INEC to meet parties leaders on elections schedules

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled a consultative meeting with leadership of the political parties for Saturday, Feb. 7, on the conduct of the 2015 general election.
A statement signed by Mr Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, in Abuja on Friday said that the meeting was a follow up to Thursday’s meeting of the National Council of States (NCS).

Zimbabwean opposition steps up calls for Mugabe to resign after he falls at airport

ZIMBABWEAN president and African Union (AU) chairman Robert Mugabe recently tripped and fell at the Harare International Airport renewing calls that he is too old to run the affairs of state and should stand down. President Mugabe, 90, has ruled Zimbabwe since it became independent in 1980 and has shunned repeated calls for him to stand down. Defying his critics, President Mugabe took over the AU chairmanship this month at its recent summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. It was on his way back from the summit that he missed a step and hit the canvas while making his way to his Mercedes Benz limousine. Minutes after the pictures were relayed by international media, members of President Mugabe’s party, Zanu PF’s’ communication department launched a campaign defending their leader. Presidential spokesperson George Charamba, said: “Please don’t allow

I’d Rather Resign Than Postpone Elections – Prof. Attahiru Jega

 

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega has threatened to rather resign his appointment than postpone the scheduled February general elections. He said nobody’s demand, including that of the National Council of States (NCS), or any other institution, will make INEC to postpone the February general elections as scheduled. The source further said that Jega confided in them that he will appeal even a court order on this issue, and that only a Supreme Court order will make him shift ground. A highly reliable source close to the INEC Chairman who pleaded anonymity told Universal Reporters that Prof. Jega told a group of close

Proponents of election shift have not given up – APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC,  has said that in spite of the commendable and patriot decision by the National Council of State that the 2015 general elections must go on as scheduled, proponents of election shift have not given up on their desperation to scuttle the elections.
In a statement, Friday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said, however, that the desperadoes will always fail in their evil machinations, because no power is strong enough to defeat a determined people.
It said the provocative call by the bogus Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly for the postponement of the elections and the arrest of INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega is one of the new antics of the election postponement campaigners.

Osun Election: Tribunal upholds Aregbesola’s victory

The Osun state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, Friday, upheld the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9 election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had pronounced Aregbesola winner of the election with 374, 684 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore who polled 292, 747.
Senator Omisore challenged the declaration of Governor Aregbesola before the three-man Tribunal led by Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime.
In the about eight hours judgement read by Justice Ikpejime, the Tribunal dismissed the Omisore’s petition for lacking in merit.
It also held that the petitioners failed to prove most of the allegations raised in their petition before the Tribunal.

We’re ready for polls – INEC

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, reiterated its readiness for the forthcoming general elections even as strong pressures were brought on its National Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega by contending forces at the National Council of State, NCS, to shift the polls by six weeks.
Jega, who, insisted on holding the election as scheduled was, however, countered by service chiefs present at the meeting who, according to sources, told him that they could not guarantee security for the election.
At the end of the meeting, the commission was told to go and conduct its responsibility within its legal framework. The commission is meeting tomorrow to review the developments, sources said.

Solemnity of All Souls :Bishop Ezeokafor Charges Christians to Pray for Souls in Purgatory

By Abuchi Onwumelu
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor has called on Christians all the world to use the period of the solemnity of All Souls celebration to pray for those purgatory saying that any prayers said by an individual to a particular soul has its own blessings.

Bishop Ezeokafor who stated this  shortly after the solemnity of All Saints /Souls Mass held at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Awka, enjoined Christians to pray for the fallen saints of God, who were opportune of being able to enter heaven but still caught in the bridge between heaven and hell known as purgatory

His words, 'Well today is a very important day in the life of Catholic Church word wide which started precisely yesterday, when the Church celebrated the solemnity of All Saints that is all that have lived in this life and have really done well in human reckoning and they are really counted among the saints.

There are many Saints that are not in the book of divine saints, it’s only those who show something extra-ordinary, something we can count and say yes.

Council Of State Insist On February 2015 Election

The National Council of States meeting called to discuss issues about the the nation’s security challenges and the forthcoming elections has ended.At the end of the eight-hour meeting, members insisted the general elections must proceed as scheduled, reporters were told.Members also agreed that elections could be postponed in troubled zones — areas ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.Nigerians had watched out for the outcome of the meeting all day giving the alleged plot by government to force INEC to shift the elections.More details about the outcome of the meeting to come later.
President Goodluck Jonathan presided over the Council of State meeting, where national issues bordering on the nation’s security and the elections were deliberated upon.

VICTOR UMEH A SENATOR NDIGBO MUST ENDEVOUR TO HAVE

Indeed time is now at hand. Ndigbo must once again be reminded of doing the needful. The primary elections of all parties are over with exception to that of Anambra PDP that shall and always be resolved in the court of law. But before this time, that is the election proper, Ndigbo needs to be reminded of the hard fact that 2015 is a very crucial year for Igbo survival. It is of necessity to inform Ndigbo that owing to the precarious nature of things especially as concerns the politics of Nigeria, we do not for any reason need to dare gamble with the forthcoming election especially as regards electing candidates, particularly, candidates of bold conscience.

FORMER GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA EXTOLS THE VIRTUES OF MRS. OBIANO ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

The former governor of Anambra State, Dame Virgy Etiaba has extolled the virtues of the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, for steadfastly working in support of her husband governor Obiano for the good of Anambra State. Dame Etiaba made the commendation at Anaedo Social Club field during the campaign tour of Nnewi North LGA on February 2, 2015.‎ The statement of the former governor was echoed by others at Nnewi South, Ihiala and Ekwusigo Local governments campaign for candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra state.