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WHY I WANT TO RUN FOR COUNCILLOR ALADIMMA WARD 1

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Comrade ???????????????????????? Onigbo JP

 

My names is Austin Udoka Onuigbo (JP) meaning, ‘Justice Of Peace’.

I hail from Uzii in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State.

*FAMILY BACKGROUND*

I am a father of one, a devoted christian with good upbringing.

Born on April 12, 1984, and that makes 40yrs plus now.

*EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND*

I am a HND holder on Food Science & Technology from Federal Polytechnic Idah, Lokoja in Kogi State Nigeria.

Also acquired a Diploma in Computer Engineering.

*POLITICAL SOJOURN*

I started active politics in the year 2014 in Aladinma Ward 1.

Member of People Democratic Party till June 2023.

I served the party then as a founding member of PDP New Media Directorate, pioneer of PDP Owerri Municipal Council New Media Directorate with 11 ward media coordinators under my watch.

I was the Owerri Municipal Coordinator of one of the largest Presidential Support Group then under PDP known as ATIKULATION

I later assumed the position of Owerri Municipal LGA PDP Assistant Publicity Secretary, on account of the zoning factor of PDP in Owerri Municipal Council. A post I occupied till my resignation in June 2023.

I joined All Progressives Congress in the year 2023, my entrance into APC in the ward contributed immensely in the victory of the party in the ward.

I was made booth leader of booth 017 Owerri Club, and served as party agent which I delivered the booth to my party All Progressives Congress during 2023 November 11 governorship election in the State.

My contributions, ideas and suggestions in the ward and strategic meetings, played a vital role in the victory of the party at the election in the ward.

During campaign, i worked with APC Owerri zone media team that promoted campaign activities of the party at the zone. The team was headed by Hon Julian Mendosa SA media to State party chairman Hon Sir MacDonald Ebere PhD who supervised the team.

As a new entry to the party APC, I discovered that a lot of party men and women are angry with the party at the ward. Many of them are not bold enough to say they are members of the party. I discovered their was no 100% loyalty to the party and lack of commitment from some members of the party.

They complained about not being carried along in the scheme of things in the party, especially when it comes to dividend and benefits as party members.

They were bittered that some few persons in the ward, are fond of highjacking whatever that comes to the party, including and submitting names of their family members who are not active members of the party, when it comes to benefits that comes to the party.

In my short stay so far in the party as a bonafide member of All Progressives Congress, I have truly discovered some of these their complains to be truly true.

I have seen recycling of same names of few particular persons always appearing in Owerri Municipal list whenever names are needed from the party for a particular assignment or benefits.

Hence, my passion to drive positive change in the party begining at my Ward level, change the narrative as being complained daily by true party men and women.

I have come to change this mentality of it MUST be me circle in the ward.

I have come to give these loyal party faithfuls sense of belonging, through making them partakers of benefits coming to the party at the ward.

These men and women and youths who are complaining are my main reasons for vying for the Councillorship position of Aladinma Ward 1

Before now, some persons when appointed or giving positions, see it as a personal settlement. They neither carry party members along nor support the activities of the party at Ward levels.

They publicly and openly deny ever seeing any goodies from the government, thereby painting the image of 3R Shared Prosperity Government of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma (Onwa Onyoko) Imo State Governor bad before the people.

We should know that government can’t appoint everybody at the same time in government, rather, it is the case of “Enye Gi, Inye Ndi Ozo Nogi Nso”

Without taking the government down to the grassroot, people can’t feel whatever good achievement the state government is doing in the State.

So, I present myself to serve my people, to bring this government to us at the grassroot level.

To achieve my goals, I have a well mapped out plans on how to support small scale businesses in Aladinma Ward 1, empowering widows and indigent people to start up little businesses to enable them provide food to their families.

Well designed programmes to bring in entire youths of Aladinma Ward 1 into APC in the Ward.

Having observed that our youths are lovers of sports, I will use sports to promote the party to them through sports engagement and maintenance of fields in the ward, not just that of Aladinma Primary School which is central chapter.

I will engage my fellow youths of Aladinma Ward 1 in skill acquisition programmes that will enable them to fetch for themselves and support their families.

I will train some of our youths in graphics designs, website creation, computer programmes, photo & video editing etc.

