De-registration: A'Ibom IPAC Gets New Chair as INEC delists political parties

Sequel to the deregistration of 74 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has appointed an Acting Chairman to head the association.

Speaking with newsmen in Uyo, Acting Chairman of the association, Rt. Hon. Duke Dick, who represents the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state council of the association, said the deregistration which affected 10 executive members of the council including the Chairman must be properly managed in the best interest of IPAC.

He insisted that 18 bonafide political parties in IPAC Akwa Ibom State have unanimously agreed on his choice as Acting Chairman pending the outcome of the litigation.

"The 18 political parties have to go on. I did not choose myself, they chose me. We should not allow a lacuna to exist in IPAC. While waiting for the judgment of the court, IPAC activities must take place.

"It is not a thing of joy for me and fellow members of IPAC that this has happened. We always walked hand in hand. When the court decides, we will know the next action to take", he explained.

Dick wished the affected parties well in the case.

INEC had stated that deregistration of the parties followed their dormant status and poor performance in the 2019 general elections.

31 out of the 74 affected parties have since gone to court and have obtained a restraining order against INEC.

BREAKING: JAMB releases 2020/2021 Examination time table for UTME

 The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is set to conduct the 2020 Unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME) according to the timeline earlier stated. This post is a summary of the breakdown of timelines, time table or the dates for every process of the 2020 UTME. Sales of Forms UTME/DE Registration for all candidates including foreign candidates is scheduled to commence from January 13, 2020. Closing Date/Deadline This year, the sale or registration forms to all candidates (UTME/DE) including those outside Nigeria, started January 13 and will end February 17. 

 UTME Mock Examination: There will be an optional Mock Examination Saturday, February 18, 2020. JAMB Start Date Also, the 2020 computer-based test examination will begin on Saturday, March 14 and end on April 4. All interested Candidates are hereby expected to visit the JAMB official website in order to create their profiles in earnest. Cost of Registration: The following costs shall apply to 2020/2021 JAMB UTME registration as stated below: JAMB Registration E-PIN: N3,500. Note that N500 could be charged for JAMB literature book for English CBT Registration: N700  Steps To Re-Print JAMB 2020 Exam Slip Online Jamb sometimes sends the slip through email. In this case, you will need to download the slip on your phone and print it out. But whether or not you get the slip via email, there are other ways to check and reprint your Jamb date slip. 

Visit Jamb slip portal at jamb.org.ng/PrintExamslip/ Enter your Jamb registration number, Email or SMS Click on print examination slip. How to reprint Jamb slip for Date and Venue Alternatively: Visit Jamb.org.ng/efacility Enter your Jamb email address Enter your Jamb password Click on Login Scroll to print UTME Main examination slip Write your JAMB registration number in the provided space and click ‘Re-Print’. Print out your slip Done
Read more at: https://weetalknaija.com.ng/news/breaking-jamb-releases-2020-2021-examination-time-table-for-utme-see-details.html

DAVID LYON: THE GOVERNOR BAYELSA STATE DID NOT HAVE

Chief David Lyon woke up today feeling like a Governor to be sworn in tomorrow.

It was a right feeling to have. After all, the Supreme Court last week affirmed he was the duly elected All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Bayelsa.

His inauguration was less than 24 hours away. Everything was set, his dress inclusive. He had a prepared speech and list of first set of appointees. Life couldn’t have been better.

But in a sudden twist, the Supreme Court this afternoon voided his election based on the disqualification of his running mate Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo for presenting forged certificates to INEC.

The court ruled Degi-Eremienyo’s disqualification had infected the joint ticket with which he and the governorship candidate, Lyon, ran for and won the November 16, 2019 election.

For Lyon, it was an unexpected twist. He was coasting home until the apex court halted his strides.

Outgoing Governor Seriake Dickson, who was out and down, is by far the biggest beneficiary of the Supreme Court’s pronouncement.

Sources said he had packed personal belongings out of the Government House. He was on his way to political oblivion. But he has been given a new lease of life. He has suddenly become the new political leader of oil-rich Bayelsa.

