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Integrity group flags off Abia PDP campaign *I’ve served well – Ikpeazu *We won’t lose a seat in 2023
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will not lose a seat from the state to national assembly polls, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, assured party faithful who gathered at the Umuahia Township Stadium, in the state capital on Thursday, as the party formally flagged off its campaigns for the 2023 elections in the state.
It was an event that drew a mammoth crowd, with the governor’s allies in the G-5 Integrity Group, throwing in their weight and pledging to support the party’s efforts not only to retain executive power but all the way through the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senatorial elections, which would all be up for contest.
Ikpeazu, who opened the campaigns officially, on behalf of the other candidates of the party, all present at the event, told his audience, that the party would be running on its sterling records in the state, hinged on using the peoples human and material resources to work for them.
Emphasising that his government had affected Abians positively and the PDP candidates were men of character, he said no other political party existed in the state outside the ruling party and that those laying claims to such existence were people of zero electoral value, adding that the incoming administration of Prof. Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne would sustain his legacies in the State.
In their various speeches, the members of the G-5 PDP Integrity Governor’s Group consisting of Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State urged Abians to remain resolute in PDP, assuring that they are ready to take Nigeria out of its present challenges, adding that all they stand for is equity fairness and justice.
Also assuring that they are strong in their states and committed to wining elections, the group, which described Ikpeazu as a performer, man of integrity and could be trusted, congratulated all candidates that received flags, expressing hope that they would win, while pledging their full support for their efforts.
In his remarks, the PDP State Chairman, Rt. Hon. Asiforo Okere, who disclosed that the event which is a combination of the rallies and sensitisation that have been taking place in the wards and local government areas of the state, revealed that the party is presenting 36 candidates in the 2023 elections.
While listing the candidates as Ikonne, for the governor, Ikpeazu, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Col. Akobundu, for the Senate, as well as eighth House of Representatives candidates and 24 House of Assembly, he thanked all party faithful, especially those that contested and could not get the tickets and described them as the heroes of the event.
Responding on behalf of other candidates who received flags, Ikonne assured Abians that if elected, he would through his TIGER Economy manifesto which covers Trade, Industrialisation, Good governance Education and Rural Development
engage in participatory governance in the State, challenging the people to give him their votes and expect best results and more developmental projects in the state.
Earlier in his speech, the Abia PDP Campaign Director General, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Elechi, who described the rally as historic noted that based on what the Governor has done in the State, there is need for the people to elect Ikonne as the next Governor and ensure all other PDP candidates win.
Represented by the Secretary General of the Campaign Council, Barr. Stanley Ojigbo, Elechi, said based on the capacity of the party and achievements of Ikpeazu, PDP would occupy the 24 seats of the State House of Assembly and the eight seats and three seats respectively in the National Assembly, urging Abians not to allow themselves to be deceived by desperate politicians who have electoral value but remain resolute in the PDP while appreciating all that attended the event.
The event which was attended by the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, former Abia State Deputy Governor,Chief Acho Nwakanma, PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate, Barrister Okey Igwe, Speaker Abia House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji and members of the State House of Assembly, National Deputy Chairmen, South of the PDP, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, National Vice Chairmen, South East, Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman,, South South, Chief Dan Orbih, Members of the House of Assembly and candidates of the party, Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Chris Ezem, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Okey Ahiwe Commissioners, party chieftains among other dignitaries, featured handing over of the PDP flags to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and other two senatorial candidates of the party, eight House of Representatives candidates and 24 State House of Assembly candidates and musical performances by various artistes.
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President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, announced the approval of the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and ordered the immediate release of ₦10 billion as emergency intervention funding.
Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, who conveyed the development to the public, said the fund would strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities.
To be chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, the committee with membership drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and state representatives is also expected to get briefings on their plans to contain the disease.
Onanuga, stated that Tinubu also specifically directed all states hosting international airports and international border corridors, as well as relevant MDAs, to submit their plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for consideration and coordinated implementation.
Stating that the President’s move followed a stakeholder meeting convened under the CoS to review Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies against the possible importation of Ebola into the country., the statement informed that the Task Force would also intensify passenger screening at all international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols.
Other measures would also include enhanced monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes, including Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines; and the immediate activation of referral and isolation centres at the Lagos and Abuja international airports, with other airports to follow.
Other measures include the mandatory activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers originating from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as the disinfection of departure halls, cargoes, baggage areas and airport facilities as precautionary environmental measures.
The President also directed the advisory group to consult with security, diplomatic and aviation bodies on regulating flights from affected and designated high-risk countries and mandated the task force to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to enable controlled screening and isolation procedures, and to consider adjusting flight schedules to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and other travellers.
Justice Akintoye Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of Paul Jibrin Oweleke in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime offences linked to social media broadcasts that allegedly called for overthrow of President Bola Tinubu.
Specifically, Oweleke, in a two-count charge was accused of publishing posts on his online platform known as “Oweleke TV”, urging the Nigerian military to remove the President from office in a manner similar to takeovers in some West African countries, an act the agency said bordered on incitement and the use of a computer system to disseminate content considered prejudicial to national security and constitutional governance.
Oweleke’s broadcasts, the agency stressed, were capable of inciting public disorder and promoting disaffection against the government, which will undermine the country’s democracy.
Legal argument had ensued immediately after Oweleke, pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his lawyer kicking vehemently against the prayer of the agency that the court should order his remand pending the commencement of trial, on the ground that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution.
But Aluko, who was persuaded to grant the prayer, went with the DSS, while adjourning the matter to June 16 for the hearing of the bail application, stating that Oweleke, would remain in the facility of the agency pending the outcome.
By June 29 all medical doctors in public hospitals in Nigeria will drop their stethoscopes and other instruments of healthcare, unless the Federal Government settles all unpaid allowances, salary arrears, delayed training funds, and worsening welfare concerns of its members across the country’s health sector.
This was the notice served to the government on Monday, through The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the umbrella under which the doctors operate, after rising from Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) held in Kano.
In the 21-day ultimatum to the government, the doctors warned that it would not be able to guarantee industrial harmony if the issues remain unresolved within the 21-day period.
In the resolution conveying their position, signed by Mohammad Suleiman, President, Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary-General, and Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, Publicity and Social Secretary, on Friday, the body regretted that government had failed to fulfil several commitments to doctors despite repeated assurances and engagements.
“The association hereby declares an industrial dispute with the federal government of Nigeria on the outlined matters above and cannot guarantee industrial harmony after the 21-day window period given to address all the demands,” the communique reads.
The association said it is giving the federal government the 21-day window to commence concrete actions towards the development and implementation of a national healthcare workers assault prevention and response protocol
and the initiation of the necessary legislative process to address the menace.
NARD also demanded the release and payment of the 2026 medical residency training fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors nationwide within the next 21 days.
The association questioned the unpaid salary and promotion arrears in several federal and state health institutions, as well as discrepancies in professional allowances reflected in members’ May 2026 salaries.
It highlighted the welfare issues affecting house officers, including salary delays, unpaid arrears, and difficulties with internship placement and onboarding processes that remain unresolved.
It also accused Motunrayo Omidiran, executive chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), of delaying the issuance of letters of compliance to federal health institutions, noting that the delay has hampered recruitment efforts, manpower shortages, and brain drain in the sector.
NARD expressed worries about the increasing assaults, harassment, intimidation, and violent attacks against doctors while on duty, demanding the arrests, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators.
It called for the establishment of a national healthcare workers’ assault prevention and response protocol within 21 days by the federal government and security agencies.
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