Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Igbo Community Development Association (ICDA) in Oyo State, have said all Igbos in the state are under one umbrella.

They made this disclosure during a press conference jointly addressed by the leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Igbo Community Development Association in Ibadan, the state capital on Tuesday.

ICDA President, Chief Emma Ndidi Nzeako and Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo State, Alex Anozie while addressing journalists at the media briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Ibadan, explained that the press briefing became necessary to avoid a crisis in the state.

Nzeako who said some people have been parading themselves as leaders of Igbos in the state called on security agencies to beware of the antics of those whom he said were interested in disrupting the peace of the state.

He explained that Igbos are peace-loving people.



He added that there is a need to caution some people who wanted to divide the Igbo community in the state.

“We are peace-loving people and law-abiding Ndigbo residing in Oyo state, have continued to be supportive to all state governments both past and present, no matter the different party affiliations.

“Please, all authorities including the press, media and all Nigerians residing in Oyo state should help us advise this group of people who boasts of being highly connected, to tow the line of law and order in the interest of our peaceful pacesetter state.

“We say this because we peace-loving Ndigbo in Ibadan and Oyo State, so much believe in the rule of law and would not want to see to the breakdown of law and order in our society.

“Please, we want the governor to help us, we want the Olubadan to help us, the judiciary, the commissioner of police, the DSS, the press, the CCII and all lovers of peace to come to our help, we don’t want crises in our pace setter peaceful state.

“According to all available facts including the court judgements, the leadership of Ndigbo in Ibadan and Oyo State are the below: Ohanaeze/ICDA Ibadan and Oyo state, Chief Emma Ndidi Nzeako- President. Mr. Andrew Anieriobi-Secretary. HRH Eze Dr. Alex Anozie, Ezendigbo, OnyenduNdigbo nala Ibadan and Oyo state”.

Anozie in his remarks said, “What our President said is what we have to tell the whole world. We are peace-loving people. We are appealing to everyone to join hands with us to ensure peace in the state”.

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has called on religious leaders in the country not to relent in promoting interfaith unity and to work towards the betterment of Nigeria in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Bello stated this at the formal inauguration of the new Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter, Most Rev Bulus Dauwa Yohanna and other executive members on Tuesday in Minna.

Bishop Yohanna, it would be recalled, emerged Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter and took over from Dr. Mathias Echioda who served out his two terms tenure which started in 2016.

The Governor who spoke through the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Nasara Danmallam, explained that the state government will work closely with religious leaders in the state to promote unity.

According to him,” we have been working closely with the two major religions in the state and we will continue to sustain that relationship”.

Bello then assured the new CAN leadership of a robust relationship while urging the members on the need to continue to promote interfaith unity and to push for the betterment of Nigeria.

The new state CAN chairman, Bishop Yohanna earlier in his acceptance speech, advised Christian leaders to encourage their members to collect their PVCs.

He said, “we have all registered, now it is the time to collect the PVCs so that we can all exercise our franchise”.

“It is time to vote for credible leaders if we must enjoy peace and tranquillity in our state, we must all be ready to vote for credible leaders. Make sure you play an active part in the forthcoming elections.”

He also pledged to defend Christians’ rights and to work with other faith groups to promote peace in the state.

While decrying the state of insecurity in parts of the state, he appealed to the State Governor to act fast in tackling the menace

The state CAN leader then called on the Federal and State Governments to intensify efforts in bringing the challenges of insecurity to a permanent stop.

The new Niger State CAN executives were inaugurated by the North Central CAN Chairman Rev Israel Akanji represented by the North Central Secretary, Rev Dr Danjuma Byang.

Other members of the Exco include Ezekiel Ojo, Deputy Chairman; Pastor Raphael Opawoye, Secretary; Very Reverend Goodseed Ekelema, Assistant Secretary; and Oyashowo Oyeye to serve as Treasurer.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation has disowned diaspora groups seeking to raise funds for the 2023 election.

Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation (AACO) revealed that the group seeking to raise funds known as Atiku Abubakar Business Supporters in Diaspora (AABSID) is unknown to it.

