Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state has stipulated the sum of N54.3million as the mandatory ‘Permit fee’ for Governorship candidates in the state to display and disseminate their campaign messages.

This was brought to light Saturday by the G-12 chieftains of the Imo state Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), who described the policy executed through the Imo Signage and Advertising Agency (IMSAA) as obnoxious and a deliberate stifling of opposition political views in utter violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the 12 party chairmen of the Imo IPAC G-12, Elder Uchendu Ahaneku of the Action Alliance (AA) regretted that Governor Hope Uzodinma, through IMSAA may have deliberately contrived a policy contrary to the provisions of the constitution and Electoral Act to cripple the campaign activities of opposition political parties by barring them from conveying and selling their political manifestos to Imo people, through the obnoxious IMSAA restrictions.

“From all intents and purposes the policy is deliberately targeted at opposition political parties and their governorship candidates; to stifle their voices, shut down their campaigns and confer an undue advantage to Governor Hope Uzodinma who is running in the same November 11 election to retain his seat as Governor of Imo state.

“Until the governor proves otherwise, IMSAA has become a political tool used by Governor Uzodinma to harass and intimidate political parties and opponents through the obnoxious demand of N54.3million campaign permit fee, which paves the way for only APC to run an elaborate governorship campaign.”

 Ahaneku however noted that the party chieftains have already put machinery in motion to challenge the exploitative policy in the court of law.

Speaking also, Prince Marshal Okaforanyanwu of the Social Democratic Party accused Uzodinma of intentionally weaponizing IMSAA and other agencies of government for his unjust political advantage. He observed that nowhere in Nigeria has such devious machination to undermine the opposition through unlawful policies, been seen or heard of since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. 

“Uzodinma is not interested in a fair contest come November 11, all his after is how he will return unopposed as governor. Ofcourse it has been the story of his life, he has never engaged in fair political context which is a true test of popularity among the citizens. Nevertheless , the opposition will not be cowed by the shenanigans of the Imo state government and for the avoidance of doubt, we shall interrogate this obnoxious lawin court and seek appropriate redress”, Okaforanyanwu stressed.

Meanwhile, according to IMSAA the permit fee for governorship candidates to advertise and publicize their campaign messages is N54.3million with non-refundable processing fee of N100,000; site inspection fee of N50,000 and approval fee of N150,000, bring everything to a total of N54.3million for every Governorship candidate in Imo state.

IMSAA noted in their fee schedule that even after paying the stipulated N54.3million, that IMSAA “reserves the right to reject any application”.

Further study of the payment schedules shows that IMSAA may be bent on restricting the reach and spread of opposition governorship candidates when it added a clause to its fee demands that the permit allows candidates to display messages only within permitted areas of Imo state.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PARLIAMENTARISM

SPEAKER ABBAS CALLS FOR CONCERTED ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

The Speaker of the House of Representatives,Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has called on parliaments across the globe to intensify efforts on climate action as the world marks the International Day of Parliamentarism.

He said the International Day of Parliamentarism, which marks the anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), is a day that calls for reflection among Parliaments anywhere in the world.

Abbas said climate change poses a great threat to mankind, hence the need to take concerted action to contain it.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Krishi, He said the 2023 theme, ‘Parliaments for the Planet,’ which focuses on climate action, was apt as the world battles climate change.

The Speaker noted that the Nigerian Parliament, which is a member of the IPU, would continue to work assiduously with other Parliaments around the world to address the issue of climate change through legislation.

He said over the years, the Nigerian Parliament has played a key role on issues related to addressing climate change, saying that would continue in years to come.

According to the United Nations, the theme for this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Parliamentarism, ‘Parliaments for the Planet,’ is designed to mobilize parliaments and parliamentarians to act on the climate emergency

The Federal Government has dismissed the European Union’s report on the 2023 general elections as presented by the EU Electoral Observer Mission, describing it as “jaundiced”. 

In a statement issued on sunday by the Special Adviser to The President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy Dele Alake, the FG said “We urge the EU and other foreign interests to be objective in all their assessments of the internal affairs of our country and allow Nigeria to breathe,” Alake insisted that the February 25, 2023 presidential election was “clearly and fairly” won by Tinubu, the then candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We find it preposterous and unconscionable that in this day and age, any foreign organisation of whatever hue can continue to insist on its own yardstick and assessment as the only way to determine the credibility and transparency of our elections,” 

On June 27, 2023, the EU presented its report on the 2023 elections in Nigeria to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The EU said the election exposed enduring systemic weaknesses and therefore signalled a need for further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness and accountability.

Speaking through its National Chairman, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, when the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, visited his home along with some members of the Senate on Sallah homage to his Keffi residence in Nasarawa State, The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress has charged members of the National Assembly to collaborate with the executive arm of government in the overall interest of Nigerians.

Addressing the Lawmakers, Adamu said, “I congratulate you and your deputy on your emergence as the President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate, respectively. Your emergence was a great relief to the party. Contests for offices are over; it is now time for governance. There must be effective collaboration between the legislature and the executive in the overall interest of our people.

“Nigerians expect a lot through you and that can only be achieved through a united legislature and the executive working in sync in a bipartisan manner. As the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, you have the knowledge, experience and what it takes for the two arms of government to work in harmony for the peace and development of our country.”