In preparation for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for September 28, 2024, the Anambra State House of Assembly has made amendments to the State Electoral (Amendment No 3) Law 2024.

This marks the third amendment to the state’s electoral law this year, with the latest changes occurring just within the past month.

The motion for the amendment was presented during the plenary session on Thursday by Obi Nweke, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions and representative of Anambra East Constituency.

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The motion was seconded by Nobel Igwe, and passed with the approval of a two-thirds majority in accordance with the House’s Standing Order 74.

Nweke explained that the changes were essential to address potential gaps in the local government system, particularly concerning council tenure.

The amendment ensures clarity in the law, reducing the risk of litigation arising from ambiguities.

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Key aspects of the amendment include the clarification that the entire council, including chairpersons, deputies, and councillors, will serve a unified two-year term.

The amendment also corrects typographical errors in previous sections of the law, particularly sections 23, 24, and 25.

The Speaker of the House, Somtochukwu Udeze, stated that the newly amended law will be cited as Anambra State Electoral Law No 3, 2024, and will take effect on September 12, 2024, ahead of the upcoming polls.

Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, was briefly detained at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday upon his return from the United States.

Sowore revealed his experience through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, explaining that officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service seized his passport upon arrival and informed him of orders to detain him.

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He described the incident as part of a broader effort by the current administration to suppress dissent, linking it to the upcoming #FearlessINOctober protests.

“I had just arrived in Nigeria from the USA at MMIA in Lagos when my passport was taken, and I was told there were orders to detain me,” Sowore stated in his post.

He noted that this kind of action was not unexpected, attributing it to what he termed a “clampdown” by the government in response to his activism.

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Sowore was released shortly after his brief detention, and his passport was returned.

He used the opportunity to encourage Nigerians to continue resisting tyranny, emphasizing the need for citizens to participate in planned protests starting October 1st.

At the time of this report, there has been no official response from the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding Sowore’s detention.

The Labour Party (LP) in Anambra State has called on Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to direct the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) to reschedule the local government elections set for September 28, 2024.

The party argued that postponing the election would allow for a more lawful and transparent process, describing the current arrangement as an “unacceptable sham.”

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During a press conference in Awka on Saturday, LP’s State Publicity Secretary, Engr Theo Egbe, emphasized that the party neither sold nomination forms nor conducted primaries to field candidates for the elections.

Egbe further accused ANSIEC of publishing names of candidates aligned with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as Labour Party candidates, without LP’s involvement.

“The so-called election is a sham. They have already conducted it in their rooms and are just waiting to announce the results,” Egbe remarked.

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Adding to the concerns, LP’s State Secretary, Barr Okoli Akirika, highlighted the irregularities, comparing the situation to the emergence of “unknown candidates,” similar to the “unknown bishops” and “unknown gunmen” referenced in past incidents.

“The names published as Labour Party candidates are not our members, and we did not sponsor them. We have made it clear that we are not participating in this election,” Akirika stressed.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has revealed that his administration plans to locally assemble 1,000 tractors by 2025, with 300 tractors expected to be ready before the end of 2024.

This initiative is part of the state government’s broader strategy to boost its economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion and ensure food security.

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Governor Mbah made this announcement while hosting the newly elected President of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, and other association leaders at the Enugu Government House.

He emphasized his administration’s commitment to creating a favorable business environment and de-risking investments in the state, inviting more investors to participate in Enugu’s economic transformation.

“Our administration is fully committed to making Enugu a business hub. We have just signed an agreement with a Danish company to manufacture tractors locally, and by the end of this year, we expect over 300 tractors to be assembled. Our goal is to scale this up to 1,000 tractors by the end of 2025. This initiative means farmers in Enugu won’t need to import machinery, as we will produce everything locally,” Mbah stated.

The governor further highlighted the administration’s focus on value addition in agriculture, emphasizing plans to establish Special Processing Zones to boost the processing of agricultural products and avoid exporting raw materials.

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“We are not just focusing on production but on value addition as well. We are creating processing zones where agricultural products can be processed locally, ensuring that we capture the added value and grow our economy more sustainably,” he added.

Mbah also outlined measures being taken to improve infrastructure, including urban and rural roads, power, and water supply, alongside continued investments in security to create a conducive environment for business and agriculture.

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The government has already completed 71 urban roads and has awarded contracts for an additional 141 roads, with a focus on enhancing access to farmlands as part of its ambitious agricultural plans.

The governor concluded by noting that over 300,000 hectares of land have been secured in the state’s landbank, further supporting the state’s agricultural development initiatives.

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, was arrested upon his arrival in Nigeria.

Sowore landed at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos early Sunday morning after a flight from Washington Dulles International Airport.

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The arrest followed a leaked memo from the Department of State Services (DSS) dated September 12, 2024, which ordered Sowore’s detention upon his return.

Sowore took to social media to announce his detention, stating that Nigerian Immigration Service officials confiscated his passport and informed him of the detention orders.

In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Sowore expressed his belief that the arrest is part of a larger crackdown on dissent by the current administration.

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He urged citizens to engage in planned protests starting October 1, in response to what he described as a broader campaign against political opposition and freedom of expression.

As the local government elections in Enugu State, scheduled for September 21, 2024, approach, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Nkanu West Local Government Area, Hon. John Ogbodo, has promised a new era of progress and transformation if elected.

Addressing supporters at Akpugo on Friday, Hon. Ogbodo who was accompanied by his run running mate, Hon. Friday Nnam, emphasized his commitment to bringing positive change to the council area.