AACO in a statement, Tuesday said the group is distributing a letter titled “Fundraising Dinner Event for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Presidential Election Campaign 2023” to potential donors and members of the general public inviting donations to Atiku’s campaign in exchange for unfettered access to the PDP candidate among other promises.

The campaign organisation said its principal, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar did not authorise any such fundraising event to be held on his behalf nor on behalf of his Campaign Organisation.

The statement partly read “the general public is hereby notified that the aforementioned Atiku Abubakar Business Supporters in Diaspora (AABSID) is not in any way affiliated or related to Atiku Abubakar and the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, and has not been mandated or authorised in any way whatsoever to represent the candidate or his campaign in any matter whatsoever.

” In line with the foregoing, any person or organisation dealing with the aforementioned Atiku Abubakar Business Supporters in Diaspora (AABSID) and/or its Campaign Coordinator/President or indeed with any other organization for the purposes of raising funds for our presidential candidate does so at their own risk and responsibility”.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, who had dumped and worked against the party are now calling him and his loyalists boys.

The Governor spoke on Tuesday at the commissioning of the Etche campus of the Rivers State University in Etche local government area of the state.

Governor Wike charged the Rivers State people not to be intimidated by those plotting to silence them.

He said, “Those of them, who made sure that PDP never survived since 2015, that destroyed PDP are talking today.

“Those of them who left this party are today calling us boys, the boys that stayed back and kept the party. So if you are a Rivers man, you don’t need to be intimidated by anybody.

“I pity any Rivers man going to pick crumbs from the table. We must take our rightful position. If you don’t agree you must agree.”

Recall that the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu had while reacting to call for his resignation, referred to Wike and his camp as children.

Daina, an evicted Big Brother Naija housemate, has suggested four housemates with the potential to win the show.

Daina who was evicted alongside Giddyfia on Sunday said Eloswag, Chiomzy, Phyna and Groovy might make it to the finals.

She said, ”I thought Giddyfia will go to finals or even win because of the bad behaviour that he has shown but I really think that Eloswag has everything for him to get to the finals.

”There are other strong contenders like Phyna, Groovy and Chomzy. She has everything to win.”

She added that she is open to any opportunity and she intends to own a Skincare clinic.

”I want to build my skin care clinic and I’m interested in entertainment.

I’m also looking into the movie industry.”

Niger State Police Command has nabbed a suspected informant allegedly connected with the abduction of four victims and killing of two persons after collecting a ransom of N13 million, last year in Rafi local government area of the state.

The incident, it would be recalled occurred on 14th November 2021 at about 2pm when suspected armed bandits invaded Tegina town shooting sporadically and abducting four persons into Kagara forest, including one Aminu Garba and others.

The state police through the Public Relations Officer, PRO, DSP Wasiu Abiodun made this known in Minna.

He said upon the receipt of this information then, the Command mobilized and drafted a combined team of the tactical squad comprised of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, FIB tactical squad and vigilante members to the forest.

The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) has set up a team on the Federal Government (FG)-Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) face-off.

Ex-Secretary-General and Team Co-coordinator, Prof. Michael Faborode spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Faborode said no serving VC or pro-chancellor is included in the peace body, adding that membership was based on the record of service.

The members are Prof. Jibril Aminu, ex-VC, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID); Emeritus Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, former VC, University of Ibadan (UI); Prof. Ekanem Braide, President, Academy of Science; Dr Nkechi Nwagogu, ex-Pro-Chancellor, University of Calabar (UNICAL); Prof. Fatima Mukhtar, ex-VC, Federal University, Dutse; Prof. Akpan Ekpo, ex-VC, University of Uyo (UNIUYO).

The rest include Prof. Joe Ahaneku, ex-VC, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK); Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary General, CVCNU; and Prof. Michael Faborode, ex-VC, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

Faborode noted that the scholars would no longer watch as “our house collapse on us as elders.”

He noted that they had no industry other than the university system and were ready for talks.

The professor said whatever can be done to broker peace, using the Prof. Nimi Briggs committee recommendations as the fulcrum, will be worth the effort.

Faborode disclosed that the “Peace Team of Elders” would operate under the auspices of the CVCNU/CPC.

