Politics
2023 Reps: Battle for Ukwa Federal Constituency Abia State
BY EMEKA NWOKE JNR.
As the Nation heads into the 2023 General elections, one of the battle grounds that would elicit interest and tension in Abia state is the Ukwa Federal Constituency made up of Ukwa East and ukwa West Local Government Areas.
The year 2023 will be 16 years between 2007 – 2023, Hon Uzoma Abonta from Akwete in Ukwaeast Local Government Area of Abia state has been the occupant of the position having succeeded Hon. Maceabuy from Ukwawest who held the position for two tenure between 1999-2007.
There was an unwritten but gentlemen and brotherly agreement between the two local Government Areas that the position of the Federal House of Representatives should rotate between the two councils after every two tenure of eight years.
But the people of Ukwaeast are alleged to have betrayed this agreement with conspirators from Ukwawest who have supported an Ukwaeast man for their ulterior political ambitions. This gave Hon. Uzoma Abonta from Ukwaeast unfair opportunity and advantage over the people of ukwawest.
Unfortunately those who supported Hon.Uzoma Abonta for these years thinking it would be their turn come 2023 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were all defeated and disappointed in the last Party Primary Election where Chief Chris Nkwonta, a billionaire Oil Magnate from the same Akwete, Hon. Abonta’s home town in Ukwaeast Local Government Area of Abia state bulldozed his way and picked the PDP ticket for the ukwa federal constituency.
The people of Ukwa West were dealt a big political blow when their hopeful candidate Chief Sam Nwogu, a former NDDC Commissioner, two term Chairman of Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) and the state immediate past commissioner for Environment was defeated after strong alleged promises from the state Governor but was betrayed at the eleventh hour.
Since then Ukwawest people have been politically devastated and all is not well with the PDP in ukwa federal constituency as majority of the people are against an Ukwaeast candidate especially from the same village with the present occupant emerging as the PDP candidate.
In fact a reliable source told our correspondent that even the present BOT chairman of the PDP and a former Senate President Chief Adolphus Wabara also from Ohambele in Ukwaeast is opposed to the ticket handed over to an Ukwa East candidate.
He was said to have publicly disowned Chief Chris Nkwonta and his ambition during the last Stakeholders meeting of Ukwa East Local Government Area of the PDP which held last month at the Destiny Villa, his residence.
He has refused to be pacified and openly told Chief Nkwonta that he bought the PDP ticket with his money but should be ready to face the people in the General election.
Wabara is said to insist that for equity and justice sake the position of Ukwa Federal Constituency should move to Ukwa West.
His insistence has thrown the party into confusion as he is the leader in Ukwa Federal Constituency and was said to have been sidelined by the state Governor and state Party Chairman in the choice of Nkwonta and it’s obvious that all his followers are already rooting for an opposition candidate in Ukwa West. He is said to have vowed to teach the PDP and their candidate Nkwonta a bitter lesson in the February 28 National Assembly Election.
Apart from the former Senate President Chief Adolphus Wabara majority of Ukwa people align with this opinion that the position of House Representatives for Ukwa land should move to Ukwa West.
Many are opposed to the candidacy of Chief Nkwonta who has contested for the Senate for three consecutive times for Abia South Senatorial zone and failed only to stoop for the House of Representatives to scuttle the zoning formula in ukwa land with his stupendous wealth.
In 2015 Nkwonta lost the PDP Senatorial ticket of the party to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and angrily joined the opposition in APGA where he picked their ticket and contested and failed.
He repeated again in 2019 in the same APGA and was again roundly beaten.
He became frustrated only to return to the PDP last January 31 2022 and be handed over the party ticket for the House of Representatives. Having fought the party in the past years during all the elections many are opposed to his candidacy.
Infact the people of Ukwa West are worse hit in this political arrangement because they have been reduced to political lackies and weaklings with no political value and strength to defend their territory. They are seen as used and dumped. Despite all their support for the PDP the party attaches no relevance to them.
For Hon kingsley Nwankpa from Ukwa West the option to all ukwa people is to write the wrongs by proving to the PDP that power belongs to the people.
He stated that the 2023 general election will shock many people as political party emblem will no longer be the criteria for the choice of candidates.
Nwankpa who is also a staunch member of the PDP stated that the party disappointed them and that for the House of Representatives he’s rooting for the candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) Hon. Sylvanus Nwaji from Ukwawest local Government Area.