He outlined his vision for improving infrastructure, enhancing healthcare services, and boosting educational opportunities for Ndi Nkanu West

Chief Ogbodo while highlighting his plans to initiate community-driven projects aimed at addressing pressing local issues, vowed to work closely with residents to ensure their needs are met.

“We are determined to bring fresh ideas and effective solutions to Nkanu West,”

“Our goal is to create a more vibrant and prosperous community where everyone has a stake in our success. Together, we can build a better future for our children and families.”

Others stakeholders who spoke during the campaign tour include; Member representing Nkanu East/West federal Constituency, Hon. Nnoli Nnaji, former Nkanu West council chairman, Barr. Ekene Okenwa, High Chief Moses Aniemeka, Chief Austin Ani among others.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Presidency of orchestrating a plot to rig the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, scheduled for September 21, in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to a statement from Anthony Aziegbemi, the PDP’s Chairman in Edo State, the Presidency has allegedly allocated $2 million to compromise Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, security forces, and to facilitate vote-buying.

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The PDP also claimed that the funds were given to the APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

Further allegations from the PDP include claims that the Presidency has directed the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services to disrupt the election in strongholds of the PDP to skew the results in favor of the APC.

The party reported that security deployments would be heavy in areas loyal to PDP, particularly around the governor’s strongholds, to destabilize the voting process.

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The PDP’s statement outlined concerns that some electoral officials are believed to be APC members and are allegedly tasked with delaying results to incite violence and create a chaotic environment to benefit the APC candidate.

Despite these allegations, the PDP expressed confidence in winning the election through a fair and peaceful process.

The party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is projected to secure at least 70 percent of the vote, according to the PDP.

The PDP has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the election is conducted transparently and without interference.

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The party urged the President to prioritize the safety and peace of Edo State and refrain from actions that could jeopardize the electoral process.

In response, APC’s National Deputy Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, dismissed the PDP’s claims as baseless, suggesting they stem from past practices during the PDP’s previous administration.

Duru challenged the PDP to provide concrete evidence for their allegations and criticized them for allegedly projecting their past misdeeds onto others.

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Duru remarked, “The PDP’s history of election rigging is well-documented, and it’s concerning if their current accusations are influenced by their own past behavior. They need to prove their claims with evidence if they have any.”

Governor Godwin Obaseki has labeled the upcoming Edo State governorship election on September 21 as a “do or die” affair.

This comes in the wake of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) refusal to sign a Peace Accord for the election.

Obaseki’s remarks followed allegations against the police, who, according to him, are favoring the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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He accused the police of detaining ten PDP members, including an LGA chairman, without adequate justification or evidence.

During a visit from Abdulsalami Abubakar, former military Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Obaseki expressed concerns about the current electoral climate.

He highlighted the disparity between the 2020 election and this one, noting increased tension and what he perceives as an environment being actively sabotaged by those meant to uphold the peace.

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Obaseki criticized the APC for allegedly planning to leverage federal power to influence the election outcome.

He claimed that recent developments included the deployment of armed police units to intimidate and arrest PDP members.

At the PDP’s grand finale campaign event in Oredo Local Government Area, Obaseki defended his administration’s record, contrasting it with his predecessor’s tenure.

He praised improvements in pensioners’ conditions and youth employment, asserting that Edo State has become one of the safest in Nigeria.

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He urged voters to support the PDP and its gubernatorial candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the upcoming election.

“This election is a do or die. You must decide whether you want to continue with the progress we have made or revert to a state of insecurity and mismanagement,” Obaseki declared.

Earlier, Obaseki had welcomed top APC officials to Edo State for the concluding campaign event of Senator Monday Okpebholo, which saw high-profile attendees including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Dr. Afam Obidike, Anambra State Commissioner for Health, has challenged recent statements made by Dr. Nonye Soludo, the wife of the state governor, regarding low immunisation rates in the state.

Contrary to Soludo’s assertion, Obidike reported a 15 percent increase in childhood immunisation coverage from 2022 to 2024, arguing that Anambra does not have a low immunisation uptake.

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According to Obidike, the state has exceeded the national benchmark of 90 percent for three key vaccines this year: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (113 percent), measles (95 percent), and yellow fever (94 percent).

The state government aims to achieve 100 percent coverage and has made childhood immunisation a top priority, recognizing its importance for child development.

Obidike clarified that the term ‘low immunisation’ referred specifically to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which faces widespread hesitancy nationwide.

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He indicated that Soludo’s comments were misinterpreted and did not reflect the broader immunisation efforts.

In August, Soludo had urged mothers at the 2nd Anambra State Women Health Summit to prioritize immunisation for their children, emphasizing its role in preventing lifelong illnesses.

Dr. Uju Obiagwu from the World Health Organisation also expressed concerns about decreasing immunisation coverage in Anambra.

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However, Obidike emphasized that Anambra has made significant strides in increasing immunisation rates, partly due to enhanced community education, house-to-house campaigns, and improved access to hospital deliveries.

He reported that the state now boasts one of the lowest under-five and maternal mortality rates, attributing this success to the provision of free antenatal and cesarean services.

The commissioner also noted that previous outbreaks of measles have been managed effectively through improved vaccine availability and targeted outreach.

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He highlighted that Anambra has seen no cholera cases this year, despite a broader cholera outbreak, further showcasing the effectiveness of their health initiatives.

Obidike reiterated the state’s commitment to achieving comprehensive immunisation coverage and addressing any gaps in public health outreach.