The coordinator said both the FG and ASUU are being reached to accept the intervention of the independent team.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State branch says no threat will force members of the State University to suspend the ongoing industrial action.

It dared the Management of Kaduna State University over threats to resume academic session.

Dr Peter Adamu, the Union Chairman, in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday, while reacting to a statement issued by the Kaduna State University (KASU) management threatening academic staff Union to resume work or face sanctions, explained that the strike was legitimate and backed by national and international laws.

He stressed, “There is no section of the law of Kaduna State University or Staff Condition of Service that stipulates any form of sanction on lecturers participating in an action that will benefit the University.”

He further explained that the constitution of Nigeria which is the highest document that guides all activities in the country, had guaranteed that right.

He said that the strike was for the betterment of the University system, Kaduna State University inclusive, saying that most of the buildings in the University, staff training, among others, were all products of this kind of struggle.

Adamu said that they (academic staff) are not concerned about any threat that would come, explaining that even during the military era, such threat came and they were overturned by court of the land.

He assured that the strike has not been suspended, adding that they are committed to the industrial action until the Federal Government responds positively.

While responding to the examination earlier conducted by the school management while the industrial action was on, the Union Chairman explained that it was not the Union that closed down the school.

Dr Adamu explained that the management can go the extra mile to use whatever method to conduct their exams, saying that the School can decide to use past questions or whatever but they are not involved and their members are resolute to continue with the strike.

He called both on the Kaduna State Government and the students to understand that the struggle was for the benefit of all, pointing out that a struggle such as this was to save public institutions in Nigeria from total collapse.

There has been a heavy deployment of security and intelligence personnel at the Buhari House national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC following the expected visit of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a d his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima to the secretariat.

Both men are scheduled to meet with the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee NWC of the party.

Both Adamu and Tinubu were in Jigawa state together on Tuesday where the latter donated about N50 million to some disaster victims.

APC had on Tuesday sent most of its staff on a one-day leave as part of measures to decongest the ‘Buhari House’ national secretariat of the party in preparation for the maiden visit of the presidential candidate of the party.

Tinubu had days after his emergence as standard bearer of the party in June been slated to visit the secretariat, but the visit was later postponed.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclaimed as untenable reports that it has failed to display the voters’ register in disobedience of extant laws.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclaimed the report at an event to validate the revised framework and regulations for voting by Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Abuja yesterday, said: “While we always appreciate our collaboration with all stakeholders, it has become necessary to make an important clarification in respect of a statement attributed to a section of the civil society organisations.

“At a media briefing yesterday, the commission was accused of failure to display the voters’ register as provided by Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2022. This claim is incorrect.

“What the commission displayed for claims and objections in our local government area offices nationwide for a period of one week, from  August 15-21, 2022, was not the entire register of voters but the list of fresh registrants at the end of the fourth and last quarters of the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise covering the period from  April 11-July 31, 2022.

‘’This has been the practice for several years. Earlier, the commission had displayed the register three times: 24th – 30th September 2021 (first quarter), December 24-30, 2021 (second quarter) and March  26– April 1, 2022 (third quarter).

“A comprehensive schedule of the CVR exercise and the display of the register was shared with stakeholders at our quarterly meeting just before the inception of the exercise in June last year.

“We wish to assure Nigerians that the commission will display the comprehensive register in all the 8,809 wards and 774 local government areas/area councils nationwide as envisaged in Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2022. This will integrate fresh voters registered under the last CVR exercise to the existing register of over 84 million voters.

“The date will be announced as soon the commission completes the ongoing Automated Biometric Identification System, ABIS, to weed out all double/multiple as well as ineligible registrants. We appeal to some of our friends in civil society to be guided accordingly.”

‘’Ahead of the 2015 General Election, the Commission had introduced the idea of voting by Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

For that reason, a policy and framework designed by the commission was revised and validated in 2018 for the 2019 general election.

‘’The same policy was again revised and was presented to stakeholders on Tuesday for review and validation in preparation for the 2023 general election.

