News
2023: Plateau governorship candidates share ideologies with NIPR at Townhall meeting
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Plateau State chapter, has held a citizens engagement town hall meeting with political party candidates ahead of the 11th March 2023, governorship election in the state.
The NIPR election town hall meeting, which held Thursday in Jos at Crest Hotel provided an opportunity for Political Parties’ governorship candidates to leverage and shared their ideologies with Plateau people on what to do if elected.
Revealing the rationale behind the initiative, Mr.Thomas Bajeh, chairman of NIPR, Plateau state chapter said, the institute is muconcernedern about the dividends of democracy and good governance by holding leaders accountable for their actions.
According to Bajeh, “NIPR is seek to deepen democracy and governance in Plateau state by engaging the governorship candidates through opening conversations between the candidates and citizens of Plateau.
” In the build-up of the 2023 general elections, the NIPR both at the national and state levels organized a citizens summit where we opened a conversation on our nation to build trust and national cohesion irrespective of our units and culture.
“The institute in Plateau state has done so much to ensure that we have free and fair elections. And, we believed to do that is to engage the citizens and ensure the people get into the system.
” In a bit to ensure all eligible voters vote, the NIPR collaborated with INEC to move voters registration closer to the people where we successfully registered over 500 new eligible voters which has tremendously increased the number of registered voters on the Plateau.
“Today’s engagement is the opportunity for Plateau citizens to get listen from those who seek to lead them, and also make an inform decision on who to vote based on the assessment of the candidates and their manifestos or blueprint”, the NIPR boss stated.
However, our correspondent observed that amongst the 15 candidates jostling for the number one position of Plateau come the 11th March 2023 governor election, only the candidate of the Labour party, Dr. Patrick Dakum and Barr. Caleb Mutfwang of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) identify priority as other candidates were absent despite promising to be present.
It was gathered that the Labour Party standard bearer Dr. Dakum, who responded to questions from the participants via zoom conversation promised to stabilize peace and security, agriculture, education, human capital development, mining, industry, and another sector of the economy if elected.
Caleb Mutfwang of PDP who is not physically present at the town hall meeting sent a message through his media directorate, Yiljap Abraham thus, “Mutfwang looks forward to working with professionals like the NIPR.”
Meanwhile, other governorship candidates couldn’t attend the engagement
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was expected to hold a peace meeting with the Niger Delta leaders to be represented by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
PANDEF, a brain child of the late elder statesman, Pa Edwin Clark would represent all traditional rulers, leaders, and stakeholders from the Niger Delta region.
The stakeholder will later followed up the meeting with the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpa and other lawmakers from the Niger Delta region in the National Assembly after villa’s meeting with President Tinubu.
Co-Chairmen of the Board of Trustees for this regional organization include former Governors HRM Alfred Diete-Spiff of old Rivers State and Obong Victor Attah of Akwa-Ibom State.
The National Chairman of PANDEF is Ambassador Godknows Igali, a distinguished former federal permanent secretary and diplomat.
A top member of the group who confided in Vanguard said: “We (leaders of PANDEF) had an expanded NEC meeting at the Transcorp Abuja yesterday.
“We shall have an interactive session with Mr President at the Villa this morning. Later in the afternoon we shall meet with the Senate President and all National Assembly members from the South South.”
The National Executive Committee of Action Alliance (AA) led by the National Chairman Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze said it has uncovered plot by some sacked members of the party to challenge the leadership of the party .
The party in a statement in Abuja accused some sacked members of the party led by Adekunle Rufai Omoaje to plunge the party into another round of legal battle after the Supreme court had put to rest the leadership tussle that had rocked the party for years.
The party in a statement by its National Secretary, Vernimbe James said a group of expelled members led by Mr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje secretly filed action at the Federal High Court Osogbo, Osun state in Suit asking the Independent National Electoral Commissiin (INEC) to replace Chief Udeze with the sacked Omoaje as the National chairman of AA.
The group in a suit number FHC/OS/CS/242/2024, reserved for judgment today 11th, March, 2025 is challenging the leadership of Chief Udeze
The said suit is coming barely a week after the supreme court had affirmed Chief Udeze as the authentic national Chairman of AA.
And Omoaje suit is coming ‘after loosing the party leadership contest at the Court of appeal in Appeals Number;CA/ABJ/CV/955/2022 Judgement delivered on 26th, January,2024, CA/ABJ/CV/869/2024 Judgement delivered on 6th, September, 2024,CA/ABJ/CV/1163/2024 Judgement delivered on 13th, November,2024 and Supreme court of Nigeria in Appeal Number:SC/CV/922/2024 , ruling delivered on 26th, February,2025.
The expelled Members of the party should be properly counsel that the lower Court such as the Federal high Court can not rub shoulder with the appellate courts on a settled matter of Action Alliance (AA) leadership.
The party ‘s team of lawyers have been directed to do the needful in respect of the secret suit filed by former members of the party at the Federal high Court Osogbo.
Action Alliance (AA) members across Nigeria and beyond should remain peaceful and law abiding that the authentic National Leadership of the party led by Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze will continue to defend and uphold the party’s Constitution and we Congratulate you all for the success of the recent party’s Nationwide Ward,LGA, State Congresses and National Convention.
The Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led National leadership of the party remains undeterred in light of the settled Court of appeal Judgements and Supreme Court Ruling on AA leadership in favor of Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led National Executive Committee of the party.
The Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, Rtd has been ordered by the State House of Assembly to be arrested following his failure to appear on Monday.
Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule approved the warrant of arrest after deliberations by the members of his refusal to appear first after the earlier 48 hours ultimatum and 78 hours deadline which the RSIEC chairman still snubbed House invitation.
During Monday’s plenary session, Speaker Martin Amaewhule and the House unanimously approved the warrant, reinforcing their demand for accountability from the RSIEC officials.
The Assembly members are contending that the appointment of the Chairman was illegal having not been approved by the State House of Assembly in line with the appointment of political office holders in Rivers State.
One of the Commissioner in RSIEC in charge of transportation, logistics and Store, Ibiemebo Evelyn Thompson, on Monday resigned citing Supreme Court judgment that invalidated the October 5, Local Government Council elections in Rivers State.
Her resignation follows that of two other commissioners, Lazberry Nnah and Professor Simeon Weli, who stepped down last week for the same reason.
With the RSIEC Chairman, Justice Enebeli, yet to respond to the Assembly’s summons, it remains unclear what his next course of action will be.
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