He stated that the people of Ukwa West are mobilising to make Nwaji their consensus candidate and urged the people of Ukwa West and Ukwa East to queue behind Hon Nwaji based on his pedigree, experience and political antecedents.
He stated that Nwaji’s records of achievements as an elected Local Government Chairman in 2007 has not been equalled even by those who have occupied other political positions.
He stated that Nwaji built functional health facilities across the local Government. He built markets sank numerous borholes across the local Government as well as the famous Umuenne primary school which he furnished and equipped with over N10m.
He said “my brother we are not playing party politics this time but we are talking about capacity to deliver for the people. Nwaji was the only chairman who engaged over ten aides from our brothers in Ukwa East while he was chairman in Ukwa West. He extended his leadership proficiency and sagacity to others and stakeholders from all Ukwa land can attest of his benevolence.
He said “we of Ukwa West from Asa have been challenged and it is time for us to prove our political prowess, integrity and character. No sane man from Asa can make the mistake of voting against an Ukwa West candidate ”
He said ” Asa people have been seen as political neophytes and it is time for us to prove people wrong. How can Uzoma Abonta from Akwete after eight years handover to his brother Chris Nkwonta also from Akwete that would be an insult to the sensibility of all ukwa people “
Politics
2027: Your votes do not count, the Courts Will Endorse It Unless We Do Something-Dele Farotimi warns
Human rights lawyer and political activist Dele Farotimi has called for a revolution to save Nigeria, urging citizens to unite behind a common national vision and push for fundamental changes to the country’s political and governance systems.
Farotimi made the remarks while expressing concerns about Nigeria’s democracy, the credibility of its electoral process and the role of the judiciary in resolving electoral disputes.
According to the activist, Nigerians risk losing confidence in democracy if their votes are not adequately protected and electoral outcomes are not respected. He warned that public passivity could create conditions for authoritarian rule.
“Your votes do not count and the judiciary will endorse it unless we decide to do something about it, because we are sleeping whilst a dictatorship is being installed in our country, demon-cratically,” he said.
Farotimi argued that Nigeria needs to be restructured and reimagined to address its persistent political challenges. He maintained that meaningful change would require citizens to come together around a clearly defined vision for the country’s future rather than placing their hopes solely in individual politicians.
He said a critical mass of Nigerians who are dissatisfied with the existing system must be mobilised to support an alternative approach to governance.
“The one thing I have never been shy about is to tell you what it will take to save Nigeria. It will take a revolution to save Nigeria,” Farotimi declared.
The activist suggested that such a revolution could be achieved through the ballot box, although he expressed doubts about whether the current political process, on its own, could deliver the transformation Nigeria needs.
He stressed that a credible national vision, backed by purposeful leadership, could encourage greater citizen participation and strengthen public resolve to defend electoral choices.
Farotimi’s remarks highlight broader concerns about electoral integrity, judicial accountability and the need for structural reforms in Nigeria. His call for a democratic revolution centres on collective action, political restructuring and the emergence of a shared vision capable of mobilising citizens towards meaningful change.
As the country approaches another general election cycle, debates over electoral credibility, institutional trust and the future of Nigeria’s democracy are likely to remain central to the national conversation.
By PETRUS OBI.
Veteran journalist and ARISE News presenter, Dr Reuben Abati, appeared uncertain about the name of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, during a live television interview with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Chief Ifeanyi Odii, popularly known as Anyichuks.
While questioning Odii on the political situation in Ebonyi ahead of the 2027 general elections, Abati, in a video which has gone viral on social media remarked:
“…Are you aware that Governor Nwifuru, I think that’s the name of Ebonyi Governor…”
Popular Ebonyi Guber Candidate ANYICHUKS
The remark, which appeared to be an attempt to confirm the governor’s name, has raised questions about Nwifuru’s visibility beyond Ebonyi State, particularly amid growing criticism of his administration over allegations of poor performance.
During the interview, Odii accused Governor Nwifuru of allegedly intimidating opposition parties in the state, claiming that incidents involving attacks on opposition supporters had been reported to security agencies.
He also criticised an alleged threat by the governor to sack local government chairmen who allow opposition parties to campaign in their council areas, describing such a move as unconstitutional and an affront to democratic principles.
Odii urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that the governor has a constitutional responsibility to protect all residents, irrespective of their political affiliations.
Speaking on the PDP’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, the governorship candidate explained that the arrangement formed part of a broader political understanding involving factions of the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He dismissed suggestions that supporting Tinubu could undermine his governorship ambition, insisting that the presidential and governorship elections were separate political contests.