His anointed candidate, Senator Douye Diri, is the Supreme Court-backed successor. It is by far the biggest lesion is politic that nothing is over until it is decreed by Supreme Court. Seriake, who appeared to have lost out on all fronts, has become the new bride in town.

He has affirmed the fact that nothing until is over until it is truly over. For him, it is an unexpected lifeline for his political career.

Emmanuel Sam Sponsors 11 Students of Eniong Offort community into University

The Special Assistant to Governor on Local Media, Akparawa (Prince) Emmanuel Sam has purchased JAMB form for eleven students of Eniong Offot Community, Uyo Local Government Area.

Addressing the students in his office, Akparawa Sam noted that his assistance to the students was to complement the Governor’s free and compulsory education in the state.

He urged them to study hard, noting that the best way to replicate his gesture is to come out in flying colours in their exam.

The Governor’s aide advised the students not to be distracted by peer pressure and dissuaded them from joining cult.

 Sam averred, “ I want to let you know that I am interested in what every single youth of my community becomes in future.

“Cultism may create an atmosphere of temporal success, but the end of it is destruction. Any of you who wants to live a meaningful life in future, must begin today because tomorrow you may not have this opportunity again.”

The Special Assistant thanked the Governor for providing a platform for him to reach out to others in the society and promised to do more for the society.

Orman Esin Eulogises Utang over Boost in A'Ibom Entertainment Industry

...Inaugurates Entertainment Industry Working Committee

The Eyes Newspaper, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Orman Esin has applauded the Special Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, on Entertainment, Mr. David Sergeant, for uniting Entertainers in the State as well as boosting the Industry to meet world standard.

Mr. Esin gave the commendation Monday while fielding questions from Journalists after the inauguration of a 19 man Entertainment Industry Working Committee held at the Divine Mandate Mini-Hall, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo.

While noting that entertainers in the state are not local but indigenous artists with great global potentials, the commissioner assured them of government's readiness to add values to their talents.

The Culture and Tourism Commissioner promised to work closely with the Entertainers to strengthen the effort of the SA and ensure that the Industry grows further in the State.

He further thanked Governor Emmanuel for investing resources to revamp the Entertainment Industry in the State, and charged the Entertainers to show good example in their conducts.

Those inaugurated were:

Secretary - Comedian Sir James

* Music
Bobby Friga
Ime Charlie
Supersonic Blaze

* Movies
Anny Jonah
Moses Eskor
Emma Solution

* Comedy
MC Mista

* Dance
Elisha Anwan Mbang

* Entertainment Writers
Nelson NseAbasi

* Pagaent Organizers
Ekamma Asuquo-Henry

* DJs
DJ Ritzy

* Band Owners
Abraham Godwin

* Marketers
Aniekan Ndem (Praise International)

* OAPs/ Show Promoters
Asteroid Bassey

* Producers/Sound Engineers
Sunny Baseda

* Promoters
Hope Akpan (Jay Razor )

*Cultural Troupes
Udo Mariam

*Models
Ubong Kardynal

(c) The Eyes Newspaper

Why we withdrew from Essien Udim Re-run Elections - A'Ibom APC

***Appeal Court did not order rerun for Essien Udim state constituency electio

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom state has announced that it will not take part in the rerun election holding in Essien Udim local government on Saturday 25th January.

The party cited bias by INEC as its reason for withdrawal.

The Appeal Court in Calabar ordered a rerun for the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district, Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara/Essien Udim federal constituency and Essien Udim state constituency. But the party argued that the court did not order a rerun or supplementary election for Essien Udim state constituency.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo after a meeting of the State Working Committee of the party, the chairman of APC in Akwa Ibom state, Mr. Ini Okopido, said the party will not take part in the rerun for any of the positions.

“Mike Igini, (the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC) has shown unprecedented bias as INEC REC. If he conducts any election, APC will always withdraw. We don’t have any confidence in him. We are so dissatisfied by the conduct of INEC in Akwa Ibom, so we have withdrawn,” chairman of the party announced.

Okopido said the party had substituted Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was her candidate for the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial election with Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo.

He said the party’s candidates for Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara/Essien Udim federal constituency was ready for the election but will no longer participate in the rerun because of the obvious bias of INEC in the State.