“The idea is to ensure that no eligible Nigerian is left out of the electoral process on account of displacement, disability or other circumstances that may limit citizens’ participation in the electoral process.

‘’What is presented to stakeholders today has taken into consideration several developments since the last review and validation exercise in 2018.

“First, is the increased number of IDPs as a result of widespread insecurity nationwide. Secondly, to incorporate not only the displaced citizens arising from armed conflicts but also natural emergencies such as flooding.

‘’Thirdly, to align the framework with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, specifically Section 24(1) which empowers the Commission to ensure that, as far as practicable, no Nigerian is disenfranchised on account of displacement by emergency situations.

‘’Finally, to align the framework with the national policy on internally displaced persons 2021,” Yakubu stated.

Reigning Nigeria, Commonwealth and World 100m hurdles champion Tobiloba Ayomide Amusan will be hoping to win the last major global title of the outdoor season and get her hands, once again, on the iconic Diamond Trophy Thursday in Zurich, venue of the 2022 Diamond League final.

The Nigerian began her historic run on the track with the Diamond League trophy last year when she sped to a then 12.42 seconds African record to win the high hurdles in Zurich.

That feat made her the first Nigerian athlete to win a Diamond League discipline at the final and be crowned the Diamond League champion for the year.

The 25 year old has not looked back since that historic run in Zurich last year September.

She started 2022 by successfully defending her African Championships title in Mauritius early June before travelling to Paris to smash her 12.42 seconds African record.

Amusan ran 12.41 seconds at the Diamond league meeting in Paris before storming Edo City in Nigeria to rewrite the 12.63 seconds Nigerian Championships record set in 1997 by Angela Atede in Lagos.

The reigning African champion ran 12.58 seconds to add the championships record to her collections before going to the biggest stage in world athletics to achieve a legendary status.

Amusan produced one of the biggest surprises of the World Championships when she sped to a world record of 12.12 seconds in the semifinals of the 100m hurdles, following it with a wind-assisted 12.06 seconds in the final to win gold.

The Nigerian went on to win the Commonwealth Games title in a Games record of 12.30 seconds and in the process became the first Nigerian track and field athlete to successfully defend an individual title at the Games.

On Thursday, Amusan will be hoping to complete the task by successfully defending her Diamond League crown.

She will however have to contend with reigning Olympic champiopn, Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who, since winning the bronze in Oregon at the World Championships has been undefeated.

The Puerto Rican defeated Amusan at the Stockholm and Lausanne Diamond League meetings. She also won in Silesia and Brussels (where she ran a new 12.27 seconds personal lifetime best), setting meeting records at the three most recent meetings.

Amusan will also be up against Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder, Kendra Harrison, world silver medallist Britany Anderson, world indoor silver medallist Devynne Charlton and 2019 world champion Nia Ali.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, has cautioned Nigerians about the presidential candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

Igbokwe warned that Atiku’s candidacy would endanger Nigeria’s unity.

He stressed that Atiku’s candidacy is like putting a knife on the things that have kept Nigeria together since 1960.

The Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, disclosed this via his Facebook page on Wednesday.

He maintained that the South must produce the country’s next president.

“Those who are still pushing Atiku Abubakar to contest in the 2023 are constantly putting a sharp knife on things that have held us together as a nation for 62 years.

“Power is zoned to the South in 2023,” Igbokwe wrote.

The 2023 presidential election will be Atiku’s fifth attempt at ruling Nigeria.

Atiku had run for the Presidency under several parties in the past.

The 75-year-old secured the ticket of the PDP in 2019 but lost to President Buhari of the APC.

However, Atiku will face top contenders like Bola Tinubu of the APC, Peter Obi of Labour Party, LP, Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, among others.

The Niger State Government has indicted 44 members of a local vigilante group over alleged involvement in the killings, attacks and abduction that took place in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state recently.

The Chairman of the White Paper Committee on Judicial Commission of Inquiry into cases of killings, injuries and abduction of several persons at Mazakuka, Kulho, Adogon Mallam and environs in Mashegu Local Government Area, Dr Wasa Jonathan, made this disclosure in Minna on Wednesday.

He disclosed that two other committees have been constituted by the state government to scrutinize the report for final vetting.