On his economic agenda, Odii pledged to attract ₦2 trillion in investments to Ebonyi within his first six months in office if elected governor.
He identified solid minerals, manufacturing, real estate, healthcare and hospitality as key sectors through which his administration would stimulate economic growth, attract investment and generate employment opportunities.
The PDP candidate maintained that his business experience, grassroots connections and record of community interventions had adequately prepared him to attract investors, create jobs and improve the living standards of Ebonyi residents.
President Bola Tinubu has said he will not attend every campaign rally ahead of the 2027 general election, explaining that he must balance his re-election campaign with the demands of governing Nigeria.
Tinubu made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, where he urged members to take the party’s message to Nigerians across the states, local government areas and wards.
The President said he agreed with concerns that the demands of campaigning should not distract him from his responsibilities as head of state, stressing that the country needed his attention at a critical time.
“You’ve warned me not to allow the rigour of the campaign to distract me from governance, I hear you. I am in full agreement with your decision. Nigeria needs more attention now,” he said.
Tinubu explained that his decision to limit his attendance at campaign events was also influenced by the need to meet the country’s financial obligations.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you, we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” the President stated.
He also highlighted the importance of attracting investors who would make long-term commitments to Nigeria, noting that sustained investment was essential to building a better future for the country’s children.
“We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” he said.
Despite his plan to reduce his presence at campaign rallies, Tinubu assured Nigerians that he would still engage directly with voters during the campaign period.
“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas,” he added.
The President described the inauguration of the campaign council as more than a routine political event, saying it represented a renewed commitment to Nigerians and the responsibility entrusted to the APC as the ruling party.
“We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council. We have gathered to renew a covenant. A covenant with Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party,” Tinubu said.
He charged members of the council to communicate the administration’s vision, achievements and policy agenda to Nigerians nationwide, expressing confidence in their ability to mobilise support for the party at every level.
“This council will carry our vision, our records and our agenda to every Nigerian, and it will carry them to victory every ward of this country,” he said.
Tinubu also praised APC members for successfully completing the party’s congresses, recalling predictions that the exercise could trigger an internal crisis.
According to the President, the party overcame the anticipated challenges and completed the process with members participating from the ward level to the national leadership.
“They said there will be implosion. We passed through it. We did not fail. You didn’t let us down. We got here together,” he stated.
Tinubu’s remarks signal an approach to the 2027 election campaign in which he intends to maintain focus on governance and economic management while relying on the APC Presidential Campaign Council to coordinate nationwide mobilisation and promote the party’s message ahead of the polls.
Politics
Tinubu Inaugurates APC Presidential Campaign Council, Vows to Renew Covenant With Nigerians in 2027
ABUJA— President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of the 2027 general election, declaring that the party is united and prepared to seek a renewed mandate from Nigerians.
Tinubu inaugurated the council on Wednesday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, charging members and party leaders to demonstrate unity, discipline and commitment while sustaining his administration’s governance priorities.
Addressing the gathering, the President expressed gratitude to party members for their support during the previous election but stressed that their political assignment would only be complete when they secured victory in the next polls.
“I thank all of you for the last election, but no one gets credit for an incomplete assignment until you deliver the next election, until you deliver your electoral wards, until you deliver the votes,” he said.
Tinubu acknowledged advice from Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, who urged him to remain focused on governance despite the demands of the election campaign.
The President said he would continue to engage directly with Nigerians while the campaign council coordinated mobilisation across states and local government areas.
He also highlighted the need to meet the country’s financial obligations and attract foreign investment, saying international creditors and investors remained important to Nigeria’s economic future.
“We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in and invest for the future of our children,” Tinubu said.
Shettima Defends Tinubu, Criticises Opposition Figures
Vice President Kashim Shettima praised Tinubu’s commitment to democracy, citing his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition in 2007 under the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.
Shettima also defended the dignity of the presidency in response to criticism of Tinubu, insisting that the office must be respected regardless of political differences.
“You can call him Bola, if you like, call him Adekunle, but he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The Vice President also criticised Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Movement, accusing him of using misleading statistics and making comparisons between Nigeria and other countries without sufficient context.
APC Promises Nationwide Mobilisation
APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said the inauguration reflected the party’s determination to build a better Nigeria and secure Tinubu’s re-election.
