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Anambra Guber Poll: Court Clears Uba, Others

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As the political intrigues in Anambra State continue to unfold, A federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, has affirmed that Senator Andy Uba remains the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the November 2013 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, following the ruling by the court that the Ejike Oguebego-led faction of executive remains the legitimate PDP executive in the state.
The trial judge, Justice H.A Nganjiwa stated this yesterday, while ruling on the interlocutory injunction brought by the Ejike Oguebego-led PDP faction executive in the state.
The Oguebego-led executive had gone to court praying, among other things, that the court should compel the PDP to accept Andy Uba as the legitimate governorship candidate of the party, and himself as the Anambra State chairman of the party against Ken Emekaye-led execo.
The duo have been in a protracted political battle in the state over  who controls the party leadership in the state as well as held parallel party programmes in the state.
Consequently, Justice H.A Nwanjiwa while ruling on the motion, ordered the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise and deal with the Ejike Oguebego-led PDP faction executive as the authentic party leadership in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.
The court also ordered all the parties involved in the matter to maintain the status quo as well as comply with the earlier directives of the court in that regard.
The court had earlier granted a similar motion directing the PDP to recognise Ejike Oguebego as the chairman but later withdrew it, and recognised the factional executive members led by Ken Emekaye which conducted the primary elections that brought Mr Tony Nwoye as the party gubernatorial candidate for the Anamba poll in November this year.
The court in its ruling yesterday, however, up turned the decision and upheld its earlier ruling to recognise the Ejike Oguebego-led executive which nominated Andy Uba as the PDP governorship candidate.
The judge also declined to set aside the orders earlier made by his senior colleagues on the matter, adding that he lacks such powers to do so.
‘I lack such powers to set aside the orders made by my superiors and the court, and whoever that is not satisfied with  my position should go to the Appeal Court’, he declared.
Justice Nganjiwa, however, told both the plaintiffs and the defendants that he would no longer continue with the trial based on an alleged petition against him from one of the defense counsels in the matter  to the Chief  Justice of Nigeria (CJN), challenging his credibility and fairness in the matter, adding that he would adjourn the matter and wait for further directive from the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, the first respondent in the matter, M.M Kalu, explained that the order has a far-reaching effect on the matter at hand, noting that the outcome of the ruling can mar ort make PDP in Anambra State.
Kalu opined that the court rather than granting the orders sought by the plaintiff, went ahead in his ruling to strengthen the plaintiff,  by asking PDP and INEC to recognise them, adding that the judge refused to hear their motion which borders on jurisdiction and proceeded to hear the interlocutory motion.
He urged the court to continue with the matter so as to deal with the substantive suit, adding that the judge would have discontinued with the ruling when he received the alleged petition.
“We will continue our matter here. The judge would  have stopped the ruling when he received the petition, so we must continue with the matter until there is a further directive from the CJN”, he said.
‘The matter is of national interest. The ruling has seriously affected us because the court has strengthen our opponents”, he stated.
In his response, the counsel to the plaintiff, Charles Onyebukwa stated that the court was right in its ruling, adding that the import of the ruling was that Chief Andy Uba remains the legitimate PDP candidate in Anambra 2013 election as he was the product of the  primary elections conducted by the Ejike Oguebego-led executive in the state.
He disclosed that there was no new development in the court ruling, noting that the court only re-affirmed its earlier decision on the matter.
The case was later adjourned to 17th September, 2013 for mention.

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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

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Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP  Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.

CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.

The students, led by  Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.

According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.

The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.

Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.

He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.

Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.

The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.

He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.

CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.

He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.

Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.

The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.

The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.

According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.

The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.

Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.

He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.

CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.

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College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates  For 2027 Polls

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The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.

International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.

Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.

He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.

Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.

He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.

“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.

Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.

He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.

According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.

Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.

The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.

Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.

By: John Bibor

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Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.

Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.

The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.

He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.

Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.

On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.

The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.

Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.

On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.

He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.

The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.

Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.

By; King Onunwor

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