The party chairman however said that neither the tribunal nor the Appeal Court ordered a rerun or supplementary election for Essien Udim state constituency but was shocked to find INEC list Essien Udim state constituency for the rerun.
INEC had declared the APC candidate for Essien Udim state constituency, Mr. Nse Ntuen winner of the election but at the same time failed to issue him with a certificate of return.

Nse Ntuen while addressing journalists on Friday at APC secretariat in Uyo said neither the tribunal nor the Appeal court ordered a rerun for the House of Assembly election which he was declared winner.

He said the rerun called for Essien Udim state constituency by the Mike Igini led INEC was illegal.

“There is no way in the judgment that the Appeal Court ordered a rerun or supplementary election for Essien Udim state constituency. The rerun for Essien Udim state constituency is an illegal act, that is why I cannot be part of it”, he said.

PDP Releases Dates for Congresses Election

 (1) Ward Excos Congresses & 3Ad- Hoc Ward Delegates on Saturday March 7th, 2020

 (2)Ward Appeal on Thursday March 12th

 (3)LGA Excos & Nat Delegates on Saturday March 21, (4)Appeal  Wednesday March 25

 (5)Screening of State and  Zonal Excos on Thursday March 26

(6)Appeal on  Tuesday March 31

 (7) State Congresses on Saturday April 04

 (8) Appeal on Wednesday April 08

 (9) Zonal Congresses on Saturday April 18

(10) Appeal on April 22

(11) Caucus Meeting on Wednesday April 29

 (12)BOT Meeting on Thursday April 30, and

 (13) NEC meeting to Approve of all  Congresses on Thursday April 30, 2020.

IBOM POWER IS NOT THE CAUSE OF OUTAGE IN IKOT ABASI COMMUNITY - MD

The Managing Director of Ibom Power Company Limited, Engr. Meyen Etukudo has said that Ibom power is not the cause of power outage in Ikpa Ibekwe community but that Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) disconnected the community from the electricity grid because they owed about N60million in unpaid electricity bills.

Engr. Etukudo said a similar incident occurred about two years ago when PHEDC disconnected Ikot Abasi from the electricity grid over unpaid electricity bills that allegedly accumulated to about N43million.

“As the Special Assistant (SA) on Power to the Governor at that time, I took the matter to the Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel. After negotiation with PHEDC, the Governor approved that N13million should be paid and the community should be reconnected to the grid”.
The Governor’s aide said, “The money was paid and PHEDC reconnected the community. Subsequently, when PHEDC officials went to collect bills for the electricity supplied for that period, the community did not pay and PHEDC disconnected them because according to PHEDC, the bill had accumulated to about N60million”.

On the community’s agitation to receive power directly from Ibom power plant, the MD said that provision was not included in the original design of Ibom power plant when it was constructed in 2001.
“The wrong belief is that there is a wire that can be connected directly to Ibom power plant, which will give light to the community.

However, power does not work like that. To get power from any power station to the community, there must be a station services transformer. The station services transformer will connect to the host community through a 132kV line. This provision was not at Ibom power over the years. I resumed on 1st August 2016”.

The MD said, “Steps have been taken to solve this problem. Ibom power appointed a consultant to provide a preliminary design and a bill of engineering quantity for the construction of a 132/33kV, 1 x 30mva substation to be constructed adjacent to Ibom power plant. This substation will receive power directly from Ibom power plant and supply Ikot Abasi communities”.

“The Governor directed that I should present the proposal for the construction of this substation at the meeting of the Finance and General Purpose Committee (FGPC), that meeting held on Friday, 10th January 2020” he said.
“The President of Ikot Abasi Youth Council, Idongesit James, was in in my office on that Friday evening, I left him to attend the meeting with the Governor at the FGPC where approval was given for the construction of the 132/33kV, 1 x 30mva substation at Ikot Abasi. How many hours are there between Friday, 10th January when the FGPC meeting held and Monday 13th January that the youths decided to block our entrance in protest?”

He however, said that meetings have been held with the Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi, HRM Edidem U J Ntuk Obom, the Local Government Chairman, David Eshiet and other stakeholders in Ikot Abasi to resolve the issues as soon as possible.