I will attract the presence of government to the entire 5 Chapters of the Ward which are;
1. Aladinma Central
2. Imsu Chapter
3. NYC chapter
4. Prefab 1
5. Prefab 2

Most times, these chapters are forgotten, while keeping focus on a particular chapter, this I want to change.

As Councillor representing Aladinma Ward 1 at the council,i will have additional Personal Assistant outside number of approved PA’s which i will be taking care of them from my approved salary as a Councillor.

Again, I have a well planned packages for the party leaders in the Ward, this package will be coming to them time to time, as a way of accommodating everybody in the Ward.

I will give attention to the challenges of neighbourhood in Aladinma Ward 1, and from time to time engage them in discussion and enlightenment on government policies and programmes.

Lastly, I will contribute my quota in the law making at the local government council chambers, which will impact positively to the residents of Owerri Municipality.

Trust me to do these as mentioned, and I will represent well to the best of my knowledge and ability.

Send me, for I will use every opportunity in my disposal to propagate and consolidate the good works of our performing governor whose most of his good works are not projected and promoted especially at the grassroot level.

Let me use this opportunity to commend the State Working Committee of our great party ably led by our indefatigable State Party Chairman Hon Sir MacDonald Ebere PhD for for their commitment and dedication to the party that made the party formidable in the State, which resulted in the triumphantly victory of the party at the last governorship election in the State.

Let me equally commend and appreciate our ebullient LGA party chairman Hon Chief Onyekachi Ibezim for his decision to give all aspirants a level playing ground. It’s indeed a true and practical demonstration of democracy as enshrined in the party constitution.

I also want to appreciate our Apex Leader Rt Hon Ernest Ibejiako, my ward chairman Hon Ihunna Chikodi (Owelle APC) and his entire executives together with the leaders of my ward, for their hardwork before and during election which resulted in the party winning the governorship election at the ward.

With your total support, I will achieve this and put smile in the faces of Aladinma Ward 1 party members and residents.

I promise never to fail or disappoint if given this awesome opportunity to serve my people as Aladinma Ward 1 Councillor.

God bless Aladinma Ward 1 APC!

God bless Owerri Municipal APC!

God bless Imo State APC!

APCccccc!!! God sent governor

God sent governor, Ebe Esere Aziza!!!

Politics

2027: More Than 50 Lawmakers Lose APC Reps Tickets in Major Primary Election

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No fewer than 50 members of the 10th House of Representatives are unlikely to be part of the 11th Assembly after losing out in the All Progressive Congress (APC) primaries held on Saturday.

This marks one of the largest turnovers of sitting federal lawmakers since 2015 and signals intensifying internal competition within the ruling party eight months to the 2027 general elections.

While House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas (Kano) and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu (Abia) successfully defended their tickets, several ranking and long-serving lawmakers were defeated, exposing strong anti-incumbent sentiment and the decisive role of state governors in candidate selection.

Major casualties

One of the biggest upsets was the defeat of House Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere in Edo State’s Owan Federal Constituency. He polled 1,005 votes out of 7,587 cast, finishing third behind Andrew Ijegbia, who scored 3,695 votes. Abdul Oroh placed second with 1,740 votes.

In Delta State, veteran lawmaker Nicholas Mutu, who has represented Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency since 1999, lost his re-election bid. Ngozi Okolie also lost the Aniocha/Oshimili ticket to former House Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu.

 

Cross River State recorded one of the highest casualty rates, with five of eight incumbents failing to secure re-nomination.

They include three-term member Mike Etaba (Obubra/Etung), Godwin Offiono (Ogoja/Yala), Emil Inyang (Akamkpa/Biase), and Bassey Akiba (Odukpani/Calabar Municipality).

Only Peter Akpanke, Joseph Bassey, and Victor Abang won return tickets.

In Plateau State, conflicting results in Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency triggered early confusion. One returning officer declared challenger John Tongshinen winner with 29,968 votes against incumbent Yusuf Gagdi’s 5,849.

The APC Plateau State primaries committee, chaired by Stella Okotete, later dismissed that declaration as unauthorised and affirmed Mr Gagdi as the authentic winner with 29,207 votes.