The chairman of the committee revealed that the committees set up by the government include the Compensation and Peace/Reconciliation.

The two government  warehouses meant for storage of seized contraband items at the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone “A” of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, are now overflowing with seized thousands of bags of imported rice.

Other seized items at the government warehouses in Ikeja are imported cloths, foot wears, vegetable oils, motor-cycles among others. Also imported fairly used vehicles including trailers used to convey smuggled items have overtaken the surroundings of the warehouses.

Some of the vehicles and other items have deteriorated while other items, some of which have been at the warehouse for over 10 years have become major environmental hazard.

When  Vanguard Maritime Report  visited the Ikeja office bags of seized imported rice were dumped along the corridors and sides of some of the office blocks.

Customs Area Controller, CAC of FOU, Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu, said that the situation has been reported to the headquarters, stressing that they are looking into the issue.

Ejibunu said that the Customs headquarters have assured that action will be taken on the issue soon.

Speaking with  Vanguard Maritime Report,  Register of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Academy, Francis Omotoso, said he is not bordered about where they keep the seized items.

He said what is important is that Service ensure that they thorough in carrying out their duty so as not to seize goods belonging to innocent Nigerians.

THE Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Association, COMTUA, has petitioned the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, over the engagement of soldiers by individuals in the movement of trucks in and out of the ports in Lagos.

In the petition signed by COMUTA’s President, Comrade Yinka Aroyewun, said that the Army has chosen to engage in private business of hauling empty containers from Holding Bays to port adding the involvement of the Army in this line of business is denying their members access to jobs.

In the petition titled, “Illegal Military Operations Along the Port Corridor, a Recipe for Crisis”, Aroyewun disclosed that the military moves the vehicles used for this operation against traffic and the time belt schedule for the movement of empty containers thereby disrupting the planned scheduled entry and exit of trucks in the ports.

He said: “The military uses force to deny our members the right to use the road and intimidates, harass and impound our members trucks.

“The Army have chosen to engage in private business of hauling of empty containers from Holding Bay to port. This activity is denying our members access to jobs.

“The military moves the vehicles used for this operation against traffic and the time belt schedule for the movement of empty containers.

“The military uses force to deny our members the right to use the road and intimidates, harass and impound our members’ trucks.

“This engagement in private business has made the personnel violate several rights of our members which may be resisted if it continues.

“We have written to the Chief of Army staff earlier and investigation was conducted, where the military authority denied involvement in these activities. “The Nigerian Ports Authority that authorises the illegal movement of these vehicles and personnel keep hiding under the covers of military equipment to violate the regulations.

“We are by this letter requesting your immediate intervention to avert a breakdown of laws and order, which is steering at us.”

The Inspector General of Police, the Managing Director,

Nigerian Ports Authority the Executive Secretary, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council were all copied of the development.

Daniella, a Big Brother Naija housemate, has revealed that she was exposed to p0** at the age of 9.

Daniella made this known during a conversation with Allysyn on Wednesday.

Reacting, Allyson said she watched soft p0** in secondary school.

She further added that she is still not a sexual person.

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ogun State has warned Dr. Jackie Kassim to stop parading herself as the governorship candidate of the party in the State.

The party said Kassim risks a two-year jail term if she refuses to stop presenting herself to the public as the candidate of the NNPP in Ogun.

The Chairman of the NNPP in Ogun, Olaposi Oginni, stated this at a press conference he addressed in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

According to Oginni, the authentic governorship candidate of the party in Ogun is Olufemi Ajadi.

In his words, Oginni posited that the woman “fraudulently and criminally” inputted her name into the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “by bribing some guys who were trained by INEC to help the party upload the list of its candidates.”

Oginni said, “There is no controversy about NNPP candidate in Ogun. Jackie Kassim never participated in any primary of the party. INEC records show her as a candidate. Her name fraudulently and criminally appeared on INEC portal.

“I protested and she was summoned to Lagos. She denied to the leadership of the party, saying she has no knowledge of how her name got to INEC portal.

“To avoid being arrested, she withdrew from the race voluntarily. But, now she is saying her signature was about to be forged for withdrawal. That is a lie from the pit of hell.”

