Politics
AMORC Tasks INEC On Credible Polls
Ahead Of the 2019 General elections scheduled to kick off later this month, the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC) has charged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that it conducts a free, fair and credible elections in the country.
The organisation stated that it was only through creditable and fair polls that men and women with proven integrity can have opportunity to lead the nation to an enviable height.
AMORC’s Grand Administrator/Director supreme Board, Frater (Dr.) Kenneth U. Idiodi gave the charge while fielding questions from journalists shortly after delivering a speech at the 43rd Eastern Regional Conclave held at Axari Hotel in Calabar.
Speaking on the theme, spirituality for Social Justice; Dr. idiodi urged the nation’s electoral umpire to ensure that it organizes a free, fair and creditable poll in a manner that only those wanted by the people can mount places of authority to lead Nigerians in the next dispensation.
“Rosicrucian is not against any religion,” he said and advised those with PVC to make themselves available for the exercise and ensure that candidates of their choices were elected into positions of authority.
The organization which advocated for a violence-free poll, urged Nigerians to go for candidate of their choice rather than voting in a wrong candidate due to monetary inducement.
He said that since 3371 years of the organization existence, members of AMORC had no business of deviating from the desires of their hearts simply because they are in need of a particular thing and urged members of the organization to always work for what they want in life. AMORC, he said, is about 3371years old,” whatever we want, and we create it through our small sphere.” “If you want a better future, you work for it now. If you want Nigeria to be a better place you work for it. We have the best human beings in Nigeria,” adding that” it was easy for any to achieve whatever he or she so desire in life”.
On the issue of the nation’s electoral process, Frater Idiodi said, “We focalize with all our minds that elections should be free and fair for better future of our people so that the world can be a better place as we were born”.
Earlier in his remarks, Host Grand Councilor for the organization, Frater (Arc.) Kofi Ekanem, stated that man owns nothing here on earth, adding that all material things are given to man freely by God, to this end, it was the obligation by man to share the material things with the rest of mankind.
He said that though man had always laid claim of being the sole owner of material things which God the creator of heaven and earth gave to him freely.
He urged the participants to shun ethnicity, religious intolerance and other social vices destroying the unity of the society and warned those refusing to heed to be ready to face the consequences when the time comes.
He called for strict adherence to core value, urging Nigerians to take their civic responsibility serious if they were serious with the business of building an egalitarian society for themselves and the generation unborn.
Ekanem who lamented over failure of societal values urged Nigerians to shun hypocrisy, but be focused on core societal values by doing things at the right time.
Frater (Ntufam) John O. Omori, Regional Monitor had earlier given an overview of the four-day-Conclave which ended last Sunday in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
The event, jointly organised by LP and ADC to publicly acknowledge the movement of party members, was first scheduled to hold at the LP secretariat in Idimu.
However, chaos erupted when more than 100 suspected thugs reportedly stormed the premises, forcing party members and officials to flee.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some armed with knives, canes and other dangerous objects, assaulted individuals they encountered during the invasion.
The assailants were also heard chanting hostile slogans, declaring that LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.
Several party members sustained injuries in the process, while party property, including furniture and flags, were vandalised.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue, the Eco Centre Event Hall in Egbeda, in a bid to continue the ceremony.
Speaking on the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olanrewaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and alarming, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” he said.
Mr Olushola clarified that the defection itself had already taken place, stressing that Saturday’s gathering was merely a symbolic ceremony to inform the public of their decision.
According to him, nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the party’s leadership structure, had collectively agreed to move to the ADC.
Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, explained that plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police, who cited the absence of formal approval.
He said the organisers had reached out to the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who reportedly informed them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in the state.
“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP, but we informed the DSS, after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony,” Mr Akujuobi said.
He added that the situation became more tense upon arrival at the initial venue.
“When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed policemen. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.
“While we were at it, the hoodlums besieged the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue,” he explained.
Mr Akujuobi said party officials subsequently contacted members by phone to proceed to the second venue in Egbeda, where the programme resumed briefly.
“We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event Centre, and everyone witnessed what took place here.
“The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again,” he added.
He noted that the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party and protracted legal disputes affecting the party.
Shortly after the hoodlums vacated the second venue, several police vans carrying armed officers reportedly arrived at the location.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
In A Statement Issued On Saturday, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, The Factional Spokesperson, Described The Decision Of The Electoral Body As Strange.
Mr Ifoh Also Said The Sacked Factional Leadership Of The Party Will Protest The Action Of INEC.
Stating That Judgment Of The Court And The Decision Of INEC Will Not Stop Its Members From Putting Up A Strong Appearance In The Forthcoming 2027 General Election, Mr Ifoh Noted Legal Redress Would Be Sought By LP.
He Said, “Some Persons Who Are Applauding The Impunity By Some Politicians Should Retrace And Do Some Introspection, Because This Was How In The Past They Applauded Injustice In Our Democracy Because They Were Beneficiaries.
“At The End Of The Day, When Their Enthroned Leaders Began To Abuse Power, They Started Complaining.
“For Us In Labour Party, Our Faith Is Strong That The Appellate Court Will Do The Right Thing And Therefore We Advise Our Members To Remain Calm. We Will Continue With The Struggle To Take Our Party From The Godfather,” Mr Ifoh Said.
He Also Stated That The Labour Party Is A Party Formed On The Basis Of Social Democracy Where No One Man Is Permitted To Appoint Everybody.
According To Him, It Is Against The Party’s Principles For “One Man To Sit At A Place And Gather Everybody And Appoint Everybody From The National Working Committee To The State.
“That Is Impunity Of The Highest Order. This, I Believe, Negates The Principles Of The Party.
“If We Say There Is No Party Ideology In Nigeria, This Is How It Starts. We Are Very Sure That It Will Be Quashed On Appeal,” He Added.
Mr Ifoh Also Described The Celebration And Excitement Showcased By Senator Nenadi Usman And The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti As Temporary.
He Said Dr Otti, Senator Usman And Their Cohorts’ Names Which Were Already Listed On INEC’s Portal Will Be Short-Lived.
“It Is For A Short Time. Their Victory Is Pyrrhic And There Is Nothing To Celebrate Because Doomsday Is Closer Than They Will Imagine; Which I Believe Will Be Very Catastrophic For Them.
“Moreover, It Is Very Clear That The Appointment Of The Caretaker Committee Did Not Go Through The Normal Procedure. Proper Notice Was Not Given In Line With The Party Constitution And The Electoral Act,” He Said.
-
Politics3 days agoPFN Rejects Call For INEC Chairman’s Removal Over Genocide Comments
-
Rivers3 days agoFasthire, PHCCIMA, CIPM Host CareerFest 2026 In PH
-
Sports3 days agoEnekwechi wins Orlen Cup in season opener
-
Sports3 days agoFalconets, Senegalese Lionesses arrive Ibadan for qualifier
-
Politics3 days agoHoodlums Disrupt LP-ADC Defection Event In Lagos
-
Sports3 days agoSimba open Nwabali talks
-
Education3 days agoBUK Taps Content Creators to Expand Its Digital Footprint
-
Niger Delta3 days agoTinubu, Jonathan, Diri Pay Last Respect To Ewhrudjakpo