PDP lawmaker commends Gbajabiamila on inclusive leadership

The House of Representatives member, representing AMAC/Bwari federal constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Micah Jiba, has commended the Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila for  demonstrating the spirit of all inclusive leadership in piloting the affairs of the 9th House of Representatives.

Jiba said Monday in Abuja that he decided to rally massive support for the speaker because of his positive attitude and posture towards the opposition members in the 9th assembly upon resumption of office. 

According to the lawmaker, though they all won on the platform of different political parties, however, since Gbajabiamila emerged the speaker, it is in the best interest of the Nigerians and their constituents for all members to support him in all his activities and appointments. 

“Hon Gbajabiamila is competent and qualified to lead the 9th House of Representatives to greater height in the interest of Nigerians. I believe that his position as the present speaker of the house is reward for hard work, commitment, honesty and above all, loyalty.

“So, sentiments, geographical identity, religion and party affiliation should not be a yardstick for now, because we have gotten a person who is knowledgeable, suitable, proficient, skillful and brilliant in Gbajabiamila.

“I am calling on my colleagues in the House to shun party or religious sentiments and give the Speaker the needed support that will promote good governance and ensure that Nigerians benefits from the legislation of the 9th assembly,” he said. 

Jiba also promised to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of AMAC/Bwari federal constituency, through proper legislation in the house, saying that bills that will improve the living standard of the people would be introduced by him as the house proceedings continue. 

“Having served as local government chairman for eight years in AMAC, served as ALGON chairman and president, I am able to identify the needs of my people in FCT. We are working on bills that will reduce the suffering of my people, especially on the political and economic structure of the FCT people. 

“The mayoral bill, if it scaled through, should decentralize governance in the capital city and any person from any state can be appointed as a mayor, it must not necessarily be somebody from FCT”, he said. 

Further, he called on the FCT stakeholders to pray and support the leadership the leadership of the National Assembly, in order to accommodate the citizens of FCT on major issues that border them.

INEC faults Akwa Ibom APC’s petition over state Assembly poll

By Emmanuel Ikorah

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faulted the All Progressives Congress, APC in Akwa Ibom state and its Essien Udim state constituency candidate Mr Nse Ntuen’s petition challenging the result of the  March 9 state assembly election.

The APC candidate had argued that he was the actual winner of the election and wants the INEC to issue him certificate of return as the bonafide representative of the constituency at the state assembly. It said the election was inconclusive.

But the INEC through its counsel Jerome Irogalachi (Esq) last week filed a motion at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, faulting the Ntuen’s claims by stating that no candidate was declared winner of the Essien Udim state constituency election.

The election umpire in the motion informed the Justice A. Akanbi led three-man panel that the first respondent Nse Ntuen of the APC was not declared winner of the election by the commission.

Further arguing its case, the INEC said to activate the jurisdiction of an election petition tribunal, there must be evidence to show to the tribunal that a declaration was indeed made and a candidate returned as winner of the election.

But it noted that in this case, there is no evidence that anyone was declared winner and returned.

Also, the INEC said no evidence of return was attached by the petitioners to the petition nor did Nse Ntuen attach any evidence of return to the reply he filed before the tribunal.

The INEC also argued that the tribunal was not have the jurisdiction to proceed with the matter, and subsequently urged the panel to decline jurisdiction over the matter which involved an incomplete election.

Nse Ntuen through his lead counsel Patrick Umoh had argued insisted on being declared the authentic winner of the March 9 poll for Essien Udim state constituency.

Nse Ntuen had been sacked from the last assembly by the state high court for cross carpeting without valid reasons backed by law.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Gerald Umoh,are also praying the tribunal to compel the INEC to declare their candidate the winner of the election.

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