Oginni added that the woman was being sponsored by a top politician in the State, saying they will all fail.

He explained that Kassim’s name on the INEC portal was an administrative error, stating that the error had been corrected.

“Any person who signs a nomination paper consenting to be a candidate at an election knowing he or she is ineligible to be a candidate at that election commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years,” Oginni said, quoting Section 84 of the new Electoral Act.

“She risks two years imprisonment for claiming to be the candidate of our party. If she doesn’t stop, she will be prosecuted,” he said.

However, Oginni urged the female politician to join hands with the Ajadi to emerge victorious in the 2023 election.

Efforts to reach Jackie Kassim proved abortive as calls to her number did not go through.

Earlier, the woman had claimed that certain conditions must be met before she could withdraw from the gubernatorial race.

No fewer than five persons died Wednesday while one was injured in a multiple accident at Iju bridge, along Ota-Idiroko road, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The accident, DAILY POST gathered, involved a tanker laden with diesel; a Toyota Camry registered as FKJ 132 HE; a Volkswagen Golf car; a TVS tricycle marked KSF 822 QL and a motorcycle.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the accident, saying the driver of the tanker with registration number, KTU 258 XT, suffered a brake failure, lost control and rammed into the affected vehicles before falling into a ditch.

According to Akinbiyi, 11 people – eight males and three females – were involved in the accident.

“The injured victim has been rescued to hospital before our arrival by good Samaritans, while the presumed dead had been evacuated to Ota General Hospital Morgue.

“Evacuation of all the vehicles involved had been completed except the tanker loaded with Diesel that fell in the ditch as we await NUPENG officials for transloading before total evacuation,” Akinbiyi said.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is dead.

The Royal Family made the announcement in a terse statement Thursday evening.

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow”, it reads.

The 96-year-old head of the Commonwealth was born in Mayfair, London on April 21, 1926.

She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. Her father was enthroned in 1936.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to drag the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Abraham Ngobere, to court for refusing to honour a court of appeal order that sacked a member for defecting from the party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state.

Also included in the case is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for not abiding by the order of the court which sacked Hon. Daniel Charles with immediate effect.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on July 14, sacked the member representing Brass Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Charles, over his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC had dragged Charles to court seeking his sack after he defected to the PDP.

Hon. Charles won the case at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa presided over by Justice Isa Dashen, which prompted the APC to proceed to the Appeal Court.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt had on July 14 in a unanimous decision by Justices Joseph Shagbaor Ikeyegh, Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole and Olabode Adegbehingbe in suit CA/PH/79/2022 ruled that there was merit in the appeal filed by the APC which sought the sacking of Charles as a member of the House for defecting to the PDP from APC on whose platform he emerged the House of Assembly member.

The Court which hinged its decision on Section 109(1) (g) and (2) of the Constitution ordered the Speaker of the House under constitutional duties to declare his seat vacant and directed Charles to return all monies and allowances he has collected since 14/04/2021.

Counsel to APC, Mr Tuduru Ede who expressed dismay that Charles is still being allowed to participate in the deliberation of the House said INEC, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Ngobere and Charles are all in contempt of the Court’s ruling.

Ede who insisted that the Court of Appeal made a declaratory judgment said the implication of allowing Charles to remain in the House is that all motions and decisions made by the House of Assembly are null and void.

“The Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, INEC, and the House of Assembly as an institution and Hon Dr Charles Daniels are in contempt of Court by their actions for allowing Hon Charles to be part of the House. The Court of Appeal has sacked him and INEC should have conducted an election into the vacant seat.

“Hon Charles is no longer a member of the House and he should have returned all the monies he collected since April 2021. He risks going to jail for showing contempt to the order of the Court. This is part of the impunity we are talking about. The implication of what the House of Assembly has done is that by allowing Dr Daniels who has been sacked in the eyes of the law since April 20 21 to be part of its deliberation means all their actions, motions are null and void. By allowing him to be part of any deliberation means all what they are doing is nullity.”

When contacted, Hon Charles said he would need to talk to his lawyer before offering a response.