Yilwatda urged campaign council members to communicate the administration’s policies and achievements clearly, while demonstrating how its reforms could translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
He pledged that the party would intensify grassroots mobilisation across electoral wards, local government areas and states to ensure a strong voter turnout in 2027.
The APC chairman also called for a peaceful election focused on ideas, records and policies, rather than hostility.
Uzodimma Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
Uzodimma, who serves as secretary of the campaign council, expressed confidence that the administration’s policies would strengthen the campaign’s message.
He praised Tinubu for removing the petrol subsidy and reforming the foreign exchange system, arguing that previous administrations had avoided tackling the challenges because of their potential political consequences.
According to Uzodimma, the reforms had imposed hardships on Nigerians but were necessary to address longstanding economic weaknesses.
He also cited Nigeria’s economic growth, which he put at 4.43 per cent, compared with 4.23 per cent a year earlier, and praised the administration’s tax reforms.
Uzodimma maintained that the campaign would focus on issues and the government’s record rather than political rhetoric.
Adeleke, Soludo and Wike Back Tinubu’s Re-election
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike were among those who delivered goodwill messages in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Adeleke, who belongs to the Accord Party, drew cheers from attendees with his trademark dance moves during the event.
Wike, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he supported Tinubu because of what he described as the President’s bold leadership and willingness to address problems previous administrations had left unresolved.
He challenged governors to work towards delivering their states for Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The event also featured messages from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs Ibrahim Kabiru Masari and elder statesman Tanko Yakassai, who called for support for Tinubu’s second term.
Tinubu, meanwhile, urged the campaign council to conduct its activities responsibly, engage Nigerians constructively and promote the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda while ensuring that governance remains a priority.
The inauguration formally sets the APC’s campaign machinery in motion as the party prepares to seek another presidential mandate in 2027.
…Says Party’s Achievements at All Levels Make Opposition Unnecessary
A political support group, Kwashy and Friends for Peter Mbah, has pledged to mobilise massive grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Peter Mbah and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group said the achievements of the APC-led administrations at the federal, state and local government levels provided compelling reasons for Nigerians to support the party, insisting that good governance should be encouraged rather than opposed.
Speaking during the group’s bi-monthly meeting held on Sunday at Rockbase Hotels, Enugu, its Coordinator, Hon. Cletus Chigozie Akalusi, popularly known as Kwashy, said the platform, established in 2023, had consistently mobilised support for candidates seeking various political offices.
Akalusi explained that the meeting was convened to strengthen the group’s grassroots structures and develop strategies for communicating the achievements of the APC to voters across the state.
He urged members to sustain the top-to-bottom voting approach adopted during previous elections to guarantee victory for all APC candidates in 2027.
“Our bi-monthly meetings are avenues for us to strategise and re-strategise on how to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and all candidates of our party are massively voted for.
“Our support group is not filled with urban guerrillas. We are all grassroots soldiers, and we undoubtedly have the capacity to ensure a landslide victory for our party.
“Considering the achievements our party is recording at the federal, state and local government levels, I have never lost sleep over our victory in the 2027 general elections,” he declared.
Also speaking, the member representing Oji River/Awgu/Aninri Federal Constituency, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, who was accompanied by the member representing Oji River Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Osita Ezeh, expressed satisfaction with what he described as the growing acceptance of the APC across the state.
Onwuegbu charged members to intensify mobilisation at polling-unit and ward levels, stressing that the party’s developmental strides should translate into overwhelming electoral support.
“What enthrals me most is that you have agreed to vote for APC candidates from top to bottom. Just like our governor always says, we should take the message from polling unit to polling unit and ensure that no vote is lost.
“There is no ward you will go to in Enugu today without seeing a project worth about N2 billion ongoing. It has never happened in the history of this state. Our core mandate is to work towards victory because it is not over until it is over,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Hon. Greg Anyaegbudike, commended the group for its contributions to the party’s success in the last chairmanship and councillorship elections.
He maintained that the performance of President Tinubu, Governor Mbah and other APC leaders had provided sufficient justification for continued public support.
“The manner in which you supported us in the last elections is mind-blowing. If you look around, you will see reasons to support our party.
“There is no ward in Enugu State today without a Smart School, Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centre and other ongoing infrastructure.
“It is on this note that we should not only preach the gospel but also ensure that we protect the interest of our party wherever we find ourselves,” he stated.
The meeting reaffirmed the group’s commitment to expanding its grassroots mobilisation network and working towards securing victory for APC candidates at all levels in the 2027 general elections.
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