The Biafra Post: Top story

Imo guber: Opposition leaders walk out of INEC meeting over exclusion of journalistsJones Onyereri

The Biafra Post: breaking Biafra news, IPOB and ESN updates, politics and analysis from Biafraland, Nigeria and the diaspora.

By Ayodele Okuwafemi

Published on the Biafra Post

November 9th 2023

Leaders of major political parties in Imo staged a walkout during a stakeholders meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The meeting took place on Tuesday in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

The stakeholders meeting was put together by INEC ahead of the off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states on November 11.

The interactive session began on a peaceful note but proceedings would soon go south after Kenneth Ukeagu, national commissioner for the south-east, asked the press to leave the hall.

Ukeagu was representing Mahmood Yakubu, national chairman of INEC, at the meeting.

The directive did not go down well with leaders of opposition political parties present at the session.

Rancour, disorderliness, and a war of words among leaders of the various political parties ensued.

Amid the rowdy session, leaders of the Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and others walked out in anger.

However, representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not leave the session.

Speaking after the walkout, Jones Onyereri, running mate to Samuel Anyanwu, the PDP guber candidate, alleged that Ukeagu’s directive was part of plans to rig Saturday’s election in APC’s favour.

Onyereri called for the removal of Sylvia Agu, the Imo resident electoral commissioner (REC), before the election.

“You can now see that INEC is no longer hiding its affiliation with the government of Imo state,” Onyereri said.

“You all saw what happened. How can the INEC chairman order the media to stop coverage of the proceedings and when we tried to counter it, some APC mad dogs pounced on us and were clapping for the chairman.

“Whatever be their plans to rig this election, we must resist it at all costs.

“If they say they are accepted by Imo people, they should jettison rigging and come out to the field and put their popularity to test.

“It was most shocking. Everybody, every candidate, we all stood up and shouted at him and said why would you let that be? Are we running a secret society here?”

Tony Nwulu, the running mate to Athan Achonu, LP candidate, said the party will not accept any election conducted by the current Imo REC.

“I have said it and I will say it again, we are not accepting any election conducted by the current Imo REC,” he said.

On his part, Macdonald Ebere, APC chairperson in Imo, said the INEC commissioner only asked journalists to observe the proceedings without cameras.

Ebere said the opposition parties would always look for issues where there are none, adding that Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo, has already won the election.

NEXTComplacency in goalkeeping: Only in today's Super Eagles »

PREVIOUS« 'Grey's Anatomy' star Dempsey is People magazine's 2023 sexiest man alive

Imo Flights Blacklisted Nationwide, Uzodimma Declared Persona Non-Grata

at 09:53:00 0

The Biafra Post: breaking Biafra news, IPOB and ESN updates, politics and analysis from Biafraland, Nigeria and the diaspora.

Report: By

Abdullateef Aliyu

Published on the Biafra Post

November 9, 2023

Unions in the aviation industry have directed the withdrawal of all flights to Owerri, Imo State, from all airports in Nigeria.

This is in response to the directive of the Labour Union, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) following last week’s brutalisation of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri.

The aviation unions including the National Union Of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots And Engineers (NAAPE), said this in a joint statement.

The joint statement by their General-Secretaries, including Comrades Ocheme Aba; NUATE, Frances Akinjole; ATSSSAN, Abdul Rasaq Saidu; ANAP and Umoh Ofonime, NAAPE, also declared Governor Hope Uzodimma persona non grata in all airports.

The statement read: “Following the escalation of the imbroglio created by the mayhem unleashed on workers by the Imo State Government of Hope Uzodimma and continued insensitivity of the Government over the matter; and in compliance with the directive of the joint NEC session of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), the above named unions, being affiliates of NLC and TUC, hereby direct all aviation workers (both public and private) to withdraw all services to all Owerri flights (inwards and outwards) from any airport in Nigeria with effect from midnight of 08/11/2023 (today).

“In addition, the person of Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State is hereby declared persona non grata at all airports in Nigeria until he purges himself of bestial tendencies.

“Our unions will make further efforts through our international affiliations to blacklist Hope Uzodimma worldwide.

“Furthermore, all aviation workers in Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, owerri are hereby directed to stay at home, also with effect from midnight today (08/11/2023) as directed by NLC and TUC.

“Based on the above, the State Councils and all Branches of the unions will meet today at 5pm in Lagos and Abuja to agree on modalities for carrying out the above directive. The meeting in Lagos will hold at NUATE Secretariat, while that of Abuja will be at GAT (pilgrims’ terminal).

“By this notice, the airports’ managements, airlines operating into and out of Owerri, intending airport passengers into and out of Owerri, and the general public are hereby advised about this situation so as to be forewarned.”

The strike action is of indefinite nature until otherwise directed by NLC and TUC.

Publisher Anyi Kings

Reach Anyi via X @anyikings