A public servant, Fuad Kayode-Laguda has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Surulere 1 Constituency House of Representatives by-election.

This was confirmed on Saturday following his victory in the party’s primary election, which took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

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The by-election, scheduled for February 3, 2024, aims to fill the vacancy left by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who previously represented the constituency, before President Bola Tinubu appointed him as his Chief of Staff.

Laguda scored 30 votes to beat the other three contestants: Raheed Owokoniran, Lawal Kabir, and Manzu Jemila, who scored nil.

The election was conducted by a five-member committee chaired by Buba Yusuf, while Dapo Lam-Adesina served as secretary. (DT)

Anthony Okorie, a professor of Agricultural Extension Administration at the Federal University of Technology Owerri has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ebonyi South Senatorial zone in the February 4 bye-election.

Prof. Okorie garned a total of 281 votes out of 285 accredited voters.

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Announcing the result at Afikpo local government headquarters of Ebonyi State where the primary election took place, the returning officer, Dr Akin Awodeyi Akinsehinwe, said the election was peaceful.

“I was only sent by the national leadership of APC to conduct the primary and the level of the consciousness seen today shows that APC is a peaceful party and that is why the election was very free and fair,” he said.

Prof. Okorie hails from Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

His victory at the Saturday’s primary followed the successful harmonisation meeting where interested parties, stakeholders and aspirants met and supported him as the only candidate in the primary.

The meeting, held on Friday, was at the instance of the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru.
Ebonyi South senatorial bye election came duo to the resignation of Sen. David Umahi, a former governor of the state from the Senate to serve as Minister of Work.

Reacting, Okorie said his victory was a miracle and promised to bring agricultral ingenuity to the Senate if elected.

Spokesman and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi has denied a report that members were given money as palliatives to their various constituencies.

This is why he confirmed that members were given palliatives by the Federal government through the Ministry of Agriculture to distribute in all constituencies across the country.

According to a statement signed in Abuja, Rotimi stated that no legislator has, nor will be given any money for palliatives, adding that the procurement process is
at different stages depending on the constituency.

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“The House of Representatives is monitoring a trending topic on social media, relating to the distribution of palliatives by Honourable Members, and in line with our Legislative Agenda which promises responsive, timely, and accurate information, the People’s House considers it necessary to respond to Nigerians to clarify issues.

“To be clear, no legislator has, nor will be given any money for palliatives. While, as politicians, Honourable Members may be visible during the process of distribution, and rightfully take the credit for bringing succour to the people, the procurement and distribution of the palliatives is being handled by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

“The pro-people position of the Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen PhD led House of Representatives, on the need for the Federal Government to expedite palliative measures to support vulnerable Nigerians, is well documented. This is on account of the hardship Nigerians are experiencing following the removal of fuel subsidy last year.

“Our leadership successfully lobbied for additional palliatives for our constituents across the country, which is being handled by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in line with extant Public Procurement Laws.

As it is customary during this season, Honourable Members, in their respective constituencies, celebrate with their constituents in various ways, in individual capacities. These gestures should not be misconstrued as palliatives, and Honourable Members will continue to engage at the grassroots to clarify these issues in order not to cause dis-affection for colleagues in other constituencies.

“We remain committed to ensuring diligent oversight in the implementation of the 2024 Appropriation Act – Budget of Renewed Hope – which holds the promise of bringing sustainable positive impact on the lives of Nigerians, so that they can legitimately fend for themselves in dignity, and also ensure no vulnerable person is left behind.

“The 10th Assembly of the Federal House of Representatives is the People’s House, and we will continue to engage and work to earn the trust of Nigerians as your elected representatives.

Newly sworn-in caretaker chairmen of the 18 local government chairmen and the 33 Local Council Development Areas of Ondo State, have approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the order of the state High Court stopping them from operating in the office.

Recall that an Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital, had recently stopped the inauguration of the 18 caretaker chairmen and the 33 chairmen of the newly created LCDAs.

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The chairmen, in the appeal filed, sought ” an order setting aside the two rulings in respect of the motions on notice for setting aside/discharging the ex-parte of interim Injunction and for interlocutory injunction delivered by the Hon. Justice Yemi Fasanmi of the Ondo State High Court, Akure Division on the 21st day of December 2023 in Suit No: AK/390/2023 between Peoples Democratic Party vs Governor of Ondo state and three others.”

They also sought “an order granting the appellants’ Motion on Notice filed on the 7th day of December 2023 to set aside/discharge the ex-parte order of interim injunction which the trial court granted against the appellants on the 30th day of November 2023.

“An order that the substantive suit be heard before a Judge of the Ondo State High Court other than Hon. Justice Yemi Fasanmi.”

Recall that a circular signed by one Alonge Adewale, for the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, had directed the head of the local government administration to retrieve all the properties of the councils in the possession of the suspended chairmen.

The circular read, “It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that despite the suspension of all recently appointed Caretaker Committee members for Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in the state by a court of competent jurisdiction, some individuals in these former positions are still parading themselves in that posts.

”Consequently, I have been directed to request the Heads of Local Government Administration in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately assume responsibility as head of their respective Local Government Areas/ LCDAs in an acting capacity pending the resolution of all legal matters relating to this subject.

“Furthermore, I have also been asked to request all HOLGAs to retrieve without delay, all assets and properties of the LGAs/LCDAs with these former Caretaker Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and other members and to safely keep them within their respective Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas.

However, the counsel of the appellants, Banji Ayenakin, has written to the ministry, informing it of the appeal filed by his clients against the court order.

The letter which was addressed to the office of the Permanent Secretary of ministry, read ” We are solicitors to the Caretaker Committee of the Local Government Areas and the Local Council Development Area in Onde State and on whose behalf the letter is caused to be written to you.

“Your letter dated 2nd of January 2024 with CMG/353/33 has been referred to us for our legal opinion and we have the directive of our clients to crave your indulgence to certain misconceptions and erroneous conclusion in the letter.

“Your letter under reference stated that despite the judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction, our clients are stili parading themselves as officers of their respective LGAs and LCDAs.

It added that “You are unaware of the extant position of things and that events have overtaken your conclusion. The office of the Attorney General of Onde State has appealed the judgement you referenced.

According to Ayenakin” The said office has applied to stay of proceeding of the judgment as well as stay of execution of the judgement.”