral Act.

    The section provides that the names of candidates sponsored by political parties shall be published one hundred and fifty days before the poll.

    A breakdown of the list showed 29 Senatorial and 51 House Representatives candidates from the 3 senatorial districts and 6 federal constituencies of Ebonyi.

    NAN reports that Umahi made the senatorial list as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ebonyi South.

    Meanwhile, with the latest disclosure by INEC, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan is out from next year’s senatorial election, while former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate in the poll.

    Recall that Umahi, Lawan and Akpabio nominations for the 2023 senatorial elections had been under contention, following their losing out at the presidential primaries of the APC.

    INEC had refused to publish the names of any candidates for the party in the affected senatorial districts.

    However, a Federal High Court, Abuja, had ordered INEC to accept and publish Akpabio’s name as the candidate of the APC for the 2023 Akwa Ibom North/West Senatorial District election.

    Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Monday.

  • 2023: Obi is well Accepted but Tinubu will Win – Gov Umahi

    2023: Obi is well Accepted but Tinubu will Win – Gov Umahi

    Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state Friday predicted victory for the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election.

    He also picked the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, as his second favourite.

    Umahi spoke to newsmen at the State House, Abuja, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to invite him to inaugurate the new Ebonyi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, the construction of which his administration just completed.

    Asked about the crises within the ruling APC and the likely impact on its chances at the polls next year, the governor said “I think we don’t have issues in APC like the kind of issues that are in the other parties. In a big house, there are vessels unto honour, another vessel unto dishonour. Literally meaning that there must be some issues in a big house like APC, but the structure and the spread of APC is such that victory is assured.

    “I can assure you that some of the disagreements in some states are going to be resolved. Mechanism have been put in place by Mr. President, the candidate of the party, his vice and the National Chairman and the leadership of the party, to sort out those differences and I think we are well prepared for victory in 2023”, he said.

    The Ebonyi Governor, while responding to another question about his earlier reservations after his loss at the APC presidential primaries and his demand for a president of Southeast extraction in 2023, also said the current Peter Obi political movement would go a long way to prepare the environment that will make an Igbo president possible in the future.

    Umahi, who still maintained that the presidential contest in 2023 should be an all-South affair, said he had been fascinated by the momentum created by the Peter Obi movement because that is awakening an awareness about the people of the Southeast and their political relevance.

    According to him: “What happened during the primaries of PDP and APC were a kind of miscalculation by our people, but to say whether they’re ready for the presidency of the country anytime, I think that the movement of Peter Obi is an eye opener and that’s why I said I love what he’s doing, I’m encouraged by what he’s doing because if he’s not doing what he’s doing, it means that Southeast would have been forgotten.

    “So, while my party takes the victory, he would have prepared a very good ground for the Southeast presidency, so that nobody is going to write us off and you can see the level of his acceptability, which does not translate to victory over APC, I’m sure of that. But it’s a good movement and it reassures the Southeast people and the entire country that we’re accepted and that we’ll one become the President of this country. It’s very important.

    “Peter Obi’s movement, and all the movements, are anchored on God’s will, it’s only God who knows who will win, but there must be a wish. As a party man, I would wish that our party wins and if God says no, the next person I’ll wish that should win is Peter Obi because I believe strongly, and I will say it anywhere, in this north/south presidency.

    “After the North has taken eight years, there is no moral justification to be seeking to take another eight years, it should go to the South. So, I’m not wishing Peter Obi away. God has the final say and He has the power and gives to whomever He wishes”, he said.

    Umahi also attempted correcting a narrative in the public that the bloody violence, which was, until recently, prevalent in the Southeast is simmering because of the prospect of a Peter Obi winning the election in 2023, saying security is returning to the region because of the successes being recorded nationwide.

    “You cannot technically assign the killings to be because of Igbo presidency. You can see that security is improving generally in the country and it has nothing to do with the movement of Peter Obi. Peter Obi movement is a movement that anchored on equity, justice and fairness.

    “It may not translate to outright win, because I must defend my party, I must wish my party well, and I’m having the ticket of my party. But whether what he’s doing has meaning in, not only Southeast, it does have meaning. So, we must never attribute the killings in the Southeast to this kind of movement”, he said.

    On the chances of his party, the APC, in the Southeast in the next elections, the governor noted that the game would change as different dynamics would be out to determine people’s interests and predicting that Obi would be getting a substantial number of the votes of the region.

    “It’s going to be a different ballgame altogether because when campaigns start the interest of our people in terms of presidency is there, you can’t wish it away, but everyone in Southeast, holding the ticket of their party, is going to be struggling and he’s going to be fighting.

    “You will not tell the guy that has the ticket of House of Assembly to look at the bigger picture of Igbo presidency. He may not see it. But that is not to say that Peter Obi is not going to get substantial votes in Southeast, it’s there.

  • Umahi Wins APC Ticket For Ebonyi South Senatorial District

    Umahi Wins APC Ticket For Ebonyi South Senatorial District

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has won the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ebonyi South senatorial district.

    Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the governor polled 250 votes to emerge victorious at the fresh election for the senatorial zone held on Sunday.

    The election which took place at the Afikpo North Local Government Headquarters witnessed the heavy presence of security operatives, APC supporters, and journalists, among others.

    Announcing the results, the Chairman of the Electoral Panel for APC Ebonyi South Senatorial District Election, Professor Emmanuel Adebayo, declared Governor Umahi as the winner having scored the highest number of votes in the poll.

    Professor Adebayo explained that said five contestants participated in the fresh primary election of the party, while a total of 275 votes were cast out of which 268 were valid while the remaining seven were invalid.

    In his reaction after he was declared winner, Governor Umahi thanked the entire people of Ebonyi State for the opportunity given to him to secure the party’s ticket.

    The fresh election took place after the Abakaliki Division of the Federal High Court had struck out a suit by Governor Umahi seeking to be recognised as the APC candidate for Ebonyi South senatorial district.

    Following that pronouncement, Justice Fatun Riman ordered a fresh primary election to produce the APC candidate for the senatorial zone within 14 days.

    The governor was among several others who picked the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the APC sold at N100 million.

    Among others who also pick the forms were the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.

    Following the victory of a chieftain of the party, Bola Tinubu, in the primary, reports emerged that Governor Umahi had purchased the APC nomination and expression of interest forms for the Ebonyi South senatorial election.

    Amid controversy that the Electoral Act does not allow for the purchase of such forms at the same time, he stressed that the presidential primary had concluded way before he joined the senatorial race.

    Governor Umahi would later win the rerun primary election conduct in line with the order of the court.