Honourable Nnolim Nnaji was on Sunday elected the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) flag bearer for Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency of Enugu State.

Honourable Nnaji who is currently the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation pulled a total of 78 Votes out of the 81 total Votes cast to clinch the ticket.

His main opponent Honourable Uche Nwobodo trailed with 3 votes thus making it obvious that Honourable Nnaji who had represented the Constituency from 2019 to date was overwhelmly endorsed by his constituents.
Hon Lawrence Ezeh who was also contesting for the seat had earlier stepped down for Honourable Nnolim Nnaji and asked his supporters to transfer their allegiance to him.

Honourable Eze had hinged his decision to step down for Honourable Nnaji on the premise that Honourable Nnaji had given the people of Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency a quality representation.

Honourable Nnaji who was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2019, has been very vibrant both at the plenary and Committee level.

His astute representations and determination to make an impact no doubt elevated him to the position of House Committee Chairman on Aviation.
Within his short stint as a first timer to the Green Chambers, Honourable Nnaji has been able to do so much to lift his constituents.

Apart from the monthly empowerment he does for the down trodden on a monthly basis, Honourable Nnaji has within the first four years in the parliament built several class room blocks and sponsored three private Bills one of which had gone through public hearing.

He has donated transformers, constructed roads and given scholarships to indigent constituents and provided employments for several others.

Honourable Nnaji however expressed appreciation to his people for the overwhelming endorsement promising to do more if he eventually wins the election to represent them.

He urged them not to rest on their oars as the battle ahead was still very stiff and tough adding that victory to him was just
a stepping stone for the race.

Abuja – Former President Goodluck Jonathan has distanced himself from the purported purchase of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination and expression of interests form by a northern group.

Peionews recalls that on Monday evening, the media (both electronic and online) was awash with news that Jonathan has joined the race for the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the APC after the northern group procured one hundred million naira (N100m) nomination and expression of interests form for him.

But Jonathan in a swift reaction via statement signed by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, made available to Peionews correspondent, said he was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it.

The statement reads in full:

Re: PURPORTED PURCHASE OF APC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION FORM FOR FORMER PRESIDENT JONATHAN

It has come to the notice of His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, that a group has purportedly purchased Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, of the All Progressives Congress (the APC), in his name.
We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it.

While we appreciate the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians, for Dr. Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 Presidential election, we wish to state that he has not in any way, committed himself to this request.

We thank the general public for their concern, as we continue to encourage citizen participation in the affairs of the country.

Ikechukwu Eze
Media Adviser to H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

…says his development initiatives will earn him another victory

Lafia – Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has declared his intention to seek re-election for a second term come 2023, stressing that the development initiatives of his administration will earn him another victory at the polls.

Engineer Sule made the declaration shortly after being presented with both the nomination and expression of interest forms, purchased on his behalf, by members bof the Engineer A A Sule Amalgamated Support Groups, at a ceremony at the Lafia Square, on Tuesday.

The Governor, who barely returned from Saudi Arabia to observe the Eid-el fitr celebration marking the end of the Ramadan fast, apologized to prominent and critical stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, for the impromptu declaration which was supposed to have been a personal event but turned out to be a formal declaration to seek re-election.

Engineer Sule specifically, apologized to the first executive governor of the state and now National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, his immediate predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, as well as all critical stakeholders of the party, who were not present at his declaration.

While describing the event as significant for him, especially that ordinary people came together to raised the N50m to purchase the forms on his behalf, the Governor however lamented the demise of one of the party’s stalwarts, the late Bala Tafida, who died earlier morning on Tuesday.

He pointed out that, since people who are barely making a living could come together and raise funds to buy both the nomination and expression of interest forms on his behalf, he can’t let them down and as such, has accepted to seek re-election.

“With that in mind therefore, I, Engineer Abdullahi A Sule, Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Fellow of the Nigerian Institutional of Mechanical Engineers, member of COREN, member of the Society of American Engineers, in view of this support, I want to say specifically, that I accept these forms and I therefore declare to contest for re-election for 2023,” he stated.

The Governor was emphatic that, the development initiatives of his administration, will earn him another victory come 2023.

“Our work is enough to deter any opposition. If anybody said we did not work for the state, such a person should be reminded that Engineer Sule did not hold any government position in his life until he was elected governor.

“However, some people held various government positions for over 13 years and even the road leading to their villages was constructed by us,” he said.

Engineer Sule said he is ready to face the opposition ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Earlier, in a goodwill message, state Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, said a group of organisations and individuals, approached him while the Governor was away in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, to inform him of their decision to obtain the nomination and expression of interest forms on behalf of the Governor.

“They know you can do it yourself, they know you have the capacity but they want to prove to you that they are solidly behind you,” the Deputy Governor said.

According to the Deputy Governor, even though Engineer Sule didn’t make a pronouncement to seek another term in office, the people wanted to show that they are happy with his leadership style.

“The majority of the people are happy with you and have come together, to say whether you like it or not, they want you to continue in office beyond 2023.
” It’s not an option for you to say you want or you don’t want. They said wether you want it or not, they want and you must and you should,” Dr Akabe stated.

On his part, state Chairman of the APC, Hon John Mamman, said the Governor’s foray in the area of education, agriculture, investment and his thrust to industrialise Nasarawa State, as well as his focus and vision to improve on the wellbeing of the entire state, are sufficient to guarantee Engineer Sule another term in office.

While calling on the Governor to accept the forms and declare his intention to re-contest come 2023, Hon Mamman assured the Governor of the party’s total support.

Presenting the forms earlier, Hon Murtala Abubakar, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), who stood on behalf of the Engineer A A Sule Amalgamated Support Groups, said members of the group recognised the need to contribute in their small ways, to enable the Governor consolidate on his vision for the state beyond 2023.

Speakers from across the three senatorial zones of the state namely Senator John Danboyi for Nasarawa North, Hon David Ayewa, for Nasarawa South and Hon Baba Shehu, Keffi Local Government Chairman, for Nasarawa West, all threw their support behind the second term aspirations of the Governor.

Hajiya Ramatu Dalhatu, speaking on behalf of women in the state, sang songs of joy to herald the support of women across the state.