At a press briefing, Mrs Okotete stated that Nandom Kura was the recognised returning officer. “The returning officer approved by my committee that has gone to do fake declaration is null and void,” she said.

Other significant losses occurred in Ogun State (at least five incumbents, including Deputy Chief Whip Ibrahim Isiaka and Tunji Akinosi) and Ekiti State (three sitting members).

 

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PDP to screen Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday as its sole Presidential aspirant For 2027 race

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has scheduled to screen former president Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow, Tuesday, aMay 19, as the lone presidential candidate of party.

According to a statement from the PDP faction backed by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former governor of Plateau State, Jona Jang and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi have been listed among a committee of 14 members to screen Jonathan described as a lone candidate by the party.

Other members of the committee were Chief Olabode George, Babangida Aliyu, Maryam ciroma, Zainab Maina, Josephine Anenin, Dr. Abdul Bulama, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Edo State PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, Dr. Sunday Solarium and Chief Anicho Okoro, who would serve as administrative secretary of the committee.

Last week, the national Publicity Secretary of the faction, Ini Ememobong, disclosed that former president Jonathan has successfully registered as a member of the party in the fresh digital registration exercise directed by INEC.

The PDP faction also announced that it was set to screen 748 house of representatives aspirants, 198 senatorial aspirants, and 112 governorship aspirants.

The screening committee would screen 2122 states houses of assembly aspirants. The exercise will commence tomorrow, Tuesday in different states.

According to the statement, the screening exercise would take place nationwide on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

The statement said the Interim National Working Committee (iNWC) has also released the names of members to serve on the Screening Committees and Screening Appeal Panels.

It added that the publication of the screening details “is in accordance with the party’s guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.”

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Oshiomhole wins Edo APC senatorial primaries unopposed

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A former governor and incumbent Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, along with his counterpart Senator Joe Ikpea, sailed through the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary in Edo unopposed, and securing their tickets without a single vote cast against them.

Also Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama emerged the winner in the APC primary for the Edo South senatorial district.

Ogbeide-Ihama won in the seven local government areas of Edo South in the results announced by the Chairman of APC National Assembly Primary Election, Muhammed Ajana at the Urokpota Hall, Benin.

He polled 27,154 votes while his opponents, Senator Neda Imasuen, got 13,580, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu got 6785.

The elections were hitch-free in Edo North and Edo Central, where there was no contest against the incumbents, Senators Oshiomhole of Edo North and Ikpea of Edo Central, respectively.

Ajana at the Urokpota Hall said the collation arose from votes cast in the seven local government areas made up of 77 wards where elections were conducted by members of the committee.

He said, “There are seven local governments that make up the Edo South Senatorial District. We have heard from the Returning officers from the seven local government areas. From the collation, the cumulative result we have for Edo South Senatorial District is this; Ogbeide-Ihama with 27,154 votes, Imasuen with 13,580 votes and Ize-Iyamu with 6, 785.

“This is the total reflection of what has transpired from the ward level to the local government and the Edo South senatorial district collation centre. With this we await further directives from the National Secretariat, we have done our best by collating the results which is our mandate, to collate the results and send them to the National Secretariat.”

However, it was gathered that Ize-Iyamu emerged as the APC candidate for Edo South Senatorial race. He claimed to have clinched the party’s ticket after defeating Ogbeide-Ihama and Imasuen.

It was claimed that the Chief Returning Officer, Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, officially declared Ize-Iyamu the winner after securing the highest number of votes cast.

On his part, the senator representing the district condemned the exercise describing it as a sham allegedly designed to favour a preferred aspirant.

Imasuen spoke while reacting to events at his polling unit in Umagbae North Ward 5, Urhokuosa where he said he was denied the opportunity to vote following what he described as a chaotic and manipulated process.

The lawmaker accused leaders of the party of openly adopting a preferred candidate ahead of the exercise and intimidating members into supporting that aspirant.

He said, “There is nothing satisfactory about this sham of election they did today and it is very unfortunate because as a loyal party member, I expected something better than this.”

He said the warning signs emerged days before the primary when some ward chairmen allegedly informed him that they had been directed not to receive him during consultations.

Imasuen claimed that some ward leaders openly told him the party had already adopted a preferred aspirant, identified as Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, making further consultations unnecessary.

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